John Hennessy's Blog, page 6
October 4, 2014
Weekend Writing Workshop #1: My Tips for Writing and Getting That Book Written - Part One
I remember an interview on Michael Parkinson's long running chat show where he interviewed Sir Anthony Hopkins.
MP: So how did you get into acting?
AH: By accident, really.
What did he mean by that? Surely someone as good an actor as Anthony Hopkins, who I first saw in The Elephant Man, later, The Silence of the Lambs, and understated but beautiful films like The Remains of the Day, would not have fallen into acting by accident? Yet, that is what he said on the show.
It's true that I've always enjoyed reading and writing. But my start - the actual beginning of getting something down that would end up in a book, was slightly accidental.
As a martial arts teacher, I often scribble down notes outside of the syllabus I am actually teaching. The notes would run and run. It grew legs, you might say. And the first book was created some two years after I finished my scribbles.
So maybe I started by accident, but the basics were always there. I liked reading and exploring new worlds. That's what a book is - an unchartered world and especially so if it is a new author.
So here are some of my tips for writing and getting the book done. I cannot stress the latter part enough, because if it remains as a file on your computer, that's what it will remain. At some point, let it go.
Read the tips and more at The Write Thought!
http://johnhennessybooks.blogspot.co....
MP: So how did you get into acting?
AH: By accident, really.
What did he mean by that? Surely someone as good an actor as Anthony Hopkins, who I first saw in The Elephant Man, later, The Silence of the Lambs, and understated but beautiful films like The Remains of the Day, would not have fallen into acting by accident? Yet, that is what he said on the show.
It's true that I've always enjoyed reading and writing. But my start - the actual beginning of getting something down that would end up in a book, was slightly accidental.
As a martial arts teacher, I often scribble down notes outside of the syllabus I am actually teaching. The notes would run and run. It grew legs, you might say. And the first book was created some two years after I finished my scribbles.
So maybe I started by accident, but the basics were always there. I liked reading and exploring new worlds. That's what a book is - an unchartered world and especially so if it is a new author.
So here are some of my tips for writing and getting the book done. I cannot stress the latter part enough, because if it remains as a file on your computer, that's what it will remain. At some point, let it go.
Read the tips and more at The Write Thought!
http://johnhennessybooks.blogspot.co....
October 1, 2014
Dark Winter: Crescent Moon - Special preview
Hi all.
Here's a special preview from the opening pages of my new paranormal horror, Dark Winter: Crescent Moon (Dark Winter #2)
--
Hi friends! Well here is an excerpt from the book's opening prologue. Enjoy...I think...!
From the Diary of Romilly Winter, April 14th.
Aged 18, I’m probably too old to keep a diary now, still I write words nonetheless, hoping for something coherent, something real, something I can believe in to come out of it. Maybe I have written a lot this winter because it’s the kind of season that ceases to end. When will the snow stop? Even when I want to see blue skies, my eyes are tricked into seeing pitch-black night.
Dana Cullen told Beth one time that ‘Nothing ever just happens, there is always a design.’ But I have seen enough in my short life to know that things don’t just happen. Maybe my faith is to be tested at every turn, so I hope to God that there is some design amongst the chaos.
Another part of me believes that things don’t just happen for a reason, and all we’re doing is fighting to make sense of the chaos that surrounds us. The kind of chaos that would become us, if it went unchallenged. It is a battle I find myself losing, and yet those around me think I am so strong for keeping it together.
I hope to God with my every breath, but what is hope anyway? Does it fool us into forgetting what is real in our lives? What if it is all wrong, that we are all lost souls wandering around with no meaning to our existence? What can hope do for us then?
It could be that I think things over too much. It could be that the Mirror of Souls has affected me for far too long. It could be that I have convinced myself that everything will work out just fine. There’s a strong chance I’m just playing tricks on myself and those around me.
--
More on The Write Thought, here:-
http://johnhennessybooks.blogspot.co....
Here's a special preview from the opening pages of my new paranormal horror, Dark Winter: Crescent Moon (Dark Winter #2)
--
Hi friends! Well here is an excerpt from the book's opening prologue. Enjoy...I think...!
From the Diary of Romilly Winter, April 14th.
Aged 18, I’m probably too old to keep a diary now, still I write words nonetheless, hoping for something coherent, something real, something I can believe in to come out of it. Maybe I have written a lot this winter because it’s the kind of season that ceases to end. When will the snow stop? Even when I want to see blue skies, my eyes are tricked into seeing pitch-black night.
Dana Cullen told Beth one time that ‘Nothing ever just happens, there is always a design.’ But I have seen enough in my short life to know that things don’t just happen. Maybe my faith is to be tested at every turn, so I hope to God that there is some design amongst the chaos.
