Martyn Stanley's Blog, page 6
July 25, 2014
Progress!
I'm still battling to finish book 3 before my hols! It's proving a monster book. I think it'll be worth it though, I'm pretty sure it's my best book yet.
I did an interview for Inge on her bookshelf reflections blog - be sure to check it out!
http://bookshelfreflections.com/2014/...
I also have my ingram spark print proofs on order! If they look good I'll try to set them as available to distribution channels before I set off on holiday? If you see them in a bookshop - don't forget to move them to a prominent spot with the gorgeous covers showing! :)
I did an interview for Inge on her bookshelf reflections blog - be sure to check it out!
http://bookshelfreflections.com/2014/...
I also have my ingram spark print proofs on order! If they look good I'll try to set them as available to distribution channels before I set off on holiday? If you see them in a bookshop - don't forget to move them to a prominent spot with the gorgeous covers showing! :)
July 10, 2014
New Blurbs! I need your opinion!
After the lengthy debate on Kboards, I've tried to inject some salesmanship and intrigue into my blurbs!
Please, please - tell me what you think of these, are they more exciting and enticing than the old ones? A common criticism was that I told the reader 'too much' before.
Let me know your thoughts!
Book 1:-
Imperial Wizard Saul Karza has a problem.
He has to kill an invulnerable dragon and he's left his army at home.
There's only one thing that will turn his fatal failure into survivable success - The Last Dragon Slayer.
~
Saul Karza, wizard of the Empire, has been given a quest by the Empress herself: To find and slay a mythical 'noble dragon'; said to be near invulnerable. Instead of leading a large band of soldiers, archers and spell-casters, he sets out with two immigrant dock-workers and a homeless dwarf. What Saul needs is the legendary 'Last Dragon Slayer' on his side, because on this deadly quest it's not only Saul's favour with the Empress that's at stake - but also his life.
Book 2:-
Imperial Wizard Saul Karza has stared death in the face.
Instead of an easy ride home to claim his reward, he finds himself fleeing a fanatical dragon cult and a horde of vile creatures - determined to devour his entire party.
Just when things couldn't get any worse, he is faced with the even greater horror, of Brael Truthseeker's enigmatic 'Truth'.
~
Battle-worn and weary, Saul and the survivors of the dragon encounter must travel south to collect their reward. When the fanatical dragon cult appears, desperate for revenge - Saul's party is forced to flee into a network of abandoned dwarfish tunnels. Deep beneath the surface, they face the horror of the Verkreath and of Brael's 'Truth'. Even if they survive, their lives will be changed forever.
Book 3:-
Imperial Wizard Saul Karza has dragged himself through hell.
Instead of falling into the Empress's arms, re-kindling their relationship - he finds she has regained her lost youth, leaving him old and frail.
His strong position at court is at risk, as thanks to Brael's 'Truth', he is forced to make a stand against the tyranny of the church. Even if he can maintain his position he risks losing more than one companion, to the brutal, 'Blood Trials'.
Reeling from the bloody battles with the verkreath, Saul and his companions are finally on their way to Cormaroth - prize in hand. Celebrations will be cut short though, when Brael's 'Truth' brings them into confrontation with the church. Saul's difficulties do not end there - forced to watch his companions compete in the sadistic, 'Blood Trials'.
Please, please - tell me what you think of these, are they more exciting and enticing than the old ones? A common criticism was that I told the reader 'too much' before.
Let me know your thoughts!
Book 1:-
Imperial Wizard Saul Karza has a problem.
He has to kill an invulnerable dragon and he's left his army at home.
There's only one thing that will turn his fatal failure into survivable success - The Last Dragon Slayer.
~
Saul Karza, wizard of the Empire, has been given a quest by the Empress herself: To find and slay a mythical 'noble dragon'; said to be near invulnerable. Instead of leading a large band of soldiers, archers and spell-casters, he sets out with two immigrant dock-workers and a homeless dwarf. What Saul needs is the legendary 'Last Dragon Slayer' on his side, because on this deadly quest it's not only Saul's favour with the Empress that's at stake - but also his life.
Book 2:-
Imperial Wizard Saul Karza has stared death in the face.
Instead of an easy ride home to claim his reward, he finds himself fleeing a fanatical dragon cult and a horde of vile creatures - determined to devour his entire party.
