Stuart Aken's Blog, page 315

Writing Going Well

This morning, before giving my wife breakfast in bed, I wrote 2000 words of Ch22 of the fantasy. So, what have I been doing all day since then? Well, had to replace a power socket in my study, as the one that serves my computer stuff was making ominous sparking noises and I prefer not to run the risk of having the house burn down. I've written and scheduled 8 blog posts, so I can concentrate on the real writing for a while. I've  promoted my new romance anthology - see the post below this one.
Done some reading - currently reading a book by one of my writing group colleagues, Beneath the Shining Mountains, by Linda Acaster.
And, now, I'm going to have some drinks with my brother and his wife, just for some music, fun and relaxation.

Today's picture is of an old drovers' lane in the North Yorkshire Dales.

Ten Love Tales Now Available as an Ebook:

I've just complied and published a new eBook anthology of gentle romantic stories. Ten Love Tales, published via both Smashwords and Kindle, presents love stories containing no explicit sex but showing gentle emotion for those looking for something that will make them feel good. I hope these stories will make readers sigh, smile and leave them feeling warm inside. Enjoy.





Buy it from Smashwords here - https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/52561


The link for the Kindle edition from Amazon.com is http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Ddigital-text&field-keywords=stuart+aken&x=8&y=20

And the link for the Kindle on Amazon.uk is http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=stuart+aken&x=13&y=18

Stuart's Daily Word Spot: Environment.

[image error] Image via Wikipedia
As today is Earth Day, which, each year, marks the anniversary of the birth of the modern environmental movement in 1970 in the USA, I have chosen 'environment' as my word of the day. Earth Day commemorates the day Gaylord Nelson, a U.S. Senator from Wisconsin, proposed the first USA nationwide environmental protest. His intention was to shake up the political establishment and force the issue onto the national agenda. At that time, Americans guzzled leaded gas in huge V8 sedans. Industry poured smoke and sludge into the environment with almost no fear of legal consequences or bad press. People accepted air pollution as consequence of prosperity. The word, 'environment' was heard more often in spelling bees than on the news. Earth Day 1970 changed all that when 20 million Americans took to the streets and demonstrated for a healthy, sustainable environment.
Today, Earth Day continues to inspire change on a global scale. In 2010, more than a billion people around the world took action for the 40th anniversary. Will you take part today? Will you do your 'bit' to protect the environment, or will old habits, scepticism fuelled by ill-informed nay-sayers, or idle self-interest allow you to continue your daily destruction of the planet on the basis that you won't be around when the shit hits the fan? (Though that might happen a lot sooner than you dare contemplate).If, on the other hand, you'd like to learn more, visit http://www.earthday.org/ and continue the fight for a comprehensive climate solution, clean renewable energy sources, and the expansion of the environmental movement.

Writing Proceeding.

More done today, but not as much as I would like. However, I'm onto the start of Ch22, having completed Ch21 at 4070 words and on page 211. So, going strong still.
Also, prepared more posts for the word spot, another interview done and invites and details sent to a couple more published writers for the future.
Posted comments on other folks' blogs, answered all my emails and tidied up some files (maintenance is such a chore but worth the time and effort to keep things under control, don't you think?)
Been to the library and picked up a couple of books for myself and one for my wife. Picked up our lottery winnings (£10.00, so no chance of early retirement yet!) and looked at the garden, considering getting the hose out. We haven't had rain for over a fortnight and things are looking dry. But there's a possibility of rain tomorrow, so I'll await that and then use the hose if it doesn't materialise. My daughter's in Turkey and texted me to say they've had a huge thunder storm there today, so haven't been out of the villa; shame. Hope she's having fun out there.
An early finish today, so we can celebrate Valerie's birthday with a meal out.

The picture was taken less than a mile from the house. I like the wildness there.

