Elizabeth Jasper's Blog, page 4
October 31, 2011
MY MUST READ FOR NOVEMBER
After Midnight by Eryn Lockhart
I haven't had so much fun reading a Historical Romance since I read Kathleen
Windsor's 'Forever Amber' more than forty years ago. Eryn Lockhart has the exact
same ability to keep the reader glued to the narrative with her complex and
fascinating plot, her beguiling characters, the situations they find themselves
involved in and the superb pacing that forced me to carry on reading while my
eyelids were determined to close. Tension, conflict, danger, romance and sex
framed by excellent period settings added to this unforgettable reading
experience. In addition, I can say in all honesty that I have never, ever read a
historical novel with such an incredible climax right at the end.
Get it here: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/88138?ref=ElizabethJasper
October 19, 2011
Download my books free from Smashwords until 30 Oct 2011
Dear Reader
Download my books for free until 30 Oct 2011 from Smashwords as follows:
Click on this link for Lying in Wait and use the code EY39H
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/97159
Click on this link for Meggie Blackthorn and use the code CS72F
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/97169
If you enjoy the reads, please tell your friends. You are welcome to write a short, honest review of my books on Smashwords. I value all reviews, good or bad.
Thank you.
October 13, 2011
ANNOUNCEMENT: New book by Elizabeth Jasper
Now available on Amazon Kindle - here's the link:
http://www.amazon.com/Meggie-Blackthorn-ebook/dp/B005UBZOPA/
Early 1960s – Newcastle, UK
When eleven-year-old Meggie's feckless Dad
doesn't pay the coal man and they have no hot water, she decides to take 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 in big
trouble.
Meggie passes the eleven-plus examination and is sent to live
with her grandparents who own a newsagents in Newcastle. 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)
October 1, 2011
On My Own
On
My Own
First thing last Monday morning, I watched from the
door as he strode round the corner out of sight. I could hear the wheels of his suitcase
rattling on the rough concrete of the lane.
I stood there until the sound faded into the distance. He was gone.
Did I care? Well, yes, I
did. I knew what would happen. He'd go straight to our daughter's place from
the airport, hoping she'd taken the afternoon off work so they could get
together once again to mull over what had been happening over the months
since we'd all been together. For a minute or two I wished I was in his
place.
It was not to be. I was alone in a foreign country with a
limited grasp of the language and a few tricky situations to negotiate. Could I manage without him? With a deep sigh, I closed the door and
wandered through the now silent house.
The idea of going back to bed – to sleeping the day away, was
appealing. I shook myself. That wasn't the way to go. I would fill my days with as many activities as possible. If I concentrated on completing all those day-to-day
jobs, I could fall into bed each night, exhausted. On the coffee table was the list I'd drawn up in the
middle of the night when, once again, insomnia reigned. First
job – paint the street side of the house.
The huge plastic vat of paint that I could hardly
shift waited for me in the utility room.
Just the thought of lifting it out of there to the street outside
was intimidating. Slowly, I dressed in
my painting clothes - an ancient, paint-spattered blue t-shirt long
enough to cover my stomach topped a pair of elasticated leggings that cut me in
half round the middle. With old, broken-down
trainers, I was ready.
The last thing I
wanted to do was to go into the street and paint our outside wall with
neighbours passing by every couple of minutes.
Of course, they would all stop to give their views on whether I was
doing it properly. Ignoring the snapping
and growling of our neighbours' ratty Jack Russell on a balcony a scant eight feet above my head, and the noise
of a nearby concrete mixer, I set to.
The neighbour's other dog, allowed to range up and down the street at
will, pissed on the section of wall I already painted. I snarled at him and did a reasonable impression
of an angry bark. He retreated just as
another neighbour emerged, bleary eyed, from his front door. He looked at me in amazement, shaking his
head and tucking his shirt into his trousers before disappearing round the
corner. Ten minutes later, his cheery
wife stopped beside me to offer a few words of encouragement.
