Here, There be Dragons...

Update on work in progress.

2011-11-22T09:44:00.001Z

Haven't been here for a while... due to having the kitchen completely re-fitted. This took a little longer than anticipated, and I couldn't re-tile until the wall units were installed. I'm pleased to say that in the interim period, there have been several hits in the Operation Ebook Drop coupon game. This is a really worthwhile project as far as I'm concerned, and consequently I've extended the coupon expiry date. (Let's just hope the Political Masters decide to bring our forces home before the extended date is reached.)

Meanwhile, the latest novel "A Dollar for the Ferryman" is proceeding slowly... just starting chapter seven at twenty-five thousand, five hundred words. The research for this one is difficult and time-consuming. It concerns the clandestine Air America operations in Laos... and much of the information was classified until the late nineties. However; that's one of the problems with writing a speculative historical story... accurate facts, because there's always someone out there who can pick up on inaccuracies!

Here's an excerpt. Our Heroine has just encountered a member of the Chinese Delegation ( who were actually Intelligence officers from their Central Investigation Department) in the corridor of her hotel in Vientiane...

    Feeling much more human, she carefully dressed in the cool silk garments, applied the merest touch of make-up, and opened the door to go back down to the lobby. The corridor was deserted… except for a figure kneeling at the far end, tying his shoelace. There was no sign of the Lao guards. She began walking along the corridor towards the figure who continued to fiddle with his shoelaces. As she approached, he glanced up. He was Chinese; about fifty, and a little taller than most Chinese men. He wore thick-lensed spectacles, an expensive silk shirt and tie, and dark trousers.
    She smiled, and made to squeeze past him.
    'Zao Shang Hao! Ging Yuan Liang'… 'Good Morning! Excuse me…'
    The man glanced up at her again and stood up.
    'Dui Bu Qi.'
    Then, he smiled… a typically toothy, Oriental smile, and spoke in English. His voice was soft and the tone was pleasant.
    'You speak Mandarin very well for a Westerner. Where did you learn?'
    She paused, and thought to herself… Be careful of what you say, girl. She gave him a shy smile.
    'My mother taught me as a child… in Hong Kong.'
    Colonel Ming Tsai gave a sage smile and peered myopically at the girl… but, hidden behind his bland demeanour, his steel trap of a mind was collating the gathering pieces of information. The girl spoke Mandarin with a distinct Guangdong Province accent. Hong Kong's Han Chinese majority originated mainly from this area of Mainland China. He detected American overtones in her natural accent… but Hong Kong was a British Crown Colony with little or no American presence or influence. Therefore it would be unlikely that she was with any of the American agencies that infested Vientiane these days.
    The American CIA only recruited American Nationals since the McCarthyism paranoia of the fifties... If there was any American connection at all, it would probably be USAID… The United States Agency for International Development, whose purpose was to provide Foreign aid.
    He decided to press his benevolent interrogation a little further.
    'So, how do you like this beautiful country?'
    Stacey smiled.
    'I'm afraid I haven’t seen much of it yet. I only flew into Wattay airport last night.'
    Colonel Ming nodded. That tied in with the intelligences that had crossed his desk this morning. Only one commercial flight had landed the previous night… a Douglas DC3 belonging to Lao Air Lines. All the other movements for the previous day had been either Air America or Royal Air Lao, with a couple of China Airlines C47 Freighters. The Lao Air Lines flight had arrived from Saigon, and USAID maintained a mission in that city. He smiled again. This young girl gave no outward appearance of being military, with her long, blonde hair and totally feminine aspect. He decided to dig a little deeper.
    'Are you here on a vacation? Or perhaps to study the culture?'
    She shook her head.
    'No; I work for the United Nations International Law Commission. My duties include translation of Lao government documents, collation and research on the origin and personal histories of refugees from northeast Laos to the Vientiane Plain; and research in Lao government archives to create a chronology of political and military events in northern Laos.'
    Colonel Ming Tsai nodded. His expression was benign and impassive. Just as he had originally suspected… this girl might very well be with the CIA. What she was doing here was irrelevant. She was almost certainly just one more Capitalist spy. He smiled.
    'That is a very honourable vocation for one so young in these uncertain times. I am Ming Tsai. I am honoured to make your acquaintance, Miss…?
    She smiled again.
    'Thank you, Mr. Ming. I am Staysha Sharansky.'
    Colonel Ming Tsai's expression changed very slightly. He had heard that surname somewhere before. His gaze remained impassive, but his mind was racing. It was a Russian name. Where had he heard it before?

    Stacey had been briefed back in the Joint Technical Advisory Group facility at Atsugi, Japan, before she embarked upon this mission, that her father had infiltrated North Korea during that war using the legend that he was Colonel Konstantin Sharansky of the Soviet Military Intelligence Service.
    Her mother had told her that she had been christened Staysha… after her father's mother. Now, she chose to use this "Nom de Guerre" to possibly unnerve this Chinese spook. She noticed his sudden change of attitude.
    Colonel Ming Tsai had remembered where he had heard this name before… P'yǒngyang… 'No. 2 Korean People's Army Officers School, in the summer of 1950. Sharansky had been a Colonel… a Soviet Military Attaché; which was actually a smoke-screen used by members of the Soviet Military Intelligence Service. Ming Tsai had been a lowly First Lieutenant advisor to the People's Liberation Army. Yes, he remembered that bastard Russian with the green and red banded visor cap. Was this girl related?... Or even his daughter? If so, was she also KGB?
    Ming Tsai knew that he needed to be very careful as to what he did now. Suddenly the tables might just have turned against him. Russian influence still surpassed Chinese in Laos. There was little love lost between the two powers. The People's Liberation Army was militarily inferior to the Soviet Army, and the Sino-Soviet ideological split between political parties, had decayed into open warfare between states, to the extent that, by January 1967, Red Guards had actually attacked the Soviet Embassy in Beijing. Despite unbroken formal diplomatic ties, the People's Republic of China and Soviet relations had become progressively worse in the ensuing period.
    With this in mind, it was imperative that Ming Tsai now extracted himself from this conversation without losing face, or revealing anything to the detriment of his covert presence in the city. He peered through his thick pebble lenses and smiled benevolently. The toothy yellow smile reminded Stacey of an ancient seaside donkey. He glanced at his expensive Patek Philippe, square, gold wristwatch.
    'Please excuse me, Miss Sharansky, but I have an important meeting to attend, as much as I would like to continue our conversation. I wish you every success in your endeavour on behalf of the United Nations.'
    He bowed slightly and hurried away along the corridor towards the rooms occupied by the Chinese Delegation.

Operation Ebook Drop.

2011-10-09T16:35:00.000+01:00

I've just added the five Ebook versions of my novels to Operation Ebook Drop. If there are any Indie writers out there who would like to give something back to the guys deployed overseas, then this is worth a serious think.
Operation Ebook Drop is an effort to provide soldiers deployed overseas free eBooks courtesy of authors participating in the program. The effort apparently started as "Operation Kindle Ebook Drop" when Ed Patterson, an author affiliated with eBook publisher and distributor Smashwords, offered a soldier all thirteen of his eBooks free of charge after the solider mentioned that Amazon's Whispernet download service didn't work in Iraq.
Smashwords has since got into the act, with founder Marc Coker notifying the more than 1,300 Smashwords authors about the program. Author participation is voluntary. The program has also been expanded to include eBooks for other readers such as Sony's devices, along with cell phones and laptops.

Read about Operation Ebook Drop Here:

http://blog.smashwords.com/2009/09/smashwords-supports-operation-ebook.html

The two sequels now available at Smashwords.

2011-10-01T09:30:00.000+01:00

The other two novels:

The Vanavara Protocol.
and
The Abaddon Stone.

have now been uploaded and published as multi-format ebooks at Smashwords.com.
They are available for viewing/downloading in the following formats (which covers most of the popular readers):

Online Reading. (HTML, good for sampling in web browser)
Online Reading. (JavaScript, experimental, buggy)
Kindle. (.mobi for Kindle devices and Kindle apps)
Epub. (Apple iPad/iBooks, Nook, Sony Reader, Kobo, and most e-reading apps including Stanza, Aldiko, Adobe Digital Editions, and others.)
PDF. (Good for reading on PC, or for home printing)
RTF. (Readable on most word processors)
Palm Doc. (PDB) (for Palm reading devices)
Plain Text. (download) (flexible, but lacking much formatting)
Plain Text. (view) (viewable as web page)

These are all available for immediate sampling online... which means you really can try before you buy.

Here’s a link to my page...
https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/calladhor.

Smashwords.com

2011-09-27T21:17:00.000+01:00

Seeing as Amazon Kindle aren't really cutting the mustard, I've added the three books of "The Eternal Watchtower" Trilogy to Smashwords.com. The real advantage to this site over Amazon is that the conversion process from print layout to electronic layout of the book content is precise (Once you've got to grips with the specific formatting niceties!)... they tell you where you've screwed up on the formatting, and allow you to resubmit when corrected, without any of Amazon's annoyances.
They provide an in-depth, downloadable PDF formatting and style guide which is a damn sight better that Amazon's "Upload it and see what happens" system. The conversion system also generates a comprehensive selection of reader formats (Nine different... not just .mobi for Kindle,) which obviously means a wider market.
They also provide a free ISBN, and distribute to the Apple iBookstore, Barnes & Noble, Sony Reader Store, Kobo and the Diesel eBook Store.

We'll see how it goes!

The Eternal Watchtower Trilogy.

Book One.
A Bright, and Shining Land.
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/91607
Book Two
The Riddle of Storien-Rhudd.
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/91927
Book Three.
The Hand of Baelar.
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/92174

Online Ebook Converter.

2011-09-08T21:06:00.003+01:00

Now, for all you ebook fans; here's an interesting site I stumbled upon:

http://ebook.online-convert.com/

This free online file converter lets you convert media easily and quickly from one format to another. It supports many different source formats...

Text to the ePub ebook format.
Text to the ebook FB2 format.
Text file to the Microsoft LIT ebook format.
Text/pdf file to the Sony LRF ebook format.
Text or ebooks to the mobi format.
Text, ebooks or documents to the Palm PDB ebook format.
Text files to PDF optimized for ebook reader.
Ebooks and text files to the TCR format.

I experimented with a random Mobi to pdf. It works perfectly! It converts, then downloads to your desktop ready for you to save.
Could be very useful for those wishing to publish on Amazon Kindle, or whatever.

The Abaddon Stone now available as a Kindle edition.

2011-08-23T21:04:00.000+01:00

As promised, "The Abaddon Stone" is now available from Amazon as a Kindle edition. Details as follows:

Format: Kindle Edition
File Size: 656 KB
Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
Language: English
ASIN: B005IHWD28
Kindle Price: $3.37.
( Includes VAT & free international wireless delivery via Amazon Whispernet .)

Direct Link:

The Abaddon Stone

"The Abaddon Stone" has arrived on Amazon.

2011-06-13T21:36:00.001+01:00

"The Abaddon Stone" has just arrived on Amazon.com and has been priced at $15.99.
I hope to have a Kindle edition available in due course

Lightning Source triumphs again.

2011-06-07T16:26:00.000+01:00

Received today, the author copies of "The Abaddon Stone." As expected, Lightning Source has produced another top-quality product. I just have to flip through to check for printing errors, and, if OK, I anticipate the novel will hit Amazon within a couple of weeks.
The allocated ISBN is 987-1908147165.

This printer is thoroughly recommended.

The Sequel to "The Abaddon Stone."

2011-05-30T11:14:00.001+01:00

The sequel to the Abaddon Stone has been started. Stacey Mckenna is the daughter of Charlotte Mckenna; the Heroine of The Abaddon Stone.
Charlotte has returned to Seoul to resume her quest to seek out "The Abaddon Stone," and Stacey has followed her mother into the service of "The Company"... the CIA.
An accomplished pilot, she has joined the ranks of Air America flying out from Laos during the Vietnam War....

Here is a preview of the provisional book cover....

Why? You may ask, do you create the cover before the novel plot is completed?
I work this way because the cover of a book is probably the most difficult thing to accomplish successfully. This includes the "Blurb" on the back cover. The Title of the book gives a basic description of what the book is about in either one word or a short phrase. The colour of the cover is important because it corresponds with the theme of the book. A book's theme is the main picture people get when they read the book. For example; love equals red, and danger and death equals black. The theme should have a corresponding colour. Pictures tend to give the reader an image of the story, so when they read it, they can get a better picture in their mind of what's going on.
Designing the cover gives me an insight into how the plot will build. This sounds strange as I am actually creating the plot, but it puts me where the reader will be when they first see the book, and gives me a clear view of how the storyline is developing as I write it. If I get stuck, I simply study the cover and imagine what the reader is expecting from their initial sight of the cover.
It may not work for you, but seems to work for me!

More to follow later!

Re-jigged Cover.

2011-05-30T10:37:00.000+01:00

And now... at great expense... the re-jigged cover for Abaddon.
Problem is; printers demand a minimum of 300dpi, and there aren't too many graphics apps out there that will save at that resolution without making the file an unuseable size for attaching to emails. (Usually in excess of about ten megs!)
Fortunately, PaintShop Pro will do the business... If you set it up properly.

Anyway, enough of this rubbish... here's the cover:

The Publishers have set the price at £8.99 GBP... $ USD price to follow when it appears on Amazon.(Probably in a couple of week's time.)

Abaddon Stone finished!

2011-05-14T09:34:00.000+01:00

So there we are; The Abaddon Stone is finally completed at just over 147,000 words. Now comes the fun part... The Dreaded Line Editing! This will probably chop it down a little, and reveal where I had a few incidents of brain fade. (and there must have been quite a few of those over the last eight months that it took to hatch this story!)

Publication has been agreed, and apart from the "red pen" job, I also have to tidy up the cover graphics that I have designed. A "guesstimate" is that the book will appear early next month if all goes to plan.

And... Today's special offer is...

2011-05-02T21:00:00.001+01:00

Seeing as how I've just been struck down with a bad case of Philanthropy...( and the fact that Amazon aren't cutting it,) I have just re-priced the Kindle editions of The Eternal Watchtower Trilogy and The Vanavara Protocol.
This means that you cannot now no longer plead poverty!

The Eternal Watchtower Trilogy:
Book One... A Bright and Shining Land.
Book Two... The Riddle of Storien-Rhudd.
Book Three... The Hand of Baelar.
are all now the princely sum of $1.99 each;
and
The Vanavara Protocol
is now a stunningly equitable $2.99.

Spoof Antivirus back again.

2011-04-09T21:40:00.002+01:00

Be Warned! It's back! And lurking out there ready to screw your browsing enjoyment.

Fast Windows Antivirus 2011 is a rogue security software that will be introduced by a fake virus scanner. This scanner will mimic Windows explorer in order to deceive users that the scan was processed locally. In fact the Fast Windows Antivirus 2011 virus scan is running on the server of the malicious web sites where visitors are redirected by a Trojan infection.
At the end of the scan, it will provide Windows Security Alert and state that several infections were detected on the computer. (There aren't actually any infections... it's merely a frightener.) An advise to download an unregistered version of Fast Windows Antivirus 2011 is then displayed. When clicked, this will automatically download and install Fast Windows Antivirus 2011 on local hard drive. A modification will be carried out on the system, adding files and registry entries that will make the fake anti-virus to run each time Windows.

Installing Fast Windows Antivirus 2011 is the worst decision one can ever make when faced with this situation. The best thing to do is ignore every link, prompt and web site. Disconnect the computer from the Internet to avoid infection. Immediately run a full scan of the system using anti-malware and anti-virus application. It is best to install an anti-malware program that can provide a real-time scan to block harmful files and unwanted Internet traffic.
First sign you've been hit, is when this suddenly appears:

If this appears do absolutely nothing. Do not click "OK" Do not try to shut it down. If you do, you will be flooded with pop-ups faster than you can close them.
The only way out is to press ALT-CTRL-DEL to bring up the task manager...

Locate the entry: "Fast Windows Antivirus 2011." Select it, and press "End Task."

Now, it gets sneaky. This will pop up...

