Steven A. McKay's Blog, page 50
October 8, 2014
Simon Scarrow: Brothers in Blood (2014) (Book 13 in the Cato series)
A review I found very interesting. I share Robin’s thoughts on this series which started excellently but hasn’t quite developed as it might have done. Still, I have book 12 to read and, after reading this review, I’m really looking forward to it!
Simon Scarrow: Brothers in Blood (2014) (Book 13 in the Cato series).
October 5, 2014
Fancy an interview?
If you, or a friend you know, run a blog or website dedicated to books and fancy doing a Q&A with me, please get in touch. I always enjoy doing them!
Use the “contact” page to send a message or find me on Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/RobinHoodNovel
September 28, 2014
Otik’s spiced potatoes!
One of my favourite series of books when I was growing up was the Dragonlance trilogy. More than 20 years later, I still remember how the characters all loved a particular dish: Otik’s spiced potatoes!
Otik was an inn-keeper and his spiced potatoes were legendary. So much so, I decided to find out what they were like for myself, using a recipe I found online (the internet is amazing!).
Basically they’re fried potatoes with cayenne pepper and black pepper. I’d never used cayenne pepper before today so I was interested to find out what it tasted like. This dish was legendary after all, it had to be pretty tasty!
Now, the recipe I found online for these said to use a teaspoon of cayenne pepper and a teaspoon of black pepper. The idea of using so much black pepper seemed ridiculous, so I just used a pinch, so it wouldn’t be too hot.
Still, I might as well have just eaten a few jalapenos then set fire to my face.
Otik was clearly a smart inn-keeper. He made his potatoes like this so people had to buy a load of drinks to put out the fire in their mouth!
Let this be a lesson to fiction readers: writers don’t always plan every little detail in their book. Sometimes we just make shit up! This recipe obviously falls into that category. Thanks Margaret Weiss and Tracy Hickmann.
I’d like to see Friar Tuck cooking up some of these around the campfire in Barnsdale…I don’t think Will Scarlet or Little John would enjoy them much, but it’d be a good excuse to down more of the local ale!
Anyone ever tried cooking up any other fictional recipes? LotR must have a few? Share them here if you have!
September 25, 2014
Some news…
Two big things to report! First of all, I’m listening to the final part of the Knight of the Cross audiobook that Nick Ellsworth has just sent to me. Once we sign it off it’ll be available for you all to download. It should be really cheap, since it’s only about 2.5 hours long. Good way to try out the audio format for anyone that’s interested but doesn’t want to pay £16 or so. Look out for it over the next few days!
In the meantime, here’s the Kindle version, just 77p/99c! Click the pic!
And, secondly…The Wolf and the Raven (like Wolf’s Head before it) has been awarded an Indie B.R.A.G. Medallion! This is a prestigious award and I’m really proud to say both my Forest Lord books have now been recognized by their team!
http://www.bragmedallion.com/medallion-honorees/2014-brag-medallion-books/the-wolf-and-the-rave-the-forest-lord
September 22, 2014
September 20, 2014
Want a free signed copy of Knight of the Cross?
Free to enter Goodreads giveaway, open worldwide! Go on, have a go. The novella came out yesterday and, thanks to both beta-readers and first day buyers who managed to get through it super-fast, it has 10 great reviews on Amazon UK so far!
https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/107635-knight-of-the-cross
September 19, 2014
Knight of the Cross out NOW!
The new novella, Knight of the Cross, is now available to buy, either as a paperback or for your Kindle device/app. The paperback comes with a free Kindle version as well (as do my other books).
UK link: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Knight-Cross-...
USAA link: http://www.amazon.com/Knight-Cross-Ho...
And here’s a little snippet!
“What exactly are you saying is causing these disappearances?” The big knight asked, making sure to keep his tone neutral for fear of offending the influential clergyman. The peace on the island was a fragile one at present, as the knights sought to stamp their authority on the place and the people.
The priest shrugged and muttered something in a language none of the Hospitallers present could identify before looking up to meet Sir Richard’s eyes. “It is old. Older than the world itself. Some say it came from another place, somewhere far away; maybe even amongst the stars, if such a thing is possible. Whatever it is, I can’t say, for I’ve never seen it and anyone who has is sent insane.” He waved a hand at the high-vaulted ceiling vaguely. “But these are just stories to frighten children, or entertain drinkers in a tavern.”
September 16, 2014
September 13, 2014
Knight of the Cross by Steven McKay
Wow, 5 stars, I never expected that, so pleased!
Originally posted on Historical Fiction reviews:
Another first for me as I have never reviewed a short story and found it a bit more difficult to do than for a full length novel. This story is a bit of a departure from the author’s two excellent novels about Robin Hood as the subject is The Knights Hospitaller and has an element of fantasy as well though it does feature Sir Richard-at-Lee who does appear in Wolf’s Head and The Wolf and the Raven. It takes place on the island of Rhodes and concerns the mysterious disappearance of many people on the island including some of the Hospitaller personnel. It seems that an ancient evil has arisen, the god Dagon and he requires sacrifices of the most heinous kind. Sir Richard is charged with the task of searching out what is causing the disappearances. I found the story to be very entertaining and the action/plot twists to…
View original 48 more words
New review of The Wolf and the Raven by Indian Book Reviews
The Indian Book Reviews website has taken a look at The Wolf and the Raven, see what they thought here:
http://www.indianbookreviews.com/2014/09/03/leader-of-the-pack/
