Steven A. McKay's Blog, page 40

Phil Rose reads his foreword.

Alright Phil Rose fans, wanna hear that famous Friar Tuck voice again? Well, Phil hasn’t just written a foreword for my new novella, he’s read it too. It will be included in the Audible/iTunes version (assuming it passes the quality control tests at Audible but I can’t see that being an issue). The rest of the audio will be read by my usual narrator Nick Ellsworth.

Here’s a very short snippet so you can hear that magical voice again. To hear the rest look out for the audiobook this November!

Friar Tuck and the Christmas Devil trailer on Youtube

Take a £30 mandolin, a £60 12-string guitar, a bass I literally found in a BIN then add a smidgeon of a £2600 Jackson PC-1 and this is the tune you end up with. Hope you like it….

Friar Tuck and the Christmas Devil COVER REVEAL!

This is the first draft, although it will probably end up just like this as I think it’s perfect! Like it?

As you can see from the artwork, the novella is going to be part of the Kindle Singles programme! I’m really excited about the whole project – it’s been great fun to write and will hopefully bring some cheer to people all around the world this winter.

Keep an eye on this page or my Facebook page for the release dates of each format. I’ll also be doing giveaways for signed copies of the paperback and free codes for the Audible version closer to December with extra goodies for people signed up to my Email List so…if you’re not on it, sign up HERE now!

 

It’s CHRIIISTMAS!!!

Friar Tuck has written a foreword for my new novella!

Yes, it’s true, the REAL Friar Tuck – Phil Rose from Robin of Sherwood – has written the foreword for my forthcoming novella, Friar Tuck and the Christmas Devil. To say I’m excited is an understatement!

Phil as Friar Tuck with Michael Praed (Robin Hood)

Robin of Sherwood was produced by HTV and ran from 1984-1986, making huge stars of guys like Michael Praed, Jason Connery, Ray Winstone, Clive Mantle and, of course, . I’d never really watched the show until a few years ago when I checked it out to see if I could get any ideas for my own version of the Robin Hood legend. I loved it and bought the whole lot on DVD. The camaraderie of the actors shone through so well on the screen and I could see why it’s still loved by so many people around the world. Phil and the rest of the cast are reprising their roles for a new audio production called “The Knights of the Apocalypse” which has really caused great excitement for fans of the show.

When Phil heard about my novella (via his friend Carole Elizabeth Ballard, who runs his official Facebook page) he kindly offered to write a foreword and I’m very pleased to say he has come through. I’ve read it and it’s great. He will also, hopefully, read it for the audiobook version although Nick Ellsworth will narrate the rest of the story as usual.

Friar Tuck and the Christmas Devil will be available to pre-order – hopefully in ALL formats (Kindle, paperback and audio) on November 1st this year. Less than a month! Get your mulled wine ready!

Phil nowadays.

Signed books and posters. Get ’em while they’re hot!

I’ve just had another delivery of Rise of the Wolf paperbacks, and still have 5 or 6 posters left from the short run I did. So if you fancy a signed copy of any of the books and/or a poster, just email me at stormwatch1977@hotmail.com!

£6 per poster including P+P (£7 worldwide)

£12 per signed book including P+P (£13 worldwide)

If you want more than one thing, P+P will be much cheaper. I posted a full set of books and a poster – all signed – the other day and it was only £2.80 postage, which is the same as it is for ONE of the items! Silly Post Office prices…

Don’t forget to sign up for my Mailing List – I just gave away a free signed poster there and more free, signed goodies will follow, especially once my new novella, Friar Tuck and the Christmas Devil comes out this winter! Might have some exciting news about that too, shortly…

Slayer – Repentless. TOO brutal?

No, this has nothing to do with history, since it’s about a brand new music video but it DOES have something to do with my writing and art in general.

I just bought the new Slayer album. Everyone knows I’m a huge metal fan – I never stop talking about it. I even mentioned the death metal band Nile in my novella Knight of the Cross. I listen to black metal when I’m writing my books because it helps me concentrate.

Slayer have been one of my favourite bands for about 25 years. But…I really don’t like their new video for the song “Repentless”. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE the song – it harks back to their Golden Age around the time of the South of Heaven album in the late 80’s in my opinion. But the video…well, watch it for yourself.

