David L. Atkinson's Blog, page 126
March 4, 2014
Writing - The Human Condition
I was interested to watch the article on BBC Breakfast concerning the Vikings, concentrating on the 'softer' side of their nature. The reporter said with some surprise that 'they were also artists'! Frankly I felt that was rather naive. It is part of the human condition that we are creative. I'm not going to spend the time today talking about the wide variety aspects of creativity that we humans can indulge in, but rather the range of art available across history from supposedly war-like nations.
Vikings
Of course they did invade, raid and indulge in violence of a variety of sorts but like all human groups throughout history they indulged in arts in a variety of ways.
Viking bling. [image error] There is of course a great deal of Viking artwork on pots, ornaments and other artefacts.
Genghis Khan
More bling but this time from that well known fearsome time of Genghis Khan. The above is an actual artefact.
The artwork and architecture is quite exquisite and of course the great leaders sojourns to the west allowed the opening of the 'Silk Road'.
Lascaux Cave PaintingsI have been fortunate to visit the Paleolithic cave paintings in Lascaux in south west France. These are estimated to be 17300 years old.
[image error] Now the point of including this example is to illustrate that even in small groups humans feel the need to record, report and illustrate their life experiences, and they do so in a variety of ways.
Celtic Art
[image error]
These are items of Celtic Art which have been found within our own small islands but demonstrate the love that all people have for good looking 'stuff'.
Most of the art work is very intricate and certain aspects have reflected forward into modern day examples of pottery, jewellery and tattoos.
I could go on collecting art examples from round the world and every nationality but the point I believe is proven above. I appreciate that many examples that exist are a form of record of everyday life but even that is an over simplification of the case. From the very earliest examples of manufactured clothing to the building of carts and artefacts to take on board ships and barges, people decorate. It could be argued that it was to brighten our dull lives but in the case of the people who painted the cave walls at Lascaux they lived in a green and pleasant land. They would have seasonal colour and views but included colour into their records on the cave walls.
In one sense art seems frivolous and yet it is inside everyone of us as a means of expression and entertainment. In all types of celebrations we spend time making the place where it is to happen look good and we do it for the people attending. At my daughter's wedding last weekend we added white silk bows to the end of each pew in the church. We didn't need to for a service lasting around an hour. The reception was decked out appropriately for a wedding and the disco in the evening had everything including flashing colourful lights. Each stage is an exercise in artistic expression intended to stimulate happiness. We even decorated her car.
Writing is one small part of the arts and although not visual, usually, it has all the above elements. As father of the bride I had a speech to make. I found out the bare minimum that was required, used that as a template and then made it personal to my child. Then of course I had to 'perform' it and to that extent it was visually expressed writing. The outcome was an expression of emotions including love and hope but was fundamentally an artistic response to a novel situation.
I think the world needs to embrace the fact that we humans have an artistic side irrespective of more overt forms of behaviour for which groups may be known, and to celebrate the past but also the here and now.
God Bless
Vikings
Of course they did invade, raid and indulge in violence of a variety of sorts but like all human groups throughout history they indulged in arts in a variety of ways.
Viking bling. [image error] There is of course a great deal of Viking artwork on pots, ornaments and other artefacts.Genghis Khan
More bling but this time from that well known fearsome time of Genghis Khan. The above is an actual artefact.
The artwork and architecture is quite exquisite and of course the great leaders sojourns to the west allowed the opening of the 'Silk Road'.
Lascaux Cave PaintingsI have been fortunate to visit the Paleolithic cave paintings in Lascaux in south west France. These are estimated to be 17300 years old.
[image error] Now the point of including this example is to illustrate that even in small groups humans feel the need to record, report and illustrate their life experiences, and they do so in a variety of ways.
Celtic Art
[image error]
These are items of Celtic Art which have been found within our own small islands but demonstrate the love that all people have for good looking 'stuff'.
Most of the art work is very intricate and certain aspects have reflected forward into modern day examples of pottery, jewellery and tattoos.I could go on collecting art examples from round the world and every nationality but the point I believe is proven above. I appreciate that many examples that exist are a form of record of everyday life but even that is an over simplification of the case. From the very earliest examples of manufactured clothing to the building of carts and artefacts to take on board ships and barges, people decorate. It could be argued that it was to brighten our dull lives but in the case of the people who painted the cave walls at Lascaux they lived in a green and pleasant land. They would have seasonal colour and views but included colour into their records on the cave walls.
In one sense art seems frivolous and yet it is inside everyone of us as a means of expression and entertainment. In all types of celebrations we spend time making the place where it is to happen look good and we do it for the people attending. At my daughter's wedding last weekend we added white silk bows to the end of each pew in the church. We didn't need to for a service lasting around an hour. The reception was decked out appropriately for a wedding and the disco in the evening had everything including flashing colourful lights. Each stage is an exercise in artistic expression intended to stimulate happiness. We even decorated her car.
Writing is one small part of the arts and although not visual, usually, it has all the above elements. As father of the bride I had a speech to make. I found out the bare minimum that was required, used that as a template and then made it personal to my child. Then of course I had to 'perform' it and to that extent it was visually expressed writing. The outcome was an expression of emotions including love and hope but was fundamentally an artistic response to a novel situation.
