Clancy Tucker's Blog, page 71

26 August 2020 - STUNNING ART MADE FROM PAPER CLIPS

STUNNING ART MADE FROM PAPER CLIPS 
G'day folks,
Anyone with a home office or a propensity for planning projects has that one drawer at home filled with boxes and boxes of paper clips and binder clips. 
Both have a wide variety of different uses around the home, from making wine glass markers to clamping cables. The versatility of these seemingly simple stationery items is endless. Pietro D’Angelo is an artist who understands this better than anyone.   D’Angelo is originally from Palermo, Italy but studied art in Bologna, and began his career using more stereotypical sculpting materials like stone and marble. However, as time passed, he found himself drawn to more unconventional materials . 

He finally found his tools of choice when he started using nothing more than plain paper clips, the very same ones found in every office, and wire. D’Angelo creates statuesque sculptures of sheer beauty. Take a look at some of his incredible pieces. 
























Clancy's comment: Wow. There ya go. So, now you know what to do with all those paper clips. Get cracking ...
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25 August 2020 - A BUNCH OF INSPIRING QUOTES

A BUNCH OF INSPIRING QUOTES
G'day folks,
Welcome to some quotes worth passing on.
































Clancy's comment: Love 'em!
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24 August 2020 - FUNNY NAMES FOR BARS IN BRITAIN

FUNNY NAMES FOR BARS IN BRITAIN
G'day folks,
Anyone who has travelled throughout the UK will recall names like these.
Everyone has their favorite little bar to go to. Something about the charm of certain places appeal to different people. Personally, I like a bar with a clever name and sign out front. I don’t know what it is about it, but would much rather go into bars with hilarious bar names than a place that screams “no creativity” out front. However, sometimes trying to be clever can be taken way too far. 
The owners of these bars really didn’t think some of them through. Others are just plain puzzling, or maybe even have a secret meaning unknown but to a few people. All I know is, I’m glad these photos of bars from Britain were snapped so we can enjoy the hilarity.































Clancy's comment: I love British pubs, and I've been in a lot. Hic ...
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23 August 2020 - DEB RICHARDSON-MOORE - GUEST AUTHOR

DEB RICHARDSON-MOORE - GUEST AUTHOR -
G'day folks,
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing a very talented author from South Carolina, U.S.A. Deb's latest book will be released in September 2020 - 'Murder, Forgotten'.
Welcome, Deb ...
1.  TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF AND YOUR WRITING JOURNEY.
 
           When I was 49, I left a career in journalism to earn a Master of Divinity degree, then took a pastorate at an inner-city mission to the homeless in Greenville, SC, USA. Triune Mercy Center, it was called. And it was a mess. I got cursed at, yelled at, spit upon. Someone kicked in the church door, searching for cleaning fluids to huff.   

             As we slowly turned things around and developed a welcoming church community, I realized I was forgetting how bad things had been, and I didn’t want to forget. So I wrote a memoir, The Weight of Mercy, that was published by Lion Hudson in Oxford, England, in 2012. It was named to the reading list of United Methodist Women worldwide and got me invitations to speak at Duke and Harvard divinity schools, as well as churches in many states.


              My publisher asked for a sequel, but I didn’t want to do that. I said I’d always wanted to write murder mysteries. So he agreed to publish the Branigan Powers series about a news reporter and a homeless man who team up in a small Southern city. In The Cantaloupe Thief, The Cover Story and Death of a Jester, the idea is that the homeless man is virtually invisible and hears and sees things no one else does. 

               My newest stand-alone, Murder, Forgotten(September 2020) follows a new and darker storyline about an aging mystery writer who is losing her memory. When her husband is killed, she fears that, deep in the throes of her latest plot, she may have acted out his murder.    




2.  WHEN AND HOW DID YOU BECOME A WRITER?


I went to work for a newspaper, The Greenville (SC) News, right out of college, so I’ve written professionally all my life. However, I did not start writing books until I left journalism. 


3.   WHAT TYPE OF PREPARATION DO YOU DO FOR A MANUSCRIPT? DO YOU PLAN EVERYTHING FIRST OR JUST SHOOT FROM THE HIP?


I definitely shoot from the hip. I’m afraid I’d get bored if I knew where the plot was headed.







4.  WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT BEING A WRITER?

Creating a whole world where I get to live for a while.




5.  WHAT IS THE HARDEST THING ABOUT BEING A WRITER?


Silencing my inner critic. She’s always wound up and whispering that I don’t know what I’m doing.




