Andrew Heasman's Blog, page 3

Limited Time Offer...

Limited Time Offer...!SUMMER SALE.Commencing at 0800Hrs on Monday 8th July 2019, "Gone Diving: My Adventures Above and Below the Waves" will be on sale at a significantly reduced price in KINDLE format from AMAZON UK and AMAZON US only.Click on the links above for a direct route to each sales page.With summer fast approaching (in some places already here), what better way to laze away those long summer evenings than to read of foreign travel, adventure, and excitement above and below the ocean's surface.Remember - This is a limited time offer, so get your copy while it is cheap...Not read volumes one and two in The Memoir Series? Not to worry, both are also available from the Amazon store Worldwide too.All books are also available in paperback format.https://ajheasman.wixsite.com/author

Writer? Author? Novelist?

Having written three memoirs, and with a future fiction novel well underway, the question of what to call myself crossed my mind...Am I a WRITER? this would seem a logical description seeing as I wrote these books. But think deeper - the term WRITER suggests physically writing by hand, pen (or pencil) on paper - I tend to use a computer, so WRITER might not be appropriate.Also, when I hear the term WRITER, I associate it with someone who writes things other than books, such as articles, blogs etc.So, if not a writer, then am I an AUTHOR? The term AUTHOR is defined as the originator/composer of any literary work (as opposed to a compiler, editor, translator etc.). This would seem to fit. Plus, authors are regarded as writers (effectively a sub-group of a writer).Could I be classed as a NOVELIST? This term suggests someone who has written a novel. But would you describe a memoir as a novel? Some traditionalists might suggest that a memoir is a class of book in its own right, and that a novel is a totally different species. When my forthcoming fiction novel is published, then NOVELIST might be a good description.Working along the same lines, might the term MEMOIRIST be most accurate at the moment? After all, I have three memoirs published.You might think of words such as WORDSMITH, PEN-MAN, or even SCRIBE, but, to me, all of these titles suggest someone more interested in the putting together of "flowery" language, the art of literature as opposed to the art of telling a story. For example, Shakespeare might fall into this category, and I would in no way compare my writing to that.To me, my writing is not so much about the words that are used, it is more about what they describe, the content, the story.From here, it is a small step to think of myself as a STORYTELLER, or to be more accurate, a LITTERARY STORYTELLER, one who uses words and writing to tell a tale. I write the way I speak, telling a story through description using modern language. After all, my three memoirs tell the story of my life, in my own words, as if I was speaking to the reader/listener in person.Maybe this is the better title for me at the moment.No matter what we call ourselves, no matter what title we give; I am ultimately telling a story (be that my life story or a made-up story from my imagination). In my own mind, I am a STORYTELLER first, an AUTHOR/NOVELIST second, but ultimately, a WRITER...The Memoir Series consists of three titles:"Beyond the Waves: My Royal Navy Adventures""Single-Crewed: My Life as a Police Officer""Gone Diving: My Adventures Above and Below the Waves"All three are available in paperback and Kindle formats from your local AMAZON outlet or from https://ajheasman.wixsite.com/authorFREE to read if you are a subscriber to Kindle Unlimited or Amazon Prime.

Easter is approaching...

With Easter rapidly approaching, have you thought what to get your loved ones as a gift?Easter eggs are nice, but so "last year" (not to mention unhealthy!)How about getting them a book. A chance to escape from the chaos that school holidays bring. A chance to escape to foreign climes. A chance to experience a new adventure.But which book should you choose?Might I suggest one (or all) of The Memoir Series. Whether your preference is adventure on the high seas, exploration of foreign countries, or diving beneath the waves; there is sure to be something to interest you."Beyond the Waves: My Royal Navy Adventures""Single-Crewed: My Life as a Police Officer""Gone Diving: My Adventures Above and Below the Waves"Each can be read as a stand-alone story, or read them in sequence for a full autobiography, the choice is yours.Each volume is available as a paperback or Kindle E-Book.Available from Amazon Worldwideor https://ajheasman.wixsite.com/authorFREE to those who subscribe to Amazon Prime or Kindle Unlimited.Enjoy

Work in Progress

Ready to get published?To answer the question - No, my new work-in-progress is not ready to be published - YET!However, it is progressing well...Planning started at the beginning of this year, with the actual writing starting around mid-February. To date, I am up to chapter 26 with about 56000 words completed.When you consider that a novel is anywhere from 70000 to 100000 words in length (sometimes longer), it means I'm somewhere near to halfway through - ish.Of course, this is only the first draft and edit. I then have to re-read it in its entirety at least 4 or 5 times more, adjusting, altering, and editing.Once that is complete (and only if I'm happy with the result) will I consider publishing.That opens up another debate: Traditional Publishing or Self-Publishing?My previous books were all self-published (which seems to be the way to go nowadays), however, it doesn't hurt to submit to literary agents and traditional publishers to get an idea of their thoughts and opinions. That being said, their views are simply that - opinions. Having submitted my first book to a publisher, they said that as good as it is, because it was aimed at a relatively small target audience, they could not seeing it selling more than a hundred or so copies; it wasn't financially viable. Just over a year down the line, and I just broke my first 2500 sales, and I'm selling more now than at the start. As you can see, opinions are not always correct.So, book #4 is underway... Watch this space for future updates. Join my Mailing List, or follow me on Facebook/Twitter.Andrew Heasman: Author of The Memoir Series.Beyond the Waves: My Royal Navy Adventures (Book #1)Single-Crewed: My Life as a Police Officer (Book #2)Gone Diving: My Adventures Above and Below the Waves (Book #3)All are available as paperbacks/E-books from all Amazon Outlets worldwide or from my website https://ajheasman.wixsite.com/authorBuy all three from HERE.FACEBOOKTWITTER

Changing from Memoir to Fiction...

