Samuel Colbran's Blog, page 11
July 1, 2017
HARDWIRED — The Blog of Blogs
A marvellous insight into what makes us creatives tick. Thank you, Melissa H North for this fantastic blog.
There’s something charming and irresistible about creative people. She may have a quirky nature that lights up your day when you look at her newly finished painting on the easel or he may be the author of an intriguing novel, the words in which, have inspired change in your life. Musicians, writers, painters, scientists and […]
via HARDWIRED — The Blog of Blogs
June 29, 2017
Review of The Dragon Lady.
I have spent the better part of the day reading this fantastic book, I couldn’t put it down! Angelique S. Anderson’s The Dragon Lady is a great mixture of intrigue, magic, technology and Victorian Era.
Like all my reviews I will try and not spoil the story.
The main character is Wylie, a stable-girl, honest and hardworking. I love this character, the perfect mix of drive and vulnerability. She is no Mary Sue, she is brilliant! Just can’t spoil the story, I so want to. It was a perfect mix of drama and action. The lore that Miss Anderson created, wow. So ingenious! Not only is the lore fantastic (you have to read it to find out), the moral undertone is even better. Right and wrong exist in a form, but you have to look at the big picture not the instant gratification of events.
Another praise for this book is the setting, now most might not understand the class system in England. It not as prominent today but during this time period, oh my golly gosh it was. The feel of this scheme sings in the book, made me think that did happen!
The last thing I would like to talk about is the steampunk and dragons, neither was used to browbeat you. They were a part of the story, not the shiny object. I will again commend Miss Anderson for this balance of ideas.
This book isn’t perfect, but the imperfection does not detract from the readability of the story. I would highly suggest this book! FIVE STARS!!!
Keep an eye out for the second in the series the Phoenix Lord, I’m going to pre-order mine now!
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Website: http://authorangeliqueanderson.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pg/authorasa...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AuthorASAndersn
The Dragon Lady, Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XW61XPG/...
June 27, 2017
Being free! Kayla: Genius, I mean.
Still not a hundred percent sure how this whole thing will go. I’ll sum it up to experience, try posting it in groups, on my page, Twitter account, excreta. By Friday I should have a clear understanding what works and what doesn’t.
So stats as of 27/6
In Australia
Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars 2 customer reviews
Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #5,305 Free in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Free in Kindle Store)
#89 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Fantasy > Urban
In the US
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,440 Free in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Free in Kindle Store)
#11 in Kindle Store > Kindle Short Reads > 45 minutes (22-32 pages) > Science Fiction & Fantasy
#60 in Kindle Store > Kindle Short Reads > 45 minutes (22-32 pages) > Literature & Fiction
#292 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Fantasy > Paranormal & Urban
In the UK
Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #10,698 Free in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Free in Kindle Store)
#172 in Kindle Store > Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Fantasy > Contemporary
#384 in Kindle Store > Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Fantasy > Urban
#7562 in Kindle Store > Books > Literature & Fiction
So 89th for Urban Fantasy is really good, it was about 279th just yesterday. Let’s try and get that Free number down too. Just click down below for your copy!
Pick up your free copy of Kayla: Genius US|CA|UK|JP|AU
So now it is the 28/6
In Aussie Land!
Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars 2 customer reviews
#784 Free in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Free in Kindle Store)
#17 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Fantasy > Urban
In the US
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,624 Free in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Free in Kindle Store)
#11 in Kindle Store > Kindle Short Reads > 45 minutes (22-32 pages) > Science Fiction & Fantasy
#43 in Kindle Store > Kindle Short Reads > 45 minutes (22-32 pages) > Literature & Fiction
#251 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Fantasy > Paranormal & Urban
And now the UK
Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #7,425 Free in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Free in Kindle Store)
#123 in Kindle Store > Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Fantasy > Contemporary
#317 in Kindle Store > Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Fantasy > Urban
#5535 in Kindle Store > Books > Literature & Fiction
A vast improvement on this day, but as I want to be part of a future book launch held by Brhi Stokes, https://brhistokes.com/ I am finishing it on the 29th, which will be one month until the launch of Caligation!
June 8, 2017
First page of Kayla: Genius.
With my three five star reviews, I wanted to give my followers a little treat. The first page or so of Kayla: Genius
5.0 out of 5 stars Kayla. – very good read.
I found I was reading this book faster and faster. Great short story – held me right to the end. Could this be a prelim to a novel?
5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome little read
Great Short Story, well written and easy to read has you engaged with the character and her fate, the story is mysterious and leaves you wanting to know more.
Goodreads reviewer rated it 5 stars – it was amazing
For the Amazon links head here.
Kayla: Genius, AU Link, CA Link, USLink, UK Link
21,092
The black nylon straps feel tight around your petite body. The bonds are tight around your throat, forehead and chest. You are glad that they position the straps just underneath your breasts. It is pointless to struggle. Tight enough for immobility, but not enough to cut off your circulation.