I think the world needs to embrace the fact that we humans have an artistic side irrespective of more overt forms of behaviour for which groups may be known, and to celebrate the past but also the here and now.
God Bless
March 3, 2014
Tuesday Recipe - Shrove Tuesday Japanese style.
Shrove Tuesday (also known as Shrovetide Tuesday, Pancake Tuesday and Pancake Day) is the day preceding Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent. Shrove Tuesday is determined by Easter; its date changes annually.The expression "Shrove Tuesday" comes from the word shrive, meaning "confess". Shrove Tuesday is observed by many Christian denominations. Many Christians, on Shrove Tuesday, "make a special point of self-examination, of considering what wrongs they need to repent, and what amendments of life or areas of spiritual growth they especially need to ask God's help in dealing with." Being the last day before the penitential season of Lent, related popular practices, such as indulging in food that one sacrifices for the upcoming forty days, are associated with Shrove Tuesday celebrations, before commencing the fasting and religious obligations associated with Lent. The term Mardi Gras is French for Fat Tuesday, referring to the practice of the last night of eating richer, fatty foods before the ritual fasting of the Lenten season, which begins on Ash Wednesday.
[image error]Pancake Day!As I was rather busy with my daughter's wedding, I didn't cook this weekend. As I probably won't cook on Tuesday either I am cheating a little today. Forgive a little self-indulgence!
My daughter and her new husband!
I have previously featured a recipe for Japanese pancakes, Tamagoyaki (recipe TAB), but found another which is often festival street food. Okonomiyaki comes from two different regions, Osaka and Hiroshima, both places that I've had the privilege to visit. The Osaka version is the simpler of the two and is featured below. It also suits the timbre of the day by using up what is left in the fridge.
Quick and Easy Okonomiyaki Recipe(makes about 5)
Ingredients
Filling:
* ½ cabbage
* 1 carrot
* 3 spring onions
* 1 sq. cm ginger
* 3 mushrooms
* 3 green beans
* 2 eggs
* 100g plain flour
* 200ml water
* 60g cheddar cheese
* Some sliced bacon
Sauce:
* 50g brown sauce
* 5g oyster sauce
* 2g ketchup
* ½ tsp English mustard
* 5g honey
* Mayonnaise and nori seaweed for topping
How to Make Japanese Pancakes1. Cut vegetables into small pieces and put in a bowl.
2. Add the flour, egg and water and mix really well. Add the grated cheese and mix this in, too.
3. Heat a little oil in a large frying pan at a very low heat. Add the bacon and vegetable mix and tilt the pan until the mixture forms a circle. Don’t touch this until really well baked on the bottom side. Then turn it onto the other side to fry for a few minutes. Push it using a spatula to make sure it’s flat and well cooked.
4. Meanwhile, make the sauce. Put all the sauce ingredients in a small bowl and mix well.
5. Once both sides are well cooked, put the pancake on a serving dish. Spread over the sauce, add some mayo and nori seaweed and enjoy!
As I haven't attempted this dish I will refrain from putting it on the Recipe Tab and that is because the actual preparation of the dishes I include sometimes produces issues that need further exploration.
God Bless
[image error]Pancake Day!As I was rather busy with my daughter's wedding, I didn't cook this weekend. As I probably won't cook on Tuesday either I am cheating a little today. Forgive a little self-indulgence!
My daughter and her new husband!I have previously featured a recipe for Japanese pancakes, Tamagoyaki (recipe TAB), but found another which is often festival street food. Okonomiyaki comes from two different regions, Osaka and Hiroshima, both places that I've had the privilege to visit. The Osaka version is the simpler of the two and is featured below. It also suits the timbre of the day by using up what is left in the fridge.
Quick and Easy Okonomiyaki Recipe(makes about 5)
Ingredients
Filling:
* ½ cabbage
* 1 carrot
* 3 spring onions
* 1 sq. cm ginger
* 3 mushrooms
* 3 green beans
* 2 eggs
* 100g plain flour
* 200ml water
* 60g cheddar cheese
* Some sliced bacon
Sauce:
* 50g brown sauce
* 5g oyster sauce
* 2g ketchup
* ½ tsp English mustard
* 5g honey
* Mayonnaise and nori seaweed for topping
How to Make Japanese Pancakes1. Cut vegetables into small pieces and put in a bowl.
2. Add the flour, egg and water and mix really well. Add the grated cheese and mix this in, too.
3. Heat a little oil in a large frying pan at a very low heat. Add the bacon and vegetable mix and tilt the pan until the mixture forms a circle. Don’t touch this until really well baked on the bottom side. Then turn it onto the other side to fry for a few minutes. Push it using a spatula to make sure it’s flat and well cooked.
4. Meanwhile, make the sauce. Put all the sauce ingredients in a small bowl and mix well.
5. Once both sides are well cooked, put the pancake on a serving dish. Spread over the sauce, add some mayo and nori seaweed and enjoy!
As I haven't attempted this dish I will refrain from putting it on the Recipe Tab and that is because the actual preparation of the dishes I include sometimes produces issues that need further exploration.
God Bless
March 2, 2014
Writing - 10 things we didn't know last week
More fascinating fun and facts!
1. Monkeys open bananas at the other end from humans.
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2. Fish that are fed Skips crisps can turn pink.
