R J Askew ~ One Swift Summer

[R.J.]

Now that pirate cld have a copy of my lastest ebook any day of the week!

[R.J.]

RECOMMENDED EATING TO GO WITH MY NEW NOVELLA - IN THE ROOM WITH THREE DOORS - WHICH HAS A STRONG WATERCRESS THEME - PEAR, GORGONZOLA AND WATERCRESS SALAD

Ingredients
2x85g bags watercress
2 tbsp sherry vinegar
4 tbsp cranberry juice
75g pack dried cranberries
75ml walnut oil
50ml groundnut oil
juice of 1 lemon
salt and freshly ground black pepper
4 ripe pears, halved and cored
180g gorgonzola picante
50g roasted hazelnuts, chopped
Method
Preheat the grill to a moderate heat.
Heat the vinegar, cranberry juice and dried cranberries in a saucepan over a low heat until the cranberries have plumped up, then allow to cool.
Chop half of the soaked cranberries and set aside. Place the remaining cranberries in a food processor with the walnut and groundnut oils, lemon juice and seasoning. Process until smooth.
Place some crumbled gorgonzola on top of the pear halves. Place under the preheated grill and cook until slightly coloured.
Toss the watercress in the cranberry dressing, and sprinkle over the roasted hazelnuts and reserved cranberries. Place the warm pear halves on top, drizzle over more dressing and serve. .. as your book group settles down to discuss IN THE ROOM WITH THREE DOORS

[Gingerlily - The Full Wild]

Does it have to be read in a room with 3 doors?

[R.J.]

Nope, there can be as many doors as you like, none even. I'd recommend reading at al fresco at a favourite cafe of your choice. Because there are only 23,000 words one long session - you may have to have treat yourself to a 2nd latte - might work.

[David]

I haven't the speed of wit to join in here, nor aptly honed turns of phrase, but your books are now on my to read list :~)

[R.J.]

David wrote: "I haven't the speed of wit to join in here, nor aptly honed turns of phrase, but your books are now on my to read list :~)"

Hi David .. I've just downloaded your Fuel to the Fire on the strength of Kath's review, as I know her judgment is spot on. It may be a couple of weeks before I can read it though. I want to know about that black dragon and sample some good language. Which hills do you walk among?
brgds
Ron Askew

[David]

Thanks for the download, appreciated. I may be more than a couple of weeks before getting to yours, but I do intend to read at some point, I like your writing style.

Mostly I walk among the northern end of the Derbyshire Peaks. Edale, Castleton, and the moorland around Derwent and Chatsworth.

[R.J.]

Thanks for that.

I'm from N.Lancs, but now live in Herts. I miss the Pennines and Cumbria. Must get back up there one day. A 9 mile yomp through the rape and bareley fields around here isn't enough!

[Marc]

R.J. wrote: "Thanks for that.

I'm from N.Lancs, but now live in Herts. I miss the Pennines and Cumbria. Must get back up there one day. A 9 mile yomp through the rape and bareley fields around here isn't eno..."

I'm far too urban to go yomping or scrumping or whatever it's called. What's the point of a walk if there's no purposeful destination at the end of it (and no, a pub doesn't count!)

Good luck with the book Ron

[David]

Yep. Love Cumbria too, and have enjoyed many a camping holiday by the side of Coniston water.

[R.J.]

Marc wrote: "R.J. wrote: "Thanks for that.

I'm from N.Lancs, but now live in Herts. I miss the Pennines and Cumbria. Must get back up there one day. A 9 mile yomp through the rape and bareley fields around h..."

Cheers Marc, may I hereby invite you to stray out my way for a short walk around the Gorhambury estate. We have some fine Roman relics to pore over - including some exceptionally fine lead coffins (occupied). I agree a pub is not necessary. But we cld devise all manner of mutually beneficial book selling gambits while perambulating. And a slow burn in the open might inspire a flash fiction - on the nature of walking even. 20 mins from West Hampstead. Name your day.

[R.J.]

The man in the red armchair http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGdGFt... gets an honourable mention in IN THE ROOM WITH THREE DOORS which was originally set to be a dark tale of bondage but emerged as something a little more imaginative - and far more pleasurable to write. Fare thee well, darkside. I'd rather be on the brightside.

[David]

Urban Marc, the destination is the glorious view around each and every turn, Or the kingfisher sparkling through dappled light that glimmers on Derwent river.

[R.J.]

David wrote: "Urban Marc, the destination is the glorious view around each and every turn, Or the kingfisher sparkling through dappled light that glimmers on Derwent river."

Bravo! May is such a beautiful month to be out, also. New leaves are a joy. I was up close and personal with a beech tree last week. The leaves were almost translucent, perfect, not a mark on them. They even has tiny green hairs. And to think we all start out like that. Right now I'm excitedly waiting for the swifts to get back here. Won't be long.

[Marc]

David wrote: "Urban Marc, the destination is the glorious view around each and every turn, Or the kingfisher sparkling through dappled light that glimmers on Derwent river."