Just when things couldn't get any worse, he is faced with the even greater horror, of Brael Truthseeker's enigmatic 'Truth'.
~
Battle-worn and weary, Saul and the survivors of the dragon encounter must travel south to collect their reward. When the fanatical dragon cult appears, desperate for revenge - Saul's party is forced to flee into a network of abandoned dwarfish tunnels. Deep beneath the surface, they face the horror of the Verkreath and of Brael's 'Truth'. Even if they survive, their lives will be changed forever.
Book 3:-
Imperial Wizard Saul Karza has dragged himself through hell.
Instead of falling into the Empress's arms, re-kindling their relationship - he finds she has regained her lost youth, leaving him old and frail.
His strong position at court is at risk, as thanks to Brael's 'Truth', he is forced to make a stand against the tyranny of the church. Even if he can maintain his position he risks losing more than one companion, to the brutal, 'Blood Trials'.
Reeling from the bloody battles with the verkreath, Saul and his companions are finally on their way to Cormaroth - prize in hand. Celebrations will be cut short though, when Brael's 'Truth' brings them into confrontation with the church. Saul's difficulties do not end there - forced to watch his companions compete in the sadistic, 'Blood Trials'.
Throwing in the towel.
I almost feel like throwing in the towel this morning. I had a lengthy debate over at Kboards regarding how a best-selling, chart-topping book was performing so much better than mine.
http://www.kboards.com/index.php/topi...
Now I asked for this. It's entirely my own fault, but it's left me in the crap a bit. I was ploughing ahead trying to get my IGS imprints sorted - but I can't! They aren't ready.
The covers might be okay, but the blurb is just - wrong. I need to re-jig the content too. I think the characters need to be shuffled to the back and the other crap at the front needs to join it.
I need to reflect a bit i think. I have a better idea of what a blurb is and how to write one, but it's tricky because I don't think I have a main, main character. I can only see Saul as the main character because it's HIS quest. Yet he takes something of a back-seat for most of the first book.
I wish I could see a way forward. I've convinced the stories are good - on balance the few who do read them seem to really enjoy them!
Yes, I'm a bit frustrated right now...
http://www.kboards.com/index.php/topi...
Now I asked for this. It's entirely my own fault, but it's left me in the crap a bit. I was ploughing ahead trying to get my IGS imprints sorted - but I can't! They aren't ready.
The covers might be okay, but the blurb is just - wrong. I need to re-jig the content too. I think the characters need to be shuffled to the back and the other crap at the front needs to join it.
I need to reflect a bit i think. I have a better idea of what a blurb is and how to write one, but it's tricky because I don't think I have a main, main character. I can only see Saul as the main character because it's HIS quest. Yet he takes something of a back-seat for most of the first book.
I wish I could see a way forward. I've convinced the stories are good - on balance the few who do read them seem to really enjoy them!
Yes, I'm a bit frustrated right now...
June 19, 2014
Blurb for book 3!
This is a special request to anyone who has read books 1 and 2 of the Deathsworn Arc!
What do you think of this current blurb for book 3? Is it enticing? Exciting? Does it make you want to read on?:-
After fleeing the horrors of the Warren and Beren’Gedt Holt, the companions travel south to Cormaroth. Their hopes of finding sanctuary in the capitol are proven to be false. The Empress has re-opened the brutal 'Blood Trials' - a vicious arena fight between two brashers. When the thuggish champion issues a challenge, the companions find one of their group committed to enter the bowl. The blood trial however is the least of the companions worries. It becomes clear that at least one of the companions is marked for assassination.
When two girls are condemned to be burned at the stake for having intimacy, the companions decide to take on the religious establishment, be concocting a daring rescue, which may not succeed.
Dark secrets, a contest with an old adversary, and the revelation that a mysterious mind is inhabiting the sword Harbinger. All, in 'The Blood Queen'.
Finally warming to her companions, Vashni begins to reveal some of her long and checkered, centuries spanning history
What do you think of this current blurb for book 3? Is it enticing? Exciting? Does it make you want to read on?:-
After fleeing the horrors of the Warren and Beren’Gedt Holt, the companions travel south to Cormaroth. Their hopes of finding sanctuary in the capitol are proven to be false. The Empress has re-opened the brutal 'Blood Trials' - a vicious arena fight between two brashers. When the thuggish champion issues a challenge, the companions find one of their group committed to enter the bowl. The blood trial however is the least of the companions worries. It becomes clear that at least one of the companions is marked for assassination.