Author Kristie Leigh Maguire, Interviewed:

Kristie Leigh Maguire's current titles are Second Chances, Affairs of the Heart: Desert Heat and Cabin Fever (Collector's Edition), Desert Heat, Cabin Fever, You've Got Mail from Japan, and co-author of No Lady and Her Tramp.
She was voted Best Up and Coming Author of the Year and her novel Desert Heat was voted Romance of the Year by the Affaire de Coeur Magazine Reader/Writer Poll. Her novels Cabin Fever and No Lady and Her Tramp placed in the Top Ten in the Preditor & Editor's Poll.  
Kristie Leigh Maguire and her husband have lived all over the United States and many foreign countries while following his career. While living in Japan, she found it very difficult to find books to read that were written in English. This situation was intolerable as she was an avid reader and had been known to resort to reading cereal boxes if nothing else was available. Have you ever tried to read a cereal box written in Japanese? It was not a pretty picture. Ms. Maguire began writing her own books just to have something to read. She discovered a new passion in writing.   
Although Kristie Leigh Maguire is originally from the South and will always remain Southern at heart, she and her husband now live in St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands. During her expatriate years she lived in St. Croix, Aruba, Thailand, Japan and three times in Saudi Arabia and visited many other countries.
Tell us about Second Chances in a few sentences.
My latest release is Second Chances. It is a sweet contemporary western romance. Second Chances is a story of love, betrayal, and redemption.
Jane Porter's dreams of marrying Mike Farley, the handsome cowboy who lives on the neighboring ranch, are shattered when Mike suddenly marries a redheaded stranger he met at the Wild Horse Saloon in Casper, Wyoming. After Mike stomped all over Jane's heart with his cowboy boots, can Jane ever trust her heart to a man again?
Mike Farley marries beautiful Samantha Jo Smith after a whirlwind courtship with no thought to Jane Porter, his childhood sweetheart and the woman everyone in Fremont County thought he would marry one day. Mike soon learns to regret his hasty marriage to Samantha. Can Mike win back Jane's heart even though he had shattered it into a million pieces?
Longtime friends and neighbors Jim Porter and Liz Farley turn to each other for support after the unexpected death of their spouses. Will Jim and Liz's friendship turn into something deeper even though they both feel they have had, and lost, their chance at love?
Is it ever too late for love? Is it ever too late for second chances?
Set in rural Wyoming, Second Chances is a sweet contemporary western romance that will warm your heart. One reader stated, "I read it through in an evening, and felt as if I had spent that evening with 'salt of the earth' folk." Another reader said, "I loved the double, no triple, second chance. It was a very sweet ending."
How did you come to write this particular book?
I wrote Second Chances for my 95-year-old mother. Since my other books are a bit on the spicy side, I wanted to write a book my mother could read without blushing.
If you have a favourite character in your novel, why that particular one?
My favourite character in Second Chances is a secondary character named Samantha Jo Smith. She started out from nothing and overcame great odds to get what she wanted out of life. She hurt people along the way but in the end she didn't let anything stand in her way of following her dreams.
Where and when is your novel set and why did you make these specific choices?
Second Chances takes place in Wyoming. Since I wrote this book for my mother, I picked her favourite state. She's never lived in Wyoming but she visited there many years ago and fell in love with the state.
Where can people buy your books?Paperback: http://www.amazon.com/Second-Chances-Kristie-Leigh-Maguire/dp/1935188135/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpi_9
Kindle UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Second-Chances-Revised-Edition/dp/B0035WTN4Y/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1302008470&sr=1-2
Kindle US: http://www.amazon.com/Second-Chances-Revised-Edition-ebook/dp/B0035WTN4Y/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpi_2
Nook: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Second-Chances-Revised-Edition/Kristie-Leigh-Maguire/e/2940012670656/?itm=2
