Donnerstag, 27. Dezember 2012

My next few offerings.


2013's knocking on the door and I have so much to tell you it hurts.
That's not because a lot of things have happened recently; no, it's because I haven't been on here for ages... DOH !!
OK.
Well firstly Paul Rudd, a mate of mine from Essex, (yes, I know people in Essex, don't tell everyone) and I have written an anthology of stories entitled, "The Chronicles of Supernatural Warfare. Volume 1."



I've mentioned it before but for the uninitiated, I'll go quickly through it again.
The idea is a collection of stories cataloguing supernatural incidents in times of war through the ages.

My personal contributions are, "The 300 Vampires", The Wooden Wolf of Troy", The Bloody Ides of March", "The Zombies of Flanders" and "Blood Red Feldgrau". All stories that I'm very proud of and I hope you'll like them too, as long as you scrape the 99 pence together to buy it. :-)
If not, just wait for the free download promotion, which will definitely happen.

I have a second book in the offing, "The House in Wales". This came about from an email from Kathleen, asking if I was up for a challenge. Obviously thinking she meant a drinking competition, I said yes
How wrong can one be?

Anyway, what the publishers want is a story about a haunted house, along the lines of "American Horror Story" and "The Lady in Black". It had to be as creepily bizarre as AHS and as tense and dark as TLIB, so I decided to have a go.

I've finished it now and I'm just waiting on feedback from some friends and a couple of translations from English to Welsh, (yes, Welsh is a different language to English and a lot more than just finishing every sentence with a questioning, "See?")

The story itself is set in North Wales during the Blitz. The hero, a 17 year old orphan from Liverpool, is evacuated to the quiet town of Old Colwyn in North Wales. There, he's taken in by a disgraced vicar and his predatory house keeper. The background of the story is Devil worship and sexual obsession and I sincerely hope my mam doesn't read it... no, seriously, I do.
She will though.
DOH!

It's NOTHING like "Division" or any of the "Chronicles" stories I'm afraid. However, I like to think that the characters strike a chord with the reader, which as anyone who has read my work knows, is what I'm about. Also, I think the story is just as weird and gruesome as American Horror Story, but far, far bloodier.

OK, that's it. I'm translating a book from German to English for the guy who made the cover for "Chronicles" and then I have a couple of ideas that I want to run past Taylor Street to see if they're up for them or not?

OK, take it easy, have a great New Year's party and all the best for 2013.
Reg ;-)

Dienstag, 4. Dezember 2012

Everyone loves the snow, imagine it didn't stop...

Snow.2012


Snow

Dec 23.
Snow! Wonderful snow! This is going to be the best Christmas EVER !!
Dec 25.
My first white Christmas. Dad got drunk and slipped in the back yard and Nan called him a drunken old sot, I was nearly sick from laughing, Gran’s so funny. Loads of pressies but we were out all day, making snowmen. Brilliant.
Dec 31.
New Year’s Eve and it’s still white, if this keeps up we might not have to go back to school next week. First lesson back is English with Miss Grebes, God I hate her.
Jan 2.
Dad read that the school won’t be open next week because the heating’s off. Brilliant. Went sledging down Queen’s hill today on bin lids, was great. The roads are well icy; Mrs. Simons said they’ve run out of salt for the gritters.
Jan 24.
Happy birthday to me!!! 13 today. Snowed all day to day, getting a bit fed up of it now.
Feb 12.
It’s so cold. I asked why can’t we just turn the heating up and Mam said it’s too expensive at the moment. Dad’s angry because his trucking firm are on short time.
Mar 26
God I hate this snow! It’s so cold here now. I slept in my jacket and two pairs of trousers last night.
Mar 27.
Jimmy Preston’s baby brother died yesterday. They found him dead in his cot, he was blue. Poor James.
Apr 17.
Mam came home from shopping with a bloody nose. Someone punched her and stole the shopping. Dad went to the police but they said they’ve got too much on their hands. I watched the news today about food riots in Manchester. Dad said they should call the army in to sort them out. Old Mrs. Jones from number 8 was found dead this morning. She froze to death even though the ambulance man said her fire was on.
Apr 27.
Still snowing!!!! God I HATE IT!!!  The power’s off, Mam said we were lucky it was on for so long at all. Dad’s firm have sent him home, there isn’t enough fuel he said. I saw a map on TV and it showed the whole of the top half of the earth as white.
May 7.
Gran’s dead. I’m so sad. The funeral’s tomorrow but they can’t bury her next to granddad because the ground’s so frozen. Dad’s been crying all day.
May 21. I miss Gran so much. I’m so bored. I’d even go to triple English with old Grebes than stay at home now. We have to melt snow for water, it takes ages finding wood nowadays. At first it was easy but it’s all gone now. Someone broke into number 12 and found the old Polish couple there dead and then everyone ran in and took their furniture to burn. Dad came back with two chairs.
Jun 20.
Mr. Wicky has a wind up radio and we all go to his place to listen to the news twice a day. Mrs. Simons’ nose has fallen off, she got frost bite and it looks terrible. Jimmy Preston and John Yates threw stones at her. Mr. Beaumont was eaten by his dogs. Dad said he should have killed them weeks ago and eaten them himself. I don’t know if he was joking.
Jul 12. 
I can’t believe it’s July and it’s still snowing.  Snow on our summer holidays!
Jul 27.
Food parcels came today, we had sugar and corned beef and spam and tinned carrots and marrowfat peas and chocolate. Dad said we should save it but Mam cooked it all and they had a terrible row. Mam said what’s the point of saving it, the gangs only come around and steal it off us and I think she’s right.
Aug 5.
Dad was killed today.
Oct 28.
Uncle Barry found the man who killed Dad and they beat him to death in the street. I’m glad he’s dead but I don’t know where his body went though.
Dec 21.
Mr Wicky told us that today, December 21st, 2012 is the day the Government has officially declared that we are on our own now.