6.  WHAT WERE YOU IN A PAST LIFE, BEFORE YOU BECAME A WRITER?

After 27 years as a journalist, I went to seminary, got a Master of Divinity degree and became pastor at a church for homeless people. We eventually grew it into a mid-sized welcoming community that included all races and all socioeconomic levels. It was a way I saw to include our homeless brothers and sisters in a mainstream community that could help them begin to address goals.




7.  WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST WRITING ACHIEVEMENT?

 My bestselling book, and the one that got me invitations to speak a good deal, was The Weight of Mercy. It is a memoir about my first few years as a pastor to homeless people.  But my favourite book is the one coming out in September 2020 – Murder, Forgotten. I suppose the latest should always be your favourite!





8.  WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON AT THE MOMENT?

Another domestic suspense/murder mystery. I write what I like to read.




9.  WHAT INSPIRES YOU?

Writers who can fool me with their twists and turns -- which isn’t all that hard. I willingly suspend belief.




10.             WHAT GENRE DO YOU WRITE?

I call them cozy noir murder mysteries. They’re not cozies with cats or recipes or bookstores. That waterfront is pretty well covered. But they’re not bloody police procedurals either. They are twisty and, I hope, surprising, mysteries with a strong sense of place


11.             DO YOU HAVE ANY TIPS FOR NEW WRITERS?

Silence all the people who tell you that you can’t do it, including your inner critic. Know that what you write is often going to sound amateurish to your ear. Write anyway. Listen for cadence, the rhythm of sentences. It matters.




12.             DO YOU SUFFER FROM WRITER’S BLOCK?

Coming out of journalism and then weekly sermon writing, that wasn’t a luxury I had. Something had to be written, no matter how mediocre. That doggedness has carried over into book writing, I think.




13.             DO YOU HAVE A PREFERRED WRITING SCHEDULE?

I like to start around 8 AM, fuelled by coffee, and break around 1 PM for lunch. That’s my best time for creativity. Then in the afternoon, I can work on things that don’t require as much concentration.


14.             DO YOU HAVE A FAVOURITE WRITING PLACE?

 A sunroom set up as an office. It has uncovered windows looking into my back yard, lots of beach relics, and hilarious cartoons done by a former parishioner.




15.             WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST JOY IN WRITING?

When it’s going well and I can’t wait to return to see what’s going to happen next. It’s not unlike the feeling when you’re reading and can’t wait to turn the page to see what’s coming.





16.             WHO IS YOUR FAVOURITE AUTHOR AND WHY?

I can’t pick just one. I’ve read everything Agatha Christie and Jodi Picoult ever wrote. Right now, I’m reading a lot of Harlan Coben and Lisa Gardner. I love Ruth Ware, Paula Hawkins, Gillian Flynn, John Hart, Louise Penny. I’m a sucker for those writers who make me look forward all day to getting back to them at night.  




17.             WHAT’S THE GREATEST COMPLIMENT YOU EVER RECEIVED FROM A READER?

I have two if you don’t mind.


An early Goodreads reviewer wrote about Murder, Forgotten: “I can't agree more with the murdered husband's favorite toast to his wife: "The hardest thing about good writing ... is to make it look easy," and this is exactly what Richardson-Moore has done in Murder, Forgotten.”


And upon reading The Weight of Mercy, singer/songwriter Edwin McCain (“I’ll Be,”  “Solitude”) emailed me this: “I started your book as we lifted off the runway in Atlanta on my way to Japan. I cried twice by the time I reached South Dakota and finished the book as we flew over Alaska. I am in awe of your work at Triune, and I just wanted you to know how much your book impacted me.” 




18.             WHAT WAS THE WORST COMMENT FROM A READER?

Something to do with objecting to my “strong language” for a pastor. I had said “damn” or something. Sheesh.




19.             WRITERS ARE SOMETIMES INFLUENCED BY THINGS THAT HAPPEN IN THEIR OWN LIVES. ARE YOU?

Sure. Of course, after writing the memoir, I turned to fictional murder so I have to imagine what might happen if my life were more exciting.




20.             OTHER THAN WRITING, WHAT ELSE DO YOU LOVE?

The beach. Gardening, though I use the term loosely. Happy hour on my back deck with my husband. Seeing my adult children who live halfway across the world.