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/9123
What qualities does a writer need to be successful?
Persistence to keep after it and a thick skin to take the criticism after you release your work into the world.
What is your working method?
I write by the seat of my pants. I get the idea for a story, sit down and start writing. I do not outline. I let the story go where the characters want to take it. Sometimes they go in a different direction than I had envisioned but I find the story flows better if I let them take the reins.
What's the single biggest mistake beginner writers make?
Tell instead of showing.
To what extent are grammar and spelling important to a writer?
Grammar and spelling are extremely important. A writer should never publish until their manuscript goes through a fine toothed comb edit.
How much do you revise your MS before you send it off?
I revise until I am about 90% pleased with the story. I am never 100% satisfied. Even after publishing, I am always thinking of something I should have done differently or could have done better. That is the reason I hate reading my books after publication. I want to snatch them back and redo them.
As a writer of romance, to what extent do you think genre is useful in the publishing world?
Romance is the spice of life. Everyone needs a little love. A good romance novel provides that love even if it comes from between the pages of a book.
Marketing is often seen as a chore by authors. What's your opinion on this issue and how do you deal with it?
I totally agree. I would much rather spend my time writing than doing promotion. Being a shy person, I find it much easier to do promotion online rather than in person. I break into a cold sweat when doing book signings but I learned how to deal with it and try to have a good time.
How do you know where to begin a given story?
That is a hard question to answer. It depends upon the story. Sometimes I just have to play around with it to see what works and what doesn't.
What sort of displacement activities keep you from writing?
Life in general. My family. Reading. Many things too numerous to list.
Do you have support from family and friends, or a writing group?
I have the full support of my husband. He is my biggest fan. He knows to let me alone when I am writing but he is there for me during my ups and downs. I do belong to a couple of online writing groups.
Is presentation of the MS as important as agents and publishers suggest?
I'm not sure I understand that question but I never submit a manuscript until it is as error free as I can humanly make it.
How long does it normally take you to write a novel?
Each book is different. I wrote Second Chances in about 5 months but then came the editing and the rewrites after I finished the story.
Who or what inspires you?
Nature whether it is the mountains, the ocean, or anywhere in between. God created an awe inspiring world that we live in.
If there's a single aspect to writing that really frustrates you, what is it?
Editing, rewrites, and promotion. Oh, that was three things. Hmmm. If I had to narrow it down to one thing, I would have to say promotion.
Is there an aspect of writing that you really enjoy?
I enjoy creating an imaginary story and the characters to go with it, while trying to make it so believable people ask me if it really happened.
Do you think writing is a natural gift or an acquired skill?
I think it is a natural gift but a writer needs to learn the skills to go with that natural gift of storytelling.
What are you writing now?
Nothing at the moment. I do have several ideas percolating in my mind though.
Do you have a website or blog that readers can visit?Website: http://www.kristieleighmaguire.com./Blog: http://sizzlinghotromance.blogspot.com/Facebook Fan Page: http://www.facebook.com/KristieLeighMaguire
Given unlimited resources, what would be your ideal writing environment?
I would love to have a house on a tropical island in the Caribbean with an office that has wall-to-wall windows with a view of the sea, lots of bookshelves, a door to close out the world when I need to do so, and a maid to do all the work that needs to be done around the house.
Where do you actually write?
I set up a corner in my bedroom in my condominium on a tropical island in the Caribbean where I look out the windows but instead of having a view of the sea, I have a view of the trees and flowers and listen to the birds singing while I write.

