Stuart Aken's Blog, page 180

Looking for the Best Word? Tip #15

If you read this post, you’re in good company. I recently did a Google search for ‘Writer Help’ to answer a Quora question. The search brought up 270,000,000 results. 2 of the posts from this series were listed on the first page in the 1st 10 results! A series offering to help writers make their … Continue reading Looking for the Best Word? Tip#15

Creative #Writing #Contests Table Updated

Here’s your usual monthly reminder that the writing contest table is continually updated. Make sure you get your entries submitted in plenty of time, there are some spectacular prizes to be had. Some of these are free to enter. And think of the kudos! The table updates each time I save it, which is frequently, … Continue reading Creative #Writing #Contests TableUpdated

Fantasticon 2016 and Other Treats

A book launch, where we sold out of the publisher’s stock! A meeting with Royd Tolkien and lots of other authors. A gathering of enthusiastic and generous people at an event celebrating science fiction, fantasy and gaming. Plus: Visits to relatives and friends in various locations. Visits to Family Research Centres to gather facts for … Continue reading Fantasticon 2016 and OtherTreats

Looking for the Best Word? Tip #14

A series offering to help writers make their work more varied, accessible, interesting, accurate and effective by exploring similar and dissimilar words. A good thesaurus provides substitutes for the idea of a word, but not all suggestions are true synonyms. Context is vital. Placing alternative words in the same sentence to see if they actually … Continue reading Looking for the Best Word? Tip#14

Today’s Definitely The Day!

What better place to launch a new science fiction novel than a convention devoted to scifi and fantasy? Well, today (19th November) I’m here at Fantasticon 2016, in Hull, signing copies of my latest book, Blood Red Dust. Set on Mars before the end of this century, it follows the lives of a set of … Continue reading Today’s Definitely TheDay!

Looking for the Best Word? Tip #13

A series exploring similar and dissimilar words for ways writers might make their work more varied, accessible, interesting, accurate and effective. A good thesaurus gives substitutes for the idea of a word, but not all are true synonyms. Context is vital. Placing alternative words in the same sentence to see if they actually make sense … Continue reading Looking for the Best Word? Tip#13

Blood Red Dust Gains Great Reviews on Goodreads and Amazon.

From Glen Donaldson on Goodreads: Enjoyed? I positively feasted on this book! It opened a door to a behive-world of thoughty concepts and high-res imagination the likes of which I have rarely seen. The ‘frolicksome’ character of Jannine deserved a book all on her own! You really have dynamited the vault and poured out the … Continue reading Blood Red Dust Gains Great Reviews on Goodreads andAmazon.

A Walk in the Autumn Forest

Let’s face it, the past few days, weeks and months have been pretty traumatic. In UK, the unresolved Brexit situation lingers. Devastating earthquakes, typhoons and hurricanes, have caused destruction worldwide. And a new President Elect threatens changes of real consequence to more than just the USA. So it’s been a pretty torrid time. Hope’s depressed, … Continue reading A Walk in the AutumnForest

Blood Red Dust to Launch 19 November at Fantasticon 2016!

Launched at the brilliant Fantasticon 2016 in Hull on Saturday 19/Sunday 20 November is my latest science fiction novel, Blood Red Dust. (Tickets here) If you can make it to Hull and pop in, I’d be delighted to sign a copy for you. If you can’t be there, you can still obtain a copy in … Continue reading Blood Red Dust to Launch 19 November at Fantasticon2016!

The First Muslim, by Lesley Hazleton, Reviewed.

Subtitled, ‘The Story of Muhammad’, this scholarly and meticulously researched book provides answers to many common questions about the Islamic prophet. As an agnostic (It’s impossible for humanity ever to truly ‘know’ whether God exists or not, since such a power must, by definition, be far beyond our comprehension) I have an interest in the … Continue reading The First Muslim, by Lesley Hazleton,Reviewed.