Michael Stolle's Blog, page 5
October 29, 2016
dark shadows of the past
Writing historical fiction can be tricky as you deal with a universe that had ethical standards so different to ours today.
We may be fighting today with internet trolls who try use this forum to spread their poisonous tales but in the past it was rumours and prejudices - especially targeting the Jewish population who were the popular scapegoat for any kind of evil.
Antisemitism was so much ingrained in all layers of society, church and daily life that it's almost impossible to ignore it when writing historical fiction - but how to do so without waking up the demons of the past?
I have to state often enough that some readers simply cannot distinguish between fiction and reality - which can be very problematic.
The memory of the holocaust is still haunting us - but have people really learnt and understood?
We may be fighting today with internet trolls who try use this forum to spread their poisonous tales but in the past it was rumours and prejudices - especially targeting the Jewish population who were the popular scapegoat for any kind of evil.
Antisemitism was so much ingrained in all layers of society, church and daily life that it's almost impossible to ignore it when writing historical fiction - but how to do so without waking up the demons of the past?
I have to state often enough that some readers simply cannot distinguish between fiction and reality - which can be very problematic.
The memory of the holocaust is still haunting us - but have people really learnt and understood?
September 24, 2016
Apologies
I'm organizing giveaways for free books on Goodreads and Kindle fairly often as I think that it's a nice way to stay in touch with the Goodreads community of book-addicts and spread the gospel....
Quite often, once a give-away has been closed, I receive a mail requesting the favor of sending a signed book free of charge.
The worst case for any author of course is that nobody ever wants to read your book, so receiving this kind of request is actually quite positive - but I want to offer my apologies right here that it's impossible for me to send even more books free of charge across the country.
Publishing a book is quite expensive actually and unless one has the chance of having been born with a fat fortune, well.... there's no real choice but to keep selling books rather than giving them away....
Quite often, once a give-away has been closed, I receive a mail requesting the favor of sending a signed book free of charge.
The worst case for any author of course is that nobody ever wants to read your book, so receiving this kind of request is actually quite positive - but I want to offer my apologies right here that it's impossible for me to send even more books free of charge across the country.
Publishing a book is quite expensive actually and unless one has the chance of having been born with a fat fortune, well.... there's no real choice but to keep selling books rather than giving them away....
August 3, 2016
holiday reading
Holidays...finally!
Sitting on a balcony - somewhere in the South of Europe, time seems to slow down. Finally I have time to enjoy the sun, write - and to read.
The story of Romulus and Remus, written by Tania Kinkel is holding my attention, a fresh and surprising approach to this legend that has been part of of our heritage not only for hundreds but thousands of years. Fascinating!
As I'm working on my next book I try to ignore the cascade of terrible news inundating the internet. Why do people never learn from history? Why do we still confuse religion and race with violence in the 21st century?
Reading Tania Kinkel's book I discover that women 700 BC in Egypt were independent, could run their own business and walk alone in the streets of the ancient cities. Try this today in Cairo!
They call it progress....
Sitting on a balcony - somewhere in the South of Europe, time seems to slow down. Finally I have time to enjoy the sun, write - and to read.
The story of Romulus and Remus, written by Tania Kinkel is holding my attention, a fresh and surprising approach to this legend that has been part of of our heritage not only for hundreds but thousands of years. Fascinating!
As I'm working on my next book I try to ignore the cascade of terrible news inundating the internet. Why do people never learn from history? Why do we still confuse religion and race with violence in the 21st century?
Reading Tania Kinkel's book I discover that women 700 BC in Egypt were independent, could run their own business and walk alone in the streets of the ancient cities. Try this today in Cairo!
They call it progress....
July 6, 2016
The perfect review
......doesn't exist
I lately finished two books, Jasper from Tony Riches and The Winchester Goose from Judith Arnopp.
the latter - in my eyes - was exceptional and I found it easy to rate it with 5 stars (non- withstanding that Miss Arnopp was a bit too nice regarding the character of Katharine Howard) , but I'm still not sure how to rate Jasper. The amount of research and work that went into this book must have been mind-blowing, but it varies from excellent to outright boring and a bite stilted from time to time. 3 stars would be totally unfair, but it wasn't consistently 4 stars.
