A.L. Butcher's Blog, page 121
January 12, 2018
Readers – How do you find your books?
As an author I am intrigued to know how readers tend to find most of their books? How do you know a particular book is out there? After all, you could spend the rest of your life scrolling through Amazon, Barnes and Noble, I-books or where ever and still not find all the books.
As a reader, I tend to find books via Facebook these days, or knowing the genre and hopping about on Amazon until I find something which takes my fancy (actually I do that FAR too much – which is why I have a humongous to-be-read list). Occasionally I’ll read recommended books, or see something in a bookshop (yes I still go to ‘real bookshops now and then).
I’ve been told Twitter is the best way. So is Facebook. Pinterest. Linked In. Tumblr. Reddit. Goodreads. Blogs. All of these. None of these.
Go for it and answer the poll. There are no wrong answers.
Take Our Poll
January 9, 2018
Weird Wednesdays – Strange Laws Part 1
As a new feature of 2018 I thought I’d add a little levity and a little (more) strangeness to the blog. Weird Wednesdays – featuring strange laws, odd words, peculiar facts, and amazing place names. #WeirdWednesdays #strangelaws
I read a lot of history, and boy is some of human past weird! It never ceases to amaze me that humanity got over hitting each other with rocks but somehow we did and invented civilisation (although some days watching the news you’d not know it). Even so, our past has held some very odd ideas (and still does in some places) and some strange laws and rules.
From Witchcraft laws, judges prosecuting animals, clouds, corpses to outdated laws still on the statute books there have been some damn silly, and damn weird laws of the land. Some sound weirder than they actually are, and when one investigates it becomes more obvious why this is in place. Some don’t.
I’ll start with Britain – as I live there – but other countries will be discussed at later dates.
Odd or confusing Law 1:
It is illegal to be drunk on licenced premises.
Under section 12 of the Licensing Act 1872,
“every person found drunk… on any
licensed premises, shall be liable to a
penalty”. It is also an offence under
the Metropolitan Police Act 1839 for
the keeper of a public house to permit
drunkenness or disorderly conduct on
the premises. Furthermore, under the
Licensing Act 2003, it is an offence to
sell alcohol to a person who is drunk,
or to obtain alcohol for consumption
by a person who is drunk.”
So you can go into a public-house and buy booze but if you get squiffy you are breaking the law, and so is the landlord or landlady. I can see the logic of this – alcohol accounts for a high proportion of crime – in 2014/15 nearly 50% of violent crime was related to booze. Anyone who has been in the city on a Friday night can testify as an eye witness to this (in my city at least).
The Licensing Act states
Penalty on persons found drunk.
Every person found drunk in any highway or other public place, whether a building or not, or on any licensed premises, shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding [F1level 1 on the standard scale], and on a second conviction within a period of twelve months shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding [F1level 1 on the standard scale], and on a third or subsequent conviction within such period of twelve months be liable to a penalty not exceeding [F1level 1 on the standard scale].
Every person . . . F2 who is drunk while in charge on any highway or other public place of any carriage, horse, cattle, or steam engine, or who is drunk when in possession of any loaded firearms, may be apprehended, and shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding forty shillings, or in the discretion of the court to imprisonment . . . F3 for any term not exceeding one month.
Is this a Weird Law? I guess that depends on your point of view regarding alcohol consumption. What constitutes ‘drunkenness’? One person could sink a barrel and the next person is bladdered after half a shandy.
Odd or confusing law 2
It is illegal to handle salmon in suspicious circumstances
This is an offence under the Salmon
Act 1986.
Basically, if a person knows or believes a salmon, eel, or lamprey has been acquired under ‘an offence’. So a fish illegally caught from a salmon farm, an unlicensed fisherman etc.
Weird or confusing law 3
It is illegal to beat or shake any carpet or rug in any street. However, beating or shaking a doormat is allowed before 8am.
This is an offence under section 60 of the Metropolitan Police Act 1839. In other districts, it is an offence under section 28 of the Town Police Clauses Act 1847.
I’d guess this is to stop pollution and fouling of the streets…. but I could be wrong
Do look out for more strange laws of the land.