When two girls are condemned to be burned at the stake for having intimacy, the companions decide to take on the religious establishment, be concocting a daring rescue, which may not succeed.
Dark secrets, a contest with an old adversary, and the revelation that a mysterious mind is inhabiting the sword Harbinger. All, in 'The Blood Queen'.
Finally warming to her companions, Vashni begins to reveal some of her long and checkered, centuries spanning history
A Cure for Sick Bugs
I've still been feeling a bit queasy for the last couple of days. I've also been scrubbing up sick off carpets and bathing children covered in sick - not much reading or writing I'm afraid.
The scientist in me will not die however and I came up with an interesting hypothesis last night. My stomach still fills pretty off, it was worse last night. I dreamed up the hypothesis that although it's often said you shouldn't eat spicy food when you have an upset stomach - maybe you actually should? I mean, what if super-spicy food actually kills off a few bugs and makes you feel a bit better?
I thought this was an interesting enough hypothesis to perform a simple experiment, so for supper I had a 5 Chili rated Chicken Vindaloo with no rice, just a couple of rounds of bread. I finished the entire curry, scraping the dregs out with bread and thoroughly enjoyed it! this morning? I feel great! I don't feel 'better' better, but certainly better than I was last night.
Before I can write a paper on this I could do with some more results, so if you have stomach bug, please, please - HAVE A VINDALOO FOR SUPPER! Then post the results of your experiment in the comments below. If enough people tried this and it proved to work reliably it could make it onto NHS Direct, GP's could start prescribing a Jalfrezi for a mild stomach bug, a Madras for slightly worse one and a Vindaloo for a really bad stomach bug? Maybe they could come up with some REALLY firey ones, prescription strength currys, not available over the counter?
I think it would be awesomeness incarnate to walk into the pharmacist for a prescription strength curry! :)
You never know, a few piping hot curries and I might be fit to start editing Deathsworn Arc 3 : The Blood Queen again and writing Deathsworn Arc 4 : The Temple of the Mad God again. I sent out a few agent inquiries last night, I think when book three comes out - I'm going to increase the availability of paperbacks, with or without a publisher. I just can't wait to get book 3 finished! I know a few people are waiting for it, and I've been promising it for months, but sorting out books 1 and 2 has slowed me down. Yes it's late, but I promise it will be good!
Martyn
The scientist in me will not die however and I came up with an interesting hypothesis last night. My stomach still fills pretty off, it was worse last night. I dreamed up the hypothesis that although it's often said you shouldn't eat spicy food when you have an upset stomach - maybe you actually should? I mean, what if super-spicy food actually kills off a few bugs and makes you feel a bit better?
I thought this was an interesting enough hypothesis to perform a simple experiment, so for supper I had a 5 Chili rated Chicken Vindaloo with no rice, just a couple of rounds of bread. I finished the entire curry, scraping the dregs out with bread and thoroughly enjoyed it! this morning? I feel great! I don't feel 'better' better, but certainly better than I was last night.
Before I can write a paper on this I could do with some more results, so if you have stomach bug, please, please - HAVE A VINDALOO FOR SUPPER! Then post the results of your experiment in the comments below. If enough people tried this and it proved to work reliably it could make it onto NHS Direct, GP's could start prescribing a Jalfrezi for a mild stomach bug, a Madras for slightly worse one and a Vindaloo for a really bad stomach bug? Maybe they could come up with some REALLY firey ones, prescription strength currys, not available over the counter?
I think it would be awesomeness incarnate to walk into the pharmacist for a prescription strength curry! :)
You never know, a few piping hot curries and I might be fit to start editing Deathsworn Arc 3 : The Blood Queen again and writing Deathsworn Arc 4 : The Temple of the Mad God again. I sent out a few agent inquiries last night, I think when book three comes out - I'm going to increase the availability of paperbacks, with or without a publisher. I just can't wait to get book 3 finished! I know a few people are waiting for it, and I've been promising it for months, but sorting out books 1 and 2 has slowed me down. Yes it's late, but I promise it will be good!