Another part of me believes that things don’t just happen for a reason, and all we’re doing is fighting to make sense of the chaos that surrounds us. The kind of chaos that would become us, if it went unchallenged. It is a battle I find myself losing, and yet those around me think I am so strong for keeping it together.
I hope to God with my every breath, but what is hope anyway? Does it fool us into forgetting what is real in our lives? What if it is all wrong, that we are all lost souls wandering around with no meaning to our existence? What can hope do for us then?
It could be that I think things over too much. It could be that the Mirror of Souls has affected me for far too long. It could be that I have convinced myself that everything will work out just fine. There’s a strong chance I’m just playing tricks on myself and those around me.
--
More on The Write Thought, here:-
http://johnhennessybooks.blogspot.co....
One Year Anniversary!
Hi everyone. It's almost one year to the day that my first fiction book was released. Over the last twelve months, I have had reviews and comments from some of you, support from all of you. Others hosted my books on their blog. It takes time to do that, so I am grateful to you. Others still would take time to post a review and then private message me with their thoughts.
Some of you have become not just a support to me, but great friends as well. I would be happy to count you amongst my real friends, because I believe your support has extended beyond the book reading.
Some of you will know of the difficulties I have had in the last six months or so. For your support and counsel, I'm very appreciative.
Inbetween the release of the first fiction book, Dark Winter: The Wicca Circle, I released the fantasy epic Stormling and today, the paperback of Dark Winter: Crescent Moon, has landed on Amazon.
But here's some other stats about the last six months:-
Ice bucket challenge - 1
Cups of tea 2,160
Nights out getting hammered - 2 (cheers Jonathan Bradbury)
Martial arts lessons taught - 338
Knock downs on students - 33
Knock OUTS - 1 (sorry kid, it was either you or me)
Movies watched - 2
Days out ghost hunting - 3
Books read - 23
Words written 147,000 (near enough approx!)
Happy October 1st! The season of the witch is finally here!
Some of you have become not just a support to me, but great friends as well. I would be happy to count you amongst my real friends, because I believe your support has extended beyond the book reading.
Some of you will know of the difficulties I have had in the last six months or so. For your support and counsel, I'm very appreciative.
Inbetween the release of the first fiction book, Dark Winter: The Wicca Circle, I released the fantasy epic Stormling and today, the paperback of Dark Winter: Crescent Moon, has landed on Amazon.
But here's some other stats about the last six months:-
Ice bucket challenge - 1
Cups of tea 2,160
Nights out getting hammered - 2 (cheers Jonathan Bradbury)
Martial arts lessons taught - 338
Knock downs on students - 33
Knock OUTS - 1 (sorry kid, it was either you or me)
Movies watched - 2
Days out ghost hunting - 3
Books read - 23
Words written 147,000 (near enough approx!)
Happy October 1st! The season of the witch is finally here!
August 28, 2014
ALS Bucket Challenge and last chance to WIN a book!
Get yourself over to The Write Thought to see how my ALS Ice Bucket Challenge went, and also details of not one but TWO giveaways.
The GoodReads Giveaways for Dark Winter: The Wicca Circle, and Stormling, end tomorrow 29th August. So get to it and WIN!
http://johnhennessybooks.blogspot.co.uk/
The GoodReads Giveaways for Dark Winter: The Wicca Circle, and Stormling, end tomorrow 29th August. So get to it and WIN!
http://johnhennessybooks.blogspot.co.uk/
August 27, 2014
GoodReads Giveaway!! Dark Winter Book One
Autumn is coming, friends. For some of you, you'll already be there. Summers are short in the UK, which is why those of us who live here write. A lot.
I have one copy - an international giveaway for my first fiction novel, Dark Winter.
If you don't enter, you can't win!
http://johnhennessybooks.blogspot.co....
See what others say about it on Amazon:-
http://johnhennessybooks.blogspot.co....
Good luck if you enter!
Book Two, Dark Winter: Crescent Moon is out October 1st.
I have one copy - an international giveaway for my first fiction novel, Dark Winter.
If you don't enter, you can't win!
http://johnhennessybooks.blogspot.co....
See what others say about it on Amazon:-
http://johnhennessybooks.blogspot.co....
Good luck if you enter!
Book Two, Dark Winter: Crescent Moon is out October 1st.
August 25, 2014
Paranormal Haunts #2 - Baddesley Clinton
In 1438, John Brome, the Under-Treasurer of England, purchased the manor house. It later passed to his son, Nicholas, who is thought to have built the east range of the property, which is the main entrance. Nicholas is also responsible for the extensive rebuilding of the nearby parish church dedicated to Saint Michael, done as penance for killing the parish priest, a murder reputed to have taken place in the great house itself.
Read more at The Write Thought:-
http://johnhennessybooks.blogspot.co....
Read more at The Write Thought:-
http://johnhennessybooks.blogspot.co....
