K.S. Dearsley's Blog, page 4
January 7, 2018
Still Free!
The Smashwords sale is over, but that doesn't mean the fun has to stop. There's still a chance to get Discord's Apprentice FREE until 31st January 2018 when you buy Discord's Child from https://www.smashwords.com/profile/vi.... You'll find a code number at the end to find out what happens to Ro next.
January 1, 2018
Going, Going, Gone!
The Smashwords sale with hundreds of free and discounted books finishes at the end of today (1st January) Pacific Time–that's around 8am on 2nd January in the UK. Don't miss this chance to get a FREE copy of Artists and Liars and/or Discord's Child, especially as Discord's Child includes a code to get Discord's apprentice FREE until 31st January.
All good wishes for 2018.
All good wishes for 2018.
December 21, 2017
Christmas Giveaway
Good old Smashwords! They're having a sale from Christmas Day to New Year's Day, so readers can find hundreds of books, either free or at big discounts. It seems like the ideal way for authors to give readers an extra Christmas present, and start the new year with a boost, so I've enrolled Artists and Liars and Discord's Child. Visit https://www.smashwords.com/profile/vi... and you'll find code numbers to get them FREE. Plus, there's a code number at the end of Discord's Child for a FREE copy of Discord's Apprentice, valid until 31st January 2018.
There are no strings attached, but if anyone would like to put up a review or message me here or on the Exiles of Ondd Facebook page, I'd be delighted.
Wishing you all a very merry Christmas.
There are no strings attached, but if anyone would like to put up a review or message me here or on the Exiles of Ondd Facebook page, I'd be delighted.
Wishing you all a very merry Christmas.
October 15, 2017
Vote Now!
Fancy a free read? All the finalists in the Pen 2 Paper contest are now available online at http://www.txdisabilities.org/pen-2-p.... There are three sections–non-fiction, poetry and fiction–with 15 finalists in each, including my story, 'The Enlightened One's Blessed' in the fiction section. You can vote for your favourite in each, with the work gaining the most votes winning a prize. The contest aims to raise awareness of disabilities, so the more people who take part, the more successful it will be.
August 21, 2017
A Satisfying Meal
Cat's Breakfast: Kurt Vonnegut Tribute by Juliana RewMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Tribute anthologies can be disappointing: either the link between the stories and the work that inspired them is so tenuous that the spirit of the original is totally lacking, or they are rehashes with nothing new to offer. Thank goodness Cat's Breakfast is not like that!
The stories display a very Vonnegut-like sardonic humour and attitude to humanity's foibles and self-deceptions. Popular culture plays a large part, especially the gap between how society likes to portray itself and the realities, and how all our plans and best-intentions get stymied. Some of the most humorous stories were also the most moving.
Usually, when I read an anthology as soon as I've finished one story, I cannot resist starting the next, but the tales in Cat's Breakfast gave me too much to think about to race through them. Stories like Christopher Mark Rose's 'Emerging Grammars', 'The Confrontation Station' by Ryan Dull and '37' by Dan Koboldt demanded a closer look at accepted opinion and the unexpected consequences that the things we automatically think would be good might have.
My favourites out of the whole anthology are 'They Grow up So Fast' by Konstantine Paradias, and Vaughan Stanger's 'One Is One', although there is not one story that is not worth reading again.
Cat's Breakfast is a great read–pass it on!
View all my reviews
July 1, 2017
Bargains Galore!
You can't turn your back for a minute. No sooner did I go on holiday than Smashwords announced its Summer-Winter Sale. Throughout July hundreds of titles will be free or discounted. Who can resist a bargain? Not me. I will undoubtedly stock up on summer books, and hopefully review what I've read, but I won't just be joining in the fun as a reader.
I'm offering Discord's Child FREE and Discord's Apprentice at half price. Visit http://www.smashwords.com/profile/vie... and key in the coupon number when you order.
I'm offering Discord's Child FREE and Discord's Apprentice at half price. Visit http://www.smashwords.com/profile/vie... and key in the coupon number when you order.
