Elizabeth Jasper's Blog, page 3
March 14, 2012
I’m not a natural joiner
Since I finished writing my first novel a couple of years ago, I’ve joined lots of websites connected with writing, marketing, reviewing, peer-reviewing and reading – always with the intention of taking part in an active manner. After all, this is what new writers are told they should do, isn’t it? Get out there. Become recognised. Be controversial. Get noticed. Sell yourself because that’s what will sell your books.
Over the years and months since then, I’ve been more than a little tardy in keeping up with what’s going on on these sites resulting in me feeling just a little bit guilty. Not that there is any particular reason why I should feel guilty. If I make a commitment to read and/or review any other writer’s work, I honour that commitment. I don’t make promises I can’t keep. I don’t write dishonest reviews. If I can’t say something good about a writer or a book, I try to keep my mouth firmly closed. If I do write a glowing review, that’s because I loved a book I read and in my view it deserves to do well.
I’ve recently realised that this is as far as I ever want to go because the truth is I Am Not A Natural Joiner. Not only that, I don’t want to be one. I’m happiest tootling along writing, reading and reviewing just the way I do right now. I write what I like, read what I like, and review what I have enjoyed reading. I love helping other writers out if they ask me, and I quite like reading and writing blogs. That Is It.
I can’t stand insincere back-slapping, head-patting and over-hyping of mediocre books by mediocre writers. I don’t like the trolls who start flame-wars, pulling in the unwary and causing them to make fools of themselves by getting involved. I dislike the monumental egos of some writers I see on the sites I am or have been a member of. l hate stuff that stops me from concentrating on what I love most and do best – my writing.
I don’t think I’m alone in this. Lots of writers confess on writing sites that they love writing but hate marketing. If they leave a link to their work, I usually check it out and I’ve found quite a lot of these writers have written great books, which I’ve been happy to buy, read and review.
Readers don’t always want to know every detail of a writer’s life – many are simply looking for good books to read. I’m probably never going to be a rich, famous writer, even though I think I write rather good novels. I can only trust and hope that some people will seek them out, read and enjoy them for what they are.
March 9, 2012
Welcome to my Brand New Blog
To friends, readers, writers and rivals – welcome one and all. My old blog will be discontinued by the hosting company later this month so I’ve come straight over to WordPress to take advantage of their brilliant site. In my Brand New Blog I’ll be:
- writing reviews of books I’ve read
- talking about writing and publishing
- telling readers about my own books, old and new
- interviewing other writers (if you’re interested e-mail at : info@elizabethjasper.com)
- writing occasional diary entries about my life in beautiful Andalucia
January 17, 2012
My January Pick - Tom Fleck by Harry Nicholson
Tom Fleck by
Harry Nicholson - 5 Big Fat *****s from me<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />
A superb historical novel
This book opens in 1513, in the
reign if King Henry VIII in England. I
was immediately captivated by the main character Tom Fleck – a cowman who wants
to improve his station in life. His
opportunity comes when he retrieves a ring lost by one of the King's Heralds.
The setting of the book - the
north east of England between and around the rivers Tyne, Tees and Wear, is one
I'm very familiar with, having grown up in Durham City. The descriptions of the places mentioned, the
names of the local aristocracy and the events that take place during the story
all all familiar to me through my knowledge of local history, particularly the Borders
of England and Scotland during this period.
Mr Nicholson's writing style is superb, blending
careful characterisation with an accessible use of language giving the flavour
of the period without heaping onto the reader an indigestible amount of incomprehensible
dialect. What gave me most pleasure as I
read was the knowledge of farming and animal husbandry, various country
customs, the writer's familiarity with the flora and fauna of the area,
particularly with regard to the medicinal use of plants by the local wise
woman.
The story culminates in a major
battle between the Scots and the English, the Battle of Flodden Field, which is
described in careful graphic detail to such an extend that I'm buying the
printed version of this book for my husband, a keen reader of military history.
January 16, 2012
Romantic Thriller or Thrilling Romance?
Here's a lovely 5* review from Amazon for my novel, Lying in Wait.
'Romantic thriller or thrilling romance? Take your pick! This book combines all
the page-turning qualities of a thriller with the emotional pull of the best
love stories as we follow Malachy Finn from the Emerald Isle to England's
underworld in the 70s.