Martyn
June 17, 2014
New Reviews and a reflection on feeling rotten.
I've been very, VERY ill for the last two days. I spent most of yesterday asleep, or desperately wanting to feel better. Doing simple tasks, like fetching a glass of water, or changing a toddler's nappy seemed like gargantuan, painfully difficult tasks.
Even getting up after lying down to go for a pee seemed like too much effort for how I felt. I couldn't even think about my stories - didn't write a thing, didn't edit a thing - progress = zero.
Now this got me thinking, in all the fantasy stories I've read, the heroes never got a sick bug. I know this sounds a benign and silly topic - but what if just prior to a big battle the hero starts throwing up and feeling giddy? I can't get the idea out of my head now - I don't know where to work it in or how it will work, but I think I want to explore it. It even leads me on to the thought - what if the heroes are thrown into battle, with massive hang-overs or while they're blind drunk having spent the night in an alehouse drinking?
Haha! I feel sorry for my characters, I'm so mean to them!
I'm also proper chuffed about the last two reviews I got for Deathsworn Arc 2 : The Verkreath Horror.
One from Tiffany :-
And one from Ionia:-
I was a bit nervous about the one star review I had the other day for the same book. It just goes to show, what I've always believed - if you want anyone to love it - be prepared for some to hate it.
It's a dark book, it's a gritty book. The thing is, the hell the companions go through in book 2 really pulls them together. In book 1 they were a bunch of strangers, getting to know each other and being a bit nervous. The truth is Vashni behaves the way she does in book 1 because she's... Hmmmm, she's kind of a loner - something of a misfit. She doesn't fit in well with most Toreans because she's an elf, but she doesn't fit in well with elves because she's spent so much time around Torea.
I think this can happen in our world, when immigrants struggle to find their place both in their old communities and in their new ones. They describe some ex-pats who spend a lot of time in America as 'Mid-Atlantic' and I think this is the same sort of thing. The Film East meets west covered this well too I think.
When she suggests Brael disappears with her - it's a genuine offer. She sees him at that point as the one she's most likely to be able to form something of a companionship with.
By the time they get to Cormaroth the companions are much closer and her defences drop a little - though she still maintains her lofty opinion of her abilities, sometimes expecting to succeed with confidence, bust still failing.
When you read book 3 you might be surprised who Vashni seems to enjoy the most companionship with. There are a lot of big reveals for Vashni, her age is finally revealed in book 3, some of her past is revealed. One of the interesting points that is revealed is exactly why she was present in Trest, attired as an assassin when the companions first encountered her.
I wish I could reveal more. The story is finally beginning to get going. I'm still intending to introduce the main villain in book 4 and I'm still intending to uphold my policy of killing off one character per book (Don't worry, it won't always be a main one ;) )
Even getting up after lying down to go for a pee seemed like too much effort for how I felt. I couldn't even think about my stories - didn't write a thing, didn't edit a thing - progress = zero.
Now this got me thinking, in all the fantasy stories I've read, the heroes never got a sick bug. I know this sounds a benign and silly topic - but what if just prior to a big battle the hero starts throwing up and feeling giddy? I can't get the idea out of my head now - I don't know where to work it in or how it will work, but I think I want to explore it. It even leads me on to the thought - what if the heroes are thrown into battle, with massive hang-overs or while they're blind drunk having spent the night in an alehouse drinking?
Haha! I feel sorry for my characters, I'm so mean to them!
I'm also proper chuffed about the last two reviews I got for Deathsworn Arc 2 : The Verkreath Horror.
One from Tiffany :-
And one from Ionia:-
I was a bit nervous about the one star review I had the other day for the same book. It just goes to show, what I've always believed - if you want anyone to love it - be prepared for some to hate it.
It's a dark book, it's a gritty book. The thing is, the hell the companions go through in book 2 really pulls them together. In book 1 they were a bunch of strangers, getting to know each other and being a bit nervous. The truth is Vashni behaves the way she does in book 1 because she's... Hmmmm, she's kind of a loner - something of a misfit. She doesn't fit in well with most Toreans because she's an elf, but she doesn't fit in well with elves because she's spent so much time around Torea.