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3. The Dominican Republic has the world's deadliest roads.
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4. The average length of a Best Picture Academy Award winning film is two hours and 20 minutes.
---------------------------------------------
[image error]
5. The smell given off by pine forests limits atmospheric warming.
-----------------------------------------
6. Men who struggle to grow facial hair can get a beard transplant.
--------------------------------------
[image error]
7. There is a symphonic Finnish prog-rock concept album about Scrooge McDuck.
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8. Blind people's dreams are richer in sounds, touches, tastes and smells.
----------------------------------------------
9. Robert Wilson, who together with Arno Penzias discovered the afterglow of the big bang, keeps a sound recording of the radio waves that were released after that huge explosion on his mobile phone.
---------------------------------------
10. It took four hours to - clump by clump - create Christian Bale's artificial chest hair in American Hustle.
God Bless
1. Monkeys open bananas at the other end from humans.
--------------------------------------------
2. Fish that are fed Skips crisps can turn pink.
--------------------------------------------
3. The Dominican Republic has the world's deadliest roads.
--------------------------------------------
4. The average length of a Best Picture Academy Award winning film is two hours and 20 minutes.
---------------------------------------------
[image error]
5. The smell given off by pine forests limits atmospheric warming.
-----------------------------------------
6. Men who struggle to grow facial hair can get a beard transplant.
--------------------------------------
[image error]
7. There is a symphonic Finnish prog-rock concept album about Scrooge McDuck.
---------------------------------------
8. Blind people's dreams are richer in sounds, touches, tastes and smells.
----------------------------------------------
9. Robert Wilson, who together with Arno Penzias discovered the afterglow of the big bang, keeps a sound recording of the radio waves that were released after that huge explosion on his mobile phone.
---------------------------------------
10. It took four hours to - clump by clump - create Christian Bale's artificial chest hair in American Hustle.
God Bless
February 28, 2014
Writing - Time management.
I could be referring to how many hours a day I feel that its best to write. I could be thinking of how many books I should be able to complete in a year. In fact I'm thinking neither of those things.
[image error]
What I'm actually referring to is concerning the passage of time in stories. I have just completed two chapters in my latest Steele novel, Most Wanted Artefact, and I found that I needed to write them in parallel. This was because of the way the characters split away from each other. Well they didn't so much split as were prised apart!
When a story takes a turn where the two main characters are involved in action running concurrently then obviously as the book is read in series then the chapters need to follow on but the writing process can be operated so that there is a greater sense of reality in the mind of the writer if the chapters are written alongside each other. It was an interesting experience and I hope when I come to proof read the story that I haven't mixed the two up!
When I first began writing I Have To Get It Right I think that I became rather bogged down in reporting the chronology of the story. This is something which, as confidence has grown, that I've moved away from. Chronology is still important but it isn't necessary to become a slave of time.
Give away!
This is a special weekend for me as my daughter is getting married tomorrow and to celebrate I've decided to give away two of the Steele novels as found on Smashwords.
A Changed Reality
Patrick A Steele has discovered an injustice which involves organised crime and kidnapping for the sex trade and he applies his unique skillset to disrupt the evil group behind these heinous atrocities. This fourth Steele novel continues the association of our hero with the Japanese Gurentai one of whom he is becoming increasingly romantically attached to - but is it reciprocated? When weekend rioting seems to be driven by some hidden force Patrick and his confederates travel in the UK and eastern Europe in an effort to overcome the activities of an evil crime lord and his hired assassin.
Inceptus
In this the 5th Steele novel Patrick tackles the person who has been surreptitiously dogging his footsteps over a number of his adventures. This is not without risk and the focus of his love, Naomi Kobayashi, disappears which seriously affects his ability to function as well as he can. We also find out more about the man himself. The adventure takes him to Eire, France, the USA before he returns to resolve the issue in the UK. Will Patrick finally rid himself of a deadly enemy? Can our hero rescue his love or is it already too late? Another Patrick Steele adventure filled with tension and action as well as the support provided by the team he has developed over the years.
NB. If you click on the title of each section it will link you to Smashwords.
God Bless
[image error]
What I'm actually referring to is concerning the passage of time in stories. I have just completed two chapters in my latest Steele novel, Most Wanted Artefact, and I found that I needed to write them in parallel. This was because of the way the characters split away from each other. Well they didn't so much split as were prised apart!
When a story takes a turn where the two main characters are involved in action running concurrently then obviously as the book is read in series then the chapters need to follow on but the writing process can be operated so that there is a greater sense of reality in the mind of the writer if the chapters are written alongside each other. It was an interesting experience and I hope when I come to proof read the story that I haven't mixed the two up!
When I first began writing I Have To Get It Right I think that I became rather bogged down in reporting the chronology of the story. This is something which, as confidence has grown, that I've moved away from. Chronology is still important but it isn't necessary to become a slave of time.
Give away!
This is a special weekend for me as my daughter is getting married tomorrow and to celebrate I've decided to give away two of the Steele novels as found on Smashwords.
