David L. Atkinson's Blog, page 20
March 8, 2017
Poetry Thursday 254 - Time to think
In life human beings always seem to need some time out. Students have their 'gap' year for example although when I was a student we couldn't afford such luxuries. The bottom line is that periodically we humans need to stop and assess our position in the world.
Solitude
Why do we choose to be alonein places where solitude is easy?Given time to consider and perhaps bemoan,our existence more academically.
It is not new but human nature,wanting time to look at the meaning of life,to take the opportunity to acquirethe facts, and assess our levels of strife.
There’s a reassurance knowing you can returnto the status quo when your time is up,given the opportunity to discern,next steps for you to develop.©David L Atkinson March 2017
Then there is the need for trust in our lives and that is sometimes only derived from the innocence of a pet. Dog's are my personal favourite and the trust they give you emanates from their eyes. We see that in very young children but as soon as the ability to deceive is acquired that trust seems to go into hiding.
Dog’s Trust
They gaze into your soul with trusting eyes,wag their tails at the smallest prize,always willing to give of their love,to those with hearts as gentle as a dove.
No actions surreptitiously planned,to sink sharp teeth into feeding hand.No hidden agenda or attitude sly,from these God’s children with gentle eyes.
If perhaps we were more like them,human beings less willing to condemn,the world of mistrust would decrease,giving the opportunity to live in peace.©David L Atkinson March 2017
Finally, a tongue in cheek haiku aimed at the oversensitive and unrealistic individuals in our society. Don't get me wrong I have always believed that women are in charge and then men spend their time trying to exclude them. The biggest crime in the UK against women, currently being perpetrated by a female Prime Minister, is the increasing pension age which is seeing so many of the ladies born 1955 and later financially disadvantaged.
[image error]
International Women’s Day
Why do they need onewhen they have all anyway?Men in servitude.©David L Atkinson March 2017
God Bless
Solitude
Why do we choose to be alonein places where solitude is easy?Given time to consider and perhaps bemoan,our existence more academically.
It is not new but human nature,wanting time to look at the meaning of life,to take the opportunity to acquirethe facts, and assess our levels of strife.
There’s a reassurance knowing you can returnto the status quo when your time is up,given the opportunity to discern,next steps for you to develop.©David L Atkinson March 2017
Then there is the need for trust in our lives and that is sometimes only derived from the innocence of a pet. Dog's are my personal favourite and the trust they give you emanates from their eyes. We see that in very young children but as soon as the ability to deceive is acquired that trust seems to go into hiding.
Dog’s Trust
They gaze into your soul with trusting eyes,wag their tails at the smallest prize,always willing to give of their love,to those with hearts as gentle as a dove.
No actions surreptitiously planned,to sink sharp teeth into feeding hand.No hidden agenda or attitude sly,from these God’s children with gentle eyes.
If perhaps we were more like them,human beings less willing to condemn,the world of mistrust would decrease,giving the opportunity to live in peace.©David L Atkinson March 2017
Finally, a tongue in cheek haiku aimed at the oversensitive and unrealistic individuals in our society. Don't get me wrong I have always believed that women are in charge and then men spend their time trying to exclude them. The biggest crime in the UK against women, currently being perpetrated by a female Prime Minister, is the increasing pension age which is seeing so many of the ladies born 1955 and later financially disadvantaged.
[image error]
International Women’s Day
Why do they need onewhen they have all anyway?Men in servitude.©David L Atkinson March 2017
God Bless
March 7, 2017
Writing - History v T'interweb
I love history. In fact as I've aged the greater interest I have in the past, both mine and that of the world. But where will history be in 50 years time?
Historically, diarists, writers and reporters have recorded events as soon as they had occurred and we have the documents to prove it, but nowadays we don't maintain documents but save them to some amorphous and inaccessible cloud or hard drive. When the computer is no longer functioning the documents may well be lost.
There are obvious advantages to the internet. It's quick, it is tidier than pages of paper and you can store a great deal more in next to no space. What isn't addressed is its longevity.
This reflects back to an article I wrote last week when I once again pushed the need for writers to write on everything including current affairs as well as their more imaginative work. The books written play an active part in the history of our society. Novels of Charles Dickens are often referred to as a resource for the standard of living and social mores of the Victorian era. There is always a need for writers to produce their impressions of life even in imaginative work which is in fact a personal opinion of life at the time described.
7 Hours After may well be described as historical even now. If it is available in the future it will be more so and that is because it is my take on a real event.
