Clare O'Beara's Blog, page 13
August 20, 2015
August at the Dublin Horse Show - Title Contest!
Every year I visit the famous Dublin Horse Show, though I no longer compete in showjumping. This year among other attractions the Royal Dublin Society hosted an exhibition marking the life of Tommy Brennan, a famous Irish showjumper and course builder of the past. I always take a look at the younger riders competing in the outer arenas, as well as the glossy international stars.
The summer weather has been mixed and I've got less done outdoors than I'd usually manage. On the other hand, I have had a great excuse to be indoors. This means writing!
Yes, the third in my science-fiction series is complete. To celebrate I made the first book DINING OUT AROUND THE SOLAR SYSTEM free for a weekend with hundreds of downloads. I hope you're enjoying the read, and do post a review! I also made the second book DINING OUT WITH THE ICE GIANTS available on Kindle Unlimited for the first time. So if you want to catch up with the story of journalists in a future London, dealing with space mining and the influx of residents from other planets, you can download and read for free if you are using this service.
CONTEST!
What is the next title? Currently this book is in editing stage so I can't say how soon it'll be released - but it won't be long. While I know the title, why not have a guess as to the name, or suggest your own title? Leave your suggestion as a comment below and I'll award a FREE BOOK to the best by release date.
Coming up in October will be Octocon, the Irish National Science Fiction Convention. Hope we can meet there and chat!
FREE READ of my 2014 award-winning crime short story 'London Calling' on the Simon and Schuster website:
http://the-dark-pages-blog.blogspot.i...
Check out my latest books, writing tips, puzzles and more on my website: http://www.clareobeara.ie
The summer weather has been mixed and I've got less done outdoors than I'd usually manage. On the other hand, I have had a great excuse to be indoors. This means writing!
Yes, the third in my science-fiction series is complete. To celebrate I made the first book DINING OUT AROUND THE SOLAR SYSTEM free for a weekend with hundreds of downloads. I hope you're enjoying the read, and do post a review! I also made the second book DINING OUT WITH THE ICE GIANTS available on Kindle Unlimited for the first time. So if you want to catch up with the story of journalists in a future London, dealing with space mining and the influx of residents from other planets, you can download and read for free if you are using this service.
CONTEST!
What is the next title? Currently this book is in editing stage so I can't say how soon it'll be released - but it won't be long. While I know the title, why not have a guess as to the name, or suggest your own title? Leave your suggestion as a comment below and I'll award a FREE BOOK to the best by release date.
Coming up in October will be Octocon, the Irish National Science Fiction Convention. Hope we can meet there and chat!
FREE READ of my 2014 award-winning crime short story 'London Calling' on the Simon and Schuster website:
http://the-dark-pages-blog.blogspot.i...
Check out my latest books, writing tips, puzzles and more on my website: http://www.clareobeara.ie
July 25, 2015
July in Dublin
We've had a good summer and I've been working on my latest book. This is the third in my science fiction series and has required a great deal of research. The good side is that I get to read a lot of fantastic non-fiction books. The bad side is that this keeps me indoors and some of the topics are the future of glaciers - shrinking fast - or the coming world shortage of water. Luckily I have some more cheerful books to read when I get weighted down by the future.
I supervised IT exams for a student with visual impairment. He was using a laptop to read and write. A program read his exam paper aloud to him from a flashdrive and he typed the answers, hearing the letters as he wrote. I'm delighted that such advances have made it possible for more people to pursue their ambitions. Also, I'm very much in awe of the determination of this student.
What's the most unusual or fun book you've read this year? In my case this would have to be the bronzepunk book 'Achilles versus Mecha-Hector' a retelling of the Trojan War. With crime noir, a mechanised repaired Hector and the odd god walking into the room. Fans of steampunk or historical crime stories will have great fun. In Young Adult fiction I thoroughly enjoyed 'False Idols', first in the Aeons series. If you want an action-filled SF short story, 'Taijiku' can hardly be bettered.
My cats are all enjoying the warmth while the redcurrants and loganberries are laden with fruit. I love berry bushes because they provide food for very little work or care, and the birds can get any surplus berries. Apparently the late summer is to be wet. I won't mind too much because I know some tremendous books are going to be released and I've got a comfy chair.
Coming up in October will be Octocon, the Irish National Science Fiction Convention. Hope we can meet there and chat!
FREE READ of my 2014 award-winning crime short story 'London Calling' on the Simon and Schuster website: http://the-dark-pages-blog.blogspot.i...
