Clancy Tucker's Blog, page 91
February 7, 2020
8 February 2020 - A COLLECTION OF GREAT QUOTES
A COLLECTION OF GREAT QUOTES
G'day folks,
Time to be inspired by the wise words of others.
Clancy's comment: Pass them on if you think they will do some good.
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February 6, 2020
7 February 2020 - RUSS KANE - GUEST AUTHOR & BROADCASTER
RUSS KANE - GUEST AUTHOR & BROADCASTER -
G'day folks,
Today, I interview an interesting character from the UK who has had a very interesting career.
Welcome, Russ ...
1. TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF AND YOUR WRITING JOURNEY.
My name’s Russ Kane & I live in London UK. I have four kids and a dog. The dog is the centre of the universe. As Pete Townshend said, the kids are alright.
2. WHEN AND HOW DID YOU BECOME A WRITER?
It’s all I ever wanted to do. My late father was a timber importer supplying the TV and film studios. As a little kid I’d go with him and wander over Kubrick’s ‘2001’ set or a James Bond set. I was asked if I’d like a souvenir and I replied yes, a script. I got it and devoured it.
3. WHAT TYPE OF PREPARATION DO YOU DO FOR A MANUSCRIPT? DO YOU PLAN EVERYTHING FIRST OR JUST SHOOT FROM THE HIP?
I map it out in my head bit by bit. So, when I start I know the beginning and the overall arc of the story, but I’m not clear about the ending. If I see something that I think might be useful I make a note in my notebook. But I don’t write a skeleton framework.
4. WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT BEING A WRITER?
Watching the words magically appear on the screen in front of me and thinking, where the hell did that come from?
5. WHAT IS THE HARDEST THING ABOUT BEING A WRITER?
Every damn thing! At the back of your mind you’re thinking “This is me. This is my showcase to the world. I hope they like it”. Some days it flows and is a pleasure and some days it feels like swimming through molasses.
6. WHAT WERE YOU IN A PAST LIFE, BEFORE YOU BECAME A WRITER?
I trained as a lawyer, I became a speechwriter, then an advertising copywriter in New York and London, then a scriptwriter.
7. WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST WRITING ACHIEVEMENT?
Opening the package that contained the very first copy of The Gatekeeper and freaking out. It was a fabulous moment.
8. WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON AT THE MOMENT?
Book two of The Gatekeeper series. It’s called ‘Invasion’. It’s mapped out pretty much in my mind. So all I need to do is, er… you know…. write it.
9. WHAT INSPIRES YOU?
Everything and anything. I have a voracious curiosity for life & people.
10. WHAT GENRE DO YOU WRITE?
That’s an interesting question. I’m really a comedy writer but the publishers wanted the story much, much darker, so now I’m in the horror, supernatural, thriller very dark humour area.
11. DO YOU HAVE ANY TIPS FOR NEW WRITERS?
Yes. Marry someone wealthy. Failing that, make sure you really love the genre that you are writing in. It’s a massive amount of work, so you have to love your characters as you will be living with them for at least 12 months.
12. DO YOU SUFFER FROM WRITER’S BLOCK?
No. Never. My career as an advertising copywriter & a corporate scriptwriter meant I was always writing to a strict contractual timetable. No time therefore for writer’s block. Ever!
13. DO YOU HAVE A PREFERRED WRITING SCHEDULE?
No. Not at all. But I’ve always been a night owl so often write until 3 or 4 in the morning.
14. DO YOU HAVE A FAVOURITE WRITING PLACE?
Indeed I do. My kitchen table. Seriously.
15. WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST JOY IN WRITING?
It’s who I am. It’s what I do. I adore it. I am never happier than when I’m at the keyboard. I have always been passionate about writing even when I was at school.
16. WHO IS YOUR FAVOURITE AUTHOR AND WHY?
Easy question! Anthony Horowitz. Why? Because he’s a brilliant writer who grabs you from page one and doesn’t let go until the last page. He’s also a very nice guy.
17. WHAT’S THE GREATEST COMPLIMENT YOU EVER RECEIVED FROM A READER?
All the reviews so far have been Five Star, so I feel very blessed. The fact that people often say ‘I had to read it in two days’ or ‘I was gripped’ is tremendous to receive.
18. WHAT WAS THE WORST COMMENT FROM A READER?
An American reviewer went on and on and on about a couple of typos.
19. WRITERS ARE SOMETIMES INFLUENCED BY THINGS THAT HAPPEN IN THEIR OWN LIVES. ARE YOU?
Yes. The initial germ of the idea of The Gatekeeper was sparked by the death of my young wife. It grew from that.
