Anita Dawes's Blog: http://jenanita01.wordpress.com, page 20

Beta readers...do we need them?

When I first began to blog, back in 2012, it was to promote my sister, Anita’s books and I had no idea how anything worked. All I had to go by was the fact that everybody seemed to be doing it, so how hard could it be.So I set to it with a great deal of determination (and patience) to learn whatever was necessary to do the job. Didn’t think it would be too difficult, after all I had just mastered the art of formatting and uploading a load of Word files to Amazon. And Smashwords and Goodreads.It was beginning to look quite easy, but that was about to change.
Although I love to read, and do a lot of it, I must admit that in the beginning I read more ‘how-to’ books than any other kind. Most of these were very good, and I would not be as clever as I am now if not for their advice. My only complaint is that they only ever go so far, not basic enough for technophobic idiots like me.Although I have learned a lot, I know there are vast chunks of information missing. But being a stubborn soul, I will continue to persevere. Maybe I will get lucky, and God knows, it couldn’t hurt.
Somewhere along the way, the idea for a book of my own seeded itself in my head, and promptly took root. I had always wanted to write, but would I be any good?I ended up writing The Ninth Life, and it turned out to be a lot harder than I thought it would be, but was reasonably pleased with the result. I edited until I was blue in the face and promptly uploaded it to Amazon. But something was nagging at me, something I couldn’t quite put my finger on. I even started work on the sequel, for my characters had decided there was more where that came from. It was only when I started to create the new outline, that certain issues made themselves known. Was it possible I had rushed the ending in my haste to finish?


That was when I knew I needed a second opinion. So I appealed to all my new friends on Facebook for a beta reader, and Louise Wyatt contacted me and offered to read my book.As the time ticked away, my nerves drove me insane. I hovered between eternal optimism and the darkest despair. Supposing she thought it was rubbish. That there were hundreds of things wrong with it. What then?When I noticed the name Louise Wyatt in my emails two weeks later, my stomach hit the floor. It was time to learn the truth.
I printed off the email and the report that came with it, but it was a while before I could read it. Anita read it before I did, and she just grinned at me. What did that mean?When I finally plucked up the courage to read it, I was pleasantly surprised. Apart from a few typos and one slight character weakness, there was only one major problem. I had rushed the ending, thus ruining all the tension I had so painstakingly created.But, and this was the best bit, Louise really liked my story and promised to leave a review on Amazon.Here it is, my first review!
Most Helpful Customer Reviews4.0 out of 5 stars An addictive and rollercoaster of a read 4 Mar. 2015 By Louise Wyatt
If you like the thriller genre that keeps up the momentum then The Ninth Life would be a good read for you. The pace never falters, building up the plot and characters with timely intervention. The author cleverly keeps the story centred around the main character, with the other players coming into the story and yet there are no plot holes or false timings.
Not once did I get bored reading it or find the story faltering at all - definitely one of those where 'you need to know what happens next' but I think the author's gift when writing this is to keep the protagonist centre whilst keeping the reader constantly hooked. The antagonist is typically a nasty character, one whom the reader takes an instant dislike to and the edge he adds to the story is almost palpable.
Other characters are kept to a minimum but play pivotal roles in the story; the good thing here is you never know quite how they will turn out. Will your fears be unfounded? Or did you correctly guess the next step? The ending is not what you would expect (another good talent to have when writing) but you'll have to read the book!

So, for all new writers out there, or anyone who thinks they don’t need professional advice, you are missing out on some valuable help. It will do wonders for your morale too!
I’m so glad I did, even though it means altering and rewriting sections before uploading my story to Amazon again. At least now I know it is a good story and worth reading.Which also helps me with the sequel!
You can contact Louise here…

Hope for the Future...