Check out my latest books, writing tips, puzzles and more on my website: http://www.clareobeara.ie
I supervised IT exams for a student with visual impairment. He was using a laptop to read and write. A program read his exam paper aloud to him from a flashdrive and he typed the answers, hearing the letters as he wrote. I'm delighted that such advances have made it possible for more people to pursue their ambitions. Also, I'm very much in awe of the determination of this student.
What's the most unusual or fun book you've read this year? In my case this would have to be the bronzepunk book 'Achilles versus Mecha-Hector' a retelling of the Trojan War. With crime noir, a mechanised repaired Hector and the odd god walking into the room. Fans of steampunk or historical crime stories will have great fun. In Young Adult fiction I thoroughly enjoyed 'False Idols', first in the Aeons series. If you want an action-filled SF short story, 'Taijiku' can hardly be bettered.
My cats are all enjoying the warmth while the redcurrants and loganberries are laden with fruit. I love berry bushes because they provide food for very little work or care, and the birds can get any surplus berries. Apparently the late summer is to be wet. I won't mind too much because I know some tremendous books are going to be released and I've got a comfy chair.
Coming up in October will be Octocon, the Irish National Science Fiction Convention. Hope we can meet there and chat!
FREE READ of my 2014 award-winning crime short story 'London Calling' on the Simon and Schuster website: http://the-dark-pages-blog.blogspot.i...
Check out my latest books, writing tips, puzzles and more on my website: http://www.clareobeara.ie
June 22, 2015
June in Scotland
I was in Scotland on holiday with my husband recently and came across a castle with a secondhand bookshop. Naturally this was a draw. I asked if they had a particular Hornblower book my husband wants to find. The gentleman in charge said he hadn't seen any for a long time. He went to check in the back room. He came out and said no, and older books coming in generally got pulped.
I said, let us know and we'll come over from Ireland and look. He took me in to the back room and showed me shelves full of shiny modern hardbacks, the quarter-tonne weight ones. Jeffrey Archer, John Grisham etc. I said, those are definitely not going to sell, they are too heavy. I produced my Kindle and told him I had 300 books on it.
Then I found a Gillian Baxter pony book as a hardback, with a paper cover showing the kids on ponies in the days before they had to wear hard hats. This was sitting in a box on the floor with several other weary looking hardbacks of nondescript type. Rather than let this lovely book I hadn't read get pulped, I bought it for a pound.
West coast Scotland is beautiful and between rural areas, picturesque villages and rugged coastline, there are wonderful sights. We visited Ayrshire and saw the harbour town of Girvan, a major distillery, the island Ailsa Craig which is the remnants of a volcano, and Culzean Castle, a stately home now operated by the National Trust. We saw several strutting pheasants, as well as birds of prey and jellyfish. This is not an expensive part of the world if you stay and eat locally rather than in more impressive establishments - Culzean Castle is partly operated as a hotel and their menu starts at twenty-seven pounds for a cream tea. Luckily the National Trust operates a separate café in the former stable yard.
FREE READ of my 2014 award-winning crime short story 'London Calling' on the Simon and Schuster website: http://the-dark-pages-blog.blogspot.i...
Check out my latest books, writing tips, puzzles and more on my website: http://www.clareobeara.ie
I said, let us know and we'll come over from Ireland and look. He took me in to the back room and showed me shelves full of shiny modern hardbacks, the quarter-tonne weight ones. Jeffrey Archer, John Grisham etc. I said, those are definitely not going to sell, they are too heavy. I produced my Kindle and told him I had 300 books on it.
Then I found a Gillian Baxter pony book as a hardback, with a paper cover showing the kids on ponies in the days before they had to wear hard hats. This was sitting in a box on the floor with several other weary looking hardbacks of nondescript type. Rather than let this lovely book I hadn't read get pulped, I bought it for a pound.
West coast Scotland is beautiful and between rural areas, picturesque villages and rugged coastline, there are wonderful sights. We visited Ayrshire and saw the harbour town of Girvan, a major distillery, the island Ailsa Craig which is the remnants of a volcano, and Culzean Castle, a stately home now operated by the National Trust. We saw several strutting pheasants, as well as birds of prey and jellyfish. This is not an expensive part of the world if you stay and eat locally rather than in more impressive establishments - Culzean Castle is partly operated as a hotel and their menu starts at twenty-seven pounds for a cream tea. Luckily the National Trust operates a separate café in the former stable yard.