Other sources Britain Explorer Blog
The Strange Laws of Old England
January 4, 2018
Tales of Erana: Myths and Legends by A. L. Butcher
Thanks
As regular readers of, and visitors to, this website will know, fantasy is not a genre usually reviewed. However, the author A. L. Butcher kindly interviewed T. R. Robinson and it was considered only fair, and a way to show appreciation, to read one of her books. It must be made clear this was not a requirement for the interview; as said it was simply seen as a means for showing gratitude.
Tales of Erana is a short story collection: thought better this than a full length novel as it is not a genre readily taken to and may have struggled with a full length book.
There is a good mix of tales. Some are ‘feel good’ whereas others are dark and troubled. The variety is well achieved to hold the reader’s interest. Moral undertones are frequently encountered as are clear, realistic, observances upon the human condition which are readily…
View original post 320 more words
January 2, 2018
Writer Wednesdays – Debbie Mumford #WriterWednesday #Indies #Writing
Here is the first of the new 2018 Writer Wednesday posts. Today we welcome Debbie Mumford, a writer who has had a busy year in 2017. I have to say I’m envious, I plan to write far more than I do, and I have great respect for writers like Debbie who have the discipline to write as much as she does.
Happy 2018!
A Writer Welcomes the New Year – A Guest Post by Debbie Mumford
2017 was a good year for me. I achieved some goals and failed spectacularly at others, but all in all, when the year ended I was pleased to find that I’d failed forward!
A large part of that forward motion is due to my yearly review in late December and the goals I put in place for the coming year. Stretch goals, not easy ones. Goals I’ll have to work to achieve, but goals that will carry me forward even if I fail to meet all of them. And I’m realistic enough to know that some of them won’t be met.
An important part of this process is recognizing what is and is not a goal. I’m not talking about resolutions. Everyone makes those in early January … and most people have forgotten what they were by February or March. I’m talking about really, truly GOALS.
I like to use S.M.A.R.T. goals, which are, by definition:
Specific: Goals need to be specific, not some loose, vague, impossible to quantify statement. “I will write better this year″ is not a specific goal. “I will write 2 pages a day” qualifies.
Measurable: Goals need to be measurable. Again, a concrete goal is far better than an amorphous wish. You need to know whether or not you achieved it! “I will write for 45 minutes a day” is a measurable goal.
Achievable: Goals need to be reasonable and achievable. Don’t set yourself up for failure by shooting for the moon. “I will complete the first draft of my 90,000 word novel in 6 months″ is much more achievable than “I will write a 90,000 word novel in January.” Also, as I mentioned above, make sure your goals are within your control. “I will write the first draft of my novel” is achievable and within your control. “I will become a NY Times bestselling author” is not.
Realistic: Goals need to be realistic. Evaluate your time and your lifestyle. Be honest with yourself. Set goals that are specific, measurable, achievable, and realistic for who you are and how you live.
Time-Bound: Goals need to have a time frame. Lots of people dream of writing a novel…someday. But without a deadline, a time pressure, there’s no reason to do anything today. Put a date on your goal and then get started on it today. When you reach the specified date, you’ll know whether or not you accomplished your goal.
One of my goals for 2017 was to publish 18 new titles. I write under two names for two very different audiences: Debbie Mumford writes speculative fiction, often with romantic elements, for grown-ups, and Deb Logan writes contemporary fantasy for middle grade and teen readers, so my actual goal read something like this: “During 2017 I will publish one title a month as Debbie Mumford and one title every other month as Deb Logan.“
That qualified as a SMART goal. It was specific – one title (short story, novella, novel, collection) for Debbie every single month and one for Deb every other month; it was measurable – at the end of the month, I knew whether or not I’d accomplished the task; it was achievable – I had a backlog of published stories where the rights had reverted to me plus a selection of new work that I was ready to release into the wild; it was realistic – I knew I could create the covers and run the manuscripts through Vellum (my formatting tool of choice) in a timely fashion; and it was time-bound – everything would happen in the 2017 calendar year.
I achieved that goal, plus a little bit more. The final breakdown for 2017 was 14 short stories (9 of Debbie’s + 5 of Deb’s), 3 collections (all Debbie’s) and 1 novelette (Deb’s) published digitally, plus 3 novels, 2 novellas, and 3 collections released in print. (The print titles were already available digitally, so they didn’t count toward the actual goal, but the print release was a task that needed to be accomplished.)