Montag, 12. November 2012

Why the Indians hated the British Raj by Malika Gandhi


I asked a friend of mine to write a guest post on my Blog. 
Malika Gandhi's book, Freedom of the Monsoon deals with Mahatma Gandhi's Quit India Movement and its effect on the lives of five people. The Indian subcontinent has always held a special fascination for me and seeing as Malika obviously knew a bit about it, I thought it'd be a good idea for her to write a short piece on the subject. 



Why the Indians hated the British Raj by Malika Gandhi

Okay, let’s back track. Not all Indians hated the firange (foreigners - as they were called) but it was believed the majority did. I find it quite ironic that I am here; living in the UK under British rule and government when sixty-five years back the Indians booted the British out of their country. But that’s another story.

The British colonised many countries. One of them was India which they took over from 1612 to 1947. In 1612, the East India Company (a British trading company) began trading in the Indian sub-continent. They traded in various sectors, the main ones being cotton, silk, salt and tea amongst others. The company was very wealthy and shares in it made many merchants and aristocrats wealthy.
After some time, the company began to rule large areas of India. Private armies were recruited which meant substantial military and administrative power. The British did some good deeds at the time and some cruel things too. First I will show some of the good deeds:
In Hindustan, the Hindus used to practice a barbaric ritual which consisted of burning the wife of a man who had just passed away. She was burnt alive on his pyre! (Yes, it’s true!). This was called “satti”. The British stopped this act of barbarism and rendered it illegal.
On another note, the British were also responsible for bringing The Railways to India – a clever and very useful piece of engineering.  The Indians were able to buy machinery from the company too; machines that were used to set up textile mills in India.
So you see the British Raj weren't all bad but this is where their “angelic” deeds stop. It is well known that with power comes greed and selfish intent.  From the time the British set foot on Indian soil, they were instantly disliked by the locals. When the Raj exploited them for their materials and natural resources, the anger flared.
It didn't make it any better that the Indians were looked down upon as scum. The British indeed thought of themselves as superior to all the countries they colonised and India wasn't excluded.  Racism was at large but discreet. White Memsahibs would talk about the Indian women behind their hand held fans, laughing at their colour, social habits and their poverty. Most British women were snobbish and although they had Ayahs (nannies) to breastfeed their newborn, they didn't like their children befriending those brown, little dirty children.

The British had very tight control over tax and law and order. Many government officials were against giving anything to the Indians especially self-governance of certain parts of India. They feared of a possible empire break up.
Anyhow, reforms were introduced but it was slowly implemented. This angered the Indians further. They believed that the British were deliberately stalling to keep supremacy in place. Soon riots broke out. The most infamous was at Amritsar in the Punjab state. 379 unarmed protesters were shot dead by relentless British soldiers.

No country wants another ruling them and although it took many, many years for India to be free; free she was in 1947. This was thanks to Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, known as Mahatma Gandhi. His vision was of a united free India but it was not to be so. The British government decided the country was to be split in two. Pakistan was born; the country was partitioned and the misery and sectarian riots that bloodied the streets were born of that decision.


Malika Gandhi’s debut novel Freedom of the Monsoon explores the affects of the Quit India Movement initiated by Mahatma Gandhi. A fictional account, this story tells of five individuals who show their fears as riots break out leading to execution.
Freedom of the Monsoon is about freedom of the Indian sub-continent but that follows the injustices and power that was used on the Indians.



Malika Gandhi’s historical fiction can be bought at:
http://amzn.to/Q8P3rO - Amazon USA
http://bit.ly/U4kDp2  - Malika's publisher

Links to her blogs:
http://bit.ly/PakazR -About Me, My book and Everything else
http://bit.ly/TI5pZw - The Unicorns’ Book Reviews

Facebook Pages:

Twitter:

Goodreads:

Well, thank you Malika, an extremely interesting piece indeed.
Hope you liked that folks?
Take it easy.
Reg ;-)
































Freitag, 26. Oktober 2012

The Taylor Street Gang files, part 14. L.Anne Carrington.