For twenty-one thousand and ninety-four seconds, you have studied the room. The use of counting ensures a calm disposition, allowing the maximum cognition to assess your situation. The walls are soundproof, with no windows, and a poured concrete floor. Not even a two-way mirror like you would see in bad 80’s cop shows. Just a plain laminate table, with an office chair on the opposite side that screams institution, lit by a single overhead light. Mounted on the table are two globes with a wire trailing off like electric entrails. Gnawing on the rubberized mouth plug, you consider the relative freedom of your middle fingers, and the smooth button under each one.
As you analyse the surroundings for the twentieth time, you consider the quantum flow of the room is fixed to four points. The door, the light and the two upper corners adjacent to the door. Hidden cameras are a certainty, it will be considerably harder to conceive of a plan while being watched.
Something about this room makes you curious of their understanding of the FableLands. You feel disconnected from the parallel world of Fablelands where myth and legend run amok. Your Arc Leonardo doesn’t feel fully connected to you. Why can’t you tap into the other place? Was it the Government or one of the Corporations that have been pursuing your group?
For six hours since you regained self-awareness, these thoughts have been percolating in your mind. The full mantle of Leo is unavailable. There is a faint access to some of the Arc, but it feels tenuous at best. Just remember you are the Arc of this Age, embrace that belief.
The infiltration was flawless as it was your brother’s plan. Yet a mistake was made. Someone must have been watching you and your friends planning this task, but who? Unless there is a traitor within your group or your family. Either option seems to be silly.
With a grinding noise, the apparently reinforced door opens. The sound gives it away. Whoever has taken you, they have created a lot of safeguards. They must have a fledgeling understanding of yours and your friends’ powers.
A man in a grey pinstripe suit walks in before the heavy door cycles closed with a resounding boom. From his body language, you can see that there is a self-discipline of all things. Yet a single drop of sweat beading down his cheek does not escape your notice, and this betrays his inner emotional state. Apprehension.
He is a cleanly shaven Caucasian man with an expensive haircut and a scent of rich cologne. As he sits in front of you, in his right hand is a bulging file, which he places on the table in front of him.
“Hope you are comfortable, the restraints have to stay on. For your own protection.”
June 1, 2017
Finally Published!
Last Saturday will go down in history as when Samuel Colbran was published, holidays will be created, songs will be sung and the people will celebrate in the streets about the success of this amazing man.,,,
Or I just published my first book.
I always thought it would have been my Journal of an Adventurer series be the first published but like all would be thoughts, it is not the case. After my pulling Lake Merrin ten days out before the print, there were still things that were planned and needed to happen. One was Supanova.
Click to view slideshow.
Supanova was the best experience from one of the worst mistakes I could ever make. The weekend was fun, but there was a resounding depression that clouded my judgement on these days. I was supposed to be published. Seeing how crap the day was financial to many authors, I dodged a bullet, but I did learn a lot on how to be successful. So win, win.
After ‘Nova, I was depressed, nothing could be said what I should be doing. My book, Lake Merrin just was sitting there, and not much else. Nearly was thinking of quitting being an author. Then something happened!
A fellow author was joining a panel for a local seminar, Writers Block. I thought why the heck not! So I went along, the main chat is how to be traditionally published, which I really don’t care about. No person will ever, ever tell me that my vision needs to change for the marketplace! Suggest, yes, but this is my creative baby, and I will fight tooth and nail to make it live!
Back to the the Block, great speakers learned a great deal. Then Nick Earl hopped up and started to talk. He has a PhD in literary and his thesis was Novellas. He has produced some top notch work, and I thought to myself, that can be done. A short story, those are some ideas I can work with.
Then I talked to Nick, and he opened a Pandora’s box of creativity! I told him about this idea that has been bubbling around in my head. The YA book. Then he said something to me that change my path, why not publish each one separately and then at the end bring them together as a bundle. Oh, my trucking truck! What a brilliant idea!
So I did, sat down, wrote Kayla: Genius in a couple of days, edited it, commissioned an artist, Julia, to do the cover and two weeks later published it on Kindle!
So I am published and will be releasing each of the six parts over the next few months.
Best idea ever!
As an added bonus here is the first paragraph of each book so far.
Kayla: Genius, AU Link, CA Link, US Link, UK Link
The black nylon straps feel tight around your petite body. The bonds are tight around your throat, forehead and chest. You are glad that they position the straps just underneath your breasts. It is pointless to struggle. Tight enough for immobility, but not enough to cut off your circulation.
Briana: Knight
Briana struggles against her chains, she can feel every link digging into her skin. She wonders to herself what went wrong? The plan was flawless, there must be another hand involved. If she just had her sword, she could be free.
