Andrew Heasman's Blog, page 7

Happy Trafalgar Day

Today, October the 21st is traditionally known as, "TRAFALGAR DAY" in Royal Navy circles.Dating back to 21st October 1805, it celebrates the victory of Vice-Admiral Horatio Nelson's British fleet over the combined fleets of Spain and France at the Battle of Trafalgar. Aboard the Flagship, HMS Victory (pictured), Lord Nelson was fatally wounded in the battle. His second-in-command, Collingwood, took control of the fleet after his wounding, concluding the battle, despite being outnumbered. Prior to the start of the battle, Lord Nelson famously ordered the signal,"England expects that every man will do his duty."to be flown from the rigging of HMS Victory as a morale boost for all members of his fleet.By tradition, this day is celebrated by Commissioned Officers of the British and Commonwealth Navies, when they have a formal "Trafalgar Day" dinner in the Officer's Mess. During this banquet, the guest-of-honour gives a speech which concludes with a toast using the words,"...to the Immortal Memory of Lord Nelson, and those who fell with him."For the junior rates, this too is a celebration day; not quite as formal as that conducted by the officers, but just as much fun. In olden days, it was often an excuse for "The Royal Navy Tot" (of rum) - now abolished, along with a lot of other naval traditions...!Around the world, this day is celebrated too. In the USA, the British Ambassador hosts a Trafalgar Day Dinner; In Gibraltar, commemorations are held at the Trafalgar Cemetery, where the senior Naval Commander reads an extract from the Gibraltar Chronical newspaper, the first newspaper to report on the battle.And the victory is celebrated each year in the Australian town of Trafalgar, Victoria, in which the small town of 2,200 hold an annual Battle of Trafalgar Festival with the Trafalgar Day Ball held on the Friday or Saturday closest to 21 October each year.During my time in the navy, we celebrated Trafalgar Day each year, as per the custom. I have also had a formal dinner aboard HMS Victory when I was a Petty Officer aboard HMS Invincible (this may well have been in celebration of Trafalgar Day too). You can read all about this, and my other adventures in my book, "Beyond the Waves: My Royal Navy Adventures." Available NOW from All Amazon outlets.For those looking for an excuse to get a copy of my book, why not use this year's TRAFALGAR DAY as your reason (not that you need a reason to buy it). What better day for naval tradition than TRAFALGAR DAY for you to get your copy of, "Beyond the Waves: My Royal Navy Adventures." Share my experiences in the Royal Navy during the 80's and 90's, and remember those who fought and died in years gone by.Today is the day to remember those who helped shape our British Navy, and the history of our country.HAPPY TRAFALGAR DAY

The arrival of Storm Ophelia in the UK

Nobody in the UK could possibly have missed the passing of Storm Ophelia over the last couple of days. A former Cat 3 Hurricane, its destructive winds created massive waves that pounded the shores of Ireland and the UK causing havoc and destruction.Why have I mentioned this in my blog? How is it related to my book? ("Beyond the Waves: My Royal Navy Adventures.") Well, to me, it brought back vivid memories of the time I encountered the back-end of a Typhoon in the South China Seas, aboard HMS Invincible. The waves you see in the image above are frightening enough, but look at the scale of them compared to the size of the lighthouse...!!! Now imagine a 210m-long aircraft carrier, mid-ocean, being thrown around by the same (if not bigger) waves, and you will have some idea of what it was like to experience this force of nature.Of course, to get the full story of my experiences, you'll have to read the book (available now). But to compare how it was relative to Ophelia, here is a link to a few more pictures of devastation and destruction, courtesy of countryliving.co.ukTo those who have read, are reading, or are thinking about reading my book, "Beyond the Waves: My Royal Navy Adventures," a big THANK YOU. I hope you enjoy(ed) it, and if you did, could I ask a big favour? Would you be so kind as to leave a review at the Amazon Page from where you bought it? As I am sure you are aware, a good review helps amazingly when it comes to selling books by "new" authors. Many people will be tempted to read it, but choose not to until others have checked-it-out first, and left a good review. Thank You, in advance.Oh, and a huge THANK YOU to the reader who has already left me a 5/5 star review. I am flattered.NEWS UPDATE -- For those interested in Book#2 in The Memoir Series, recalling my time in the Police Force, news hot-off-the-press is that I have made a start, planning and trying desperately to remember details of some of the incidents that I was involved in. As it stands, I think I'll be cutting out lots of things as the list seems endless. But preparations are underway, and the writing of the first draft should start within the next few weeks, in earnest.Be sure to sign-up to my Mailing List on my website, HERE, to ensure you receive updates and offers direct to your inbox.

