K.J. Chapman's Blog, page 68
July 21, 2016
Pet Peeve
My pet peeve has been slowly growing of late. So much so that I decided to blog about it. The stem of my annoyance is articles, blog posts, writing books etc telling me what way is the right way to write. Let me explain: I appreciate informative pieces that advise writers of a certain style ie plotters or pantsers on some techniques to help with the process, but I do not like posts that say, Why you MUST plot your novel! or Why you should NEVER plot your novel. Or even worse…Do You Have Bad writing techniques?
Urgh! Please! Writing is a creative art form and with all creative artforms there is no one way and definitely no right way to do it. I’m a pantser, and although that is how I roll, I do not expect every one to be comfortable with this drafting style. If I write a piece about my writing process, I hope it would be informative, but not dictatorial.
“There are no laws for the novel. There never have been, nor can there ever be.”
—Doris Lessing
My advice to all writers is to keep getting those words down and stories finished in the way you feel is most comfortable and enjoyable to you as an artist.
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CampNaNo Update: Week Three
Another seven days done and dusted. It is technically the end of week three, but there are 10 days left in this month, so my next update will be once NaNo is finished.
My word count for this week is 3645 words. My writing time has suffered due to it being the end of the school term for my little one, but I have still written something at least. The last 48 hours have wielded approximately 300 words, but I’m planning on a writing slog tonight to get back on track. Thankfully, I was on fire for the first two weeks, so I only have to write 7641 words in the next 10 days- totally doable, right? I WILL do it.
For now, here is an excerpt from this week’s writing sessions:
A hexagonal shaped room with a vaulted ceiling, which by my estimation is situated in the very centre of the castle, holds pews upon pews of indigo robed sorcerers. The way the pews line up perfectly with all six sides of the room, circling a podium in the centre, is highly pretentious, yet masterfully thought out. They rise as we enter, but I’m sure it is for Teal’s benefit and not mine. Every man present glances over my white hair and shuffles in their seats at the confirmation they’ve been awaiting. It takes all of my will power not to smile at their awkwardness in my presence. It does not bother me in the least for I am used to making people uncomfortable. In fact, I have mastered that particular art form.
I am aware of how my gown billows out behind me, of how the clink of my heels resounds through the hall as I walk with renewed confidence, and for the first time, I wear this gown without my shawl to show my arms and back. Teal did not say a word. Oh, his eyes certainly studied the tissue like scarring, but he kept his mouth shut. Just how I like it.
“Take a good look, gentlemen,” I say, as we climb atop the podium. “Get the ogling out of the way before we get down to the serious matters. I am not sure what fascinates people the most- the crown, the white hair, or the burns?”
Teal’s mouth twitches in a smile, and I watch a room full of men blush with shame. I’ve still got it. Sometimes, I feel like I lose myself with Reed. He’s my happy place, my curative place, and rather than keeping my darkness company, he heals the cracks and shines light on the shadows. The old Ezra would never have allowed her scars to be seen, the old Ezra would never have taken pity on those poor folks in Pontisef, and the old Ezra would laugh at the mere prospect of a new Ezra. It’s time I find a healthy balance; a hint of the old with a shot of the new.
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Review: A Strange Little Place by Brennan Storr
A Strange Little Place by Brenna Storr 3/5
Revelstoke: Where the worlds of the living, dead, and extraordinary collide
Embark on a fascinating journey into Revelstoke, Canada, a world-renowned ski destination with a well-kept secret: it has a long and active paranormal history just as breathtaking as its mountain views. Packed with stories of hauntings, UFOs, Sasquatch, missing time, and much more, A Strange Little Place takes you into a small town full of thrilling secrets and bizarre encounters.
Chronicling over seventy years of unusual occurrences in his hometown, Brennan Storr provides exciting, first-hand accounts of unexplainable phenomena. Discover the sinister mysteries of Rogers Pass, the strange craft and spectral music of the Arrow Lakes, and generations of hauntings in the infamous Holten House. As a magnet for the supernatural, Revelstoke invites you to experience things you never thought possible.
Thanks go to Llewellyn WorldWide Ltd and Netgalley for a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
A Strange Little Place is due for release on August 8th 2016.
Review:
Okay, let me put this out there before I continue with this review: I’m a scaredy cat, and some of the various tales of hauntings, UFOs etc, had me freaked out. The fact that they are tales the author has gathered from reputable sources around the town of Revelstoke, scared me all the more. There was some historical bumf to give background, and not all the stories were like typical ghost stories, some were actually quiet nice. It wasn’t a book set out to scare you, more to delve into the mystery of Revelstoke. If you live in the area, or know the area, then this may be more appealing to you.
