Ray Stone's Blog: A blog for everyone, page 19
February 9, 2015
A great twist
UPDATE. I have had a producer accept the contract for Twisted Wire audio. Martin Colville of Morr Productions will be narrating and I am really excited. Hopefully I should get the 15 minute demo within a few weeks and production can commence. We are also going to produce my novels in a small er book form at a lower price for readers. A good start to the week and time for…a cup of tea and some sponge cake.
Amber, Amber on the wall
I have already reached chapter ten of Amber, Amber… (already written) and the editing is going well despite having to change the sub plot. It’s going well. Also have put Twisted Wire up for offer on audio so hopefully I should have a producer soon. FREE on Amazon, UK as well as USA.Twisted Wire has been downloaded over 500 times in 14 days at Barnes & Noble and going strong on Amazon – 1500 in same period. Thanks guys for your continued support. It makes it worthwhile, the Scotch and wine I have to medicate on.
February 8, 2015
Making sense of words
A good piece of advice I gave to a writer today while editing.
Imagine a screwed up piece of paper in your pocket that has an address on it and you can only see half the street name. You take the paper ball and you lay it on a table and then smooth it out so you can read it. That’s what we are doing with this story. We are condensing and smoothing and making sense of words, and emerging from this is a wonderful reading experience.
February 6, 2015
Bal Maid a-knocking
Shortly the Story Mint will be entering new phase that a lot of talented authors will welcome. Writers will now get the chance to write their own complete serial week by week starting with a preface. The preface for the first serial has already been posted on this site. Another unique twist (no pun intended) is that the same preface will be used for the same serial but be authored as always by ten authors. Both serial will run side by side.
Great Condurrow
With great excitement I set about putting my business in order and after two hectic days I took delivery of one large leather chest containing all my belongings, sent by night coach from Denton Bowes.
Later as I boarded the Hansom Cab for Paddington station outside the King’s Head, the innkeeper’s large jovial wife hurriedly pushed a small picnic parcel tied up neatly with a red and white cloth into my hands while my chest was loaded.
“Eleven hours stopping at all stations and only two stops for your ablutions, Master Jeddler. You’ll need the food to calm your nerves.” Shadbroke the innkeeper shook his large bald head and placed both hands on his hips. “Iron steam trains…whatever next. You mark my words, they won’t last. They scare the horses too much.”
An hour later I found myself sitting comfortably inside a brightly decorated Great Western Railway carriage. Two years earlier in 1867, a new through train service began running the 305 miles to Penzance twice a day.
With a small advance of twenty pounds from Mr. Crumley I decided to spend six pounds and ten pence on a first class ticket. Sitting in the second class open carriages in October meant an uncomfortable journey, especially in inclement weather.
“Are you going all the way, Sir?”
Thoughts of my recent activities evaporated immediately as a gruff voice drew my gaze from the passing autumnal countryside.
“Yes,” I replied, smiling broadly. “Arthur Jeddler.”
“Edwin Malby.” He offered long bony fingers that gripped me tightly as we shook.
My companion was an elderly gentleman dressed smartly in morning coat. On his lap lay a copy of The Times and by his side on the next seat, a splendid top hat. He raised his hand slowly and brushed a rather fine white handle-bar moustache first one way and then the other with an upturned knuckle.
His dark eyes looked steadily into mine. “You are in business then.”
It was more an observation rather than an enquiry as he studied my attire, nodding.
“Tin, Sir,” I stated cheerfully. “An inheritance…I am to inspect my mine and profit from it hopefully.”
The man’s demeanour changed, giving me cause for concern. His eyes narrowed, half covered as they did so by thick bushy eyebrows. He tapped the newspaper on his lap and then pointed a trembling finger.
“Great Condurrow. News of you posted here, Sir. A cursed affair, Sir…a cursed affair,” he said angrily.
Taken aback, I asked politely for an explanation as to his concern.
“I am the chairman of the ‘Amalgamated Tin Mine Association.’ Silas Dench was a greedy man. His memory is stained with the suffering of so many he failed to care for properly.”
Despite further attempts to draw more from him, he preferred to snap the newspaper open with a loud crack and bury his head behind it.
A still dark cloud quickly descended, enveloping me for the rest of the journey as we clattered noisily along the rails.
February 4, 2015
The Verdict – by Gabrielle Burt
Jenna was stunned.
Her mother’s words, although mumbled, had been clear. But they hadn’t sunk in at first and she’d buzzed for the nurse again!
As she struggled to pull herself together, two nurses bustled into the small room, but her mother was blissfully unconsciousness again and had lost the harrowed expression of a moment ago.