14-year-old’s reversible poem takes web by storm…


When this poem is read from start to finish, it paints a pessimistic picture about a world where a generation is obsessed with money and power.But by following the instruction at the end – “read from bottom to top now” – the meaning – like the poem – is reversed.The flipped poem paints an optimistic picture about hope for the future and paints a very poignant message – even more poignant because of the author’s age.After gaining attention for his younger brother’s poem, Derek Nichols said the poem took Jordan just half an hour to compose and said: “I don't get how he's so smart”.“His poem is nowhere near making this world a better place, but it's a step in the right direction,” he added.Here is the poem when read from top to bottom.Our generation will be known for nothing.
Never will anybody say,
We were the peak of mankind.
That is wrong, the truth is
Our generation was a failure.
Thinking that
We actually succeeded
Is a waste. And we know
Living only for money and power
Is the way to go.
Being loving, respectful, and kind
Is a dumb thing to do.
Forgetting about that time,
Will not be easy, but we will try.
Changing our world for the better
Is something we never did.
Giving up
Was how we handled our problems.
Working hard
Was a joke.
We knew that
People thought we couldn’t come back
That might be true,
Unless we turn things around
(Read from bottom to top now)And here it is reversed – with a completely different meaning.Unless we turn things around
That might be true,
People thought we couldn’t come back
We knew that
Was a joke.
Working hard
Was how we handled our problems.
Giving up
Is something we never did.
Changing our world for the better
Will not be easy, but we will try.
Forgetting about that time,
Is a dumb thing to do.
Being loving, respectful, and kind
Is the way to go.
Living only for money and power
Is a waste. And we know
We actually succeeded
Thinking that
Our generation was a failure.
That is wrong, the truth is
We were the peak of mankind.
Never will anybody say,
Our generation will be known for nothing.                         ~~~There may be hope for the next generation, after all…See you all next week…

Review for Blind Cupid...

Blind Cupid   by Max Brandt
‘Blind love, blind stupid promises. Borne of despair so deep to be unimaginable…’

I have never been much of a fan of crime/mystery fiction, preferring to read Stephen King, Dean Koontz and the like. Then my sister-in-law, Jaye Marie finished writing her first book, and you’ve guessed it, it was a crime/mystery!She didn’t intend to write in that genre, but her characters had other ideas. She ended up enjoying it, and when I read it, so did I. So much that we have been reading more of the same ever since.



Max Brandt is another first time author, but you would never guess from reading his book. Blind Cupid is an intelligently written crime thriller, a harrowing story about a serial killer of children and not for the fainthearted. Written with care, with believable characters that are not what they seem; and a set of circumstances too horrible to believe.
One of the characters completely fooled me, the authors early depiction was utterly convincing… the story twisted and turned, leaving me clueless until right at the end.I really liked the clever ploy of using allegory to compare Greek legend and Dickens with different scenarios; it lifted this fascinating story into a higher intellectual realm.A very visual story, painfully dark, but highlighting the real need for better care and supervision for vulnerable children.
 I think a good book should do more than entertain or horrify. I found myself wondering why he chose to write it, and discovered that Max worked for ten years as a social worker. This says more about the system than I ever could.
Towards the end of the book, the detective in charge contemplates the case, calling it “the most bizarre, sickening and, ultimately tragic tale…” and he never said a truer word…

About the AuthorMax has been writing for many years (books, plays, songs, rants!) but has only recently had the time to concentrate fully on his writing. He spent twenty plus years fronting a rock band, many more doing all sorts of things (including running pubs and driving large lorries) and spent ten years working as a Residential Social Worker and Support Worker for Looked-After Young People. His experiences in that field were just one of the motivating forces behind this first book.

He is already working on the follow-up to 'Blind Cupid' - provisionally entitled 'The Blood-Dimmed Tide' (Yeats and Shakespeare are a couple of his passions) - and he tries manfully to write a blog (maxbrandtwriter.blogspot.com) which will remind him that, even after nearly forty years of trying to get published, it's all worth it in the end! It might also help other writers to avoid some of the pitfalls and keep them hacking away at the coal-face; it really is the most satisfying thing, to see your book out there.Theatre is another in the long list of Max's passions and he is Co-Artistic Director of Theatre Hub, who are a Devon-based company that are in the process of bringing a county-wide production of 'Macbeth' to the theatre-going public in 2016, to remember Shakespeare and the 400th anniversary of his passing.

If you would like more information, please contact him at mailto:max13brandt@gmail.com. He is more than happy to travel to your location to speak about the book, the play, Lyme Literary Festival, Magic Oxygen, rock music, Shakespeare or anything else that piques your interest!                                                           ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~See you lovely people next week...

Review for Sue Hampton...

I found this book when I visited the Magic Oxygen Literary Festival at Lyme Regis in Dorset last Saturday. There were many interesting authors and their books there, but this one was the first one I picked up...