Synopsis
Patrick Steele is off crusading once again with his sidekick, fiancée Naomi Kobayashi. This time he is risking life and limb by returning to the hostile shores of the USA. He has had brushes with the authorities in that vast country on previous occasions, but now has been stimulated to return because of apparent dodgy dealings over the World Trade Centre disaster of September 11th 2001.
After discovering numerous ‘theories’ concerning 9/11 and who was behind it, Steele identifies possible links between large corporations with financial interests and political parties. In a presidential election year he is concerned that those vying for that prodigious post may have links with the disaster.
Has Steele discovered underhand dealing by the US security services?
Did one of the major political parties have a hand in the destruction of 9/11?
Will Steele be caught by the CIA or can he escape back to the safety of the UK?
What was Building 7?
https://www.amazon.co.uk/7-Hours-After-David-Atkinson/dp/1787230384/ref=sr_1_26?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1488885888&sr=1-26&keywords=david+l+atkinson
God Bless
Historically, diarists, writers and reporters have recorded events as soon as they had occurred and we have the documents to prove it, but nowadays we don't maintain documents but save them to some amorphous and inaccessible cloud or hard drive. When the computer is no longer functioning the documents may well be lost.
There are obvious advantages to the internet. It's quick, it is tidier than pages of paper and you can store a great deal more in next to no space. What isn't addressed is its longevity.
This reflects back to an article I wrote last week when I once again pushed the need for writers to write on everything including current affairs as well as their more imaginative work. The books written play an active part in the history of our society. Novels of Charles Dickens are often referred to as a resource for the standard of living and social mores of the Victorian era. There is always a need for writers to produce their impressions of life even in imaginative work which is in fact a personal opinion of life at the time described.
7 Hours After may well be described as historical even now. If it is available in the future it will be more so and that is because it is my take on a real event.
Synopsis
Patrick Steele is off crusading once again with his sidekick, fiancée Naomi Kobayashi. This time he is risking life and limb by returning to the hostile shores of the USA. He has had brushes with the authorities in that vast country on previous occasions, but now has been stimulated to return because of apparent dodgy dealings over the World Trade Centre disaster of September 11th 2001.
After discovering numerous ‘theories’ concerning 9/11 and who was behind it, Steele identifies possible links between large corporations with financial interests and political parties. In a presidential election year he is concerned that those vying for that prodigious post may have links with the disaster.
Has Steele discovered underhand dealing by the US security services?
Did one of the major political parties have a hand in the destruction of 9/11?
Will Steele be caught by the CIA or can he escape back to the safety of the UK?
What was Building 7?
https://www.amazon.co.uk/7-Hours-After-David-Atkinson/dp/1787230384/ref=sr_1_26?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1488885888&sr=1-26&keywords=david+l+atkinson
God Bless
March 6, 2017
Tuesday Food blog - Harissa spiced lamb with cannellini beans
Good old Mary Berry inspires once again.
Harissa spiced lamb
This recipe is easy enough and very tasty. There are enough carbs in the beans to just serve with a green vegetable. Apart from the beans shown I also served up sprout tops which are quite sweet. In fact probably more tasty than the sprouts.I couldn't get the rose harissa that Mary recommends but the ordinary paste worked well.Ingredients 4 tbsp olive oil 2 tbsp ground cumin 2 tbsp ground coriander 1kg/2lb 4oz lamb neck fillet, trimmed and cut into small pieces 2.5cm/1in piece fresh root ginger, finely grated 2 onions, thinly sliced 250ml/9fl oz dry white wine 400g tin chopped tomatoes 2 tbsp tomato purée 2 tbsp clear honey 1½ tbsp harissa paste (preferably rose) ½ lemon, juice and finely grated rind only 400g tin cannellini beans, drained and rinsed salt and freshly ground black pepper
MethodPreheat the oven to 160C/140C Fan/Gas 3.Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil in a deep, ovenproof frying pan or flameproof casserole dish. Sprinkle the cumin and coriander over the lamb pieces and fry in two batches in the hot oil for about 5 minutes or until browned. Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside.Pour the remaining oil into the pan, add the ginger and onions and fry over a high heat for 10 minutes until soft. Pour in the wine and boil for 2–3 minutes, stirring and scraping the bottom of the pan to incorporate all the caramelised meaty bits. Add all the remaining ingredients, except the beans, and stir well, then return the lamb to the pan, season with salt and pepper and bring to the boil. Cover with a lid and transfer to the oven to cook for 1 hour 15 minutes. Stir in the beans and return to the oven to cook for 15 minutes, or until the lamb is tender.