I also had a goal in place to grow my newsletter lists. I didn’t put a specific number on this goal, but I did record a starting number for each list and I had a plan in place as to how I would accomplish the task: by searching out and taking advantage of promotional opportunities on Kobo, Amazon, and Instafreebie. I’m pleased to say that I accomplished this goal as well – each list more than doubled in 2017.
Where I fell down, rather spectacularly, was in my production goals. I intended to write at least three novels in 2017 and as many short stories as I could squeeze in. Since I’m still working a full-time day job, this goal probably didn’t qualify as SMART – it failed the “realistic” test. Still, I managed to write a short story a month in addition to all the publishing and promoting, so I failed in the right direction.
So what’s in store for 2018? Recognizing that life happens and the day-job must be done, publishing will take a back seat to production this year. I’ll be published in 2018, but it will be in anthologies and magazines rather than under my own imprint … at least, that’s the plan!
How about you? Have you mapped out your intended journey for 2018? I hope your destination will be grand and glorious. I’m sure I won’t end up exactly where I’m planning to go, but I’m positive the journey will be amazing!
Links:
Debbie Mumford’s Newsletter: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/a2q5l8
Deb Logan’s Newsletter: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/s1c9o3
Websites:
https://deblogan.wordpress.com/
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January 1, 2018
Review – The Fifth Elephant – Terry Pratchett #Fantasy
Here’s the first review of 2018. It’s a short one
The Fifth Elephant – Terry Pratchett
It’s been a while since I read this one – and I’d forgotten how much I enjoyed it. That said it’s not the best of the Discworld books, but I can’t quite put my finger on why. Fifth Elephant is the 24th Discworld and 5th City Watch book, with my favourite character – Sam Vimes. When Sir Samuel Vimes is sent as Ambassador to the coronation of the new Dwarven King what could possibly go wrong? For a start, he is in the middle of investigating the theft of a Dwarven artefact and the murder of a manufacturer of ‘rubber’ goods. Then there is politics – possibly the biggest crime of all. Dwarven Faction wars, racial tensions, werewolves, vampires, assassins and more. It’s a normal day at the office for the Watch.
It’s a fun read, with a lot of Pratchett’s sharp wit, clever worldbuilding, and awesome characters. It does meander a little in places, though. Even so I’d recommend for fantasy readers. As it’s exciting and full of action.
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December 31, 2017
2017 – A Writer’s Year
Every year I set myself a task list of what I plan to do over the year. Do I do all those things? Of course not! But I do achieve some, and also other accomplishments I hadn’t planned for.
I work full time, have various health issues which get in the way and life has a habit of throwing a spanner in. Excuses over – let’s see what I have done…
Books:
Tears and Crimson Velvet – A Legacy of the Mask Tale
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Tales of Erana: Just One Mistake – A Tales of Erana novella (also in audio version)
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The Watcher: A Jack the Ripper Story – A short horror tale featuring history’s most infamous and mysterious killer.
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The Shining Citadel produced in audio
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Outside the Walls Won a Reader’s Award
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Bundles:
Light Beyond the Storm Chronicles Book I featured in Heroic Tales Bundle
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Curator and Author – Shining Citadel and The Kitchen Imps featured in More than Human
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Curator and author – Tales of Erana: Myths and Legends featured in Mythic Tales
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Curator for Winter Warmer
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As Alexa Lynsey – Tales of the Golden Mask – an erotica fantasy/romance novella – which won a Book of the Year award for Erotic Romance
I also completed A Udemy Course on Kindle Formatting
A Diploma in Mindfulness and Meditation
A Certificate in Creative Writing
I had planned to write every day and honestly I didn’t. I have started several other short stories/novellas and worked on book IV of the Chronicles.
2018 plans
There will be several Bundles appearing in 2018 including Remembering Warriors, Immortals, Spring Surprise, Frisky February, Summer Shimmer, Here Be Monsters, Here Be Dragons.
I am also planning to learn how to use Photoshop, look for short story and poetry, finish the other Tales of Erana novella, proceed with book IV.
There will be new features on the blog – including Writer Wednesday and Weird Wednesdays, plus more reviews, my reading goals for 2018 and various other features.
