Ian MacKenzie's Blog

CLOUDS IN THE WIND

In politically turbulent Southern Africa of the 1970's, the winds of change are fanning the flames of ethnic injustices and revolutionary aspirations.
Andrew Mason, an ambitious young banking executive, is seemingly unphased by politics and the undercurrent of racial animosity.
Scholar Cum Laude, handsome, gifted sportsman, confident and the son of an affluent family, his swift rise up the corporate ladder seems inevitable. Until, as if having conspired with destiny, two unrelated events intersect to change the course of his future, and within days his well balanced life is abruptly and brutally transformed.
Andy is falsely accused of a breach of confidence and unethical conduct within his working environment and is simultaneously called upon by a distraught girl friend needing to reach her parents in her homeland of war torn Rhodesia.
Mason is wholly unprepared for the tragedy that follows and he is left bewildered and traumatized in a country ripped apart by the affects of political intransigence and civil war.
His corporate ambitions in disarray and his emotions in a state of confusion, Andrew enrols in the Rhodesian military where he evolves to become a hardened and ruthless combatant with the elite SAS.
By force of circumstance, through the horrors and tragedies of war, Andy finds himself living two separate lives; one amid the acrid stench of burnt cordite, danger, brutality, sudden death and survival alongside his comrades in "The Squadron" and the other in the soothing arms of Alyson Carstens, the spoilt and protected daughter of wealthy parents.
Returning wounded from an ill-fated mission, Andy learns that Alyson is pregnant and they decide to marry. However, on their wedding night, a devastating incident has a dramatic impact on their union, which ultimately exposes an underlying secret liaison of deceit and betrayal with far reaching and catastrophic consequences.
The tragedy of the times is symbolized in Andy's prosperity, his courage in the face of adversity and the progressive downward spiral as everything he fought for and believes in gradually crumbles.
As one heartbreak follows another, Andrew's emotional strength is sapped and his decline into alcoholism and despair leaves him vulnerable and reckless.

"A captivating story by a talented author". (Saturday Star)

"The pace will leave you breathless. A full on 5 star read." (Bookplex)

"A memorable debut that will linger beyond the page. Clouds In The Wind will prove a spellbinding read and is strongly recommended." (Writer's Digest)


https://www.amazon.com/Clouds-Wind-Ia...

Clouds In The Wind

5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Excellent story well written
Published 6 months ago by Ross Palmer

5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent
Amazing read. Once I started I couldn't put it down. I cannot wait to read the sequel.
Published 6 months ago by Lynette Schalkwyk

5.0 out of 5 stars
Andrew Mason finds himself catapulted from his corporate job and the...
I chose Clouds in the Wind as a pick up, put down week end read. From page one “put down” did not apply. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Glynis McFadden

5.0 out of 5 starsThis book has it all - action, intrigue, romance and history.
an this book, my thought was, "oh no, another war novel filled with violence." While this is a novel about the race wars in Rhodesia/Zimbabwe in the 1970s, and... Read more
Published 8 months ago by Linda Thompson, Host of The Authors Show

5.0 out of 5 starsA rattling good yarn
This is a superb read and as good as any Wilbur Smith production. Although a work of fiction, the author clearly has a deep understanding of the political and social conditions... Read more
Published 8 months ago by Len Venter

5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars
The Author does not hold back on the hell of war.
Published 9 months ago by Gwai Low Trooper

5.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderful book,reminds me of Wilbur Smith type of story
Great story,wonderful characters,reminds me of a Wilbur Smith type of story.Can't wait for the follow on. Tell the author to get a move on.
Published 11 months ago by Tom.

5.0 out of 5 stars.
Very well written account of a part of modern history that is largely forgotten today. The characters are well drawn out and interesting.
Published 12 months ago by Neely Sexton

5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent - thoroughly enjoyed the read. Ian Mackenzie is a natural author who who has the knack of maintaining the readers interest in a fascinating story.
Published 13 months ago by Prop Geldenhuys.