Five hours later, I'd had enough of advice and encouragement,
so I put the paint, now weighing much
less, into our porch and closed the street door behind me. I knew it would take another two days to
finish the job, but I was hot, sweaty and covered in white paint. I had a headache from the constant noise from
the cement mixer and the dogs and all I could think of was a cool shower.
By this morning (Saturday), I was almost used to being
on my own. And I liked having complete
control over the remote. Strictly Come Dancing last night was
great. I laughed, moaned and groaned and
enjoyed every second. I'm getting used
to eating what I like, when I like, and I've been over-indulging in naughty,
forbidden treats. I'm more than half-way
though a five-pack of full-sized KitKats, and have demolished six out of ten
Mini Magnums (caramel and limoncello flavours).
And, if he knew how often I'd raided the wine rack he'd be having kittens!
The Rugby World Cup was great, although I got up far too early to watch England and Scotland play so I actually watched most of the France/Tonga
match first. Tonga were brilliant! Then, after a rough, tough and nail-biting
match, England finally got their act together in the last ten minutes and beat
Scotland. Bring on the quarter-finals
and France.
I'd been up for hours and it was still only
10:30. So, I settled down to a relaxing
day writing and reviewing on my resurrected computer. Yes,
there is a God. This laptop was well and
truly dead after I spilled red wine into it mid-August. From time-to-time, I did try switching it on – more in hope than expectation and
yesterday, after much faffing, hoping and praying, I finally got it to work
again. Big grins and huge sighs of
relief. It is only five months old and no
way could I afford a new one.
3:00 pm. Flicked
on the TV to find a movie about football.
Goal II: Living the Dream. I enjoyed it.
I've never watched a football movie, so a first for me.
When you are on your own, you can eat when you want,
so, time for pizza. Well, it was ages since
breakfast. For the first time, I was
faced with the challenge of a whole Dr Oeteker's pizza all by myself. OK, what with the wine as well, it was a bit
of a struggle, and I dread to think what my waistline will be like after almost
a week of pleasing myself what and when to eat and drink, but it is sooo good to be able to please yourself
what you do and when you do it it's worth it.
For the moment, at least.
Five-thirty, and I'm looking forward to the second Strictly in two days. I have the remote to hand and nothing will stop
me from enjoying every second. Last
night's programme was great, but I do love a celebrity to hate and I liked them
all. Perhaps tonight one of the
remaining seven will get on my nerves sufficiently for me to 'hate' them for
the series. Don't think I can manage much
more food or drink, so maybe a cuppa and half a KitKat a bit later.
6:00 pm in Spain. That's 5:00 pm in the UK. It's
a while before Strictly and I'm
beginning to get a bit bored. I wish he
was home. I know he'll be having a great
time without me, and that makes me feel ever-so-slightly sad. Roll on Monday. I can't wait to hear the rumble of his suitcase
coming back round the corner. Or, maybe
I'll walk along to the car park and wait there for him. The bar is just a few steps away and we'll
have plenty to talk about. A week alone
is enough. I'll happily relinquish the remote, and I've probably had enough chocolate
now to last me until Christmas, so it'll be back to healthy eating and sharing
the wine. Now, what time does his flight
get in...
September 22, 2011
The Oldest 'Blogger' In Town
Originally from <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />Durham City in the UK, I now live in a remote mountain village in Andalucia, Spain. At such a distance, you can probably imagine how important it is for me to maintain links with my home town. Most of my family live in and around Durham, as well as many friends.
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Once or twice a week I receive an e-mail from a guy called Malcolm Rolling - one of our oldest friends whom I've known forever. Malcolm retired a few years back from his job in the Department of Psychology at Durham University. For his 47 years of dedicated service he was awarded an Honorary Degree, an MSc in Honorus Causa – no small achievement and not only, as he would have it, 'for keeping his nose clean for 47 years'. Though retired, Malc is not one to rest on his laurels and he maintains a healthy interest in local affairs.