21.             DID YOU HAVE YOUR BOOK / BOOKS PROFESSIONALLY EDITED BEFORE PUBLICATION?


My publisher, Lion Hudson, did that.


22.             DESCRIBE YOUR PERFECT DAY.

Reading a thriller under a beach umbrella all day with friends. Blending a batch of pina coladas in late afternoon. Showering and going out to a dinner of shrimp or deviled crab. Sitting on an outdoor deck later looking at the stars and talking. Going to bed to finish that book.    




23.             IF YOU WERE STUCK ON A DESERT ISLAND WITH ONE PERSON, WHO WOULD IT BE? WHY?

Though she would die at the thought, maybe my younger daughter Madison. I once spent 11 days with her in a tiny apartment in San Diego as she was recovering from knee surgery, and we had a fantastic time. We like a lot of the same books and TV shows and have similar senses of humor. It’s probably no coincidence that she’s also my most enthusiastic early reader.







24.             WHAT WOULD YOU SAY IF YOU HAD THE CHANCE TO SPEAK TO WORLD LEADERS?

Please forgive the United States for our current boorishness on climate change, human rights and racial inequality. Many of us truly do not believe in what the current administration is doing. 




25.             WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR THE FUTURE?

Writing and travel. Travel and writing.




26.              WHAT ARE YOUR VIEWS ON BOOK TRAILERS? DO THEY SELL BOOKS?

 I hate to admit this, but I had to look it up. I didn’t even know it was a thing, so I have no idea whether it works.  




27.             DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN ANY OF YOUR CHARACTERS?

       In Murder, Forgotten, Julianna is a mystery writer who is losing her memory. Just ask anyone who knows me how accurate that is!  


       My first three mysteries featured a news reporter, Branigan Powers, whom everyone assumed was me. Actually, Branigan was more likely the reporter I wanted to be. But there is also a male character, Liam Delaney, who is pastor of a homeless congregation. I certainly drew on some of my opinions and theology for his character.


28.             DOES THE PUBLISHING INDUSTRY FRUSTRATE YOU?

 Of course. I am still astonished at how little of a book price goes to the writer under a traditional contract. And how hard it is to get an agent or publisher to begin with.   


29.             DID YOU EVER THINK OF QUITTING?

Not really, because writing has always been part of my profession – first as a journalist, but also as a pastor who preached weekly and gave speeches quite often. Book writing was a natural evolution that folded easily into running the Triune Mercy Center. My board of directors was so supportive of my books that they granted me three writing sabbaticals during my time there.   




30.             WHAT WAS YOUR FAVOURITE MANUSCRIPT TO WRITE? WHY?


Hands down, Murder, Forgotten. I didn’t have a sabbatical for it, but I was so eager to see what happened to Julianna that I wrote on my days off and vacations. I finished it in nine months. It was almost as much fun as reading a good mystery. Almost.







31.              HOW WOULD YOU DEFINE ‘SUCCESS’ AS A WRITER?  

I would define it entirely according to the satisfaction it brings the writer. One writer may be a success if he comes up with an autobiography to leave to his family. Another may want wide readership, money and speaking engagements. Either is a success if it satisfies the author.     


32.             WHAT SHOULD READERS WALK AWAY FROM YOUR BOOKS KNOWING? HOW SHOULD THEY FEEL?

They should walk away from The Weight of Mercyknowing a lot more about homelessness and how the rest of us might respond to it. The same is true of the Branigan Powers series of murder mysteries – The Cantaloupe Thief, The Cover Storyand Death of a Jester. A homeless man helps Branigan solve the murders because he is virtually “unseen.”


After reading Murder, Forgotten, I hope they’ll think, “I loved that! How do I buy her books for all my family, neighbors, friends, employers, book clubs….?” 


33.             WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE YOUR BOOKS MADE INTO MOVIES? EVER WRITTEN A SCREENPLAY?

I’d LOVE to have a movie made, but I have never written a screenplay. A producer actually came to visit me about making The Weight of Mercy into a movie or TV series, but he couldn’t come to terms with my publisher. I never got my hopes up because I knew it was a long shot.  




34.             HOW MUCH THOUGHT GOES INTO DESIGNING A BOOK COVER?

My publisher has a team who does that so I’ve not been privy to it. But I love what they have come up with – especially for Murder, Forgotten, The Weight of Mercy and The Cover Story.






