The Taylor Street Gang files, part 5. Robert Craven.

Rob Craven wrote one of my favourite books from last year, "Get Lenin", and if you're a Facebook friend of mine you've probably seen his link on my page a couple of thousand times.

 A really good bloke, a fan of Guinness, (which puts him in the "Good Bloke" category straight away in my eyes) and also a talented story teller. Here's the blurb for Rob's latest book, "Zinnman" and then we'll squeeze some info out of him.

Zinnman.

In this assured and compelling sequel to 'Get LENIN', it is 1941, and the Allied intelligence team of Henry Chainbridge, Peter De Witte and Eva Molenaar are tasked by Winston Churchill and Anthony Eden personally with destroying a terrifying new weapon of mass destruction being developed jointly by Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan, using Chinese prisoners of war as guinea-pigs before giving it its first full test on the Russian Front.

As ever, Eva is the sultry Polish-born spy putting her body on the line at the heart of the enemy, Chainbridge is the reserved master strategist and De Witte is the suave, blind intelligence gatherer in love with Eva Molenaar, but does she still love him back or has she fallen for a German agent?

Thanks very much for the interview Reg, and congratulations on ‘The Division of the Damned’, it's a wonderful read!

                My name is Robert Craven and I have 2 novels published by Taylor Street Publishing ‘Get Lenin’ released June 2011 and its sequel ‘Zinnman’, released August 2012. I live in the seaside town of Rush, north of Dublin, Ireland and I’ve been living there for nearly 12 years. I work full-time near Dublin Airport and in my free time write. I prefer to keep my private life private, so I’m married and a family man and that’s it.

How I got here as an author started when I was a journey man bass player in Dublin between 1986 and 1997. Over those years, I kept ‘gig’ diaries, and around them, I built a novella titled ‘‘Vocals preferred, own transport essential’’ and touted it around a few publishers. Though I got a few rejections, I also got some encouraging remarks, I learned the ropes and when I started writing Get Lenin in January 2005, had a plan.

Genre:

    The genre I specialise in is action/adventure. I think a book should be among other things entertaining and I hope with both Get Lenin and Zinnman they are good old fashioned page-turners.  The kind of books I imagine you see in an airport, while you’re waiting for the boarding call and thinking ‘‘this will do to pass the time.’’

What’s my inspiration?

    Now that is a good question! Good writing inspires me – well written novels, historical biographies or even a concise piece of journalism. I’m currently reading Richard Kadrey’s Sandman Slim books, and it’s like discovering a new band you want to jam along with – the way he writes dialogue and use of frags is really, really well done. Sometimes a photograph, painting or piece of music might give the few remaining brain cells a good kick and have me back at the computer typing.

My favourite author?

    Again a tough one – I suppose the biggest influence on me has been Stephen King; ‘The Stand’, ‘Salem’s Lot’ and ‘Dolores Claiborne’ stand out for me. Andrew Miller’s ‘Ingenious Pain’ is another exceptional book.  My all time favorite book though is ‘1984’ by George Orwell; there isn’t a wasted syllable in it.

On TSP

    Taylor Steet Publishing has been very good to me. After 5 years of grinding out rejection slips and no responses to my pitches for Get Lenin, Tim took a chance on it and published it last year. Then when I received the contract for Zinnman, it was the icing on the cake! Taylor Street to me is more of a family as a good few of the authors here were friends and rivals all jockeying for position on the Authonomy peer-review site. There’s a good community feel which both Tim and Kathleen have worked hard to foster and everyone has their sleeves rolled up and pitching and helping their fellow authors. It’s easy to forget that Tim’s passionate about the books TS produces, whatever the author’s style, and that’s the extra touch; you don’t get the sense that you have to adapt your work to a ‘house style’.

My plans 

     At the moment I don’t have any plan other than to complete the 3rd installment of Eva Molenaar’s adventures, it’s titled ‘A Finger of night’. I have the first draft down, but won’t go back to it properly for a few months, let it settle for a bit and also re-check the research.

    I’m also in the great position at the moment of reviewing new music for Musicians Together magazine – an on-line magazine and network for Irish & International musicians. It makes my day seeing a new CD come through the letter box!

