David L. Atkinson's Blog, page 82

Writing - 10 things

Things are wide, varied and numerous - week by week we see different things! Some things are interesting and some are funny, some are unusual and others common place, whatever we all experience things.

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1. The world's favourite colour is blue.

As I'm immensely predictable I concur.


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2. Micro pigs are offered to stressed students at the University of Exeter to help ease their exam fears.

They make me want to take exams again.
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3. To quit smoking, penalties work better than reward incentives.

Nothing like a bit of punishment to focus the attention.
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4. Radiohead's Thom Yorke appears on the front of an Iranian self-help book about marital and sex problems.


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5. A drugs test can detect cocaine use from a fingerprint.


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6. The strength of your handshake could predict the risk of a future heart attack or stroke, and is a stronger indicator of death than checking blood pressure.

This is a no thing article because it doesn't explain how or why!
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7. The UK has more lesbian, gay or bisexual MPs than anywhere in the world.

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8. Ants use their powerful jaws to catapult themselves out of "death traps".


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9. Endangered Andean frogs are being made into "smoothies" in Peru as a supposed natural Viagra and cure for illnesses.

Could put you off smoothies for life - if you were ever on them!


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10. Stone Age mourners marked their respect by placing flowers on graves.

Old habits die hard.
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This is what VG say about the book.
In our mission of connecting readers, writers, and books, Venture Galleries is beginning a new series, offering sample chapters from some of the best writers we know. Our Thursday Sampler is from The 51st State by British author David L. Atkinson. Want a good international thriller? This is the one.
I'm blushing as I type! The link is below and the book is available in all formats from Amazon and Smashwords.
http://venturegalleries.com/blog/thursday-sampler-the-51st-state-by-david-l-atkinson/
God Bless

Writing - Crystal ball gazing

We all do it - try and  guess what's coming next. 

It is part of life to try and prepare oneself for what may be round the corner and yet we have no real control over the future. Have you ever bought a lottery ticket, entered a competition or hoped that you will get the job you've applied for? We are all the same and authors are no exception.
As I get closer to publishing my ninth Steele novel, not only am I considering what I am going to do next but there is also that 'perhaps this is the one' feeling. When we publish and put stories out there to be read it is always a possibility that someone somewhere, with influence in the publishing industry, will come across your work and deem it worthy. I believe that it is better to remain true to your own ideals even though that may lead to no publishing than adapt style, genre and whatever to attain a publishing deal.
[image error]Grayson Perry's Essex House
Artist Grayson Perry has been in the news recently over his 'Essex House' pictured above. It is an amazing idea that he has realised and it has brought criticism and plaudits in almost equal amounts. He had some interesting comments about his art and its popularity one of which was about his work being like Marmite - you either love it or hate it. Perry also said words to the affect that if you want to be successful produce bland work rather than being true to your own ideas.


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I couldn't agree more. Art in all of its forms is an intensely personal activity and publishers having sway over what receivers of art is rather like the tail wagging the dog. However, like all aspects of 21st century life - money rules!

The Essex House is amazing even if you don't like the style - well worth delving into it further - there is even a wonderful back story to the interior.

Now by way of an advertisement I received an email from Caleb Pirtle from VG. Their blog featured 'The 51st State'




This is what VG say about the book.

In our mission of connecting readers, writers, and books, Venture Galleries is beginning a new series, offering sample chapters from some of the best writers we know. Our Thursday Sampler is from The 51st State by British author David L. Atkinson. Want a good international thriller? This is the one.

I'm blushing as I type! The link is below and the book is available in all formats from Amazon and Smashwords.

http://venturegalleries.com/blog/thursday-sampler-the-51st-state-by-david-l-atkinson/

Writing - Samples and sales

When a story is finished and the editing is progressing it soon becomes time to consider the 'blurb', sampling and selling your wares.
Grace and Favour
So the process begins.At the top of this page there is a sample from a book entitled 'Castled' which was written about a year ago. There is a sample from the second Steele novel I wrote three or four years ago - 'The 51st State'.In fact there are samples from all of my books on smashwords.com Amazon and completelynovel.com which gives budding fans the opportunity to see how the work has developed over the years. However, you can't have too much exposure so I was immensely pleased and proud when my friends at Venture Galleries produced the sample of the second Steele novel.
Now by way of an advertisement I received an email from Caleb Pirtle from VG. Their blog featured 'The 51st State'




This is what VG say about the book.