I think this can happen in our world, when immigrants struggle to find their place both in their old communities and in their new ones. They describe some ex-pats who spend a lot of time in America as 'Mid-Atlantic' and I think this is the same sort of thing. The Film East meets west covered this well too I think.
When she suggests Brael disappears with her - it's a genuine offer. She sees him at that point as the one she's most likely to be able to form something of a companionship with.
By the time they get to Cormaroth the companions are much closer and her defences drop a little - though she still maintains her lofty opinion of her abilities, sometimes expecting to succeed with confidence, bust still failing.
When you read book 3 you might be surprised who Vashni seems to enjoy the most companionship with. There are a lot of big reveals for Vashni, her age is finally revealed in book 3, some of her past is revealed. One of the interesting points that is revealed is exactly why she was present in Trest, attired as an assassin when the companions first encountered her.
I wish I could reveal more. The story is finally beginning to get going. I'm still intending to introduce the main villain in book 4 and I'm still intending to uphold my policy of killing off one character per book (Don't worry, it won't always be a main one ;) )
June 12, 2014
The Deathsworn Arc Divides Opinion
I was a little saddened today after having received a fairly cutting review of both of my Deathsworn Arc books currently available.
A 'Michelle' reviewed book 1 here:-
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
And book 2 here:-
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Her review of book 1 reads as follows:-
"As conventional as fantasy gets but not unenjoyable. The tropes are familiar but not grating. There is a thing or two that is unique enough and the relationships feel surprisingly candid. Not sorry I spent the time to read it but won't be memorable."
I can't really complain about this. The points of interest in book 1 are:-
1. Brael's 'Truth'
2. Vashni and Korhan's interactions
3. The Heartstones
Yes, there's a bit of moral philosophy, some world-building and some explanation of magic and 'whispering'. I don't really see any of these things as strikingly unique but that wasn't my intention. I really wanted to establish the characters as a group of strangers thrown together, getting to know each other as the quest unfolds. I also wanted to establish the characters as having a pragmatic approach to life and morality - though from different angles.
I suppose, I could say this review is indicative of how I see 'The Deathsworn Arc' I see 'The Last Dragon Slayer' as the tip of the iceberg, just bobbing visibly above the water. The meat of the thing is still largely in my head and somewhat hidden. It's only really in books 2, 3 and 4 that you start to peer beneath the waves and see the shape of the thing.
This brings me to Michelle's review of book 2:-
"Misery. Layers and layers of misery. The team moves from one horror to another all the while losing their religion. I hated this book and am sorry to have spent the time to read it."
This is pretty cutting, I can't feel too bad about this though, because this is precisely what I was aiming for in book 2. It's a dark book, there's a great deal more danger and peril in 'The Verkreath Horror'. The loss of faith is important. It's made more poignant by the horrors the companions face in the warren. Despite the groups losses in book 1, they emerged triumphant and perhaps feeling a little invincible. They are not, they are all extraordinary warriors, but they are vulnerable. I needed to portray this in book 2, to increase the impact of 'The Truth' Michelle hated it, but it's a book which is supposed to be a rocky ride. I suppose I'm even trying to evoke some sympathy for the companions in the reader. They don't have a great time. Even at the end, the future looks grimmer than it would otherwise have, given the revelation of 'The Truth'.
I hate to say it but Michelle has understood the book fully and has captured the spirit of the book very well. It's powerful, it's a strong book - but it's not a fluffy fairies, happy land tale.
So where does the story go in book 3? Do things get better for the companions?
Maybe, maybe a bit. None of them easily comes to term with 'The Truth' they perhaps don't entirely believe it. When they eventually make it to Cormaroth, they have a new companion, who reinforces their belief in the 'The Truth'. The religious establishment in Cormaroth - the Isharian church will obviously NOT like 'The Truth' and will seek to suppress it. Korhan and Vashni's relationship will develop, Vashni's, Votrex's, and Saul's pasts will be explained more thoroughly. A theme which begins to come into play is the theme of religious oppression and the evil that men will do in the name of religion.
So how does this stand? Who is not going to like the series? If you are a devout, fundamentalist Christian or Jihadist, Extremist Muslim, or Scientologist or Hard-line Jew, you are not going to enjoy Deathsworn Arc. I am being honest here, I didn't write the books to offend you, but I didn't write them for your enjoyment. I write them for free-thinkers, skeptics, agnostics, people with an interest in theology as a phenomenon, rather than as a fact and a way of life.