A Changed Reality
Patrick A Steele has discovered an injustice which involves organised crime and kidnapping for the sex trade and he applies his unique skillset to disrupt the evil group behind these heinous atrocities. This fourth Steele novel continues the association of our hero with the Japanese Gurentai one of whom he is becoming increasingly romantically attached to - but is it reciprocated? When weekend rioting seems to be driven by some hidden force Patrick and his confederates travel in the UK and eastern Europe in an effort to overcome the activities of an evil crime lord and his hired assassin.
Inceptus
In this the 5th Steele novel Patrick tackles the person who has been surreptitiously dogging his footsteps over a number of his adventures. This is not without risk and the focus of his love, Naomi Kobayashi, disappears which seriously affects his ability to function as well as he can. We also find out more about the man himself. The adventure takes him to Eire, France, the USA before he returns to resolve the issue in the UK. Will Patrick finally rid himself of a deadly enemy? Can our hero rescue his love or is it already too late? Another Patrick Steele adventure filled with tension and action as well as the support provided by the team he has developed over the years.
NB. If you click on the title of each section it will link you to Smashwords.
God Bless
February 27, 2014
Writing - The Last Day (Readwave submission)
The Last Day
If today was the last day of my life I would want four comforts.
I would want my three children to be with me. Your children don’t belong to you but they are of you and as such represent a myriad of two-way transactions which form a large part of your life. I’m very fortunate that my children have achieved and given so much joy over the years that having them beside me would bring a degree of comfort in my final hours. Talking with the children would generate stories of their growing up and it is stories that provide social nourishment. When I’d passed those stories would give them comfort and hopefully some laughter. While those stories live in the children’s memories then I will live on after the physical presence has gone.
I would want to be beside the sea. My formative years were spent close to the sea and even though it hasn’t always been flat calm when I’ve travelled on it, it has never done me harm. In one mood the power of the sea is a reminder to us all of the unrelenting force which is Mother Nature and our relative insignificance. The sea in a different mood can provide comfort with its gentle lapping against the land. It is a reminder of the life giving presence of water on the Earth, a source of food and even has a smell all of its own. It influences the shape of our world and the weather that we all experience. We, in the UK, are an island nation so why would we not want to be close to the sea at the point of our leaving this life?
I would like a bottle of malt whisky to be available. This may seem to be a frivolous waste of an opportunity, and let me assure you that it wouldn’t be my intention to drink the whole bottle, but it has been one of my personal comforts throughout the majority of my adult life. I have never made myself drunk or ill on whisky but have learnt about the subtleties that each type of malt whisky embodies. It is often described as the ‘water of life’ and that symbolism seems appropriate for someone’s final moments. If you sip whisky gently you may discover a surprising plethora of flavours. One of my favourites, Oban, has subtle hints of caramel, honey and vanilla. Coincidentally, vanilla is one of my favourite flavours, and so it is unsurprising that I enjoy an alcoholic drink which has that characteristic.
I would like photographs of my parents in my hands. In many ways this reflects back to the presence of my children. Irrespective of your relationships with your parents, and they can be stormy, we are all an amalgam of our parents genes, attitudes and learning mixed in a new package. It is natural for me to look upon their countenances in my final moments. It will also, as before, generate stories that will provide a level of continuity for the children about their family which in their turn they can pass to their progeny. My parents, for all my faults, stood by me for as long as they were alive and I am trying to be the same for my three kids. One thing that I’ve made a bit of a mantra is that they can’t do anything in their lives that would stop me talking to them at the very least. If you keep talking all situations are repairable.
Selecting the above four wishes in a relatively short time was quite difficult and of course there are things that are missing. I haven’t chosen any of my favourite music to have playing, a favourite book or the Bible. It’s probably because what is important to me are people and the bottom line is that we are social animals. To die without others nearby must be a terrifyingly lonely experience whether you are in pain or not.
God Bless
February 26, 2014
Poetry Thursday 99 - World War 1 a view
I have already seen quite a lot of footage about World War 1 and it is only February! One of the programmes I watched concentrated on the human side.
Do you know who you are?
Battles you fight for those who don’t care.Bribes you take to ease your lot.Cousins arguing brought countries to war.Ordinary people are the ones on the spot.
Affluent leaders playing their games.Families in poverty needing support.An endless roster of unknown names.Fun and games for papers to report.
People at home are filled with pride.The soldiers are ploughing mud filled trenches.Truth in print? Or the establishment lied!War breaks families in violent wrenches!
Do you really know who you are?They don’t give a damn!You are only allowed to go so far.Ruling classes are controlling destiny of man.©David L Atkinson February 2014
I keep insisting that I am not left wing and it is true in the strictly political sense but I do feel that we live in a two tier society. A them and us situation. Hence the rather angry poem above. And now an offering from the famous war poet Wilfred Owen, which is so powerful it must be admired.
[image error]
1914
War broke: and now the Winter of the world
With perishing great darkness closes in.
The foul tornado, centred at Berlin,
Is over all the width of Europe whirled,
Rending the sails of progress. Rent or furled
Are all Art's ensigns. Verse wails. Now begin
Famines of thought and feeling. Love's wine's thin.
The grain of human Autumn rots, down-hurled.
For after Spring had bloomed in early Greece,
And Summer blazed her glory out with Rome,
An Autumn softly fell, a harvest home,
A slow grand age, and rich with all increase.