Hit "End Now." Do not hit "Cancel"... (It will just start up with the first warning once again.) You will lose your browsing pages that are open, but this is the only safe way not to get inundated with this little swine. When your browser (Especially Firefox) starts up again, it is likely to ask if you want your pages recovered. Under no circumstances click YES... or you're back to square one, and will get the first pop-up all over again.

If you've clicked anything at all, go to:

http://www.precisesecurity.com/rogue/fast-windows-antivirus-2011/

to get detailed instructions on how to clean your machine. Surf wisely... surf safely!

Another taste of "The Abaddon Stone."

2011-03-26T21:42:00.000Z

Lieutenant-Medic Catrina Dombrovski wiped her forehead with the back of her bloody hand and bent once more to her task of attempting to suture together the shredded remains of a young Shturmovik pilot who had caught a large piece of shrapnel in his abdomen as his aeroplane had been shot down by the quad 20mm guns of one of the German Wirbelwind self-propelled anti-aircraft guns ranged on the edge of Seelow town.

The old barn that served as the field hospital reeked of blood and excreta, vomit and dirt, and the sickly-sweetish smell of early-stage gas gangrene. On the rough table next to her; two Red Army Medical Service doctors were performing amputations; using only vodka as an anaesthetic. They worked swiftly. As soon as the offending limb was removed, it was thrown into an enamel bucket resting on the dirty, blood-stained floor.

The wounded lay in rows on the dirty floor. There were no beds; just planks and benches salvaged from the shattered buildings in that part of the little town. The dying and the dead lay next to each other. Medical orderlies removed the corpses and amputated limbs when they could, and dumped them in a large, communal burial pit scraped out by the pioneers, for want of any better way to dispose of them.

The only lights in the field hospital were from Hindenburg-Spar Lampen... Hindenburg Candles. These were flat circular bowls made from pasteboard and filled with tallow. When the short wick in the centre was lit they would burn for some hours. They had originally been designed for use in the trenches of the First World War. They were extremely smoky and gave off a foul, acrid smell from their dim, guttering flames; but there was nothing else.

Catrina Dombrovski studied the pain-sweated face of the young pilot. He was only about twenty; but he had been lucky... if lucky was a word you could feasibly use in this ramshackle monument to the bloodbath behind the Seelow heights. The shrapnel had hit him in his solar plexus and ripped across the lower quarter of his stomach. When they had brought him in, he had been deathly pale and quiet. There was nothing in the way of anaesthetics or antiseptics left; the assault on the Seelow Heights had cost casualties counted in thousands of the Soviet forces. The German engineers had released water from a reservoir upstream, which turned the plain into a swamp, and left the armour to use the few roads which were easily targeted by the defenders.

When she had examined his dreadful wound; the only anaesthetic available had been a vicious uppercut from a large Guards Medical orderly. The shrapnel had missed both his oesophagus at the top, and his pyloric sphincter at the bottom of his stomach. With infinite care, she sutured the laceration back together. He would make it, provided shock, infection or peritonitis didn't get him first. Infection she could do something about. The other two were in the lap of the Gods. Finishing the suturing; she snapped her blood-stained fingers at the assisting orderly, who handed her a half-full bottle of vodka and a sheet from a bundle of newsprint that was being used for swabs and dressings. Newsprint can save a man from gas gangrene.

Carefully, she tucked the sheet of newsprint into the airman's wound and poured neat vodka over her suturing. With the excess soaked up by the pages from a three-month old copy of Pravda; she gently removed the sodden newsprint which had effectively acted as a swab, and picking up her needle and suture thread, began to repair the torn abdomen muscle. This done; all that was left, was to close. If he survived the night, he would have an impressive scar to show to the girls. She allowed herself a tiny smile. OK; let's make it a heroically attractive one.

As the young pilot was carried away from her operating bench, she took a quick swig from the vodka bottle proffered by her orderly. She had been working for ten hours non-stop, now; and there was always another shattered body waiting for her to attempt to repair to some degree of normality.

As the next stretcher bearers approached, she sighed, and wondered if, one day, the mangled remains of the human being in front of her would be her brother Sergei.

Update on "Abaddon."

2011-03-24T22:32:00.000Z

Abaddon is now up to 111,500 words and proceeding nicely. I normally use chapters of about 3000 words length, but this time, seeing as I was into the mid-twenties with the chapters, I have separated the novel into three parts.
It broke nicely with the storyline....
Part One covers the Fall of Berlin and the Heroine's escape to the Allies.
Part Two describes her return to Berlin during the Soviet Blockade and her adventures in the espionage community.
Part Three follows her adventures as she seeks out the Abaddon Stone in distant lands.

That's all you are going to get for now!

A Little unexpected publicity

2011-02-27T18:12:00.002Z

Have just been directed to this by one of my contacts:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) February 27, 2011 --

"The Vanavara Protocol" ... A follow-on to the gripping "Eternal Watchtower" Trilogy by the same author, only this time, not a fantasy; although there are many references to the Trilogy, albeit, cleverly set into modern times.

"The Vanavara Protocol" is set in pre-war Germany and the Soviet Union, and follows the adventures of the central heroine (whose name is very similar to the central heroine of the Trilogy... coincidence? or something else?) as she embarks upon an expedition into the Soviet Union to seek out the truth surrounding the massive Siberian explosion of 1908. Three ancient volumes have been discovered in the area, and may hold some clue as to the cause of this catastrophe.

The expedition has been arranged by Reichsführer Heinrich Himmler and Nikolai Yezhov... head of the Soviet NKVD in order to establish if there might be anything of advantageous Military significance to their respective regimes. Each of these evil men propose to double-cross the other if anything is found.

This novel really is a page-turner. I found it difficult to put down. It draws you into the plot, almost as if you were actually there in that period of history, accompanying the heroine. The research is flawless, but carefully incorporated to prevent it reading like some history book.

This is a masterly adventure that keeps its pace from beginning to end. It is a large novel at 448 pages, printed on top-quality cream paper with easily readable, clear type, and presented in trade paperback size.

If someone ever chose to write a screenplay of "The Vanavara Protocol" it would make a superb film! (And you can't say that about too many novels, these days!)

Available from Amazon Worldwide.
# Paperback: 448 pages
# Publisher: new Generation Publishing
# Language English
# ISBN-10: 1907756574
# ISBN-13: 978-1907756573
# Price: £9.99

Also available in Kindle edition:
# Format: Kindle Edition
# File Size: 759 KB
# Publisher: New Generation Publishing; 2 edition (17 Jan 2011)
# Sold by: Amazon Media EU S.à r.l.
# Language English
# ASIN: B004JN0SD8
# Kindle Price: £5.70

So someone out there must have found it interesting!... only, who the heck Glenn Elliott is... search me!... but, thanks anyway!

The Eternal Watchtower Trilogy now available as Kindle Downloads.

2011-01-04T19:57:00.000Z

All three volumes have been uploaded and new artwork has been added. This is because, although the printed version covers were OK, the choice was limited, and the publishers changed during the printing run. Consequently, one of the covers was of a different design; which, although not a earth-shaking tragedy; rather spoiled the overall visual effect of the trilogy. The Kindle covers carry the same theme, but in different colours...

Perhaps, not the most aesthetically artistic endeavour... but, they do retain a common theme.
Shortcuts to the volumes on Amazon are...

A Bright, and Shining Land. (Book One.)
http://www.amazon.com/Shining-Eternal-Watchtower-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B004HO5L0Y/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&m=A7B2F8DUJ88VZ&s=digital-text&qid=1294168583&sr=1-3

The Riddle of Storien-Rhudd. (Book Two.)
http://www.amazon.com/Storien-Rhudd-Eternal-Watchtower-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B004HO65P4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&m=A7B2F8DUJ88VZ&s=digital-text&qid=1294168583&sr=1-1

The Hand of Baelar. (Book Three.)
http://www.amazon.com/Baelar-Eternal-Watchtower-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B004HO6AMW/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&m=A7B2F8DUJ88VZ&s=digital-text&qid=1294168583&sr=1-2

Kindle versions of The Eternal Watchtower Trilogy soon available.

2010-12-31T20:16:00.002Z

Today, I submitted the first book of The Eternal Watchtower Trilogy...
"A Bright, and Shining Land" to Amazon in Kindle format. It should be available within a couple of days on their website. The suggested price will be $7.99.
When it arrives in the Kindle store it has been allocated the reference number:
ASIN: B004HO5L0Y

The other two books of the Trilogy will follow shortly; and the fourth book...
"The Vanavara Protocol" will also be "Kindled" in due course.

Me? I prefer to turn pages... and the batteries don't run down!

Vanavara... We have full Lift-Off!

2010-12-18T17:29:00.001Z

Further to my note of yesterday;
The Vanavara Protocol has also now appeared on Amazon UK at the set cover price of £9.99 GBP.
The sequel: The Abaddon Stone is now close to half-way complete, and stands at 88,000 words, with our Heroine, Charlotte Mckenna, and her lover... having discovered a significant clue to the possible whereabouts of the malignant Gemstone; now prepare to embark on their quest to secure and destroy the evil artefact before it wreaks further destruction on Mankind.

Details of The Vanavara Protocol are as follows:
Available from Amazon Worldwide.
# Paperback: 448 pages
# Publisher: new Generation Publishing.
# Language English
# ISBN-10: 1907756574
# ISBN-13: 978-1907756573
# Price: £9.99.GBP. ($16.99. USD.)

Provided I don't get brain-fade, I hope to have the sequel completed in early 2011.

The Vanavara Protocol no longer just a set of files!

2010-12-17T15:40:00.000Z

The first print of The Vanavara Protocol has been accomplished. I received my Author copies today, and, as usual, Lightning Source has done a first-class job. The finished novel runs to 444 pages, and my cover design has reproduced really nicely. Judge for yourselves...

The novel has not appeared on Amazon as yet, but, normally, there is a delay of about a week from print date, (which was December 16th,) to inclusion in the Nielsen Book list, and thence, its appearance on Amazon.

Preliminary cover price for The Vanavara Protocol.

2010-11-17T19:45:00.000Z

The Publishers have just mailed me to say that the files have been sent to the printers and I am able to order author copies as of today. They have set the cover price at £9.99, GBP which equates to somewhere around $16.50 USD.

That's a little more than the cover prices of The Trilogy, but, there again; Vanavara runs to just over 180,000 words, and the longest Trilogy novel (Book Two) ran to a little under 154,000 words... and was cover priced at $15.99 USD, (£8.99 GBP,) so, a small increase is only to be expected.

The sequel to Vanavara.... "The Abaddon Stone" is just coming up towards half-way stage at 75,000 words, and the plot is hatching nicely with a view to further adventures for our Heroine.

(This Novel writing game certainly keeps the Grey cells ticking over nicely... and it sure as hell beats on-line gaming!)

The Vanavara Protocol is finally heading to the Printers.

2010-11-16T18:59:00.000Z

The proof PDF of the cover for "The Vanavara Protocol" has finally been completed by the publishers and has been bought off. This means that the files are on their way for publication. Hopefully the finished book will be available in a couple of weeks.

Meanwhile, here is the final cover for the novel...

More information to follow, as received.

How the idea developed.

2010-09-30T20:52:00.000+01:00

Although mention has already been made concerning the central Heroine, who has always been Blonde, Blue-eyed, and Beautiful, and is based upon just one Blonde, Blue-eyed, and Beautiful Lady of my acquaintance who I shall only refer to as "Shining Girl;" mention must be made of one more special Lady friend... Beshley.

She was the inspiration for Beshlie of Calverstock ... the co-heroine in "The Hand of Baelar"...the third volume of "The Eternal Watchtower" Trilogy. With her agreement, her name was amended to fit the character; and without her, the Trilogy might well have ended in a totally different way.

As it was; one specific action by Beshlie of Calverstock towards the conclusion of the third volume laid the foundation of a common thread that weaves through the fourth novel... "The Vanavara Protocol,"and is central to the plot of The fifth novel "The Abaddon Stone." It is also a basis for the heroine's ongoing quest in a proposed future series of novels.

Thank You, Ladies, for the inspiration.

The re-written first section of "The Abaddon Stone."

2010-09-25T15:56:00.001+01:00

Considering that the Heroine of "The Abaddon Stone" acquires a new identity in the novel; I thought that perhaps, an initial introduction at the beginning of the story might avert any confusion for the reader. Here is the re-written first section for your delectation...

The rumble of the big V8 engine of the Olive-drab painted Cadillac staff car echoed back from the buildings on Karwendelstrasse as it cruised across the junction at Drakestrasse, and turned right into Finkensteinallee. The road was still cobbled, although many of the stones were chipped and scarred. It was still lined with the old lilac trees; bearing the scars of bullets and shell fragments in their thick trunks and lower branches. Many of the old buildings had survived the Russian onslaught as they blasted their way into Berlin; but many new structures had appeared on the sites of their ruined predecessors. The pretty blonde wearing a Claire McCardell moss green wool, fitted two-piece, long-skirted suit, and a jaunty little matching fedora, sat in the rear seat of the staff car, glancing out of the window.

Finckensteinallee was much the same as she remembered from when she had been driven down to the SS Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler Lichterfelde Kaserne in 1937, in the company of SS-Gruppenführer Wolff; the Head of Reichsführer-SS Himmler's personal staff and his Personal Adjutant and Liaison officer. Eight years had passed since she was last here; about to embark on Himmler's ill-fated "Vanavara Protocol" expedition to Siberia. It was two years since she had been in Berlin. Back then; she had a different identity. Her name had been Fraülein Doktor Karyn Helle von Seringen; Deputy researcher for the Deutsches Ahnenerbe Institute for Linguistic study, at Berlin-Dahlem.

Lichterfelde Kaserne. 1937.

          The Cadillac turned into the main entrance of the old Lichterfelde Kaserne and was waved down by an American Military Policeman. Nothing much appeared to have changed at the Kaserne. The long guardhouses on either side of the gate were still there; but the pair of four-metre high, Stone sentinel statues of "Der Ewigen Reichsrottenführer"… "The Imperishable Corporals," that had flanked the gate were missing. In their place were two towering blocks of concrete. The old Headquarters building across the checkerboard parade ground still stood; but was minus the massive Reichsadler Eagle perched above the false portico, which no longer bore the legend: "Leibstandarte-SS Adolf Hitler" emblazoned boldly across its cornice.
          The staff car driver handed his orders to the MP, who scanned them and glanced at the blonde in the rear seat.

          'Captain Charlotte Mckenna? Welcome to Andrews Barracks, Ma'am.'

Andrews Barracks, Lichterfelde. 1947.

(Just a comparison to illustrate the section.)

A Progress Report.

2010-09-23T16:38:00.004+01:00

The replacement files for "The Vanavara Protocol" have been duly forwarded and received. Just a question of waiting now!

The rear cover blurb and design for the subsequent novel: "The Abaddon Stone" has also been re-jigged:

This version now contains the tag-line, and seems better-balanced than the original attempt. The novel now stands at 46,500 words, and the Heroine is now almost at the point where her adventures really begin.

The common thread of the series is to introduce our heroine (who has been recruited by the fledgeling U.S. Security Services) with a new identity and develop a series of novels revolving around her quest to locate the malignant Garnet.
So; the Heroine in "The Vanavara Protocol"... Karyn von Seringen... ex-Wartime German Ahnenerbe Doctor of Archaeology, becomes Charlotte Louise Mckenna... O.S.S./C.I.A. Officer; and may even be a re-incarnation of the Heroine of the "Eternal Watchtower" Trilogy... "The Golden Child"... Kathalyn Seregon. (The names are eerily similar!)

It may have been noticed that, through the entire series of novels, the central Heroine has always been Blonde, Blue-eyed, and Beautiful.
This is no coincidence, as she has always been based on just one Blonde, Blue-eyed, and Beautiful Lady of my acquaintance who has encouraged me in my writing virtually from Day One.
Thank You, "Shining Girl."

A Progress Report...

2010-08-26T19:39:00.009+01:00

The publisher's proof for "The Vanavara Protocol" had a couple of formatting errors, so a fresh copy has been submitted.
This will delay the book for a couple of weeks.
Meantime, here is the flyer, taken from the cover design...

