Simon Duringer's Blog, page 22
October 1, 2014
The Chorley Writing Circle
As if being invited to a writing circle meeting for the first time wasn’t daunting enough having been, pretty much, confined within the four walls of home for the last twelve months. But then to arrive and discover one should have brought along a pen, pencil or quill in order to join in the writing that was about to take place… OMG!
I was always taught about the six p’s… Originally five p’s methinks, yet of late an additional one seems to have crept in there…
i.e. PRIOR PREPARATION PREVENTS P*SS POOR PERFORMANCE!
Well, last night I was stumped and as the visiting guest my whimsical excuse of having neither brought along the quill or parchment required to be included in said task seemed to fall on deaf ears. I was promptly provided with tools for the timed twenty minute task ahead…
Writing off the hoof has never been a strong point for me. Editing has been a laborious task, and re-writes often seem endless. So, writing and bearing the notion of also having to read out this poorly planned manifestation that was half-cut in panic, was a most fearful experience. So fearful that I can’t even remember the topic…
Here is a Keat’s quote that reflects what I think we were supposed to be writing about, typed rather more succinctly than I can explain!
When I have fears that I may cease to be Before my pen has gleaned my teeming brain, Before high-piled books, in charactery, Hold like rich garners the full ripened grain.
John Keats: 1818 ‘When I Have FearsThat I May Cease to Be’.
I set about this daunting task and called it ‘Procrastination and Regret.’ Here it is. Forgive me but it was written in 20 minutes without prior warning!!
Procrastination and Regret
The feeling was one of utter contentment
but it hadn’t always been that way
several years blocking ideas from one’s mind
a lack of self belief had led him astray
Something better would always pitch up
any excuse not to start it today
But as summer’s passed
leafy Autumns
and frosty winters too
his body began weakening
he would soon have to sit around
with nothing better to do
Regret can be harsh and saddening
But at the time he didn’t realise what was happening
It was only now he could reflect
from the confines of his wheelchair
It was NOT too late to stop procrastinating
he could save himself from despair
He slid his vehicle under the grand and dusty desk
released the mighty QWERTY from its unnatural mahogany rest
Tip Tap, Tip Tapping
his fingers began to race
unable to stop them producing verse
tears running down his face
For all those years of procrastination
it was only now he understood
Tip Tap, Tip Tapping
like a carpenter carving his wood
his grey matter had stored all those ideas
like ingredients to create something really good
Over the years in his mind
all he considered to be bad
was now being forged into something beautiful
like a coiled spring he could begin to unwind
as page after page was forged from nothing
every sentence became a golden rhyme
Finally his fingers began to slow down
and sweat replaced the tears
as he read through this masterpiece
he regretted his lifetime’s fears
Nowadays, procrastination conquered, this man can always be found
by searching through the corridors and following the Tip Tapping sound!
THE END
Yeah, pretty awful I know… No punctuation blah bla blah…But give me a break it was unplanned and raw!
Anyway, the point of this post was to inform those about The Chorley Writing Circle and let people know that on November 15th, a London Literary Agent (Hannah Sheppard) and Bestselling author (Carys Bray) will be giving a talk at The Coach House within the inspirational grounds of Astley Park. It should be a great event and with places limited, any authors (or anybody else) wishing to attend will need to get their places booked fairly promptly. The contact information for buying tickets is below.
Have a great day and keep writing!
The Susan Wingate Interview
Not recommended as a kidnapping negotiator, nonetheless an awesome author, interviewer, passionate about golf and a great hacker!
Don't miss it. Live on the blog now :-)
http://simonduringer.com/?p=3772
September 29, 2014
Catriona King on Simon's 10 Q Interviews
Don't miss the Catriona King interview now!
http://simonduringer.com/?p=3510
September 25, 2014
Frances di Plino
Catch the preview now!
http://simonduringer.com/?p=3791
Frances di Plino
We have a crime writer coming to Simon’s 10Q Interviews
very soon. She is a member of the Crime Writers Association (CWA) and writes under a pen name to keep her criminal antics separate from her day to day job as a columnist and journalist…
She recently interviewed me on her own website and was very kind to me. The question is am I able to reciprocate that kindness, as one knows, I do sometimes have a wicked sense of humour!