But now, for us, wild Winter, and the need
Of sowings for new Spring, and blood for seed. Wilfred OwenGod Bless
February 25, 2014
Writing - Researching WW1 and home
You can live in a place for decades and still not know everything about the area. When researching places for our stories we can enrich the readers experience by adding nuggets of information. I have done this to a degree when writing the Steele novels.
[image error]Doxford House
In some of the books I have referred to Doxford House, which is on the edge of the village in which I grew up. Something of the history of the house is included in I Have To Get It Right in an effort to add colour.
As the hundredth anniversary of the beginning of the WW1 approaches various media are beginning to explore the influences of that conflict on the UK. I was trawling through some of that information on the BBC News website when I came across a story that occurred not 10 miles from where I was brought up.
Birtley (means 'bright meadow')
[image error]
Elisabethville
Elisabethville was a small town built to house Belgian refugees during the Great War of 1914-18. The name is spelt with an ’s’ rather than a ’z’ as the town was named after the Belgian Queen Elisabeth. The town was quite separate from Birtley. In addition to huts for families, there were barracks for soldiers and workmen, shops, police force, hospital and a cemetery. As far as possible the refugees were kept away from the population of Birtley by railing off the site and having only a few gateways! The men were employed at a munitions works, making shells for use mainly in France.
Later, after the Belgians returned home in December 1918, the community was used to house the growing population of Birtley. Streets were given English names in place of their original Belgian names, and even the place name Elisabethville fell into disuse as most people called the area simply ’the huts’.
No one was allowed in or out of Elisabethville without a special pass - it was completely unique, as it was a sovereign Belgian enclave on British soil. The Belgian authorities looked after the administration, and it was run on military lines, with a force of gendarmes to assist.
I never knew anything about Elisabethville and my parents never spoke of the place even though we were only ten miles away. Someone interested in writing historical fiction could use this small story to produce a larger work.
Over the next four years I feel sure that there will be other revelations around the conflict of 1914 - 1918.
Venture Galleries
Latest extract from The Biter Bit
God Bless
[image error]Doxford House
In some of the books I have referred to Doxford House, which is on the edge of the village in which I grew up. Something of the history of the house is included in I Have To Get It Right in an effort to add colour.
As the hundredth anniversary of the beginning of the WW1 approaches various media are beginning to explore the influences of that conflict on the UK. I was trawling through some of that information on the BBC News website when I came across a story that occurred not 10 miles from where I was brought up.
Birtley (means 'bright meadow')
[image error]
Elisabethville
Elisabethville was a small town built to house Belgian refugees during the Great War of 1914-18. The name is spelt with an ’s’ rather than a ’z’ as the town was named after the Belgian Queen Elisabeth. The town was quite separate from Birtley. In addition to huts for families, there were barracks for soldiers and workmen, shops, police force, hospital and a cemetery. As far as possible the refugees were kept away from the population of Birtley by railing off the site and having only a few gateways! The men were employed at a munitions works, making shells for use mainly in France.
Later, after the Belgians returned home in December 1918, the community was used to house the growing population of Birtley. Streets were given English names in place of their original Belgian names, and even the place name Elisabethville fell into disuse as most people called the area simply ’the huts’.
No one was allowed in or out of Elisabethville without a special pass - it was completely unique, as it was a sovereign Belgian enclave on British soil. The Belgian authorities looked after the administration, and it was run on military lines, with a force of gendarmes to assist.
I never knew anything about Elisabethville and my parents never spoke of the place even though we were only ten miles away. Someone interested in writing historical fiction could use this small story to produce a larger work.
Over the next four years I feel sure that there will be other revelations around the conflict of 1914 - 1918.
Venture Galleries
Latest extract from The Biter Bit
God Bless
February 24, 2014
Tuesday Recipe - Somerset pork roast
This is a made up recipe resulting from years of experience. It began as Normandy Pork cooked in the style of a casserole with French wine, shallots and carrots. Simply exchange the wine for cider and you can call it Somerset Pork! If you consider the basics then change the meat from medallions to a leg of pork and you end up with a sort of Somerset Pot Roast.
Pot Roast Somerset Pork
As always the recipe is on the relevant TAB at the top of this page.
I had a bit of a use up, serving the pork with mashed potato, a small Yorkshire pudding and the usual pork dressings of sage and onion stuffing and apple sauce. The end result I found very tasty. In reality the basic premise of cooking a piece of meat this way lends itself to a variety of options. The cider and the apple sauce give this dish a sweet and sour tang. Whatever you choose to do with this meal I think you will enjoy it.
Moving on a little - its interesting labelling a meal after an area because it has a product that is part of the recipe. I suppose it is a little like a book title, 'Canterbury Tales', 'Brighton Rock', 'Moon over Soho' and so on. It would be interesting to construct a title from the nature of part of the story you have written. There is a difficulty if you create something that involves a lot of travelling to tie it to one place but it then could be applied to the origin of the hero or heroine. Steele could be 'The Mirfield Mackem' which is a complex combination of my origins and where I live now, that is not to say that I am Steele - honest!
I have been considering the titles of my books to date and thinking about the covers as well in relation to sales. Two books have struggled more than the others. One is 'A Changed Reality' which has a rather sombre cover but which, when I chose it, felt right. The second is 'Inceptus' which is predominantly blue and I was told that was a good colour!