“She opened her eyes again…and spoke to me. I need some air!” Jenna rushed her excuse and fled down the corridor. She had to get away to think.
Outside, in the hospital’s leafy courtyard, she wiped the tears and mascara away. Eyes closed, she saw him lying beside their kitchen bench; his lifeblood escaping – spreading across his blue shirt and dripping into a viscous pool on the polished wooden floor. She hadn’t meant to kill him. Just stop him hurting her mother. Gulping, heaving sobs racked her body. How could he not be her father?
It was obvious now, her ‘perfect family’ had been an illusion – but was it also a front? For something more sinister? “Tell no one…trust no one.” That had been clear. A sense of deep foreboding gripped her and she felt very alone.
The writing on the back of the picture didn’t belong to either of her parents and was ragged where the photo had been torn. Initially she’d thought it was a gardening note and nothing to do with anything! ‘KG1’, and on the next piece it looked like ‘3 Sleepers’. Again her fingers brushed the malignant picture in her pocket.
Very carefully, she’d placed the pieces together, like a jigsaw. It then read, ‘KGB Sleepers’! That was spy talk! “Don’t be so stupid!” she scolded herself loudly, then looked around to make sure no one had heard. She was reassured when the person nearest remained hunched over his book and paid no attention.
Jenna pulled the torn fragments from her pocket and laid them together. She studied the faces looking at her across the years. Her mother looked so young. In her early twenties? Attractive, but serious and obviously fit. Uncle Nick was tall. He too looked very fit and relaxed as he held the small baby. The baby was her. Presumably her father was the photographer.
A sudden thought struck like a physical blow and she winced!
Uncle Nick had been around all her life. Her father had no other family – full stop! When she’d asked about his relations, he said they died ‘in the war’.
There was something else – unless they were travelling in the big blue and white car, on one of their road trips to somewhere remote, he only ever stayed two nights.
The night before he left, the adults always talked long into the night. Next morning he would be gone. He never wrote or telephoned between visits.
The courtyard was 28°celsius; hot and very still when Jenna began to shiver.
Her mother was American, her father English – but Uncle Nick’s accent was Central Europe!
click on the link to read more. http://www.thestorymint.com/serials/verdict
Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
By Free Books
Fall d...
Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
By Free Books
Fall down the rabbit hole with Alice. This is the classic “Alice in Wonderland,” 100% free, as it is a public domain book.
Download: epub mobi (Kindle) pdf more Online Reader
Price: Free!
Fiction » Children’s books » Classics
Published by JaMa Publishing
Published: Feb. 04, 2015
Words: 26,080
Language: English
ISBN: 9781311428837
Tags: childrens book classicsclassic literature alice in wonderlandpublic domain free book lewis carrollclassic story rabbit hole rabbithole
Freedom
By Robin Boney
The compilation of the FREEDOM series Part 1 – Part 5, is a book about life and death, truth and deception, bondage, secrets and freedom. It follows a slave family during the 1800s amid many trials and tribulations that they had to endure. And how it affects their present day family. In this book we see that freedom is not only a physical state but freedom is a state of mind.
Available formats: epub mobi pdf rtf lrf pdb txt html
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Price: $6.99 USD
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Fiction » African American fiction » Historical
Published: Feb. 04, 2015
Words: 88,150
Language: English
Tags: women african american historyblack slave slavery americanchristian past south
About Robin Boney
Robin J. Boney is an African-American single mother who was born in Bronx, New York and grew up partly in Warsaw, North Carolina. She currently resides in Norfolk VA. An ex-restaurant manager that is now in her late 40’s she enjoys writing and spreading Gods message. As her current work The Freedom Series came to her in a dream.
Magical Love
By Stephy Smith
Against Thaddeus Porter’s better judgment and by order of the clan’s witch, Thad enters the minds of a dark coven out to destroy the clan. The only way to save his people is to join forces with Greta Smith. Their energy is strong and dark evil is out to steal the souls of the caravan. Can their Magical Love conquer the jealousy, betrayal, and dark magic, and save their people? More
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Price: $2.99 USD
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Fiction » Romance » Historical
Fiction » Romance » Paranormal
Published by Astraea Press
Published: Feb. 04, 2015
Words: 41,580
Language: English
ISBN: 9781621353928
Tags: romance paranormal historicalwitch clean romance gypsysweet romance shuvihani
About Stephy Smith
Stephy Smith was born and raised in the Northwest Texas Panhandle. She owns and operates her own ranch. Stephy enjoys her family, country living and writing.
Fat Cat Wants Outside
Ten-year-old Fat Cat wants to go outside, but no one seems to understand her. Will she be ignored all day? Will she miss napping on her favorite porch chair? Find out how Fat Cat manages her latest adventure in “Fat Cat Wants Outside.”