Think of Pennsylvania and the mind automatically flies to such great historical and cultural landmarks as the American Revolution, the Birth of a Nation, Lake Erie, the Battle of Gettysburg, Quakers and Flashdance, (?). 
However, what's missing there, in that there list, is the name L. Anne Carrington. Author of the Cruiserweight series of books, Lori, (which is the "L" in her author name, in case you were wondering) is on my blog today, so let's check out some blurbs and then read her answers ;-)

The Cruiserweight

In this punchy, romantic take on the wrestling world where only some of the physical contact takes place in the ring, sports journalist Karen Montgomery has been following for years the career of Brett Kerrigan, one of the smallest cruiserweight wrestlers in the business, and can recall in detail every bout he has ever fought, recognising his outstanding skills as a wrestler and his intuitive flair for entertaining the crowd. She has even written an award-winning article about him. 

Now she desperately wants to meet him. One night, after many failed attempts to reach him, she looks up to find him standing right there in front of her. They get talking and they immediately hit it off. 

However, as they become involved and grow ever-closer, Brett loses his contract and must strike out on his own. Will their relationship survive the pressures on both of them, their differences in ages, and the other women in Brett's life? Or will one of them decide they are not the ideal tag-team after all?

The Cruiserweight's Daughter (The Cruiserweight Series)

Autumn is now the grown-up daughter of retired cruiserweight superstar Brett Kerrigan, but in the love stakes she’s a heavyweight.
She is searching for two things: success as a wrestler, just like her father, and for the intoxication of intimacy – she longs for an injection of the real love her parents share for each other. Several failed relationships leave her disillusioned and alone.
Three men each play a prominent role in Autumn’s pursuit of professional and personal success: Peter Klass, a retired cruiserweight legend determined to help make Autumn a star while trying to reconcile his own personal and professional lives, Mike Stackhouse, the fellow student wrestler who wins Autumn’s heart while on the edge of stardom with International, the world’s largest stage in professional wrestling, and Marcus Tucker, Brett’s personal assistant, the shining star of Peter’s cruiserweight class, and one of Autumn’s closest friends – and confidant – who once harbored a crush on her.

One night following the graduation show at Brett’s academy, the lives of Autumn and one of these men took a turn no one expected – yet affected those around them who cared the most.

Will her relationship with Mike survive the pressures of both their budding careers and that fateful night?

Or will she once again be a singles performer in the romance division?

1.) Tell us about yourself
I was born and raised in South western Pennsylvania. I love Pittsburgh and wouldn't leave this area unless there was a very good reason. I studied cosmetology in my late teens and hold a two-year degree in Business Office Specialist, which is basically a glorified secretary. I took classes in modelling and professional development at Barbizon Pittsburgh in the mid-90‘s.
I started writing as a teenager and had my first article posted in a major newspaper at 17. I kept writing throughout the remaining years of high school while also taking acting lessons. I continued writing off and on, but mostly as a hobby, until the early 2000‘s.
I got back into freelance writing full time a few years ago. One of my articles, An Overview of Causes of Hearing Loss and Deafness, was bought by Internet Broadcasting Systems, which reprinted the article on various major news and health-related web sites. My first novel, The Cruiserweight, was published in 2010 by my first publisher, Night Publishing.

2.) What genre do you specialise in?
I’ve written erotica and romance, but my most recent work is genre fiction/sports.

3.) What's your inspiration?
For my novels? I was always fascinated with professional wrestling from the time my former sister-in-law took me to a match when I was 18. She had dated Ivan Putski many years before she met and married - then subsequently divorced - one of my brothers. As a result of her previously dating Putski, she had developed a lot of contacts in that world. Since we were good friends, she took me to a lot of matches where we got in for absolutely no charge and always had great seats (and sometimes got backstage).
I got away from wrestling for a few years to pursue other interests. It wasn’t until around 2000 and after that I again started watching. Though I haven't watched much wrestling on TV recently, I will admit it's been fun writing wrestling-themed novels. The Cruiserweight took a little over two years to write, whereas The Cruiserweight’s Daughter only took six months.

4.) Who is your favourite author, why and did he/she inspire you to write in any way?
I love Ann Rule. I think I’ve read every book the woman’s ever written. Whether you’re a true crime buff or not, her books grab you from the first chapter and keep you there until the final word. I was influenced by books of many genres, from biographies to classic fiction.

5.) How do you feel about
Taylor?
I think Taylor Street Books is a great publisher! So many people out there still believe the myth that no one is truly a successful author unless their books are published by one of the “Big Six” publishers. Truth is, more small (and independent) publishing houses are becoming prominent and publishing excellent books. Lucky for many of us, Taylor is among those publishing companies.

6.) What are your plans?
My next novel will literally begin November 1. I am participating in National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) this year with writing The Cruiserweight Series’ third book.
Klass Act focuses on Donovan Klass, the son of Autumn’s former wrestling trainer, Peter. He is now a juvenile probation officer and father of a young daughter, Avadon. When he sees his child’s mother, Ava Hassan, become a success on the independent wrestling scene and his best friend Marcus (Brett’s personal assistant in the second book) become a cruiserweight superstar with International, Donovan ponders offers from both his father and Brett to take wrestling training and have his own career in the squared circle.