Interview News - UPDATE

In an update to a previous post, my interview by the "Awesome Gang" website has gone live as of today.You can click through to the page HERE.Enjoy...To get this, and every blog entry delivered direct to your inbox, visit my website at:-https://ajheasman.wixsite.com/author    and sign-up to the Mailing List. Why risk missing important updates or offers by trawling through your Facebook timeline????"Beyond the Waves: My Royal Navy Adventures" available NOW from Amazon.co.ukand amazon.com(and all other amazon subsidiaries.

Subtle Hint from my Wife

Look what Mrs "H" bought me...I'm guessing she's either a bit optimistic with regards to my first bookOR//She wants me to crack-on with my second book.Either way, I'm using it for preparatory notes and planning for volume two in "The Memoir Series."Remember, Book #1, "Beyond the Waves: My Royal Navy Adventures" is currently available via my home page. Simply click HERE.The high quality paperback version would make a wonderful present for someone, what with Christmas coming up rapidly.And, the E-Book version is a convenient format and a reasonable price - as I have said before, it's cheaper than a Starbuck's coffee (Yeah, you guessed it, I've still not been offered an advertising deal by them, so I'll keep name-checking them until I do - lol). In other words, it's "cheap-as-chips" (to quote a well known antiques celebrity from UK TV) - in fact, in Britain at the moment, it's actually Cheaper-than-chips...!!!!Anyway, Buy, read, enjoy - and don't forget to leave a review on my amazon page if you liked it.Thank You, in advance...

Publishing of "Beyond the Waves" - National Press-Release

Thanks to Pressbox.co.uk based in London, the publication of my new book, "Beyond the Waves: My Royal Navy Adventures," has received national Press-Release coverage. The press-release can be read by clicking HERE. A "search-engine-friendly" version, with active links is due to be released tomorrow (12th October) at the following URL.     http://www.pressbox.co.uk/Arts/New_Bo... Every little piece of publicity helps to spread the word.......

The Royal Navy Today (Compared to when I served)

With the new release of my book, "Beyond the Waves: My Royal Navy Adventures," I thought it would be interesting to look at how the RN has changed over the years. I joined-up in 1986, so I looked for some information relating to how many ships were "serviceable" back then, compared to now; as well as the types of ships. I found an interesting report from the BBC (so it must be FACT) which I attach here."Royal Navy Woefully Low on Warships"If we take 1985 as the closest date to that which I entered service, then the report states that there were 4 aircraft-carriers, 2 assault-ships, 41 frigates, and 15 destroyers. A pretty formidable fleet, relatively speaking. Then came the planned cut-backs, and "Options-For-Change" (Which you will get to hear about if you read my book). Things started to go downhill after that... By 2016 (last year), the fleet consisted of NO aircraft-carriers, 3 assault-ships, 13 frigates, and 6 destroyers. Admittedly, we now have a "new" aircraft-carrier, but it is not due to be fully operational until around 2020 (so I hear!).To quote the Defence Committee Chairman, Julian Lewis, "The fleet is now way below the critical mass required for the many tasks which could confront it, if the international scene continues to deteriorate."Food for thought, with the ongoing threats from North Korea, coupled with the ever increasing demand from humanitarian sources (Caribbean hurricane relief), not to mention the terrorist threats at home and worldwide.To counter this, the MOD state that they are committed to increasing the size of the Royal Navy by investing billions of pounds into the development of 2 new aircraft-carriers, as well as a new submarine fleet, and new warships."This major programme of investment will ensure that the Royal Navy remains one of the world's most modern and powerful navies with a genuine global reach," it said in a statement.We shall see in due course..............To see how the fleet compared when I was in the RN, read my book, available now from Amazon worldwide. Click through my website HERE to get more details, and to sign-up to my mailing-list (why wade through masses of irrelevant Facebook posts when you can have them delivered direct to your inbox?)FOLLOW and LIKE my Facebook page and Twitter accounts too."Thank You" to those who have already bought my book. I hope you enjoyed it - if so, please leave a review on the Amazon website where you bought it. Reviews can make-or-break a book, so please be kind.....;-)    Any feedback is always welcome though, so contact me via my website "Contact Page" to share it with me.