In our mission of connecting readers, writers, and books, Venture Galleries is beginning a new series, offering sample chapters from some of the best writers we know. Our Thursday Sampler is from The 51st State by British author David L. Atkinson. Want a good international thriller? This is the one.

I'm blushing as I type! The link is below and the book is available in all formats from Amazon and Smashwords.

http://venturegalleries.com/blog/thursday-sampler-the-51st-state-by-david-l-atkinson/


And now some unashamed advertising.

My 10 books as of December 2014
Steele   My hero was created post recession and so has no concept of how 'good' things were pre-2008. In 'I Have To Get It Right' when he began to flex his muscles he was working in an accountant's office. Then after the Gurentai took him under their wing and removed all of his financial worries, it was justice that was his major concern. He did become involved in international relations in 'The 51st State' but it was for the maintenance of a respectful distance between countries, rather than economic reasons. His trips into the USA had repercussions which can be read about in 'The Biter Bit' but then by the time things began to change in 2011 and the recession was really biting, Steele was trying to make sense of the state of the nation in 'A Changed Reality' and coming up against some really nasty people taking advantage of the shortage of money. By the time the USA are out of their recession Steele's steps are still being dogged by an unknown enemy from the same country. In 'Inceptus' we also find out more about what makes the man tick. The most recent Steele book 'Castled' where Steele is once again at risk from unseen enemies. It would seem that he has become quite recession proof!The most recent addition to the Steele family is Earth plc in which our hero is concerned with political and emotional issues in this crime fighting adventure.
All books are available in paperback or ebook through Amazon, Smashwords and all good book shop websites.


Cessation 


This is a dystopian story that hinges directly on the state of the nation as a result of fiscal mismanagement. Having said that it is more a story of human relations, privations, love and loss.
Poetry - there are also two thoughtful collections of poetry available solely through Amazon.
The Musings of a Confused Mind 
and


Words from the Raindrops 

God Bless

Writing - Black spider letters

Prince Charles's 'black spider letters' have been published. The future King Charles III has opinions and like all people some of his ideas are brilliant, some daft and most have a point.
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I am an unashamed Royalist and believe that we are fortunate to have a Royal family that are politically aware, and a family that is developing as do all families and assimilating the changes that occur in the ordinary world. Not only that Prince Charles is an experienced man who has learned throughout his life and it could be argued has much to offer.
Then we have jumped up MPs questioning whether Charles should write to government. Simple answer - of course he should!


[image error]Robert Heinlein
The real point of the blog are the letters. I featured one over the weekend from a soldier who'd written a letter in case of his death which sadly occurred and then was read out at the VE Day celebrations. Ray Bradbury wrote a fan letter to Robert Heinlein in 1976, as have many authors in the past. Indie authors like myself often write to fellow authors. There is a tacit understanding there I think.

The fact that I'm writing about writing letters has come from these recent examples that have come my way. I am currently reading Christina Carson's 'Accidents of Birth' and will be writing to her when I have completed the second book.


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These letters are a testimonial to the fact that we still need to encourage children to write in that form. In many ways they are the basis of longer methods of communication and I personally believe there will always be reasons for putting pen to paper.


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Now by way of an advertisement I received an email from Caleb Pirtle from VG this afternoon (Thursday). They have started a new sampling section to their blog and have featured 'The 51st State'




This is what VG say about the book.

In our mission of connecting readers, writers, and books, Venture Galleries is beginning a new series, offering sample chapters from some of the best writers we know. Our Thursday Sampler is from The 51st State by British author David L. Atkinson. Want a good international thriller? This is the one.