35.             WHAT’S YOUR ULTIMATE DREAM?


To publish a book every two years, interspersed with travel. Our children are far-flung – one here in South Carolina, one in California, one in Europe. They generally make it home for Christmas, but I’d love to be able to invite all of them, and their significant others, to meet up for yearly summer vacations.    




36.               WRITING IS ONE THING. WHAT ABOUT MARKETING YOU, YOUR BOOKS AND YOUR BRAND? ANY THOUGHTS?


I think this is probably the hardest part for most writers. We want to make up stories and create characters, not toot our own horns. I would love to have an agent to take care of that part of the business, but I got published without one and have never had one.







37.              ARE YOUR BOOKS SELF-PUBLISHED?

No.






38.             DESCRIBE YOURSELF IN FIVE WORDS.


Mother, friend, disciplined, caring, loyal.


39.             WHAT PISSES YOU OFF MOST?

Narcissism, arrogance and blatant disregard for the welfare of other people.






40.             WHAT IS THE TITLE OF THE LAST BOOK YOU READ? GOOD ONE?

Lisa Gardner’s “Never Tell.” I like to read the masters of the genre at work.






41.              WHAT WOULD BE THE VERY LAST SENTENCE YOU’D WRITE?


Do not squander your inheritance, you three.  




42.              WHAT WOULD MAKE YOU HAPPIER THAN YOU ARE NOW? CARE TO SHARE?

As much as I’d love to gain real sales success and fly to Hollywood to consult on HBO series being made from my books (!), I honestly can’t say it would make me happier. I think that comes from within.  




43.              ANYTHING YOU’D LIKE TO ADD?


This is incredibly generous of you, Clancy, to provide this format to us. Thank you very much. Australia is on my bucket list! 




WEBSITE
 
Clancy's comment:  Thank you, Deb. I enjoyed your answers immensely. Some were exactly what I'd have written. Oh, when life is free of Covid 19, we'd love to see you in Australia. Well done. Keep at it, and stay safe!
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22 August 2020 - BEAUTIFUL SPLATTERED ANIMAL PAINTINGS by CHINESE ARTIST

BEAUTIFUL SPLATTERED ANIMAL PAINTINGS by CHINESE ARTIST
G'day folks,
Talented Chinese artist Hua Tunan creates original artwork using ink splattering. 
The beautiful animal paintings he produces are breathtaking. His chaotic style combines traditional painting techniques with a modern street art approach. This young artist has a studio in Foshan, China but is now exhibiting his first solo show at Chicago’s Galerie F. 
Now, let's look at his work ...





















Clancy's comment: Very talented artist. I admire anyone who can paint.
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21 August 2020 - NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC PHOTOGRAPHS TAKEN BY KIDS

 NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC PHOTOGRAPHS TAKEN BY KIDS
G'day folks,
I'm always ready to promote and encourage kids. 
Children these days have far more opportunities than we did, especially when it comes to technology. When National Geographic first arranged this photo competition for 6 to 14-year-olds, they probably weren't expecting to see photographs of such sublime beauty as those pictured below. 
The level of skill and understanding of subject is beyond breathtaking in these artistic compositions, fit to grace the cover of National Geographic itself. Behold the grand prize winning photo by 11-year-old Dewi and other high quality nature photos! The first one below is the grand prize winner. 






















Clancy's comment: I'm not surprised at all. Kids do not have a head full of baggage, and they see things that we miss. Sadly, many adults don't listen to kids, especially politicians. Just sayin' ...
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20 August 2020 - WORLD WAR 11 TANK FOUND IN ESTONIAN LAKE

WORLD WAR 11 TANK FOUND IN ESTONIAN LAKE
G'day folks,
 Years ago, a local boy was walking by Lake Kurtna Matasjarv. He noticed tracks leading into the lake, but not coming out anywhere. The lake was too small for boating or anything like that and located in the middle of nowhere. He knew that there was no good reason for those tracks being there which heightened his curiosity. 




For two months, he saw air bubbles emerging from this lake. After some investigation, a team started to probe deeper into the mysterious clues surrounding the lake. What they pulled from Lake Kurtna Matasjarv is nothing short of absolutely amazing.






The path, which appeared to have been gouged into the ground, led into the water, and there was no vessel or body in sight. But there were bubbles coming from the bottom of the lake in a steady stream.






After notifying authorities, they decided to take a look at the cause of the air bubbles coming up from the lake.  They knew it was big and decided to pull whatever it was out from the mud at the bottom of the lake.