Available formats: epub
Price: $0.99 USD
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Nonfiction » Children’s Books » Readers / Beginner
Nonfiction » Children’s Books » Animals / Cats
Published: Feb. 04, 2015
Words: 40
Language: English
Tags: cat adventure pet catbedtime childrens story children 0 to 7cat book for kids cat books for children
About Michelle Smith
Michelle received her undergraduate degree in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology in 1993 and a masters degree in Communication Disorders in 1995 from the University of Texas at Dallas. She completed her internship at Medical City Dallas Hospital and earned her Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC) in 1996 from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). Her most memorable case of therapy involved “Kay” – a two year old found a the bottom of a swimming pool. Seeing the dedication of Kay’s mother to the recovery of her severely brain damaged child, Michelle developed an early and profound respect for all Mothers. In 2000, Michelle took a break from working to start her own family, having three girls in five years. Immersed in all things “Mommy”, Michelle decided to write a book dedicated to people just like her: confused, amazed, exhausted, guilt-ridden, and baffled on what-to-do-next. Journey with her as she writes with empathy (“..while I write this very sentence, my child is trying to tear her crib apart in a raging, screaming, fit…”), dedication to getting tough (“Throw that guilt monster out the window, girlfriend!”) and a professional eye for what really works in toddler discipline. Teaming up with Dr. Rita Chandler, a Nationally Certified expert in behavior, Michelle decodes the technical aspect of steps to improving problem behavior, but stays devoted to teaching discipline techniques with the emotions of caregivers in mind.
Andrea – A Canal Zone Adventure
In the first of a series of books about a family of ex-patriots in the former American Canal zone, Andrea experiences peer pressure and bullying as she struggles to adjust to life away from Minnesota in a strange new country. More
Available formats: epub
Price: $0.99 USD
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Fiction » Young adult or teen » Adventure
Published by iCrew Digital Publishing
Published: Feb. 04, 2015
Words: 34,320
Language: English
ISBN: 9780986444920
Tags: pilot spanish latino minnesotacave maritime panama
About LaVonne Misner
LaVonne Misner was a professor at the University of Minnesota for fifteen years. In 1987, she and her husband sold their home, resigned from their respective work lives, purchased a 50 foot sailboat and began a worldly sailing adventure that lasted 6 1/2 years. They visited not only the popular well known destinations, but also remote areas where few tourists are ever seen. Following that adventure LaVonne wrote her memoir called “No More Mondays – a nautical odyssey.” Now she writes stories set in the many exotic countries she visited.
Presently she resides in San Diego with her husband and dog named Emma. She is a mother of a blended family of six, grandmother of nine and great grandmother of three.
Twisted Wire
Series: An Enda Osin Mystery , Book 2
By Ray Stone
Enda Osin loves political intrigue. An MI5 mole draws him to industrial espionage. The USA are building a hyper-speed rocket. Caught in a dangerous Russian plot with a cell of spies, he’s been duped into helping the Russians build the same craft while causing a disaster, endangering lives. With Jessica Du Ross, he must expose the Russians and help the US fly first. Less
Enda Osin, correspondent for the Herald, loves political intrigue. After receiving a strange telephone message he thinks is for someone else, he is quickly embroiled in murder, industrial espionage, and a race against time to prevent the world’s first hyper-speed aircraft from crashing. The head of a Russian spy cell knows enough about Enda to manipulate him into unknowingly deliver secret plans into Moscow’s hands. Involved in an unbelievably complex and clever plot, Enda and his wife, beautiful Jessica Du Ross and right-hand man, ‘Fish,’ find themselves on the run from the police and a ruthless Russian agent, Voss, who has orders to kill. In desperation, Enda looks to MI6 for help but is hampered in his quest to expose a mole within the British secret service. MI5 and MI6 are playing politics with each other and with Moscow in a power game to use the mole for their own purposes. In a final double twist, an agent returns to Moscow, Enda sends a gift to the Americans and ‘Fish’ reveals a shocking secret.
Cor! Another posh word.
February 1 – Merrium Webster – Word of the day
Ambient – audio pron \AM-bee-unt\
Share the Word of the Day
Definition
adjective
1 : existing or present on all sides : encompassing
2 : of electronic music : quiet and relaxing with melodies that repeat many times
Examples
The chemicals must be kept at an ambient temperature of 70 degrees.
“Liz Harris summons a wounded sound that suggests that ambient music, despite its intangibility, should be memorable.” — The Washington Post, December 28, 2014
Did You Know?