20. OTHER THAN WRITING, WHAT ELSE DO YOU LOVE?
My dog. Havana cigars (my only vice). Red wine. London. The River Thames. Cheese and pickle sandwiches. Endless double espressos. The Theatre. Cabaret shows in London. Impressionists (comedians, not the painters!) and classic cars from the 1950’s to the early 1970’s. Broadcasting on the radio. Performing my one-man stans up show ‘Kaned Laughter’ in London and LA.
21. DID YOU HAVE YOUR BOOK / BOOKS PROFESSIONALLY EDITED BEFORE PUBLICATION?
Not really. My literary agent read it about a thousand times and was very hard core with me. I will employ a professional editor on book two. I think it’s essential.
22. DESCRIBE YOUR PERFECT DAY.
Wake up. That’s always a good start. Espresso. Walk the dog along the River Thames. Espresso. Write. Boadcast on the radio.Visit the Soho Whisky Club, have a couple of drams of Single Malt and a Havana cigar. Go and see a great cabaret at The Crazy Coqs in Town.
23. IF YOU WERE STUCK ON A DESERT ISLAND WITH ONE PERSON, WHO WOULD IT BE? WHY?
My idea of Hell. But if I have to be there I think maybe Stephen Fry as he is such an interesting fellow. If Stephen’s busy, then Bruce Springsteen so we could become best buds!
24. WHAT WOULD YOU SAY IF YOU HAD THE CHANCE TO SPEAK TO WORLD LEADERS?
“Get a f*****g grip you morons!”
25. WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR THE FUTURE?
If you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans.
26. WHAT ARE YOUR VIEWS ON BOOK TRAILERS? DO THEY SELL BOOKS?
I have no idea what this means.
27. DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN ANY OF YOUR CHARACTERS?
People very close to me can identify bits of my character traits in some of the protagonists.
28. DOES THE PUBLISHING INDUSTRY FRUSTRATE YOU?
Yes. It sucks. Like the music industry it is always behind the curve playing catch-up. I don’t think it’s populated by the nicest people on the planet.
29. DID YOU EVER THINK OF QUITTING?
No
30. WHAT WAS YOUR FAVOURITE MANUSCRIPT TO WRITE? WHY?
The Gatekeeper. It was such an exciting adventure and a thrill-ride to be on.
31. HOW WOULD YOU DEFINE ‘SUCCESS’ AS A WRITER.
What is success? Finishing a book? Getting a book published? Having it turned into a TV series or film? Being adored by the media? Success is a ridiculous word and completely subjective. Having people enjoy your work is success.
32. WHAT SHOULD READERS WALK AWAY FROM YOUR BOOKS KNOWING? HOW SHOULD THEY FEEL?
Well, it’s not an instruction manual. It’s up to the individual reader. It’s not for me to dictate or prescribe how or what they feel.
33. WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE YOUR BOOKS MADE INTO MOVIES? EVER WRITTEN A SCREENPLAY?
I would LOVE The Gatekeeper to be a six part Netflix / Amazon series or a movie. No, I’ve never written a full-length movie screenplay. Nor do I want to.
34. HOW MUCH THOUGHT GOES INTO DESIGNING A BOOK COVER?
You know the saying ‘Never judge a book by its cover’. That’s crap. Everyone judges a book precisely like that! I had a variety of ideas for the cover, we worked them up and I’m thrilled with the end result. A good cover is essential.
35. WHAT’S YOUR ULTIMATE DREAM?
The one I can talk about? Oh, OK. To have a top ten bestseller on The Sunday Times & New York Times list and to have The Gatekeeper made into a TV series.
36. WRITING IS ONE THING. WHAT ABOUT MARKETING YOU, YOUR BOOKS AND YOUR BRAND? ANY THOUGHTS?
It’s 100% essential. This is no area for shy wallflowers. You have to market the f*** out of the book. Every day. Endlessly. Social media is vital. I created a full PR plan & worked week after week pushing, pushing, pushing. It never ends.
37. ARE YOUR BOOKS SELF-PUBLISHED?
So far.
38. DESCRIBE YOURSELF IN FIVE WORDS.
Insomniac. Driven. Creative. Gregarious. Passionate
39. WHAT PISSES YOU OFF MOST?
Rudeness & bad manners. Reality TV. Fake people. Liars. Fast food. WOKE snowflakes. People being offended by every damn thing on the planet. Deafening music in stores. Politicians.
40. WHAT IS THE TITLE OF THE LAST BOOK YOU READ? GOOD ONE?
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. I’m obsessed with Holmes and Watson. Conan-Doyle was a genius.