Look out for these!
Happy New year to you and yours. Happy writing, happy reading!
December 26, 2017
Dirty Dozen Author Interview – A. L. Butcher – Remembering Warriors Bundle
Author Name: A. L. Butcher
Remembering Warriors is a commemorative Bundle – Why is it important to you to support these causes? My father fought in Aden (now Yemen) and was wounded in action – losing most of the sight in one eye. Friends of his did not come home from that conflict. Soldiers around the world – both past and present have given so much to secure liberty and the freedoms most of us take for granted. This is forgotten, often. The Armed Forces don’t just fight – they support, they save and they do what many of us can’t even comprehend. War is started by politicians, well away from the front lines, but it is fought by men and women who face death or disablement every day, often for a cause they don’t understand.
My mother served in Princess Alexandra’s nursing corps.
The Royal British Legion supports service personnel and their families in a variety of ways. My father lives in a British Legion care home and is well supported by them.
Do you have anyone you remember who was wounded or fought in war (either past or present)? My father, obviously but also my grandmother’s brother William who died in 1916 in the Somme. We only found out what happened to him about 20 or so years ago.
Please tell us about your publications. I have a dark fantasy series – The Light Beyond the Storm Chronicles. Currently, there are three books but I am working on book IV. You can check the blog for details.
My companion series of short stories set in the same world are the Tales of Erana – currently two novellas, and a short story collection.
In the Remembering Warriors Bundle I have Outside the Walls – a fantasy/historical fiction short written with Diana L. Wicker. It has just won a reader award!
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Are you a ‘pantser’ or a ‘plotter’? Panster! Definitely! I don’t stick to plots – the stories go where they are going to – or not.
If you could have dinner with any literary character who would you choose, and what would you eat? I’d throw a dinner party for The Count of Monte Cristo, The Phantom of the Opera, Tempus, and the Discworld’s Death. I’d say bring one course of your choice. They’d definitely be cake.
What are your views on authors commenting on reviews? Don’t. Really don’t.
What’s the best advice you’ve received about writing/publishing? Write what you want to read. Don’t worry about what is popular now – it might not be popular next week. If you write a story you yourself want to read then the chances are other people will want to read it too.
What’s the worst piece of advice you’ve received about writing/publishing? There’s a lot of it about! Worst advice – No one reads self-published books. That simply isn’t the case. For a start, I read them, and I know many others who do now. It is true that there are some bad quality and poorly written SP books but the same can be said of traditionally published books. I have read plenty of them! Attitudes are changing, fortunately. Of course, there needs to be quality, well-written work but many authors use professional editors, great cover artist and produce professional books.
If you could be any fantasy/mythical or legendary person/creature what would you be and why? I’m going to be predictable and say a dragon. I mean who wouldn’t want to be a flying firebreather that’s practically unkillable?
Other than that probably Circe from Greek myth
What is the last book you’ve read? Star Trek the New Voyages 2. Yeah, yeah I am a nerd.
Is this the age of the e-book? Are bricks and mortar bookshops in decline? Yes. Books are far more accessible now than ever before. E-books tend to be cheaper, take up much less room and can be bought in a bigger range of locations. I haven’t been in an actual bookshop for ages, although I do love wandering around them. On the other hand, I know plenty of people who much prefer reading printed books and abhor e-books. For me it is far easier to order online and have the e-book, or the paperback sent to me than to get into the centre of the city to go to Waterstones. I have a disability and travelling is stressful, and difficult. Why would I do that when I can just order online? That said I will visit a bookshop if I am out and about.
There is something a bit more tangible about a printed book, I supposed. It all depends whether one sees a book as the physical object where the words live, or the words themselves.
How important is writing to you? I find it a great release. I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t making up stories, so storytelling has been part of my life for a long time. I’m creative, and imaginative, all those stories and people would probably drive me out of my mind if I didn’t let them play. Creativity – be it music, art, literature, architecture, etc. is what makes us human. And free. To make something from nothing is supreme freedom.
Bio
British-born Alexandra Butcher (a/k/a A. L. Butcher) is an avid reader and creator of worlds, a poet, and a dreamer, a lover of science, natural history, history, and monkeys. Her prose has been described as ‘dark and gritty’ and her poetry as evocative. She writes with a sure and sometimes erotic sensibility of things that might have been, never were, but could be.