Biologists explore the effects of ambient light on plants; acoustics experts try to control ambient sound; and meteorologists study ambient pressure, air, or temperature. All this can make ambient seem like a technical term, but when it first saw light of day, that all-encompassing adjective was as likely to be used in poetry as in science. John Milton used it in Paradise Lost, and Alexander Pope wrote of a mountain “whose tow’ring summit ambient clouds conceal’d.” Both poets and scientists who use ambient owe a debt to the Latin verb ambire, meaning “to go around,” the grandparent of our English word.
February 1, 2015
CUT AWAY PASS
Written by: angelashaw
Angela Shaw is another good writer who has a wonderful talent for writing in all genres and in particular serials. Considering that none of the writers know what they are going to write before the previous chapter has been published shows how gifted some authors are. Even they don’t know how much until they try. The Story Mint is gaining popularity as the serials unfold on an almost daily basis. Try this chapter from Angela.
“The riders froze in shock”
Finally Ray, the leader, swung his leg over and loped to the ground. He casually pulled the reins over his horse’s head to rest on the ground and made his way over to the edge of the ridge. Holding his Stetson in place, he squinted through the heaving sleet and into the darkness beneath
“Shit.” He drawled heavily and spat onto the ground, looking at the wide eyes and drawn faces around him.
He strode over to the now rider-less horse and calmed him. Bounty had seemed solid, but the animal was anxious and frothy sweat was forming across his coat. This is not because he just lost his rider, thought Ray, looking back down the dark cliff.
The group came to life and Ray noted the rising pitch of the collective murmur. At least half of them were beginning to lose it, with the yellow-blonde, sixty-something from Florida seemingly the ring leader.
“We need to go down there, Ray,” she screeched, unable to process what she had just seen and making a move to dismount.
“Stay in your saddle!” Ray said, a little too loudly, but serving its purpose. The blonde tucked her chin in with annoyance, white knuckled as she grabbed her reins more tightly.
Ray knew that there was no way that rider had survived the fall.
He raised his hand to quieten the group as he inspected Bounty’s tack. The horse began to snort and move uncomfortably as he ran his hand over his coat and towards the saddle. Ray felt a lump under the blanket and dislodged a bolt about the size of his little finger. A burning anger began in his gut as he tucked the bloody steel discreetly into his jeans pocket. It was a pretty inexperienced sabotage; but it was sabotage nonetheless. He studied each member of the group, looking for the slightest tell, but found nothing.
“We carry on,” he said gruffly, without raising his head. He moved more quickly to the two horses now under his manage. “I’ll call it into the ranger when we get to Pintler Hut.”
He tied Bounty’s reins to the saddle of his own horse and mounted, gearing it forward and up the track. He looked back at the group under the sodden brim of his hat, giving clear instruction to follow him.
As he rode, Ray turned his mind to the latest story doing the rounds at his local: talk of a new Peacock Ore find somewhere along this range. He hoped not. Copper had not been mined here since the eighties and even then the town had been one of production. A copper rush would bring an influx of desperate strangers, hungry for the iridescent sheen of the prized rock and the exhilaration of striking it rich.
He hunched down into his oilskin and hoped to hell he didn’t already have one amongst his group.
http://www.thestorymint.com/serials/cut-away-pass
January 31, 2015
The doctor calls on Monday – perhaps
I have been here now for a little under two months and glad I came as winter started here. Despite the cold evenings most days have been warm and sunny although we have had a couple of storms and once had hailstones for an hour. Cyprus has a wonderful varied climate throughout the year except July to September when the heat climbs to over 100. That sai
d, our villa is built in such a manner that the whole of the building opens up to the garden and pool via sliding doors everywhere. We also have air conditioning and fans but being so high up in the mountains and overlooking the vineyards across the valley we enjoy a year round breeze that comes in from the Med, some two miles away. I have always yearned for a quiet place far enough away from a town or city but close enough that facilities such as doctors and shopping centres are within easy reach. There are just two of us here on the main road that separates Polis, a charming seaside town, on one side of the hills from Peyia just below us and Pafos some further ten miles down the coast on the other. When I first drove up from Peyia I wondered if I would be able to master my fear of vertigo. The road is steep in places and twists are many. Coming around some bends the view is amazing but terrified me. After a few weeks I now whizz up and down without aa worry. Along the road from us, some 200 yards, is the entrance to Kathikas, our village. As said before the biggest difference between here and Malta has been the people. The Cypriots are so friendly and helpful and our landlords father, a village elder, hastaken it upon himself to visit the post office and pick up parcels for Mrellan. (Cloth, ribbon, 
strange tools etc for her hat making). A couple of days ago we decided on the wy back from a shopping trip to visit the village and find the post office so I could buy some stamps. The village is very traditional but it does have a small supermarket, a bank, a post office, a mayor’s office and a doctor’s surgery. These facilities are not what one would expect after living in the UK or the USA. The mayors office is attached to a coffee house and he has a staff of one. The supermarket is normally in darkness but the owner will turn the lights on as you step inside. The post office was an eye opener. There is no window display, just a large wooden door that opens when they are there. I was amused to see the sign that said opening hours were from 8.00 to 9.30 five days a week. That’s it! And next door was the doctor’s office. Again a plain brown door but no windows and he is in just once a week – if he thinks he is needed. Village life here is dominated by the men. They are hard working farming community and are busy right now plowing and preparing for spring. Most men have a small plot of land, as much as five acres on which they grow some fantastic fresh vegetables and salad crops. The rest of the area is given over to large vineyards. Fruit on the island is plentiful and one can in some places pluck oranges and lemons from trees by the roadside. Olives are abundant here too. I am looking forward to the spring and summer so I can work outside on the balcony. The view is something every author would love to enjoy and I cannot see myself ever moving again.