The next book... "The Abaddon Stone," which is a continuation of the escapades of our heroine, is proceeding nicely.
It now stands at 39,000 words in Nine chapters, setting the scene for her post-war adventures on the trail of the dreadful "Abaddon Stone" which is said to be "A Destroyer of Worlds" and was inadvertantly released from its sealed metallic prison on the eve of the Second World War by a German Toolmaker.
Her ongoing quest is to find the Stone and destroy it before it wreaks its evil powers of destruction upon Mankind once again.

And here's the tagline:

"They thought the spark in the heart of the stone was just a reflection of the light... but, she knew otherwise."

A little segment from "The Abaddon Stone."

2010-07-25T22:01:00.005+01:00

The early part of the novel is set in Berlin immediately before its fall in April 1945.
This segment describes part of the Heroine's journey through the rubble-strewn wasteland,as she searches for some clue as to the whereabouts of the malignant "Abaddon Stone."

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Göring's villa still stood; although it was windowless and scarred. It looked deserted. As she approached the building, she glanced across towards Prinz-Albrecht-Strasse. She saw that the grim Gestapo Headquarters at number eight, was badly bomb-scarred, and the SS-Haus next door at number nine appeared to be little more than teetering walls held together with a tangled, blackened lattice of collapsed floors and drunkenly-angled roofing joists.
Cautiously entering the villa, she found an empty, rambling edifice with drinking and smoking rooms, several suites of kitchens, and a den that Göring had provided for his pet lion cubs at mezzanine level; while circular dining rooms, conservatories, drawing rooms, reception rooms, and hunting-trophy rooms took up the ground floor, along with Göring’s cavernous, colonnaded study. Four huge sets of French windows opened onto the remains of the terrace and gardens.

The mansion had been stripped bare. All of the Reichsmarschall's sumptuous furnishings and extensive treasures had been removed. Even the famed Meissen door-knobs and finger plates had been carefully removed from all of the doors. The mansion was an empty sepulchral shell that echoed hollowly as she cautiously made her way along the great central hall. Somewhere, a distant door banged to and fro in the faint breeze that prowled the ghost of Göring's personal, earth-bound Valhalla.
There was nothing here to find. She turned to retrace her steps, and saw a man appear at the end of the hall. He was about seventy, and dressed, incongruously for the present surroundings, much like the archetypal English Butler... black morning jacket, striped trousers and stiff, winged collar.
His voice echoed down the hall.
'May I be of assistance, Madam?'

His hands were clasped behind his back in the classical servile stance... or perhaps he was concealing a weapon. You never could be completely certain of anyone in this madhouse that Berlin had now become. She approached him cautiously; the silenced Mauser Bolo behind her back in a mirror image to his stance... but, ready for any sudden movement.
He moved. She stiffened... but he merely brought his hands from behind his back and clasped them in front of himself. He was not armed. He waited patiently for her answer. She studied him. She could sense no hostility; merely the desire to be of service to this guest in his Master's mansion.
She spoke.
'I am Doktor von Seringen of the Ahnenerbe. A few years ago; the Reichsführer-SS loaned the Reichsmarschall a particularly impressive Garnet Gemstone. The Reichsführer-SS is now intent on recovering all artefacts loaned out by the Ahnenerbe to the Party hierarchy to prevent them from being looted by the Soviets.'
The old man's rheumy blue eyes brightened in recognition.
'Ah! You are referring to the Abaddon Stone.'

-------------------------------------------------

"The Abaddon Stone" now stands at 35,000 words... something like one fifth of the proposed length.
More segments will follow in due course!

Book Five... A sneak preview.

2010-07-02T23:17:00.005+01:00

Having completed the first three chapters, and getting a touch of brain-fade; I decided to make a start on the cover graphics. This one was not easy... even worse, was thinking up a title.

The novel picks up the story of "The Vanavara Protocol" at the point where Berlin is about to be over-run by the Soviet Armies who are massing for the final assault... the Nazi's very own Götterdämmerung.

Here is the preliminary artwork....

This one is still a long way off... and the research, if anything, is even more difficult than it was for The Vanavara Protocol.

The word "Abaddon" in the title literally means Destruction, Ruin or Perdition, and is the Hebrew name for the Demon who is also known as "The Angel of the Bottomless Pit." This Demon is also known as "The Destroyer" from his role as one of the destroying Angels of The Apocalypse... and a similarly malignant essence lurks in the depths of the Garnet Gemstone at the centre of the story....

And... just to recap; to all you budding authors; being published offers no guarantee of being professionally promoted, distributed, or even reviewed. That's why, with "The Vanavara Protocol," I'm about to acquire a little help from Lacewing Communications.

Lacewing Communications LLC is recognised in the United States and internationally for Brand, Marketing, and Publicity Management for authors, writers, and creative individuals.

For information on this extremely useful company,
contact Kathy Brungs at:

info@lacewingcom.com

The Vanavara Protocol... here we go!

2010-06-27T17:59:00.002+01:00

The files for "The Vanavara Protocol" have been duly forwarded to the publishers for them to convert the MS Word document and Jpegs into the format suitable for the printers. So far; there has been no word that there is a problem with any of them. The ISBN number allocation and arrangements for inclusion in the Nielsen Book List have been completed.

The next stage will be receipt of the proof PDF document for final checking and acceptance.
If the previous book is anything to go by; this should take about four to six weeks... (subject to publisher's work-load.)
When the book proof is cleared by me, the files are forwarded to the printer. After something like two to three weeks, I am notified that the Author copy order can be made. Then, it's just down to the printer's work-load.

Optomistically, the book should be available by early Autumn.

(And the sequel is running at 10,000 words already!)

The Fourth novel has been accepted for publication!

2010-06-15T22:32:00.000+01:00

Just had confirmation that the synopsis for the fourth novel: "The Vanavara Protocol" has been accepted.
So, now it's down to the fun job of line-editing to sift out the whoopsies.
The initial final word count after the first hack-job came out at around 180,000 words. The second run involving the chopping out of detail, that in all honesty, was little more than padding, brought it down to 173,000 words, which works out to around 420 pages.

This line-editing really is necessary. When you write the last line, the natural feeling is that this is a really good story; tight action, fast-moving, etc, etc. Then you read the whole thing again and the thought sneaks in...
Is this section really adding anything to the fabric of the story?... or is it just showing what an in-depth researching smart-ass I was when I wrote that?
(And the reader will probably think exactly the same thing!)

With this novel; there's an awful lot of historical fact woven in. The reasoning behind this was to try and give the reader a real feel for the increasingly opressive atmosphere of the immediately pre-war period in Germany... specifically Berlin; and Soviet Russia.
The problem was to try to avoid making it read like a history book. This is where subjective research was necessary... and in some places... brutal editing!

The next fun will be making sure that the cover graphics meet the publisher's criteria. They need the graphics to be a minimum of 300 dpi; which, in their original format, come out at around 2 meg each. OK; so save them as jpegs... then you get the dreaded lossy compression, which somewhat reduces the image fidelity. (The ghosting around the edges.)
However; with the physical size of the graphics at 300dpi, a quick once-over with something like the Paint Shop Pro Clone brush, and the Blend mode; and a little judicious use of the JPEG Artifact Removal command will remove most of the flaws, and the image will be much sharper at the final working size for the image. This does, however, take quite a bit of time; but if you screw it up, there is always the "Undo" command.

So; provided everything proceeds normally; the files should be ready to submit by the end of the month.

Just to keep out of mischief; I'm already roughing out the basic bones of the follow-on novel. This too, will be another historically based adventure in the same vein as "The Vanavara Protocol."

Phew! That would have been embarrassing!

2010-04-04T15:50:00.006+01:00

So, here I am, banging on about plagiarism and nearly falling into the trap myself!
I have discovered that the graphic of Himmler on the original proposed cover has been used on the cover of "Time" magazine in the past. Therefore a slight re-design is called for. The re-jigged cover is reproduced here for your delectation.

The book itself is now approximately three-quarters complete at 146,250 words. I'm pleased with the way it is developing; but a cautionary word to prospective readers... as it is populated with mainly Military characters, it contains language that would be used by them... explicit, and graphically profane!
(But at least you'll be able to swear professionally in both German and Russian!)
Here's a sampler to be going on with:

As the Tupolev cruised on towards Mojaisk; some hundred and ten kilometres to the west of Moscow; back in Minsk, Evgenya Tarasov had hurriedly packed a suitcase and was half-way down the dingy stairs of her apartment block when she met Vasilev, the caretaker.
'Off on a trip?'
He said, pleasantly.
She forced a smile;
'Just a few days in Gomel; my mother isn't too well. I should be back by the weekend.'
He nodded;
'Well, take care; I hope she's better soon.'
As she closed the front door behind her, Comrade Vasilev reached for the telephone. He smiled slyly as he rang NKVD Headquarters and reported her departure.

Evening was setting in as she hurried through the quiet streets, making for the station. As she came down Chkalov Street, she sensed she was being followed. Glancing over her shoulder, she saw nothing. Only another half a kilometre and she'd be at the station... and safely away. As she came down onto the Lavskaya embankment, the street lamps were just flickering on. She looked around. The whole embankment was deserted, except for a man in the distance, walking his dog. He looked rather young to be the owner of a Black Russian terrier... that breed was an old man's dog. Still; it might be his father's... but it still seemed a little odd.
She turned towards the station. He was walking in the same direction, with the little dog leaping and gambolling around on its leash. She began to relax; soon, she would be out of their clutches. She had been a fool to get mixed up with them in the first place.

They dragged her body out of the Svislach River, half a kilometre downstream from the embankment, early the next morning. They couldn't easily identify her. Her handbag... if indeed, she had been carrying one; was missing, and the bullet, which had been fired at close range into the back of her head, had blown most of her face away.

The novel should be completed by the end of the summer.

The Ominous Charge of Plagiarism.

2010-03-14T14:57:00.003Z

Sometime in the life of a writer, there will be an accusation of Plagiarism. This fact is as certain as night follows day. The charge might be levelled for any number of reasons; but is more likely to manifest itself as the passages or factual information as a result of Internet research... especially in the context of Historically-based novels such as the one I'm writing at the moment.
The usual get-out is to use a system of footnotes or endnotes where the source of the information is listed.
However; this is not always possible within the context of a fictional work.
There are also different types and degrees of plagiarism - and it is often difficult to know whether the rules are being broken.

Plagiarism proper can be defined by the following examples:

Copying directly from a specific body of text, word-for-word.
Using an attractive phrase or sentence you have found.
Creating a supposed original piece of work by cutting and pasting various sections of text and/or images found on the Internet into a document without referencing the sources.
Paraphrasing.the words of a text very closely.
(Paraphrasing is the rewriting of a text or passage in another form or by using replacement similar words.)

Plagiarism is easy to condemn but often extremely hard to define. In a historically-based novel such as The Vanavara Protocol; a historical novelist is responsible for creating his own colourful descriptions.
A historical novel, to be accurate, must borrow those words needed to accurately reproduce the historical facts, even when the facts were uncovered by others. Writers who strive for factual accuracy must thus remain free to closely paraphrase the factual accounts of others.
If a book is based on historical fact, then the author has to be able to research and use the actual historical facts in his novel. Problem is, that where does researched prose end and plagiarism begin?

Here's a really useful tool for sniffing out what could be deemed as plagiarised passages in your masterpiece:
Its a freebie called Viper. You can download it here:

http://www.scanmyessay.com/viper-plagiarism-scanner.php

If Viper has detected any suspect content then it will show you exactly where it has found it. This will either be a website, or a document in your local folder.
You can order the list of websites to show the highest offending sources first by clicking on 'Filtered PR' at the top right.
You can highlight the plagiarised text found in a website by ticking the box to the left of the websites in the list.
You can compare the scanned document side by side with the website by pressing the 'compare side by side' button the right of the website address in the list
If you click on any highlighted sections, it will jump to that section on the opposite side of the page; ie: where it was found on the website.

Here's a screen-shot of the Viper search for a specific phrase:

For example:
From the Vanavara Protocol passage:

"The Gestapo also had the power to imprison people without judicial proceedings."

"the power to imprison people without judicial proceedings." was highlighted by Viper as a plagiarised passage found on the Answers Yahoo.com site. In fact, this phrase is available in 9,250 places on the net according to Google. I've tried; but I cannot pin down the original source material. The closest I could get (after extensive research) was:

Goering, in a book entitled "Aufbau Einer Nation" and published in 1934, sought to give the impression that the new concentration camps originally were directed at those whom the Nazis considered "Communists" and "Social Democrats". At page 89 of this book he stated:

"We had to deal ruthlessly with these enemies of the State. It must not be forgotten that at the moment of our seizure of power over 6 million people officially voted for Communism and about 8 million for Marxism in the Reichstag elections in March.
Thus the concentration camps were created, to which we had to send first thousands of functionaries of the Communist and Social Democratic parties."

From this reference; research led on to the notorious "Das Gestapo-Gesetz"... The Gestapo Law of February 1936 provided for "Protective Custody." As early as 1935, however, a Prussian administrative court had ruled that the Gestapo's actions were not subject to judicial review.
This seems to wrap it up. This information is firmly in the public domain and thus, is not plagiarism.

The total "suspect" incidents found by Viper in the body of the novel amount to 3%. The word count stands at 146,000. Therefore, Viper suggests that 4.360 words could be construed as plagiarism... but, this is not necessarily the case!

The application is actually so thorough that it highlighted a phrase:

"Vadim sensed a presence behind him"...

The segment it targetted is: "Sensed a presence behind him." A common enough phrase.
With a Google search, this phrase was found no less than 33,000 separate times in the Internet. Thus, it cannot possibly be construed as Plagiarism.

Here are a few terminologies: (referenced from University of Alberta Library Guides Home » Guide to Plagiarism and Cyber-Plagiarism.)

Common Knowledge: can be defined as facts known by a large number of people. These "facts" do not need to be referenced.
Deliberate Plagiarism: The wholesale copying of another's paper with the intention of representing it as one's own. In addition, the definition of deliberate or intentional plagiarism includes the theft of another person's ideas. Plagiarise: to steal or pass off as one's own, the idea or words of another; use a created production without crediting the source; to commit literary theft; present as new and original an idea or product derived from an existing source.
Public Domain: a work in the public domain is free for everyone to use without asking for permission or paying royalties. The phrase "public domain" is a copyright term referring to works that belong to the public. Works can be in the public domain for a variety of reasons: because the term of copyright protection has expired; because the work was not eligible for copyright protection in the first place; or because the copyright owner has given the copyright in the work to the public domain. The owner must specifically license all or certain uses of the work. This is done by stating on the work what uses are permitted such as, for example, that the work may be reproduced, communicated, or performed for educational purposes without permission or payment.
Cyber-Plagiarism: copying or downloading in part, or in their entirety, articles or research papers found on the Internet or copying ideas found on the Web and not giving proper attribution.
Unintentional Plagiarism: can be described as "careless paraphrasing and citing of source material such that improper or misleading credit is given."

So; something of a minefield.
It’s worth noting that historical facts cannot be plagiarised, only the manner in which they are presented.(But, Historical Documents must be referenced.)
In normal circumstances, something can be regarded as Common Knowledge if the same information can be found undocumented in at least five credible sources.
Ideas in the Public Domain, which are considered common knowledge, can be mentioned without citation, provided that the language of the original document is not plagiarised in any way.
Public domain information involves facts and ideas that every reader in a particular field would be familiar with, facts that are readily available in reference sources, and well-known sayings.
Apart from researching (very carefully)... and ensuring I haven't lifted a specific style of phraseology; this plagiarism business is one of the reasons I haven't read anyone else's book since I began writing... just in case I am influenced by them.

Creative Writing Software.

2010-02-14T23:07:00.002Z

Creative writing software should be really be viewed as a organiser to your own writing and not a one-size-fits-all... fill-in-the-blanks exercise. A program that allows you to keep track of your characters, settings, plot points, etc. may be a good idea. But, then again; why not just use good old MS Notepad and index the information in the order you want to use it?

