Bev Spicer's Blog, page 12
November 5, 2015
My French Life
The Important Bits
I’ve made an end of year resolution to write every morning for three hours.
I have no idea how it will work out, but today is the fourth day and I’ve written 10,345 words of book one in my new science fiction trilogy.
I have the story arc for each book and the whole series worked out. I have detailed chapter summaries and character profiles for book one. I’ve done everything the right way round this time.
I have peace and quiet, a large table overlooking my garden and a laptop that has stood me in good stead for the last four years. I have a cushion for my chair and a hot water bottle on my lap. I have aspirations. I have motivation. I am anchored in my work.
Today, just as on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, I was amazed when I came to the end of chapter five and checked the time. I had only thirty minutes remaining to change scene and begin chapter six. I didn’t want to stop. I liked it where I was. But my eyes began to protest.
So. Now what? I thought.
I’ve had reheated spaghetti for lunch (not recommended), fed my over-worked husband a larger portion, with salad, taken out the organic waste and turned the compost. I’ve emptied the dishwasher, folded the towels and flossed my teeth. The washing needs sorting, the world has gone to rack and ruin, there are bombs and politicians on the midday news. The bakery is closed, but will re-open in time for me to buy a Suisse for my son’s homecoming snack. I'll make sure the milk is chilled.
I would go out on my bike if it were not raining. I would bake a cake if I had the ingredients, or a suitable oven. I would change the world. Only the bad bits. If I could.
It’s almost three o’clock in France. Nearly time for cheap rate electricity and washing machine noise. Nearly time to find the sweet wrappers in jeans and crumpled receipts for chain saw links and glue that doesn’t work from Brico Depot. Nearly time to drag out my exercise bike to pedal fast while I watch something that won’t fill my mind with horror. Like Tipping Point. Like Bradley on The Chase.
I’m not complaining. Far from it. Just saying.
HAPPY DAYS
I’ve made an end of year resolution to write every morning for three hours.
I have no idea how it will work out, but today is the fourth day and I’ve written 10,345 words of book one in my new science fiction trilogy.
I have the story arc for each book and the whole series worked out. I have detailed chapter summaries and character profiles for book one. I’ve done everything the right way round this time.
I have peace and quiet, a large table overlooking my garden and a laptop that has stood me in good stead for the last four years. I have a cushion for my chair and a hot water bottle on my lap. I have aspirations. I have motivation. I am anchored in my work.
Today, just as on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, I was amazed when I came to the end of chapter five and checked the time. I had only thirty minutes remaining to change scene and begin chapter six. I didn’t want to stop. I liked it where I was. But my eyes began to protest.
So. Now what? I thought.
I’ve had reheated spaghetti for lunch (not recommended), fed my over-worked husband a larger portion, with salad, taken out the organic waste and turned the compost. I’ve emptied the dishwasher, folded the towels and flossed my teeth. The washing needs sorting, the world has gone to rack and ruin, there are bombs and politicians on the midday news. The bakery is closed, but will re-open in time for me to buy a Suisse for my son’s homecoming snack. I'll make sure the milk is chilled.
I would go out on my bike if it were not raining. I would bake a cake if I had the ingredients, or a suitable oven. I would change the world. Only the bad bits. If I could.
It’s almost three o’clock in France. Nearly time for cheap rate electricity and washing machine noise. Nearly time to find the sweet wrappers in jeans and crumpled receipts for chain saw links and glue that doesn’t work from Brico Depot. Nearly time to drag out my exercise bike to pedal fast while I watch something that won’t fill my mind with horror. Like Tipping Point. Like Bradley on The Chase.
I’m not complaining. Far from it. Just saying.
HAPPY DAYS
November 2, 2015
Brouage - A Great Day Out
Brouage is my husband’s favourite venue for a brocante extravaganza.
Brouage is home to a few hundred people, who live inside fortifications built by Cardinal Richelieu in the 1630s. At the time, the village was important as a port, giving access to the Bay of Biscay and the Atlantic Ocean. Since the harbour silted up in the latter part of the 17th century it lost its importance and fell into ruin.
Now, it hosts the largest and most visited annual brocante in the region, cunningly arranged to coincide with my husband’s birthday.
So, yesterday, Al’s dearest wish was to strike out in our silver Peugeot and rummage for copper piping and obsolete tools. The former to construct a new and very lovely radiator of a type never seen before, and the latter just for fun.