Eva Molenaar; Ingenue, muse, model, assassin – she’s uncovered a plan, and she’s the only one who can stop it... see the links below:

Get Lenin:

http://www.amazon.com/Get-LENIN-ebook/dp/B0054EX4XW/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1347015245&sr=8-2&keywords=Get+Lenin

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Get-LENIN-ebook/dp/B0054EX4XW/ref=pd_rhf_se_p_img_1

Zinnman:

http://www.amazon.com/Zinnman-ebook/dp/B0094WYC0E/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1347015339&sr=8-1&keywords=Zinnman

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Zinnman-ebook/dp/B0094WYC0E/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1347015375&sr=8-1

thanks again Reg!

Rob

Nice one mate.

So peeps, now you know.

Reggie ;-)

The Taylor Street Gang files, part 4. Peter Tapsell.

Next up to the plate, Pete Tapsell.

Pete's a tad too dour for Taylor, if you want my honest opinion, but have a read and make your own mind up.

Here's a blurb for his civil servant's manual, "You can't polish a Turd", written under the name George Fripley.

'You Can't Polish A Turd' is a book born of a lifetime - well, it felt like a lifetime - of experience working in and with bureaucracy.

Some might deem it cynical, others not cynical enough, but most will repeatedly nod their heads in profound recognition.

If you are already a bureaucrat, you may find it brings tears to your eyes - both of laughter and despair - and whatever your bureaucratic hue, public or corporate, it is probably the book you will wish you had read years ago, the one which would have saved you from committing all those silly, and sometimes fatal, transgressions against the bureaucratic code which are so easily made if you have pretensions to humanity, decency and indeed activity.

However, if you are only just stepping out onto the winding career path of a convicted bureaucrat, this is an absolute must-read that will guide you unfailingly to the very top of your profession so long as you implement its recommendations precisely and without moral weakness.

All in all, this is a fine companion piece to its corporate equivalents, Terry Farnsworth's 'On The Way Up' or Robert Townsend's 'Up The Organisation' - well, more like Terry's actually because its fundamental tenet is that optimism is futile, but that futility can be both entertaining and highly rewarding.

OK, let's get him in a headlock, knuckle his head and get some answers out of him!

1.) Tell us about yourself

I am a middle-aged bureaucrat who pays a mortgage but is a superhero by night - when I go out to sow the seeds of confusion and dischord among those intent on bringing common sense to life. I'm not sure that I'm needed though - people seem to manage this all by themselves.

2.) What genre do you specialise in?

So far I have dealt with satire and humour with the Civil Servant’s Manual and The Dregs of History but I am currently working on a novel, Barmia which, while having elements of satire in it, is more of a study of people and their interactions. This is a fantasy novel, so it is a whole new challenge.

3.) What's your inspiration.

Every day when I come to work I find new ideas springing to life in my head. Just watching people in their everyday lives is inspiration. I take a pen and notepad everywhere with me. You never know when inspiration will strike.

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

I don’t have one favourite author, there are a few. These include Raymond Chandler, Terry Pratchett & Bill Bryson. Terry Pratchett has entertained me since my teens and continues to do so. I like his sense of humour, his biting satire, and his understanding of human beings and their prejudices. He also writes a great story. Raymond Chandler, in my opinion, set the standard for private eye novels and even though his books were written in the 1940s they still resonate today. I believe he is one of the classic writers and his descriptions of people and places, and especially his dialogue are second to none. And Bill Bryson, what can I say. As an ex-pat Pom living in Australia I found his Notes from a Small to be spot on in its assessment of my fellow countrymen (and women). His ability to weave history and humour into the travel narrative inspired me to try the same – it didn’t work! All these writers and a few more are bound to rubbed off on how I write.

5.) How do you feel about Taylor?

I have enjoyed being part of Taylor Street Books, and before that Night Publishing. So far I have had two books published and they will hopefully look favourably on my new work. I find the group of writers in Taylor Street to be friendly, helpful, and often very entertaining.

6.) What are your plans?

World domination via the internet…or if that doesn’t work I might open a nice bottle of wine or a few Theakston’s Old Peculiers instead, and watch the football or the cricket.