The main key to writing a novel is to sit down and write.

Book writing software does not make an "untalented writer talented," but it can be a better tool than Microsoft Word. At best; it will organise things logically.

I have included a few useful tools in previous posts. Check them out. (A cunning ploy to get you to read more of the blog!)

Here are a few of the more popular Software applications. (In no particular order of cost or popularity.)

Dramatica Pro.
StoryBase.
WriteItNow.
Newnovelist.
Writer's Cafe.
Book Writer.
Final Draft.
Liquid Story Binder.
Rough Draft.

It's all down to personal choice; you may prefer a structured software to the "Make it up as you go along" method, but remember; not one of these programs is the "Magic Bullet."
If you have enthusiasm and really enjoy what you are creating... go for it! Your enthusiasm will shine through to the person who reads it... and you can always polish your creation after you have written the final word.

The length of an average novel is something like 320 pages. If you create one double-spaced page of your novel every single day, you will have 365 pages... an entire book... at the end of one year.
But remember: if you have a really creative session and turn out seven pages at one sitting, it doesn't mean that you can abandon the book for the next week. You really should write something... hopefully, a page every day.... even if you bin it at the next session.

Print on Demand... Authors can beat the Catch-22 of Publishing.

2010-02-07T23:45:00.008Z

We've all been there. You send your query letter to selected Literary Agents. You invariably get the reply, "I don't represent unpublished authors." You then try the publishers. The answers come back: "We don't represent un-agented authors." Welcome to the Catch-22 scenario!

Sadly, Literary agents and editors have little or no interest in un-established writers these days. It is a fact that something like 70% of traditional publishers are now Corporate-owned... and if you are not a Gold-plated cash cow... forget it!
(Joanne (J K) Rowling was a one-off... It's unlikely there will be another phenomenon like Pottermania.)

The Dreaded Corporate Suits.

These Publishers have effectively turned their backs on aspiring first-time novelists by refusing to read unsolicited manuscripts.They argue that a bestseller emerges, on average, only once every three years from the slush pile and they no longer have the time or the resources to wade through the remaining "dross." Mainstream publishers reject the bulk of manuscripts sent to them principally because they predict that they will not be able to sell the books in sufficient quantities to cover production and distribution costs.The bottom line is that a work must either "fit onto the shelves" of mainstream publishers or be penned by an author whose name will guarantee sales.

The mushrooming of E-books, Print on Demand, and Internet exposure inevitably means traditional publishers will probably have to change their business practices. It's only a matter of time before authors go from aspiring to be traditionally published to aspiring to be POD-published. When this happens, traditional publishers that don't adapt to the new realities could be in real trouble.
Traditional publishers were dismayed by the invasion of Print on Demand and other digital production and delivery technologies. Almost overnight, "Motor Cars had replaced horses and carriages." The playing field was effectively levelled. Independent publishers could stand beside the Big, Bad, New York and London, Corporate-owned Publishing behemoths. CEOs reassured their corporate boards that digital publishing was just a fad that would soon go away. It didn't.
Corporate-owned publishers then arrogantly lumped together all of the online publishers and labelled their products "non-books."
"These non-books are written by amateurs," declared the traditional book industry. "Therefore they don’t deserve to be reviewed by mainstream media or shelved in brick and mortar bookshops." And in the mainstream book industry, their judgment became The Law.

Then the inevitable started to happen. Even established authors started to break their contracts with traditional publishers and form their own independent publishing companies. By now, a large percentage of the digitally published books not only matched traditionally published offset printed books in appearance; they were equal to, and often superior in quality. The writing was firmly on the wall.
As to whether the traditional publishers actually bother to read it... only time will tell. Blair and Bush didn't bother to read the signs... and we all know what happened to them.

Traditional Publisher versus Print on Demand Publisher.

The Traditional Process.
With the traditional printing process, a quantity of books are printed up in advance and then orders are filled from that inventory. This is the way traditional publishers generally manufacture their books because, on a per book basis, the cost is cheaper; but there are big trade-offs to doing it that way.
First, the traditional publisher must predict the quantity needed. In other words, they have to predict the market demand for a book – a potentially difficult task.
Second, traditional publishers have to come up with the up-front cash to pay the printer for all those copies of the book. That cash remains tied up in the form of unsold inventory until they can convert it back to cash by selling all the books.

The Print-On-Demand Process.
Print-on-Demand is the process of manufacturing a book when the customer orders it. Since the books are made to order, you don’t have the problem of predicting the quantity needed. And since you collect the money from the customer before printing the book, there is no need for an upfront investment, nor do you have money tied up in unsold inventory.
The only up-front cost is preparing the electronic file from which the books will be printed. But that is far less than what one would have to pay doing it the traditional way.
The downside of print-on-demand is the per book cost doesn't get cheaper the more copies one prints. It costs the same no matter if it is one copy or 100,000 copies.

What is the difference between a print-on-demand publisher and a traditional publisher?

Traditional Publishers.
Traditional publishers buy all rights to your book in exchange for an advance (many authors don't get advances anymore) and royalties ranging from around 8%-12%. You no longer own the book.
The royalties are usually paid to you annually after the accumulated amount is greater than the amount of the advance. In exchange for you giving them all rights, they take your manuscript and turn it into a professionally edited and designed marketable product. (Caution! This is the point at which they can effectively butcher your masterpiece.)
They pay for a print run to produce copies of the book for distribution. They then negotiate with distributors sell the book to stores, which then sell it to the consumer.
Traditional publishers usually accept returns (buying back unsold copies from bookshops) and offer larger wholesale discounts; thus making the books more tempting for bookshops to stock. But if those books don't sell, the returns will be taken out of the author's future royalties. And though it is rarely enforced, and even more rarely mentioned; most traditional publishing contracts have a clause that allows the publisher to request that the author even pay back the advance if the book doesn't generate enough sales.

Some publishers have actually admitted that return rates have topped 50%, and the numbers have been rising for some time. This means that half of all books printed in the UK are never read... and they’re not redistributed either, but returned to the publishers or otherwise disposed of, usually by pulping; or simply dumping in landfill sites.
The sale-or-return system is outdated and thoroughly wasteful. It is not uncommon for bookshops to return copies of a title to a publisher on the same day that they reorder more copies of the same book.
(Something like 52,000 individual titles were pulped in 2009.)

Print-on-Demand Publishers.Print-on-Demand publishers provide the infrastructure to print and market the book; as an addition to their portfolio, or by yourself... or both; depending on the Publisher.
You own all rights to the book (with the possible exception of print rights... dependant on the context of the contract) and can sell them whenever and however you want.
Royalties are much higher. (My publisher: New Generation Publishing contracts for up to 60% of the cover price.) The book is sold directly to the customer via my publisher's Web site ... and, with the distribution package; is added to the Nielsen Book List for inclusion to online and offline retailers, such as Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Waterstones etc, to make it widely and internationally available to customers.

Seeing that copies are printed as ordered; there are no warehousing costs, no transportation costs, and certainly no loss on returns. There is also no Literary Agent fee creaming 15-20% off the top.
So there you have it. Print-on-Demand could well prove to be the answer to the unpublished author's nightmare... and the David to the Traditional Publisher's Goliath.

Another little example of In-depth researching...

2010-02-07T18:22:00.001Z

One more problematic researching task for "The Vanavara Protocol" involved locating the NKVD killing ground of Kurapaty, in Brod woods to the north of Minsk. The reference "Brod woods" is used twelve times in the body of the novel... "Kurapaty" is used only twice. So; I needed to establish place names for the accuracy of the following passage:

"If they were to do anything, then it was certain that their next car ride would be a one-way trip in the back seat of one of their own "Black Ravens."A one-way trip out to Brod Woods in the forests north of Minsk.
A few kilometres to the north of Minsk; to the left of the Lahoj highway, there was a village called Zialony Luh. Two kilometres north of the village, in the forests to the south of the Zaslauje Road, they shot people... both men and women; who were brought there every day and every night on trucks, or in the sinister "Chyornye Voronki." For these victims, it was a one-way trip and the inescapable Nagan, or Tokarev bullet in the nape of the neck.
On the hills there was an area known locally as Kurapaty… an old stand of conifers, surrounded by broadleaf trees and thickets. Some hundred or so, verst of this coniferous stand had been surrounded by a fence, more than three metres high, made of closely fitting, overlapping, wooden planks, surmounted with barbed wire. Outside the fence were guards and dogs. The people were brought there along the gravelly, cobbled road that ran from the Lahoj highway to Zaslauje. The local villagers called it the "Road of Death."

The villages have long since disappeared... either under the Minsk Ring road, or have been swallowed up by the city. Zialony Luh... the village mentioned in the novel is now a suburb of Minsk.
Googling "Kurapaty" turned up over 70,000 references. "Brod woods" returned nothing.
"Zialony Luh" returned 72 results... mostly from the same article by Zyanon Paznyak and Yauhen Shmyhalou... "Kurapaty-Daroha Smertsi"... "Kurapaty, the Road to Death."

Eventually, I found a possible lead from a Google Image search for "Minsk Maps."
On an obscure Russian forum website I discovered a detailed map of Minsk dating from 1933...

The road running straight up the illustration and curving sharply to the right is the Lahoj highway. The wooded area at the centre top of the illustration is Kurapaty, otherwise known as Brod woods. The small road bisecting the wood approximately two-thirds up its length is the route of the present Minsk Ring road.The road running across the top of Brod woods is the Zaslauje Road.
The small road running from the Lahoj highway to the Zaslauje Road passes the village of Zialony Luh before it turns to the north to pass east of Brod woods. This road is the gravel road the villagers called the "Road of death".
The execution transports followed this track up to the little road that follows the line of the modern Minsk Ring road. Here they turned onto it for the last half-kilometre or so, to reach the killing grounds.

A very useful find! At least the passage was now accurate. Had I not discovered this particular map; I would have had to rely on my own deduction by interpreting the description in the passage onto a Google Earth Satellite image:

I have added the labels for clarity of location... and the pale line going diagonally across the image is an aircraft contrail caught by the satellite imaging system!

A poignant confirmation to the location was found in a Kurapaty memorial site. It pinpoints the position of discovered remains in the surviving fragment of the dreadful Brod Woods:

And, just to finish off; and again, to offer a cautionary word that what you find is not necessarily what you are searching for; here is a segment of the same location, taken from a modern Minsk map. (Again; the labels have been added for clarity of location.)

You might think that all this is a tad obsessional for a very small, and insignificant part of the story. I couldn't agree more!... but, as I said before; there is always Someone out there ready to pick your baby to pieces; especially if it is a historical work set within living memory.

A specific research subject.

2010-02-04T21:07:00.002Z

Further to my note on researching; for an intrinsic part of the extract in the previous post... and for inclusion in subsequent passages of the story; I needed to establish what sort of transportation the NKVD operatives utilised. I found several references to vehicles known as "Black Ravens"... "Chyornye Voronki," in Russian.
What were these ominous vehicles? Cars? Vans? Trucks?
A Google search turned up only five references. An image search proved useless. OK; let's try "Russian Black Ravens".... Bingo! Two drawings of what appeared to be Ford-type saloons with an illustration of a Gulag in the background; painted in the 30's by Boris Jeremejewitsch Wladimirskij...

Further research identified the cars as being examples of the GAZ M1... a Russian-built vehicle based largely on the American 1933 Ford V8 Model 40...

All fairly straightforward then.... wrong! This tiny piece of research took something like two hours; cross-checking and confirming details from Russian sites (again!)

The rule of thumb is, if at first, you come up with nothing... start thinking outside the box!

A word or two about researching.

2010-02-03T21:23:00.009Z

I have been asked to give a few tips on research.
Research for the content of such a book as my fourth novel "The Vanavara Protocol" needs to be in-depth and exact. (There is always someone out there who will challenge facts if there is the slightest possibility those facts are inaccurate!... especially with a historical novel set within the time-frame of living memory.)
First and foremost; by far the best bet is good old Google... but there are ways to use Google for much more accurate results:

A standard search for Pre-War Berlin Streetnames returns 3,420 results.

Whenever you search for more than one keyword at a time, Google will search for all of them. If you search for
Pre-War Berlin "Streetnames"... (79 results.)
Google will search for all the words. If you want to specify that either word is acceptable, you put an OR between each item...
Pre-War OR Berlin OR "Streetnames"... (219,000,000 results.)

If you want to have definitely one term and one of two or more other terms, you group them with parentheses, like this:
Pre-War (Berlin OR "Streetnames")... (1,250,000 results.)
This query searches for the word “Berlin” or phrase "Streetnames" along with the word "Pre-War" A Hotkey for OR borrowed from the computer programming realm is the | (pipe) character, (next to the Shift key on the left side of the QWERTY keyboard) as in...
Pre-War (Berlin | "Streetnames")

If you want to specify that a query item must not appear in your results, use a -.(minus sign or dash).
Pre-War Berlin -"Streetnames"... (12,300,000 results.)
This will search for pages that contain both the words "Pre-War" and "Berlin" but not the phrase "Streetnames"

Of course, most of these results will be irrelevant, or tenuous. You will then need to sift the results for the required information; but it is a good indicator of the different methods of search available.

In addition to the basic AND, OR, and quoted strings, Google offers some rather extensive special syntaxes for honing your searches. Google being a full-text search engine, it indexes entire web pages instead of just titles and descriptions. Additional commands, called special syntaxes, let Google users search specific parts of web pages or specific types of information. Specifying that your query words must appear only in the title or URL of a returned web page is a great way to have your results get very specific without making your keywords themselves too specific.
Here are some of the common keywords that you can add to your query in Google:

intitle, allintitle
Restricts your search to the titles of web pages. The variation, allintitle: finds pages wherein all the words specified make up the title of the web page. It’s probably best to avoid the allintitle: variation, because it doesn’t mix well with some of the other syntaxes.
Eg: intitle:"Heinrich Himmler"
allintitle:"Gestapo"politics.

inurl, allinurl
Restricts your search to the URLs of web pages. This syntax tends to work well for finding search and help pages, because they tend to be rather regular in composition. An allinurl: variation finds all the words listed in a URL but doesn’t mix well with some other special syntaxes.
Eg: inurl:Reichstag
allinurl:search Reichstag

intext, allintext
Searches only body text (i.e., ignores link text, URLs, and titles). There’s an allintext: variation, but again, this doesn’t play well with others. While its uses are limited, it’s perfect for finding query words that might be too common in URLs or link titles.
Eg: intext:"yahoo.com"
allintext:html

inanchor
Searches for text in a page’s link anchors. A link anchor is the descriptive text of a link. For example, the link anchor in the HTML code O’Reilly and Associates is “O’Reilly and Associates.”
Eg: inanchor:"tom peters"

site
Allows you to narrow your search by either a site or a top-level domain. AltaVista, for example, has two syntaxes for this function (host: and domain:), but Google has only the one.
Eg: site:loc.gov
site:thomas.loc.gov
site:edu
site:nc.us
You can also use site: operator to exclude certain domains from a search
Eg: google -site:google.com
This is particularly useful for ego searches. You can find out all those sites which mention your name exept your site.
Eg: dave mace -site:blogger.com -site:wikipedia.org

link
Returns a list of pages linking to the specified URL. Enter link:www.google.com and you’ll be returned a list of pages that link to Google. Don’t worry about including the http:// bit; you don’t need it, and, indeed, Google appears to ignore it even if you do put it in. link: works just as well with “deep” URLs-http://www.raelity.org/apps/blosxom/ for instance-as with top-level URLs such as raelity.org.
Eg: link:www.google.com

cache
Finds a copy of the page that Google indexed even if that page is no longer available at its original URL or has since changed its content completely. This is particularly useful for pages that change often. If Google returns a result that appears to have little to do with your query, you’re almost sure to find what you’re looking for in the latest cached version of the page at Google.
Eg: cache:www.yahoo.com

filetype
Searches the suffixes or filename extensions. These are usually, but not necessarily, different file types. I like to make this distinction, because searching for filetype:htm and filetype:html will give you different result counts, even though they’re the same file type. You can even search for different page generators, such as ASP, PHP, CGI, and so forth-presuming the site isn’t hiding them behind redirection and proxying. Google indexes several different Microsoft formats, including: PowerPoint (PPT), Excel (XLS), and Word (DOC).
Eg: homeschooling filetype:pdf
"leading economic indicators" filetype:ppt

related
Finds pages that are related to the specified page. Not all pages are related to other pages. This is a good way to find categories of pages; a search for related:google.com would return a variety of search engines, including HotBot, Yahoo!, and Northern Light.
Eg: related:www.yahoo.com
related:www.cnn.com

info
Provides a page of links to more information about a specified URL. Information includes a link to the URL’s cache, a list of pages that link to that URL, pages that are related to that URL, and pages that contain that URL. Note that this information is dependent on whether Google has indexed that URL or not. If Google hasn’t indexed that URL, information will obviously be more limited.
Eg: info:www.oreilly.com
info:www.nytimes.com/technology

define
Will get the definition of the term that you have entered. This syntax can be used to get the definitions of words, phrases, and acronyms
Eg: define:dreaming
This query will get you the definition of the word dreaming.

numrange
If you want to search for a range of numbers then you can use two dots (without spaces) to represent a range of numbers
Eg: inventions 1850..1899
This query will get you all the inventions between 1850 and 1899

safesearch
If you include safesearch: in your query, Google will exclude adult-content.
Eg: safesearch:breasts
This will search for information on breasts without returning adult or pornographic sites.