You could also serve this dish up with crusty bread or flat breads.
God Bless
Harissa spiced lamb
This recipe is easy enough and very tasty. There are enough carbs in the beans to just serve with a green vegetable. Apart from the beans shown I also served up sprout tops which are quite sweet. In fact probably more tasty than the sprouts.I couldn't get the rose harissa that Mary recommends but the ordinary paste worked well.Ingredients 4 tbsp olive oil 2 tbsp ground cumin 2 tbsp ground coriander 1kg/2lb 4oz lamb neck fillet, trimmed and cut into small pieces 2.5cm/1in piece fresh root ginger, finely grated 2 onions, thinly sliced 250ml/9fl oz dry white wine 400g tin chopped tomatoes 2 tbsp tomato purée 2 tbsp clear honey 1½ tbsp harissa paste (preferably rose) ½ lemon, juice and finely grated rind only 400g tin cannellini beans, drained and rinsed salt and freshly ground black pepper
MethodPreheat the oven to 160C/140C Fan/Gas 3.Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil in a deep, ovenproof frying pan or flameproof casserole dish. Sprinkle the cumin and coriander over the lamb pieces and fry in two batches in the hot oil for about 5 minutes or until browned. Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside.Pour the remaining oil into the pan, add the ginger and onions and fry over a high heat for 10 minutes until soft. Pour in the wine and boil for 2–3 minutes, stirring and scraping the bottom of the pan to incorporate all the caramelised meaty bits. Add all the remaining ingredients, except the beans, and stir well, then return the lamb to the pan, season with salt and pepper and bring to the boil. Cover with a lid and transfer to the oven to cook for 1 hour 15 minutes. Stir in the beans and return to the oven to cook for 15 minutes, or until the lamb is tender.
You could also serve this dish up with crusty bread or flat breads.
God Bless
March 3, 2017
Writing - Flight into Secrecy
As I have found yet another good review (4*) on amazon.com which has not made it to amazon.co.uk I include it in part below and with the usual frustration. It turns out I have a number of 4 and 5 star reviews from the USA that are not available to would be UK readers unless you know where to look.
Flight into Secrecy is a blatant commentary on a real event.
Steele has to travel back to Japan to justify recent behaviours that may have revealed his connection with the Gurentai. He is given a task to complete that finds him on the ill-fated Flight MH370 in Kuala Lumpur. Hours later he awakens in a cell in a place and country of which he has no knowledge.
Being the resourceful man he is, Steele manages to escape and travels north meeting up with his fiancée Naomi Kobayashi in Astana the capital of Kazakhstan.
Steele is naturally curious about the fate of the other 238 passengers from the plane which drives him onward to investigate further. He discovers that there are links between Russian organised crime and a Muslim group which stirs fears in his mind regarding the fate of MH370. This causes him to go to the Venice of the North, St Petersburg, where he finds the leader of the Russian mafia and a link with the Muslim pilots of the plane.
All does not go well however, and Steele and Kobayashi are captured by their mafia enemy and incarcerated in MH370 on the way to the target that Steele suspected all along - in London.
Can Steele extricate himself from this seemingly hopeless situation?
Has Steele convinced the Gurentai that he is trustworthy enough to deserve their support?
Will Steele manage to deflect the missile in which he is incarcerated from killing thousands in London?
This story is a speculative journey based upon the data and misinformation surrounding the loss of Malaysian Flight 370 in March 2014.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/Books/Flight-Secrecy-What-happened-370-David-Atkinson/1849148570/ref=sr_1_8?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1488463950&sr=1-8&keywords=david+l+atkinson
When you consider this type of story authors have an unlimited freedom at their finger tips. They have the freedom to express their personal opinion at length and with vigour, without fear of comeback. After all it is a story.
Review
4.0 out of 5 stars I've read and enjoyed every one of them and I don't hesitate to ...ByChristina Carsonon February 6, 2016Format: Kindle Edition|Verified Purchase
To the Patrick Steele books, not just Flight into Secrecy, but all of them. I love series for the simple reason that in a series you get to know the characters and in the process you get to know the author. I know David and I know Patrick, and I love the way David tells his readers the Steele stories. I can't compare David's style to any authoryou've ever read because David Atkinson has his own unique style. It's one I love and think of as his "kitchen table style." By that, I mean, when I read a Steele story I feel like I'm sitting at David's kitchen table and he is sitting across from me. As we sip our coffee, or tea, he tells me about Steele's latest adventure the way he wouldtell me about Rupert's first words, or the choir's latest project, or that he reached and passed his swimming goal for the year. David's books aren't Robert B. Parker, James Lee Burke, Robert Crais, or John D. MacDonald, because they are David L. Atkinson books. However, if you like one of that group you'll love all of the others.
