Vaughn Entwistle's Blog, page 4
January 19, 2015
Gutenburg Gets his Groove On; Five Star Review of The Revenant of Thraxton Hall
In 1439, Johannes Gutenburg invited the movable type printing press which revolutionized printing books and made them affordable for the masses. This was handy, since the e-reader would not be invented until 1998.
Recently, I came across a Book Blog with the groovy name of Gutenburg's Son, who just review The Revenant of Thraxton Hall.
The review goes into great detail. Although the fantasy aspects of the novel were not entirely to the reviewer's tastes, and he had quibbles with certain aspects of the plot, he ended up giving the book five stars and plans to read the next book in the Paranormal Casebooks series, The Dead Assassin.
You can find the blog and the review here: Gutenburg's Son
Recently, I came across a Book Blog with the groovy name of Gutenburg's Son, who just review The Revenant of Thraxton Hall.
The review goes into great detail. Although the fantasy aspects of the novel were not entirely to the reviewer's tastes, and he had quibbles with certain aspects of the plot, he ended up giving the book five stars and plans to read the next book in the Paranormal Casebooks series, The Dead Assassin.
You can find the blog and the review here: Gutenburg's Son
January 5, 2015
The BookTherapy Podcasts Names The Revenant of Thraxton Hall as one of its Top 10 of 2014!
BookTherapy is a brilliant podcast run by Rob Cohen, a lawyer in the US. In each edition Rob and his brother discuss and review the latest books they have read. The podcasts, I must point out, are tremendous fun and a complete hoot to listen to. As you can imagine, BookTherapy gets through a lot of books in the course of a year. As it was the end of the year, Rob released his Top 10 Books of 2014 and The Revenant of Thraxton Hall made the list! It was very flattering to see my book listed alongside some big, big names such as Stephen King, Ken Follett, Peter James, Alex Grecian, etc. Thanks again to Rob Cohen. I am counting his shoutout as the best present I got this Christmas.Read the full Top 10 List Here:
December 14, 2014
My Latest Author Interview with an Edinburgh based Blogger
Recently, I came across a terrific review of The Revenant of Thraxton Hall on a book blog run by Edinburgh. The blogger in question, Melissa (Mel to her friends) is very pretty Aussie lady who fulfilled a life's ambition by taking the leap and moving to Edinburgh in Scotland!
Now she blogs about her fascinating home city and about the books she is reading. After I read her terrific review of my novel, I contacted Mel and she asked to do an interview for her blog in which I give out advice to prospective novelists on the difficult road to being published.
Check out the article at Mel's Blog: http://www.everythingiwishedfor.co.uk/blog/a-paranormal-mystery-romp …
Now she blogs about her fascinating home city and about the books she is reading. After I read her terrific review of my novel, I contacted Mel and she asked to do an interview for her blog in which I give out advice to prospective novelists on the difficult road to being published.
Check out the article at Mel's Blog: http://www.everythingiwishedfor.co.uk/blog/a-paranormal-mystery-romp …
November 13, 2014
"One of the Best Books I've ever Read," Review of THE REVENANT OF THRAXTON HALL
Just read this wonderful review from a lady who is life long book lover and used to work in a library when she lived in Australia.
Not only did The Revenant of Thraxton Hall make it into her top three reads of 2014, she also describes it as "One of the best books I've ever read."
A short break while I jump up from my desk and do the Happy Dance.
http://www.everythingiwishedfor.co.uk/blog/great-books-for-cold-nights
Not only did The Revenant of Thraxton Hall make it into her top three reads of 2014, she also describes it as "One of the best books I've ever read."
A short break while I jump up from my desk and do the Happy Dance.
http://www.everythingiwishedfor.co.uk/blog/great-books-for-cold-nights
November 6, 2014
The Dead Assassin Now Available for Pre-Sale Orders!
Big news! THE DEAD ASSASSIN, the second book in the Paranormal Casebook series is now available for pre-order on Amazon and other online book sellers.
I am absolutely thrilled with the book cover created by David Baldeosingh Rotstein, the same talented artist who produced the ominous and foreboding cover for THE REVENANT OF THRAXTON HALL.
In both cases, Rotstein read the novel in order to get a feel for the mood and theme he needed to convey.
I think he did a terrific job portraying the gothic menace of Thraxton Hall. In THE DEAD ASSASSIN, he once again features two top hatted figures (Arthur Conan Doyle and Oscar Wilde) as they scurry across Westminster Bridge (okay, some liberties have been taken with the perspective) while one of London's sulphurous yellow fog swirls in the skies above. (Not much of a spoiler but expect lots of fog in this book.)
What a gorgeous cover. Thanks to everyone at St. Martin's Press for putting out such a beautiful book.
I am absolutely thrilled with the book cover created by David Baldeosingh Rotstein, the same talented artist who produced the ominous and foreboding cover for THE REVENANT OF THRAXTON HALL.
In both cases, Rotstein read the novel in order to get a feel for the mood and theme he needed to convey.I think he did a terrific job portraying the gothic menace of Thraxton Hall. In THE DEAD ASSASSIN, he once again features two top hatted figures (Arthur Conan Doyle and Oscar Wilde) as they scurry across Westminster Bridge (okay, some liberties have been taken with the perspective) while one of London's sulphurous yellow fog swirls in the skies above. (Not much of a spoiler but expect lots of fog in this book.)
What a gorgeous cover. Thanks to everyone at St. Martin's Press for putting out such a beautiful book.
