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Category: Fiction

Posted
January 6, 2018
Category
Fiction, Historical Fiction, Positivity, Reviews
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A Hundred Tiny Threads

Isn’t it wonderful when a friend tells you about their success? Judith Barrow told me about hers today with her novel, ‘A Hundred Tiny Threads’ and how it is book of the month for January 2018 in Wales. What a great start to the New Year.
“Judith has lived in Pembrokeshire for thirty years. She is the author of three novels, and has published poetry and short fiction, winning several poetry competitions, as well as writing three children’s books and a play performed at the Dylan Thomas Centre. Judith grew up in the Pennines, has degrees in literature and creative writing and makes regular appearances at literary festivals.”
A Hundred Tiny Threads is a gritty family saga set in Lancashire in the 1900s and Ireland at the time of the ‘Black and Tans’. This is the prequel to the Howarth family saga of three titles (Pattern of Shadows, Changing Patterns and Living in the Shadows) set in the years before and after WW1.

Nofel afaelgar am hynt a helynt teuluoedd yn swydd Gaerhirfryn yn y 1900au ac yn Iwerddon yn nyddiau’r ‘Black and Tans’. Y stori hon sy’n rhagflaenu saga’r teulu Howarth (y tri theitl Pattern of Shadows, Changing Patterns a Living in the Shadows) a osodwyd yn y blynyddoedd cyn ac wedi’r Rhyfel Byd Cyntaf.

This is a must read for me because I was born in Lancashire, my family history goes back to Ireland and my knowledge of Irish history could be better. Judith’s eye for detail should be a great help.
The intense details leave little to the imagination as the struggle to survive is real and incrementally built as loved ones go and unyielding hatred makes loss worse. It is a layered view of life as characters find challenges on many fronts. Barrow has a keen eye for detail which builds up a feeling of reality in this chronicle of lives lived in harsh situations. The writing is painfully real and feels just as overwhelming as life; decisions quickly taken lead far into the story as a whole. This is apparently a book which precedes three others relating to the same family through several generations. Certainly it is just as diverse, with as many backstories and complicated feelings as real families tend to inherit. There are many elements of tragedy here as well as determined love and strands of hope. This is a superb book for those who like their novels immersive and intense, real life of people around them in times of trial and progress. (Amazon Review)
If you have success to share, shout it out, I love to share positive news.
Posted
December 20, 2017
Category
Fiction, Social Media, Supper in Jerusalem
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Homeless Ashes Feature Film

In the northern hemisphere, we head to our shortest day. Friends in the south enjoy their summer and I smile as Luna Moon Hare heads toward another battle between the holly and oak kings. She’s carried the crown dropped by the oak king in his defeat against the holly king back on the longest day of 2017. The next battle takes place on Thursday, 21 December at a little before 17:30 CET.

The oak king is favourite to win this next battle marking the start of his journey to bring rebirth and light back to our part of the world. The wheel of life keeps turning and the holly king is expected to win in the south.

That, my friends, is only the tip of the story which is one of many that all point to the same outcome; rebirth and light.

When the earth was created there was darkness and light followed. The sun is our living and divine fire, representing our own internal light. Chadogya Upanishad talked about a long highway going to two places; one at the start, another at the end. The rays of the sun do the same, starting at the sun; they enter the human body, start from there and enter the sun. We are light and we burn away the darkness on our journey to enlightenment.

This story is told to a traveller who has lost his way at the start of my next but one novel, Supper in Jerusalem. Upon hearing the story, he realises the path he must follow starting with one of his greatest strengths; compassion. He sees disaster all around him and hears the call to challenge.

Similarly, I see disaster in our modern society but not something from Supper in Jerusalem. I see Homelessness and it’s not something just to notice at Christmas.

Actor, Marc Zammit is working on a project to focus attention on homelessness through a full length feature film, Homeless Ashes. This crowd funded project needs to raise £95,000 to complete this outstanding film. A large amount but nothing compared to the costs of a romcom.

Marc is passionate and committed to the project and will not stop until this film is made.

Raised on a council estate, he has been acting for 17 years. Unable to afford drama school, Marc worked delivering milk from the age of 12 to help fund his career. When he went to drama school, he made a promise that if he were to reach success in his career, he would give something back to the community. He has gone from strength to strength and has found the path to make a film he believes will make waves.

Homeless Ashes is a dramatic feature film that will raise awareness of homelessness but it will also be an entertaining film. It will take you on an emotional rollercoaster and is full of raw passion while highlighting the issues of homelessness.

In 9 locations, on 1 day and 10 hours hard work . . .

‘. . . we managed to film the short on a £700 budget!’