41. WHAT WOULD BE THE VERY LAST SENTENCE YOU’D WRITE?
Hey, careful, that gun might be loaded…
42. WHAT WOULD MAKE YOU HAPPIER THAN YOU ARE NOW? CARE TO SHARE?
Peace of mind. But that ain’t ever gonna happen.
43. ANYTHING YOU’D LIKE TO ADD?
Hmm. If you find something you love as a career then you’ll never work another day in your life. In these horribly dark times, art is more essential than ever. Finally, never, ever give up.
AMAZON
Clancy's comment: Go, Russ! Well done. Keep on keeping on.
I'm ...
February 5, 2020
6 February 2020 - CLANCY TUCKER'S WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY
CLANCY TUCKER'S WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY
G'day folks,
Any photographer will tell you that taking shots of wildlife is very challenging. You have to persevere, sometimes under harsh conditions. Often, you wait, and wait, ... And wait some more. Sometimes, you have to move quickly and only hope you have snapped a great shot. Anyway, here are some samples of my wildlife photography.
Clancy's comment: There ya go. These shots were taken in a variety of countries.
I'm ...
February 4, 2020
5 February 2020 - THE WONDER OF THE AMAZON JUNGLE
THE WONDER OF THE AMAZON JUNGLE
G'day folks,
What you are about to see is on my bucket list.
Taking up a 2,700,000 square miles of the northern part of South America is none other than the stunning Amazon Basin, within which is 2,100,000 square miles of the Amazon Rainforest, also known as Amazonia. This whopping expanse of jungle and the wildlife that is encompassed within it constitutes over 50% of the remaining forest land on the planet. The Amazon Jungle is also the most biodiverse rainforest on Earth, with 16,000 different species of trees and 390 billion individual trees.
This forest is so large, it is made up of territories belonging to 9 different nation-states, with the majority being held by Peru, Brazil, and Colombia, and the rest by Ecuador, Venezuela, French Guiana, and many others. The Amazon Rainforest is one of the most beautiful natural sights in this world and is home to over 2000 species of animals and birds.
The chances of getting to experience this beautiful sight in person are steadily decreasing due to over-exploitation of the resources within the forest as well as natural and man-made disasters like storms and forest fires. Fear not, you can experience the Amazon Jungle and all of its stunning inhabitants right from the comfort of your own home.
Clancy's comment: Now, as a photographer, you probably realise why this magnificent place is on my bucket list.
I'm ...
February 3, 2020
4 February 2020 - SUCCESSFUL BLOG TOURS
SUCCESSFUL BLOG TOURS
G'day guys,
Ever participated in a blog tour? Today I have a guest post that might help you to organise a blog tour.
The following is provided by Stephanie Bond, the best-selling author who will give you some insights on how to launch and book a successful blog tour for marketing your book.
Back when my first novel was published in 1997, authors went on book tours, scheduling talks and signings at bookstores, groceries, and even stopping at drugstores and big-box retail stores to sign books on the shelves. Book tours were time-consuming and exhausting. Every author—me included—has more than one horror story about arriving for a book signing only to find 1) no books 2) the wrong books 3) the store had closed or was under new management and the employees had never heard of you. But these days, you can plan a blog tour to publicize your book release and never leave the comfort of your office chair. How? Read on.
First, determine your goal. Is it to get buzz going for the book before it’s released? Give away review copies as prizes? Drive readers to pre-order links? If so, you’ll need to launch your blog tour two weeks before the release date. If, however, you want to wait until the book is released so readers can buy it immediately, then launch your blog tour the day your book is released.
Determine your stamina. Blog tours can last for any length of time, but typically have a life of 1-6 weeks. If this is your first blog tour, I suggest you start on the short end until you get your hands around the time commitment required.
Make a list of book/reader blogs. Google or Bling away. Search for blogs that feature readers of your genre or have featured books similar to yours. And when you find blogs that seem appropriate, read a few entries (including the comments) to make sure the atmosphere fits your type of book and your personality. (Ditto for any advertisements the blog might feature.) Note how many comments entries seem to garner to gauge the amount of traffic your blog entry might receive. Also note what other bloggers on the site are doing, such as offering free giveaways, directing readers to a contest, etc. so you can get some good ideas.
Cast a wide net. You’ll want to target reader blogs, of course, but consider blogs that deal with specific aspects of your book. For example, if you set your book in Atlanta, local general interest blogs might feature your book. Of if your book is about cooking, racing, or poker, each of those hobbies have a plethora of blogs for followers where you can find potential readers.