Alex is the author of the Light Beyond the Storm Chronicles and the Tales of Erana lyrical fantasy series. She also has several short stories in the fantasy, fantasy romance genres with occasional forays into gothic style horror. With a background in politics, classical studies, ancient history and myth, her affinities bring an eclectic and unique flavour in her work, mixing reality and dream in alchemical proportions that bring her characters and worlds to life.
Social Media links
Amazon author page
Facebook author page
Twitter
Goodreads
Blog
Remembering Warriors Bundle
In commemoration of the World War One Centenary
One hundred years ago, in 1918, the Great War ended after four terrible years. Never had the world seen such a conflict. All touched by its scythe hoped we would never be thusly reaped again. Their hopes were but desperate dreams. Since that first armistice, there have been many more battles, and thousands have given their lives or their health to preserve freedom and escape from tyranny.
A hundred years after the first armistice we still remember and honour those brave souls. But still, the soldiers fall, for the War to End All Wars did not.
Bundle Rabbit https://bundlerabbit.com/b/remembering-warriors
Amazon.com http://amzn.to/2BGnSQB
Amazon UK http://amzn.to/2AdOEmT
Barnes and Noble http://bit.ly/2zWnKMt
I books http://apple.co/2BFldqf
Book #1:
Comrades in Arms by Kevin J Anderson https://bundlerabbit.com/products/detail/comrades-arms
Book #2:
Outside the Walls by A.L. Butcher and Diana L. Wicker https://bundlerabbit.com/products/detail/outside-walls
Book #3:
Norman Blood by Barbara G. Tarn https://bundlerabbit.com/products/detail/norman-blood
Book #4:
The Rise of a Warrior by Harvey Stanbrough https://bundlerabbit.com/products/detail/rise-warrior
Book #5:
Total War by Russ Crossley https://bundlerabbit.com/products/detail/total-war
Book #6:
Resonant Bronze by J.M, Ney-Grimm https://bundlerabbit.com/products/detail/resonant-bronze
Book #7:
Siren by Blaze Ward https://bundlerabbit.com/products/detail/siren
Book #8:
The Museum of Modern Warfare by Kristine Kathryn Rusch https://bundlerabbit.com/products/detail/museum-modern-warfare
Book #9:
Nothing for Nothing by Harvey Stanbrough https://bundlerabbit.com/products/detail/nothing-for-nothing
Book #10:
The Rescue by Blaze Ward https://bundlerabbit.com/products/detail/nothing-for-nothing
Book #11:
Soldier, Storyteller by Linda Maye Adams https://bundlerabbit.com/products/detail/soldier-storyteller
Book #12:
Heroes of Old by Russ Crossley https://bundlerabbit.com/products/detail/heroes-old
Book #13:
With a Broken Sword by Stefon Mears https://bundlerabbit.com/products/detail/with-broken-sword
10% of the royalties from the Remembering Warriors bundle will go to the http://www.britishlegion.org.uk/ plus another 10% to https://www.helpforheroes.org.uk/ two charities that support wounded and ex-service personnel and their families, in commemoration of the World War I centenary.
December 20, 2017
Review – Dynasty: The Stuarts John MacLeod (and a potted history of the Stuarts)
By John MacLeod
2 stars
I rarely rate a book this low, and if I do I have usually stopped reading it. I like history, and this was a turbulent time in British History. In fact, it was the only time Britain has been a republic (only for a few years), and it changed the British monarchy forever.
The Stuarts were far more interesting than this author makes out – and more varied so here’s a potted history.
Mary, Queen of Scots: infant queen regnant (most unusual as women rarely came to the throne on their own account); wife to the French Dauphin and would have been Queen of France had her young and sickly hubby not died; married a totally unsuitable nobleman – Lord Darnley (not royalty – shocking for the time); possibly complicit in his murder (which was shoddily done); watched her probable lover murdered in front of her eyes; third equally unsuitable husband Lord Bothwell (he kidnapped and raped her, forcing her into a marriage); deposed; exiled; executed by her cousin for being involved with a treasonous plot to bring back Catholism and usurp the English throne.