7.) Go for it, sell your work. (Links, reviews, what ever you want).

For all those who love a bit of humour, the Dregs of History website will educate you on people who have never been and did nothing www.dregsofhistory.blogspot.com  There are over 80 characters on the website, and hopefully I will get to the 100 mark. I have compiled 55 in the Dregs of History book published by Taylor Street. My favourite character? Perhaps Shit-faced Wilkins, Soporificus Pitt or Cynan the Mapmaker.

If any of you are struggling with the bureaucracy, then You Can’t Polish  A Turd (Civil Servant’s Manual) is what you need to read. It will demystify the un-demystifiable. Taylor Street can provide this for you at a very reasonable price. www.governmentandbureaucracy.blogspot.com

On lighter note I am getting in touch with my lighter side at The Small Things blog – a site that details in short bites what makes life good! www.itsthesmalljoys.blogspot.com

Other sites in my rapidly expanding empire include

www.anothergrumpycommuter.wordpress.com  - where I shall be whining a lot, but also interviewing writers in the near future.

www.westernaustralianwarp.wordpress.com – the site of my very own political party WARP (present membership  - 1).  I am currently interviewing for the position of El Presidente (all applicants are welcome, since none on my shortlist have applied) and working on walking a mile in everybody’s shoes. This may take some time.

So?

What did I say?

The man is an intolerable misery guts... but he grows on you.

Thanks for reading peeps.

Reggie :-D

The Taylor Street Gang files, part 3. Matt Hammond.

Matt Hammond, Taylor's resident Kiwi, has written a book set in New Zealand, the place he chooses to call home. Milkshake,  an Eco thriller, is a book I'd readily recommend to anyone who likes their thrillers on a massive, country wide scale.

Here's the blurb on Amazon, then Matt will tell you about how he came onto the idea.

Milkshake

On the day David Turner is supposed to emigrate to New Zealand, he witnesses a savage murder and becomes caught up in ruthless global conspiracy. 

A thirty year-old technological discovery threatens his own future and jeopardises the lives of millions of others as David discovers that starting a new life is about to become a deadly game of cat and mouse... and, somewhat surprisingly, cows.

Modifying milk so that ethanol can be processed from it could be the solution to an impending global oil crisis, but drinking it will kill you.

Can the truth be uncovered before an entire country is sacrificed to satisfy the world's demand for bio-fuel?

OK, got that? Now Matt Hammond, COME ON DOWN !!!

1.) Tell us about yourself

I've lived in New Zealand for 10 years.

It's the closest man has yet got to living on the moon.

Spending each day in the most geographically isolated 1st world country on the planet helps with the sense of being outside the 21st century, looking in. We have all the modern conveniences of century twenty one whilst socially still being mostly in the 1970's

2.) What genre do you specialise in?

I wrote 'Milkshake; intending it to be an autobiographical travelogue. Imagination soon took over and halfway through I realised the first-person autobiography had become a third person thriller. Bizarre, as I'd never read a thriller in my life!

3.) What was your inspiration?

The inspiration came from the things already mentioned; New Zealand's comparative global isolation and its unique culture. I wondered what if the reasons for this situation were not just evolutionary. Had it someway been manipulated - what if New Zealand was some vast social experiment?

I've since found out large multinationals often try out new products and technology here first, precisely because of the population's (only 4 million people) high level of consumer awareness and the isolated nature of our technological infrastructure.

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

I'm not sure if I'm ashamed or secretly quite proud to say I don't have a favourite author, primarily because I rarely read books. I've probably read less than 15 in the last thirty years. But I do devour news and current affairs and much of both 'Milkshake' and it's sequel (due soon) 'The Destiny Stone' - are based on actual and relatively recent events. I like the idea the reader is able to check my plots and find the same surprising links I did.

5.) How do you feel about Taylor?

I appreciate the opportunity Taylor Street has given me to have my first attempt (ever) at writing a story published.

At a time when the world of publishing is going through the biggest upheaval possibly since monks were put out of work by the invention of the printing press, it's exciting to feel, as a novice, I am still at the forefront of this huge revolution.

