David L. Atkinson's Blog, page 23

Writing - 7 Hours After showcased VG

My good friends at Venture Galleries have once again showcased one of my Steele novels. see their work at the following link.

http://bit.ly/2kGOlVx
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VG is an excellent source of information on independently published books for the ebook and paperback market.

7 Hours After is the 10th Steele novel published November 2016 and focuses on aspects of 09/11/2001 in New York.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/7-Hours-After-David-Atkinson/dp/1787230384/ref=sr_1_23?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1485782023&sr=1-23&keywords=david+l+atkinson 
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?

God Bless

Writing - Venture Galleries showcase Steele

My good friends at Venture Galleries have once again showcased one of my Steele novels. see their work at the following link.

http://bit.ly/2kGOlVx
[image error]
VG is an excellent source of information on independently published books for the ebook and paperback market.

7 Hours After is the 10th Steele novel published November 2016 and focuses on aspects of 09/11/2001 in New York.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/7-Hours-After-David-Atkinson/dp/1787230384/ref=sr_1_23?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1485782023&sr=1-23&keywords=david+l+atkinson 
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?

God Bless

Writing - Venture Galleries showcase +10 things

My good friends at Venture Galleries are showcasing 7 Hours After on their pages.



 http://bit.ly/2kGOlVx

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Lots about life and death this week.


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1. British boys receive £2.20 more pocket money per week than girls.


So they should - they spend it on the girls anyway.

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2. You can give birth while napping.


Painless then.

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3. An average of 1.8 people are murdered each year in Iceland.


Rough on the 0.2

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4. MI6's real-life "Q" is a woman.


God love us.

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5. An otter the size of a wolf once roamed China.


Really!

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6. "The wind was pushing me" is not an excuse that will get you off a speeding charge in Western Australia.


Nor should it - it displays a lack of imagination.

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7. A gorilla named John Daniel was raised in an English village as a human boy, had his own bedroom and could do the washing up.


Up to the standards of all human males.

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8. Travelling to a foreign country can change the way you think about right and wrong.


All down to the travel company you go with.

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9. Dogs' preferred musical genres are reggae and soft rock.


How would anyone know - the dogs may be lying.

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10. Melbourne is typically 0.3C hotter on Thursdays and Friday mornings, when commuters pour into the city, than on Sundays.

Down to cars!


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God Bless

Writing - 10 things for January

Lots about life and death this week.


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1. British boys receive £2.20 more pocket money per week than girls.


So they should - they spend it on the girls anyway.

---------------------------------
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2. You can give birth while napping.


Painless then.

---------------------------------
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3. An average of 1.8 people are murdered each year in Iceland.


Rough on the 0.2

---------------------------------
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4. MI6's real-life "Q" is a woman.


God love us.

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5. An otter the size of a wolf once roamed China.


Really!

---------------------------------
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6. "The wind was pushing me" is not an excuse that will get you off a speeding charge in Western Australia.


Nor should it - it displays a lack of imagination.

---------------------------------
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7. A gorilla named John Daniel was raised in an English village as a human boy, had his own bedroom and could do the washing up.


Up to the standards of all human males.

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8. Travelling to a foreign country can change the way you think about right and wrong.


All down to the travel company you go with.

---------------------------------
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9. Dogs' preferred musical genres are reggae and soft rock.


How would anyone know - the dogs may be lying.

---------------------------------

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10. Melbourne is typically 0.3C hotter on Thursdays and Friday mornings, when commuters pour into the city, than on Sundays.

Down to cars!


---------------------------------
God Bless

Writing - Setting and location

So you have your pen poised above the empty piece of paper, you may have created a plan, but have you decided the places your story is going to visit?

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With all of my novels I have written from where I'm at, as the advice goes. The Steele novels are rooted in Mirfield with excursions to the north east of England and various foreign trips that I have taken in the past. 
Why did I do that?
In short two reasons. If you have visited a place you can write about atmosphere. It is easier to write about a real place that you have visited.This is the point at which those files of photographs come in handy as they can inspire moments in your story.