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Clouds In The Wind

22nd Annual Writer’s Digest Self-Published Book Awards

Entry Title Clouds In The Wind
Author: Ian Mackenzie
Judge Number: 61
Entry Category: Mainstream/Literary Fiction

Books are evaluated on a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 meaning “needs improvement” and 5 meaning “outstanding”. This scale is strictly to provide a point of reference, it is not a cumulative score and does not reflect ranking.

Structure, Organization, and Pacing: 4/5

Spelling, Punctuation, and Grammar: 4/5

Production Quality and Cover Design: 4/5

Plot and Story Appeal: 5/5

Character Appeal and Development: 4/5

Voice and Writing Style: 4/5


Judge’s Commentary*:

CLOUDS IN THE WIND; by Ian Mackenzie.
The book’s title, Clouds in the Wind, is an expression that means futility, and nothing is more futile than war. In the 1970s in Southern Africa, successful business man Andrew Mason is drawn into the Rhodesian bush wars. With great narrative energy and a keen visual sense of detail, Ian Mackenzie guides us into the fray. He describes skirmishes with blood-curdling accuracy where the Rhodesian side wins every battle, but as we all know, they eventually lost the war. White supremacy is defeated.
The characterization in this book is excellent. The protagonist, Andrew Mason, is a respected and decorated soldier, but his personal life is a shambles, mostly due to the war. After his relationship with Merryl and her daughter is ended through an attack on their convoy, he goes through a series of wanton relationships until he meets Alyson Carstens.
The fragility of life is brought home to him, and to us, as one by one people he is close to and cares about deeply are lost to him
This story has a number of plot twists and exceptional drama that makes it a compelling read.
In the end we are left with the question: What will become of Andrew Mason, a soldier without a war?
I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested is a good solid read with compelling characters and an excellent plot. It finishes with an ending that suggests a sequel, which would be welcome.

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Beware The Ides of Vanity Publishing

Author House, Xibris, I.Universe and Partridge are all part of the Author Solutions stable and as a victim of their extortionist tactics and unethical business practices, I reserve the right to share my experience with authors on a global scale..
I was assisted in publishing my first book by Author House. I was mega impressed by the speed and efficiency with which the whole process came together. I had paid them a fee, which I considered fair and believed that I had received value.
It took some time for the dawn of reality to emerge and by then I had been suckered in like sheep to the slaughter. Reality being that a produced book is their access to your wallet.
Firstly, the ink was barely dry and I got a call from the "marketing" department telling me what a wonderful book I had written and that it was destined for best seller status, but like any new product. it needed promoting. I was given a glowing resume' of how they had helped obscure authors out of obscurity and into the spotlight of publishing fame. Skeptical I was, but when presented with what they had in mind, I had to admit that it sounded pretty damn good. I invested $ 5,000.00 in the package they offered me and received in return about $ 200.00 in value. What they delivered was vastly different from the package I had paid for.... What surprised me was the speed with which they offered me a 50% refund when I finally got one of their directors on the phone. They still made a packet out of me without delivering anything that remotely resembled a marketing package. I guess the rapid refund was a gesture designed to shut me up.
Before the dawning of reality, their "sales" department was onto me.."This book is best seller material" they said. "You just have to have it printed for distribution in the States. It will fly off the shelves and we will actively promote it"... Yeah right!!.... I paid $ 9,500.00 to have 3,000 books printed and immediately the money left my account they went into silent mode. It took me 3 months to get answers as to the status of the books and discovered that they were in a warehouse in Ohio awaiting orders from online booksellers .. No active promotion, no flying off shelves, no enthusiasm to honour their undertaking.
ROYATY TIME!!.. I received my first royalty statement a month later than it was due, which understated sales that I was aware of by 52 books. When I queried that, I was told to provide evidence of the sales that I was claiming. But the account with online booksellers was in the name of Author House and I could not gain access to the records without the authority of the account holder... Author House. Would Author House provide me with the required access?. No chance!
And the check for the royalties due against the understated sales?... "Oh thats in the post... We posted it on 30th May"... Well August is nearly over and I still don't have the check. The books that have been gathering dust in Ohio are now supposed to be shipped to me in South Africa, but they cannot find a carrier to handle the shipment. (30 boxes of books??,. C’mon!) only a half wit would believe that. I don't even know if the books were ever printed and I suspect not. After having demanded that they send them to me so that I could take control, one delay has followed another and after two months of wrangling I'm told they're on the way, but guess what?.. They can't find a copy of the waybill or any reference to the consignment. . They also keep ducking my request to provide evidence of their print run.. I wonder why?