I'm blushing as I type! The link is below and the book is available in all formats from Amazon and Smashwords.

http://venturegalleries.com/blog/thursday-sampler-the-51st-state-by-david-l-atkinson/


God Bless

Poetry Thursday 160 - As I have been loved

There are a plethora of words in the Bible about love, far be it from me to improve on perfection, but inspiration can come from anywhere.The first poem focusses on the ambivalent nature of relationships.
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Holding Hands
To have a hand to holdis to share a moment.A starting point for swapping emotions.The precursor to exquisite joy or pain.
Then there could be a next step of burning,frantic passion – short-lived.Happy laughter and unbridled trust.But then what next?
Division of roads or consolidation?Parting of the ways or unquestioned faith?
Years pass by and passion may wanebut is replaced by something spiritual.A melding of two souls which allowsInsults and swearing without hurt!
A different, darker path awaits thosewho never meld!How do you know when it is rightand the joining is permanent?
Is it better not to trust the soul to anyone but God?Better or just safer?© David L Atkinson May 2015

This second focus is not on love but the significance, or otherwise, of life.


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The Drop
As the pebble drops from original sinit encounters the detritus of life, and some sticks.The fall, unchanged, continues at thefinite pace of all such journeys.Other tumbles may travel in parallelbut the drop never changesarrowing towards death’s pool. It can appear that pebbles joinbut their target never alters.No influences can change the end.When the pebble hitsripples move outward, intersecting,rebounding and spreading to infinity.© David L Atkinson May 2015

This piece is a simplification of John 15: 7 - 19

Greater love
Love each other as your Father has loved you.Remember the rules and stay in love.If you follow these rules you will know true joy.Love as I have loved.
There is no love greater than dying for friends.So follow love like My love.Trust and be prepared to die for your friends.Love each other.© David L Atkinson May 2015

There is no greater compliment than someone who reads your work and shows appreciation. This happened to me today. 
God Bless

Writing - More haste

In the aftermath of the election three parties' leaders resigned. UKIP's Nigel Farage was reinstated yesterday (Monday), but the Lib Dems and Labour Party are going to take months to find new leaders.
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I understand the reasoning behind the saying 'more haste, less speed' but in some circumstances fast, accurate thinking is what is needed. The fact that Nigel Farage is the only real option as leader totally explains the re-instating but for the other two parties, particularly the Labour Party, pondering on a replacement for Ed Miliband over a period of months is effectively giving the Conservatives a free ride for as long as that process takes. They made the same mistake in appointing Ed and still got it wrong.
I remember as part of my education, decision making being divided into four types.
Fast/AccurateFast/InaccurateSlow/AccurateSlow/Inaccurate
The slow/accurate model the Labour party are adopting is no guarantee of success as it could be inaccurate.
Writing involves a plethora of decision making and the need to maintain a pace in stories tends to the faster models as mentioned above. In a novel of 60k+ words there isn't much in the way of options to slowly develop a theme or character. I think that when we write serials it allows us to have some less pacey development. This I have found with Patrick Steele. Not only has he developed over the years but also he has changed which time over eight books has allowed.


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Now this last point is important because it suggests long term planning and as anyone who has read many of my blogs I just don't plan. However, what does happen as I'm writing, is the character takes responsibility for story development, therefore development and changes that occur thereafter. It is how I write and I have heard of quite a few other authors working in similar ways. 


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So if you find planning onerous and that it gets in the way of progress, then allow your imagination to sail free and you may be pleasantly surprised.