I write to a soundtrack of sirens and breaking glass

[R.J.]

Hurrah, swifts back over St. Albans .. the shrill sound of summer .. always a key moment for me .. Remember this >> http://amzn.to/RqPhyv ?

[R.J.]

I confess, this indie author biz drives some of us to acts of extreme and humiliating desperation. The tweet below is a relatively mild example of this wannabe mania. I tweet you not, I have been known to hit the #Stalbans #communter on #FCC into London.

Rainy day #mustread from #Stalbans author>> http://amzn.to/1nkEHXz << or >> http://amzn.to/1fR8wMR << #Elevenses

[R.J.]

Please cld you tell me your thoughts on the front cover of my new story IN THE ROOM WITH THREE DOORS

I had a designer work on it, but was not happy with her designs which looked like every other indie book cover. I wanted her to lead me, but ended up with a retro tombstone cover based on my own original ideas. And I am noooo designer. Is it rubbish? Or wld you want to check it out? IN THE ROOM WITH THREE DOORS is a novella about 3 kids escaping the London success trap for the watercress beds of Hants.

All comments welcome. Thanks very much.

[Kath]

It's clear and legible but it doesn't scream teenagers to me, Ron.

[R.J.]

Txs for that Kath. The threesome are all 25. But I admit the cover does not scream 25 either.

I'd hoped the designer wld lead me but it didn't work that way.

Txs again.

[David]

I've always thought it best to keep it simple rather than risk a poorly designed cover. It's ambiguous and if on a tabletop or front facing shelf, it would encourage me by the title alone to pick it up and see what it was about. For me, it is then down to the writing style, if I like that, I'm in.

[Kath]

Ah. It was the words kids that threw me. I admit, though, that the older I get, the more 25 year-olds seem like kids! ;)

[R.J.]

David wrote: "I've always thought it best to keep it simple rather than risk a poorly designed cover. It's ambiguous and if on a tabletop or front facing shelf, it would encourage me by the title alone to pick i..."

Thanks David. I'm like that also. It's all about curiosity and quality. I also saw a stand at the London Book Fair recently and there was a stall for indie authors with a load of books on it. My feeling was that they all looked exactly alike. I suppose that may be for very good reasons. Phps readers are comfortable with covers that look familiar in some way. Braking ranks from the herd is risky. A part of me thinks not being part of the herd is essential. Anyway, thanks for your comment.

[R.J.]

Kath wrote: "Ah. It was the words kids that threw me. I admit, though, that the older I get, the more 25 year-olds seem like kids! ;)"

Maybe an old geezer like me shouldn't be writing about 25-year olds anyway. I genuinely feel for what they face now though. They have interviews and psychological profiling before they even get near an interview. And unpaid internships seem suited only for kids of the rich. And of course getting a roof over their heads. So I feel for kids. Maybe I'm worrying about my 3, the oldest being 23. I'd love it if my kids had the guts and talent to strike out for themselves, but it is not easy. I'll be interested if I ever get a review from a 25-year-old! But then an older reader can escape back to their own youth in the read. Or fantasise about being an entirely different sort of 25-year old! Of course, I wld say that right! I also wrote it just as I was leaving Reuters after 25-years! So the story is an escape write as well as an escape read. Time for me to escape .. off to Keats' cottage. He wrote his first verse in 1814 aged 14 - and died aged, yes, just 25.

[Marc]

I like the cover, it looks like the cover of an old ledger or blotter, or even the cover of a posh wingback chair. What does any of that tell me about the book? not a lot in truth

[R.J.]

Marc wrote: "I like the cover, it looks like the cover of an old ledger or blotter, or even the cover of a posh wingback chair. What does any of that tell me about the book? not a lot in truth"

Thanks Marc, I think I've got it totally wrong. And I can't get the Swifts cover right either.

[Marc]

R.J. wrote: "Marc wrote: "I like the cover, it looks like the cover of an old ledger or blotter, or even the cover of a posh wingback chair. What does any of that tell me about the book? not a lot in truth"

T..."

Unless you've a lot of money to throw at it, I wouldn't over-stress about it. You';re right, most covers look the same and are terrible to boot.

[David]

I agree with Marc. It was your writing that drew me to your book, not the cover. I think most in this group would agree that they choose a book by recommendation of someone they trust. I'm fortunate that I am able to produce my own covers, whether or not they are successful is not for me to say, but I spend the time I do on them for my own enjoyment rather than thinking that they will attract extra readers.

[Rosemary (grooving with the Picts)]

The cover is, quite frankly, the last thing I look at. In fact most times I don't look at it at all. I have no idea what the cover looks like on ANY of the books I have read recently - if it's on kindle (and that's how I do 99% of my reading these days) the cover is an irrelevance.
Having said that I looked at yours and it was fine. I like simple :)

[Patti (baconater)]

That's a gorgeous cover.

[David]

It is a lovely cover.

Looking at it I would assume something like Conan Doyle or Wilkie Collins, or Poe or Lovecraft, something of that ilk.

[R.J.]