It still feels weird to think possibly several thousand people I will never know, have read something I've written, and that anyone with access to the internet, anywhere in the world, can do the same.

6.) What are your plans?

My immediate plans are to look forward to the publication of the next part of the story - 'The Destiny Stone'. I learned a great deal writing the first story and think this second one is a far stronger and even more gripping plot. I'm hoping the people who have read the first one will want to read the next. The trouble is, I got to the end and realised the story is not yet done. There are still loose ends, still some unfinished business.

'Milkshake' took over 5 years. 'Destiny Stone' took a year. I have a few ideas for the third instalment.

In the meantime I may get sidetracked with writing a screen play, since many readers have commented on the cinematic quality of 'Milkshake' and this continues in 'The Destiny Stone'.

I've never tackled a screenplay. But now I know anything's possible!

Nice one Matt!

So peeps, Matt Hammond, the guy who put my Vanilla Thickshakes in a more suspicious light, and I'll never forgive him for it  ;-)

If you're interested in reading his work, you can find it here on Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/Milkshake-Matt-Hammond/dp/1466423706/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1347027587&sr=8-1&keywords=Milkshake+matt+hammond

And here on Amazon.co.uk: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Milkshake-ebook/dp/B005UEFCX6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1347027650&sr=8-1

Thanks all, take it easy.

Reggie ;-)

The Taylor Street Gang files, part 2. Splinker!

Ok peeps, next up on the Altar of Sacrifice is Splinker.

One of the more serious members of the Taylor Street Gang, (the more I write that, the more it sounds like a comic strip story), whose book "I've been deader" reflects on the darker side of zombie love.

Here's the blurb:

Being a zombie is no picnic and it's one hell of a handicap in the romance department when you fall in love with a 'breather':

Aleta is a breather with short blonde hair and brown eyes - two of them! - and the whitest smile Fred has ever seen. Every day at a certain time she sits at her window, and every day he stands in the rubble across the street among a crowd of zombies waiting to break through the fence and eat her.

'You are beautiful, like an angel', he thinks, but all he can moan is, “Braaaiiinss."

Still, as zombies go, Fred's quite a catch. Underneath all the gangrene and rot, Fred is different. This girl will probably turn out to be yet another dead end, an infatuation, someone whose image he cannot get out of his mind and whose taste he cannot get out of his mouth, but the heart wants what the heart wants.

For breathers, it is always only a matter of time, however beautiful they are and whatever the government is assuring people.

Which makes Fred sad because he has a beautiful 11 year old son called Timmy, and Timmy may still be alive.

Sound good?

Well here's the interview, take it away Splinks!

1.) Tell us about yourself

 I enjoy bull fighting and bull shitting, and I'm bull shitting about the bull fighting.  I write when there's nothing on T.V. or when I'm too tired to look at internet porn, because after porn and T.V. -- and video games -- writing is the most important thing in my life.  Oops.  And family.  Family is important.  It's especially important to mention family, as they can get quite vocal when ignored.

2.) What genre do you specialise in?

 At the moment, my focus is on the horror/comedy genre.  A bit of niche market, but I do it well.  I got the idea when I first heard the phrase "scared the shit out of me!"  I thought to myself, 'now, that would be pretty funny.'

3.) What's your inspiration.

 My inspiration is anticipated praise.  My main reason for writing is to hear people say how much they enjoyed my stories.  That's what I live for.  Unless you're talking poetry.  Then my inspiration is the thought of getting women to notice me..

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

 My favorite author is Stephen King.  I mean, that guy can write 120,000 words about a scary pillow and make a million.  I grew up reading his books (this was before internet porn) and I'd say both him and Ray Bradbury were the biggest influences on my writing.

5.) How do you feel about Taylor?

 Not crazy about the ham, but I like the publisher.  They are hands on and know what they're doing when it comes to marketing.  I've enjoyed working with them.  (Hey Taylor, how about bumping the price of "I've Been Deader" up to two bucks so we can both get something to eat??)

6.) What are your plans?