In the past we’ve had sun, rain, cold and heat. Yesterday was perfect. Temperatures too hot for tights, a cooling breeze to ease the odd menopausal flush, and a sky so blue it had to be texted to relatives living in Manchester, the Midlands and Devon. Al took a coat and left it in the car. Almost unheard of.
We had an economical journey, following a driver who had mislaid fourth and fifth gears, but who kept things interesting with unexpected sudden braking. We were tolerant and jovial on our Sunday afternoon outing.
Upon arrival, we encountered friendly, waving car park attendants in specially created orange waistcoats who directed us around a field. Several times.
Soon, we joined hundreds of fellow brocante enthusiasts in a leisurely meander amongst stalls displaying anything from beautiful gilt-framed mirrors to a particularly well-used second hand bra and pants set. There was something for everyone.
We nearly bought a painting by a lady called Rosa Marco, who was probably aiming for Picasso, when she missed in a most interesting way. But, having set a euro limit in our heads, the stall holder blew it out of the water and made us feel guilty to boot, lavishing us with pertinent details of the artist (an eighty-five-year-old lady living on the Ile d’Oleron), her numerous exhibitions, not to mention the implicit tragedy of a talent left undiscovered. Luckily, like the odd fraudulent crook-dressed-as-a-policeman, who demands payment of instant fines in cash, having leapt from the hedgerow brandishing a fake speed gun, our benevolent art collector wouldn’t accept Visa.
I was later quite taken with various sets of non-dishwasher-safe decorative glasses, and also the idea of beginning a collection of brooches in the style of Bling. Al listened, then walked on, and my resolve to follow my instincts crumbled.
In short, I came to my senses. I was there for his birthday treat, the odd bit of human contact, and the prospect of chips. I just hadn’t immediately realised that life was so simple.
HAPPY DAYS
October 17, 2015
October Madness!
On the publication of my new collection of short stories 'Thirteen', I'm offering four individual stories FREE until 22nd October. If you want more - there are eight previously unpublished stories in my new collection, priced at just £1.99.
View on Amazon
£1.99
In the meantime, get your FREE stories here. There's something for everyone
'Peaches in the Attic' is a disturbing tale involving a grandmother and her granddaughter. Forget the usual cosy image of sitting on your grandmother's knee listening to fairy stories. This time the story is not so sugar sweet. What's more, it's difficult to know where imagination ends and reality begins.
View on Amazon
FREE
'Angels' is a suspenseful and atmospheric story. A mother is driven to revenge after the death of her daughter, provoked by bullying at school.
View on Amazon
FREE
'Strings' is for those who enjoy science fiction, end of the world scenarios. Will anyone believe Maddy's visions? What do they mean? And will there be time to take action?
View on Amazon
FREE
'Flying' is my newest short story. Nelly lives at the foot of a mountain and loves to watch the gliders soaring the ridge. Her parents have divorced and she deals with the emotional fallout in her own magical, childlike way.
View on Amazon
FREE
View on Amazon
£1.99
In the meantime, get your FREE stories here. There's something for everyone
'Peaches in the Attic' is a disturbing tale involving a grandmother and her granddaughter. Forget the usual cosy image of sitting on your grandmother's knee listening to fairy stories. This time the story is not so sugar sweet. What's more, it's difficult to know where imagination ends and reality begins.
View on Amazon
FREE
'Angels' is a suspenseful and atmospheric story. A mother is driven to revenge after the death of her daughter, provoked by bullying at school.
View on Amazon
FREE
'Strings' is for those who enjoy science fiction, end of the world scenarios. Will anyone believe Maddy's visions? What do they mean? And will there be time to take action?
View on Amazon
FREE
'Flying' is my newest short story. Nelly lives at the foot of a mountain and loves to watch the gliders soaring the ridge. Her parents have divorced and she deals with the emotional fallout in her own magical, childlike way.
View on Amazon
FREE
October 16, 2015
My French Life
Woke up early to empty almost dead hoover and ensure it still worked. Today is cleaning day chez moi. I have help. Together, Aline and I move like Jagger might if he knew about spray wax and limescale remover. In French.
My jobs are bathrooms and toilets (under all rims), on the basis that I wouldn't want to clean anybody else's, so why should I ask Aline to clean mine. My sister says I shouldn't pay a cleaner and then clean myself. We ain't going to agree on this one.
So, with blue sky, sunshine and military jets zooming by outside, we turned up the volume and danced through the housework.
All fairly routine by now. Won't bore you with it. No events to report.