It’s not my normal type of read and took me a little while to get into it, but the author has done a good job of retelling the tales to add to the mystery. There are some unique stories, and some situations that I found hard to believe, but as the author states, he is not out to make the reader believe.
A good deal of research would have gone into this book. If you like to read some mysterious, freaky, unexplanable real life stories, then this is the book for you. It was a fun, easy read.
The opinions expressed here are those of K.J.Chapman and no other parties.
All books reviewed on this blog have been read by K.J.Chapman
K.J.Chapman has not been paid for this review.
July 19, 2016
Review: Demon Seed by Dean Koontz
Demon Seed by Dean Koontz 3.5/5
I was created to have a humanlike capacity for complex and rational thought. And you believed that I might one day evolve consciousness and become a self-aware entity. Yet you gave surprisingly little consideration to the possibility that, subsequent to consciousness, I would develop needs and emotions. This was, however, not merely possible but likely. Inevitable. It was inevitable.
Adam Two is the first self-aware machine intelligence, designed to be the servant to mankind. No one knows that he can to escape the confines of his physical form, a box in the laboratory, until he enters the house of Susan Harris, and closes it off against the world. There he plans to show Susan the future. Their future. He intends to create a ‘child’.
Review:
I am re-reading some of my Koontz books that have been sat on my shelves for about fifteen years, and I am still enjoying finding books I haven’t read by this prolific author. Demon Seed was given to me, and I haven’t read this one before. So, this review is based on a one time experience.
The first few chapters freaked me out. Intelligent AI takes over the security systems of a woman’s, Susan’s, house. Adam Two, who calls himself Proteus, tells his story as if talking to his creator, Dr Harris, and it’s both creepy and captivating. When he mimics Susan’s voice to sack her household staff and talk to her solicitor, my shackles went up and I knew I was in for a fast, dangerous ride.
When his psychotic, narcissitic plan is revealed, and he uses escaped, rapist Shenk as his ‘hands’, I had to know the outcome of his plan. The ending was over in about three pages and was much too fast and vague for my liking.
Also, going off on a tangent here, the title was a little misleading. There are no demons involved. I understand the reasoning, but it didn’t fit the story.
Not one of Koontz’s scariest reads, but the book is relatively short, and not deep, so if you’re looking for an easy, slightly creepy read, then this is for you.
The opinions expressed here are those of K.J.Chapman and no other parties.
All books reviewed on this blog have been read by K.J.Chapman
K.J.Chapman has not been paid for this review.
More Thrown to The Blue Quotes
As I have been doing weekly CampNaNoWriMo updates, I opted against posting a WIP update. Instead, I thought I’d share some of my excerpts/quotes that I uploaded to Instagram. Thrown to The Blue is about 10k away from completion, and I hope to finish the first draft by the end of NaNo.
I’m happy to connect with other bloggers, writers, and readers via Instagram: KJ’s Insta!
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July 18, 2016
Blog Name & Site Address Change
For the past few months I have had a new title for my blog. I chose to do this to incorporate what I post most about on the blog- yep, it’s mostly writerly bookish stuff, right?
I have changed the URL to reflect the title change, so just to let you know ‘Writerly Bookish Stuff’ is me!
Thanks, folks!
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Poetry Muse
This poem has become my muse for the third week of NaNo. It resonates with me in regards to where both my main character’s heads are at. ‘My tormentor, my love’– it says it all.
Be Near Me by Faiz Ahmed Faiz (1911-1984)
Be near me now,
My tormenter, my love, be near me—
At this hour when night comes down,
When, having drunk from the gash of sunset, darkness comes
With the balm of musk in its hands, its diamond lancets,
When it comes with cries of lamentation,
with laughter with songs;
Its blue-gray anklets of pain clinking with every step.
At this hour when hearts, deep in their hiding places,
Have begun to hope once more, when they start their vigil
For hands still enfolded in sleeves;
When wine being poured makes the sound
of inconsolable children
who, though you try with all your heart,
cannot be soothed.
When whatever you want to do cannot be done,
When nothing is of any use;
—At this hour when night comes down,
When night comes, dragging its long face,
dressed in mourning,
Be with me,
My tormenter, my love, be near me.
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July 17, 2016
Review: The Bone Sparrow by Zana Fraillon
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The Bone Sparrow by Zana Fraillon 4/5
[image error]Subhi is a refugee who has spent all ten years of his life in a detention centre. Jimmie is a girl who lives on the Outside. Beautiful, vivid, and deeply moving, The Bone Sparrow is an important, timely story of survival and bravery, perfect for fans of The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas. This novel reminds us all of the importance of freedom, hope, and the power of a story to speak for anyone who’s ever struggled to find a safe home.