 The Dreamer   by Sue Hampton
       “I have missed you,” he’d say, as he told me once before,             “like I miss the blue the sky forgets…”
A magical fairy story, brilliantly and imaginatively written, this story is not just for children.
Everyone should read this story, and more than once. Sue’s words keep the child in you alive, and as I have often told my own children and grandchildren, there are no grown-ups, only older children.
I was glad to be reminded that the hidden child in all of us can be your best friend. Sue herself has said that she believes in the power of stories, and I believe as passionately about the power of words too, having felt their strength many times.
Sue certainly knows how to use words. Reading The Dreamer was better than a good meal.  I must eat and sleep before reading The Dreamer again, and would love to get inside Sue’s head to steal her next few hundred words and claim them as my own.

The Author
Sue Hampton is proud to be an ambassador for Alopecia UK. She is also an ex-teacher who was inspired to write by the stories of Michael Morpurgo, because she witnessed their emotional power over young readers. Like him, she aims to write deep, compelling novels that will make people think and feel - and like him, she has many adult fans.
Now a full-time author, Sue visits schools of all kinds and works with young people of all ages. Many of her passions can be detected in her novels, which are all different, (some historical, one futuristic, one magical and funny) but have in common themes like love, courage, freedom and our right to be different. Sue herself looks a little different from most women because she has alopecia, having lost all her hair in 1981.
After writing THE WATERHOUSE GIRL about a girl with alopecia, she began going bareheaded and feels strangely liberated even though it is not easy. As a result of a feature in The Big Issue, Sue has met several young people who have lost their hair and done an interview for a girls' magazine in Australia. Sue also lectures on the importance of fiction in school.
Describe Sue in three adjectives? Passionate, individual and idealistic. Describe her novels in three adjectives? Powerful, "beautifully written" (says Michael Morpurgo of THE WATERHOUSE GIRL) and challenging. TRACES made the top three in The People's Book Prize 2012 and FRANKwon bronze in The Wishing Shelf award 2013.
http://suehamptonauthor.co.uk/

Scrivener...

Is this the biggest software advance for writers since the word processor?
                                                                         
Part one
When I first heard about Scrivener, I thought it sounded like a wonderful idea, but quickly dismissed it as being a little out of my capability. But somehow it would not let me forget what I had read. That it was‘a powerful content-generation tool for writers that would allow you to concentrate on composing and structuring long and difficult documents. Giving you complete control of the formatting, its focus is on helping you get to the end of that awkward first draft”.
That would be wonderful, I thought, for writing a novel, or anything else for that matter, involves a lot more than hammering away at the keys until you are done. There are all those countless hours of collecting research, ordering fragmented ideas, shuffling index cards and all those scraps of paper, in search of that elusive structure. That is where Scrivener is supposed to come in handy. A word processor and project management tool where you can rearrange everything in one place and see exactly what you are doing.I could use some of that organisation, big time. Apparently, Scrivener won't tell you how to write, which is a shame—it just makes all the tools you have scattered around your desk available in one place.

First thing I read when I downloaded the free trial, was that I should go through the tutorial first, before I attempted anything else. Made sense, as I am clueless when it comes to anything technical.If I tell you that it took several attempts to complete said tutorial, don’t be put off. My brain has senior moments practically back to back, and hated every minute, if I am honest. Several times, I thought I would have to give in and forget I ever saw the word ‘Scrivener’ before my poor brain went into meltdown. They kept insisting that I should not try to learn everything at once. Fat chance of that! My main problem these days is remembering what I learn, so we shall see how I get on.(Scrivener is an old English word for writer, by the way. We are all scriveners.)
But I didn’t give up. Instead, I resorted to my old standby. I got myself a copy of ‘Scrivenor for Dummies’ , by Gwen Hernandez. I have used these books before and always found them useful, they seem to get my brain to co-operate like nothing else ever has. Don’t be put off by the word ‘dummies’ in the title, they really do help. I finally mastered Windows 8 with one of these books.
Armed with all this helpful information, I intend to write the sequel to The Ninth Life on Scrivenor, and I have the feeling there will be several posts forthcoming on my progress.I haven’t purchased the full programme yet,  so I’m not committed yet.
More posts on this subject soon…

Red Letter Day...