I think it’s way too graphic. WAY too graphic.

A guy getting his throat cut. Another with an assailant’s fingers in his eye-sockets. A beheading.

And at the end of it, we’re left saying, WTF? What was that all about? There’s no point to it, no story, no hidden meaning to explore (as far as I can tell anyway). It’s just senseless, very graphic violence.

But…my little rant here might be surprising to anyone that’s read my books. Quite a few reviewers have commented favourably on my ability to write a good fight scene. “Brutal, bloody, brilliant!” was how one guy described my latest novel, Rise of the Wolf. Indeed, I don’t shy away from describing someone having a finger lopped off, or a sword in the face and I never will. Violence is a fact of life and it plays a big part in my books. 

So why do I find this Slayer video so distasteful?

I think writing is a VERY different medium to film, ultimately. In a book, an author can describe a scene – any scene, not just a violent one – but the reader has the choice whether to really READ it or just skim over it. In film you don’t have that option. You can turn away from the screen, sure, but then you miss whatever’s happening and a chunk of the scene is gone. Film leaves nothing to the imagination.

In a book, if you skim over a section, you can still paint the picture of what’s happening in your head. You don’t lose the place, you just come up with your own idea of what’s going down, don’t you? In other words, almost every scene is open to interpretation.

I never thought about this until tonight when I watched the “Repentless” video. A novel is a much more immersive experience for someone because much of it is down to the reader’s own imagination. Nothing is on a plate for you – you have to conjure the images for yourself, no matter how descriptive the author’s writing is. Film, on the other hand, is utterly graphic and unforgiving. You WILL see what the director wants you to see, whether you like it or not. There’s no filter; you can’t skim over that guy having his throat cut.

I think that’s why books are so amazing. The best ones don’t just TELL you what’s happening, they work WITH you to create a world that’s yours as much as it is the author’s but they also allow you to avoid things you don’t really want to see. Or is that just me?

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this subject, but please, DO buy the new Slayer album, whether you like the video or not – it’s a fantastic record and well worth your cash!

Slayer – Repentless. Bear with me…

No, this has nothing to do with history, since it’s about a brand new music video but it DOES have something to do with my writing and art in general.

I just bought the new Slayer album. Everyone knows I’m a huge metal fan – I never stop talking about it. I even mentioned the death metal band Nile in my novella Knight of the Cross. I listen to black metal when I’m writing my books because it helps me concentrate.

Slayer have been one of my favourite bands for about 25 years. But…I really don’t like their new video for the song “Repentless”. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE the song – it harks back to their Golden Age around the time of the South of Heaven album in the late 80’s in my opinion. But the video…well, watch it for yourself.

I think it’s way too graphic. WAY too graphic.

A guy getting his throat cut. Another with an assailant’s fingers in his eye-sockets. A beheading.

And at the end of it, we’re left saying, WTF? What was that all about? There’s no point to it, no story, no hidden meaning to explore (as far as I can tell anyway). It’s just senseless, very graphic violence.

But…my little rant here might be surprising to anyone that’s read my books. Quite a few reviewers have commented favourably on my ability to write a good fight scene. “Brutal, bloody, brilliant!” was how one guy described my latest novel, Rise of the Wolf. Indeed, I don’t shy away from describing someone having a finger lopped off, or a sword in the face and I never will. Violence is a fact of life and it plays a big part in my books. 

So why do I find this Slayer video so distasteful?

I think writing is a VERY different medium to film, ultimately. In a book, an author can describe a scene – any scene, not just a violent one – but the reader has the choice whether to really READ it or just skim over it. In film you don’t have that option. You can turn away from the screen, sure, but then you miss whatever’s happening and a chunk of the scene is gone. Film leaves nothing to the imagination.

In a book, if you skim over a section, you can still paint the picture of what’s happening in your head. You don’t lose the place, you just come up with your own idea of what’s going down, don’t you? In other words, almost every scene is open to interpretation.

I never thought about this until tonight when I watched the “Repentless” video. A novel is a much more immersive experience for someone because much of it is down to the reader’s own imagination. Nothing is on a plate for you – you have to conjure the images for yourself, no matter how descriptive the author’s writing is. Film, on the other hand, is utterly graphic and unforgiving. You WILL see what the director wants you to see, whether you like it or not. There’s no filter; you can’t skim over that guy having his throat cut.