But don't believe me, buy the books and see for yourself.
God Bless
March 2, 2017
Writing - Stories and current affairs
I have often extolled the role of social commentator as a duty of writers, and evidence can be found from Charles Dickens, through to George Orwell. If you write 'from where you're at' (to quote an oft used phrase) then it is inevitable that the writers' views skew the nature of the writing irrespective of the genre.
Flight into Secrecy is a blatant commentary on a real event.
Steele has to travel back to Japan to justify recent behaviours that may have revealed his connection with the Gurentai. He is given a task to complete that finds him on the ill-fated Flight MH370 in Kuala Lumpur. Hours later he awakens in a cell in a place and country of which he has no knowledge.
Being the resourceful man he is, Steele manages to escape and travels north meeting up with his fiancée Naomi Kobayashi in Astana the capital of Kazakhstan.
Steele is naturally curious about the fate of the other 238 passengers from the plane which drives him onward to investigate further. He discovers that there are links between Russian organised crime and a Muslim group which stirs fears in his mind regarding the fate of MH370. This causes him to go to the Venice of the North, St Petersburg, where he finds the leader of the Russian mafia and a link with the Muslim pilots of the plane.
All does not go well however, and Steele and Kobayashi are captured by their mafia enemy and incarcerated in MH370 on the way to the target that Steele suspected all along - in London.
Can Steele extricate himself from this seemingly hopeless situation?
Has Steele convinced the Gurentai that he is trustworthy enough to deserve their support?
Will Steele manage to deflect the missile in which he is incarcerated from killing thousands in London?
This story is a speculative journey based upon the data and misinformation surrounding the loss of Malaysian Flight 370 in March 2014.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/Books/Flight-Secrecy-What-happened-370-David-Atkinson/1849148570/ref=sr_1_8?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1488463950&sr=1-8&keywords=david+l+atkinson
When you consider this type of story authors have an unlimited freedom at their finger tips. They have the freedom to express their personal opinion at length and with vigour, without fear of comeback. After all it is a story.
God Bless
Flight into Secrecy is a blatant commentary on a real event.
Steele has to travel back to Japan to justify recent behaviours that may have revealed his connection with the Gurentai. He is given a task to complete that finds him on the ill-fated Flight MH370 in Kuala Lumpur. Hours later he awakens in a cell in a place and country of which he has no knowledge.
Being the resourceful man he is, Steele manages to escape and travels north meeting up with his fiancée Naomi Kobayashi in Astana the capital of Kazakhstan.
Steele is naturally curious about the fate of the other 238 passengers from the plane which drives him onward to investigate further. He discovers that there are links between Russian organised crime and a Muslim group which stirs fears in his mind regarding the fate of MH370. This causes him to go to the Venice of the North, St Petersburg, where he finds the leader of the Russian mafia and a link with the Muslim pilots of the plane.
All does not go well however, and Steele and Kobayashi are captured by their mafia enemy and incarcerated in MH370 on the way to the target that Steele suspected all along - in London.
Can Steele extricate himself from this seemingly hopeless situation?
Has Steele convinced the Gurentai that he is trustworthy enough to deserve their support?
Will Steele manage to deflect the missile in which he is incarcerated from killing thousands in London?
This story is a speculative journey based upon the data and misinformation surrounding the loss of Malaysian Flight 370 in March 2014.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/Books/Flight-Secrecy-What-happened-370-David-Atkinson/1849148570/ref=sr_1_8?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1488463950&sr=1-8&keywords=david+l+atkinson
When you consider this type of story authors have an unlimited freedom at their finger tips. They have the freedom to express their personal opinion at length and with vigour, without fear of comeback. After all it is a story.
God Bless
March 1, 2017
Poetry Thursday 253 - Advice
The pen is undoubtedly mightier than the sword but can be as useful as a stick of rhubarb in comparison to the tongue.
[image error]
Think you’re kind?
Why do they feel they have the right?Comment on everything from weight to height.No one knows the effort that’s usedin trying the situation to improve. Still they think they’re being kind,but cannot see what’s in the mind.Look after your own fucking businesslet others live within own limits.©David L Atkinson March 2017
[image error]
Advice
Can I give you some advice?I think perhaps that would be nice.In your heart are you really surethat advisor’s motives are so pure?
There are two types of advice,one is nasty, the other nice.Both can be hurtful,if delivered blunt and not tactful.