If you can help Marc complete this film by offering a small donation, please visit Homeless Ashes at Indiegogo . You can watch the short there too. Every donation counts and you may even find yourself on the end credits!

Please share this post and let’s see if we can make a difference to the Homeless Ashes budget.

Posted
December 8, 2017
Category
Beyond The Pyre, Fiction, Reviews, Social Media
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Once a Bestseller, Always a Bestseller

Have you noticed the offers that attack your inbox promising massive increases in book sales? You have, they’re not difficult to miss. Don’t Panic! There are no offers of glory or riches in this post.

Two days ago, one particular email said,

“Unless you have four-star reviews, your book will fail.”

I followed that cheeky suggestion and discovered their point.

Buy one of their review packages and your book will have a better chance of success. I also noticed that they are setting up their own system to challenge Goodreads. Good luck to them, I hope it works out. Or, do I?

It’s true, I wish nobody to fail with their business endeavours and they may have a point that Goodreads perhaps needs to re-evolve to match the ever-changing world.

One thing I noticed that concerned me is their packages mentioned a ‘team.’ If you bought their most expensive package, your book would be reviewed by one of their ‘top reviewers.’ No names, no testimonials offered.

There is a common thread here. So many offers and promises that aren’t backed up with evidence of positive results.

Delving deeper, I discovered something shocking. There are books on the market carrying that wonderful tag ‘Best Seller’ when in reality it’s far from the truth.

“In the case of Brent Underwood, who works in book marketing, achieving the best-seller status took less content and work than you might think. His title, Putting My Foot Down, was a page long, featured a picture of his left foot, and became a number 1 best seller on Amazon in a matter of minutes with the sale of three copies.”

I will not reveal how Brent did that (you can always follow the link) but suffice to say,

Once a bestseller, always a bestseller

Playing the best seller system isn’t unique. Authors, particularly those of business books, are using techniques like cherry-picking lists to present an image that may not be true. Like a picture of a foot being a best seller.

When people hear about or see the ‘best seller’ tag their ears prick up, they give the author more attention and sales explode.

There are enough challenges for Indie Authors without inundation from individuals offering fee-based packages. I am sure many will agree that the only way to become a best seller is to write a great story. With dedication and hard work, get people to buy it and place reviews in all the prominent places.

I’m not saying that there aren’t genuine people out there who are outstanding book marketers but, it’s the people who read the books that matter. I’m not so sure we need more than the wonderful networks we develop with other authors and readers to achieve true ‘bestseller’ status. Integrity and honesty is the only way to go.

Posted
December 1, 2017
Category
Fiction, New Release
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Friday Teaser

Recent health issues have caused chaos with my work but I am happy to report that editing my current novel is back on track and plans for the one to follow that are well underway. I’ve not worked on two novels simultaneously before but something tells me that this is currently the way to go.

I hope you enjoy this short peek at a possible opening to ‘Supper in Jerusalem.’

Stood on a Mediterranean beach at dawn, watching the sunrise and fading silhouette of a small fishing boat that just left him. Simon couldn’t think of a better postcard view.

Turning inland, the desolation of a once thriving fishing port burned the positive images to ash. Evidence of domesticity smashed and broken still smouldered after another attack. The rumble of a solitary aircraft returning from its silent hours sortie over desolate cities. Bombs dispatched to the rebels, and innocents.

Simon heard the call and placed himself on the fringes of the most complicated civil war of his lifetime and he didn’t care for his safety. He cared only for those who wanted to reclaim their lives. He didn’t know who they were where to look or how to approach them. Trust would be an issue. They had been deserted while others around them joined factions with dangerous agendas that excluded their well-being and ignored their futures.

Over eleven million people fleeing the violence. Five million fled to neighbouring countries that don’t have the infrastructure to care for them. He looked at the crumpled leaflet in his hand and recited from memory.

“Nearly eight years since it began, the war has killed more than 480,000 people. Crowded cities have been destroyed and horrific human rights violations are widespread. Basic necessities like food and medical care are sparse.”

Clearing his throat and pulling back the tears, he continued.

“The U.N. estimates that 6.3 million people are internally displaced. When you also consider refugees, well over half of the country’s pre-war population of 22 million is in need of urgent humanitarian assistance, whether they still remain in the country or have escaped across the borders.”

It started with protests about the government, people wanted change, not the destruction that came their way. The situation became worse after outside parties intent on gratifying their own interests got involved; Russia, The USA, China, the list goes on. The number of civilian casualties and families forced to leave their homes in search of safety exploded when the major powers threw in their weight.

He opened out the leaflet and looked at a picture of a smiling young man standing on the rubble that had been his school. Years of his life lost to the war.  No family. No education. No basic human rights. The headline read, “Resolved to do something about his future.”

Simon had to find this young man before it was too late.

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