In my fourth Steele novel, A Changed Reality, I actually began writing one story and ended up completing another which was the driving force behind the title!

Synopsis
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.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/Books/Changed-Reality-David-L-Atkinson/1849142939/ref=sr_1_72?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1485431584&sr=1-72&keywords=david+l+atkinson 

You will notice in the brief synopsis a reference to romance. I hope it was a tempter.


God Bless

Writing - Twists and turns

So I have started writing another Steele novel - number 11 of that genre - in fact. This one is almost 2000 words long and as yet doesn't have a defined plot. It is rather like setting off on a walk across the moors and finding a little used path, there is one there but it is poorly defined in places. What tends to happen in those circumstances is that you lose it occasionally, may end up in a bog, but eventually find the path and continue on your journey.

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When I began I had no idea where the path would lead but yesterday there was a better defined line to follow. At the same time I could glimpse the other path running alongside. The question is which path will I follow. 
In writing a twist into ones plot you always need to have more than one 'path' that characters can take and as they develop the plot for you you always have the choice of which way to push them. The point is you keep the reader engaged.


In my fourth Steele novel, A Changed Reality, I actually began writing one story and ended up completing another which was the driving force behind the title!

Synopsis
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.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/Books/Changed-Reality-David-L-Atkinson/1849142939/ref=sr_1_72?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1485431584&sr=1-72&keywords=david+l+atkinson 
God Bless

Poetry Thursday 248 - Relationship hazards

For you normal folk relationships are an intricate part of life. For all of us there are family relationships for varying lengths of time. In both cases the nature of those relationships can be extremely tenuous.


Ties that Bind
It all hangs by a thread,that may easily be parted,but few of us live in dread,hazards are unconsciously thwarted.
As soon as it is tethered,then dangers are abroad,tenuous links are threatened,no snicker snee of a sword.
A slight tug, a minimal jerk,can sever the flimsy bond,undoing the preparation work,returning state to single frond.
The repeated touch and go,is part of nature’s order,seemingly random to bestowthe choices, then re-order.©David L Atkinson January 2017

In writing the above I felt that I needed to describe the fragility of relating with others.
The next poem was just for fun.

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Perfume
In days of old when knights were bold,ere deodorant was invented,they removed their armour in solitudenone to share foul fermented. ©David L Atkinson January 2017

God Bless

Food blog - Haggis, neeps and tatties

Wednesday this week is Burns Night, 25th January. The traditional food eaten at this time of year is haggis.

Haggis
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 Haggis is a savoury pudding containing sheep's pluck (heart, liver and lungs); minced with onion, oatmeal, suet, spices, and salt, mixed with stock, traditionally encased in the animal's stomach though now often in an artificial casing instead. According to the 2001 English edition of the Larousse Gastronomique: "Although its description is not immediately appealing, haggis has an excellent nutty texture and delicious savoury flavour"
Burn's Night
[image error]1759 - 1796
Burns Night, held in honour of Scotland's most famous poet Robert Burns, is celebrated at the end of January every year.
The night is a way to remember the life of the 18th century bard and it falls on his birthday – Monday, January 25.The tradition started a few years after the poet's death in 1796, when his friends commemorated his career on the date of his death (July 21) each year.So began the Burns Supper, and more than two centuries later it is has become a nationwide event with recitals of the poet's works and a haggis dinner.A friend of mine, married to a true Scot assures me that the meal should be served with a shot of whisky.
The photograph above is of the meal I created at the weekend. Now I'm sure purists would disagree with my description of 'haggis, neeps and tatties' but it is a matter of dialect. In the north east tatties = potatoesneeps = turnip
What I actually produced was the haggis roasted at 190 degrees Celsius over 1 hour and 55 minutes, standard mashed potato and swede and carrot mashed. I made my own gravy. It is a very tasty dish and should be available all year round like the accompanying whisky!
Burn's Poetry
A Red, Red Rose
O my Luve's like a red, red rose,

That's newly sprung in June;
O my Luve's like the melodie

That's sweetly play'd in tune.