James I (and VI): son of Mary and first husband Lord Darnley (probably); first king of England, Ireland and Scotland (sorry Wales you were already under the English then); King for 57 years in Scotland and 21 years in England. Also came to the throne as a baby – after his mother was deposed. Inherited a realm divided by religion and governed during his minority by 4 different regents; intelligent, and a good scholar he is perhaps best known for the King James Bible – which was translated and produced in English during his reign. He was obsessed with witches and witchcraft – but not in a good way and many people were executed for this ‘crime’ during his reign.
James was probably gay, or at least enjoyed gay relationships with various men at court – although he did his duty and married to produce an heir. His ‘favourites’ were often rather unscrupulous (by today’s standards) and he was manipulated by them – much to the annoyance of parliament – who wanted to do it. He was married to a 14-year-old Danish Princess (Anne of Denmark). His eldest child died of typhoid, his daughter married to become the ill-fated Elizabeth Queen of Bohemia, and his son Charles succeeded him. Yes, that’s the Charles who annoyed parliament so much they chopped off his head….
Charles I: Poor old Charles I. He wasn’t a bad man, but he wasn’t a good king. Or at least Parliament didn’t think so. He married a Catholic (and a bossy one) – which did not go down well in the largely Protestant Britain, and kept asking for money to fight costly and unpopular wars. He believed in the Divine Right of Kings – basically the King answered to no one but God Almighty. Parliament also had issues with this, funnily enough. The English Civil War went on for 9 awful years and the country was left rather in chaos during this time. Largely it was a religious war but it was also a conflict of a stubborn king who refused to concede any power and a miffed parliament who thought the king and his Catholic cronies had far too much. It’s possible that over a 190000 died in England from a population of just 5 million from causes related to the war (sickness, wounds, death in battle) and many more were exiled. In the end the Roundheads were victorious and the King was executed. I think this was the only time an English monarch has been executed by the state (excepting falling in battle, or by a foreign power, or dubious circumstances whilst in exile/imprisonment). Charles managed to protect his family – they fled to the continent and had a difficult decade living in exile from the goodwell of various foreign lords and princes.
I will miss out Oliver Cromwell and the Commonweath – only because they weren’t Stuart blood but if you want to learn more this is a good place to start.Oliver Cromwell
Charles II : Charles II was handsome, charming and a darn sight smarter than his old man. He made concessions when he had to and was smart enough to let Parliament have some power. He was also an inveterate womaniser – his official bastard progeny numbered 14 and there were probably lots more. Unfortunately, legitimate issue was 0 surviving – his Queen had a number of miscarriages and was unable to have a child. Despite legions of mistresses Charles stuck by his barren queen, even though he was urged to discard her.
Charles was keen on the arts, was a bit of a rogue but brought an air of jolity back after the rather dismal years of the protectorate. He was also tolerant of religion but was careful in his dealings with Catholics (who were still deeply mistrusted). He converted on his deathbed.
He was succeeded by his brother James II, VII…. not a popular king. James was rather arrogant, an obvious Catholic, and probably suffered from some serious mental issues (not surprising really as his father was executed for treason). He married Anne Hyde (also not royalty) and then tried to shirk off the marriage. His two daughters would become Queens in their own right, but his second marriage to a Catholic Princess (Mary of Modena) was the final straw. James was far more intolerant than his brother, and less of a statesman. Eventually he was deposed in favour of his son-in-law and nephew, and his daughter (who married her cousin…) – they would jointly reign as Mary II and William III.
He survived rebellions, plots and although he was finally deposed (by his own daughters) he kept his head (unlike his father).
No one wanted civil war again and so when William and Mary were ‘invited’ to take the crown it was done surprisingly bloodlessly. Trouble in Ireland (that was reflected to the present day) marred the reign, and they were sometimes held to be usurpers (James and his faction would try and regain the throne for James, and his heirs for many years to come, causing turmoil and bloodshed aplenty particularly in Scotland).
William fought the French (England was at war with our neighbours across the channel on and off for nearly a thousand years until the peace which came after the second world war) and was often absent. Wars were costly (and unpopular – nothing changes much).
He may also have had homosexual relationships with courtiers and favourites, but he was deeply upset when Mary died of smallpox. He died after a fall from his horse and the dubious medicine of the time.