7.) On the Web?
Twitter: @lacarrington1
Amazon Author Profile (you can find all my books here): http://www.amazon.com/L.-Anne-Carrington/e/B0055STQL6


Well thank you very much, Lori! You've made me see Big Daddy, (A famous British wrestler from the 70's, early 80's in case you're wondering) in a whole new light!
Now you know peeps!
As you were.
Reggie.

Donnerstag, 18. Oktober 2012

The Taylor Street Gang files, part 13. Valerie Tate.


Ontario is famous for a lot of things. None spring to mind right now, well not at this present moment in time, but I'm sure there's something there somewhere.  What I do know is that Ontario is home to one of the newer additions to Taylor Street, Valerie Tate.
Valerie's book, "CATNIP" is out on That Right publications, (a sister to Taylor, it's all very incestuous, but in a healthy, whole wheat sort of way) and can be bought on Amazon in paperback and download.
Let's read the blurb and then see what she has to say.



CATNIP

What can go wrong when an elderly matriarch leaves the family fortune to her cat?

Just about everything, including ‘catnapping’ and murder!

CATNIP is a mystery set in the picturesque town of Dunbarton, Ontario, and tells the story of what befalls the dysfunctional Dunbar family, and the chaos that ensues, when the matriarch of the clan leaves the family fortune to her cat.

That formidable feline proves to be more than a match for the humans in his life, until one fateful night when, caught unawares, he is stuffed in a sack and carried away.

A nosy neighbor with a nasty, suspicious mind points the finger of suspicion at the Dunbars and Christopher Mallory, the young attorney who is the trustee of the estate, and under the terms of the will, they face losing everything.

When a murder occurs, Christopher finds himself confronting a ruthless killer who would do anything to conceal his or her identity, including kill again.



Sounds interesting actually, let's hit the questions.
Valerie Tate, COME ON DOWN !!!

1)Tell us about yourself
I’m a Canadian living in Ontario. I started writing as a child and always intended to make it my career but since bills have to be paid, I put that on hold to pursue a teaching career. There were many opportunities to use my writing to enhance my teaching and to encourage the children to develop their own abilities. We wrote stories and plays in English and French.
I don’t have cats of my own but my sister has two, Bob and Simon. They are getting on in age now and are very affectionate, but when they were young their misadventures were legendary and many of Marmalade’s misdeeds and antics were actually committed by Bob and Simon.
I do have a Jack Russell Terrier named Hamish and a horse named Devon. Most days I head to the barn and since it is about a seventy-five minute drive each way, I spend a lot of time in my car. I keep a pad and pencil handy and if something comes to mind I pull off the road and write it down.

2)What genre do you specialize in?
I write mysteries. CATNIP is the first in the Dunbarton Mystery series that is set on the beautiful shores of Lake Huron in Ontario. Dunbarton is based on Kincardine, Ontario, a lovely lakeside town where I have spent many summer vacations. When I was looking for the setting for CATNIP, it seemed an ideal location.
The plot of CATNIP stems from the practice of people who leave their estates to their pets. Why someone would do this and what happens after the will is read? You have to read CATNIP to find out!
 The second book in the series is HORSE SENSE. It begins in Dunbarton but moves to King Township, traditional horse country in southern Ontario, when it is discovered that Olympic rider, Alex Craig, has been the victim of fraud and the theft of a $20,000 straw of frozen semen from the world’s top breeding stallion. Investigations are set in motion that lead to murder.
 Many of the things that happen in HORSE SENSE are based on my personal experiences including the fire that destroyed a barn on a farm where I was boarding a horse. I watched helplessly as a wisp of white smoke became a fireball that engulfed the hundred year old bank-barn. HORSE SENSE is complete and is currently being revised. I’m very pleased with the characters in HORSE SENSE and am considering spinning them off into a series of their own where all of the books would have horsey plots and settings.

3)What's your inspiration.
I’ve always loved reading and so writing seemed a natural extension of that love of a good story. In the Dunbarton series, animals play an important role and I’ve tried to include some aspect of animal welfare or environmental concerns in each of the books.

4.) Who is your favourite author, why and did he/she inspire you to write in any way?
I have a lot of favourites but I would have to say that Elizabeth Peters has certainly influenced my writing style. Her wonderful settings, intriguing characters and tongue-in-cheek style always make for a fun read and I hope that I have achieved that in CATNIP.

5) What are your thoughts on That Right and Taylor?
CATNIP was published by That Right on July 20 and I’m very appreciative of the opportunity. It is extremely difficult for a new author to break into publishing and That Right and Taylor Street have displayed a lot of faith in their fledgling authors.


6.) What are your plans?
I have ideas for several more books in the Dunbarton series. The third is in the planning stage and I’ll be getting to work on it soon.

7.) Go for it, sell your work. (Links, reviews, what ever you want).
CATNIP is available on Amazon.


My website is www.valerietate.weebly.com .

Thanks very much Valerie, all the best with your writing and welcome to Taylor :-)

OK peeps, carry on...
Reg :-)

Sonntag, 7. Oktober 2012

The Taylor Street Gang files, part 12. B.A. Morton


 Number 12 on the list of all time best Great British Authors, otherwise known as the Taylor Street Gang, is B.A. Morton, (Babs to her friends, Barbara to me).