They are both doing a little better now but because of a poor start they are lagging behind the rest. I think that as an initial first impression cover and title are important but from then onwards it is what is inside the covers that is the most important.
God Bless
Pot Roast Somerset Pork
As always the recipe is on the relevant TAB at the top of this page.
I had a bit of a use up, serving the pork with mashed potato, a small Yorkshire pudding and the usual pork dressings of sage and onion stuffing and apple sauce. The end result I found very tasty. In reality the basic premise of cooking a piece of meat this way lends itself to a variety of options. The cider and the apple sauce give this dish a sweet and sour tang. Whatever you choose to do with this meal I think you will enjoy it.
Moving on a little - its interesting labelling a meal after an area because it has a product that is part of the recipe. I suppose it is a little like a book title, 'Canterbury Tales', 'Brighton Rock', 'Moon over Soho' and so on. It would be interesting to construct a title from the nature of part of the story you have written. There is a difficulty if you create something that involves a lot of travelling to tie it to one place but it then could be applied to the origin of the hero or heroine. Steele could be 'The Mirfield Mackem' which is a complex combination of my origins and where I live now, that is not to say that I am Steele - honest!
I have been considering the titles of my books to date and thinking about the covers as well in relation to sales. Two books have struggled more than the others. One is 'A Changed Reality' which has a rather sombre cover but which, when I chose it, felt right. The second is 'Inceptus' which is predominantly blue and I was told that was a good colour!
They are both doing a little better now but because of a poor start they are lagging behind the rest. I think that as an initial first impression cover and title are important but from then onwards it is what is inside the covers that is the most important.
God Bless
February 23, 2014
Writing - 10 things we didn't know last week
More gems from this weeks news around the world.
[image error]
1. Meryl Streep has been thanked more often than God at the past 12 Oscar ceremonies.
I find this sort of approbation ridiculous!
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[image error]
2. Curlers can burn up to 1,800 calories during a game.
Thought they meant hair curling!
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3. Do / You is the most common rhyme in pop music.
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4. Pigeons helped scientists confirm the Big Bang Theory.
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[image error]
5. Dogs can tell from your voice if you're happy or sad.
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6. People in Bangkok and Sao Paulo smile the most in selfies.
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[image error]
7. It is illegal to race rubber ducks in some US states.
I wondered!!!
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[image error]
8. Elephants console each other when times are tough.
Sweet!
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[image error]
9. Authorities in Jerusalem are DNA testing dogs to deal with fouling.
Not so sweet!
-------------------------------------------------
[image error]
10. There is a once a year a bus service from Salisbury Plain to Imber.
This village is on Salisbury Plain and has been uninhabited since it was evacuated in 1943. Why would you want to catch a bus to go there?
------------------------------------------------
God Bless
[image error]
1. Meryl Streep has been thanked more often than God at the past 12 Oscar ceremonies.
I find this sort of approbation ridiculous!
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[image error]
2. Curlers can burn up to 1,800 calories during a game.
Thought they meant hair curling!
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3. Do / You is the most common rhyme in pop music.
--------------------------------------------------
4. Pigeons helped scientists confirm the Big Bang Theory.
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[image error]
5. Dogs can tell from your voice if you're happy or sad.
---------------------------------------------------
6. People in Bangkok and Sao Paulo smile the most in selfies.
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[image error]
7. It is illegal to race rubber ducks in some US states.
I wondered!!!
-----------------------------------------------------
[image error]
8. Elephants console each other when times are tough.
Sweet!
-------------------------------------------------
[image error]
9. Authorities in Jerusalem are DNA testing dogs to deal with fouling.
Not so sweet!
-------------------------------------------------
[image error]
10. There is a once a year a bus service from Salisbury Plain to Imber.
This village is on Salisbury Plain and has been uninhabited since it was evacuated in 1943. Why would you want to catch a bus to go there?
------------------------------------------------
God Bless
Blogging Authors All In A Chain
I'm writing this post because I was tagged by Bert Carson in what is an ever growing chain of authors hell bent on promoting their literary efforts by supporting each other. A more noble enterprise I can not imagine. One of the elements of this blog is to answer questions about yourself and I've asked these other authors to join in and answer the same four questions.
When Bert asked me to be involved (he's the one wearing the headphones!) I must admit to a degree of panic as the detail worried me, however, Bert has been such a support to me since I began blogging about my efforts at writing I trusted him.
I have also read 'Another Place Another Time' and find his style entertaining and captivating. Bert has given me a point of reference across the other side of the pond and besides he likes Marmite!
Okay here goes
1. What am I currently working on? I've not yet come across a writer who is only ever working on one project but apart from blogging, writing poetry and short stories I am about half way through a Patrick Steele novel provisionally entitled 'Most Wanted Artefact'. This is the sixth novel in the Steele series and I am hoping to have it published by completelynovel.com by the end of May
2. How does my work differ from others in the same genre? I suppose the devil is in the detail. Some may say that Steele is a version of James Bond and if they do I would take that as a compliment but there are differences. Steele isn't working for the government and doesn't come from a privileged background. For more information on his upbringing read Inceptus but suffice it to say that he has a strong sense of injustice which he tries to exorcise by righting wrongs that the justice system doesn't deal with effectively, in his view. There are similarities in that he enjoys gadgets, is not phased by the use of violence but has a charitable side.