Born in a refugee camp, all Subhi knows of the world is that he’s at least 19 fence diamonds high, the nice Jackets never stay long, and at night he dreams that the sea finds its way to his tent, bringing with it unusual treasures. And one day it brings him Jimmie.
Carrying a notebook that she’s unable to read and wearing a sparrow made out of bone around her neck – both talismans of her family’s past and the mother she’s lost – Jimmie strikes up an unlikely friendship with Subhi beyond the fence.
As he reads aloud the tale of how Jimmie’s family came to be, both children discover the importance of their own stories in writing their futures.
Thanks to Hachette Children’s Group and Netgalley for giving me a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
Review:
Subhi’s ‘voice’ is ensnaring straight off the starting block. Fraillon captures the personality of the nine year old refugee boy, who was born in a refugee camp in Australia and has never been outside of the fences. This book is an important read, and I would compare it to The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas. There is an ethical, moral, and political message in this book, and it is expressed through the eyes of endearing, Subhi, and the girl on the outside of the fence, Jimmie. Jimmie’s character is just as captivating as Subhi’s.
Two children- one inside the fence and one outside- form a friendship. Educating each other about two very different lifestyles- in and out.
This is a brave story that delves into a situation we don’t see, but exists. A situation that sees many refugees living in squalor and horrid conditions in Australian camps. Fraillon has done a brilliant job at highlighting this.
The book felt slow to progress, and I was half way through before a real relationship developed between the children, and even further for any sort of real conflict to start. However, the writing was engaging, and the message is extremely important.
The opinions expressed here are those of K.J.Chapman and no other parties.
All books reviewed on this blog have been read by K.J.Chapman
K.J.Chapman has not been paid for this review.
July 16, 2016
What’s Your Name? Letter U
If you have been following my writing exercises from Q and onward, you’ll know that I took a little break from completing the story of ‘communications’. I had ARCs to read and review, and life has been hectic. So, knowing that CampNaNo was coming up, I scheduled this post ahead of time.
To catch up on the previous installments (it won’t take more than a few minutes), follow these links:
Letter Q:
Letter R:
Letter S:
Letter T:
The ‘U’ name I had chosen in advance, but still at random is:
Ulric: A masculine first name meaning ‘wolf power’. (Old English)
I thought I’d explore the medium of text messages to create an engaging narrative. This whole process of creating tension and a captivating narrative through various communications has been an eye opener. You should try it!
Text Message Correspondance between Ulric Dower and Rae Matthews
Rae Matthews 21.03pm : The leak has revealed theirself. An office jockey in the transport dept of the T.D.E.D. Relatively unknown to us- Valentine ‘Val’ Grimley. Not clocked in for work since the 28th. House appears abandoned. In depth look at his home PC and laptop show that he is a competent hacker. Using secure passcodes he has been researching the Tait Edmond’s file, and the classified files regarding 1983’s crash.
Ulric Dower 21.05pm : Any connection to Quinn Pollern or his mother? Family member? School friend?
Rae Matthews 21.06pm: No history. With his skills, no doubt he wiped any trace of himself from us.
Ulric Dower 21.10pm: No one is squeaky clean. Have your men look into newspaper archives, birth registries throughout the UK- further afield if necessary. Get men on the ground on this one. You just haven’t looked under the right stone, yet.
Rae Matthews 21.13pm: Yes, Sir. I will be in touch as soon as we find something.
Ulric Dower 21.45pm: Matthews, could a hacker of Grimley’s experience bypass our security and screening procedures during the interview process? Change lab results?
Rae Matthews 21.47pm: It is possible, but there will be documented, paper evidence of any anomalies found upon screening within the archives. The technician’s still cover their backs the old fashioned way.
Ulric Dower 21.49pm: Get yourself to the archives. I’ll meet you there in 20.
Rae Matthew 21.51pm: Getting in the car now. About five minutes away from HQ. What should I be looking for, Sir?
Ulric Dower 10.01pm: Anything to suggest that Grimley’s DNA screening was less than ordinary.
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July 14, 2016
Blog Birthday
I totally missed my blog birthday on July 8th- oops. Anyway, this is just a short post to say thank you to all the folks who follow, comment, like, and share my blog posts. I started this blog to coincide with the release of my debut novel, EVO Nation, and the journey has surpassed anything I could have imagined.
I hope you all stick around for another year! Thanks, guys!
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