Fetch only Fresh results
First one is to narrow down your search to only the most recent web pages. This is particularly important, since Google has started serving fresh results.
Alex Chitu from the unofficial Google Operating system blog has found that we can use as_qdr query parameter to search only for fresh pages.
In order to use this you have to add a new parameter as_qdr at the end of the url like below
http://www.google.com/search?q=ipod&as_qdr=d
The as_qdr parameter can take the following possible values.

    * d[number] – past number of days (e.g.: d5)
    * w[number] – past number of weeks (e.g: w5)
    * y[number] – past number of years (e.g: y5)

I also use Copernic Agent Pro... a nice application that gives you the ability to cover more of the Web and to get relevant, high quality results grouped into categories. From a single query, Copernic Agent gives you better search engine results by consulting multiple search engines at once, combining their results, removing duplicates and keeping only the very best of the information gathered from queried search engines. ranked as per-cent accurate. http://www.copernic.com/en/products/
Here's a Screen-shot:

Now, a cautionary word about not necessarily believing that what your research turns up is actually what you want. In the following extract from the book; mention is made of the hotel where the heroine stays. I needed a visual reference of this building for the developing story a little later on.

Aleksandr Anatoly Sergeyev hurried across Zakharievskaya Street. As he approached the massive, curved colonnade that spanned between the two wings of the building, bordering the wide courtyard in front of the Academy; he glanced across the broad, main thoroughfare of the city that stretched dead straight for eleven kilometres, linking the Borisov highway with the Warsaw road. Across the broad avenue, he saw the black GAZ four-door saloon parked in the shadowy darkness between the boundaries of the pools of light cast by two adjacent street lamps.

He shivered; it was one of the dreaded "Chyornye Voronki," the NKVD "Black Ravens"… the Government's notorious black cars that were used to arrest suspects, often on false charges of being "Enemies of the People." These "Political criminals" were usually imprisoned, sent into exile, or executed. Surprise arrests were often made in the small hours of the morning. He caught a glimpse of a glowing cigarette tip, and could almost feel the cold eyes watching him from the impenetrable darkness of the car's interior. They were there every night. He should be used to them by now.
They had watched him for three months as he came to escort Karyn back to the Hotel Europe. They watched all foreigners, and especially her. They shadowed her everywhere; not that she chose to wander too far. Most foreigners were forbidden to roam about. She, however, was not. Fräulein Doktor Karyn Helle von Seringen; Graduate Doctor of Archaeology with a chair at the Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität, Frankfurt-am-Main, was untouchable. Much as it might rankle them, those evil NKVD bastards dare not lay so much as a finger upon her. If they were to do anything, then it was certain that their next car ride would be a one-way trip in the back seat of one of their own "Black Ravens." A one-way trip out to Brod Woods in the forests north of Minsk.

A few kilometres to the north of Minsk; to the left of the Lahoj highway, there was a village called Zialony Luh. Two kilometres north of the village, in the forests to the south of the Zaslauje Road, they shot people... both men and women; who were brought there every day and every night on trucks, or in the sinister "Chyornye Voronki." For these victims, it was a one-way trip and the inescapable Nagan, or Tokarev bullet in the nape of the neck.

OK; so fire up Google images and do an advanced search. Great! Lots of pics... but, hang on a moment... the pedestrians are wearing modern clothes, and that little red car?

I knew from previous research that this hotel had been totally destroyed during the war. True, the old centre of Minsk (including the hotel) was re-built after the war in the original style; but was the new hotel an accurate copy?

After much in-depth research across countless Russian sites, I found the only photo of the original building that seems to be available:

Spot the differences. The new building has SEVEN floors... the original has SIX! The frontage is wider on the new building, with two extra windows per floor on each side of the central balconies. There are only THREE gable windows either side of the central arched portico on the very top floor of the building... whereas the modern version has FIVE at either side.

This is a classic example of the trap you fall into if only a cursory research is carried out! Accurate researching takes time and patience... but it ensures your writing doesn't end up looking sloppy and unprofessional!

A little more Vanavara.

2010-02-02T20:13:00.001Z

I thought I'd post a little more of the fourth book "The Vanavara Protocol" for your delectation. It's up to just under 136,000 words at the moment... and likely to be a fairly substantial word-count upon completion.

As ever, the research is difficult... pre-war Stalinist Russia is a very secretive place, even today!

Anyway, here's another taster...

The two SS-Sturmscharführers stood idly on the western arrival platform of the Berlin Anhalter Bahnhof, smoking their pungent Korfu Rot cigarettes. It was a dirty night, the 24th May, 1937. The few passengers awaiting their late trains glanced nervously at the pair, in their ominous black uniforms with the SS brassard… the blood-red Hakenkreuzarmbinde on their left arms, Frightened eyes glanced at the feared, plain black SD-collar tab; the SD Ärmelraute… the diamond lozenge badge on the left sleeve… edged with silver piping indicating they had Gestapo affiliation; and worse… the even more feared SD-Hauptamt Cuff band below it. They could only be from Prinz-Albrecht-Strasse 9, Sitz des SS-Hauptamtes… Reichsführer-SS Himmler's personal Iron-heads! Some poor bastard was in real trouble, having these two waiting for them. The bright glare from the overhead platform lamps reflecting back from the great arched, glass roof of the station glittered ominously on their Totenkopf Death's-head cap badges.

As the ominous, black-uniformed goons gazed around the sparsely occupied platform, those on whom their gaze descended, shivered, and quickly looked away. As sure as hell, these two evil-looking bastards were from "Amt für Sicherungsaufgaben"… The SS Security branch of the SD-Hauptamt Command Administration. They prowled up and down the platform, the hob-nails in the soles of their shiny black "Schaftstiefelen"… knee boots, which would become derisively, and universally known as jackboots; clicked ominously on the flagstones. Up and down... up and down. They were waiting for the night express from Frankfurt-am-Main. The big Steinheil station clock minute hand was creeping round to eleven o'clock. The night express was due in at 11.05pm, and the Deutsches Reichsbahn Gesellschaft always ran on time, these days.

As the two SDs strolled back down the platform with creaking jackboots and cold, reptilian eyes; there came the distant, mournful sound of a locomotive steam-whistle somewhere out in the darkness. They turned to stare out into the night. As they peered into the darkness of the rainy Berlin night, the lamp on the signal gantry, some thirty metres beyond the three huge, end wall arches spanning the incoming tracks on the permanent way side of the station, flicked to green.
The two SDs tossed down their cigarettes and ground them into the platform. Out of the night came the bright glare of the three head-code lights reflecting back off the silver ribbons of the rain-soaked tracks, as the big, black and red, 4-6-2 Borsig locomotive coasted into the platform, with the coach, and locomotive brakes squealing, and clouds of hissing steam billowing from the double cylinders as the engineer vented the cylinder steam chests.

A typical Borsig locomotive leaving Anhalter Bahnhof.

The Two SDs stepped back into the shadows as the express came to a standstill. The doors were flung open, and the passengers of the Frankfurt-am-Main night express stepped down from the rain-glistening, dark-green liveried coaches onto the Anhalter Bahnhof platform. They watched, as the passengers hurried past them trying to avoid eye contact... such was the uncomfortable feeling those ominous black uniforms gave to even the most innocent travellers. But then; these days... who is truly innocent? The slightest word out of place and you are just as likely to find yourself doing the Gestapo two-step in the "Dienstzentrale der Gestapo" offices at Prinz-Albrecht-Strasse 8... the notorious Gestapo "Hausgefängnis"… "house prison." Such is the paralysing fear that grips the hearts of even the most patriotic Germans at something as trivial as an unconscious stare from some passing uniformed Nazi on the streets.

Anhalter Bahnhof on Askanischer Platz, Berlin.

Out of the clouds of wreathing steam came a slender figure on tapping high heels. She would be about twenty-five; a tall, blonde, blue-eyed Aryan. She wore an expensive grey, two-piece suit and a jaunty little hat complimenting her pale blonde hair, swept back into a severe chignon that emphasised her high Saxon cheekbones. She carried an old, and battered, but expensive leather "Würzl" suitcase. As she walked down the platform, the two SDs stepped out into the light. The other hurrying travellers glanced sideways at her. Poor cow!... she's had it. But then... the great arched, glass roof of the Anhalter Bahnhof echoed as the two SDs snapped to attention, and crashed their heel-irons together in the regulation manner.

Heads swivelled around as the scurrying travellers gaped over their shoulders. She stood before the two SDs as their right arms shot out in the theatrical Hitlergruss. As she turned, the platform lights glittered on "Das Goldene Ehrenzeichen der NSDAP"… the Golden Honour Badge... a round badge consisting of black, white, and red cloisonné enamel enclosed within a golden oak-leaf wreath. The wreath encircled the words: "National-Sozialistische-D.A.P." around the circumference of the enamel, with a swastika in the centre... that was pinned to her left lapel.

Das Goldene Ehrenzeichen der NSDAP.

She returned the salute by merely raising her forearm and hand from the elbow... just as the Führer did at the Party Rallies. So, she must be important... otherwise, such a slovenly salute would be seen as insulting, if dared to be done by anyone else; and would have brought a swift, and harsh retribution.The two SDs didn't even flicker. The taller of the two snapped out,

'Heil Hitler! Fräulein Doktor von Seringen? Welcome to Berlin. We have a car waiting.'

One of the SDs took her suitcase, as the other escorted her down the platform towards the ticket barrier. The crush of passengers miraculously parted; and the bustle and clamour diminished. The old ticket collector held out his hand for her ticket, but was brushed aside. He looked at the ominous black uniforms and wondered what he should do. His task was to check tickets and no exceptions; but, this... if he dared to challenge them, he might well end up doing five years in KL Konzentrationslager Dachau for insulting the SS. He chose that prudence was definitely the better part of valour and waved them through.
In the bustling great, outer atrium of the station, there was suddenly, complete silence, save for the soft hiss of steam from the locomotives, and a faint hum of traffic out on Stresemannstrasse. As the party crossed the echoing marble floor to the sweeping staircases that led to the main entrance of the Anhalter Bahnhof, the only sounds to break this fearful stillness were the clacking tread of two pairs of glittering, hob-nailed jackboots playing counterpoint to the elegant tip tapping of her high heels.

A little more of the fourth book...

2010-01-31T15:30:00.011Z

Another segment from the on-going fourth book "The Vanavara Protocol" for your delectation...
(Plus; I am putting a few old photos of the places mentioned into the posts to give a feel to the text. Most of these places no longer exist in Berlin as they were destroyed during the war... or have been radically changed during the partitioned East/West Berlin period.)
(Example: many Berlin street names have been changed, or have disappeared. A fascinating trip into old Berlin street maps may be found at:
http://www.alt-berlin.info/pages/index.htm

At the junction of Siegesallee and Charlottenburger Chaussee, the Horch scarcely slowed as it cut across the four lanes of traffic, then executed a similar manoeuvre across Zeltenallee into the Königsplatz, with the siren still wailing and echoing back from the trees in the eastern end of the Tiergarten. The Great Siegessäule column, topped with the Goddess of Victory... "Die Vergoldete Sieggöttin," that the Berliners called "Goldelse," gazing down from her high perch, and the crouching, shadowy Reichstag building towered to their right, as the car sped past the Kroll-Oper and swung right into the short Strasse am Königsplatz, to stop outside the huge and gloomy, Neo-Gothic, four-storey Ministry of Internal Affairs building bedecked with long, blood-red Hakenkreuz banners that stirred ominously in the thin breeze rustling through the thickly wooded Tiergarten.

Königsplatz, Berlin.
[Reichstag in foreground, Siegessäule in centre; Kroll-Oper in background.]

Ministry of Internal Affairs building on Königsplatz, Berlin.

The SS-Sturmscharführer jumped out of the Horch and opened the rear door for the young woman. He escorted her across the pavement to the high, three-arched, pillared portico that protected the entrance to the Ministry. Two black uniformed SS-Scharführers, wearing white belts and gloves... as they always did on this guard duty; snapped to attention, presenting arms with their highly polished rifles. The SS-Sturmscharführer gave the full Hitlergruss as he strode into the building. They crossed the marble floor to a vast desk, where a portly and somewhat unsavoury looking SS-Untersturmführer sat. After a suitable pause, he looked up.

The SS-Sturmscharführer cracked off another perfect Hitlergruss and crashed his heels together. In an unnecessarily loud voice, he shouted...

'Heil Hitler! SS-Untersturmführer; I wish to report that I have collected Fräulein Doktor von Seringen, of Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität, Frankfurt -am-Main, for audience with the Reichsführer-SS, at his request.'

Bits and Pieces.

2010-01-26T22:41:00.002Z

Just a general bumble about, this time. Firstly; I've found a couple of useful sites for budding authors.
You know how all the literary pundits bang on about overuse of clichés?
Problem is, the reason they are clichés in the first place is that they describe things so well!... or, as Salvador Dali so succinctly put it...

"The first man to compare the cheeks of a young woman to a rose was obviously a poet; the first to repeat it was possibly an idiot."

OK, so if you don't want to alienate your potential publisher and find your cherished manuscript ends up in the shredder... help is at hand! Go to:

http://cliche.theinfo.org/

Paste a section of your writing into the box, this tool will highlight the clichés for you...

(In the screen-shot below the clichés found in this passage are highlighted...

The next little tool gives you a list of alternative words (synonyms) for all those well-used words that appear in any passage..."good," "bad," "went," and "said" are typical; as are "nice," "walked," and "then."
These types of words tend to make a reader glaze over if used too many times. This little tool gives you more interesting alternatives...

For "Good"... excellent, fine, superior, wonderful, marvellous, qualified, suited, suitable, apt, proper, capable, generous, kindly, friendly, gracious, obliging, pleasant, agreeable, pleasurable, satisfactory, well-behaved, obedient, honourable, reliable, trustworthy, safe, favourable, profitable, advantageous, righteous, expedient, helpful, valid, genuine, ample, salubrious, estimable, beneficial, splendid, great, noble, worthy, first-rate, top-notch, grand, sterling, superb, respectable, edifying.

For "Bad"... evil, immoral, wicked, corrupt, sinful, depraved, rotten, contaminated, spoiled, tainted, harmful, injurious, unfavourable, defective, inferior, imperfect, substandard, faulty, improper, inappropriate, unsuitable, disagreeable, unpleasant, cross, nasty, unfriendly, irascible, horrible, atrocious, outrageous, scandalous, infamous, wrong, noxious, sinister, putrid, snide, deplorable, dismal, gross, heinous, nefarious, base, obnoxious, detestable, despicable, contemptible, foul, rank, ghastly, execrable.