"Beyond the Waves" is now available on the Amazon websites worldwide

The wait is over...!My new book, "Beyond the Waves: My Royal Navy Adventures" is now available in the World's biggest online bookstore;AMAZONNo matter which area of the world you live, "Beyond the Waves: My Royal Navy Adventures" is available from your LOCAL Amazon online store.How can you get your copy of my book? EASY - Go to the home-page of my website at https://ajheasman.wixsite.com/authorand click on the button that best suits your location. If you live in an area not mentioned, simply search your regional Amazon store by TITLE, AUTHOR, or ISBN/ASIN number.What formats can I read this book in?    It is available in Kindle E-Book format as well as paperback (for those who read my last blog post, you will know that this is a "superior" quality paperback - not your run-of-the-mill cheap rubbish).Are there any special deals available?   If you are already a member of "Kindle Unlimited," you can get the E-Book version for FREE. It is also FREE if you are a member of the "Kindle Owner's Lending Library." If you buy the paperback version, you will soon be able to get the E-Book version at the same time for a reduced cost.Be sure to sign-up to my Mailing Listat my website to get Blog Posts, and updates on forthcoming projects.From time to time, I will offer FREE Book Promotions, and discounted "Countdown Deals" through Amazon. Ensure you do NOT miss out, add your name to the Mailing Listfor details to be sent straight to your inbox.ENJOY the book, and if you like it, please leave a positive review at the website that you bought it --- THANK YOU.

Proof-Copy Paperback Quality Check

This is a picture of a very proud author who has just received a "Proof-Copy" of their first book, "Beyond the Waves: My Royal Navy Adventures."Arriving in the post from CreateSpace in the USA, I was extremely pleased with the quality of the finished product. Yes, the book cover looks stunning, the title distinctive, and the contents exactly as I had expected (seeing as those were the factors that I had control over); but I was blown-away by the quality of the book itself......!In the UK, books bought off the shelf in the local bookstore tend to be made of cheap, pulped paper, with flimsy covers. Maybe it is different in the USA, but the quality of the finished book I received was way above anything that I had expected. The pages are brilliant white (and report-sheet quality), the printing is crisp, sharp, and clear. As for the cover quality - Well, I chose the Matte finish (as it seems more popular in the UK), and it is silky to the touch...! You might describe it as almost like velvet - clearly an indication of the high quality of manufacture.Anyone considering using CreateSpace to publish their books will not be disappointed.For those of you out there who are looking to purchase my book, the wait is nearly over, it should be available in a week or so - DETAILS to follow in due course. With Christmas coming up, a book of this quality would make a great present for someone (Just a suggestion).It will also be available as an E-Book for those who prefer that format, though.Remember to sign-up to my blog at:-    https://ajheasman.wixsite.com/author      to ensure you get updates and relevant news direct to your inbox.FOLLOW me and LIKE my Facebook page at:-     https://www.facebook.com/AJHeasmanauthor/ and on Twitter at:-   https://twitter.com/HeasmanAuthor