August 20, 2014
Book Review - Embers and Ice by Isabella Modra
Rouge#1 was a throughly entertaining ride which introduced us to high-kicking heroine Hunter.
Rouge#2, which is a continuation of the story, is even better. Titled Embers & Ice, and complete with yet another stunning cover, one wonders if it could match the first story, or hopefully - better it?
I bought the paperback version of this book, and it is truly awesome to have on my shelf.
From the very first line:-
"Everyone is wrong about hell."
you, dear reader, will be hooked.
Read more at The Write Thought:-
http://johnhennessybooks.blogspot.co....
Rouge#2, which is a continuation of the story, is even better. Titled Embers & Ice, and complete with yet another stunning cover, one wonders if it could match the first story, or hopefully - better it?
I bought the paperback version of this book, and it is truly awesome to have on my shelf.
From the very first line:-
"Everyone is wrong about hell."
you, dear reader, will be hooked.
Read more at The Write Thought:-
http://johnhennessybooks.blogspot.co....
August 18, 2014
Writing Inspirations and Paranormal Haunts
Set right in the heart of the Cotswolds, Snowshill Manor is a fascinating retreat, that, as ever with these places, is pretty hard to find, even without the map. I visited the place yesterday. It's about 50 miles from where I live.
I've wanted to go for ages, having heard about the ghost in the greeen dress in Ann's Room, or the duel that two men had in the most uppermost room. One died, of course, and still haunts the place today.
More here:-
https://johnhennessybooks.blogspot.co...
I've wanted to go for ages, having heard about the ghost in the greeen dress in Ann's Room, or the duel that two men had in the most uppermost room. One died, of course, and still haunts the place today.
More here:-
https://johnhennessybooks.blogspot.co...
August 11, 2014
Book Review - TRUST Pandora's Box, by Cristiane Serruya
Cristiane Serruya's TRUST story is one of the best trilogies I have had the pleasure of reading.
From 'A New Beginning', through 'Betrayed', to finally reach and open 'Pandora's Box', it has been an interesting, intriguing, thrilling, and always enthralling ride.
If Book One showed us a rather uncertain, but still very strong Sophia, Book Three reveals Sophia to be in even more charge of what she wants. She is an appealing heroine that you will root for. Why? When she is beautiful, rich, and has men seemingly fall at her feet, you wonder why?
Because the story, although it features heavily on Sophia, it is not all about her, and through the other characters - Ethan, Alistair, Tavish...so many in fact that it is a supporting cast that you enjoy, along with Sophia's story.
This is good characterisation. When Sophia is not in the story, you think it might lag. It does not, and it's all the more enjoyable when she returns.
The descriptive tone of this book, just like the other two in the series, is wonderful. I especially enjoyed the references to Scotland, because although I have been all over the world, and indeed, over the border as far as Glasgow, that was for business....I've never truly visited the country. Cristiane makes you feel like you are there.
The date and time stamps reinforce the urgency of the story. These books are long, complex, multi-layered. It will take several re-reads to grasp the quality of this work.
So when I have done that, I will come back and edit this review.
You can see in every line that the author has put her all into giving us an enthralling conclusion to the TRUST tale. She delivers. And because she does, any reference to it would be a major spoiler.
So buy the books, and enjoy them. TRUST me when I say that Pandora's Box is wonderful!
July 22, 2014
Book Review - Rouge by Isabella Modra
FIRST THINGS FIRST - Look at that stunning cover!!!!
Okay, so this is absolutely true - I knew Hunter Harrison.
Confession - not the Hunter in this story, but someone from a very distant job I had in the past.
Review: This is the last 'full' novel I read and it goes all the way back to June. It was a compelling read that I completed in one go, I'm delighted to say.
It's a delight to see a young author with such a command of her writing universe and a wonderful grip of her characters and their motivations. There is a generous homage to X-Men in this story although it manages to distinguish itself from that series by having a wonderful heroine in Hunter.
There's wonderful humour laced throughout the book, and there's a particular scene which reminded me of Kick-Ass a bit when Hunter is choosing her super-name and looking at outfits to wear.
More...
http://johnhennessybooks.blogspot.co....
Okay, so this is absolutely true - I knew Hunter Harrison.
Confession - not the Hunter in this story, but someone from a very distant job I had in the past.
Review: This is the last 'full' novel I read and it goes all the way back to June. It was a compelling read that I completed in one go, I'm delighted to say.
It's a delight to see a young author with such a command of her writing universe and a wonderful grip of her characters and their motivations. There is a generous homage to X-Men in this story although it manages to distinguish itself from that series by having a wonderful heroine in Hunter.
There's wonderful humour laced throughout the book, and there's a particular scene which reminded me of Kick-Ass a bit when Hunter is choosing her super-name and looking at outfits to wear.
More...
http://johnhennessybooks.blogspot.co....