But first let’s find out a little about my next guest…
We are going to be welcoming Frances di Plino
to Simon’s 10Q Interviews very soon. She is the author of the Detective Inspector Paolo Storey crime series comprised of; Bad Moon Rising
, Someday Never Comes
and Call It Pretending
.
Her latest book, Looking for a reason will be released at the end of October 2014, here’s a sneak preview at the cover! Don’t forget to watch out for it…
The name Frances di Plino, and I am sure she won’t mind me eluding to this fact, is the pseudonym of columnist, editor, non-fiction author and writing tutor, Lorraine Mace. She states that writing as Frances di Plino gives her the opportunity to allow the dark side of her personality to surface and take control. I think we’re going to get on very well!
As Lorraine Mace, she is the humour columnist for Writing Magazine and a deputy editor of Words with JAM. She also writes fiction for the women’s magazine market, features and photo-features for monthly glossy magazines and is a writing competition judge for Writers’ Forum.
Lorraine is a former fiction and non-fiction tutor for the Writers Bureau, and is the author of the Writers Bureau course, Marketing Your Book. She is also co-author, with Maureen Vincent-Northam, of The Writer’s ABC Checklist.
So, keep your eyes peeled as Lorraine or Frances, as we will be referring to her throughout the interview, prepares to run the gauntlet of Simon’s 10Q Interviews. Before we get that far why not check out the very spooky teaser at the bottom of the page or visit Frances on Amazon using the following links;
For UK Readers – Frances di Plino Amazon author page
For US Readers – Frances di Plino Amazon author page
Simon Duringer is both a Goodreads Indie author and Independent Interviewer. Simon’s most recent book is The Word: The Best of Simon’s 10Q Interviews, featuring 28 equally interesting and exciting interviews, with some great names in the literary trade from both sides of the fence (Indie and Traditionally Published). It is available on Kindle
, Prime (#Free) and Paperback
. Links to Simon’s Amazon Author Page are as follows;
UK Link – Simon Duringer Author Page
US Link – Simon Duringer Author Page
Simons 10 Q Interviews was a Finalist in the U.K. Blogging Awards 2014.
Frances di Plino interviews me!
http://francesdiplinoreviews.blogspot...
September 24, 2014
Susan Wingate
Not just an incredible author, also a great interviewer... Not to be missed!
http://simonduringer.com/?p=3772
Susan Wingate
Well, my next guest on Simon’s 10 Q interviews is well grounded, although me thinks she ought to have taken off into the stratosphere long ago! She won the 2011 Forward National Literature Award for Drama, the 2011 International Best Books Award. She was a Finalist in the for Women’s Fiction Awards. In February 2014 she was the Top Pick in The Spirited Woman Top 12 Book Picks. She won the 2010 International Best Books Award, was a Finalist for Women’s Fiction 2009 Next Generation Indie Book Awards, and Finalist for Women’s Fiction. She also received a 2009 Textnovel Editor’s Choice Award & was a Finalist for an unpublished novella that she wrote!
So who the heck do we know that everything they touch turns to gold? She’s not called Midas, so…
Let’s find out…
Ladies and gentlemen she is not only a great author but also an awesome interviewer. I am delighted to announce that author Susan Wingate has agreed to run the gauntlet of Simon’s 10 Q Interviews…
For those who don’t know her wicked sense of humour and desire to walk on the dark side, here’s Susan’s Bio!
The Short-ish Story…
Susan began writing as a child when she learned her father was a writer.
A vibrant public speaker, Susan offers inspiring, motivational talks about…
Blah, blah, blah…
That’s the stuff my agent wants you to know. You can find out all that mumbo-jumbo throughout my website. I hate redundancy. So, if you really want to examine my career, check out the pages for my books, awards and FAQs.
What I want you to know is a little about me, the person.
I like to golf. I want to learn to fly planes. I’ve parasailed in Mexico… Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo, to be precise. I ride horses and love animals of all kinds. I’m one of these people who removes spiders from their house and then sets them free outside. I save moths from spider webs when they get caught and when I notice. This irritates the spiders who I have saved but, what do you do? This is what I call a “conundrum.”
I live on five acres of rural land that is heavily wooded and is home to a herd of deer who I feed. I feed all the wildlife here, the raccoons and birds alike. We have eleven cats, two dogs, and twelve birds–doves and three pigeons who were rehab birds.