Torea is NOT our world. Yes, the Isharian Church, the Savti, Orion, Avanti, Lucian the Deceiver and the dwarfish god Etheron have their parallels in our world. Yes the people of Torea would like to take their seat in Kirkfell after death, and fear Avanti and the spectres of the abyss. But Torea is Torea and Earth is Earth. I am interested in religion, but I'm atheist, I'm atheist through and through. If I was shown convincing, repeatable, observable and measurable evidence that there was a god, I might choose to believe. As a rational person I find the web of religions and gods throughout human history to be perplexing - how can any person decide their religion is the true one religion? And all the others are made up?
Why would a supreme being capable of creating reality itself, be really interested in how a bunch of hair-less, semi-aquatic apes on one tiny planet, in one tiny solar system, of one tiny galaxy in possibly a multitude of universes spend their time?
I can't rationalize it, anyway I look at it, creationism in any religion makes no sense at all. If you are creationist, I invite you give 'The Deathsworn Arc' a miss, because you won't enjoy it.
A 'Michelle' reviewed book 1 here:-
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
And book 2 here:-
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Her review of book 1 reads as follows:-
"As conventional as fantasy gets but not unenjoyable. The tropes are familiar but not grating. There is a thing or two that is unique enough and the relationships feel surprisingly candid. Not sorry I spent the time to read it but won't be memorable."
I can't really complain about this. The points of interest in book 1 are:-
1. Brael's 'Truth'
2. Vashni and Korhan's interactions
3. The Heartstones
Yes, there's a bit of moral philosophy, some world-building and some explanation of magic and 'whispering'. I don't really see any of these things as strikingly unique but that wasn't my intention. I really wanted to establish the characters as a group of strangers thrown together, getting to know each other as the quest unfolds. I also wanted to establish the characters as having a pragmatic approach to life and morality - though from different angles.
I suppose, I could say this review is indicative of how I see 'The Deathsworn Arc' I see 'The Last Dragon Slayer' as the tip of the iceberg, just bobbing visibly above the water. The meat of the thing is still largely in my head and somewhat hidden. It's only really in books 2, 3 and 4 that you start to peer beneath the waves and see the shape of the thing.
This brings me to Michelle's review of book 2:-
"Misery. Layers and layers of misery. The team moves from one horror to another all the while losing their religion. I hated this book and am sorry to have spent the time to read it."
This is pretty cutting, I can't feel too bad about this though, because this is precisely what I was aiming for in book 2. It's a dark book, there's a great deal more danger and peril in 'The Verkreath Horror'. The loss of faith is important. It's made more poignant by the horrors the companions face in the warren. Despite the groups losses in book 1, they emerged triumphant and perhaps feeling a little invincible. They are not, they are all extraordinary warriors, but they are vulnerable. I needed to portray this in book 2, to increase the impact of 'The Truth' Michelle hated it, but it's a book which is supposed to be a rocky ride. I suppose I'm even trying to evoke some sympathy for the companions in the reader. They don't have a great time. Even at the end, the future looks grimmer than it would otherwise have, given the revelation of 'The Truth'.
I hate to say it but Michelle has understood the book fully and has captured the spirit of the book very well. It's powerful, it's a strong book - but it's not a fluffy fairies, happy land tale.
So where does the story go in book 3? Do things get better for the companions?
Maybe, maybe a bit. None of them easily comes to term with 'The Truth' they perhaps don't entirely believe it. When they eventually make it to Cormaroth, they have a new companion, who reinforces their belief in the 'The Truth'. The religious establishment in Cormaroth - the Isharian church will obviously NOT like 'The Truth' and will seek to suppress it. Korhan and Vashni's relationship will develop, Vashni's, Votrex's, and Saul's pasts will be explained more thoroughly. A theme which begins to come into play is the theme of religious oppression and the evil that men will do in the name of religion.
So how does this stand? Who is not going to like the series? If you are a devout, fundamentalist Christian or Jihadist, Extremist Muslim, or Scientologist or Hard-line Jew, you are not going to enjoy Deathsworn Arc. I am being honest here, I didn't write the books to offend you, but I didn't write them for your enjoyment. I write them for free-thinkers, skeptics, agnostics, people with an interest in theology as a phenomenon, rather than as a fact and a way of life.