Mrs. Morton has written a very well received thriller called, (wait for it), Mrs. Jones!
No, it isn't about my poor wife's edge-of-her-seat life with her "mental age of 16", heavy metal hubby, it's about "A British girl with a secret. A New York cop with a past. And a mob that wants revenge..."
 Sounds good, doesn't it?
Anyway, here's the blurb for Mrs. Jones and her next offering, Wildewood.



A British girl with a secret.
A
New York cop with a past.
And a mob that wants revenge

In the slickest, sneakiest twistiest-turniest hard-boiled crime noir novel to come out in a long time, ruggedly pragmatic but honest cop Detective Tommy Connell picks up an English girl, Mrs Jones, who claims to be the witness to a murder, and promptly falls in love with her.

Well, Mrs Jones, whoever she is, must be very attractive because an awful lot of people seem to want to get their hands on her if they can prise her from Connell's determined grasp, including some prominent representatives of organised crime and the Feds.

Detective Connell definitely has his work cut out here if he wants to end up with the body of Mrs Jones, dead or alive, that's for sure.

All-in-all it's probably safe to say he hasn't a clue what is going on. It is probably equally safe to guess that Mrs Jones does.

Not that 'safe' is quite the right word to use here or, there again, maybe it is.




A knight. A witch. A Secret.

When Grace, a twenty first century heroine, is accidentally transported through a time portal into the clutches of an impoverished medieval knight with one eye on her ransom, we are treated to a brilliant evocation of medieval
England which heaves with corruption and intrigue.

The remote and beautiful wilderness of ancient Northumberland rings out with the sound of clashing swords, the hiss of arrows, thundering hooves and the chink of coin bags changing hands in shady deals.

It is all there: a spirited and sensual romance, an action-packed adventure story, hidden treasure, revengeful and devious barons and corpulent and corrupt clergy.

Beset on all sides by danger and deception, with only their wits and a small band of loyal followers to assist them, Grace and Miles of Wildewood find their lives inexplicably entwined as they battle for justice, honour and love.


OK, without further ado, I give you B.A. Morton: 

1.)   Tell us about yourself
I’m married with three grown up children and one grandson. I live in a cottage in a wonderful village in Upper Coquetdale, Northumberland...a land of castles, hills, woods and red squirrels. No public transport, no mobile phone signal and intermittent electricity...but God’s country nevertheless. I enjoy the outdoors and gardening and can be bribed with chocolate. I currently work part time in the village GP surgery, but in my time I’ve been a civil servant, nursery nurse and at one time I was even a kennel maid at a Greyhound stadium. Take it from me, those dogs are big! I once had a three month stint at a well known frozen food factory...ah... the things you do when your children are small. My position was “shrink wrap” the last person on the crispy pancake production line. The mantra drilled into us on day one was, no matter what the emergency “Don’t stop the line!” when you’re under five feet tall, have twenty thousand crispy pancakes hurtling unchecked towards you and suddenly realise you can’t reach the emergency stop button...well...that’s a story in the making! I’ve been messing about with writing for as long as I can remember but only took it up seriously when we sold up and escaped to the country about five years ago. I’m still messing about, some day someone else might take me seriously...

2.)   What genre do you specialise in?
I write crime fiction and historical romance. Hopeless at poetry...apart from limericks...there once was a lady from...and can’t get the knack of short stories, every time I try I end up with the first chapter of a novel.

3.)   What's your inspiration?
Crime fiction is what I like to read, I love twisty turny plots and fast paced thrillers. My historical fiction inspiration is another matter entirely. Our cottage was built on the foundations of a medieval chapel using stone from the now ruined castle. There are stones from the castle spiral staircase in our inglenook and reputedly a crypt beneath the floor. The history of our land is fascinating, with bodies discovered in the grounds, secret assignations and suggestions of witchcraft, it was a perfect starting point for my new book Wildewood. We’ve had many ghostly encounters at the cottage, all benign I should stress, so plenty more fodder for the next book too.

4.)   Who is your favourite author, why and did he/she inspire you to write in any way?
I don’t have a single favourite, there are too many good books and fabulous authors, but to give you an idea of where I’m at, I’d say Crime fiction, has to be John Connelly. I love his tortured hero, Charlie Parker, trying to do the right thing, with an underlying menace provided by his unusual sidekicks, his scary nemesis and his own paranoia. I also like the black humour of Ian Rankin’s Rebus, and the quick pace of Dennis Lehane. For Historical Fiction, my all time favourite, by that I mean a book I would read time again and never part with, is Ken Follett’s Pillars of the Earth...fantastic book. I also have practically everything written by Bernard Cornwall. I admire the way their attention to historical detail and accuracy doesn’t smother the story. Favourite children’s book’s would have to be Chronicles of Narnia...superb, and my kids’ favourite, Noggin the Nog, which must be the best read aloud book ever...just love it! 