Queen Anne was perhaps the most tragic of the Stuart monarchs, and she was the last (depending on who you ask… Jacobites looking at you). She had many health problems, including mental health (as did most of her line) and lost seventeen babies and infants. Which did nothing to help either her physical or mental wellbeing. She had problems with her sight, and later in life became obese (her coffin was nearly square), with the associated problems of being overweight. She also oversaw the Act of Settlement – which finally united Scotland, Ireland and England into Great Britain and not seperate countries. (Some would argue this wasn’t a good thing and the countries would be better off running themselves but that’s a debate for another day).
Anne was not the brightest bulb in the chandelier but she was, by many accounts, kind, dutiful and did her utmost to be a good queen. She was also passionate and emotional- and her various intense friendships with women, including the Duchess of Marlborough (who was quite unkind about her later). She survived Jacobite plots to put a half-brother on the throne and the aftermath of the War of Spanish Succession.
So anyway… about the book….
I was quite disappointed by this book. Way too much of the author’s own opinion in this. I found it rather anti.. well everyone really.
No one came out of it well (although to be fair the history of the Stuarts is not the most glorious) but there was a rather anti-gay, anti-catholic, tone to the book. In one place he described homosexuality as a ‘sin’. Technically it was then – but that was not the context of the sentence, or at least didn’t seem to be. There had been previous mentions about the various alleged and supported gay relationships of the monarchs but these were generally portrayed in a negative way. Maybe it wasn’t meant to be like that but it came across that way.
The subject matter is interesting, but it reads a bit like a sensationalist newspaper. I’d have liked more on Queen Anne, she was the last Stuart monarch and barely got much of a mention. What was said was basically she was stupid, dull a bit of a non-entity.
It wasn’t all bad – there was an element of amusement in some places, and the author is passionate about the subject (opinions aside). The chapter on Mary Queen of Scots was interesting. It was also interesting to see the history from the Scots perspective.
I’m sorry but I wouldn’t recommend this to history lovers – there are better and less biased books on the market.
December 16, 2017
Dirty Dozen Author Interview – Russ Crossley – Warrior Bundle #Sci-fi #Warriorbundle
Author name: Russ Crossley
Remembering Warriors is a commemorative Bundle – Why is it important to you to support these causes? In my family my father and my uncles fought in World War 2. I also have friends who served in Korea in the early fifties. I think we must do whatever we can to support those returning military veterans who were wounded during their time serving their country to honour them and thank them for their service and sacrifice on our behalf.
Do you have anyone you remember who was wounded or fought in war (either past or present)? A German V1 rocket wounded my father when he was stationed in England with the Royal Canadian Army prior to D Day in 1944. He recovered from his wounds in time to participate in the D Day operation. He served in the artillery.
*Please tell us about your publications.
What first prompted you to publish your work? I began writing fiction for sale over twenty years ago but never had any idea how to begin until I attended the Oregon Coast Professional Writers Master Class taught by award-winning professional authors and editors Dean Wesley Smith and Kristine Katherine Rusch. Kris and Dean taught me how to become a better writer and most importantly how the publishing process works and how to break in the business. I then started submitting to The Strange New Worlds writing contest sponsored by Pocket Books and was eventually accepted three times.
What have you found the most challenging part of the process? The overall experience of the traditional publishing process is very challenging to most beginners.
Are you a ‘pantser’ or a ‘plotter’? Very much a “pantser’. I have tried plotting and found it doesn’t work for me. I enjoy being surprised by the direction the characters take the story. It makes for unexpected twists and turns, which I read for myself.
What piece of advice do you wish you’d had when you started your publishing journey? Trust yourself and don’t be too hard on yourself when you fail.
If you could have dinner with any literary character who would you choose, and what would you eat. Jack Reacher. I would eat a medium rare steak and salad.
What are your views on authors offering free books? Do you believe, as some do, that it demeans an author and his or her work? On a limited basis as a short-term promotion I have no problem with it. On a longer-term or permanent basis, I think this is foolish. I don’t think it demeans them or their work but it fails to recognize that publishing is a business as well as an art and that their work has value. Customers are willing and often want, to pay for this work if they see it has value. Writing is hard work and I feel we should be compensated for this work just like any other job.