God Bless

Writing - Aftermaths

An interesting subject and not a question from one child to another, ie. what have you got aftermaths! No this is about legacies.
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This last week has been dictated by aftermaths. There has been the obvious one, the fall out from the General Election and that is likely to go on for weeks.
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Then there are the celebrations marking the 70th anniversary of VE Day.
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Victory in Europe Day must have been a colossal relief to many thousands of people at home who had loved ones in foreign lands at the end of WWII. 
There have been variety shows, parades and speeches but the most touching was probably the reading of a letter by actress Jane Horrocks.
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Horrocks, Absolutely Fabulous actress, read a letter written by Lieutenant George F Morrison of the 7th Battalion of the Royal Highlanders to be sent to his mother in the event of his death. It was written in October 1942 and was the last letter his mother Norah would ever receive from him. Before the month was out, Morrison was dead. He was one of five officers killed on the second day of battle. “You have always been the best of mothers to me,” wrote Morrison.“Since reaching mature years I’ve tried to make up to you for all the trouble you must have had when I was smaller.“My family is the best ever — and I know you’ll all go on and keep the colours flying, even though I’m not there to bother you any more by phone calls from obscure spots, or mad crazes after motorbikes, or any of these things which afflict the normal youth.”He added: “This is a queer letter to write — because I’ll be dead then and if you get it, I feel excessively cheery and optimistic right now and this death business doesn’t worry me in the least.“So, if I do get one — don’t be too sad — it’s too late to be sad and I wouldn’t like it.”
Once again the power of the written word stretching across the years and written as a goodbye, does not need to be from some literary genius but from a real person, in a real state of danger expressing real emotion. Well done to Jane Horrocks I would have been in pieces trying to read the above.
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How hard would it be to write such a letter. Many baulk at the idea of producing a will possibly because of a feeling that it brings forth the dread moment. It doesn't do that of course, what it does do is bring forward the idea that dying will happen. Perhaps the demise of religion is leaving many people with an emptiness as to what happens after they've gone. There is some comfort in having faith.We see lots of money and time spent on trying to make us all have healthier and longer lives but in fact does that come from a fear of death?Many stories are written based upon a letter, tape or dvd left for the grieving relatives by someone expecting to be killed in some way. One such that comes to mind immediately is the Pelican Brief.
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In this superb story from the pen of the excellent John Grisham has a lawyer who finds something he shouldn't and expects to suffer as a result. He prepares a video for his wife and leaves it in a safety deposit box. When viewed it begins with the heart rending line,'If you're watching this then I'm already dead!'It is an emotive beginning and grabs you immediately and I think it is because the reader has a preset emotional state that is triggered by thinking there is a message from the other side of the grave, which generates a set of responses.The fact is that legacies left by emotionally charged situations occupy a lot of human emotional time and as writers we can tap into that fact to generate interest in our work. In the Steele novels my lead character has a relationship which is a back story to some degree but which has persisted through several books. That part of Patrick Steele's life is important for him as a rounded human being and to the readers, as emotional involvement with the character. Emotional writing is not easy without empathising with the players in stories, so try and slot yourself into those shoes.
God Bless

Writing - Ten Things

It has been a very busy week politically speaking. Million's of pounds spent by pundits, predicting the outcome of the, general election wasted - they all got it wrong!I also finished my eighth Patrick Steele novel but there was other news this week.

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1. Former UK Liberal Democrat party leader Lord Ashdown told his successor that he used to eat hedgehogs.

I believe you cover them in clay and bake them then when the clay is removed so are the spines.


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2. People drink beer more slowly from straight pint glasses than they do from curved ones.


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3. Common People by Pulp may have been written about Danae Stratou, wife of Greek finance minister Yanis Varoufakis.


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4. In the north-east of England, Conservative candidates used to wear red, Liberals blue and Labour green rosettes until the 1970s.

Aye but they can't fool us!!!!


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5. There were three "revolutions" in western pop music - in 1964, 1983 and 1991.


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6. Gold-plated onion cells could be made into artificial muscles.


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7. India is the fastest moving "continent" in history.


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8. Millionaires' biggest regret is having made a mistake in a relationship with their family.


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9. David Dimbleby eats bananas and smokes the odd cigar to stay alert during the UK election coverage.


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10. The religious goods business in Italy is estimated to be worth about £3.4bn ($5.2bn) - more than the country earns from exporting wine.