5.)   How do you feel about Taylor?
Taylor Street/ Night, gave me my first chance at publication. They believed in my first novel Mrs Jones and I’m grateful for that. Now with the second book, Wildewood released on the unsuspecting public, I’m looking with interest at all the new possibilities that TS are embarking on. TS are looking ahead, diversifying and in a fast changing publishing world that’s exactly what we need. Writing is by its very nature a lonely business and there are great benefits to being part of a vibrant and forward looking community.

6.)   What are your plans?
I’m currently putting the finishing touches to Molly Brown, the sequel to Mrs Jones which will hopefully be out by the end of the year. There is a third book in that series which is in rough draft. Next up though, will be a dark twisted thriller about a felon on the run with a hostage from hell...I’m having great fun with that one; lots of black humour and deliciously bad, baddies. The second book in the Wildewood Chronicles is itching to get out and in addition I have four further crime novels in various stages...you might have noticed I like to have a few pans on the boil at the same time. The winter is the best time for me to write as we are far from anywhere and often get snowed in and lose the leccy, so I’m anticipating a productive few months ahead.

7.)   Go for it, sell your work.
Mrs Jones is a cracking crime fiction, which has proved popular with both crime fiction readers and romance readers. It came second in the 2011 Yeovil Literary Prize and got to #21 in the Amazon UK top 100. If you like fast paced action with a touch of humour and romance I think you’ll like Tommy Connell and his attempts to get to the truth concerning his enigmatic witness Lizzie.
Available in e-book and paperback here:
Wildewood is a medieval fiction/fantasy time travel romance based, very loosely, on the history of the valley where I live. It’s a tale of unchivalrous knights, unscrupulous barons and secrets aplenty. It’s a wild romp with a cast of colourful characters. So, if you like your knights with slightly tarnished armour and damsels who can throw a mean punch...you know what to do. And if you’re quick about it you might even get it for free. Mark your calendar Monday 8th October...
Currently available in e-book, paperbacks to follow shortly;

BA Morton Oct 2012

Thanks Babs ;-)

OK, off you go now and buy Barbara's books, the show's over, there's nothing more to see.

Take it easy.
Reggie :-D





Presenting Shalini Boland


 Shalini Boland is someone I've known for a couple of years now, don't ask me how though?
She may have been on the Night website, or perhaps someone just introduced us, I can't remember.
Whatever, what I can say is that I feel like I've known her for aeons she's so easy going.
Here's a couple of blurbs for her books and then she can tell us something about herself.



Outside

A post-apocalyptic romance thriller.

The world of the future is divided by Perimeters: high-security gated communities where life goes on as normal. If you’re inside you’re lucky, if you’re outside life expectancy takes a nose dive. 

Riley is fortunate to have been born on the right side of the fence. But her life of privilege comes crashing down when someone breaks through the Perimeter and murders her sister. She forsakes her own safety to go in search of the killer. Luc decides to go with her otherwise she’ll be dead before she’s past the security gate. But what awaits her outside is more unbelievable than she ever expected.

Cut to the present day where Eleanor's world is falling apart. This time next year, civilisation won't be quite so civilised . . .

Hidden, (The Marchwood Vampire series part 1)



HIDDEN is a paranormal adventure that spans the centuries from modern London to 19th century Paris and ancient Cappadocia.

Sixteen-year-old Madison Greene is in foster care until one day she inherits a fortune, she inherits a house, she inherits a cellar full of danger.

Eighteen-year-old Alexandre lives in 19th century Paris. On an archaeological expedition he discovers a lost underground city where his life changes forever.

For each of them, life is finally starting. Little do they know it is closer to ending. Something lies buried which should have been forgotten. A Pandora's Box that was meant to stay shut. But Madison and Alexandre have never been any good at following the rules. They are about to find everything they've ever desired and everything that could destroy them. 

Falling in love has never been so dangerous.

OK, Shalini Boland, COME ON DOWN !!!

Tell us about yourself:
Before kids, I was a singer songwriter signed to Universal Music. But now I’m now a mother of two noisy boys and so writing novels fits in perfectly with my life. A typical day is taking the kids to school, doing an hour or so of online promo (while trying not to get sucked in to the chat) and then sitting down with a coffee to write.

I’m allergic to housework.

I love to spend time outdoors with my family. We live a few minutes from the beach and quite close to the forest. A long walk always makes me feel good, especially if there’s a cup of tea and a piece of cake at the end of it.

What genre do you specialise in?
Mainly teen fiction. I write the kinds of books I love to read - gripping young adult adventures with a sprinkling of romance and a spattering of horror.

What’s your inspiration?
Anything and everything. Music helps me to create moods for certain scenes. Interesting people, atmospheric places … I find inspiration everywhere.

I used to live in a very old house in London which had a large basement. I was always terrified of going down there and I can still remember the musty smell and the grey stone walls. It wasn't hard to imagine all kinds of terrible things lurking down there - awful creatures, ghosts, things bricked up in the wall. That basement inspired my Marchwood Vampire Series.

Who is your favourite author, why and did he/she inspire you to write in any way?
I don’t think I have one particular favourite author. But I guess if I had to pick one, I would say Anne Rice. I read nearly all her books during the nineties and would always be impatiently waiting for her latest novel to come out. I love the way she combined the historical stories with the modern. I've definitely absorbed this aspect into the way I write.