Mal is the book's greatest strength, a well-drawn
character who transforms from naive farm-lad to tormented adult as he witness
love and corruption. The other characters are also great... just don't get too
attached to them (which is about all I can say without spoiling the plot!).
The settings are the beautifully evoked and there's plenty of period
detail which will be enjoyed by anyone who lived through the 70s. Oh, and it's
quite raunchy in places too! Read and enjoy... and be prepared for an unexpected
twist at the end.'
Ingtrigued? You can find the book on Amazon in Paperback or on Kindle and to download from Smashwords, Barnes & Noble etc.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Lying-in-Wait-ebook/dp/B0055T772K/
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Lying-Wait-Elizabeth-Jasper/dp/1908603720/
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/97159
January 13, 2012
The Legend of Lingess Cod by Eric Walters
I read this strange yet compelling book called 'The Legend of Lingess Cod' by Eric Walters. This book, a big chunk of which is written from the POV of various sea creatures (I loved those bits), was about fishing wars and conservation. During the course of this highly original and exciting story, fish hunted and ate one another, sea creatures fell in love, the baddies were very bad and the goodies were enterprising and cunning (and good). Different, but in a very good way. 5*s from me.
January 11, 2012
How many lives do you think you would need to do everything you want?
I'm not in the first flush of youth, but I know there are things I would have liked to do with my life given different opportunities. That's not to say I don't adore what I'm doing now - I love writing stories to entertain people and take them out of their everyday lives and I know I'm good at that but, if I had to choose something else to do with my life, I could be persuaded to try:
natural history and/or horticulture
furniture restoration and antiques.
Maybe that would take more than one more life. It probably would to do it properly. What would you like to do and why, and how many lifetimes do you think you would need? Please post your thoughts here.
January 9, 2012
Review of The Secret Diary of Laura Palmer (Twin Peaks)
The Secret
Diary of Laura Palmer by Jennifer Lynch (with a foreward from Twin Peaks
co-creators Mark Frost and David Lynch)
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Review by Elizabeth Jasper Writer
Many readers will recall the
gripping opening of the TV programme, Twin Peaks. What kept people tuning in week after week
was the mystery surrounding the murder of a beautiful teenage girl, Laura
Palmer. As the series developed, more
mysteries were uncovered than were ever solved and it was the anticipation of
learning what actually happened to Laura Palmer that kept viewers rivetted to
their TV sets week after week. The
haunting music, the darkness of the woods around the town of Twin Peaks, the
enigmatic characters gradually revealed over the weeks and months all added to
a mystique that ensured this programme is still remembered over twenty years
later.
The Secret Diary of Laura Palmer
is a prequel to the Twin Peaks story. Through
the pages of her diary, we discover how Laura's inner demon drives her to use her
best friend, her family, neighbours and, most of all, boys and men to achieve
her dark desires as she gradually comes to terms with her own evil nature. Although she fights her evil side as hard as
she can to become a 'good' girl worthy of her parents and her friends, there is
an inevitability about Laura's story which, the reader soon realises, cannot
end well.
Using the menace of unwelcome
night-time visits by BOB, who alternatively challenges and threatens Laura, the
darkness of the woods at night, where Laura seeks enlightenment as to the state
of her soul, and a parade of good and downright bad characters, this diary is a
fascinating glimpse into the progression of an 'innocent' girl into someone
who, at the time of her death had morphed into an amoral, drug-taking
manipulator. Glimpses of the 'good'
Laura become fewer as the years slip by until, at last, she can take no more
and throws herself into a self-destructive pattern of behaviour that cannot have
a positive outcome.
The Secret Diary of Laura Palmer shocks
the reader as the full extent of Laura's character is gradually revealed. Her wild behaviour and careless sexuality will
stretch perceptions of teenage innocence, and by the time the Diary ends, the
reader will wonder whether true innocence can actually exist. Written in a frank, descriptive style with
no-holds-barred use of language and without a single glance towards
conventional mores, this book will linger long after the last entry has been
read.
December 17, 2011
My 2011 Christmas Blog
We're leaving sunny Spain behind
this year to spend Christmas and New Year with family in the UK.
To do list:
1. Shopping:
We have finished the shopping. We've sent the cheques, shopped on-line for
Christmas day goodies and stocking fillers, paid over sums of money to our two daughters,
who are each entertaining us for a week – one over Christmas and one over New
Year. Already funds are somewhat depleted so we're
hoping there won't be any Christmas Eve panic buying like last time. Like every time.