 They started pulling this massive thing out at 9:00 am and continued pulling for 8 more hours using some very heavy equipment and giant steel cables. They quickly realized it was a full size military tank, leaving people scratching their heads.





The weight of this sunken tank was around 30 tons and they required a 68-ton bulldozer.   The tank appeared to be a Soviet-built T34/76A, and it is now believed that it was abandoned in the lake to keep it out of enemy hands.
 

Clancy's comment: You just never know what you will find, eh?
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19 August 2020 - STUNNING FOOD CARVINGS FROM JAPAN

STUNNING FOOD CARVINGS FROM JAPAN
G'day folks,
Here’s another artist who never listened to his mom when she told him not to play with his food. 
Gaku, the talented mind and hands behind these incredible creations, practices a traditional Japanese art form of fruit and vegetable carving , Mukimono. The word translates literally to “stripped product”, and is named for the intricate patterns and designs inscribed on these delicious canvases .   First practiced in 16th Century Japan, this art form is now a steadfast part of many different Southeast Asian culinary cultures. The speed required to practice this art, given how quickly most fruits and vegetables begin to decompose, makes creating these pieces all the more difficult. This skillful artist always captures a picture of his work after completion, before quickly devouring them! Here are some of the tasty treats, courtesy of Gaku.  























Clancy's comment: Very clever, and I'm sure these would be appreciated by kids if they found them on a plate. Thank you, Gaku.
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18 August 2020 - A COLLECTION OF VINTAGE U.S. POSTAL VEHICLES

A COLLECTION OF VINTAGE U.S. POSTAL VEHICLES
G'day folks,
Postal vehicles have become a part of day-to-day sights in the United States for years now. These vehicles don’t just deliver mail, though. 
They have also become a mark of trust and dependability of the U.S. Postal Service that has been serving the country for more than 200 years. In fact, these postal vehicles are now almost as recognizable as the letter carriers themselves. Postal vehicles in America have been evolving for over a century. While today, a number of modern automobiles are being used by the postal department, we cannot overlook the job done by the vehicles of the past. 
The older postal vehicles, while no longer in use, are nostalgic reminders of the days of the yore and they also let us know about the engineering progress that has been made.  Here are some of the oldest vehicles used by the U.S. Postal Department over the past many years.














Clancy's comment: I bet they would all be worth a lot of money now.
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17 August 2020 - TIM WALKER - GUEST AUTHOR

TIM WALKER - GUEST AUTHOR -
G'day folks,
Today, I welcome an author from the United Kingdom.
Welcome, Tim ...



1.   TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF AND YOUR WRITING JOURNEY.


Hi Clancy. I always wanted to write and when I left school, I became a trainee reporter on my local newspaper in Liverpool, UK. I started a music column and went on to review films/movies. I had a career in media, and got to own and edit a magazine and newspaper, so journalistic writing was my thing. Then in 2013 I had to stop working whilst undergoing skin cancer treatment and recovery. During this time, I did an online creative writing course and started writing short stories. Then I learned how to self-publish on Amazon Kindle and put up two books of short stories – Thames Valley Tales and Postcards from London. I wrote a longer short story, called Abandoned, in 2015, and used this as the starting point for what has now become a five-book series – A Light in the Dark Ages.




2.    WHAT TYPE OF PREPARATION DO YOU DO FOR A MANUSCRIPT? DO YOU PLAN EVERYTHING FIRST OR JUST SHOOT FROM THE HIP?


I sketch out the story and list my main characters, make a few notes on their appearance, personality, any personal foibles or distinguishing features. Then, I make a chapter plan, but tend not to go into too much detail. I find that once I start the story, it takes on a life of its own, and I’m often pulled in unexpected directions by my characters.




3.   WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT BEING A WRITER?


I find that being a self-published author gives me the freedom to follow my own interests and not be a slave to deadlines. Although I work at my own pace, I do challenge myself by setting goals and deadlines, although these can be stretched if I become unwell, as this is an annoying aspect of my life these days.




4.   WHAT WERE YOU IN A PAST LIFE, BEFORE YOU BECAME A WRITER?


I worked in London for ten years in the newspaper publishing industry, before heading off to Zambia in Africa to do voluntary work in the educational books development sector. Training, skills sharing and travelling. I stayed on to set up my own publishing business and published a business newspaper and a construction industry magazine. I then became a general manager for a mineral exploration company in Zambia, that included spending three months in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) setting up a sister company office. My business went belly-up at the end of 2008 due to the global recession, so I returned to UK in 2009 and worked or a couple of years in the energy sector. Then after my cancer diagnosis, I re-invented myself as a creative writer.







