Stuart Aken's Blog, page 183

A Sojourn on Samos.

Nestling close to Turkey, so you feel you might swim the channel to the mainland, lies the Aegean island of Samos. If you dared that swim, though, you’d probably be swept into the wilder parts of the sea never to be seen: the undercurrents are very strong! Valerie and I hadn’t visited Samos and chose … Continue reading A Sojourn onSamos.

A Sickness in Time, by M. F. Thomas and Nicholas Thurkettle, Reviewed.

This is science fiction, but it is also so much more. Time travel with a difference; it’s plausible. The protagonists are wonderful characters, flaws and all. And I love the depiction of the arch-villain who represents everything I hold to be bad in the world. A great story, full of adventure, action and event, but … Continue reading A Sickness in Time, by M. F. Thomas and Nicholas Thurkettle,Reviewed.

The Pink Beetle, by Caspar Vega, Reviewed.

Unusual, intriguing, compulsive; a story with a very different structure. This isn’t an easy read but it is engaging and tells a tale. A form of fantasy, but set in contemporary times in a place we recognise as the USA. Is it crime? Well, sort of. But not in any form I’ve encountered before. Something … Continue reading The Pink Beetle, by Caspar Vega,Reviewed.

Looking for the Best Word? Tip #08

These posts examine similar, and sometimes dissimilar, words in an effort to suggest ways writers might make their work more varied, accessible, interesting, accurate and effective. A good thesaurus provides alternatives for the idea of a word, but not all suggestions are true synonyms. Context is vital. Placing alternative words in the same sentence to … Continue reading Looking for the Best Word? Tip#08

The Birth of Death, by Joseph Macolino, Reviewed.

Fantasy for YA readers, this tale of magical creatures failed to grab my attention, though I imagine those interested in the lore of elves, satyrs, centaurs, et al, will find enough here. I found the writing style a little stilted and was unable to engage with the characters, so didn’t read past the first quarter … Continue reading The Birth of Death, by Joseph Macolino,Reviewed.

Animal Magnet, by Gary Anderson, Reviewed.

A remarkable book, this. And one that makes several demands of its readers. It tells the story of a family through a number of centuries, dipping into significant life events and back-referencing to identify the particular family member placed under the microscope. Starting in Hungary and ending in USA, via France and Mexico, it travels … Continue reading Animal Magnet, by Gary Anderson,Reviewed.

Looking for the Best Word? Tip #07

For a short introduction to this series, please click this link. These posts examine similar, and sometimes dissimilar, words in an effort to suggest ways writers might make their work more varied, accessible, interesting, accurate and effective. A good thesaurus provides alternatives for the idea of a word, but not all suggestions are true … Continue reading Looking for the Best Word? Tip#07

Creative #Writing #Contests Table Updated

Here’s the monthly reminder to let you know I’ve updated the writing contest table. Make sure you get your entries submitted in plenty of time, there are some really spectacular prizes to be had. And think of the kudos! The table updates each time I save it, which is frequently, so whenever you visit the … Continue reading Creative #Writing #Contests TableUpdated

Looking for the Best Word? Tip #06

For a short introduction to this series, please click here. These posts look at similar, and dissimilar, words to suggest ways writers might make their work more varied, accessible, interesting, accurate and effective. A good thesaurus provides alternatives for the idea of a word, but not all suggestions are true synonyms. Context is vital. … Continue reading Looking for the Best Word? Tip#06

Looking for the Best Word? Tip #05

For a short introduction to this series, please click this link. These posts look at similar, and dissimilar, words in an effort to suggest ways writers might make their work more varied, accessible, interesting, accurate and effective. A good thesaurus provides alternatives for the idea of a word, but not all suggestions are true … Continue reading Looking for the Best Word? Tip#05