3. Why do I write what I write? I've published seven books including a slim collection of poetry, 5 Steele novels and a dystopian story. I have had the drive to write for many years and began by writing poetry but it wasn't possible for me to apply the level of concentration and effort that I felt I needed to until retirement. The subject matter of the Steele novels just seemed natural to me. I have always tried to follow the advice of writing from where I am at and having been fortunate enough to have travelled quite widely it was plain that I would have a lead character who moved around the world. He was also similar to me in that there was a degree of the OCD but on the page Steele allowed me to order society the way I can't in the real world. I am also a bit of a conspiracy theorist so broke away from Steele to write Cessation set in 2027 when the crisis concerning energy supplies. I would like to continue writing Steele novels but if other burning issues arise I'm sure that they will inspire me to explore other genres.
4. How does my writing process work? My writing process is intensely personal and is similar to Ian Rankin's, he is the guy who writes the Rebus novels about a Scottish police detective operating in and around Edinburgh. He writes from scratch, just sits down and does it. I'm not that good I usually get an idea, and it can come from anywhere, rough out the first five chapters, no more than a couple of sentences per chapter, list my characters, location and skills or equipment then I start. Quite often where I'm going is decided by the characters and their personalities. I think that is why I've not suffered the dreaded writer's block. No matter where you are in your writing if things seem to be slowing or taking a different direction don't be afraid to deviate from your plan. Sticking slavishly to a plan is where blocks can be generated if the plan has weaknesses!
And now the authors who agreed to take part.
Carolyn Arnold
CAROLYN ARNOLD’s love for writing dates back to her teen years, but her passion was reignited in 2006 when a fellow employee said "tell me a story." Since then Carolyn has never looked back.
Carolyn Arnold published her first book, TIES THAT BIND, the first in her Madison Knight Series, in 2011 and it became a Kindle Best Seller, reaching the top 100 in Police Procedurals in the US and in the UK. Her writing has been compared to New York Times Bestsellers such as JD Robb, Mary Higgins Clark, Sue Grafton, Michael Connelly, Tess Gerritsen, and more.
Carolyn was born in 1976 in a rural town of Ontario, Canada. She is a member of Crime Writers of Canada and lives with her husband, and two beagles in a city near Toronto.
Carolyn has also been a consistently loyal supporter of my work which is greatly appreciated. I have also read her book 'Eleven' which I would highly recommend. It is an FBI crime thriller which has great tension and a tantalising twist and displays the great skill of Carolyn the writer.
Her latest release SILENT GRAVES, an FBI Procedural and second in a series, just came out!
Where to find Carolyn Arnold online:
• Website • Blog • Twitter • Facebook • Linkedin • Google +
Where you can buy Carolyn Arnold's books:
• Amazon • Barnes & Noble • Apple • Kobo
Claude Nougat
I have been very fortunate since starting writing to have 'collected' some amazing people who I consider friends online. Claude Nougat is one of those friends and a brilliant person who is patient, supportive and whose opinion is valued. She has often read my short stories and offered advice which I have been only to pleased to act upon. I have also read a couple of her works 'Hook in the Sky' and 'Forever Young' both of which I found stimulating. Claude has a very engaging style and uses her knowledge of relationships to enhance the emotional temperature of her writing.
Claude has revised and republished 'Hook in the Sky' as Crimson Clouds and her Sicilian Saga Lunar Rising
This is what Claude says about herself.
I'm a lot of things rolled into one: a writer, economist, painter, poet and... a cook! I graduated from Columbia University (a long time ago, ahem), and since then, I've dabbled in a wide variety of jobs before starting a 25 year career at the United Nations (Food and Agriculture), where I grandly ended, much to my surprise, as Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia.
I've written all my life, even when I was working full time, and two of my books, written in Italian, were published by traditional publishers in the 1990s. Again to my surprise and delight, those books won several awards in Italy, including the Premio Mediterraneo. Since I've retired, I've written seven books in English, all fiction except one essay on development aid; in 2012, I founded a group in Goodreads to discuss Boomer Lit (now 500 members) and I suppose you could say I'm considered a prime exponent of the genre. I also happen to be convinced that Boomer Lit is headed to great success as more and more baby boomers pass the 50 mark and want to read stories featuring people like themselves, entering their "second adulthood".
I was very pleased when British poet Oscar Sparrow asked me to participate with some poems in the poetry anthology he was curating, Freeze Frame, published by Gallo Romano Media in 2012.
------------------------------------------
So thank you to these two fine authors for agreeing to be part of this chain and I hope the readers of this blog chain find stories that entertain and intrigue them.
Thanks once again to Bert Carson for including me in his team.
God Bless
When Bert asked me to be involved (he's the one wearing the headphones!) I must admit to a degree of panic as the detail worried me, however, Bert has been such a support to me since I began blogging about my efforts at writing I trusted him.
I have also read 'Another Place Another Time' and find his style entertaining and captivating. Bert has given me a point of reference across the other side of the pond and besides he likes Marmite!