What are your plans?
I want to finish both my trilogies. I’m currently working on Books 2 and 3 of The Outside Series – a post-apocalyptic romance thriller. And then I’ll be writing Book 3 of the Marchwood Vampire Series.

I also have the rough outline of a new supernatural series which I'm pretty excited about. Too many ideas, not enough hours in the day!

Go for it, sell your work.
If you like epic adventure with romance and a few mind-bending twists thrown in, then I think you might enjoy my novels. They’re written for teens, but also enjoyed by adults.

The Marchwood Vampire Series (YA, scary, love across time, urban fantasy/historical)

The Outside Series (YA gritty post-apocalyptic adventure)

A Shirtful of Frogs (WW2 timeslip adventure, ages 10+)

Here’s a short excerpt from Hidden (Marchwood Vampire Series #1):

‘He felt the drumming of the earth, the heartbeat of all humankind in his bones and blood, in his skin and soul. It sang a song that he had known forever and in that instant everything became clear. He knew the reason for it all; the key to life and it was so obvious. How could he not have known this simple truth before now?
    And then as suddenly as it had come, it left. His beating heart slowed, the song faded and the knowledge slipped away like an elusive memory refusing to come to mind. He felt a devastating loss, worse than if his dearest love had died. 
    A heavy melancholy descended, so profound he felt as though he should like to sleep for a thousand years. In the cold darkness, tears rolled down his face and stung his cheeks like acid. He closed his eyes and tried not to think. It hurt to think.
    It hurt.
    God, it hurt.
    Like the skin being stripped from his body. He could not breathe and his eyes burned white hot with a searing pain.
    He tried to speak but his throat constricted, closed shut. Was he in hell? Was this the fate he deserved? Please, God, no! Help me! he silently screamed. Save me! I promise … I promise anything. I will do anything. Just please … make … it … STOP.’

Links:

Thanks so much Richard!

No probs Sha, I should thank you :-)
... and since when have you called me Richard?

Whatever, now you know peeps, as you were.
Reggie :-)

Samstag, 29. September 2012

Presenting Mr. John Holt!


After the series of interviews I ran about Taylor Street, I thought I'd do one about a chap who used to be with Taylor but has moved on to pastures new.

John Holt started his own publishing company called Phoenix and has struck out on his own with great success.
He still has contact with the old "Gang" though, (hence the interview) and is as busy as a housefly on his bucket list.

Check out the blurbs for a couple of his works and then he'll tell you about himself.

A killing in the city.
‘To make a killing in the City’ is a phrase often used within the financial world, to indicate making a large profit on investments, or through dealings on the stock market - the bigger the profit, the bigger the killing. However, Tom Kendall, a private detective, on holiday in London, has a different kind of killing in mind when he hears about the death of one of his fellow passengers who travelled with him on the plane from Miami. It was suicide apparently, a simple overdose of prescribed tablets. Kendall immediately offers his help to Scotland Yard. He is shocked when he is told his services will not be required. They can manage perfectly well without him, thank you.
This Edition has been re-edited, re-worked and re-issued by
Phoenix.

The Mackenzie Dossier
Kendall could just see the television screen. There was a photograph of Governor Frank Reynolds. Across the bottom of the screen the ticker tape announced in large black letters 'Governor Reynolds Murdered'. The voice over was filling in whatever detail was available. Apparently his body had been discovered earlier that morning. He had been found lying in his garage. He had been shot twice. One shot to the upper chest, the other hitting his shoulder. 'Police believe that the weapon used was a 38 caliber revolver,' the reporter said. Kendall froze. Anthony Shaw had also been killed by a 38 bullet. Kendall was not quite sure of what it all meant. What connection was there between Anthony Shaw, and the State Governor, and the business mogul, Ian Duncan. And what about Senator Mackenzie? Where did he fit in? And who or what was Latimer? Only a short while ago Kendall was a small time private detective , a Private Eye, investigating an insignificant little murder with no clues, no witnesses, and no motive. In fact, no nothing. Now he had so many pieces of a puzzle he didn't know how they fitted together. He didn't even know if they all came from the same puzzle.





So now you know peeps!!
So, Mr. John Holt, lay it on us !!

1.) Tell us about yourself

I am a retired Chartered Surveyor. For many years I was a Senior Project Manager with the Greater London Council. When that was closed down I set up my own surveying practice, preparing survey reports for house purchase, preparing plans for extensions, or new houses. In 2004 I suffered a heart attack, and finally retired in 2008. I live in Essex with my wife and daughter and a cat called Missy, who has adopted us. I like most kinds of music including Classical and American Blues. For many years I wrote articles for one of the leading Blues magazines, now sadly no more.
When it comes to the movies, once again I hate modern movies in general. The greatest films came from the fifties and sixties. Humphrey Bogart, Robert Mitchum, Cagney, Bette Davies and later stars like Charlton Heston, Gregory Peck, Burt Lancaster, Kirk Douglas. Not forgetting the great musicals, Singing In The Rain, Oklahoma, West Side Story and the Sound of Music.
I came to writing novels quite late in life. I had always wanted to write but could never think of a decent plot. In 2005 we went for a holiday in Austria. We stayed in a place called Grundlsee. This was the first of three lakes. The next lake, Toplitz, was used by the Germans during the war to test torpedoes and missiles. As the war came to an end many items were hidden in the lake, including millions of counterfeit pounds and dollars. There was also jewellery, weapons and documents. There were rumours that gold bullion was also placed in to the lake. Several searches were made, but no gold was discovered. In my first novel, “The Kammersee Affair” (soon to be re-issued as "The Kammersee Incident" under the Phoenix banner), gold is found, only in the third lake, Kammersee.