David wrote: "I agree with Marc. It was your writing that drew me to your book, not the cover. I think most in this group would agree that they choose a book by recommendation of someone they trust. I'm fortunat..."

That's the best way to be. The cover flows from you and is an extension of the story. It's a great ability to be able to do that. A cover produced that way is 'honest' and true to the story.

[R.J.]

Rosemary (the Fourth Plinth) wrote: "The cover is, quite frankly, the last thing I look at. In fact most times I don't look at it at all. I have no idea what the cover looks like on ANY of the books I have read recently - if it's on k..."

Thanks Rosemary, that is really fascinating comment from you, esp from the perspective of a ereader. Phps I am fretting far too much about. I agree it is what's inside and not the wrapper that is all. My instinct is to ignore all the talk about a writer's branding and image. Perhaps I should stick with instinct. The nature of the words must trump cover issues.

[R.J.]

Patti (baconater) wrote: "That's a gorgeous cover."

Thanks Patti. I'd best stick with it then and stop wallying around! THANK YOU *bows*

[R.J.]

I shall go to Kew on Weds .. a fine day is promised. I don't expect to see any swifts overhead, only jets lumbering to Heathrow and, of course, endless raucous parakeets. But Kew is also a state of time out of mind. Perhaps I will linger in the Marianna North gallery and wonder what could be achieved if she cld design me a new front cover.

[R.J.]

Just done a review of A Light in the Cane Fields .. https://www.goodreads.com/author_blog...

[Philip (sarah)]

I think your book cover is very classy R.J. and I'll be proud to display it on my P/W Kindle. Downloaded!
Good luck with the release.

Have a lovely day at Kew!

[R.J.]

Philip (sarah) wrote: "I think your book cover is very classy R.J. and I'll be proud to display it on my P/W Kindle. Downloaded!
Good luck with the release.

Have a lovely day at Kew!"

Thank you - sun shining in and out

[R.J.]

class act - free tdy ->>> September Again > #1 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Poetry > Love Poems September Again

Sequel to September Again - tightly written, literary fiction, no erotica in this offering.

[R.J.]

Hurrah, 250 sales this week for the works of Askew and associates. *bows*

[Gingerlily - The Full Wild]

Yay! Well done. Hope it continues and increases :)

[David]

Well done sir. *polite applause*

[R.J.]

Fascinating item on Radio 4 from a guy who's written an 1,100 page 'biography' of the novel. I wonder if he has a chapter or two on the impact of the enovel? Christmas is coming!

[R.J.]

Time to wake my 16 year old up now. The good news is that I've gone through the A/S level politics mock paper he did ydy. The bad news is that he now has to suffer the analysis and feedback. Not that I am a pushy parent. His yelp of glee will echo around the realm when I rouse him - but then it is 10.30 a.m. He won't actually be ready to actually do anything till about 1 p.m.

[Gingerlily - The Full Wild]

Sounds like me these days!

[Marc]

R.J. wrote: "Time to wake my 16 year old up now. The good news is that I've gone through the A/S level politics mock paper he did ydy. The bad news is that he now has to suffer the analysis and feedback. Not th..."

I've been doing the pre-GCSE exam testing for one of my twins.

[R.J.]

September Verses the third offering in the September saga takes you into the back story behind a rather fascinating creative collaboration.

The September stories are selling well. The aim of Sept Verses is to extend the readership into a new readership.

September Verses takes you into the DNA of the stories.

[R.J.]

am presently reading Fifty Shades of Grey .. am finding it quite engaging. The contract Grey wants Ana to sign is most amusing, a sort of marriage contract for our times. The notion of women being liberated and then going for such a contract with a powerful man is arch, arch, arch! We want freedom and then draw pleasure from bondage. Christian Grey is a fascinating study. Here we are supposedly being touchy feely new men and there he is - a magnificent archytype. And of course it is is a master stroke that he is made as he is by a dominant woman seductress who inflicted a form of child abuse on him. The psychology of it all is wonderful. We can love and loathe the dude in equal measure. And how arch that it is a woman who writes about a woman submitting herself to becoming a powerful man's chattel. I confess I do rather like the notion that the sub is not allowed to look into her master's eyes. And there is a certain appeal in the formality of address, Sir and Mr. No first name familiarity nonsense for our Christian. Oh yes, the firm smack of male authority! And how wickedly arch that he should be a - Christian. All very mocking, of course. But we seem to love being heartily mocked now in our post-modern, power-of-now liberality.

[R.J.]

$uccess in writing.

Writers of literary fiction, perhaps unsurprisingly, are notable by their absence in a list dominated by crime, romance, and – since the advent of Potter – fantasy fiction for young readers which has crossover appeal to the adult market.

Forbes wrote: "If you're not writing in a genre with mass commercial appeal, you can pretty much forget about making the list. But even if you are, and your books are bestsellers, that's still not a guaranteed in."

[R.J.]

Editing .. a friend has about 650 poems on a site .. my mission is to pick 72 and get her to put them out as a collection. I will succeed.