As fair are thou, my bonie lass,
So deep in luve am I;

Till a' the seas gang dry.
And I will luve thee still, my Dear,

Till a' the seas gang dry, my Dear,

While the sands o' life shall run.
And the rocks melt wi' the sun:
I will luve thee still, my dear,

And fare thee weel, my only Luve!

Tho' it were ten thousand mile!
And fare thee weel, a while!

And I will come again, my Luve,




And so I close with Burn's words.




God Bless

10 things we didn't know last week

From Bowie to babies and rhinos to Trump.



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1. Holding your baby on your left side might help you bond.

Speculative!


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2. You can't block Mark Zuckerberg on Facebook.

What if he falls out with his wife?


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3. In 2022, you'll be able to look to the sky and watch two stars colliding 1,800 years ago.

Time warp


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4. For some years before he died, David Bowie had been working on a musical about aliens, mariachi bands and an imaginary collection of unreleased Bob Dylan songs.

Should we be surprised?


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5. White rhinos return to the same communal spot to poo - allowing them to pick up information about each other from the dung.

Says to neighbour - You're so full of sh.t!


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6. All electric trains in the Netherlands are powered entirely by wind energy.

Had to put those windmills to some good use.


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7. About 70,000 retired Britons use Spain's health system, while only 81 Spanish pensioners are registered as covered by the NHS.

Yes only 81 registered


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8. A Trump-branded apartment block in New Jersey was marketed to Chinese investors with the theme from The Sopranos.

Nothing will surprise.


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9. Fund managers from poor backgrounds deliver better investment returns than those born rich.

They care more


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10. Local anaesthetic has no effect on some people - and no-one knows why.

Because we are all different.


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God Bless

Writing - The back stories

When I wrote my third novel, The Biter Bit, little did I appreciate its significance in the path that the Steele novels were about to take. As an aside, if I had a method of using a rigid story structure, then some of the twists and turns would not have been possible whereas when you allow the characters to take a lead, opportunities and novel directions become possible.

The stories that help form the characters of a story and their development are called the 'back story' and in some ways provide the spine upon which the whole tale is based. In The Biter Bit we have the emergence of Ethan Small who develops into an essential part of the active team in spite of being wheelchair bound. His tale is principally a human story and I believe some of the readers who enjoy these tales will identify with Ethan from the point of view of his disability, perhaps his emotional development or maybe because of his drive to become a useful member of the team. If I hadn't created the space for the back story none of those opportunities would have arisen easily.
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A second back story is the tale of the matriarch. Stacey Fordyce began as Steele's domestic goddess, her husband was his handyman, but again her story developed into something else and eventually, as a widow, she became a surrogate mother to both Steele and Kobayashi. Again there is a back story that further explains that situation.
Would you like to find out more? Click on the links.


In my third novel, The Biter Bit, one of Steele's team suffers a life changing event but it isn't all negative outcomes. 
Synopsis
Patrick A Steele, accountant turned vengeful Robin Hood, is off on his crusades once again. He has given himself a role that sees him trying to right the wrongs and inadequacies of the legal system in the UK. His experiences as a child and through higher education have equipped Patrick with abilities that realistically only has value in the field of rough justice. Steele has developed a working relationship with the Gurentai, a more benevolent sub-group of the Japanese Yakuza and, as a result of a number of successful associations, have furnished him with a Swiss bank account and a very healthy retainer. As a result Patrick is building his own little empire. Everything seems fine in his life until he is drawn into trying to solve the problem of lawless youths that are targeting tourists in the City of York. He enlists the help of his two colleagues from Japan, Takuo Sumisu and Naomi Kobayashi, and with one of his own staff they head off to identify and eradicate the source of the problem. All is proceeding as planned until there is a knifing and one of the team is shot! The action then migrates across France and eventually to Le Marche in eastern Italy where it seems to have been brought to a conclusion until the team return home!
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Biter-Bit-David-L-Atkinson/dp/1849142521/ref=sr_1_71?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1484833879&sr=1-71&keywords=david+l+atkinson 



God Bless