But, hang on. We still need to buy a couple of extra little
gifts for people we have forgotten about.
It's very easy to do that – forget about people, I mean. You know how it is – you go to visit someone you've
never exchanged gifts with – not once over decades - and they produce from
under their Christmas tree a beautifully wrapped parcel with your name on it! Aaargh. What to do?
Solution, always keep a supply of small, beautifully wrapped Christmas gifts
in the boot of the car, along with pen and little gift tags. Then say something like, 'Oh, how kind. Yours is in the car.' Then you go out to the car, rapidly scrawl
their name on the gift tag and return, triumphant, hoping it's something that will
at least match the one they've bought you in value. No-one wants to appear a
cheapskate at Christmas time, do they?
Of course, you know that when you get home and open their gift it is
going to be something really cheap, but at least you appear to have remembered the forgotton ones.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />
Then there's the booze. Having an Other Half who knows a lot about wine – well, about all
things boozy, in truth, we always find ourselves alone with the shopping trolly
full of festive cheer. We must try to spend less time choosing it
so we don't get to the checkout long after the rest of the Christmas goodies
have been bought and paid for and packed away in the car. Aren't
those Christmassy CDs next to the checkout tempting? How wonderful to listen to Carols from Kings while sipping Bucks
Fizz and tucking into smoked salmon and scrambled eggs on Christmas
morning. And it's only… HOW much? Well, OK, after all, it's Christmas.
2. Packing:
Now this can be tricky. First of all, who is driving to the
airport? If it's me (which it will be),
I need to have driving shoes in the car as I cannot drive in my Ugg boots. If you've ever tried driving in your Ugg
Boots you will know what I mean. So, Ugg
boots to travel in (once we've got to the airport) because I'll need them for
the cold weather in the UK and they are enormous so I have to wear them as
there is no way they will go into my suitcase.
Next, articles requested by
daughters and things we forgot to take with us last time. So, must wrap up the chorizos and boquerones
(pickled anchovies in vacuum packs) in sealed freezer bags so they don't leak
and/or stink out all our clothes. And
those books.
Must remember to copy various CDs
as requested. Must remember to load up
my Kindle with great books for holiday reading (see recommended list below). Must remember to pack blank Christmas cards
(same as for forgotten gifts). Must
remember not only laptop but lead. Must
remember Kindle charger, phone charger, camera charger.
Medications – when you get to our
age you need to take a veritable pharmacy with you wherever you go, so must
remember to check that we have enough, plus extras in case of Ash Cloud from
Iceland. Got caught out by that last time!
Shoes – party shoes (indoors
only), trainers (for power-walk on Boxing Day morning – well, good intentions
are a start, aren't they), boots, smart shoes (for smart pub visits).
Clothes – I'm not taking too many
clothes this time. It's no fun at all
wearing multiple layers in UK Departures just because you've bought too much in
the sales and you are over your weight limit.
Worse is getting off the plane in Malaga and sweating like a pig as you
struggle with your bags to find car in the vast car park. It's never where you thought it was, is it?
One coat for all occasions and
one fleece for power-walk on Boxing Day.
One party dress and two party skirts, plus jeans and a few tops. Must not forget fleecy dressing gown – very lightweight
but essential for loafing around trying to recover from hangovers. Very comforting. And bedsocks. Underwear.
Makeup and toiletries – getting good
at this. Perfume and matching body
lotions serves for any and every occasion.
Makeup is 6 items so no problem there.
3. Essentials:
Passport, driving licence, debit/credit cards.
I think that's the
lot. Let me know if you think I've
forgotten anything. Meantime, have a
great Festive Season and see you again with my New Year Blog.