Author (Self) Interview #2

So, following on from the success of my first interview with myself about the forthcoming launch of my new book, "Beyond the Waves: My Royal Navy Adventures," I have decided to do another Q+A session.As promised, this time, I am going to explain a little about the process I used to actually write and produce the book; so it might be interesting to those with similar aspirations amongst you...Q:   What was the first thing you needed to do when you thought about writing a book?A:   Having never written anything before, I needed to do a lot of research to make sure I did it the right way. There is lots of information on the internet (probably too much), but lots of it contradicts itself. Anyone who has written a book suddenly becomes an "expert" and publishes how they did it, so one person's method will differ from another's'...! Having read lots of ideas, I binned most of it. The most important advice I received was simply to get on and write something; small amounts, a bit every day. The formatting, page size, font, space between lines, and every other little detail (that seems to obsess people) can all be changed at a later date once its written (if you use a computer, that is).Q:   Where did you get all of the information to write about? Your memory can't be that good...?A:   Well, you're right, I couldn't remember everything to start with. So I started looking through photo albums, diaries, and other paperwork relating to the navy years. I wrote a "Timeline" of when and where I was at any particular time. Then I went through each section and added memories, stories, and information to flesh-it-out a bit. These notes were everywhere, out of order, confused, mixed-up. So I spent time ordering everything, and suddenly I found myself with a Blueprint of a Book; a plan to follow; a map of the book's structure. It was like magic... After that, the actual writing was relatively easy; I just needed to follow the plan. Also, once you remember one story, it generally ignites further memories, and more stories to add. So much so, that at some point you need to cut-out some of the "extra" bits (or the book would become an epic!).Q:   So, having written the first draft, what next?A:   Well, then the hard work starts. I had to research certain facts to ensure they were actually correct. Things like facts, figures, dates etc. Then the reading started. The first edit involved reading the whole book, checking it flowed smoothly, chopping out any bits that did not add to the story, and adding any bits that I thought would be worth including.In subsequent edits, I looked at spelling, grammar, punctuation; correcting things as I went along.Q:   Couldn't you just use "word-check" or similar on your computer?A:   Yeah, I did. It picks out the obvious mistakes, but it misses lots of things too. If you use words like "alter" and "altar" they have totally different meanings, but both would be passed by the spell-check as they are valid words. You really need to do a few manual checks yourself. It's very time consuming and certainly tests your understanding of the English language.Q:   How many edits did you do in total?A:   I think I'm up to around 6 full edits thus far, plus the printing company do a spell-check too, plus I had an editor look at my manuscript to see what they thought.Q:   When you came to getting the manuscript printed, was it simply a case of sending them the "word" document?A:   I wish it was...! No, it needed formatting, the page size needed setting, the text font and size needed selecting, and headings needed tagging through "word." Then you need specific margin sizes left and right, which need to be mirrored for paperback books, plus specific header and footer sections with certain information contained within them. Chapters need indenting in a specific manner, as do first paragraph sections. Then chapters need separating to stop them running into one another; and a whole host of other settings to adjust and set. It's a lot more complex than you might think!Q:   But once it's done, the book is ready, right?A:   Well, no. That might get the paperback version prepared, but then the E-Book needs totally different settings and formatting; and if you send it to traditional publishers (as I did), each one has its own set of requirements.Q:   Isn't there an easier way of doing all of that?A:   Yes, you could pay a fortune and let a vanity publisher do it for you. Or I found a company called "Draft2Digital" who were very good. They formatted the E-Book for free, and distribute it to certain online outlets for a reasonable cut of the profits. But if you are selling through Amazon, it seems best to use their portal to get your book prepared, which involves learning how their systems work, and using them. It isn't too difficult once you've done it once. My second book should be a whole lot easier to produce. There are other companies out there who will do all the hard work for you, but you need to watch the costs and what you get for the money.Q:   You mentioned in the last interview about getting your cover produced professionally; why did you choose that option?A:   Initially, I had a go at doing it myself, using "Gimp" which is a free equivalent to Photoshop. The results were OK, but you could tell it was a DIY effort. So I looked around for a suitable professional company at a reasonable cost. I had heard bad reports about "Fiverr" but at the same time, people saying if you got lucky and chose a good designer, you'd get good results for little outlay. I got lucky; finding Angie at Pro_Ebookcovers who produced the cover shown here. With its dramatic text and moody atmosphere, I think it is pretty distinctive - just what I was after.Q:   So what is next?A:   Well, I'm currently going through the book again, doing a final check of the Proof-Copy of the paperback. Once that is accepted, it goes to the printers and gets advertised on Amazon worldwide. At the same time, the E-Book version goes live on Amazon too (for Kindle). After about 5 weeks, the paperback will also be available through other outlets, libraries, schools etc., and available for bulk buying.Q:   What if the reader doesn't have a Kindle?A:   Not a problem. They can read the paperback version, or if they want the E-Book version, they can get FREE Kindle reader apps for use on any tablet, computer, or phone. Although I am initially selling exclusively through Amazon, after a few months, I intend to sell through Nook, Kobo, Barnes Noble, Google Books, and iBook's.I hope you enjoyed finding out about the intricate process of writing a book. My first book will be available soon. Be sure to sign-up to my website at:-  https://ajheasman.wixsite.com/authorto ensure you get updates and blog posts direct to your inbox (it saves having to trawl through your Facebook timeline to find my posts - potentially missing something important).FOLLOW and LIKE my Facebook page at:-  https://www.facebook.com/AJHeasmanauthor/FOLLOW me at:-  https://twitter.com/HeasmanAuthorAnd link through to me on LinkedIn and Google+SHARE my posts with your friends and networks ---  SHARE - SHARE - SHARE#poweredbyindie

