Jody Neil Ruth's Blog, page 6

The Second One.

Literally two blogs in two years and now you’re getting two from me in a week? I told you I was up for this challenge…just ignore me making it by the skin of my teeth…

This week’s blog is a little self indulgent. Seeing as everywhere seemed to be doing “recaps” at the end of last year, I’m gonna do my own 2022 recap, in the second week of 2023.

Last year was my first full year as a tour truck driver, and what a year it was. I started out moving stage for Ed Sheeran, before going on my firs...

Week One.

Towards the end of 2022 I released that to be a writer, I actually had to write. I mean, I’m a truck driver because I drive trucks every day, but am I a writer if I only write once in a…few years? Alright, technically that’s not true. I wrote a short story for an anthology recently, but, my lord, it took me forever and cutting it fine with a deadline. But it reminded me that to be a writer, I had to get words down that people would read.

When I was young, if I read a book that really caught m...

Travel in a Covid world (July 2021)

After around a year and a half of being trapped within our own countries, restrictions are finally easing and people are starting to travel again. What I have noticed very early on, is that the UK Government’s website instructions can be a little bewildering, and I’ve also had to answer calls from my friends abroad who want to know how to get home!

Here is my step-by-step guide to how I traveled to Spain and back for a weekend without any issues (21-23rd July 2021):

1/ Check what “ligh...

Kay’s Euology

(Written and read by Zoe at Kay’s funeral service at St Leodagar’s Church, Hunston, on June 23rd 2021.)

“We’re all here today to celebrate my lovely sister, Kay.  We all have our own memories and love for her.  Today I want to share some of mine with you.

My big sister Kay…

Kay was the middle child of Don and Lin, born in Canvey Island 42 years ago. Jody was born 2 years previously and I followed a year after Kay.  The three of us had a strong 1 of 3 identity. We were relentless in ...

Kay.

Less than a year ago my little sister, Kay, called me and asked me if I wanted to go see her and her family. It was almost Steve OG’s birthday and I’d been so busy at work that I was overdue a visit and said of course I’d come. She added she had something to tell me when I got there, but I didn’t think anything of it.

Seated at her dining table a day later, as the kids ran around the house, OG cooked in the kitchen, Kay and I chatted about everything and nothing when she said, “Ok, are you re...

Alive and (quietly) kicking.

Dang. It’s been a while since I wrote anything on my blog. Every other writer in the world is churning out content during lockdown and my blog has been gathering dust.

But that’s not to say I haven’t been writing. I’ve just finished the final draft of my Smashwords best selling title, Isle of the Dead. Land of the Dead is currently going through a penultimate check before heading to the good people at Devil Dog Press to run their careful eye over it, and I’m hoping to announce a release date ...

How to Become a Market-Savvy Writer in 5 Days (A Step-by-Step Guide)

Self-editing Fiction that Sells

‘Know your reader’ is a great mantra for any writer, published or unpublished, however, in today’s hugely competitive market, it doesn’t seem to be quite enough anymore. While ‘Know your industry’ is significantly less important, the extra knowledge can be to some extent valuable in an aspiring writer’s quest to getting published.

With a bit of time and patience, you can gain some good market insight, all in your spare time and without spending any money.

Set...

Isle of the Dead and Devil Dog Press

I’m delighted to announce that my number one selling book Isle of The Dead will now be part of the 

Fuck life.

Fuck life. I’m not very good at it.

I started the year crossing America with someone I truly believed I’d spend the rest of my life with, and I’m ending the year feeling as alone as I ever have. Working nights and the way my life runs means I can—and often have—gone more than 24 hours without any physical human contact. Add to this a series of poor life decisions leaving me with mountainous bills that I’ve been hammering away at for the last two years, and it all feels hopele

ISLE OF THE DEAD – Top downloaded Horror title on Smashwords!

We’re halfway through July and my book Isle of the Dead is still stop of the Smashwords horror charts! To say I’m happy is an understatement! It seems like a long time ago I was sat in my parent’s shop in Sandown on the Isle of Wight filling page after page of an old pad, or finishing the book off years later between jobs driving my taxi. But it was all more than worth it in the end.

I am now deep into the sequel, getting it ready for print and making sure it’s better than the first book. I’...