Get the idea? It's very much a case of "WYSIWYM"... "What You See Is What You Mean."

http://www.synonym.com/

Just to finish; did you notice the little row of flags below the header? They are translation buttons.
Click one, and the page automatically translates into that language. Possibly a tad smart-ass, but if any non-English-speaking visitors hit the page, it might prove helpful. It's powered by Google Translate. From my researching, it seems to be reasonably accurate; although, it does tend to mangle grammar in some languages (eg: German.)

If you want to try this widget, it's here:

http://www.blogosys.com/2008/11/language-translation-widget-flags-to_14.html

Just delete the countries you don't want from the downloadable HTML/JAVA code.

A handy little tool for authors

2010-01-24T21:20:00.002Z

If, like me, you are writing a novel that requires a great deal of research; there is a rather nice Firefox add-on available which you will find very useful.
(If you're using Firefox... and with all the holes in IE6, IE7, and IE8; you really should be!)

It's called Zotero, and is a little like EndNote: but, much easier to use. It helps you collect, manage, and cite your research sources. It lives right where you do your work... in the web browser itself, and appears as a button at the bottom right of the web browser page. With this little application you can say goodbye to "copy & paste."

Not only can it be used to bookmark information, but it also permits its user to highlight or add sticky notes to pages. Furthermore, it sports an impressive search capability, and also allows users to drag and drop highlighted information directly into a note, eliminating the need to press a "clip" or "paste" button.

To get started with a new notebook, you will only need to press an icon titled "New Standalone Note" and begin to type into a blank page in the 3rd column of the Zotero pane. Next, highlight any information from the internet that is of particular interest to you, just as you would do if you were preparing to copy and paste it into a document. However, instead of needing to worry about opening up a Word document, you can simply drag the info directly into the notebook. Here, it can be modified, and can later be exported by being dragged outside of the notebook to a desired spot.

In addition to this convenient drag and drop feature, Zotero also permits users to simply record a page's URL, as well as record a screen-shot of the page.

Here's a screen-shot of the Zotero work space:

Whilst I was researching the fourth book, I ended up with folders full of text files which were really time-consuming to check out. I just wish I had discovered Zotero earlier!

Check it out here:

http://www.zotero.org/

Amazon Associates for Blogger

2010-01-24T15:52:00.000Z

Amazon Associates for Blogger is a direct integration between Amazon Associates and Blogger. This new collaboration enables Bloggers to monetize their content by adding relevant Amazon products to their blog posts without interrupting the blog editing process.

Amazon Associates is an affiliate marketing program that allows website owners and bloggers to create links and earn referral fees when customers click through and buy products from Amazon.com. It’s completely free to join and easy to use.

https://affiliate-program.amazon.com/

This provides consumers the convenience of referring them to a trusted site where they can immediately purchase products you advertise. And when they do, you can earn up to 10% in referral fees.

The first thing you need to do is to click the "Monetize" button on your Blogger dashboard; choose where you want the ads to be displayed and follow on through the next pages.
With Amazon, you find an additional box on your "New posts" page that you can use to generate and insert links, (Which appear as Blue Text in your post, and when clicked, direct you to the relevant Amazon page... very useful for a blog like mine which is used for promoting my books.)

You will also note the three Amazon Links: Books, Music, and Computers in my side-bar. These are the ones that generate revenue. When someone clicks on one; it takes them to the relevant Amazon page, and if they subsequently make a purchase... that's when you get paid.
It's free, and if you don't mind a few eye-catching elements on your blog, then it's got to be worth a try.

Also worth thinking about is Google's Adsense. Go to their site at:

https://www.google.com/adsense/

and sign up for an Adsense account. Make sure you use the same username and password for Adsense as you did for your free blog.
Go back to your blog and select the "Layout" Tab. This will show you a skeleton view of your blog with the different modules. At the top of the sidebar, click the "Add a Gadget". A window will popup. In that window select, "Adsense" and choose the type of ad you want. If you used the same username for your blog as you did with Adsense, it should put your unique ID in so you can be credited.

Artwork for Book Four.

2010-01-03T17:23:00.017Z

OK; so I've given you a couple of tasters for book four, so here's the proposed cover artwork...

The back cover blurb goes like this:

It is 1937. Two archaeologists; one... German; the other... Russian, are researching three ancient volumes unearthed in the area of the huge 1908 explosion in Central Siberia... "The Tunguska Event." They both have hidden agendas.
They have been instructed by their Governments to secretly establish if there could conceivably be any indication of Military significance to the advantage of their respective Regimes.

Two of history's most evil men; Reichsführer Heinrich Himmler, and Nikolai Yezhov... head of the Soviet NKVD are engaged in a sinister game Double-cross.
Each archaeologist has been instructed to secure any such discovered information... and then, to liquidate their opposite number.

Himmler has code-named his involvement in this deceit as...

"The Vanavara Protocol."

-------------------------

At present, the fourth book is standing at 135,000 words, in sixteen chapters; and is about two-thirds complete. It is a stand-alone, but alludes to the Trilogy in several places. (The Three Ancient Volumes.)
It revolves around a malignant artifact which appeared in the third book of the Trilogy, and is probably best read as a continuation of "The Eternal Watchtower."

Complete Trilogy now available!

2010-01-01T11:48:00.007Z

The third part of "The Eternal Watchtower Trilogy" has finally arrived on Amazon UK, complete with price, and cover illustration.

Details for Part Three..."The Hand of Baelar" are as follows:

Paperback: 300 pages
Publisher: Lightning Source UK Ltd (20 Dec 2009)
Language English
ISBN-10: 1907461744
ISBN-13: 978-1907461743
Price: £7.99 (GBP.) $13.99 (USD.)

Press Release already!

2009-12-27T15:21:00.004Z

Concluding part of "The Eternal Watchtower" Trilogy published.

"The Hand of Baelar" is now available from Amazon.com.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE.

PR Log (Press Release) – Dec 27, 2009 – "The Hand of Baelar"... the much anticipated concluding part of D.W.Mace's epic fantasy trilogy: "The Eternal Watchtower" is now available from Amazon.com.

The Eternal Watchtower. Part Three. "The Hand of Baelar."
Paperback: 300 pages
Publisher: New Generation Publishing (December 20, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1907461744
ISBN-13: 978-1907461743

The plot of this book is a direct continuation of the first two books. The three books are so incredibly well written that the reader feels that they have been transported to another time and place, and are actually present among the characters, seeing what they see, feeling what they feel, sensing what they sense, as they struggle to prevail in the face of the overwhelmingly malevolent evil that is resolved to destroy them all.
As usual he delivers a book with wonderful characters, vivid, and vicious battles, and ordinary people who become heroes. As before, these likable characters stand a real risk of being killed.The complete trilogy is a big, epic story, with a huge cast of engaging, credible characters. As with the preceding books, such magic as is used, is constrained and believable.
The Eternal Watchtower trilogy is carefully crafted in order that each book tells a complete story, but can be linked together to form a seamless epic-length adventure. In fact, D.W. created it as a complete, 400,000 word High fantasy.

"The Hand of Baelar" retains the core of the original characters: introduces the second generation of Guardians, and follows their development until they are ready to stand with their parents... the original Guardians; as a bastion against the final onslaught of the Forces of The Darkness, which threaten to overwhelm the Kingdoms and Realms of Falanholme, once, and for all.

This onslaught will herald the onset of what has come to be known as "The End of The Shining Days"... the final, determinate conflict, which, if lost, will invoke the dreaded "Night of The Shadows Rising;" where all that is held as good and true will be torn down and returned to Chaos. The Dominion of the dreadful Dark Entity, Baelar will reign supreme, and all that ever was, will be destroyed.
The first hint of this approaching dreadful fate is the realisation that Baelar is systematically winnowing the Kingdoms of The Wiccen Rede. Each Sorceress, White Witch, and Prophetess is being methodically destroyed in order to weaken the Girdle of Enchantment that protects Falanholme.

If the Girdle fails, then Baelar's minions can breach the protection of the enchantment that has so far, held them at bay. Then; they can overrun the land, and destroy their main target... the one who is called "The Golden Child"... the daughter of The Lord Guardian of The Light... Calladhor. It has long been prophesied that "The Golden Child" will bring the aspirations of Baelar to ruin.
Another young, female Guardian... Beshlie of Calverstock will have a hand in this ruination, and Baelar is aware of this. He therefore creates an evil counterpart... the False Beshlie, who is mandated to lure the "Golden Child" to her death.

Having destroyed one of Calladhor's allies... the Thuvians; and utterly laid to waste their Realm of Khallis, Baelar brings forth from the depths of the Abyss his most terrible entities... The Necromancers. These beings possess unspeakably evil powers. They can raise armies from the dead. They proceed to do just that... plundering the charnel pits of the Khallis dead, to bolster the Forces of The Darkness.

The mighty, evil host is engaged by the Guardians and their assembled forces in the wastelands of Khallis. During this vicious conflict, the "Golden Child" is lured away by the False Beshlie to a place where she might well be destroyed... a place where Baelar manifests in human form. His resolve to destroy the "Golden Child" is thwarted by the True Beshlie, who has observed her false counterpart lure the "Golden Child" away from the conflict. In this covert confrontation, the False Beshlie and Baelar are destroyed.

An evil talisman remains, which must be removed from any chance discovery in the future. It is sealed into a solid block of metal and hidden away.

The Guardians appear to have saved Falanholme from its imminent destruction and the onset of the Third Age of Darkness... but, as Baelar perishes, he speaks of a final, catastrophic invocation that he has unleashed. It is assumed by the Guardians that this is merely a final attempt to instil a continuing fear of the unknown. The Darkness is defeated... it seems that all will be well. Then, comes the totally unexpected ending.

Overall, or in pieces, this is a great series well worth the time spent reading it. Each book stands well on its own, but together they form a superb storyline that makes you really feel that this is more of a true story then a fantasy epic.

D.W. has given a taste of what he is working on next, at his blog site: http://calladhor.blogspot.com/

I know I want to read it when it becomes available!

----------------------------------------------------

I'm really going to have to find out who is publishing this... but thanks, anyway!

Book Three now available!

2009-12-26T22:12:00.003Z

The Third, concluding book of "The Eternal Watchtower" Trilogy: "The Hand of Baelar" is now available on Amazon. So far, it has only appeared on Amazon.com, and not Amazon UK.
The cover illustration is not yet available on Amazon... (But, seeing as it appears in the previous post, I'm not going to start fretting about that. It will doubtless appear as soon as Amazon get their act together after the Christmas period.)

Details are as follows:

The Eternal Watchtower. Part Three. "The Hand of Baelar."

Paperback: 300 pages
Publisher: New Generation Publishing (December 20, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1907461744
ISBN-13: 978-1907461743

$13.99 (USD.) (No GBP as yet.)

So, there we are. A 400,000 word Trilogy published within nine months, from scratch.
This means that if I can manage it... anyone can!

The real secret is to enjoy writing it. This shines through when someone comes to read it. Too many established authors (who really should know better) seem to churn out the words like so many sausages... padding the storyline out just to get a word-count. I tried not to fall into this particular trap. I hope I succeeded.

Book Three now almost launched.

2009-12-12T13:11:00.002Z

My publishers informed me today that the concluding book of "The Eternal Watchtower" Trilogy is at the printers, and author copies (Give-aways, publicity hand-outs, etc) are now available to me.
That means that it should appear on Amazon and other Web outlets by Christmas.

It is titled,
"The Eternal Watchtower. Part Three... The Hand of Baelar."

and will be priced at $12.99 USD. ( £7.99. GBP.)

It is published by New Generation Publishing, and will be print on demand; as were the first two books.

The fourth book is proceeding nicely, standing at 130,000 words, and should be completed in the spring of next year. It could be called a Sequel... but, is also a stand-alone.

It is an adventure novel, this time; set in pre-war Germany and Russia, but alludes to elements of the Fantasy Trilogy.

Curious? You'll have to wait and see!

Cover Art for Book Three.

2009-12-09T19:16:00.004Z

Here, as promised, is the cover art for the concluding book of
The Eternal Watchtower Trilogy.
As we speak it should be on its way to the printers. (The text is already with them.)
This means the final third book should be available within a two to three week time frame.

More information as it arrives.

Book Three close to Lift-off!

2009-11-27T21:33:00.002Z

The concluding book of "The Eternal Trilogy" is close to publication. My publisher has forwarded to proof to me for the final reading before it it sent to the printers.

This effectively means that the third book "The Hand of Baelar" should be appearing on Amazon in about two to three weeks.

Further information to follow as I receive it.

Book Two... a first view

2009-10-20T16:29:00.003+01:00

So; here's the first view of the correct cover for the second book of the Trilogy, which has appeared on Amazon today.

The concluding book of the Trilogy... "The Hand of Baelar" will have the same design artwork... and, later... if at all possible, I shall try to negotiate with my publishers that this design is used to replace the cover of book one.
(This design was not available when the first book was published.)

Press review for the second book.

2009-10-16T20:36:00.003+01:00

A press release for the second book of the Trilogy has appeared...

http://www.prlog.org/10378694-book-two-of-the-eternal-watchtower-epic-fantasy-trilogy-now-released.html

Book Two of "The Eternal Watchtower" Epic Fantasy Trilogy now released!

The second book of D W Mace's Epic Fantasy Trilogy: "The Eternal Watchtower," titled: "The Riddle of Storien-Rhudd" has been released by New Generation Publishing. The concluding book "The Hand of Baelar" will be be released in late November.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PRLog (Press Release) – Oct 16, 2009 –

The Riddle of Storien-Rhudd continues the unremitting conflict between Good and Evil in the lands of Falanholme... the insidious, creeping menace of the forces of The Darkness that will determine the fate of the totally believable world that the author has so masterfully created.

The adventure continues from the point in the first book "A Bright, and Shining Land" where, with the first Darkling Horde destroyed, and the Plain of Malphaers open; the central character... Calladhor, Lord Guardian of The Light, can now journey east to seek out the key to the Riddle of Storien-Rhudd, carved upon the mighty stone tablet in the Dragon Eyrie of the same name, which, if solved, will allow his Dragon allies, who helped him defeat the first onslaught of the Dark forces, to regain their true form.

It would seem to be a quest lacking in any great peril, even though the secret valley wherein the key to the riddle may exist, is many leagues distant.

Calladhor is aware that, in spite of the recent defeat of the Forces of The Darkness; the dreadful, Dark Entity, Baelar will not rest until "The Light" is extinguished, and all is thrust back into Chaos. Even with this knowledge firm in his mind; Calladhor cannot prepare himself for the dreadfulness that he will encounter, as he journeys deep into the ruined lands that were once, the Kingdom of Astalan.

This second book is an epic, and perilous journey into the unknown. It contains harrowing discoveries in the ravaged distant Kingdom; vicious, hand to hand battles, and awful, and malevolent adversaries. This is a world of dark, menacing shadows.

The new book features one more strong female main character... as did the first book. This is something still comparatively uncommon in the fantasy genre. The balance of action, storytelling, and romance is elegantly executed beyond the average fantasy novel, and is sure to be entertaining for all readers.

This emerging Trilogy is one of those rare gems that few people have yet come to know about... the first book: "A Bright, and Shining Land" was first published as recently as June 2009... but if you are looking for a great epic fantasy adventure that does not rely on a typical "Elves," or "Sword and Sorcery" theme, then this is definitely one Trilogy you need to get.

...................................................................

The first print of the second book was completed with an incorrect cover artwork. This is in the process of being changed by the printers... so anyone who has one of the first run will have something very rare... (but, then again... anyone who has a copy will most likely have a rarity, anyway!)

Book Three has been accepted for publication!

2009-10-05T21:49:00.003+01:00

Wow! I must be doing something right... my publishers have accepted the submission for the third book of "The Eternal Watchtower" Trilogy, which means it should be published in December.

The down-side is that I now have no excuse for not pressing on with the Sequel. (See previous post.)

The old "I'm just line-editing it one more time" won't wash any longer!

Whilst really trying not to slip into SMUG mode; two books published, and one about to be published, since March of this year... when, prior to that, I was still doing the rounds as an un-published author, means that YOU can also become a Published Author without having to resort to the dreaded Vanity Press sharks.