I enjoy eating chips and salsa to the point of addiction. I don’t think there are any rehab centers for chip-and-salsa-addiction but maybe if we all ban together we can show the powers that be how devastating this addiction is to one’s rear-end. I’m sure we’ll see growth (wink) in that area of “intervention-need” soon.
Pizza is second on my list of addictions. So far, Papa John’s has a fortress-strength special interest group blocking the way for any rehab facilities for pizza addiction. It’s a conspiracy, I tell ya.
Hmm. What else? I am a homebody. And, why not? What, with all the animals, land, pizza and chips and salsa around here, why should I leave my couch? I write on the couch. Some of my greatest moments have happened right here on my couch.
Anyway. That’s me in a nutshell. Nut being the operative syllable of the word. Hope you enjoy my books.
SD Comment: Susan’s next book is due for release on Guy Fawkes Night… Yes folks remember remember the 5th of November, but not for the man himself but because there’s a new woman in town and she has the MIDAS touch… Here’s a sneaky preview of her latest novel which is available for pre-order on Amazon using the link below the picture…
For US Readers;
The Deer Effect
For UK Readers;
The Deer Effect
I have to be honest, I cant wait to get this one on to the couch, as apparently everything memorable happens on there…he he he… So, please bookmark the page and come back soon as the wonderful Susan Wingate runs the gauntlet of Simon’s 10 Q Interviews!
If you feel you can’t wait then why not visit Susan’s Amazon author pages to see her entire range of book using the following links;
For US Readers:
Susan Wingate
For UK Readers:
Susan Wingate
Simon Duringer is both a Goodreads Indie author and Independent Interviewer. Simon’s most recent book is The Word: The Best of Simon’s 10Q Interviews, featuring 28 equally interesting and exciting interviews, with some great names in the literary trade from both sides of the fence (Indie and Traditionally Published). It is available on Kindle, Prime (#Free) and Paperback. Links to Simon’s Amazon Author Page are as follows;
UK Link – Simon Duringer Author Page
US Link – Simon Duringer Author Page
Simons 10 Q Interviews was a Finalist in the U.K. Blogging Awards 2014.
Please please also listen to this old chestnut which eludes to how Susan got started in writing…
Gary Edward Gedall
http://simonduringer.com/?p=3758
Gary Edward Gedall
I am delighted that we have a new candidate for Rambling On…
Gary Edward Gedall has run the “alternative” gauntlet of Rambling On… which is an open interview available to all authors by selecting from the list of 55 questions offered on the website and coming up with (in Gary’s case) some great responses!
But before we move on to his choices let’s first take a look at the man himself. This profile picture was hand drawn recently without his permission. But, so taken with it was Gary that it now holds a place in his heart. The artist on the other hand can be found floating, face down, in a river somewhere for his crimes! (Kidding!!)
Gary has an Bsc, and an MSc. He is a Psychologist and a State Registered Psychotherapist. He is trained in Hypnotherapy, qualified in EMDR, is a Shamanic Practitioner and Western Rider… I think that lot simply means he’s a whole lot more intelligent than me! Here’s his author Bio…
Born in Manchester UK, my father was a travelling jazz drummer at the time, my mother, a record shop owner. After my father had a car accident he took over the business(es); he was a great entrepreneur, but a lousy administrator, we went from rags to riches, and back to rags, several times in my early life.
At 9 years old, just after his first bankruptcy, I went to boarding school, where I played in the bi-annual plays, started writing poetry, write my first short story and passed my first ‘O’ level, (Mathematics) at 14.
At 15 I transferred to the local grammar school, (we were now living in Blackpool), continued to appear often on stage and finished my regular schooling.
I then went to Aston University, (now Aston Business School), to take a BSc in Management Sciences, all the time continuing to haunt the Arts Centre and appear in various plays. I also started writing plays, both mysteries and musicals.
After graduation I had various jobs and passed some-time both in the US, (where I managed to get thrown out of Universal studios), and Canada, (where I once again appeared on stage).
While in Canada, I got the germ of an idea that eventually cumulated as an SF film script, ‘The Dream Machine’, (a virtual reality story finished in 1986).
On returning to the UK I undertook various trainings and worked in many areas, including that of a computer network administrator and programmer, and as a professional psychic.
In 1992 I decided to go live and work in the Findhorn Foundation, a spiritual community in the north of Scotland. There I met a Swiss medical student, who had come to visit for a weekend.