The nice part came at 12.30 when Al (my husband) swept me off my feet with a lunchtime proposition. We popped next door to eat at our local restaurant. Tuna salad followed by cod with leeks and mushrooms, followed by a café gourmand.
I couldn't manage all mine due to the fact that I've lost ten kilos and my stomach is now the size of an apple. Al, my husband, was delighted to 'share'.
Back to work on my latest novel, which is in its umpteenth draft. I'm approaching 'the trial', which (after hours of research) needs to be re-written because Al says the verdict is unreasonable. He's right. I have my laptop, my notes and annotations, and two hours to spare before I have to be somewhere else. Hence my sudden interest in writing a blog post. I shall soon be making tea, putting on the washing and nipping to the post office.
Thought you'd like to see my logs.
Happy Days
My jobs are bathrooms and toilets (under all rims), on the basis that I wouldn't want to clean anybody else's, so why should I ask Aline to clean mine. My sister says I shouldn't pay a cleaner and then clean myself. We ain't going to agree on this one.
So, with blue sky, sunshine and military jets zooming by outside, we turned up the volume and danced through the housework.
All fairly routine by now. Won't bore you with it. No events to report.
The nice part came at 12.30 when Al (my husband) swept me off my feet with a lunchtime proposition. We popped next door to eat at our local restaurant. Tuna salad followed by cod with leeks and mushrooms, followed by a café gourmand.
I couldn't manage all mine due to the fact that I've lost ten kilos and my stomach is now the size of an apple. Al, my husband, was delighted to 'share'.
Back to work on my latest novel, which is in its umpteenth draft. I'm approaching 'the trial', which (after hours of research) needs to be re-written because Al says the verdict is unreasonable. He's right. I have my laptop, my notes and annotations, and two hours to spare before I have to be somewhere else. Hence my sudden interest in writing a blog post. I shall soon be making tea, putting on the washing and nipping to the post office.
Thought you'd like to see my logs.Happy Days
October 9, 2015
Welcome to my #FridayFiveChallenge
(Original idea from Rosie Amber at https://rosieamber.wordpress.com/)
Me, Christmas 2014, wearing a dress not made to accommodate a Christmas Dinner (random pic)
Why not try out this excellently random way of choosing your next read?
Get yourself a cuppa (or a glass of something) and give yourself 5 minutes. (Use your own pic or copy mine or anything else like a clock/ stopwatch etc)In today's online shopping age, readers often base their buying decisions from small postage stamp size book covers (Thumb-nails), a quick glance at the book description and the review. How much time do they really spend making that buying decision?AUTHORS - You often only have seconds to get a reader to buy your book, is your book cover and book bio up to it?My Friday Five Challenge is this..... IN ONLY FIVE MINUTES....1) Go to any online book supplier,2) Randomly choose a category,3) Speed through the book covers, choose one which has instantly appealed to your eye,4) Read the book Bio/ Description for this book,5) If there are reviews, check out a couple,6) Make an instant decision, would you BUY or PASS?(then write a little analysis about your decision)
Here's my selection for this Friday: Extinct by Ike Hamill
View on Amazon
Product description
Channel Two predicted a blanket of snow for Thanksgiving weekend--unusual, but not alarming for the little Maine island. What comes is a blinding blizzard, and a mass disappearance of nearly every person Robby Pierce knows. He and his family flee, trying to escape the snow and the invisible forces stealing people right from the street.
*** Join the mailing list at http://www.ikehamill.com to receive Ike's next book free. ***
Miles away, Brad Jenkins battles the same storm. Alone, he attempts to survive as snow envelops his house. When the storm breaks, Brad makes his way south to where the snow ends and the world lies empty. Join Brad, Robby, and the other survivors as they fight to find the truth about the apocalypse and discover how to live in their new world.
I stuck in 'science fiction'. Because I like science fiction. Not very original, but this is my first attempt at the Friday Five Challenge, so I'm playing safe.
The cover was simple and I liked the cheesy 3D effect coupled with cheesy footprints in the snow. Makes me equally cheesy, I suppose.
The product description - not bad. I like a disaster as much as the next person. Not too sure about the alien abduction slant... Don't know whether I want to sign up to a mailing list. But - hang on a minute, it's free at the moment.
Reviews look good 4.2 with 44. Seems as though more editing is required (from readers' comments). That's a shame. But, if the story's as good as it sounds, I'll put up with a few typos.