Malc's e-mails vary in content, from 'funnies' to what's going on in Durham City Rugby Club, where I was a so-called 'lady' member and where Malcolm and his wife, Carol, still support the club in ways many and varied. The e-mails I look forward to most are those Malc sends me when he's had a letter published in one of the local newspapers. A strong advocate of conservation and the protection of local wild-life, his letters often feature concerns such as the reduction of fish and eel stocks in local rivers caused in part by an increase in the otter population.
Malc has had over fifty letters published over the years but it was his latest, on the subject of a BBC television drama, George Gently (starring actor Martin Shaw), that really made me think about effective communication. I watched that programme. George Gently is set in Durham City in the 1960s. I recognised the old County Hospital that sat on a rise next to the famous railway viaduct that crosses the city. Anyone who has ever visited or passed through Durham by train will remember the amazing view from the viaduct. Spread below is the city, with its famous Cathedral and Castle rising high above the River Wear on a wooded promontory. Nostalgia hit me like one of those trains when I read in Malc's letter about his old school, shown in the programme, and the part of the river where his canoe club was back in the day. Even though I enjoyed the show, it was Malc's letter that set me off on a nostalgic, emotional journey into my past. I'm sure I was not the only reader so affected.
I'm trying to communicate with other writers and readers through my blog. I haven't been blogging for long – just a few weeks, but it does give me the opportunity to write about stuff that interests me and, hopefully, other people, too. My point is that 'blogging' is just another term used for communicating your personal views to a large number of people. Even in this age of instant communication, with tweets, e-mails and blogs, the old ways can be at least as effective. Malc's letters on local affairs are regularly read by thousands of readers, stimulating discussions on topics of local interest or concern. Malc has lived in Durham all his life. His way of communicating is much more effective in a local environment than a blog. Local newspapers are read by older people, who may not be interested in computers or the internet, so his method of communication is extremely effective in reaching these older citizens.
A Letter to the Editor, or a Blog to people who may be interested in the same things as us are very similar. They both aim to provoke interest, discussion and, in the best instances, an emotional response.
Thank you, Malc, for making my week.
http://www.amazon.com/Lying-in-Wait-ebook/dp/B0055T772K
http://www.elizabethjasper.com
September 9, 2011
Proud to be an Indie Writer
On 30 August, I started a thread on the Amazon Kindle Forum entitled: Do you REALLY want an honest review?
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Writers almost always say, yes, they do want and really appreciate honest reviews, but do they mean it?
Here's the plan. E-mail me the link to your book on Kindle and I will download and read your sample. You do the same for mine.
You tell me exactly how you feel about my sample, and how far you read.
PLEASE BE TOTALLY HONEST. Say what you like and what you don't. I'll do the same for yours.
I'll tell you whether I am buying your book. You do the same for me.
If I do buy your book, you will receive a positive review on Amazon. If you buy mine, you do the same for my book.
e-mail me at: info@elizabethjasper.com
Here's my book link:
http://www.amazon.com/Lying-in-Wait-ebook/dp/B0055T772K/ref
So there I was, waiting for a few e-mails to drop through my inbox.
While I waited, I thought about what I'd been reading on my Amazon Kindle since I was given it as a birthday present at the end of May and whether I missed holding 'real' books in my hand. I got up and looked at the newest books I have on my shelves by some of my favourite authors. Then I realised something. I had enjoyed their earlier books, but often their latest offerings were not as good. Why?
Something clicked at the back of my mind. I'd read quite recently about how well-known writers end up writing for their publishers rather than for their readers. Because the publishers want/need to make a return on their investment, they want their authors to keep on repeating a successful formula. I am a big Kate Atkinson fan, but didn't enjoy her last book quite as much as previous ones because she seems to be following a formula based on the previous two books, rather than writing something fresh. Her originality was what drew me towards her books in the first place. You never quite knew what the next book was going to be about. I feel the same about old favourites like Jilly Cooper. Who didn't love Riders, or Polo? But when, several years later, the same formula is applied to different subjects, the outcomes are predictable and the books sometimes a chore to read. It's more a labour of love for an author you've admired forever rather than a fresh, new reading experience.