(But I told you that at the beginning of this blog... but, did you believe me...?)

My advice is stop reading this rubbish and go straight to

http://www.newgenerationpublishing.info/home/how-to-submit-your-work.html

There is a free publishing initiative running at the moment. If you want distribution and an ISBN number there is a charge... but, if you were going down the traditional publishing route... (Literary Agent/ Publisher)...you have to pay for the ISBN number anyway... it would be deducted from the first royalty payment.)

Like I said before... If I can do it... You can, too!

Book Two has Lift-off!

2009-10-04T22:12:00.010+01:00

We have Lift-off!

Today, the second book of "The Eternal Watchtower" Trilogy appeared on Amazon!

The Title is: "The Riddle of Storien-Rhudd." The ISBN is:
# ISBN-10: 190655885X
# ISBN-13: 978-1906558857

and it's all yours for the princely sum of £8.99 GBP... ($15.99USD.)

Today, I sent off the submission for the third book of the Trilogy to my publishers.
This completes "The Eternal Watchtower" Trilogy, which has taken just over two years from start to finish... which, I suppose, isn't bad for for a 400,000 word novel.

If they decide to go with it... (and seeing as how they have already published the first two parts, I don't really see any reason why they shouldn't)... the whole Trilogy should be readily available from Amazon etc, by Christmas.

Just to re-cap; the titles are...

"The Eternal Watchtower."

Book One: "A Bright, and Shining Land."
# ISBN-10: 1849238162
# ISBN-13: 978-1849238168

Book Two: "The Riddle of Storien-Rhudd."
# ISBN-10: 190655885X
# ISBN-13: 978-1906558857

Book Three: "The Hand of Baelar."

Book One is available on Amazon. Book Two is also available on Amazon, and Book Three... Fingers crossed!

The fourth book... a sequel; set in pre-war Germany and the Soviet Union; but with references to the trilogy, is work in progress. It is approaching half completion, and will probably end up at between 130-150,000 words.

This time, it is not a Fantasy, but fits more into the Action-Adventure Genre.
The preliminary title is: The Vanavara Protocol; and, as promised; a quick taster follows:

It is 1937. Once; they whispered, that long ago, this land… and the lands to the east were steeped in magic. Once; they said that, in the far distant and long-forgotten past; there was a fabulous society of mythical beings who lived in these lands. If there was ever such an age, it is now lost beyond legend… lost beyond fable. The Age of Mankind has long been at hand, and, in this time, there is only fear. For this land is Germany; This place is Berlin.

Since January, 1933, the Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei... the NSDAP; with Führer Adolf Hitler as Chancellor, and, from 1934… Head of State; has ruled by the rejection of democracy, and the suppression of its opponents and critics. After Adolf Hitler had been appointed Reichskanzler on January 30th, 1933, which effectively marked the beginning of the Third Reich; the Reichstag Parliament building in Berlin mysteriously caught fire on February 27th, 1933, under circumstances still not entirely clear.
This proved to be a valuable excuse for the Nazis to suspend most of the human rights provided for by the 1919 Constitution, in the edict of the "Verordnung des Reichspräsidenten zum Schutz von Volk und Staat"... The Order of the Reich President for the Protection of People and State; otherwise known as the "Reichstagsbrandverordnung"... the Reichstag Fire Decree... improvised on the day after the fire. Seizing on the burning of the Reichstag as the first act in a supposed communist uprising, the Nazis were able to throw millions of Germans into a convulsion of fear at the threat of Communist terror.

Now, the convulsion of fear comes with the screech of brakes, and the slamming of car doors in the street outside, in the cold light of a Berlin dawn… or late at night. It comes with the clatter of footsteps on the stairs. It comes with the hammering on the apartment door. It comes with the men in black leather trench coats, wearing black felt fedoras with the brims pulled down over their eyes, flashing their oval, silver-coloured warrant disc in the palm of their hand.
This disc is the dreaded Gestapo Warrant disc… the "Dienstmarke," embossed with "Geheime Staatspolizei" and the officer's police identification number on one side, and the Hoheitsabzeichen Eagle... the High Insignia Eagle, clutching in its talons a wreath circling a swastika, on the reverse side; usually attached by a chain to a leather security fob slipped over a concealed button of their clothing.
There would be no warning… just a pounding on the door, and then, a few fleeting minutes to settle the affairs of a lifetime, as the men in the long leather coats search the rooms for anything incriminating. Then would come the bundling into the back of the black Mercedes 260D saloon waiting outside, and the drive to headquarters at Prinz-Albrecht-Strasse 8… or worse, to KL (Konzentrationslager) Columbia-Haus in Tempelhof.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I hope to have this one finished by the middle of next year... (subject to research, which is really time-consuming, because it has to be accurate, as it is set within living memory; and there's always someone out there who will pick up on inaccuracies.)

Just to give you an example of how tough the research is; on an average, about three hours of intensive research of places, people, events, etc; might result in me actually authoring about 1500 words. (And, with the Soviet research; 65% of the information is written in the Cyrillic alphabet!... so I can almost read Russian now!)... and that's the easy part. You also need to research everything... plagiarism is an easy trap to fall into!

The Second Book... close to lift-off!

2009-09-20T15:07:00.007+01:00

The publishers have informed me that the second book: "The Riddle of Storien-Rhudd" is now available for me to order my "Author Copies"... the give-aways, review copies etc. This effectively means that the book should be appearing on Amazon in a few week's time.

Meanwhile; here is a small extract from the third book of the trilogy;
"The Hand of Baelar"
which continues the tale of The Matter of Falanholme; introduces the second generation of Guardians; and leads to the final, bitter conflict with the Forces of Evil...

Distantly, on the eastern border of Falanholme; still, was there flit and slink of the Shadow-Wraiths all along the watchtower chain on the Heights of Rhyddu. Here, there was no witless essay in breaching the Girdle. Here, there was, but sinister wend, and baleful linger, as the Shadow-Wraiths progressed from watchtower to watchtower, abiding; and watching for some weakness... perhaps, some rive in the whole. Alas; to their acerbity, there was none. The spell-cast of the Old Magic held sturdy. So; The Shadow-Wraiths prowled Rhyddu; their wailing, wordless cries of seethe echoed the watchtowers, and carried faint on the whimpering winds of Malphaers, even down unto Rhom.

In this space of time; from the palisades of Calverstock, a careful watch had been kept on the scarp of Grimspound Brea, above Calverstock Gill to the south. Naught had been forthcoming as yet; perhaps, the Darklings chose to decry incurse from here, being in plain sight to all who might choose to gaze into the south. Then, one morning, a sharp-eyed young sentry beheld a speck in the skies above the canopy of The Delvlings. It was coming from out of the north, and it was moving at great pace.

He called the Alarm, and soon enough, was joined on the northern brattice by Callam. In watching, they saw it was a Merlin; a Merlin flying as swift as ever they had seen a Merlin fly. As they watched, it lowered its stand in the sky and hurtled across the clearing that compassed Calverstock. It seemed it must dash itself against the palisade, but, at the last... it rose, then turning as only a Merlin may turn, alighted upon the brattice before them. Under their startled gaze, it made shape-shift, and before them stood Jhastor, the Shadaiian Shadow-Watcher of the Forest of Raventhorn Scar. Who leaned against the palisade, gasping and bereft of wind. When he had gathered breath, he laid before them, grim, and ominous intelligences.

Jhastor told that the Shadaiian leader; Archernan, had caused the Yeranoor Shadowlands and the Wastes of Plenmellar to be oft-times patrolled in depth. The Shadaiian patrols had progressed in shape-shift as ravens; as crows, and, as hawks. They found there, a gruesomeness. These reaches had been ravaged... close in equal to Astalan, when put against the tell of what Calladhor had discovered in that distant, ruined Realm. The Shadaiians had flown league upon league, round and about the Yeranoor Shadowlands and the Wastes of Plenmellar, and none were there to be found alive. They had come down on FionnMhor Moss and elected to seek out Fionndell, the settlement in FionnMhor Rift; the deep, wooded valley wherein dwelt the Brotherhood of FionnMhor.

They found Fionndell laid to waste. All the Brotherhood… their bond-mates… their younglings, were slaughtered. Torn and mangled bodies sprawled, all scattered about… some consumed in part. There too, were a sizeable number of carcasses of their assailers... gruesome creatures possessing large mouths... more lip-less maws beset with sharp, needle-like teeth. They had no nose in the common manner... nor did they possess eyes with black centres. Their eyes were naught, but pale, yellow orbs. The Shadaiians had never seen the like. The tracks thereabouts, led out to northerly-east... and to northerly-east lay the Great Hall of Penvallanar; the steading of Thallian Beckstrider and his bond-mate, the Sorceress Shahran of Penvallanar.

The Shadaiians had returned to Raventhorn and laid the tell of what they had espied. Archernan had despatched Jhastor in full haste to bring this dreadful information to the knowing of The Lord Guardian. He had progressed to Calverstock; which was the nearer than was Rhom, in the space of a little less than one Sundial shadow span. Callam hearkened the tell. He was beset with puzzlement. Why would The Darkness choose to wrack the Shadowlands? T'was not as though a Guardian dwelt there. This was indeed, a weighty conundrum. Then… suddenly, sprang the knowing... the truth of it. These vermin sought not, the Guardians.

The third book of The Eternal Watchtower Trilogy...
"The Hand of Baelar"
will, hopefully, be published in the late Autumn.

The books of the Trilogy are, and will be published as Print on Demand, and available from Amazon and other On-Line booksellers.

The Second book soon available!

2009-09-14T20:11:00.003+01:00

The Second part of "The Eternal Watchtower" Trilogy is now at the printers, and will be available shortly on Amazon, etc.
My Publishers (New Generation Publishing) have priced it at the RRP of £8.99.

The Title is:

The Eternal Watchtower. Book Two. "The Riddle of Storien-Rhudd."

153,000 words.
398 pages.

ISBN and cover details will follow when available.

Two down, and one to go... then I'll introduce you to the fourth (sequel) novel!

News on the Second Book.

2009-08-22T20:33:00.005+01:00

The second book has been accepted, and is going to print as we speak!
The title is... (as is to be expected with part two of a trilogy)...

The Eternal Watchtower Book Two... The Riddle of Storien-Rhudd.

It is being published by New Generation Publishing... (The imprint of Legend Press) and should be hitting the web-stores in a few weeks time.

The story continues the adventures of The Lord Guardian of The Light, Calladhor, as he quests to the East to seek out the key to the riddle of the Dread Imposition, which will return his Dragon Allies to their true form.
This is the fulfillment of the covenant he made with the Dragons to secure their assistance in destroying the first attempt of The Darkness to enslave the lands, and invoke "The Night of The Shadows Rising."

Another Press release has appeared!

2009-07-30T21:10:00.005+01:00

Interesting! Another Press release; taken from a review of the book. (Nothing like a bit of shameless publicity!)... and no money changed hands, either.

The release is at:
http://www.free-press-release.com/news/200907/1248983714.html

and goes like this:

Those looking for more of the "Boy becomes Wizard, and defeats Dark Lord" books that litter the cut-price shelves of any bookstore, look elsewhere; "A Bright, and Shining Land" is fantasy for grownups. This is the first book of a new High Fantasy Trilogy titled "The Eternal Watchtower."
This is storytelling in the old style... and it doesn't revolve around Elves, Dwarves, or Sword and Sorcery.
This is classic, old-time narrative, where the reader uses his imagination to visualise the great, sweeping landscapes that the characters inhabit. The author has created a world which is not so very different to that, which ours might well have been, in the far distant, forgotten past.

At this point the rear cover blurb is repeated; (so, no need to bore you with that again.)

This really is the stuff of fantasy. Forget Tolkien identikits, forget Sword 'n Sorcery; forget heroes with bulging biceps; ephemeral, untouchable Princesses, and all the rest of that nonsense.
If you want to read something unique, something that will move and excite you, perhaps, even bring a tear to your eye... read this.

A Bright, and Shining Land is filled with ever-creeping evil, romance, vicious battles; and believable, constrained magic that appears only very rarely, making it infinitely more interesting. The plot steadfastly refuses to go where you'd expect. The author keeps you wanting to turn the page; interweaving plots with the skill of the best epic fantasists.

if you are a devotee of Middle-Earth-style adventure, then this book is for you.

=========================

Not bad for a first-timer... and I didn't write them myself... which means Someone out there must like the book!

Book Two.

2009-07-13T19:43:00.004+01:00

Today, I submitted Book Two of The Eternal Watchtower Trilogy: "The Riddle of Storien-Rhudd" for the publication process.
This time; If it is accepted for publication; it will be published by New Generation Publishing... information at:

http://www.free-press-release.com/news/200907/1247133616.html

"The Riddle of Storien-Rhudd" continues the story of the inhabitants of the lands of Falanholme, and their struggle with the Forces of The Darkness.

The back cover blurb is as follows:

With the Darkling Horde destroyed, and the Plain of Malphaers open; The Lord Calladhor can now seek out the key to the Riddle of Storien-Rhudd, carved upon the mighty stone tablet in the Dragon Eyrie of the same name; which, if solved, will allow his Dragon allies to regain their true form.
It would seem to be a quest lacking in any great peril, even though the secret valley wherein the key to the riddle may exist, is many leagues distant.
Calladhor is aware that, in spite of the recent defeat of the Forces of The Darkness; the dreadful, Dark Entity, Baelar will not rest until "The Light" is extinguished, and all is thrust back into Chaos. Always, He lies ready to engulf the land. Always, he probes for some weakness.
Even with this knowledge firm in his mind; Calladhor cannot prepare himself for the dreadfulness that he will encounter, as he journeys deep into the ruined lands that were once, the Kingdom of Astalan.

Here's an extract to be going on with...

The soft, green pastures began thinning to sparse, coarse scrubbings as he breached the northern reaches of Lorenfalu, to progress the wastelands of Khallis. Here, as far as the eye might be laid, was a desolation of yellow and ochre; of brown and of grey. The wastelands of Khallis... a great, silent span of hollows and ash piles; mounds of ancient mining spoil, and great heaps of rusting slag from the furnaces of Khallis.
The wastelands; stretching some thirty leagues north to the Khallis Redoubt; once, infested with lurking Darklings who probed the borderlands; now, naught, but a desolate wilderness, as silent as the grave. Once, compassed in depth by Khuzud-Mahin patrols; and now, scarce a bird to the air. Indeed, a most eerie and forsaken place.

Progressing on northwards; soon, he came upon the Cairn of Donella, the young Khuzud scout killed during Caron of Shandalar's brave, wild ride to Rhom. There, beneath the spreading boughs of the Rowan tree, softly springing to new life in its delicate greening, the young Donella lay. She had been swiftly buried by Caron's escort... the other Khuzud scout, Taeana… she, who had despatched the Horanaurk killer of her sister scout. She, who had laid the rowan spindle into Donella's heart, to confound her walking abroad, transformed into a Ranulug Gomraith... a Darkling Undead.

Calladhor reined in Starshadow, for there was a thing he had promised to do here. Donella had been cairned without her sword. There had not been the time to find the same from whence it had fallen when Donella was unhorsed. Taeana had needed to ride down Caron, on her wild gallop to Rhom.
Whilst in Rhom, Taeana had entreated Calladhor; that, as he passed Donella's cairn, might he lay a sword into the cairn, and also gift her with a garland of Moonflower blossoms... as was custom amongst the fallen Sword-maidens of the Bright, Shining Lands; be they Algethi or Thuvian?

Calladhor had agreed to lay a Dushrakhas... the dreaded Khuzud-Mahin blade, into the cairn; for all fallen Khuzud-Mahin need be interred with a blade, lest they be denied entry into Seithynnor…the Afterlife of the Thuvian Heroes; where they sat in Halls with their forebears once more; and feasted forever, on red meat, and Khalmead, and strong beer; all boasting of their prowess in Battle.
He gazed sadly at the cairn. 'Aye, this were a most grim, and lonesome place to sleep the last Great Sleep. He studied the Rowan. It grew fair and sturdy; a single smudge of green upon that blighted plain... this rowan, which had grown from the spindle pierced into her heart. There too, upon the cairn still lay the wilted wreathing of Moonflowers that the pretty Faluan Lieutenant Nindelen had laid forth, 'ere she rode on to embrace naught, but a dreadful, gruesome death at the Siege of Rhom. He knelt to the cairn and began to carefully shift the stones.