FREE READ of my 2014 award-winning crime short story 'London Calling' on the Simon and Schuster website: http://the-dark-pages-blog.blogspot.i...
Check out my latest books, writing tips, puzzles and more on my website: http://www.clareobeara.ie
May 21, 2015
May
I enjoy supervising exams in an adult education college in Dublin at this time of year. Invigilation brings me into contact with students from all walks of life, in careers and out, and exposes me to subjects and careers I would not deal with normally. Anything from child psychology to cost accounting to international business marketing is on the table! Authors need to shake up their concepts and stores of information regularly; this is a great way to do it.
While I was busy for those weeks, I found my characters were hopping up and down, calling for attention. They don't like being abandoned in the middle of a book. I'm back to telling their story now; being a novelist has its hazards. Short stories are much neater because you can cut them cleanly.
Review books have been piling up here but I'm reading happily, fact and fiction, savouring the style and content. I'm also enjoying some of my favourite authors. Following a comment from a reader, I will add that I always make a mention if a story has adult content. A story may be a Young Adult book but I'll say if I believe discretion is advised when giving it to a young teen. Everyone has a different reading level during teen years.
FREE READ of my 2014 award-winning crime short story 'London Calling' on the Simon and Schuster website: http://the-dark-pages-blog.blogspot.i...
Check out my latest books, writing tips, puzzles and more on my website: http://www.clareobeara.ie
While I was busy for those weeks, I found my characters were hopping up and down, calling for attention. They don't like being abandoned in the middle of a book. I'm back to telling their story now; being a novelist has its hazards. Short stories are much neater because you can cut them cleanly.
Review books have been piling up here but I'm reading happily, fact and fiction, savouring the style and content. I'm also enjoying some of my favourite authors. Following a comment from a reader, I will add that I always make a mention if a story has adult content. A story may be a Young Adult book but I'll say if I believe discretion is advised when giving it to a young teen. Everyone has a different reading level during teen years.
FREE READ of my 2014 award-winning crime short story 'London Calling' on the Simon and Schuster website: http://the-dark-pages-blog.blogspot.i...
Check out my latest books, writing tips, puzzles and more on my website: http://www.clareobeara.ie
April 15, 2015
April
I'm having a busy month so far. I'm writing SF, keeping up to my garden and attending lots of talks and social events, some focused on books.
Recently I went to an author interview with Roddy Doyle whose Barrytown Trilogy is part of UNESCO's One City One Book event. This has been running for several years and aims to bring a Dublin author or book to everyone's attention at the same time. Previous years have looked at Sebastian Barry's Ghostlight, Bram Stoker's Dracula and James Plunkett's Strumpet City. Roddy Doyle was a schoolteacher when he sat down to write about Dublin council estate kids in The Commitments, which was followed by The Snapper and The Van. These books are mentioned in my first SF work Dining Out Around The Solar System. Separately, I attended a celebration for fifty years of the Royal Dublin Society's library building.
I also enjoyed a talk on Climate-Smart Agriculture in the RDS. This brought expert farmers from New Zealand and Ireland to debate how farmers, dairy and beef producers in particular, can plant trees to offset climate heating gases and take other measures to help abate climate change problems. Adding more fibrous matter to the soil, avoiding winter poaching of the soil and smart buildings that reduce power needs are all helpful, as is bringing fodder from close by instead of long distances. I took the opportunity of the question time to make a plea for tree planting to consider biodiversity. A stand of pinus radiata or sitka spruce is a dark and sterile environment. A better idea is to mix trees including native trees, and to plant a soft edging of native shrubs like elder and hawthorn. This will increase the biodiversity present tenfold.
As always I have a wonderful bundle of books to read for review, and I'm having great fun researching my own next book. Enjoy your spring and keep reading!
Check out my latest books, writing tips, puzzles and more on my website: http://www.clareobeara.ie
Recently I went to an author interview with Roddy Doyle whose Barrytown Trilogy is part of UNESCO's One City One Book event. This has been running for several years and aims to bring a Dublin author or book to everyone's attention at the same time. Previous years have looked at Sebastian Barry's Ghostlight, Bram Stoker's Dracula and James Plunkett's Strumpet City. Roddy Doyle was a schoolteacher when he sat down to write about Dublin council estate kids in The Commitments, which was followed by The Snapper and The Van. These books are mentioned in my first SF work Dining Out Around The Solar System. Separately, I attended a celebration for fifty years of the Royal Dublin Society's library building.