Okay here goes
1. What am I currently working on? I've not yet come across a writer who is only ever working on one project but apart from blogging, writing poetry and short stories I am about half way through a Patrick Steele novel provisionally entitled 'Most Wanted Artefact'. This is the sixth novel in the Steele series and I am hoping to have it published by completelynovel.com by the end of May
2. How does my work differ from others in the same genre? I suppose the devil is in the detail. Some may say that Steele is a version of James Bond and if they do I would take that as a compliment but there are differences. Steele isn't working for the government and doesn't come from a privileged background. For more information on his upbringing read Inceptus but suffice it to say that he has a strong sense of injustice which he tries to exorcise by righting wrongs that the justice system doesn't deal with effectively, in his view. There are similarities in that he enjoys gadgets, is not phased by the use of violence but has a charitable side.
3. Why do I write what I write? I've published seven books including a slim collection of poetry, 5 Steele novels and a dystopian story. I have had the drive to write for many years and began by writing poetry but it wasn't possible for me to apply the level of concentration and effort that I felt I needed to until retirement. The subject matter of the Steele novels just seemed natural to me. I have always tried to follow the advice of writing from where I am at and having been fortunate enough to have travelled quite widely it was plain that I would have a lead character who moved around the world. He was also similar to me in that there was a degree of the OCD but on the page Steele allowed me to order society the way I can't in the real world. I am also a bit of a conspiracy theorist so broke away from Steele to write Cessation set in 2027 when the crisis concerning energy supplies. I would like to continue writing Steele novels but if other burning issues arise I'm sure that they will inspire me to explore other genres.
4. How does my writing process work? My writing process is intensely personal and is similar to Ian Rankin's, he is the guy who writes the Rebus novels about a Scottish police detective operating in and around Edinburgh. He writes from scratch, just sits down and does it. I'm not that good I usually get an idea, and it can come from anywhere, rough out the first five chapters, no more than a couple of sentences per chapter, list my characters, location and skills or equipment then I start. Quite often where I'm going is decided by the characters and their personalities. I think that is why I've not suffered the dreaded writer's block. No matter where you are in your writing if things seem to be slowing or taking a different direction don't be afraid to deviate from your plan. Sticking slavishly to a plan is where blocks can be generated if the plan has weaknesses!
And now the authors who agreed to take part.
Carolyn Arnold
CAROLYN ARNOLD’s love for writing dates back to her teen years, but her passion was reignited in 2006 when a fellow employee said "tell me a story." Since then Carolyn has never looked back.
Carolyn Arnold published her first book, TIES THAT BIND, the first in her Madison Knight Series, in 2011 and it became a Kindle Best Seller, reaching the top 100 in Police Procedurals in the US and in the UK. Her writing has been compared to New York Times Bestsellers such as JD Robb, Mary Higgins Clark, Sue Grafton, Michael Connelly, Tess Gerritsen, and more.
Carolyn was born in 1976 in a rural town of Ontario, Canada. She is a member of Crime Writers of Canada and lives with her husband, and two beagles in a city near Toronto.
Carolyn has also been a consistently loyal supporter of my work which is greatly appreciated. I have also read her book 'Eleven' which I would highly recommend. It is an FBI crime thriller which has great tension and a tantalising twist and displays the great skill of Carolyn the writer.
Her latest release SILENT GRAVES, an FBI Procedural and second in a series, just came out!
Where to find Carolyn Arnold online:
• Website • Blog • Twitter • Facebook • Linkedin • Google +
Where you can buy Carolyn Arnold's books:
• Amazon • Barnes & Noble • Apple • Kobo
Claude Nougat
I have been very fortunate since starting writing to have 'collected' some amazing people who I consider friends online. Claude Nougat is one of those friends and a brilliant person who is patient, supportive and whose opinion is valued. She has often read my short stories and offered advice which I have been only to pleased to act upon. I have also read a couple of her works 'Hook in the Sky' and 'Forever Young' both of which I found stimulating. Claude has a very engaging style and uses her knowledge of relationships to enhance the emotional temperature of her writing.
Claude has revised and republished 'Hook in the Sky' as Crimson Clouds and her Sicilian Saga Lunar Rising
This is what Claude says about herself.
I'm a lot of things rolled into one: a writer, economist, painter, poet and... a cook! I graduated from Columbia University (a long time ago, ahem), and since then, I've dabbled in a wide variety of jobs before starting a 25 year career at the United Nations (Food and Agriculture), where I grandly ended, much to my surprise, as Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia.
I've written all my life, even when I was working full time, and two of my books, written in Italian, were published by traditional publishers in the 1990s. Again to my surprise and delight, those books won several awards in Italy, including the Premio Mediterraneo. Since I've retired, I've written seven books in English, all fiction except one essay on development aid; in 2012, I founded a group in Goodreads to discuss Boomer Lit (now 500 members) and I suppose you could say I'm considered a prime exponent of the genre. I also happen to be convinced that Boomer Lit is headed to great success as more and more baby boomers pass the 50 mark and want to read stories featuring people like themselves, entering their "second adulthood".
I was very pleased when British poet Oscar Sparrow asked me to participate with some poems in the poetry anthology he was curating, Freeze Frame, published by Gallo Romano Media in 2012.
------------------------------------------
So thank you to these two fine authors for agreeing to be part of this chain and I hope the readers of this blog chain find stories that entertain and intrigue them.
Thanks once again to Bert Carson for including me in his team.
God Bless