So next time you feel the urge,to disseminate your beneficial splurge,ask, is this really for their edification,or an exercise in personal satisfaction? ©David L Atkinson March 2017
A touch too bitter this week? Perhaps. Then of course you weren't on the receiving end.
God Bless
[image error]
Think you’re kind?
Why do they feel they have the right?Comment on everything from weight to height.No one knows the effort that’s usedin trying the situation to improve. Still they think they’re being kind,but cannot see what’s in the mind.Look after your own fucking businesslet others live within own limits.©David L Atkinson March 2017
[image error]
Advice
Can I give you some advice?I think perhaps that would be nice.In your heart are you really surethat advisor’s motives are so pure?
There are two types of advice,one is nasty, the other nice.Both can be hurtful,if delivered blunt and not tactful.
So next time you feel the urge,to disseminate your beneficial splurge,ask, is this really for their edification,or an exercise in personal satisfaction? ©David L Atkinson March 2017
A touch too bitter this week? Perhaps. Then of course you weren't on the receiving end.
God Bless
February 28, 2017
Writing - Power of themes
It is interesting that certain themes or ideas strike a chord in the minds of readers and become so popular that films and TV programmes result followed by remakes and franchise products.
[image error]War of the Worlds - H G Wells
In the early part of the 20th century it was invasion from Mars that triggered the imagination of populations. War of the Worlds was published 1898 at the time when the world was littered with wars and other burgeoning conflicts. Not a massive step to supplant Boers, and Boxers for Martians.
[image error]
The above newspaper headline speaks for itself but a little explanation may be of assistance.Just after 8.30pm on 30th October 1938 the thousands of Americans tuned to the radio show 'Mercury Theatre on the Air' heard an emergency news flash; huge Martian fighting-machines were emerging from meteor-like spacecraft that had landed near Grover's Mill, New Jersey. 'Something's wriggling out of the shadow like a grey snake,' a desperate voice reported.' The dramatic report carried on performed by the renowned actor and future film maker Orson Welles. The broadcast caught America in a desperate state with the depression, the rise of German Imperialism and resulted in blocked telephone exchanges followed by speculative newspaper articles. In the end Welles had to make an on-air apology.
HELLO - it wasn't real folks!
[image error]
After the end of WW II in 1945 the film industry started producing war movies but Mars as a topic took longer to wane and even in 1954 was still producing things like the above 'Devil Girl from Mars'.
As a theme the concept of invasion from the red planet had lasted almost sixty years. The author H G Wells had picked a winner. As authors ourselves looking for the theme that will line our bank accounts for years is as elusive as picking the winning numbers in the lottery.
[image error]
Of course the love affair with Mars is still continuing in the form of 2016's film The Martian starring Matt Damon.
God Bless
[image error]War of the Worlds - H G Wells
In the early part of the 20th century it was invasion from Mars that triggered the imagination of populations. War of the Worlds was published 1898 at the time when the world was littered with wars and other burgeoning conflicts. Not a massive step to supplant Boers, and Boxers for Martians.
[image error]
The above newspaper headline speaks for itself but a little explanation may be of assistance.Just after 8.30pm on 30th October 1938 the thousands of Americans tuned to the radio show 'Mercury Theatre on the Air' heard an emergency news flash; huge Martian fighting-machines were emerging from meteor-like spacecraft that had landed near Grover's Mill, New Jersey. 'Something's wriggling out of the shadow like a grey snake,' a desperate voice reported.' The dramatic report carried on performed by the renowned actor and future film maker Orson Welles. The broadcast caught America in a desperate state with the depression, the rise of German Imperialism and resulted in blocked telephone exchanges followed by speculative newspaper articles. In the end Welles had to make an on-air apology.
HELLO - it wasn't real folks!
[image error]
After the end of WW II in 1945 the film industry started producing war movies but Mars as a topic took longer to wane and even in 1954 was still producing things like the above 'Devil Girl from Mars'.
As a theme the concept of invasion from the red planet had lasted almost sixty years. The author H G Wells had picked a winner. As authors ourselves looking for the theme that will line our bank accounts for years is as elusive as picking the winning numbers in the lottery.
[image error]
Of course the love affair with Mars is still continuing in the form of 2016's film The Martian starring Matt Damon.
God Bless
February 27, 2017
Tuesday Food Blog - Shrove Tuesday
It would be remiss of me not to publish about pancakes on Pancake Day. Of course it should be called Shrove Tuesday which is from the verb to shrive meaning to present oneself to a priest for absolution and penance. It became a sort of using up day in readiness for the paucity of luxuries during the season of Lent. However as time passed it became a day for making pancakes.