Torea is NOT our world. Yes, the Isharian Church, the Savti, Orion, Avanti, Lucian the Deceiver and the dwarfish god Etheron have their parallels in our world. Yes the people of Torea would like to take their seat in Kirkfell after death, and fear Avanti and the spectres of the abyss. But Torea is Torea and Earth is Earth. I am interested in religion, but I'm atheist, I'm atheist through and through. If I was shown convincing, repeatable, observable and measurable evidence that there was a god, I might choose to believe. As a rational person I find the web of religions and gods throughout human history to be perplexing - how can any person decide their religion is the true one religion? And all the others are made up?
Why would a supreme being capable of creating reality itself, be really interested in how a bunch of hair-less, semi-aquatic apes on one tiny planet, in one tiny solar system, of one tiny galaxy in possibly a multitude of universes spend their time?
I can't rationalize it, anyway I look at it, creationism in any religion makes no sense at all. If you are creationist, I invite you give 'The Deathsworn Arc' a miss, because you won't enjoy it.
June 11, 2014
Back to the Past!
I enjoyed my birthday yesterday. Yes, it was the usual routine of running around working, frantically toddler-herding and being complained at for, well, being me! However I could savor the thought that though times are tough at the moment, I'm a year closer to my nursing home, catheter and colostomy bag.
Make sure you treat your children well, give them all you can give them and teach them to be compassionate to others - after all, one day they will be the ones choosing your care home.
I had a bit of a blast to the past with a small retro gift my wife gave me - a Rubix cube!
I spent several hours tinkering with it. It's a fiendishly difficult puzzle to solve, but fascinating in how it works. If you get one, have a go - but don't spend too long, the creator spent months working out how to solve it, I imagine I'd do the same. I cheated and looked for tips on line.
I managed to solve it - but I will not be able to again, without help. I don't have aspirations of being a 'cuber' at the moment, but twisting and rolling those little cubes in your hands is cathartic and absorbing - if you ever want an interesting distraction - get one!
Make sure you treat your children well, give them all you can give them and teach them to be compassionate to others - after all, one day they will be the ones choosing your care home.
I had a bit of a blast to the past with a small retro gift my wife gave me - a Rubix cube!
I spent several hours tinkering with it. It's a fiendishly difficult puzzle to solve, but fascinating in how it works. If you get one, have a go - but don't spend too long, the creator spent months working out how to solve it, I imagine I'd do the same. I cheated and looked for tips on line.
I managed to solve it - but I will not be able to again, without help. I don't have aspirations of being a 'cuber' at the moment, but twisting and rolling those little cubes in your hands is cathartic and absorbing - if you ever want an interesting distraction - get one!
June 10, 2014
I'm 37, I'm not old!
Always been a python fan. I've been waiting decades to use that as a blog post title!
My Birthday FB Post re-posted here:-
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My list of achievements for 36 - 37?
1. I'm still alive
2. I've still never been arrested
3. I've still never been sectioned under the mental health act 1983
4. I still haven't started drinking while at work
5. At least 800 people read Deathsworn Arc : The Last Dragon Slayer and at least 120 people have read Deathsworn Arc 2 : The Verkreath Horror across US and UK in the last 12 months - and not a single death-threat or fatwa! That's a pretty good success rate I reckon.
My continued lack of a stylish, fun-to-drive personal motorcar means I'm still considering changing my name to Car-less but at least it's cheap! I've had some great presents, which infer I need new clothes and drink a lot of alcohol - which are both pretty accurate so I can't complain! Here's to being able to provide another, great, positive birthday report in 12 months!
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I am really, really desperate to get my book 3 out now. It's so close! And Deathsworn 4 is coming along excellently!
I just wish, wish I could get my readership up. I'd like to add a zero to those figures by this time next year - but currently I haven't come up with anything like a plan for how to achieve that. Anyone who said - if you build it, they will come - was wrong. They should have said, 'If you build it, edit and polish to perfection, scream about it, promote it everywhere and do everything in your power to let people know about it, they still won't come unless you're very lucky.'
I still have a few ideas to try. I hope having book 3 out will help - I've never put out a new release with a great cover straight off the bat. I even wonder about doing a double Kindle Countdown at the point where I release book 3? good idea? My book 3 image got a lot of FB likes and raised awareness of the series.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fb...