In 1995, at the age of 38, I moved to Switzerland, speaking very little French, I enrolled in the University of Lausanne to begin studying to be a psychologist. In the final year of the 4 year program, (at the time the degree was a 4 year ‘licence’ – part way between a BSc and a Masters), I also became qualified as a hypnotherapist and started my internship.
I had managed to continue to act during the first three years, and to write short stories and poems.
In 2001, I finished my ‘Maîtrise’ (MSc +), subject of my memoir – ‘the clinical benefits on groups of auto-hypnosis’.
It was my sessions of hypnosis with my patients that finally pushed me to write and publish my first book, Remember
. I was creating and repeating the same stories and hypnotic inductions, from patient to patient, it was then that I got the idea to start writing them down. After a while, it became logical to; compile the stories, transform the hypnotic inductions into a poetic form, add some personal and patient vignettes and a theoretical reflection.
My second book, Adventures With The Master
was also born out of a hypnotic induction. A patient asked me to help him confront a task that seemed impossibly difficult for him. Some-time later, my family was going round an outside sports / exercise track, (piste vita), my daughter started to complain that she couldn’t make it, so I told her the story. She agreed to continue to come the next week, but only if I continued with the story. So, by the end of the summer, the main characters and events were already created. It just took me another few years to find the time and the energy to write it all down and ‘fill in the gaps’.
I have now been working as a psychologist for 15 years, (state registered psychotherapist for 10 years), I work with Adults, Couples and Families in a transcultural setting, also run groups on finding and using inner resources and with horses. I have completed the 3 year advanced Shamanic Formation of the FSS, (Foundation for Shamanic Studies), been trained in EMDR, started western riding at 50, and now am the proud possessor of a ‘brevet de cavalier’, a sort of horse driving license. I am now training for a DAS, (Diploma of Advanced Studies), for a title of Therapist with Horses.
I am currently involved with two new writing projects; The Island of Serenity, (see www.islandofserenity.com) and a popular psychology book on the creation and functioning of the human psyche, ‘Picturing the Mind’.
So, Welcome Gary Edward Gedall to Rambling On… The floor is yours, take it away…
RO Q1: What are you currently working on and why should readers buy it?
GEG A1: My current work in progress, The Island of Serenity, (www.islandofserenity.com), is a story in three parts, (intermingled), of a man; that is about to commit suicide, because he has ‘screwed up his life and those of the people close to him’, of his arriving ‘somewhere in-between’, and having no choice but to accept to visit 7 islands, to learn lessons from each one, and finally, a monk enters into the lives of the people, and helps repair the messes left by the man.
This book, (without having to depend on the spiritual writings of others), leads the reader through the life of someone, to experience how we can manage to wreck our lives and those of the people we care about. Then, through many weird, wonderful, widely different types of experiences, how he / we can be different. Finally, how someone who has already followed that initiatic path, can share his knowledge and energy to help others to correct their own lives
RO Q2: What is your motivation for writing?
GEG A2: have so much that I wish / need to share.
Writing; is a need, a drug, a suffering, a spiritual experience, an orgasmic pleasure.
RO Q3: How many books have you written and what are they called?
GEG A3: I have two published books; Remember, (stories and poems for self-help and self-development), and Adventures With The Master. I have also, ‘The Tales of Peter of Pixie’, written but not published. I also have two books half written, ‘The Island of Serenity’ and ‘Picturing the Mind’, (a popular psychology book).
RO Q4: How do you research your work?
GEG A4: My writing comes first from my own experiences; both lived events, (things I’ve done, people I’ve met and places I’ve been to), but also dreamed up people and situations, plus the books I’ve read and films I’ve watched. This has been further fed during the last 16 years by my patients, who fill me on a daily basis with their life stories – thank you.
From these starting points, my stories are already pretty much prewritten before I even think to sit and write. So there is no ‘pre-writing’ stage of research.
During the actual writing process, I sometimes realize that there are is / are details that I don’t know, or are not sure of. (For instance, Adventures with the Master is set in Tibet, I have no knowledge of their lives, names, customs, food etc.).
In these circumstances I do what everyone else does, I ‘google’ the internet, read Wikipedia and generally surf until I find that which I am looking for.
RO Q5: What are your three most prized possessions?