I also enjoyed a talk on Climate-Smart Agriculture in the RDS. This brought expert farmers from New Zealand and Ireland to debate how farmers, dairy and beef producers in particular, can plant trees to offset climate heating gases and take other measures to help abate climate change problems. Adding more fibrous matter to the soil, avoiding winter poaching of the soil and smart buildings that reduce power needs are all helpful, as is bringing fodder from close by instead of long distances. I took the opportunity of the question time to make a plea for tree planting to consider biodiversity. A stand of pinus radiata or sitka spruce is a dark and sterile environment. A better idea is to mix trees including native trees, and to plant a soft edging of native shrubs like elder and hawthorn. This will increase the biodiversity present tenfold.
As always I have a wonderful bundle of books to read for review, and I'm having great fun researching my own next book. Enjoy your spring and keep reading!
Check out my latest books, writing tips, puzzles and more on my website: http://www.clareobeara.ie
March 15, 2015
March
St. Patrick's Day has been turned into a four-day festival in Dublin, so there is great value for tourists and plenty of cultural events, parades, fun and good company. To celebrate I've set up some of my books as free on Amazon. I've already given away Murder At Irish Mensa at the start of March.
Rodeo Finn is free from March 15 - 17. This YA book tells of an Irish girl who gets the chance to spend summer on her uncle's ranch in Arizona, riding horses and working cattle.
Dining Out Around The Solar System Part One is free from March 15 - 17. This is the early part of my story of two young journalists in a future London, one of them Irish. Suitable for YA or adults.
Silks And Sins is free from March 21 - 22. This is an adult romance set in the world of flat racing and riding schools in Ireland.
When you have read a book, please consider leaving a review. This doesn't have to be long, just an aid to the next reader as to what you liked or did not like. A person recently decided to review some of my books by saying that she had not read them but she didn't think she would like them! This is hilarious and I am sure anyone could do better than that.
Check out my latest books, writing tips, puzzles and more on my website: http://www.clareobeara.ie
Rodeo Finn is free from March 15 - 17. This YA book tells of an Irish girl who gets the chance to spend summer on her uncle's ranch in Arizona, riding horses and working cattle.
Dining Out Around The Solar System Part One is free from March 15 - 17. This is the early part of my story of two young journalists in a future London, one of them Irish. Suitable for YA or adults.
Silks And Sins is free from March 21 - 22. This is an adult romance set in the world of flat racing and riding schools in Ireland.
When you have read a book, please consider leaving a review. This doesn't have to be long, just an aid to the next reader as to what you liked or did not like. A person recently decided to review some of my books by saying that she had not read them but she didn't think she would like them! This is hilarious and I am sure anyone could do better than that.
Check out my latest books, writing tips, puzzles and more on my website: http://www.clareobeara.ie
February 20, 2015
February
I want to share a great fun video clip which was produced as a fundraiser in Britain: climbing the Shard, Britain's tallest building. This is the London of my science fiction, with extraordinary architecture ranging from Tower Bridge to the City and Canary Wharf skyscrapers in these shots. If you've only read Regency romances set in London, you should check out this astonishing city.
http://rednoseday.pgtips.co.uk/
Recently I visited Dublin City FM which is an established community-based radio station, presenting all kinds of minority interests. There are two books shows and plenty of music types, with sports, cultural and ethnic coverage. I enjoyed the visit thoroughly, meeting the directors, presenters and producers. I learned about radio journalism and the trend in recording and editing sound clips on smartphones. Radio is completely high tech and fast-paced nowadays, and listeners expect high standards.
Seen any signs of spring yet? My crocuses are just starting to show flowers now, so it won't be long before the weather is warmer. Check out my latest books, writing tips, puzzles and more on my website: http://www.clareobeara.ie
http://rednoseday.pgtips.co.uk/
Recently I visited Dublin City FM which is an established community-based radio station, presenting all kinds of minority interests. There are two books shows and plenty of music types, with sports, cultural and ethnic coverage. I enjoyed the visit thoroughly, meeting the directors, presenters and producers. I learned about radio journalism and the trend in recording and editing sound clips on smartphones. Radio is completely high tech and fast-paced nowadays, and listeners expect high standards.
Seen any signs of spring yet? My crocuses are just starting to show flowers now, so it won't be long before the weather is warmer. Check out my latest books, writing tips, puzzles and more on my website: http://www.clareobeara.ie
January 21, 2015
January
Happy New Year to all book lovers, and I wish you a happy, healthy and prosperous 2015.