[image error]English Pancakes
Method
Put the flour, eggs, milk and a pinch of salt into a bowl or large jug, then whisk to a smooth batter. ...Set a medium frying pan or crêpe pan over a medium heat and carefully wipe it with some oiled kitchen paper. ...Serve with lemon wedges and sugar, or your favourite filling
[image error]American Pancakes
Ingredients135g/4¾oz plain flour1 tsp baking powder½ tsp salt2 tbsp caster sugar130ml/4½fl oz milk1 large egg, lightly beaten2 tbsp melted butter (allowed to cool slightly) or olive oil, plus extra for cooking.
MethodSift the flour, baking powder, salt and caster sugar into a large bowl. ...Pour the milk mixture (eggs and milk) into the flour mixture and, using a fork, beat until you have a smooth batter. ...Heat a non-stick frying pan over a medium heat and add a knob of butter. ...Repeat until all the batter is used up.
The main difference between the two types is the addition of caster sugar in the American version. Some chefs separate the egg whites, beat them and fold them into the mixture as a final stage before cooking.
Also the Americans tend to eat them for breakfast and all year round whereas we Brits are somewhat less adventurous.
My own efforts
God Bless
[image error]English Pancakes
Method
Put the flour, eggs, milk and a pinch of salt into a bowl or large jug, then whisk to a smooth batter. ...Set a medium frying pan or crêpe pan over a medium heat and carefully wipe it with some oiled kitchen paper. ...Serve with lemon wedges and sugar, or your favourite filling
[image error]American Pancakes
Ingredients135g/4¾oz plain flour1 tsp baking powder½ tsp salt2 tbsp caster sugar130ml/4½fl oz milk1 large egg, lightly beaten2 tbsp melted butter (allowed to cool slightly) or olive oil, plus extra for cooking.
MethodSift the flour, baking powder, salt and caster sugar into a large bowl. ...Pour the milk mixture (eggs and milk) into the flour mixture and, using a fork, beat until you have a smooth batter. ...Heat a non-stick frying pan over a medium heat and add a knob of butter. ...Repeat until all the batter is used up.
The main difference between the two types is the addition of caster sugar in the American version. Some chefs separate the egg whites, beat them and fold them into the mixture as a final stage before cooking.
Also the Americans tend to eat them for breakfast and all year round whereas we Brits are somewhat less adventurous.
My own efforts
God Bless
February 26, 2017
Writing - Romance
I have had an element of romance in all of my Steele novels. Within that element there has been an element of tragedy, deep emotion and sex. All important aspects of stories as it is in real life.
Synopsis
Steele has accepted that life has changed markedly and yet he is required once again to tackle a situation of injustice, But has concerns that he is being commissioned to act by the authorities.
Patrick is working alone trying to recover a youngster kidnapped from parents with a high profile role in the UK establishment. He is without the support of former allies, the Gurentai, and yet feels that the police and National Crime Agency, who have requested his involvement, have another agenda that is not necessarily in the interests of Steele.
The action is shared mostly between the UK and Canada. In the early stages of the case Patrick is chasing kidnappers across the continent of North America when disaster occurs and he is forced to return to the UK. While in Canmore, Alberta, Steele seeks solace from the apparent loss of his long-time partner and fiance Naomi Kobayashi, in the arms of a local girl.
Has Steele bitten off more than he can chew?Where is his love life going?Are former allies, the Gurentai, targeting Steele?Will he recover the kidnapped child or will he fail and become the target for retribution by the authorities?
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Grace-Favour-David-L-Atkinson/dp/1849147264/ref=sr_1_79?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1487849146&sr=1-79&keywords=david+l+atkinson
Review
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Don't Mess With Patrick Steele 16 Jun. 2015By Caleb Pirtle - Published on Amazon.comFormat: Kindle Edition
I have traveled with Patrick Steele through a myriad of David L. Atkinson’s novels, and there are some absolutes. He is tough. He is resilient. He does not mind taking an enemy down because, believe me, his villains are the kind that need taken down.
Steele lives by and the gun and by the fist, but, yet, he is always genteel, polite, and the perfect English gentleman. He loves his food. He loves the lady at his side. And deep inside, he is conflicted about love and his fate in life. He’s good at what he does, but there is a hint of guilt after his actions. He is a man who is asked to do what others would never do, and he does it out of loyalty and the knowledge he can do it.