5.   TELL ME ABOUT YOUR NEW BOOK


On 1st June, book five in A Light in the Dark Agesseries, Arthur Rex Brittonum, was published. This novel is an action-packed telling of the King Arthur story rooted in historical accounts that predate the familiar Camelot legend. Arthur, only son of the late King Uther, has been crowned King of the Britons by the northern chiefs and must now persuade their counterparts in the south and west to embrace him. He arrives in the kingdom of Powys, where his sister is queen, buoyed by popular acclaim at home, a king, husband and father - but he faces a new challenge in convincing sceptical trial chiefs to follow him. It is a treacherous and winding road that ultimately leads him to a winner-takes-all clash at the citadel of Mount Badon. Although in a series, this novel has backstory built in and can be read as a standalone.




6.   DO YOU HAVE ANY TIPS FOR NEW WRITERS?


The route I followed into creative writing was to undertake a creative writing course and work through it. This was an online course with about 18 modules, an took no more than two months to complete. The focus was primarily on learning to structure and write short stories. I found this a useful way to begin. I also joined a local writers’ group for support and ideas. Like most things in life – practice makes perfect. You learn by experimenting, and reading a lot in your genre.




7.   DO YOU SUFFER FROM WRITER’S BLOCK?


Too much is said about writers’ block. I believe that if you plan your story and have a set of notes, then if you go down a blind alley with your story you can consult your notes, retrace your steps, and try a new tack. I always start the day’s session by reading back what I wrote the day before. This refreshes your memory, allows you to correct or make minor changes, and to start with fresh ideas in your head. You are not going to feel fresh and full of energy and ideas every day – its norm to go through a slump. Just ride it out – it will pass. During one of my novels I got so frustrated that I left it for a few days and wrote a completely unrelated short story. Then I returned to it feeling refreshed.





8.   DO YOU HAVE A PREFERRED WRITING SCHEDULE?


When I’m at home I like to write in the mornings, when my mind is fresh. If I’m really in the zone, I’ll keep going through the afternoon, and can knock out as much as 8,000 words in a good day.


9.   DO YOU HAVE A FAVOURITE WRITING PLACE?


Yes. My writing desk is in my living room, and the wall facing me is covered by a vinyl of a forest scene. I can sit back and look through the trees for inspiration. Honest.




10.              WHAT’S THE GREATEST COMPLIMENT YOU EVER RECEIVED FROM A READER?


Good reviews and really cheer me up (and negative one can leave me angry). My favourite review comment actually gave me a slogan I used in promoting the book. I was so pleased that a reader on the other side of the world made the connection between Britain leaving the Roman Empire in the year 410 in Abandoned, and a contemporary theme in Britain leaving the European Union (Brexit) in 2020. She coined the term ‘Romexit’ in her review. Brilliant! It’s great when readers ‘get it’.


11.              WHAT WAS THE WORST COMMENT FROM A READER?


We learn as we go along. The first edition of Abandoned upset some readers because it was too short in length, despite the book description saying that it was a novella. Anyway, I was prompted to take action and did a re-write a year later after more research, introducing new characters and plot lines, and more than doubling the story length. Sometime criticism is genuine, and in this case, I took remedial action to fix it. The second edition is a huge improvement on the original and negative reviews have dried up.


12.              WRITERS ARE SOMETIMES INFLUENCED BY THINGS THAT HAPPEN IN THEIR OWN LIVES. ARE YOU?


Yes. I found I much preferred to talk out the fear of dying from cancer in a short story, and to project my feelings onto a fictitious character. In Postcards from London there’s a story called El Dorado. It’s about a middle aged man who is diagnosed with cancer and is worried about losing his job. He takes time off work and goes on a bucket list trip to Peru and walks up to Machu Pichu, where he has a spiritual experience and reflects on his life. I made that trip in 2016.







13.               ARE YOUR BOOKS SELF-PUBLISHED?


Yes. Because of my background of working in the publishing industry, I understand the process and found it easy to learn formatting and self-publishing. I enjoy being able to take my books from an idea, to a manuscript, and then to publish and market it. Total control of the process. I buy in two services – copyediting and cover design.


Thanks for having me on your blog.




BOOKS


Clancy's comment: You are most welcome, Tim. Good luck. May you sell squillions of books.
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