Google Image



A man, a very good-looking man with soft brown eyes and warm, gentle hands, has just spent the best part of ten minutes touching my face and gazing adoringly into my eyes.
Well, the last part might just be an exaggeration on my part, but I can dream, can’t I? Overall, though, he made me feel like a real woman, an interesting, desirable woman, and that hasn’t happened in quite a while.
No mean feat really, as I am over seventy and as far from desirable as it is possible to get. But I’m sure he likes me. His face lights up when he sees me, and that smile would melt any woman’s heart. He constantly checks that I am okay, and I get the feeling that nothing would be too much trouble.
He is younger than I am, it’s true, but I hear this can be a good thing. He wants to see me again, and I must admit I feel the same. It is a very long time since anything like this has happened to me. So long in fact, that I can hardly remember the last time a man made me feel like this. As if I could trust him completely.
When it was time for me to go, it was with a great deal of regret on my part, and I thought I detected a similar sadness coming from him.He made me promise to come back, and no question about it, I would be there with bells on.
This man had washed every less than perfect memory at the hands of others, away. All the pain and sorrow gone, as if none of that mattered anymore.
For the first time in my life, I had thoroughly enjoyed a visit to the dentist…

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This week’s promo spot is for ‘Secrets’, a haunting family drama, all about the deeply buried guilt, secrets and suspicions that invade and control most of our lives.About a child’s invisible friend, one that you assume will be outgrown eventually. But supposing this ‘friend’ seems hell bent on causing more than just childish mischief?
http://www.amazon.com/dp/b00b9eqr3k

Leaping into 2015...

Jaye is in the chair today...



Sounds great, doesn’t it, leaping into 2015?
When I first saw this picture, I thought wow, that’s what I want to do.
But I’m afraid my leaping days disappeared a while ago. What with the dodgy hip, damaged knee and general stiffness, I won’t be leaping anywhere anytime soon.Mentally though, that’s quite different. I can still leap with the best of them, in my mind. But the trouble with all this enthusiasm at my age is that it tends to fluctuate. A lot. One minute you are firing on all cylinders, the next you can’t be asked.
As the editor (oily rag) of this establishment, at present I am busy editing Anita’s fifth book “More Lives Than One” (wip), and trying to promote her other four plus my own. I am writing the sequel to “The Ninth Life”, called “The Last Chance” and maintaining two blogs keeps me busy.I also try to maintain a reasonable presence on Facebook, Goodreads and Twitter.
If all of this wasn’t enough, we manage to fit in some hilarious and valuable brainstorming sessions, where we discuss our WIP, and if there is any spare time left, there are my hobbies. But I have to admit, some of them haven’t seen daylight in a while.Considering all my techie shortcomings, I think we did reasonably well last year. Didn’t quite get the response we were looking for, but did manage to sell a few books and the blog did attract more visitors.
It is always possible that we have gone about as far as we can with my limited promotional skills, and may have to accept the fact that we need to write more, better books and just get on with it.
So I will keep this blog running and make it as interesting as I can, and we will both write our socks off. Something that does seem to be getting easier, must be all the practise!
For I think I am almost done with all the frustration and feelings of inadequacy that seem to beset my every waking moment. With racking my slowly shrinking brain to learn techniques that would baffle better minds than mine.Having said all that, I have become fascinated with this new thing called ‘Scrivener’ and can never resist a challenge. Writers everywhere are going on about how wonderful it is, and how it makes the process of writing easier, so I am going to have a go…It might be good, or a disaster, watch this space to find out what happens!
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This weeks promotion is for  ‘Simple Says’, Anita’s second book. Here is our favourite review;
5.0 out of 5 stars Disturbing, but compelling and heartwarming   By Rivergirl Format:Kindle Edition This is a story about some very tough and mean people somewhere in the backwoods and mountains of America. It is told from the perspective of a young girl whose mission in life is to protect her big, but simple-minded brother from harm. The story is compelling, frightening and sometimes brutal in the manner of the film Deliverance, but it is also a heartwarming story of loyalty, love and deep affection. It was not what I was expecting, but I'm glad I read it. It has an unforgettable quality about it and the characters are complex but convincing. It really is a great story and unputdownable.

Six Months to get a Life... by Ben Adams

How many times can you say ‘I’m not bitter’ and mean it?