My verdict for this one: BUY (Who knows - Mr. Hamill might turn out to be a favourite.)
PS This took more like fifteen minutes - I'll be quicker next time.
September 30, 2015
"This clever story twists and turns...
...moving from Greece to London and back again, and is full of surprises.The wonderfully well drawn character of Joyce Shackleton will make you gasp. I became completely absorbed in the plot and couldn't put the book down." Amazon reviewer
I'm offering 'A Good Day for Jumping' at the very popular price of 99p until 5th October. For my American readers it's just 99c.
.
I lived on the island of Crete for two years and this is the setting for a drama that plays out between millionaire Steve Firth (born Stephano) and the people he comes into contact with along the way. He may be rich and handsome, but he has a lot to learn about the human condition and, indeed, his behaviour is morally reprehensible to most people. However, he is still susceptible to integrity, if it hits him between the eyes. When he comes into contact with Roula, he finds himself fascinated by her. She is poor but ambitious, and willing to sacrifice her dreams for her family.
Steven Firth has a tangled history. His mother is Greek and his father an advertising tycoon. The love of his life, May, cannot hold him. Fast cars and fast women have always been easy options. Crass, and resolutely egocentric, he may trample on the very people who can help him in his subconscious quest for genuine emotional attachment.
Click on one of these links to look inside and read how Steven Firth's story begins:UK http://tinyurl.com/cl3eex3 US http://tinyurl.com/cnf4fyt
I'm offering 'A Good Day for Jumping' at the very popular price of 99p until 5th October. For my American readers it's just 99c.
.
I lived on the island of Crete for two years and this is the setting for a drama that plays out between millionaire Steve Firth (born Stephano) and the people he comes into contact with along the way. He may be rich and handsome, but he has a lot to learn about the human condition and, indeed, his behaviour is morally reprehensible to most people. However, he is still susceptible to integrity, if it hits him between the eyes. When he comes into contact with Roula, he finds himself fascinated by her. She is poor but ambitious, and willing to sacrifice her dreams for her family.
Steven Firth has a tangled history. His mother is Greek and his father an advertising tycoon. The love of his life, May, cannot hold him. Fast cars and fast women have always been easy options. Crass, and resolutely egocentric, he may trample on the very people who can help him in his subconscious quest for genuine emotional attachment.
Click on one of these links to look inside and read how Steven Firth's story begins:UK http://tinyurl.com/cl3eex3 US http://tinyurl.com/cnf4fyt
September 25, 2015
'One of those books you don't want to turn the light out for...' Amazon reviewer
Just to let you know that 'My Grandfather's Eyes' is on sale at 99p until 29th September. If you like intense psychological drama, you might enjoy Alex Crane's story. Click on the link and you'll be able to read the first chapters free on Amazon.
http://bookgoodies.com/a/B009B7W10U
http://bookgoodies.com/a/B009B7W10U
September 15, 2015
Review: The Experimental Notebook of C. S. Boyack
This is a most intriguing collection. Reminiscent of Poe’s ‘Tales of Mystery and Imagination’ with a hint of Asimov. The genres range between science fiction, fantasy and paranormal. They are dark for the most part, which I like, but each story is highly individual. There are robots, ghosts, and a fearless little girl who lives near a forest making cabbage soup when she’s not ridding the village of monsters ('The Soup Ladle of Destiny' is my personal favourite, and the funniest of the stories). All the stories have a twist. Mostly these are unexpected – although you do catch the mindset of the author after reading a few. This didn’t spoil my enjoyment of the stories, though. It just made me wonder what was coming up.
In the middle of the collection, the author includes an ‘intermission’, where he addresses the reader in person. I must admit that this is the first time I’ve come across such an approach. But C. S. Boyack (Craig – if you visit his Amazon Author Page) has an engaging style, and I find the personal touch here adds to my enjoyment of the stories. It made me click on his author page!
There is an excerpt from one of his YA novels (Will O’ the Wisp) at the end of the collection. I read this too. Another charismatic set of characters and a glimpse of an intriguing plot.
I recommend this author. He’s a real spinner of yarns.
View on Amazon
In the middle of the collection, the author includes an ‘intermission’, where he addresses the reader in person. I must admit that this is the first time I’ve come across such an approach. But C. S. Boyack (Craig – if you visit his Amazon Author Page) has an engaging style, and I find the personal touch here adds to my enjoyment of the stories. It made me click on his author page!