Grace and Favour is a continuation of the exploits of Patrick Steele. He’s British to the core, which is what I like about him, and this time his mission takes him from England to Canada, and he knows something isn’t quite right. An easy wave of paranoia sweeps over him. Back home, disaster strikes, and his judgment is clouded with doubt.
Have friends become the enemy? Can he trust his friends or the girl he loves? Has he become the target? Will this be his last job? Will it end badly? Will it end with Steele lying in a grave somewhere? Who wants him dead and why? And how can he protect himself, track down kidnappers on the loose in two continents, and still find the missing child in time? Failure is not an option. In a David L. Atkinson novel, it never is. Steele is on a wild and breath-taking ride, but no matter how tough and threatening the case may be, I’m betting on him.
God Bless
Synopsis
Steele has accepted that life has changed markedly and yet he is required once again to tackle a situation of injustice, But has concerns that he is being commissioned to act by the authorities.
Patrick is working alone trying to recover a youngster kidnapped from parents with a high profile role in the UK establishment. He is without the support of former allies, the Gurentai, and yet feels that the police and National Crime Agency, who have requested his involvement, have another agenda that is not necessarily in the interests of Steele.
The action is shared mostly between the UK and Canada. In the early stages of the case Patrick is chasing kidnappers across the continent of North America when disaster occurs and he is forced to return to the UK. While in Canmore, Alberta, Steele seeks solace from the apparent loss of his long-time partner and fiance Naomi Kobayashi, in the arms of a local girl.
Has Steele bitten off more than he can chew?Where is his love life going?Are former allies, the Gurentai, targeting Steele?Will he recover the kidnapped child or will he fail and become the target for retribution by the authorities?
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Grace-Favour-David-L-Atkinson/dp/1849147264/ref=sr_1_79?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1487849146&sr=1-79&keywords=david+l+atkinson
Review
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Don't Mess With Patrick Steele 16 Jun. 2015By Caleb Pirtle - Published on Amazon.comFormat: Kindle Edition
I have traveled with Patrick Steele through a myriad of David L. Atkinson’s novels, and there are some absolutes. He is tough. He is resilient. He does not mind taking an enemy down because, believe me, his villains are the kind that need taken down.
Steele lives by and the gun and by the fist, but, yet, he is always genteel, polite, and the perfect English gentleman. He loves his food. He loves the lady at his side. And deep inside, he is conflicted about love and his fate in life. He’s good at what he does, but there is a hint of guilt after his actions. He is a man who is asked to do what others would never do, and he does it out of loyalty and the knowledge he can do it.
Grace and Favour is a continuation of the exploits of Patrick Steele. He’s British to the core, which is what I like about him, and this time his mission takes him from England to Canada, and he knows something isn’t quite right. An easy wave of paranoia sweeps over him. Back home, disaster strikes, and his judgment is clouded with doubt.
Have friends become the enemy? Can he trust his friends or the girl he loves? Has he become the target? Will this be his last job? Will it end badly? Will it end with Steele lying in a grave somewhere? Who wants him dead and why? And how can he protect himself, track down kidnappers on the loose in two continents, and still find the missing child in time? Failure is not an option. In a David L. Atkinson novel, it never is. Steele is on a wild and breath-taking ride, but no matter how tough and threatening the case may be, I’m betting on him.
God Bless
February 24, 2017
Writing - Authors meat and drink
Authors' credibility expands rapidly when they receive reviews but with Amazon this is somewhat less straightforward than perhaps it should be. Grace and Favour is a prime example.
If you look up the book on Amazon in the UK on amazon.co.uk it suggests that you could be the first to review it but in fact it has a 5 star review on amazon.com written in the USA. I have reprinted that review below.If you review on one branch of Amazon please copy and paste to their other branches.
Synopsis
Steele has accepted that life has changed markedly and yet he is required once again to tackle a situation of injustice, But has concerns that he is being commissioned to act by the authorities.
Patrick is working alone trying to recover a youngster kidnapped from parents with a high profile role in the UK establishment. He is without the support of former allies, the Gurentai, and yet feels that the police and National Crime Agency, who have requested his involvement, have another agenda that is not necessarily in the interests of Steele.
The action is shared mostly between the UK and Canada. In the early stages of the case Patrick is chasing kidnappers across the continent of North America when disaster occurs and he is forced to return to the UK. While in Canmore, Alberta, Steele seeks solace from the apparent loss of his long-time partner and fiance Naomi Kobayashi, in the arms of a local girl.