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God Bless

Writing - Editing and Marketing

The tedium of going over stuff already completed knows no bounds!
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Editing is a funny old job in that the person editing shouldn't really be the original writer. Such things as muscle memory and scatoma tend to blind the writer to mistakes he/she may have made. However, if you are in the same financial boat as me then you have to edit it at least once then, as a very lucky man I have two friends who will take the book away and scribble all over it. Then, of course, there is a bit of re-writing before unleashing the book on the unsuspecting public.
Finally, it is dream time! The time when you launch the book, publicise it to previous readers and broadcast on the internet and elsewhere. That leads to thoughts of how to spend the huge amounts of royalties that come barrelling through the letterbox. 
Below is 'stuff' I've written previously!

My 10 books as of December 2014
Steele   My hero was created post recession and so has no concept of how 'good' things were pre-2008. In 'I Have To Get It Right' when he began to flex his muscles he was working in an accountant's office. Then after the Gurentai took him under their wing and removed all of his financial worries, it was justice that was his major concern. He did become involved in international relations in 'The 51st State' but it was for the maintenance of a respectful distance between countries, rather than economic reasons. His trips into the USA had repercussions which can be read about in 'The Biter Bit' but then by the time things began to change in 2011 and the recession was really biting, Steele was trying to make sense of the state of the nation in 'A Changed Reality' and coming up against some really nasty people taking advantage of the shortage of money. By the time the USA are out of their recession Steele's steps are still being dogged by an unknown enemy from the same country. In 'Inceptus' we also find out more about what makes the man tick. The most recent Steele book 'Castled' where Steele is once again at risk from unseen enemies. It would seem that he has become quite recession proof!The most recent addition to the Steele family is Earth plc in which our hero is concerned with political and emotional issues in this crime fighting adventure.
All books are available in paperback or ebook through Amazon, Smashwords and all good book shop websites.


Cessation 


This is a dystopian story that hinges directly on the state of the nation as a result of fiscal mismanagement. Having said that it is more a story of human relations, privations, love and loss.
Poetry - there are also two thoughtful collections of poetry available solely through Amazon.
The Musings of a Confused Mind 
and
Words from the Raindrops 

God Bless

Writing - What's next? #amwriting

What should I do next? I am almost finished Grace and Favour and considering my next book.

It's not that there is a lack of inspiration, more a case of too many options and their suitability. I suppose it would be more straightforward if I was tied to a publishing house demanding my next Steele novel. In that case there are a number of possibilities,

there is the Hatton Garden safety deposit theft over Easter;

and, the mystery of Flight MH370.Just two possibilities that Patrick A Steele could get his teeth into.
Then there is the drive to write something different and really that is where I'm starting from. I have a strange sense of guilt of leaving Steele behind and I haven't even started. I know that there are readers of Steele that will be wondering what I'm up to but then I'm hardly turning my back on a significant source of income - in fact the opposite.So if you write and want to change genre really all you can do is begin. Its back to that old elephant, eat it one mouthful at a time.
Two other ideas that are circling at the moment are,

The Magna Carta was signed at Runnymede in 1215 and really was about nobles and royalty. When there was all the publicity about it earlier this year it triggered my social injustice gene and I began to think about the ordinary folk of 1215, there lives and how they were affected, if at all, by what some consider a truly momentous occasion;

and finally, from the point of view of writing from where you're at Sunderland in the 20th century. At first, when this suggestion was made to me, I immediately thought of the highly successful author Catherine Cookson who wrote about her native South Tyneside, and baulked at the idea but then my stories would be slightly later and a little further south.
The latter possibility brings me to something that I want to do eventually and that is to write an autobiography.
New Silksworth 1950
I have some hang ups about writing my life story. I can remember my father commenting on the fact that a footballer, aged around 30 at the time, had produced his life-story. In a very small way Dad was quite scathing commenting that 'he (the player) hadn't lived yet!'I know that at 65 I'm considerably older, I still feel too young!!! Don't laugh.
Well whatever I decide to write I have around a fortnight to make up my mind.
God Bless