April 10, 2017
News at Last
Discord's Child and Discord's Apprentice are out in paperback at last from CreateSpace and Amazon. The Exiles of Ondd now have their own Facebook page as well, where I'll post news, events, background information, extras such as quizzes, and all sorts of things connected with their world. There's a Twitter account too with quotes, character comments and more. You can still find information on my website at http://www.ksdearsley.com where, amongst other things, you can read the full set of Iyessi songs, including this one:
I heard there is a country
Where skies are green and grass is blue.
It doesn't seem that likely,
But maybe it is true.
I heard there was an ocean
Where lobsters bleat and fishes moo.
It doesn't seem that likely,
And yet it might be true.
I heard that someone loves me
With all her heart and that it's you.
I wish that it was likely,
Please tell me that it's true.
I heard there is a country
Where skies are green and grass is blue.
It doesn't seem that likely,
But maybe it is true.
I heard there was an ocean
Where lobsters bleat and fishes moo.
It doesn't seem that likely,
And yet it might be true.
I heard that someone loves me
With all her heart and that it's you.
I wish that it was likely,
Please tell me that it's true.
March 17, 2017
Novel Feast
Smashwords' Read an Ebook Week is over again for this spring. I enjoyed it on two counts–both as an author and as a reader.
I took advantage of the discounts to download a handful of novels, which I hope to review soon–the planned print publication schedule for Discord's Child and Discord's Apprentice with CreateSpace on 1st April permitting. It was also good to see the interest the week generated in the printed versions. Thanks to everyone who downloaded copies.
Meanwhile, here's another Iyessi song.
Dance to the flute-sack
Dance to the drum
Dance to the rhythm of the pipe and gong.
Dance in the morning
Dance late at night
Dance to the music of the hearers' song.
I took advantage of the discounts to download a handful of novels, which I hope to review soon–the planned print publication schedule for Discord's Child and Discord's Apprentice with CreateSpace on 1st April permitting. It was also good to see the interest the week generated in the printed versions. Thanks to everyone who downloaded copies.
Meanwhile, here's another Iyessi song.
Dance to the flute-sack
Dance to the drum
Dance to the rhythm of the pipe and gong.
Dance in the morning
Dance late at night
Dance to the music of the hearers' song.
March 5, 2017
Read an Ebook Week
Smashwords is running its annual Read an Ebook Week from today to 11th March. I've enrolled Discord's Child in it, so if you'd like to read the novel absolutely free, simply go to http://www.smashwords.com/profile/vie..., click on the book and enter the code SFREE.
The timing couldn't be better, as it's an opportunity for readers to find out whether they'd like to buy the paperback when it's published by CreateSpace. The planned publication date is 1st April, and in addition to CreateSpace you'll be able to find it on Amazon.
Enjoy!
The timing couldn't be better, as it's an opportunity for readers to find out whether they'd like to buy the paperback when it's published by CreateSpace. The planned publication date is 1st April, and in addition to CreateSpace you'll be able to find it on Amazon.
Enjoy!
January 16, 2017
Late Again
Happy New Year! It's a little belated, but there's a good reason why this is my first blog here this year. I've been preparing Discord's Child for paperback release with CreateSpace. I'm now doing the same with Discord's Apprentice, so both novels should be available in print in the not too distant future. Once I know the dates, I'm hoping to be able to set up some offers and/or contests to celebrate.
Meanwhile, here's another Iyessi song:
When we are old and no longer travel,
We'll rest our bones beside the fire
And tell the young ones tales,
Remembering when we were green as the fields,
We ran fast as the river.
Our eyes were clear,
Our arms were strong,
Our hearts knew no fear
Except that one day we would be old
And there'd be no one to hear,
As we rest our bones beside the fire.
Meanwhile, here's another Iyessi song:
When we are old and no longer travel,
We'll rest our bones beside the fire
And tell the young ones tales,
Remembering when we were green as the fields,
We ran fast as the river.
Our eyes were clear,
Our arms were strong,
Our hearts knew no fear
Except that one day we would be old
And there'd be no one to hear,
As we rest our bones beside the fire.