Note the requirements of contributors. If the blog is a good fit for you and your book, note the requirements of the blog for contributors or write to the owner of the blog and ask for requirements, including wordcount, possible topics, the use of images, giveaways, and how far in advance you will have to schedule and submit your entry.
Schedule your blog tour. Schedule the stops on your blog tour, building in down-time for yourself in between. When your blog entry is posted, you’ll be expected to visit the blog periodically throughout the day to respond to comments, which can be taxing considering all the time zones.
Publicize your blog tour. Make a big honking deal out of it. Name it. Post details on your website and social media sites like a rock star launching a musical tour.
Write your blog entries. Of course you’ll be talking about your book and maybe your writing career in general, but be sure to make each entry unique. Try to slant your piece toward each blog’s area of interest. So yes, include an image of your book cover, but look for other images that pertain to research or something readers of the blog will be interested in. If the blog is slanted toward writers, for example, you might include a photo of your work area. If the blog is about the locale in which you set your book, include details about points of interest and how you incorporated them into your story. To generate comments, it’s always nice to end your entry with a question for readers that will generate discussion.
Stay on-topic. Unless you’re building a platform on controversy, this isn’t the time to post inflammatory information that’s politically charged. Being provocative might fuel lots of comments, but you’re not likely to ingratiate yourself to visitors or to the blog manager. Translation: You won’t sell many books. Or be asked back.
Don’t skip the follow-up. The day your entry is posted, be sure to respond to every comment, even if only to thank the commenter. And if you’re offering a giveaway, keep a log of each blog site, the winner’s name and contact info, and the prize. At the end of the day, post a final comment to thank the blog owner and all the commenters for their time and input.
Scheduling a blog tour is all about research, planning, and follow-through. Hmmm– not unlike writing a book! Take the time to set it up, and spend the time and effort to do the blog tour, and you will see solid results from the blog tour! Good luck.
Clancy's comment: I've been involved in a few blog tours - always happy to help other writers. Thank you, Stephanie. Hope this has helped any of you who are pontificating about a blog tour.
I'm ...
Think about this!
February 2, 2020
3 February 2020 - THE DISK OF DEATH IN MEXICO
THE DISK OF DEATH IN MEXICO
G'day folks,As you walk through the galleries of the Teotihuacan exhibit in Mexico’s National Museum of Anthropology, your eyes may be instantly drawn in the direction of a manifestly morbid sculpture.
In front of you stands a slate disk depicting a huge grinning skull, its sightless eyes glaring malevolently while a long protruding red tongue lolls from its maw. But perhaps most strangely of all, it is surrounded by what appears at first glance to be an elaborate halo, oddly reminiscent of a Catholic saint.
Although we can never know for sure what this enigmatic sculpture meant to the lost civilization of Teotihuacan, the location of its discovery was made might offer some clues as to its symbolic meaning.
In 1964, during an extensive archeological excavation of Teotihuacan, the disk was dug from the area directly in front of the famous Pyramid of the Sun, (the third-largest pyramid in the world) by a team of astonished archeologists. The discovery soon made international news and the sculpture was moved to the newly inaugurated National Museum of Anthropology, which had opened that year, to be displayed to the public.
Archeologists believe the sculpture’s “halo” may allude to the setting and rising of the Sun, as the change from day into night was perceived by many Mesoamerican civilizations to be a cycle of the death and rebirth of the solar system. The symbolic meaning of the skull imagery itself is more difficult to identify, but it is thought that it may allude to the ritual practice of human sacrifice or be a representation of the Teotihuacan god of death, Mictlantecuhtli.
It also may be that this “disk of death” was somehow connected to human sacrifices made around the construction of the Pyramid of the Sun. Based on the presence and location of burial sites, it seems that the sacrifice of humans and animals was practiced during the construction of buildings. This occurred perhaps as offerings to appease the gods to secure both material prosperity and safety from the region’s frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.
Clancy's comment: Mm ... They just keep on finding interesting stuff, eh?
I'm ...
February 1, 2020
2 February 2020 - Beauty of the Mysterious Black Forest
Beauty of the Mysterious Black ForestG'day folks,Welcome to a wonderland. The huge and mysterious Black Forest encompasses hundreds of miles and is one of the biggest forested areas in the world. The Romansgave it its ominous name because it used to be so thick, no light reached its floor and walking inside it, you would step into perpetual night.
The black forest is home to mountain ranges, lakes, waterfalls, streams, and scenery that has broken countless hearts. It is one of the most beautiful places on earth, dressed in colors of white and green in the winter, yellow, orange and red in the fall, and every other color in between. Enjoy these stunning views of this magical place.