Oh YES!!!... I'm angry. I reserve the right to be. I can categorically state without fear of reprisal that the Author Solutions group are publishing predators. They prey on the vulnerability and inexperience of first time authors who are duped into believing their falsehoods.
I would strongly recommend that anyone thinking about publishing their work, steer very clear of these institutions.
I wish I had.

Author House and Associates

The following is a copy of a recent mail from me to Amazon.com.... It may be of interest to authors who have chosen Author House or any of it's associate companies to assist in publishing their book:-

Dear Amazon Team
I am the author of a book titled Clouds In The Wind. The book was "self published" with the assistance of Author House.
It is becoming increasingly obvious to me that using Author House as my publsihing assistant was a huge mistake as they have failed to live up to any of the undertakings upon which my decision to use them was based.
The issues I have with Author House are mostly internal matters over which Amazon will have no control and I do not expect Amazon to intervene in those.
However a matter that is of great concern to me is that they appear to be withholding information in regard to sales of the book for the quarter ended 31st March 2014 and I am unable to get satisfactory answers from them.
In publishing through Author House / Author Solutions, all rights and copyrights are reserved in my name and in keeping with that, the publisher is purely an agent who have an obligation to report accurately to me on all aspects of the book.
It seems that an account is opened with yourselves in regard to sales and royalty matters and that this account is held in the name of Author House, which denies me direct access to sales figures. This makes me entirely dependent on the integrity and honesty of the "publisher"
Over recent weeks, the volume of adverse comments appearing on a variety of internet author forums as they relate to Author Solutions and all their associate companies has increased dramatically and it is not difficult to understand why.
Author House have reported to me that Amazon.com have failed to provide them with sales figures for books in their charge up to and including 31st March due to an IT problem. Clearly they think that they are dealing with idiots. I am confident in my belief that an institution such as Amazon.com would not allow an IT problem to hamper their functions for a period of nearly 3 months.
In the light of reports appearing in regard to the activities of Author House and it's associates, in addition to the fact that they have failed to address my concerns in that regard, I wish to discontinue my assocaiation with them and request that I be advised as to what steps need to be taken in order to bring the account related to Clouds In The Wind under my direct control. I firmly believe that the devious methods employed by Author House in their dealings with authors are capable of reflecting adversly upon online booksellers such as yourselves and I request that a full investigation into their activities be undertaken.
However, my immediate concern is to cut all ties with Author House and to be in direct charge of my interests as they appear on your point of sale site.

New Release - Clouds In The Wind

“In the turbulent Southern African political era of the 1960,s and 70’s, Andrew Mason, an ambitious young financial executive is drawn by a bizarre and tragic succession of circumstances, and a chance meeting with an old school friend, to fight in the raging Rhodesian bush war. As a decorated and respected combatant with the elite Rhodesian Special Air Services he meets Alyson Carstens, the attractive heiress to her father’s fortune. On their wedding night a devastating event has a dramatic impact on their relationship. But an underlying secret liaison emerges with far reaching and catastrophic consequences"

Clouds In The Wind is published by Authorhouse. ISBN:- 13(TP)9781491892121