What are your views on authors commenting on reviews? Don’t. Ever. Very bad idea.
How do you deal with bad reviews? I place very little weight on any reviews be they good or bad. They are individual opinions based on individual taste and personal biases. You can easily find all sorts of opinions about any art be it film, TV, books, plays, paintings etc. I mostly ignore them except for marketing purposes because I know some folks respond to good reviews.
Sort these into order of importance:
Great characters
Good plot
Awesome world-building
Technically perfect
How much research do you do for your work? What’s the wildest subject you’ve looked at? Currently I’m writing space opera set in the far future so I can pretty much make up whatever I like. But I have done considerable research for some previous projects to get certain details right. The wildest subject I looked at was You Tube videos on how to drive a school bus for a romantic comedy I wrote many years ago called Antique Virgin.
How influential is storytelling to our culture? Extremely important. Storytelling is everywhere on the news in newspapers and magazines. Advertising in every medium uses storytelling either from a static image or in television commercials. The web is a huge source of storytelling most people don’t even think of as storytelling. Social media is storytelling. Texts, tweets, etc. are storytelling. Even when having a coffee with friends we use storytelling to share news and events. I think it’s what makes us human.
What’s the best advice you’ve received about writing/publishing? Write every day to exercise your mental muscles.
What’s the worst piece best advice you’ve received about writing/publishing? You must hire an agent to be a published author.
If you could be any fantasy/mythical or legendary person/creature what would you be and why? Superman. His role as super hero is far more complicated than it appears on the surface. His powers make him capable of solving most of our earthly problems I find the possibilities very exciting.
Tell us about your latest piece? I am working on Blaster Squad 6 Galaxy of Evil. It is the sixth book in this action/adventure space opera series set in the year 4154. Blaster Squad accepts a mission to stop a powerful enemy force of mercenaries from capturing a strategically important planet. The stakes are extremely high and the action extremely intense.
What’s your next writing adventure? Blaster Squad 7 will conclude the current story line.
What is the last book you’ve read? Dark Matter by Blake Crouch.
Is this the age of the e-book? Are bricks and mortar bookshops in decline? I don’t think so, at least for now. The majority of readers read both eBooks and paper books in the present time. I expect at some point this will shift to more eBooks than paper but we’re not there yet. I do think online stores are becoming a bigger threat to brick and mortar stores than eBooks.
With the influx of indie authors do you think this is the future of storytelling? Even traditional publishers and agents troll the indie authors for new talent so yes I do tend to think indie authors are creative and are bringing originality to the craft of storytelling. And Indies are bringing back some genres the publishing “experts” thought were dead and gone.
Are indie/ self-published authors viewed with scepticism or wariness by readers? Why is this? I think this is lessening over time as more and more readers discover new authors and entertaining original work. I do think indie authors have to up the professionalism of their work with great covers and properly edited and copyedited books. I would, however, stress to readers if you discover mistakes in indie books but love the story cut the author some slack. Any book no matter who publishes it or who edits it tries to present their best work possible. And writing is HARD work.
Is there a message in your books? Love your family and respect those who are different you.
How important is writing to you? I love story and always have. Creating my own worlds has been an exciting and satisfying journey that continues for the foreseeable future.
Links http://www.53rdstreetpublishing.com
Bio: International selling Star Trek author, Russ Crossley writes science fiction and fantasy, and mystery/suspense. Over his more than 20 year career, he has published 18 novels and almost 100 short stories.
His latest science fiction satire set in the far future, Revenge of the Lushites, is a sequel to Attack of the Lushites. Both titles are available in e-book and trade paperback.
He has sold several short stories that have appeared in anthologies from various publishers including; WMG Publishing, Pocket Books, 53rd Street Publishing, Sapphire Blue Publishing, Champagne Books, and St. Martins Press.
He is a member of SF Canada and is past president of the Greater Vancouver Chapter of Romance Writers of America. He is also an alumni of the Oregon Coast Professional Fiction Writers Master Class taught by award winning author/editors, Kristine Katherine Rusch and Dean Wesley Smith.
Feel free to contact him on Facebook, Twitter, or his website http://www.russcrossley.com. He loves to hear from readers
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Russ’s short story collection features in Remembering Warriors.
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