2.) What genre do you specialise in?

Well of five published books four feature my private detective Tom Kendal.  So it has to be Crime.

3.) What's your inspiration.

I don’t know about inspiration, but a list of my favourite books would, without a doubt, include Dickens. Oliver Twist, A Tale of Two Cities, Great Expectations just cannot be bettered.

4.) Who is your favourite author, why and did he/she inspire you to
write in any way?

Agatha Christie, the master of crime, would be high on the list. Alistair Mclean, Hammond Innes and Wilbur Smith would also feature. I was brought up on Enid Blyton - remember the Secret Seven and the Famous Five. Sadly not so fashionable these days, but great fun.
Having said that I do not write like any of them. I couldn’t hope to. I write in my own style, basically to please me. If others also like it that’s terrific.

5.) What are your plans?

Since parting company with Night/Taylor Street  I have created my own self-publishing banner PHOENIX.  So far I have re-issued two of my novels, “The Mackenzie Dossier” and “A Killing In The City”.  I am currently working on re-issuing “The Kammersee Incident”, which i hope will be ready in a month or so.  Then sometime in November I plan on re-issued “The Marinski Affair”, another Tom Kendall novel.  I am also working on four other novels, all at various stages ranging from barely started, to approximately two thirds complete.

6.) Go for it, sell your work. (Links, reviews, whatever you want).

Links to my works are as follows:
“The Mackenzie Dossier” –
This is, I believe, the first outing for the author's detective character Tom Kendall and he's faced with murder, political intrigue and powerful people who would rather he kept his nose out of their business. Coming onto the stage, quite far into the story, the intrigue and double dealing of the key players, in particular Duncan, is already, much in evidence and it's down to Kendall to unravel the various clues in his own methodical style to ensure that justice is served. I like Kendall as a character, he's dogged, determined and has a wry sense of humour. I also enjoyed the unhurried way the story develops.
I've read one other book by the same author, a more recent
Kendall escapade, and I'd certainly seek them out to read in the right order, although as each book reveals a separate case, I don't suppose the order in which they are read matters greatly.
A recommended read, for those who enjoy a gradual, unravelling of intrigue, rather than a quick reveal.

“A Killing In The City” –
The story of doggedly determined Kendall, the Miami detective who always gets his man. No manic car chases or shootouts, but simply, the very clever and subtly amusing antics of the outwardly slow witted but inwardly razor sharp, Kendall as he sets out to prove a fellow traveller was murdered. His long suffering secretary Mollie provides the perfect foil and straight woman for his dry humour, and the plot itself is topical and well executed.

The author reveals the clues and punchlines with perfect timing and also gives us a view of
London as seen through the eyes of first time visitor's, which in itself is informative and amusing. A deliciously corrupt baddie and an overworked inspector from New Scotland Yard, are added to the mix to give an entertaining story of good versus bad in a totally believable tale. A thoroughly enjoyable read. Recommended!


“Epidemic”
Detective Tom Kendall is not some superhero sporting rippling muscles, but a very human man, who is pestered to eat more healthily and exercise more - just the same as most of the rest of us. He is likable for just that reason.
His case starts as an accident that might not have been an accident, but this is just the beginning.
Kendall uncovers a far bigger crime - a crime that has caused enormous suffering to thousands of innocent people.
The plot is carefully thought out in every detail, and the author is to be commended for his story.


“The Marinski Affair”
http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Marinski-Affair-John-Holt/dp/1616670150/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_3
The Marinski Affair began as a dull mundane case involving a missing husband. Okay, so he was a rich missing husband, but he was nonetheless, still only a missing husband. The case soon developed into one involving robbery, kidnapping, blackmail and murder. But was there really a kidnapping? And exactly who is blackmailing who? Who actually carried out the robbery? Who committed the murders? Who can you trust? Who can you believe? Is anyone actually telling the truth? What have they got to hide? And what connection was there with a jewel theft that occurred four years previously? All is not as it seems. Tom Kendall, private detective, had the task of solving the mystery. He was usually pretty good a solving puzzles, but this one was different, somehow. It wasn't that he didn't have any of the pieces. Oh no, he wasn't short of clues. It was just that none of the pieces seemed to fit together.


"The Kammersee Incident" 
This is my latest offering and it should be out sometime next month.


OK, a very in depth review of his work there, if crime's your thing, you know where to go :-)
Thanks for reading peeps.
Take it easy.
Reggie :-D