In more ancient times, the forest was reputedly so thick that humans couldn't even get in it, and so dense that no sunlight reached the forest floor, and it was as dark as night.
The German word for the black forest is Schwarzwald. It is known for three known features: The amazing scenery, the formidable woods, and the highlands.
The black forest scenery reminds people of mythological legends and is said to be haunted by witches, sorcerers, werewolves and many demons of various shapes and sizes. That said, there are also good dwarves that try to balance the scales, so if you see one, you're in good hands.
1.3 million people in Germany work somehow with the black forest, which supplies not only timber but also other helpful resources as well as being a visitor attraction.
Clancy's comment: Wow. I could spend months here, just strolling around with my cameras.I'm ...
January 31, 2020
1 February 2020 - Adam Gor's Stunning Macro Nature Photography
Adam Gor's Stunning Macro Nature Photography
G'day folks,
Adam Gor is a Hungary-based biology student who also happens to specialize in macro nature photography. During his work, he has encountered many different beautiful species of butterfly and silkmoth, and some of the best of his macro photography can be seen below. Enjoy Adam Gor's stunning work.
Clancy's comment: I can assure you that macro photography allows you to enter a whole new world. These are stunning examples.
I'm ...
January 30, 2020
31 January 2020 - WHO PACKS YOUR PARACHUTES? - A SHORT STORY
WHO PACKS YOUR PARACHUTES? - A SHORT STORY -
G'day folks,
Since the beginning of time as we know it, man told stories. Sitting around the fire, the darkness held back but full of terrifying monsters, demigods and wild animals, the imagination of people served a valuable purpose. The teachings of life were passed on from mouth to ear for longer than we've had written language. For countless eons, we taught our children, who taught theirs, and so on and so on. So our wisdom was preserved.
I have no idea who wrote this short story, but it's a ripper. Enjoy.
Charles Plumb was a US Navy jet pilot in Vietnam. After 75 combat missions, his plane was destroyed by a surface-to-air missile.
Plumb ejected and parachuted into enemy hands.
He was captured and spent 6 years in a communist Vietnamese prison. He survived the ordeal and now lectures on lessons learned from that experience!
One day, when Plumb and his wife were sitting in a restaurant, a man at another table came up and said:
"You're Plumb! You flew jet fighters in Vietnam from the aircraft
carrier Kitty Hawk. You were shot down!"
"How in the world did you know that?" asked Plumb.
"I packed your parachute," the man replied.
Plumb gasped in surprise and gratitude.
The man pumped his hand and said: "I guess it worked!"
"It sure did," Plumb assured him.
"If your chute hadn't worked, I wouldn't be here today."
That night, Plumb couldn't sleep, as he kept thinking about that man.
Plumb says:
"I kept wondering what he had looked like in a Navy uniform: a white hat; a bib in the back; and bell-bottom trousers. I wonder how many times I might have seen him and not even said 'Good morning, how are you?' or anything because, you see, I was a fighter pilot and he was just a sailor."
Plumb thought of the many hours the sailor had spent at a long wooden table in the bowels of the ship, carefully weaving the shrouds and folding the silks of each chute, each time holding the fate of someone he didn't know in his hands.
Now, Plumb asks us: "Who's packing your parachute?"
Everyone has someone who provides what they need to make it through the day. He also points out that he needed many kinds of parachutes when his plane was shot down over enemy territory - he needed his physical parachute, his mental parachute, his emotional parachute, and his spiritual parachute. He called on all these supports before reaching safety.
Sometimes, in the daily challenges that life gives us, we miss what is really important. We may fail to say hello, please, or thank you, congratulate someone on something wonderful that has happened to them, give a compliment, or just do something nice for no reason.
As you go through this week, this month, this year, recognize people who pack your parachutes. And most importantly, show them your appreciation, gratitude and give them some attention - share this message with them.
You may not even know these people yet, so allow your kindness to have no boundaries whatsoever.
You'll never know who might be packing your parachute right now.
Clancy's comment: As I prepare this post, I am thinking of thousands of volunteer firefighters who are battling incredible bushfires fires around Australia. Well done, you guys and ladies.
Love ya work!
I'm ...
January 29, 2020
30 January 2020 - A COLLECTION OF INSPIRING QUOTES
A COLLECTION OF INSPIRING QUOTES
G'day folks,
It's time to present some awesome quotes to inspire you ... Or others.
Clancy's comment: Don't forget to pass them on. Oh, don't forget, 'Progess is never made by looking over your shoulder.'
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