For the new year I have a new Web Address.
http://www.clareobeara.ie
This simpler address should make finding my site easier. Come along and check it out... you can see my latest releases in various genres, enjoy puzzles and jigsaws, download printable bookmarks and sign up for an author's newsletter with subscriber prizes.
Fantasy and science fiction anthology Dreamless Roads - a fantasy anthology has been doing well - I contribute two short stories to this great fun collection.
During winter I was snowed under with new releases to review and I'm still enjoying working through them. Crime, science fiction, historical romance and young adult horse books, as well as factual books and hard science have been crossing this desk.
I'm also researching and working on the third in my series DINING OUT AROUND THE SOLAR SYSTEM. This series is set in a dystopian future not too far from now. The main characters are journalists, who observe the effect on the people of London of asteroid mining which uses a shuttle base at Stansted Airport.
To help readers get started on this SF series, I am releasing the first section of the first book, as cheaply as Amazon Kindle will allow. This is called Dining Out Around The Solar System, PART ONE. Readers who find this book interesting can go on to buy the full-length version. Second in the series is called Dining Out With The Ice Giants and each book can be read as a standalone.
Enjoy your reading in January, and remember that a review helps both readers and authors.
For the new year I have a new Web Address.
http://www.clareobeara.ie
This simpler address should make finding my site easier. Come along and check it out... you can see my latest releases in various genres, enjoy puzzles and jigsaws, download printable bookmarks and sign up for an author's newsletter with subscriber prizes.
Fantasy and science fiction anthology Dreamless Roads - a fantasy anthology has been doing well - I contribute two short stories to this great fun collection.
During winter I was snowed under with new releases to review and I'm still enjoying working through them. Crime, science fiction, historical romance and young adult horse books, as well as factual books and hard science have been crossing this desk.
I'm also researching and working on the third in my series DINING OUT AROUND THE SOLAR SYSTEM. This series is set in a dystopian future not too far from now. The main characters are journalists, who observe the effect on the people of London of asteroid mining which uses a shuttle base at Stansted Airport.
To help readers get started on this SF series, I am releasing the first section of the first book, as cheaply as Amazon Kindle will allow. This is called Dining Out Around The Solar System, PART ONE. Readers who find this book interesting can go on to buy the full-length version. Second in the series is called Dining Out With The Ice Giants and each book can be read as a standalone.
Enjoy your reading in January, and remember that a review helps both readers and authors.
December 20, 2014
December
Great news, the fantasy and science fiction anthology DREAMLESS ROADS has been released by Dreamworlds Publishing. Edited by Jan Hawke and Sue Bridgwater, this book is a collaborative effort by all of us authors. I have contributed two short fantasy stories. My favourite read is the entertaining SF story 'Pest Problems' by Arthur Daigle because I love SF. Which is your favourite? The book is available on Amazon as a paperback and will be an e-book also.
Sign up to my seasonal newsletter to win prizes and find out all about my work. Just check out my website for the signup sheet; the link is in my author details. My site also contains lots of fun stuff for readers and a page for independent writers.
I'd like to wish all Goodreads members a happy Christmas and New Year season, with safe travels and many great books. I've decided on my New Year Resolutions and I'll tell you about them in January.
Sign up to my seasonal newsletter to win prizes and find out all about my work. Just check out my website for the signup sheet; the link is in my author details. My site also contains lots of fun stuff for readers and a page for independent writers.
I'd like to wish all Goodreads members a happy Christmas and New Year season, with safe travels and many great books. I've decided on my New Year Resolutions and I'll tell you about them in January.
November 14, 2014
November
Newsflash -
My recent Young Adult release has gone straight to the top!
SHOW JUMPING TEAM is Number One Bestseller in the category Children's Miscellaneous Sports on Amazon.co.UK.
As this book was taking off so fast, I brought forward the release of my second YA book RODEO FINN about an Irish girl who gets to ride horses in Arizona for the summer.
As always you can find out more on my website which also has puzzles and printable horsey bookmarks.
My recent Young Adult release has gone straight to the top!
SHOW JUMPING TEAM is Number One Bestseller in the category Children's Miscellaneous Sports on Amazon.co.UK.
As this book was taking off so fast, I brought forward the release of my second YA book RODEO FINN about an Irish girl who gets to ride horses in Arizona for the summer.
As always you can find out more on my website which also has puzzles and printable horsey bookmarks.