 I'm finishing up the prequel to "I've Been Deader" and hope to have it available for Halloween.  I'm also doing another collection of short stories called "Inside My Shorts:  Now longer and More Gripping than Ever!" (working title).

7.) Go for it, sell your work.

  I don't like to self-promote.  It makes me feel funny to talk about my books.  When "I've Been Deader," a near perfect blend of horror and comedy was first made available on Amazon, I refused to let anyone know, even friends and family, although this was mostly due to the fact that I was sleeping.  If you really have nothing better to do, you can find it here:http://www.amazon.com/Ive-Been-Deader-ebook/dp/B008H04Z0G/ref=sr_1_...   Unless you've been to Bangkok, I promise it will be the best buck you've ever spent.

Once you're done reading and starved for more of me, you can come play on Ivebeendeader.blogspot.com 

Or, if you're looking for something short, a little dark, and a quick laugh, try peeking "Inside My Shorts: 30 Quickies."  Just promise that you'll be kind when talking with the ladies about what you found there.  http://www.amazon.com/Inside-My-Shorts-Quickies-ebook/dp/B006NGE8QW...

If you want to shoot the breeze, you can email me at ibdeader.hotmail.com.  Also, you can find me on Facebook, Twitter, Starbucks, Five Guys Burgers and Amazon.  I won't post links because I want you to feel like you've accomplished something.

Thanks for reading!

No dude, thanks for answering.

Believe it or not, he's a pretty good guy.

Take it easy.

Reggie. :-D

The Taylor Street Gang files...

Recently I approached a couple of authors from Taylor Street to see if they'd like to answer a couple of questions about themselves and their work.
First victim, I mean writer is Ron A. Sewell, author of  The Collectors.



Here's the blurb and then the answers.

The Collectors Book One.

Disgraced British soldier and disenchanted mercenary, Petros Kyriades, is one half of an elite pair of soldiers-for-hire known as 'The Collectors'. William ('Bear') Morris, ex-SAS sergeant, is the other half. Their motto is, “If it's there we will find it, and for the right price recover it.'

Accountant Bernie Cohen cannot recall the first ten years of his life. But with the assistance of a psychiatrist, he exposes an undesirable truth. An abandoned house close to Chernobyl holds the mystery of his past, and Bernie hires The Collectors to retrieve something that should have remained hidden.

The Collectors always play the game by their rules – that is until someone or something forces them to rewrite them.



1. Tell us about yourself.

I have been writing for many years and completed six novels, four published to date. “The Collectors Book One,” is my latest offering.

Born in Edinburgh, but after one month moved to London, England. At fourteen, I ran away from home. With my passport and a more or less empty rucksack I headed for the south of France. Here, I had a fabulous time and grew up, working as a deckhand on luxury yachts.

On my return to the UK, I joined the Royal Navy and remained in the service for 35 years. I enjoyed sailing yachts for the RN for a good few years.

I served as a marine engineer, trained as an engineering diver, a parachutist and worked with Air Sea Rescue. I eventually became a fully qualified Engineer and further certified as a Deck officer. The eventual command of a patrol boat was my highest achievement.

I’m married to my great wife Sheila and have four children. Live in sunny Cyprus



2. What genre do I specialize in?

 I predominately write action/adventure/thriller novels. I’ve attempted others but gave up my sex scenes are naff. I do enjoy writing short stories and have written over a hundred to date on all subjects.



3. What’s my inspiration? 

I have no idea I simply love writing. The creating of characters placing them in awkward situations and sometimes allowing them to live until the next page is enough for me.



4. My favourite authors are many and varied. 

To name a few – Jack Higgins, Tom Clancy –Robert Ludlum – Beverly Barton and many more. I assume these authors have pushed me in a certain direction



5. Tell us about Taylor Street.

My views on Taylor Street Publishing can only be good. They have given me and many others the opportunity to have my work out there for others to read and I hope enjoy. The team, Tim and Kathleen work dammed hard to help their writers.



6. My plans.

 Keep writing.


7. My two books on Amazon Kindle and in paperback are. The Collectors Book One – Book two soon to be released and You Can’t Hide Forever. They are easy to find type in Ron Sewell and the title.

So now you know peeps
Reggie.  :-)