I picked up this week's Sunday Times and flicked onto the Sunday Times August Bestsellers page. Hardbacks: Katie Price (for God's sake!), James Patterson and someone, George R R Martin (OK – I love that one, have it on my Kindle), Tess Gerritsen, Julian Barnes (good - sometimes a bit hit and miss), Karin Slaughter, Danielle Steel, Gerald Seymour, Mark Billingham, Peter Robinson. Hmm. Quite a lot of familiar names there. It reminded me of the last time I was in an English book shop. I live in the middle of nowhere in <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />Spain, so don't have that pleasure often. I always enter the book shops filled with eager anticipation. Yet again, I came out empty-handed and disappointed. Maybe I've become too picky - jaded, even.
Some e-mails popped up.
People did seem interested in having an honest review of their Kindle sample. Now, I can hear you asking, who is this woman who thinks she is qualified to review other people's work, and what makes her reviews more 'honest' than anyone else's reviews? The answer, I'm no more qualified than any other person who loves to read, takes writing seriously and is prepared to take a little time and trouble to offer help to other writers who would like an opinion on their writing. As a member of a couple of well-known on-line writing sites, I have actually reviewed the opening chapters of more than 1200 books, with few complaints.
I started reading. The first one - an adult vampire story. Not my usual fare, but it was different. And it raised some excellent issues in my mind about how far people are prepared to go in order to escape their everyday lives. How easy is it to be sucked into believing in vampires? You could ask the same questions about religion. Good one. I bought it. Next - a wide-ranging fantasy story. I read the longish sample. I had to buy that one, too. Then - an excellent historical novel about a soldier in Napoleon's army. Beautifully written, exactly in keeping with the historical context and in a wonderful, semi-formal style I admired. Another purchase. I read a couple that were OK, but didn't excite me enough to buy. Since 30 August, I've purchased seven books I learned about through this single thread. I'm writing private reviews direct to all of the authors about their samples and I'll be writing reviews on Amazon for the books I've purchased once I have finished reading them.
Before I started this process, I had looked at and rejected many Kindle books solely on the basis of reading sample downloads. Many were poorly written, filled with typos and mistaken in concept. Some were just dreadful. I did wonder whether publishing on Kindle was right for me. Many indie writers have to do everything, and I do mean everything for themselves. Editing, covers, formatting, marketing. It's not easy. Mistakes can and do occur. But, they also often occur in traditionally published books these days so I'm not holding the odd typo against anyone.
So, today, having come across so many great stories out of a relatively small sample by a varied cross-section of talented writers I am proud to stand among them and proclaim myself An Indie Writer.
Link to my book: http://www.amazon.com/Lying-in-Wait-ebook/dp/B0055T772K/
August 30, 2011
Burn, Baby, Burn by Jake Barton - Kindle
This will appeal greatly to the blood and gore crowd and I'm sure it satisfies in that respect.
August 26, 2011
The Hand is Quicker by Robert B Jones - Kindle
Professional writing, strong plotting and excellent pacing, along with intricate and unusual twists to the story make this book hard to put down. Highly recommended.
August 14, 2011
Out in paperback soon
I'm getting just a wee bit excited. Any day now, I'm going to hold in my hot, sticky hands the ...
July 28, 2011
Ferris' Bluff by Fred Limberg - Kindle
I liked just about everything about the book. The characters are deftly drawn - the evil ones are suitable flawed, with few redeeming features, the good ones not too good to be true. The pacing is perfect for the setting - a small town in Arkensas - and the story is a slow burn, giving the reader plenty of time to absorb the characters their motivations and their setting before building to an excellent climax. There are good sub-plots, complex issues and the story has an emotional maturity rarely found within this genre.
There is real depth to this one and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a great thriller.