GEG A5: My two children and my wife, (should that be written differently? – only if she sees it first)
RO Q6: How do you get in the mood to write?
GEG A6: If I’m not too tired, and if I have the time, I just wait or do something else. However, writing does take a certain discipline, and as I have a more than full time job, family etc., being in the mood or not, I often just force myself to sit down and write.
RO Q7: What genres do you write, what made you choose them?
GEG A7: I do / did not choose the genres in which I write – they choose themselves. Not that I don’t take responsibility for what I write, but my unconscious / muse / channel, controls what I write – I’m just the muggings that is forced to spend hours and hours in front of the screen typing the stuff out.
Being a; psychologist / psychotherapist, hypnotherapist, shamanic practitioner, spiritual seeker, comic, etc., it is clear that a lot of my energy veers towards personal and spiritual developmental themes.
However, I have also written a book of children’s stories, an SF film script, several musical plays, (all sadly lost), and have a wide range of general fiction projects awaiting the time, energy and space to realize.
RO Q8: What star sign are you and what do you think that says about your character?
GEG A8: Having studied, (a little), astrology, I must take the liberty to talk about my astrological chart, one’s sun sign is much too limited to have much sense.
My Sun is in Pisces, linked to my Mercury and Venus and opposing Jupiter on my mid-heaven; this makes for someone that cares deeply for others, spiritual, with a very activated mind, including the creativity of artists, writers and actors. It can also lead to being a bit ‘wishy-washy’, confused, head in the clouds, not very grounded nor affirmed. My Sun is also squared by Saturn, which can either, (& / or), bring me form and structure or sever limitations in my manhood, thinking and loving functions. The Jupiter on the mid-heaven can bring luck, expansion, optimism and a sense of fun, but also false confidence and impossible, grandiose ideas.
The other two main elements are my ‘rising sign / ascendant’ – Scorpio, which can be nasty and spiteful but also brings the possibility of deep insights and the understanding of others. And Mars on the descendant – which can be linked to aggression and violence but also can bring a laser energy to get up and get stuff done.
To say that at some time I’ve been all of the above, might seem like a simple way to answer this question, but we are all of who we are, and it is only situations and circumstances that dictate which, of the many facets of ourselves we express.
I have been a salesman, actor, computer programmer / network administrator, professional psychic, administrator, now psychologist and always, a writer – (to list but the major activities).
RO Q9: When was your profile picture taken and why did you choose it?
GEG A9: My profile picture is a portrait offered to me a few weeks back, taken off, (without my knowledge or permission), from one of my youtube uploads. I have put it up as my profile picture on FB, not only because it is a passible likeness, with a nice dose of whimsy, but as an acknowledgement of the quality of the artist, both for her drawing talent and for who she is as a human being.
RO Q10: If you had the power to change one thing in the world, what would it be? (Gerald Freeman)
GEG A10: I would wish for curses and blessings on any person involved in child abuse.
The curse would be that anything bad that they would be about to inflict on any child, bounce back onto them instead.
The blessing would be that those that could abuse children, due to their own abusive childhoods, be cured of their emotional wounds and trauma, hence removing any impulse to hurt children, in any circumstances, in their turn.
SD Comment: Gary, thank you so much for submitting to Rambling On… Readers who have enjoyed this interview may also be interested in the Matt Pallamary interview. Matt is a very well renowned Shamanic Healer and was Emmy Nominated in the US. Given Gary’s response to his selected final question, let’s also raise awareness of the fantastic charity, the NSPCC, please give their website a look and consider donating using the following link;
National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children
If you would like to find out more about Gary’s works or wish to download a copy of one of his books then why not visit his Amazon pages as follows;
US Amazon Page – Gary Edward Gedall
UK Amazon Author Page – Gary Edward Gedall
Simon Duringer is both a Goodreads Indie author and Independent Interviewer. Simon’s most recent book is The Word: The Best of Simon’s 10Q Interviews, featuring 28 equally interesting and exciting interviews, with some great names in the literary trade from both sides of the fence (Indie and Traditionally Published). It is available on Kindle, Prime (#Free) and Paperback. Links to Simon’s Amazon Author Page are as follows;
UK Link – Simon Duringer Author Page
US Link – Simon Duringer Author Page
Simons 10 Q Interviews was a Finalist in the U.K. Blogging Awards 2014.