Stuart's Daily Word Spot: Ibex

Image via Wikipedia
Ibex: noun - a goat antelope, Capra ibex, bearing thick curved and ridged horns and a beard, living mostly in mountainous regions of NE Africa and central Asia, although other species live in other mountainous areas.
'Walter, a hunter of game for trophies, had hoped to shoot a big cat and have its head on his wall, but the native guides had scared them all away and he was forced to make do with an Ibex, which they herded into his sights.' 

Stuart's Daily Word Spot: Habit

Image via Wikipedia
Habit: noun -  apparel or attire, clothing, dress, set or suit of clothes, garment, gown or robe; outward form or appearance, guise; attire representing a rank, profession or function, uniform of a religious order, costume worn by a woman on horseback, a riding habit; physical appearance or constitution, bearing, demeanour, deportment or posture; surface or outward look of the body. In biology & crystallography it is the general external form of an organism or mineral; mental disposition or constitution; moral qualities, character; settled tendency to act in a particular way, often by frequent repetition of the same act until it's almost involuntary; a customary practice or way of acting; custom, usage; dependency on addictive drugs, taking drugs; automatic reaction to a specific situation, acquired by learning or repetition.
'It was Richard's habit to spend a quiet hour before breakfast, sitting alone in his study and reading the morning paper before the family awoke.'
'The nun was forced to run the gauntlet of insults as she passed the reform school, where the boys would leer and demand to know whether she was naked under her habit.'
'Charlie and Rebecca had tried on many occasions to kick their habit, but every time they came close, one of them would bring a new supply into the house and they would succumb again.'

Writing; a Little Progress

It's been a long day. Yesterday was Valerie's birthday, so I did no writing, choosing to spend my time with her instead. Tomorrow will be a full day at work, followed by my evening with my writing group. So, I managed only 400 words tonight. But I have also written the review posted below this post, so not an entirely lazy evening.
There's a long weekend coming up, with Easter and it's bank holiday in the offing. That should allow me to get some serious writing done; I certainly hope so.

I'd be interested in your opinions: especially those of you who read fantasy: How important is the map of the imagined land to you as a reader? I know I find it at least interesting and sometimes vital. What are your thoughts?

Another local picture for your delight.

Shatter, The Children of Man, by Elizabeth C. Mock, Reviewed.

I read Shatter, the Children of Man, on my Kindle and enjoyed the experience. The story, with its weaving of different coloured threads of magic into an illuminating fabric, deals largely with human relations. A fantasy, it demonstrates how this sometimes maligned genre can make serious points under the guise of entertainment. The characters, an aspect of supreme importance to me in reading, shine and live, because Elizabeth C. Mock has invested them all with credible motivations and human emotions. There is much intrigue and a great deal of mystery in the novel. As part of a series, the rest of which I have not read, it clearly deals with issues beyond the scope of this single volume, but it works well as a stand-alone book. Nevertheless, I shall be interested to read the sequel, which is due out shortly. I started this book in order to refresh my interest in the fantasy genre and it has turned out to be a good choice (my thanks to Goodreads members who advised the title). It does suffer from the common errors of the self-published eBook, in that there are quite a few minor grammatical, spelling and syntactical faults that a professional editor would hopefully have detected. However, these are not serious enough to detract from the reading experience. Also, as an eBook, it was unable to give me the necessary map a print book would undoubtedly have provided. However, this may simply be either a problem with Kindle or due to me being unable to access the map that appeared in a very tiny version in the details about the book.The story, which I will not précis here (read the blurb and available excerpts if you want a synopsis), is full of twists and turns, all of which are character driven. It is the depth of characterisation that lifts this book above the ordinary and makes it so readable. The pacing is excellent, with just enough peaceful passages to allow the reader to catch his breath before being plunged into the next phase of action. It is a page turner but one with depth. A read I definitely enjoyed and a writer to whom I shall return.

Stuart's Daily Word Spot: Gabija

Image via Wikipedia
Gabija is one of my occasional god items. (sometimes known as Gabieta or Gabeta) she's a goddess of fire and hearth in Lithuanian myth. Considered to protect home and family and provide happiness and fertility. A shape-shifter, Gabija can appear as a stork, cat, rooster, or a woman in red. Her fire is respected and cared for, often fed with offerings of bread and salt. Fire was laid to bed and women covered charcoal with ashes overnight to stop the fire wandering. Clean water might be left near the hearth so that Gabija could wash herself. Myth suggests an ill fate for any who offended Gabija by spitting, urinating or stamping on fire, with an angry Gabija taking a walk and burning the house of the offender.