Author (Self) Interview

 For those who missed it the first time around, a quick recap on my last blog entry in preparation for "Author (Self) Interview #2" -- coming soon...........................So I had a thought - wouldn't it be good to have an interview so that followers could get a bit more information about my forthcoming book, and the reasons behind it. Looking around, Charlie and Louise on BBC News were somewhat busy, so I went for the second best option; MYSELF...! I'm going to interview myself and pass on some information to you all, so here goes.......................Q:   So, MrHeasman, in simple terms, what is your new book about?A:   Well, Mr Heasman, "Beyond the Waves: My Royal Navy Adventures" is exactly what it says in the title. It is my recollection of events from when I joined the RN as an Artificer Apprentice in 1986, through to my leaving as a Petty Officer some years later. It covers my training at HMS Raleigh and HMS Collingwood, as well as the many voyages around the world aboard the frigate, HMS Scylla, and the carrier, HMS Invincible. It includes details of lesser known postings, and covers the day-to-day life of a naval rating afloat, and ashore, during the 80's and 90's.Q:   Should those who served with you be worried about getting mentioned?A:   No. This is a "memoir" and it focuses on my exploits, not those around me. There are a few references to others throughout the story, but nothing nasty, mostly humorous. Those that are mentioned are referred to by nickname or surname (Or completely different names - for privacy). But those that were there, mentioned or not, will appreciate the descriptions of events and locations covered, which should bring back fond memories for those who remember them. That being said, those who were not there, but who served in any of the armed services will also relate to the things I experienced - forces' training is often similar, and the forces' attitude and sense of humour is the same everywhere.Q:   What made you write this book?A:   There were a number of reasons. It was a way of killing time whilst waiting around at home to do the school-runs and the like. It was a challenge to see if I could actually write one, and see how it would turn out. But mostly, it was to leave a permanent record of what I got up to for my family to see in years to come. If you read the "Foreword" of the book, it'll give a more in-depth explanation.Q:   How long have you been writing the book?A:   I started earlier this year, about February. But before then, the idea had been bouncing around in my head for a few months, and I'd been looking on the internet for the best way of approaching it, formatting it etc. The actual writing initially took about three and a half months, working 1.5 hours each day, 5 days a week. But then the hard work starts, the editing, formatting, proofreading, re-editing (numerous times), and so on. In all, it's taken around 7 months to get to this stage - ish...!Q:   Who have you told you were writing it?A:   Initially, nobody...!Q:   Why?A:   Well, at the start, I didn't even know if I was capable of completing a book. During my research, it said that millions of people begin books, but never finish them due to various reasons. I wanted to see if I could get to a semi-finished state first. Also, I didn't know if it was any good until it was near completion. After various edits and so on, I submitted the manuscript to various traditional publishers to see what happens. Bearing in mind that the subject matter is quite niche, I didn't expect much response, but to my surprise, the majority of them were very positive. However, big publishing firms have to look at the financial gain first, and with a relatively small market, it wasn't a financial risk they were willing to take. I had a couple of contracts for "partnership" deals, but that involved a monetary outlay on my part (not what I wanted on my first book project). Besides, most of the big companies were not willing to take a risk on an unknown author. That being said, they liked the content, they loved the style of writing, and all agreed that it should be published in one form or another. Having had this confidence boost, I released my "PLAN" on the world, telling everyone. Hopefully, we can prove those publishers wrong and make this book a success that they wish they had grabbed when they had the chance.Q:   So you did get professional help then?A:   Yes, Amanda Field at Chaplin Books was especially helpful. Whilst not being able to financially publish my book, she suggested various tweaks and additions to my manuscript (which I've added), and offered ongoing support should I need it. I've also given my book cover design to an American company to work on - I did attempt a few cover designs myself, but I'm not really a graphic designer - best left to the pros.Q:   Is there anything else you'd like to add?A:   Well, if readers like this post, I'll do another one soon, answering some more of my own questions in a (Self) interview, maybe going into a bit more depth on the book creation side of things. But if anyone has any questions that are burning inside of them, drop me an email and I'll pass them onto my other-self to include in future blogs.You can get my email address from my website at    https://ajheasman.wixsite.com/authorW... you're there, be sure to sign-up to the mailing list. You won't be bombarded by email or spam, but it ensures you receive all news immediately, and you never miss a blog entry (it also keeps all my contact's addresses in one location, which helps me).If you liked this Blog entry, subscribe at       https://ajheasman.wixsite.com/author"LIKE," "SHARE" and "FOLLOW" this, and every post on FACEBOOK and TWITTER. Let's make this viral..........(whatever that means - me being a non-techy).