I think that’s why books are so amazing. The best ones don’t just TELL you what’s happening, they work WITH you to create a world that’s yours as much as it is the author’s but they also allow you to avoid things you don’t really want to see. Or is that just me?

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this subject, but please, DO buy the new Slayer album, whether you like the video or not – it’s a fantastic record and well worth your cash!

The Christmas Devil extract

This is from my work-in-progress Friar Tuck novella The Christmas Devil which will be available to pre-order in November. Here, an old peasant has come home to find a devil/demon is in his house. The neighbours have gathered and one has sent his faithful old dog into the peasant’s house to investigate but things have gone quiet…

“It’s your house.”

Ivor nodded bravely, squaring his shoulders and hauling himself up to full height. It was his house right enough – he should be first inside.

One of the men offered him a short club and he took it with a grim nod of thanks then stepped forward to grasp the door handle. He could hear nothing from inside and his imagination conjured the most hideous demons, picturing them tearing James’s poor dog apart with terrific yet silent violence.

He drew a deep breath, hefted the length of wood he’d been given and reached a hand forward to push the door open wide enough for him to follow the hound inside.

Before he could touch the iron latch though, a great black shape appeared, pushing its hellish body hard against him and, with a scream of terror Ivor fell backwards, arms flailing, onto the snow-covered grass, trying to use his elbows and feet to drag himself away from the satanic presence that had hauled its loathsome carcass from his home.

The near-hysterical laughter of his fellow villagers brought him backto his senses though. It was no devil that had burst forth and attacked him; it was the dog, and it was currently doing a shit in the snow right beside him much to the amusement of the gathered locals.

James came forward, peering inside the doorway, and waved a hand dismissively.

“There’s nothing there. Whatever made those hoofprints is gone; the place is empty.”

Rise of the Wolf posters are here!

Anyone fancy a Rise of the Wolf poster for their wall?

Honestly, I didn’t think anyone would be interested so I initially only ordered a couple of these to give away as little prizes to readers. Then a dozen or so of my Facebook followers said they’d like one so…I ordered a few more. If you would like one, and will actually put it on your wall (as opposed to hide it in a drawer!) let me know.

UK orders will be just £6 INCLUDING POSTAGE AND A WEE TUBE TO PACK IT IN (I hope – not been to the post office to check the postage costs yet). Worldwide should only be an extra £1 onto that.

If you’re mad enough to want it signed, I will of course do that for no extra cost. Already done a couple already actually!

In other news, I finished the first draft of my Friar Tuck novella, The Christmas Devil, last night. It should be good. Look out for the pre-order this November!

Soldier of Fortune: The Wolf Cub by David Pilling

Here’s another Robin Hood author taking a look at a different period in history with his new book. David Pilling is something of an expert on Hood so I was very pleased to find out he was a fan of my work.

I read his new book,  The Wolf Cub and liked it so much I gave it a five star review on Amazon (where it’s currently at number 2 in the historical fantasy chart).

If you’re stuck for something to read you should really check out David’s work, you’re sure to find something you’ll enjoy. I recommend starting with The Wolf Cub as it kicks off what should be an excellent series!

Click the cover art to find out more

We share a cover artist too…

1453 AD. The great city of Constantinople, last remnant of the once-mighty Roman Empire, falls to the Ottoman armies of Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror.

An English knight named Sir John Page is taken prisoner by the Ottomans, and forced to entertain the Sultan with tales of the West. Page chooses to tell the story of his own long career as a soldier of fortune in France, Bohemia and the Italian city-states.

Page’s tale begins in the year of Agincourt, Henry V’s famous victory over the French. As the bastard son of Thomas Page, a famous mercenary captain known as The Half-Hanged Man or The Wolf of Burgundy, Page soon acquires the nickname of The Wolf Cub.

After slaying his cousin in a duel, Page flees his home and joins a band of outlaws in the forests of Sussex. At last – tired of the brutality of his companions – he decides to leave England and join the English army in Normandy. There he endures brutal sieges, vicious combats, torture, betrayal and imprisonment, all to win glory and redeem his father’s name.

Trapped in the Sultan’s prison, Page must hope his story is enough to save him from the executioner’s blade….at least for another three days…

Click on David’s pic to take a look at his website!