Stuart Aken's Blog, page 214

Lucky Always, by E.D. Lappin, Reviewed.

This is a singular novel from an author who really knows how to tell a story.

Set in the murky world of ‘black ops’ during the troubles of Northern Ireland, this book gives insights into a world that many readers will suspect, but could never be sure, existed. The depth of research is extraordinary, with details of places, the nature of operations, techniques, and equipment all adding veracity to the plot.

The characters are all believable people; people leading double lives in perilous situ...

Running and Writing for ME/CFS no. 36

One of the tracks I run on.

Writing:

Regular visitors will know the book is now published and can be pre-ordered in digital form from Amazon, here, and from Smashwords, here. The paperback has been accepted and I’m awaiting the physical review copy to make sure all is as it should be. It’s due tomorrow. That, too, should be available to buy on release date, 14th June.

Thanks to all who have ordered a copy. Both I and the charity Action For ME are very grateful for your support.

Running:

This...

The Evolution of a Book Cover.

M.E. and me. The book is published!

Book covers, we all need them, and most indie authors try to design these themselves. Sometimes, though not often, it works. Many of the results are pretty grotty.

I have some small experience of illustration and graphics, fonts and typography, from a spell working at a local art college as a graphics technician. I also occasionally slipped into lectures and learned some things. On top of this, I spent part of my life as a professional photographer, working...

Running and Writing for ME/CFS no. 35

M.E. and me. The book is published!

Writing:

As you now know, the book, M.E. and me: Chronic Fatigue; My Recovery After 10 Years has been published in digital form and will be released on 14th June. It’s currently on offer as a ‘pre-order’ item on both Smashwords and Kindle. If you click on either of those names, you’ll be whisked away to their sites, where you can place your order to be amongst the first to receive the book.

I’ve spent the last couple of days formatting the text for the pape...

A-Z Guide to Thassos, by Tony Oswin, Reviewed.

If you want to know about the place you’re visiting for a holiday, the A-Z guides are very useful. Although in print form, they include links to online information, which is kept up-to-date on an almost daily basis. So, you buy the book and use the included password to gain access to the websites.

I’d previously used the guides for both Santorini and Rhodes. Both were excellent. This one on Thassos is also very useful. There are detailed descriptions of many of the historic sites on the isla...

M.E. and me Now Available on Amazon

M.E. and me. The book is published!

Just to let you know that, as mentioned yesterday, the new book is now available to order on Amazon for your Kindle. You merely need to click on this link to be whizzed across to your domestic site and place your order. Release date is 14th June.

I’ll let you all know as soon as the print version is available.

Filed under: Book, charity, Fundraising, ME/CFS Tagged: ActionForM.E., Book, Charity, Ebook, ME/CFS

Running and Writing for ME/CFS no. 34

M.E. and me. The book is published!

Excitement!

Writing:

The excitement?

Finally, the book is published. I’ve uploaded the digital version to Smashwords and you can order it by clicking this link. I’ve also put on Amazon for the Kindle. No link for that yet, as it’ll take a day or so to appear on their site.

However, I’ve decided on a ‘pre-order’ strategy for this book. This means you can order the book on either site but you won’t receive it until launch day, which is 14 June 2015. I’ve done...

No Flies on Frank, by Danuta Reah, Reviewed.

This is a little gem. A sort of cosy-crime/horror melange. It’s a short work, and wastes no words to tell its tale. No doubt some readers will find it grisly, but I thought I detected a certain tongue-in-cheek approach on behalf of the writer. There is an undertone of dark humour and the author carries this off well.

I enjoyed the story of Frank and smiled at his attitude to life’s many injustices, and his way of dealing with these. Give it a try; I’m sure you’ll enjoy it.

Filed under: Author...

Running and Writing for ME/CFS no. 33

The old railway track along which I run.

Running:

Completed all three runs this week. The first on Wednesday was a fifteen-minute easy run, which found me trotting along the usual disused railway track through the forest. The sun shone, dappling the ground, and the spring birds were full of song. A lovely run, covering a little more distance than previously. Friday saw a repeat performance, though the weather was a little less pleasant. I met a lady walking her dog, a rather ugly bull terrier...

Diamond Rain, by Michael Gallagher, Reviewed.

This is science fiction by an author who knows how to tell a story. It’s a complex thriller with elements of the spy genre coupled with a background romance and set in a not-too-distant future on an Earth where nanotechnology has developed in frightening directions.

The characters are all well drawn and totally credible. Settings are placed into the story unobtrusively and given enough descriptive detail to enable the reader to imagine where they are. Pace is good and sustained throughout.

W...