I really wish I'd got my book 3 out earlier - but I had to re-work and perfect books 1 and 2, I'm only sorry I didn't sort them out earlier.
From now on, nothing goes out unless I'm 90% sure it's error-free and good.
Yes it's slowing down the process, but it's providing a better reader-experience and it's giving me more confidence to promote the 'Deathsworn Arc' I will take this new approach when I actually start putting out my second series - my angels and demons urban fantasy with a theistic twist.
My Birthday FB Post re-posted here:-
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My list of achievements for 36 - 37?
1. I'm still alive
2. I've still never been arrested
3. I've still never been sectioned under the mental health act 1983
4. I still haven't started drinking while at work
5. At least 800 people read Deathsworn Arc : The Last Dragon Slayer and at least 120 people have read Deathsworn Arc 2 : The Verkreath Horror across US and UK in the last 12 months - and not a single death-threat or fatwa! That's a pretty good success rate I reckon.
My continued lack of a stylish, fun-to-drive personal motorcar means I'm still considering changing my name to Car-less but at least it's cheap! I've had some great presents, which infer I need new clothes and drink a lot of alcohol - which are both pretty accurate so I can't complain! Here's to being able to provide another, great, positive birthday report in 12 months!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I am really, really desperate to get my book 3 out now. It's so close! And Deathsworn 4 is coming along excellently!
I just wish, wish I could get my readership up. I'd like to add a zero to those figures by this time next year - but currently I haven't come up with anything like a plan for how to achieve that. Anyone who said - if you build it, they will come - was wrong. They should have said, 'If you build it, edit and polish to perfection, scream about it, promote it everywhere and do everything in your power to let people know about it, they still won't come unless you're very lucky.'
I still have a few ideas to try. I hope having book 3 out will help - I've never put out a new release with a great cover straight off the bat. I even wonder about doing a double Kindle Countdown at the point where I release book 3? good idea? My book 3 image got a lot of FB likes and raised awareness of the series.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fb...
I really wish I'd got my book 3 out earlier - but I had to re-work and perfect books 1 and 2, I'm only sorry I didn't sort them out earlier.
From now on, nothing goes out unless I'm 90% sure it's error-free and good.
Yes it's slowing down the process, but it's providing a better reader-experience and it's giving me more confidence to promote the 'Deathsworn Arc' I will take this new approach when I actually start putting out my second series - my angels and demons urban fantasy with a theistic twist.
June 4, 2014
The Guardian Self Published Book of the Month
The Guardian Self Published Book of the Month competition has run for one month!
http://www.theguardian.com/books/2014...
I didn't win :(
I have had contact with the Andrew Lownie agency, I wonder if that was a factor? It's very hard to say really, how many entries were there? Was I short-listed? What was the general quality of the submissions like?
The Guardian haven't given much information save the title and author of the book they've chosen. Their choice does sound funny, but I tried to read 'The Brentford Trilogy' by Rankin and couldn't get past book 2.
I wish they'd shared a little more information about the rest of the entries and their judging process. Interestingly in the US the book is not ranking well at all. In the UK, winning this award seems to have given it a big boost!
My entry for April was The Last Dragon Slayer
I have my book 2 The Verkreath Horror in as a May entry, but given the nature of the book they've chosen - I can't help but feel they aren't looking for high fantasy with an atheist, pragmatist theme.
http://www.theguardian.com/books/2014...
I didn't win :(
I have had contact with the Andrew Lownie agency, I wonder if that was a factor? It's very hard to say really, how many entries were there? Was I short-listed? What was the general quality of the submissions like?
The Guardian haven't given much information save the title and author of the book they've chosen. Their choice does sound funny, but I tried to read 'The Brentford Trilogy' by Rankin and couldn't get past book 2.
I wish they'd shared a little more information about the rest of the entries and their judging process. Interestingly in the US the book is not ranking well at all. In the UK, winning this award seems to have given it a big boost!
My entry for April was The Last Dragon Slayer
I have my book 2 The Verkreath Horror in as a May entry, but given the nature of the book they've chosen - I can't help but feel they aren't looking for high fantasy with an atheist, pragmatist theme.