A lot of married couples end up too tired to fight anymore, and the way you met should have been a clue… but what could have been a depressing read turned out to be more interesting than ‘Bridget Jones’.
The diary format and intelligent humour really works, creating six hilarious months to change Graham Hope’s life.Interestingly, on his original to-do list, there was no mention of finding someone new to love, but he manages that too, in spectacular style.There were sad moments, well integrated into the story, and even though you are with him every step of the way, you end up applauding his achievements as if they were your own…I usually try to visualise a book as a film when I’m reading it…and if it works, it’s a good indication of how good it really is. This book was a film, at least it felt like one to me. I think I laughed practically all the way through!Ben has managed to turn what was essentially a miserably bad time, into the funniest book I have read in a while!
Love the comment about the size of Grahams ego…


Ben Adams                        ******************




Like a lot of people, Ben went to school, then college and eventually grew up and got a responsible job, a house and a family. 
And then his mid-life crisis kicked in.Realising that life was in danger of becoming all too serious, Ben started writing. Not in the way that Forest Gump started running, but at least he started.
He wrote on steamed up mirrors in the bathroom to make his children smile.  Eventually he graduated to making up stories to entertain his kids at bed-time.For some reason his boys didn’t seem interested in his tales of every-day life, relationships, family, trauma, farce and the occasional bit of debauchery.  His 12 year old son told him that he preferred JK someone or other.Following his short-lived career as a children’s author, Ben now concentrates on writing stories for grown-ups.  He writes for people who have lived, loved, worked, strived and suffered – people like himself. People like you.
He has a gift for finding humour where others just find pain; and also for finding pain where others find humour.Ben lives in southwest London with his two boys, his dog and his constant stream of girlfriends.  He dreams a lot too.Follow Ben's journey further at  http://blog.benadamsauthor.com

 

Review for Someone Else's Skin by Sarah Hilary

When I first heard about this book, I wasn’t sure if it would be my kind of read. Crime/detective stories have a great following, but I have always preferred Stephen King to James Patterson.
At the time, my sister, Jaye was writing her first book ‘The Ninth Life’and it was supposed to be a mystery with more than a hint of the supernatural about it. Just the kind of book I love to read.But the characters she found in her head had other ideas, and before she knew what was happening, one of them had turned into a violent and demented serial killer.
‘The Ninth Life’ is published now, and I enjoyed reading it, and that was when I knew I had to read Sarah Hilary’s book.
Someone Else’s Skin is brilliantly relentless and overpowering, moving so fast it leaves you breathless. Almost too painful at times to actually read, this is a fictional mastery of a very different kind. We all know that life isn’t all sweetness and light, and some of us know exactly how bad it can be. Human beings can be weak and cruel, cunning and heartless, and that most of the time nothing is fair, not even close.
The heroine in Someone Else’s Skin, detective Inspector Marnie Rome, has more reason than most to try and put the world to rights for she has her own demons to fight, and sometimes they get in the way of her day job. Her world is terrifyingly real and shockingly honest, so much so that at times you find yourself begging her to get it right.
Raw, unspoken horror lurks between the pages of this book. But if you look harder, if something in your own life makes you look harder, there are grains of truth behind the suffering. It is possible that Sarah Hilary knows something of which she writes, maybe more than something, as there is far too much honesty peeking out at you. The pain so finely wrought.If it does nothing else, this book will make you wonder about the people who do these terrible jobs. What kind of people were they, before they began and what kind of person did it eventually make them? Violence tends to stain everything, it doesn’t need to touch you physically, but in the end it will destroy you if you’re not careful.
This book is by far a better story than most of the ones I have read, and I cannot wait for the sequel, No Other Darkness …




Bad Moon, one of my most neglected novels, is receiving good reviews on FanStory.com this week and I am delighted. Kindle copies are only £2.44 on Amazon at the moment. Click on the cover at the side of this post and check it out!

Review for the brilliant "Honour & Obey" by Carol Hedges...

Right from the first page, Carol Hedges paints a vivid picture of parts of a Victorian London that most people would never have seen. If they were lucky, that is. You can almost smell the squalor and poverty oozing from the pages.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading Honour & Obey, with its tightly woven story of the lives of so many interesting and long-suffering characters.
Like Carol’s previous book, Diamonds & Dust, there are no chapter breaks, ensuring the narration flows seamlessly between the larger than life cast.
As you journey with Carol through the seedy underbelly of Victorian London, all human life is there, struggling to survive. Every conceivable emotion will find you…
Brilliantly written, both books would make wonderful films…