As all authors depend on reviews like the junkie on drugs, it's always difficult to be fair and just.
I can recommend though both books as they give different lime-lights on a period that was particularly exciting and changed England dramatically.
I lately finished two books, Jasper from Tony Riches and The Winchester Goose from Judith Arnopp.
the latter - in my eyes - was exceptional and I found it easy to rate it with 5 stars (non- withstanding that Miss Arnopp was a bit too nice regarding the character of Katharine Howard) , but I'm still not sure how to rate Jasper. The amount of research and work that went into this book must have been mind-blowing, but it varies from excellent to outright boring and a bite stilted from time to time. 3 stars would be totally unfair, but it wasn't consistently 4 stars.
As all authors depend on reviews like the junkie on drugs, it's always difficult to be fair and just.
I can recommend though both books as they give different lime-lights on a period that was particularly exciting and changed England dramatically.
May 28, 2016
travelling - with a nice surprise
Sometimes you're in for a nice surprise when it comes to travel.
This week-end I discovered Belgrade, capital of Serbia, a large city right in the heart of the Balkan.
Not only that the weather was sensational (30° C, dry, sunny with a light breeze), the city belied its critics of a run-down left over from the communist era.
Sure, you still see many wounds from the glorious communist past that saw beautiful building crumble and created an urban nightmare architecture - but Belgrade has become a vibrant city brimming with life and full of optimism.
Walking up the long city centre to the old castle fortifications, I discovered young city and nice people, always ready to help the forlorn tourist.
I'll be coming back!
This week-end I discovered Belgrade, capital of Serbia, a large city right in the heart of the Balkan.
Not only that the weather was sensational (30° C, dry, sunny with a light breeze), the city belied its critics of a run-down left over from the communist era.
Sure, you still see many wounds from the glorious communist past that saw beautiful building crumble and created an urban nightmare architecture - but Belgrade has become a vibrant city brimming with life and full of optimism.
Walking up the long city centre to the old castle fortifications, I discovered young city and nice people, always ready to help the forlorn tourist.
I'll be coming back!
October 27, 2015
New Amazon lending
Amazon changed their system about three months ago, authors will be paid (a very low amount - of course :) ) in function of the pages read not according to books being lent.
The amazing result is that I can see daily thousands of pages being read - around the clock.
It's a fantastic and very rewarding feeling actually - it's like being able to watch your readers in real time.
The amazing result is that I can see daily thousands of pages being read - around the clock.
It's a fantastic and very rewarding feeling actually - it's like being able to watch your readers in real time.
September 25, 2015
Amazon review
4.0 out of 5 stars
Glued until the very end
Byash3son
September 24, 2015
Format: Kindle Edition
This book was written very differently from books I am used to, it took a few chapters to fall into the storyline. The book only increased with its ability to entice, intrigue and to subdue its audience. I was hooked until the very last page.
The French Orphan
Glued until the very end
Byash3son
September 24, 2015
Format: Kindle Edition
This book was written very differently from books I am used to, it took a few chapters to fall into the storyline. The book only increased with its ability to entice, intrigue and to subdue its audience. I was hooked until the very last page.
The French Orphan
September 14, 2015
A Maid of Honour
long train ride today....very beneficial as I wrote almost five pages.
Soon the story will be drawing to an end; have to tie all the strands together in one knot, challenging....
Soon the story will be drawing to an end; have to tie all the strands together in one knot, challenging....
August 31, 2015
The next book
progressing fast, but as the speed of the story is picking up, complications increase and I need to be careful....
I like my new protagonists, still working on the title but probably it's going to be :
'A Maid of Honour'
cheers
I like my new protagonists, still working on the title but probably it's going to be :
'A Maid of Honour'
cheers