Has Steele bitten off more than he can chew?Where is his love life going?Are former allies, the Gurentai, targeting Steele?Will he recover the kidnapped child or will he fail and become the target for retribution by the authorities?
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Grace-Favour-David-L-Atkinson/dp/1849147264/ref=sr_1_79?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1487849146&sr=1-79&keywords=david+l+atkinson
Review
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Don't Mess With Patrick Steele 16 Jun. 2015By Caleb Pirtle - Published on Amazon.comFormat: Kindle Edition
I have traveled with Patrick Steele through a myriad of David L. Atkinson’s novels, and there are some absolutes. He is tough. He is resilient. He does not mind taking an enemy down because, believe me, his villains are the kind that need taken down.
Steele lives by and the gun and by the fist, but, yet, he is always genteel, polite, and the perfect English gentleman. He loves his food. He loves the lady at his side. And deep inside, he is conflicted about love and his fate in life. He’s good at what he does, but there is a hint of guilt after his actions. He is a man who is asked to do what others would never do, and he does it out of loyalty and the knowledge he can do it.
Grace and Favour is a continuation of the exploits of Patrick Steele. He’s British to the core, which is what I like about him, and this time his mission takes him from England to Canada, and he knows something isn’t quite right. An easy wave of paranoia sweeps over him. Back home, disaster strikes, and his judgment is clouded with doubt.
Have friends become the enemy? Can he trust his friends or the girl he loves? Has he become the target? Will this be his last job? Will it end badly? Will it end with Steele lying in a grave somewhere? Who wants him dead and why? And how can he protect himself, track down kidnappers on the loose in two continents, and still find the missing child in time? Failure is not an option. In a David L. Atkinson novel, it never is. Steele is on a wild and breath-taking ride, but no matter how tough and threatening the case may be, I’m betting on him.
God Bless
If you look up the book on Amazon in the UK on amazon.co.uk it suggests that you could be the first to review it but in fact it has a 5 star review on amazon.com written in the USA. I have reprinted that review below.If you review on one branch of Amazon please copy and paste to their other branches.
Synopsis
Steele has accepted that life has changed markedly and yet he is required once again to tackle a situation of injustice, But has concerns that he is being commissioned to act by the authorities.
Patrick is working alone trying to recover a youngster kidnapped from parents with a high profile role in the UK establishment. He is without the support of former allies, the Gurentai, and yet feels that the police and National Crime Agency, who have requested his involvement, have another agenda that is not necessarily in the interests of Steele.
The action is shared mostly between the UK and Canada. In the early stages of the case Patrick is chasing kidnappers across the continent of North America when disaster occurs and he is forced to return to the UK. While in Canmore, Alberta, Steele seeks solace from the apparent loss of his long-time partner and fiance Naomi Kobayashi, in the arms of a local girl.
Has Steele bitten off more than he can chew?Where is his love life going?Are former allies, the Gurentai, targeting Steele?Will he recover the kidnapped child or will he fail and become the target for retribution by the authorities?
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Grace-Favour-David-L-Atkinson/dp/1849147264/ref=sr_1_79?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1487849146&sr=1-79&keywords=david+l+atkinson
Review
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Don't Mess With Patrick Steele 16 Jun. 2015By Caleb Pirtle - Published on Amazon.comFormat: Kindle Edition
I have traveled with Patrick Steele through a myriad of David L. Atkinson’s novels, and there are some absolutes. He is tough. He is resilient. He does not mind taking an enemy down because, believe me, his villains are the kind that need taken down.
Steele lives by and the gun and by the fist, but, yet, he is always genteel, polite, and the perfect English gentleman. He loves his food. He loves the lady at his side. And deep inside, he is conflicted about love and his fate in life. He’s good at what he does, but there is a hint of guilt after his actions. He is a man who is asked to do what others would never do, and he does it out of loyalty and the knowledge he can do it.
Grace and Favour is a continuation of the exploits of Patrick Steele. He’s British to the core, which is what I like about him, and this time his mission takes him from England to Canada, and he knows something isn’t quite right. An easy wave of paranoia sweeps over him. Back home, disaster strikes, and his judgment is clouded with doubt.
Have friends become the enemy? Can he trust his friends or the girl he loves? Has he become the target? Will this be his last job? Will it end badly? Will it end with Steele lying in a grave somewhere? Who wants him dead and why? And how can he protect himself, track down kidnappers on the loose in two continents, and still find the missing child in time? Failure is not an option. In a David L. Atkinson novel, it never is. Steele is on a wild and breath-taking ride, but no matter how tough and threatening the case may be, I’m betting on him.
God Bless