Ciro: Founder
Where do they think I am going? There is no need for restraints. Such a waste of energy. I can see that it is a standard interrogation room without the two-way mirror. If I were designing it, there would be at least two cameras in the corners.
Enjoy!
May 26, 2017
The Mythical Moth
I woke to find a moth on my wall, it is beautiful and majestic. As it inspired Melissa H North, I too am inspired to create a story about the humble moth.
While doing some research today for my book and its mythical world, I came across how amazing the humble moth is. When most of us think of a moth, we believe them to be drab brown insects that hide between the fabric of our clothing or flutter obsessively at a glowing light. We think of moths as the boring cousin to the beautiful butterfly, however, on delving deeper, I found that moths are quite extraordinary creatures.
The Luna moth doesn’t have a mouth and can only live for one week. Its whole purpose of life is to mate. The Polyphemus moth has eye apertures on its wings to confuse prey looking for a snack. The Hornet Moth looks like, well, a hornet! (But without the sting). And what about the mystical wood nymph; this moth has evolved to look like bird poop in a clever ploy to deter prey. So the moth…
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May 23, 2017
Your Creative Reservoir
When you are filled with passion for creating sometimes it is hard to slow down, I know that Melissa H North and myself have been on a roller coaster of creativity. Just love being an Author!
Creative exploration to me is enjoying an intense period of inspiration by reaching deep inside and exploring the creative unknown. I love to be creative and I’m always on the look out to develop new ideas, bring to birth strange new words and implement imaginative and unique storylines.
For me, little things can ‘light bulb’ a moment of inspiration. A word said in the course of a conversation, the way of a person’s peculiarities, the majesty of creation or a wide- eyed look from a much-loved pet.
These are triggers that initiate a deluge of thoughts which cascade like a waterfall in my head. Without a pen and paper or some kind of device where I can capture this magical water, it would likely float downstream and be forgotten in the babbling of everyday thought. The best way to fill your creative well is to be prepared for inspiration to…
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May 22, 2017
Prowling the Prose – Alternatives to Overused Words
As a follow up with Brhi Stokes’ Filler words, come N.R Eccles-Smith alternative of overused words!
Head to https://brhistokes.com/ for more of Brhi Stokes blogs
Or for N.R. Eccles-Smith, follow this link, https://dragoncalling.wordpress.com/
“So avoid using the word ‘very’ because it’s lazy. A man is not very tired, he is exhausted. Don’t use very sad, use morose. Language was invented for one reason boys–to woo women–and, in that endeavor, laziness will not do. It also won’t do in your essays.” – N. H. Kleinbaum, Dead Poets Society
Well now, witty and withered web-wanderers, I bid you a warm welcome to my latest blogging endeavour. I am sure you are as pleased to have me return from my prowlings, as I am to be here, ready to share more of my werecat wisdom.
For those who are unaware (shame on you!) I am the Whimsical Werecat. For those who are already acquainted … I am perfectly pleased to host you again.
This blog’s subject is a light touching on the sorry case of overused words. I suppose a large majority of overused…
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May 14, 2017
Sense8 season 2, WOW!!!
Just finished watching season 2 of Sense8, and thank you for the journey that you took us, the viewers, on. From the diverse cast to the many social issues the show deals with, is what makes it one of my most favourite shows.
The themes of the show are simply down to identity. How this idea can be so simple but in the same regard complicated. Knowing oneself, but what if you are now part of a hive mind, sensate, a cluster, where your thoughts, feelings, and the five senses are shared between seven other people. What is your identity now? Are you John Doe, or now one of eight?
This is an amazing thing the concept of Sense8, but there is much more. Just like regular humans, homo-sensorium, have to deal with sexuality, finance, politics and just being themselves. Some of this reminds me of the story I am currently writing, not eight people connected but a connection to another being and how you can tap into their skills and knowledge. Picture connecting with something beyond your imaginations and they can grant you powers to affect the world and now think it was seven others. What would you do with that information.
In Sense8, another theme is survival, just because you are different, doesn’t mean that you should be mistreated in any way.
I could talk about each of the characters (my favourites are Leto, Nomi, Van Damme, Wolfgang, Will, Riley and Kala) or the storyline (Whispers, you scary mother) but I won’t as I think it needs to experience. It is slow to start but hang in there and have an open mind. Just go watch it!
May 11, 2017
Let’s Talk: Filler Words
Nearly always we use a lot of fillers in our very creative work. It is second nature to be somewhat indifferent to the purposes of this language. Sometimes it happens but not all the time. Thank you for pointing out this very important lesson for us.
Wow, that was hard to use all those fillers, thank you Brhi for your blog, this will help people overcoming that safety net of Filler words.
Today, we’re going to talk about one of those little things you probably don’t even realise you overuse: filler words.
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