This year brings a change in my writing.With the publishing of my third Memoir (Gone Diving: My Adventures Above and Below the Waves) at the start of January, The Memoir Series is complete (for now...).My next challenge - to use the experiences and knowledge gained in my past careers to delve into the world of Fiction Writing.Having travelled extensively around the world, that would be one avenue to explore (maybe in time), but for my first novel, I have chosen to enter the world of crime writing. How it will turn out, only time will tell.I have discovered that there is a marked difference between writing about my personal experiences and those of a fictional character. The actual physical process of "writing" is not all that different from what I have done before, however, I am the sort of person who likes to follow a detailed "script." I need to plan my storylines in intricate detail, placing each scene, cut-scene, and back-story in sequence, in note-form, so that I simply need to follow the route-map that I have created.To that effect, the past month and a bit have been a case of developing characters, imagining locations, devising plots and sub-plots, and basically putting together the pieces of my jigsaw puzzle.The good news - it is coming together nicely. I have a story, a body-count of 4 and a bit (so far), locations collated from various places that I have visited (and merged into a fictional world that has evolved as a result), and a structured outline from which to write. It seems that a logical mind is a great help. When faced with a blank page, no idea of a story, and no people to populate the world; it becomes a daunting prospect. Where do you start? BUT, by breaking the task into smaller sections - getting a simple plot-line from which to develop a more complex story, giving birth to characters (and then creating their entire life stories - whether they get incorporated into the final book, or not), and arranging the scenes such they flow from one to another smoothly - the working schedule has evolved.Now there is just the minor task of actually writing the book, bringing life to my notes, and putting the story down on a computer screen. Is the story any good? I think so - but the proof of the pudding will be in the eating (as they say). For now, its content is under wraps - even my wife remains in the dark about it (unless she has been peeking at my notes).Watch this space for further updates as things progress...……For those who have still not read The Memoir Series, it is available from ALL Amazon outlets in Paperback and Kindle E-Book formats. It is also available from my website https://ajheasman.wixsite.com/authorIf you are a member of Amazon Prime or Kindle Unlimited, the books are FREE to read/borrow.If you want to "sample" what each book is like, there is a "view" facility on each book's Amazon page, and a facility to download a sample few chapters.Enjoy the books, share my adventures, look forward to my forthcoming fiction books.

"Gone Diving" goes LIVE...

Book #3 in The Memoir Series is finally available through Amazon Worldwide. "Gone Diving: My Adventures Above and Below the Waves."UK readers use link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=dp_byline_sr_book_1?ie=UTF8&text=Andrew+Heasman&search-alias=books-uk&field-author=Andrew+Heasman&sort=relevancerankUS readers use link: https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=dp_byline_sr_book_1?ie=UTF8&text=Andrew+Heasman&search-alias=books&field-author=Andrew+Heasman&sort=relevancerankOR simply search "Gone Diving," or my name, or check https://ajheasman.wixsite.com/authorKindle and Paperback versions - FREE to Amazon Prime or Kindle Unlimited subscribers.ENJOY...

Happy New Year

Happy New Year - 2019.https://ajheasman.wixsite.com/author

Christmas is Coming...

Christmas is nearly upon us again. Time to think about Christmas Gifts and "Stocking Fillers."How about these two books in paperback format?They are not just any cheap throw-away books - these are high quality books printed on crisp white paper, with luxurious matt covers that are like velvet to the touch. PERFECT to give as gifts... Available from Amazon Worldwide or https://ajheasman.wixsite.com/author

Remembrance 100

Today, on this 100th anniversary of The Armistice, we remember Sergeant W.B. Heasman M.M. of The London Regiment.This week, I asked my daughters what their Primary School had done to commemorate the end of WW1. I naively thought they might have had an assembly, or the teachers may have given a lesson to explain the sacrifice of those that went before.But, NO, there was nothing! Poppies were available to be bought, but no explanation as to the reason why...Yet again, schools have deferred their responsibility to educate the young. It is down to us, the parents to do it for them. Thankfully, our daughters are Brownies/Rainbows, and they did take part in a parade and service at the Stoke Minster and Cenotaph. So today, amongst all of those who paid the ultimate sacrifice, we remember my Grandad (the girls' Great Grandfather), W.B. Heasman.During WW1, he was a member of The London Regiment, rising to the rank of Sergeant. He fought in Greece (Salonika), and was deployed to Egypt, fighting in the Battle of Gaza, and the capture and defence of Jerusalem. From there, he was deployed to the trenches of northern France and Belgium where he was awarded the MILITARY MEDAL for actions involving the rescue of colleagues from No-Man's-Land.Between the wars, he played rugby for the Wasps RFC, and at the outbreak of WW2, he served as a firefighter during the London Blitz.We never knew you, but we are proud to call you family... #remembrance100Author of "Beyond the Waves: My Royal Navy Adventures" and "Single-Crewed: My Life as a Police Officer"Both available from Amazon Worldwide and https://ajheasman.wixsite.com/authorPaperback and Kindle E-Book formats.FREE if a member of Kindle Unlimited or Amazon Prime.

At this Time of Remembrance...

At this time of remembrance, one for the Royal Navy...https://ajheasman.wixsite.com/author"Beyond the Waves: My Royal Navy Adventures""Single-Crewed: My Life as a Police Officer"Both books are available in paperback and Kindle E-Book formats.15% discount on all paperbacks at the moment from Amazon.co.ukKindle version is FREE if a member of Kindle Unlimited or Amazon Prime.Available from Amazon Worldwide or https://ajheasman.wixsite.com/author