There is an excerpt from one of his YA novels (Will O’ the Wisp) at the end of the collection. I read this too. Another charismatic set of characters and a glimpse of an intriguing plot.
I recommend this author. He’s a real spinner of yarns.
View on Amazon
September 13, 2015
Try before you buy?
Speaking as an author who wants above all to be READ, I often wonder how to reach readers. Writing has become an essential part of my life over the past six years. I do it because I want to. I actually miss it when real life gets in the way too much. Right now I should be over at my sister's house moving rubble - she's renovating a house and garden.
Trouble is, when I get an idea in my head, it's difficult to ignore it. This morning in the shower the final chapters of my recently completed third draft (working title: What I Did Not Say) were re-working themselves. When that happens I know I'm in for a partial re-write. This one has been twisting and turning for the last twelve months or so. But it's a good thing, isn't it? Publishing is not an option until I lay the plot to rest. The November deadline has just blown itself out of the water. But that matters not a jot in the scale of things.
In the meantime, I'm experimenting with how to let readers know about my books and, if they like my style of writing, how they can download more at the click of a button. I'm no technophobe, but I don't want to spend all day on links and advertising. What's more, I just realised that the links to my books that I put in the front matter won't be seen by kindle readers. When they start reading, Amazon takes them straight to chapter one, missing out any author's note or other added information. So, that's another job for another day.
Anyway, I'm getting to something...
'Try before you buy' is my latest attempt to engage readers and hopefully entice them to part with a small amount of cash if they like my writing. It might buy me a new hat for the winter. Or it might be spent on a cake for my neighbour. The important thing is that somebody has enjoyed my free short story enough to pay for more. That makes me feel good!
So, this week I'm offering 'Angels' - a short story about a mother's revenge. I hope you like it. If you do, I've put together a collection. Just follow the links. Easy.
FREE: View on Amazon
£1.99: View on Amazon
Thanks for looking!
Trouble is, when I get an idea in my head, it's difficult to ignore it. This morning in the shower the final chapters of my recently completed third draft (working title: What I Did Not Say) were re-working themselves. When that happens I know I'm in for a partial re-write. This one has been twisting and turning for the last twelve months or so. But it's a good thing, isn't it? Publishing is not an option until I lay the plot to rest. The November deadline has just blown itself out of the water. But that matters not a jot in the scale of things.
In the meantime, I'm experimenting with how to let readers know about my books and, if they like my style of writing, how they can download more at the click of a button. I'm no technophobe, but I don't want to spend all day on links and advertising. What's more, I just realised that the links to my books that I put in the front matter won't be seen by kindle readers. When they start reading, Amazon takes them straight to chapter one, missing out any author's note or other added information. So, that's another job for another day.
Anyway, I'm getting to something...
'Try before you buy' is my latest attempt to engage readers and hopefully entice them to part with a small amount of cash if they like my writing. It might buy me a new hat for the winter. Or it might be spent on a cake for my neighbour. The important thing is that somebody has enjoyed my free short story enough to pay for more. That makes me feel good!
So, this week I'm offering 'Angels' - a short story about a mother's revenge. I hope you like it. If you do, I've put together a collection. Just follow the links. Easy.
FREE: View on Amazon
£1.99: View on Amazon
Thanks for looking!
September 8, 2015
Everyone likes a Whodunnit! In a small English...
Everyone likes a Whodunnit!
In a small English town, a girl is found murdered in the park. And she's not the first. There has been a spate of unusual killings and Chief Inspector Hanson is not used to such high drama. With the help of his able young colleague, Detective Simmonds, he sets out to track down a criminal who must be stopped before someone else is harmed. Hanson is particularly touched by the latest murder - a bright young local girl. He needs a break. There must be something he's missing. Simmonds finds a lead and Hanson begins to follow a trail that may well lead him to the killer. Hanson's Hunch. Where will it take him?
Free until Friday 11th September.
View on Amazon UK
Reviews welcome!
In a small English town, a girl is found murdered in the park. And she's not the first. There has been a spate of unusual killings and Chief Inspector Hanson is not used to such high drama. With the help of his able young colleague, Detective Simmonds, he sets out to track down a criminal who must be stopped before someone else is harmed. Hanson is particularly touched by the latest murder - a bright young local girl. He needs a break. There must be something he's missing. Simmonds finds a lead and Hanson begins to follow a trail that may well lead him to the killer. Hanson's Hunch. Where will it take him?
Free until Friday 11th September.
View on Amazon UK
Reviews welcome!