Recommended reading list for Kindle:
Lying in Wait by Elizabeth Jasper – only £0.86 or $0.99 to 31 December
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Lying-in-Wait-ebook/dp/B0055T772K/
http://www.amazon.com/Lying-in-Wait-ebook/dp/B0055T772K/
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/97159?ref=ElizabethJasper
Meggie Blackthorn by Elizabeth Jasper – only £0.86 or $0.99 to 31
December
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Meggie-Blackthorn-ebook/dp/B005UBZOPA/
http://www.amazon.com/Meggie-Blackthorn-ebook/dp/B005UBZOPA/
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/97169?ref=ElizabethJasper
December 6, 2011
Award-winning e-books for £0.86
Award-winning books: Both of my e-books have been finalists in the YouWriteOn Book of the Year Awards ( http://www.youwriteon.com) - Lying in Wait (2010) and Meggie Blackthorn (Children's 2011). Meggie Blackthorn is the all-time No 1 in the YWO Best Seller charts. Download them for only £0.86 for December.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Meggie-Blackthorn-ebook/dp/B005UBZOPA/
Early 1960s - Newcastle, UK
When eleven-year-old Meggie's feckless Dad doesn't pay the coal man she takes matters into her own hands. With her younger brother, Jack, she sets off to find the free coal she knows can be found in the pit heaps opposite their village. When she and Jack return home from their adventure, she's punished. Does she still love her dad? She's not so sure and when she has to make a choice between going to live with her grandparents at their newsagent's shop in Newcastle so she can go to the grammar school or staying in Shippon and going to the local secondary school she decides to leave home.
She soon finds herself in an ever bigger mess. Billy Fish and The Codmother are ripping off Meggie's grandparents. With her new friend, paperboy Dave Spedding, she tries to help, but finds herself trapped in a dangerous situation.
Growing pains, a new school, dealing with Billy Fish's threats against her grandparents and coping with long-hidden family secrets stretch Meggie's resourcefulness and strength of character to the limit. (66,000 words)
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Lying-in-Wait-ebook/dp/B0055T772K/
'He could just see himself, in a year or so, going back home with his pockets stuffed with cash and his Da, Zach and Ma welcoming him with big smiles and open arms. It would be that grand he could hardly wait.'
But when Malachy Flynn finds himself mixed up with the Conway family in Dublin, he realises that making money isn't always easy - or legal. Then there's gang boss, Brogan. No-one messes with Brogan. Ever.
Northumberland farmer Tom Oliver prefers the company of married women, but time's running out for him when his new dairyman moves to Netherwell Farm with his dangerously attractive wife and her pretty younger sister.
In London, Mal falls in love with Tom's niece, Jess, but they are forced to flee to Northumberland when his secret past catches up with him. Revelations and death turn everyone's lives upside down. Can Mal protect those he loves or will he forever be watching over his shoulder, waiting for Brogan to take revenge? (99,000 words)
December 1, 2011
15 really, really bad jokes for December
·
My neighbour knocked on my door at 2:30 this morning. Can you believe that? Luckily for him, I was still up playing my
bagpipes.
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·
The Grim Reaper came for me last night and I beat him off with a vacuum
cleaner. Talk about Dyson with death.
·
Paddy says, 'Mick, I'm thinking of getting a Labrador.' 'Really,' says Mick. 'Have you seen how many of their owners go
blind?'
·
I saw a poor old lady fall over today on the ice! At least, I presume she was poor. She only had £1.20 in her purse.
·
My girlfriend thinks I'm a stalker.
Well, she's not exactly my girlfriend yet.
·
Woke up last night to find the ghost of Gloria Gaynor standing at the
foot of my bed. At first I was afraid
then I was petrified.
·
The wife has been missing for a week now. The Police said to prepare for the worst, so
I've been to the charity shop to get all her clothes back.
·
A mate of mine admitted to being addicted to brake fluid. When I quuizzed him on it he reckoned he
could stop any time.
·
I went to the cemetery yesterday to put some flowers on a grave. As I was standing there, I noticed four grave
diggers walking about with a coffin.
Three hours later they're still walking about with it. I thought to myself , 'These guys have lost
the plot!'
·
My daughter asked me for a pet spider for her birthday, so I went to our
local pet shop and they were £70. 'Blow
this,' I thought. 'I can get one cheaper
off the web.'
·
Statistically, six out of seven dwarves are not happy.
·
I was at an ATM yesterday when a little old lady asked if I could check
her balance, so I pushed her over.
·
I start a new job in Seoul next week.
I thought it was a good Korea move.
·
I was driving this morning when I saw an RAC van parked on the side of
the road. The driver was sobbing uncontrollably
and looked very miserable. I thought to myself, 'That guy's heading for a
breakdown.'
·
I just met a fat, alcoholic transvestite. He wants to eat, drink and be Mary.