Another reason for looking forward to warmer weather is a trip I have promised Mrellan and our friend Irene. There is a coach trip in the summer that goes to the Turkish side 
and stops at Bellapais monastery and the beautiful small coastal town of Kyrenia. I have been myself when I originally holidayed here in ’74. I can’t wait to see what has happened there but hope the changes have been small. Another place we will be going is the Troodos forest and mountains and the highest point on the island, Mount Olympus. So as the winter progresses for another few weeks I have my studio to work in and a lot of work to get on with. I am excited at the prospect of working with another writer who wants me to help edit and now I am settled I have fiends in New Zealand, USA, UK, France, and Malta with whom I can Skype. The world outside may be quiet and away from the madding crowd but with technology I can still talk and enjoy company from around the world. I love where I am and look forward to writing for quite a few years to come. Thank you all for being my friends.
From Cyprus with love, Raymond
January 30, 2015
Deep River – Gregg Mattson
I’m standing on the shore of Snake River at Hell’s Canyon Dam Visitor Center. Cliff Mountain looms 1.8 Kilometers overhead, almost straight up. The May run-off from the mountains makes rafting from here one of the world’s most exciting white water trips. It’s my birthday on the second day of this six-day trip.
Since high school, Artie’s birthday gifts have been one stunning trip after another. One year we went to Switzerland to snowboard in the Alps, another we went scuba diving through the Great Barrier Reef. He always plans the trips and we go together. I’m scared of heights or water, not that I’ve confessed to this. He teases if I show I’m worried.
Artie and I met in grade school. He was sitting at the edge of the schoolyard eating his lunch. I heard someone say Artie thought he was better than everyone else because his daddy was rich. I just wanted someone to sit with, but nobody ever invited me. As usual, it was obvious my face, disfigured by a pre-school fire, was putting them off. Finally, I mustered the courage to sit with Artie. He didn’t seem bothered by how I looked. As we talked, I decided he wasn’t as bad as others thought. He called me Scarface. It was his joke. We started hanging out and our friendship grew over the years. His wealth and my scars …..
Artie gets into the raft. I hold back.
“Come Susan. They’re ready to leave,” he orders.
The pitch of his voice rises with his excitement.
Taking a deep breath, I cinch my life jacket buckles tight and climb in.
Bruce Jones, the Guide on this trip, hands me an oar saying, “When I say stroke, give it everything you have.”
The Guides launch our air-filled canvas rafts. There’s ours and two others. At orientation, they explained we travelled in groups for safety.
As the raft moves into the current, I grip the oar so tightly my knuckles go white. It offers me little comfort. The raft glides over the smooth water and I start to relax. The views are spectacular as we pass between the canyon walls. We float through basalt-crystal cliffs stretching up on either side and grassy-sided peaks cut deep by eroding tributaries. They are so high I get dizzy when I look up.
Artie, sitting on the next bench forward, turns around, “This is so cool,”
He bounces on his seat making the raft rock. I gasp at the sudden movement. Fear grips my stomach. Bruce scowls. Artie ignores him and informs me that the fun begins a few miles away where basalt dams and landslides have created turbulent rapids.
“The water’s higher this year,” he snickers. “That’ll make this ride even better.”
“I’d hate to think we’d do something boring,” I mumble.
As we head into the deepest chasm in North America to take on the wildest rapids he can find, Artie grins at me like a kid with a new toy.
Author: Gregg Mattson (USA)
– See more at: http://www.thestorymint.com/serials/deep-river#sthash.pAlImDvx.dpuf
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