September 13, 2014
Your Moment of Zen
Take a moment to kick off your shoes, pour a glass of wine, and hunker up to your screen to immerse in this photograph of a swan gliding along the glass-still moat of the Bishop's Palace, Wells, Somerset.
I took it in the early morning. It's quiet. There's no one about. Can you hear the bird song coming from the trees? Can you sense the swan's serene motion?
Ahhhh! There, that's better, isn't it?
I took it in the early morning. It's quiet. There's no one about. Can you hear the bird song coming from the trees? Can you sense the swan's serene motion?
Ahhhh! There, that's better, isn't it?
July 7, 2014
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the genius behind Sherlock Holmes, died on this day in 1930
Conan Doyle had been suffering for some time from angina pectoris before his death. Despite this, the paranormal investigator embarked on a psychic tour of Holland, Denmark, Sweden and Norway. The journey, however, took its toll, and upon his return to England he had to be carried ashore.
He remained bedridden from then on, but rose from his bed one chilly spring morn to venture into the garden. He was discovered lying on the ground, one hand clutched to his heart, the other holding a single white snowdrop.
The author embarked upon the "the most glorious adventure of all" on Monday, July 7th 1930. Surrounded by his loving family, Conan Doyle's final words were to his beloved wife Jean: "You are wonderful."
To the right is my favorite photo of Conan Doyle, looking fit and dapper, right down to his waxed mustaches. This is the Conan Doyle I have in mind when I sit down to write The Paranormal Casebooks.
The British Museum's web site features a manuscript page, in Conan Doyle's own hand, from a Sherlock Holmes story, "The Adventure of the Missing Three Quarter," which was published in 1904.
Also on the web page is a rare audio recording of Conan Doyle (regrettably, no recordings exist of Wilde's voice) explaining how he came up with the concept of Sherlock Holmes as a young medical student in Edinburgh, inspired by Dr. James Bell, an instructor whose uncanny powers of observation were the inspiration for his fictional "consulting detective."
Sample of Sherlock Holmes Manuscript
He remained bedridden from then on, but rose from his bed one chilly spring morn to venture into the garden. He was discovered lying on the ground, one hand clutched to his heart, the other holding a single white snowdrop.
The author embarked upon the "the most glorious adventure of all" on Monday, July 7th 1930. Surrounded by his loving family, Conan Doyle's final words were to his beloved wife Jean: "You are wonderful."To the right is my favorite photo of Conan Doyle, looking fit and dapper, right down to his waxed mustaches. This is the Conan Doyle I have in mind when I sit down to write The Paranormal Casebooks.
The British Museum's web site features a manuscript page, in Conan Doyle's own hand, from a Sherlock Holmes story, "The Adventure of the Missing Three Quarter," which was published in 1904.
Also on the web page is a rare audio recording of Conan Doyle (regrettably, no recordings exist of Wilde's voice) explaining how he came up with the concept of Sherlock Holmes as a young medical student in Edinburgh, inspired by Dr. James Bell, an instructor whose uncanny powers of observation were the inspiration for his fictional "consulting detective."
Sample of Sherlock Holmes Manuscript
June 27, 2014
All My Authorial Secrets Laid Bare in a Revealing New Interview!
I was recently interviewed by online magazine British Weekly. You can read the very comprehensive interview at the website below.
The interview, entitled "Doyle Goes Wilde" (Great Title!) asked probing questions about the origins and inspiration for THE PARANORMAL CASEBOOKS series. Learn who was my choice for Conan Doyle's sidekick before Oscar Wilde gatecrashed the scene and stole the novel!
!http://www.british-weekly.com/?p=15059
The interview, entitled "Doyle Goes Wilde" (Great Title!) asked probing questions about the origins and inspiration for THE PARANORMAL CASEBOOKS series. Learn who was my choice for Conan Doyle's sidekick before Oscar Wilde gatecrashed the scene and stole the novel!
!http://www.british-weekly.com/?p=15059
June 26, 2014
The Revenant of Thraxton Hall Selected by "Those Witty Brits" Book Club at Indianapolis Library
Googled the novel recently and found this on the web page of the Allen County Public Library in Fort Wayne, Indiana. I must have a fan there who read the book and suggested The Revenant of Thraxton Hall for their "Witty Brits Book Club."
Hope they still think I'm a "witty Brit" after reading it. If you're a member, please email me and let me know what the consensus was. : )
Hope they still think I'm a "witty Brit" after reading it. If you're a member, please email me and let me know what the consensus was. : )
June 7, 2014
Bibliophage Book Lady "Loves, Loves, Loves . . ." The Revenant of Thraxton Hall! A Five Star, Must-Read Review!
While I continue to rake in mostly positive reviews of the book, I am definitely finding that The Revenant has a specific audience who absolutely groove on it.
If you're a fan of hard-boiled detective stories it may not necessarily be your cup of Jack Daniels. But if you are open to a work that is whimsical and slightly tongue-in-cheek, then you will probably agree with Book Blogger Jen Flem who recently reviewed the novel on her Bibliophage website and gave it an unequivocal Five Star review and ranked it amongst her "Must Reads".
Check out her review at Jensbookbloggin.wordpress.com
Here's the link: http://wp.me/p3WAse-ag
If you're a fan of hard-boiled detective stories it may not necessarily be your cup of Jack Daniels. But if you are open to a work that is whimsical and slightly tongue-in-cheek, then you will probably agree with Book Blogger Jen Flem who recently reviewed the novel on her Bibliophage website and gave it an unequivocal Five Star review and ranked it amongst her "Must Reads".
Check out her review at Jensbookbloggin.wordpress.com
Here's the link: http://wp.me/p3WAse-ag