Donella had been cairned, as are all the fallen Sword-maidens cairned… with her head to the east, and her feet to the west. Calladhor sadly gazed upon the shrunken, mouldering body. She had held scarcely, ten and six summers. Such promise of what she might have been, snuffed out like a candle flame; her youth and beauty snatched from her in one brief moment of time.
He gently laid the Dushrakhas upon her body, resting her shrivelled, claw-like hands about the hilt, with the sword-tip at her feet; and laid the garland of Moonflower blossoms upon her brow, now gaunt with mortification. He mused sadly; how soon the bloom of beauty and youth will fade, as a rainbow will fade... as if it had never been. Such waste, gifted careless by fickle fate... and no sense here to be found.

He began to re-lay the stones, carefully… and with due reverence, until the cairn stood once more in completeness. He mounted Starshadow, and turned him to north, to ride onwards. Glancing back at the Cairn, he murmured;

'Sleep safe, Little One.'

Then, turning again, heavy of heart; he spurred Starshadow on, deeper into the wastelands of Khallis.

Hopefully; Book Two will be published in the Autumn.

Further to the info on Book One... I actually saw a copy today. The printing is very impressive. And now...

Two competitions for those who have lots of time on their hands...

Firstly: See how many printing errors you can find. (I found four... which is impressive for a novel of almost 125,000 words. These guys at Lightning Source know what they are doing!)

Secondly: See if you can spot the join... where the novel changed from being a children's book written in close-couplet verse, and grew up to become a grown-ups' Fantasy Adventure.

And now... Here's the Press Release!

2009-07-02T21:02:00.006+01:00

Press Release Home > Books >

“A Bright,and Shining Land”… Fantasy just became mortal.

July 1st, 2009

“Spring crept softly… almost furtively, into the western realms of Falanholme that year. For still, the bitter, icing winds from off the grey, flinty mountains tugged and whimpered about the tree-tops that surrounded the old Algethi Garrison of Calverstock, deep in the forest of the Delvlings that bordered the Kingdom of Lorenfalu. The fragile Moonflower buds were only now beginning to struggle bravely from the woodland floor through the last of the winter snows that lay all melting into spidery islands, creating a soft, green and white patchwork amidst the trees.”

So begins “A BRIGHT AND SHINING LAND”… the first book of a new Epic Fantasy Trilogy titled “THE ETERNAL WATCHTOWER.”

Just when we thought that there would never be another decent Epic Fantasy that wasn’t just one more Tolkien or Conan rip-off, here comes the first part of a Trilogy that doesn’t revolve around Elves, or Sword and Sorcery.

With J. K. Rowling completing The Harry Potter series, and the effective closing of The Middle Earth saga with the publication of Tolkien’s Children of Hurin; readers are searching for something new and exciting… and this could well be it.

"A BRIGHT, AND SHINING LAND" stands out from the “New Generation” of Fantasy Novels… the author, D.W. Mace has created a world that will entertain and excite readers without suffocating them with great tracts of description. His world is suggested; rather than visually rammed down the throat.
This is classic, old-time narrative, where the reader uses his imagination to visualise the great sweeping landscapes that his characters inhabit. The author has created a world which is not so very different to that, which ours might well have been, in the far distant, forgotten past.

The story is, as one would expect; another facet of the “Good versus Evil” scenario, but, It’s really refreshing to find an author who is not afraid to sacrifice a few central characters along the way. This is indeed, quite a change from the usual immortal heroes and heroines; and, there is real humanity in these characters.
Although this first book is effectively, a scene-setter for the complete Trilogy; it really is a page-turner. You get immersed in the plot, and can never be really certain that the good guys will actually survive.

For a first novel, this is impressive stuff; the author hasn’t padded it out with generic cotton wool and cliches, just to lengthen the plot. The sub-plots merge seamlessly into the whole, and the basic premise of imagining the reader is actually listening to the story being read, as it unfolds from the pages, is unusual, but very effective.

"A BRIGHT, AND SHINING LAND" is filled with romance, vicious battles; ever-creeping evil, and believable, constrained magic.

If you are a devotee of Middle-Earth-style adventure, then this book is for you.

"A BRIGHT, AND SHINING LAND" is published by the Arts Council supported YouWriteOn.com, and Legend Press; the UK’s youngest-run, mainstream fiction publisher; and is available in online bookstores, including Amazon worldwide, The Book Depository.com. Alibris, etc.

Check out the author’s blog at: http://calladhor.blogspot.com/

Book Details:

# Author: D.W.Mace.
# Paperback: 284 pages
# Publisher: YouWriteOn; 1st edition (June 13, 2009)
# Language: English
# ISBN-10: 1849238162
# ISBN-13: 978-1849238168
# Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.6 inches
# Price: $12.99 (USD.) £7.99 (GBP.)

Thanks, Leigh... and I didn't even have to bribe him. He wrote the body of this from a pre-publication electronic copy of the book.
Not a bad job!

The First View...

2009-06-30T08:01:00.005+01:00

Finally we get to see the cover design. Not at all bad... and, they actually got the author name correct. (On the Amazon page they have the author title as "David Mace.")

Unfortunately, there is another established author in the UK, named "David Mace," who writes S.F. Novels.

As I said previously... no-one said this authoring game was going to be easy!

8. A little extra something... because I can't be assed to edit the previous post.

2009-06-27T21:53:00.004+01:00

Just stumbled on an extra Fantasy Sub-genre... are you ready for this? Are you really ready for a new Buzz-word?
OK... you asked for it...

WAINSCOT FANTASY.
Wainscot is a term used in fantasy fiction to describe societies that are concealed... (hidden in the wainscoting) and secretly working in the real world. It was first coined by The Encyclopedia of Fantasy in 1997.
For an accurate definition of "wainscoting"... look here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panelling

Such concealed societies typically have a special insight into the mechanics of the world, such as an understanding of magical forces or knowledge of supernatural beings.
Wainscot societies may seek to hide this information from outsiders, or they may be disbelieved due to ignorance, conspiracies, or because people choose not to believe in their existence.
The over-riding feature of wainscot fiction is that it does not take place in fantasy realms only accessible via some kind of magical portal (e.g. Narnia). Wainscot fantasy involves hidden parts of the familiar, mundane world.

Typical examples include:

The Harry Potter series. by J.K. Rowling. (Now reclassified from "Contemporary Fantasy.")
The Borrowers. by Mary Norton.
The Carpet People. by Terry Pratchett.
Power of Three. by Diana Wynne Jones.

Now, hopefully, you have all you need to know to choose which genre your baby falls into.

7. What's a Genre?... Am I Heroic... or Hack n' Slash?

2009-06-27T19:53:00.005+01:00

OK, reader:

If all this hasn't popped your bubble; It's time to decide which type of Fantasy you intend to write... or have written; and study the different types of Fantasy which are all lumped together under the somewhat insipid noun: "Genre." This is important information which should be decided before the first paragraph is even written.

Fantasy afficionados have an overwhelming desire to pigeon-hole fantasy subjects into specific sub-genre categories. Why?... I haven't a clue; but it's a fact of life, and you'd better be damn sure your masterpiece is targeting the correct niche audience.

Just to confuse the issue a little more; there is yet another category: Cross-genre... (Also known as Hybrid.) These include:
"Romantic Fantasy" where the romance is most important; and "Fantasy Romance" where the fantasy elements are most important.

(As you can see from the two examples above; it really isn't rocket-science... just common sense.)

Then, of course; there is:
"Science Fantasy;" which is either a science fiction story that has progressed far enough from reality to "feel" like a fantasy: or a fantasy story that is attempting to be science fiction. This can be broken down further into: Fantastic Science Fiction or Scientific Fantasy.

OK; Confused as to what your masterpiece is? Here are the main sub-genres:

ACTION/ADVENTURE.
A rip-roaring, fast-paced story with lots of action as the main character faces a series of difficult challenges. It will often, involves a CHASE or a QUEST. Adventure is more important than the struggle between good and evil; and there's not much in the way of world building.

ALTERNATE HISTORY.
A believable historical fiction where something happens... or does not happen; resulting in a totally different outcome. It might include fantastic elements, or be wholly unrealistic, except for the end result ; e.g: Germany crushed Britain in World War II, due to Occult intervention, and won the war.

ALTERNATE/PARALLEL WORLD.
The central characters are transported from this world to another, where magic works and other fantastic elements are present.

ARTHURIAN.
Stories about King Arthur, Merlin, Knights of the Round Table. (Mists of Avalon by Marion Bradley; Sword at Sunset by Rosemary Sutcliff are good examples.)

CHRISTIAN FANTASY.
Fantasy with a Christian theme or focus. ( Lilith by George MacDonald; and The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis are examples.)

COMIC.
Stories that poke fun at typical fantasy conventions.

CONTEMPORARY OR MODERN FANTASY.
Fantasy story set in our world in contemporary times, often in an urban environment, but may be anywhere. Can be humorous or an adventure story. May also be dark or urban (see below.) JK Rowling's "Harry Potter" series is a "Hybrid"... (see above)... within this sub-genre.

DARK FANTASY.
Since horror has negative associations/connotations, some authors and publishers prefer this phrase instead. Often, the horror here is not as horrible as that found under the horror category. Stephen King is considered by many, to be a dark fantasy author.

EPIC FANTASY.
Also sometimes called HIGH FANTASY or HEROIC FANTASY. Fantasy stories of heroes in imaginary lands with complicated world building, many characters, and focussing on the battle between Good and some Enormous Evil. The hero usually has unusual and perhaps, unsuspected strength, but it takes time for this to be revealed. Often, the hero is involved in some sort of quest. Tolkien's Lord of The Rings is the model for all of this sub-genre. Popular with readers, several authors have written and continue to write these works. Many are derivative. Robert Jordan is perhaps, the best known current writer in this category. It is the most popular part of the whole Fantasy genre.

(My novel: "A Bright, and Shining Land" falls firmly into this sub-genre.)...

(One more Shameless, Self-publicity plug... but, why the hell not? It's my Blog!)

But, I digress...

FAIRY TALES.
Stories based upon folk or fairy tales, normally European; but, not always. A novel based on a retelling of the tale of Beauty and the Beast would be a good example.

HEROIC. (Sometimes called SWORD AND SORCERY; but, see entry below.)
Traditional fantasy stories focusing on a hero who overcomes all. Beowulf could fit into this sub-genre. Typically, it contains less world building and more action/adventure. Note that the boundaries between different fantasy categories are often very fuzzy.

HISTORICAL.
The story takes place in a reasonably accurate rendition of a real time and place, but with the addition of magical elements.

HUMOROUS FANTASY.
Fantastic story with notable humorous elements, often satirical comment on society and manners. May also be called LIGHT FANTASY. Terry Pratchett is the best known current author. Robert Asprin is another.

LEGENDARY FANTASY.
Fantasy story based upon legend, myth, or folk tale.

MAGIC REALISM.
Fantasy stories where the laws of magic receive considerable attention. These laws impact how magic is practiced and the results of that practice

MILITARY FANTASY.
Fantasy story focused on war and warfare, often in a medieval setting. Here, warfare with its strategy and tactic is a primary element rather than being part of the story.

MAGIC.
Magic may be good or evil. It usually requires special abilities from birth, and rigorous training. SORCERY is usually evil and blood-thirsty.

MYSTERY FANTASY.
Fantasy built upon suspense and a mystery. For example, the detective might be a person in a world where crimes are committed via magic.

PARANORMAL FANTASY.
Fantasy story with emphasis on mind over body power such as telepathy, telekinesis, shape shifting, and immortality. Some of these stories may be better placed in the horror or dark fantasy category. Werewolf and Vampire stories are well-known examples.

RELIGIOUS FANTASY.
Fantasy story built upon religion or religious practices. This may include conflict between gods or characters who are members of a religious order.

ROMANCE FANTASY.
Fantasy story using many of the elements and conventions of the romance genre. Here the romance is more central to the plot than the fantastic elements.

SAGA, MYTH, LEGEND.
Fantasy story based on myths, legends, and sagas, usually European. Examples might include stories about King Arthur and Robin Hood as well as Greek and Roman Mythology.

SEXY FANTASY.
Fantasy stories that include explicit sexual scenes similar to those found in romance novels but involving fantastic characters and situations. Laurell K. Hamilton is a well-known author. Sometimes, these are called "Hot and Dark Romantic Fantasies."

SWORD AND SORCERY. (Sometimes called "Hack n' Slash.")
Fantasy story with a hero or heroine, usually darker and more brutal than the HEROIC FANTASY. The hero excels at swordplay and uses a variety of weapons with unusual skill. The hero faces sorcery and triumphs because of strength of will and unusual good fortune. The setting is usually medieval with limited science and technology. Howard's Conan the Barbarian is the archetype. A fast paced plot with underdeveloped characters is typical. Often rooted in the pulp fiction conventions of the 1930s. Lacks the "serious purpose" of HEROIC FANTASY.

TALKING ANIMALS.
Fantasy story limited to animals who act like humans; or with talking animals... (who may communicate telepathically)... playing a major role. Watership Down, about the rabbit civilization, is a classic example.

URBAN FANTASY.
Gritty, often dark stories set in an intensely urban environment where contemporary ordinary people do what they do, but fantastic creatures are there as well. Vampires are popular in this sub-genre.

So; that just about covers the sub-genre minefield. Your masterpiece may fit seamlessly into a specific pigeon-hole, but more likely... it will fall between two... or, perhaps, even three.
No-one said this game was going to be easy!

Next time:

One day, I'll actually get to see My Copy!

6. To Boldly Go...

2009-06-25T21:36:00.013+01:00

OK; so you've reached the heady heights of being published... so what now? Of course, you've coerced all your friends, acquaintances and family to buy a copy of your masterpiece; you've stocked up on some copies to spread around various potential outlets as freebies.

Take heed of the following, dear, newly-published author...

As you dip your toe into the cyber-soup, you will probably encounter a term "Author platform." This is one of those really annoying Buzz-words that sounds technically erudite...
but, actually means "a ready-made audience."
Gone are the days when publishers were solely responsible for the marketing of a book.
People have more options for their leisure time than ever before - myriad channels on television, movies on demand; video games; Wii, etc, etc; and then of course, the Internet. It's harder than ever to attract people to books.
The way to do it is increasingly through personal connection, and that means YOU, the author, making connections with your readers.

It has never been more crucial for authors to play a major part in marketing themselves, BUT it has never been easier. Where are readers hanging out these days? The Internet. That's the best place for you to find readers for your books.
With a well-written and interesting blog, you have the potential to build a significant "Platform." If you take the time to research website optimization and do everything recommended to build traffic on your blog, you can build a sizable audience in a matter of months.

Now, a Heads-up...

The paragraph that follows, is typical of the twaddle your publisher will tell to you, if they really can't be assed to promote yet another new author... whose potential for swelling the Corporate coffers is minimal...

"Good places to start promoting your book are in the local media and book stores. Local press are usually very keen to publicise interesting local news stories, and many new writers have featured in press items and achieved local book shop signings in stores such as Waterstones; Barnes & Noble, and others. Many local book stores take an interest in local author signings as it encourages readers to their stores."

Just try wandering into one of the eminent Literary Emporiums in the posher parts of my home town, Cheltenham, and trying that one on.

The most likely scenario is:
The manager will ensure that you will be intercepted by some vast, flinty-eyed, shaven-headed, security guard (Probably named Wayne)... poured into an ill-fitting uniform stretching over his beer-gut, and emblazoned with American-style shoulder patches denoting that he is a hired heavy of some insignificant local security firm with the impressive name of something like: "XXX Security Solutions"... and you will be unceremoniously frog-marched to the door.

So; you need to put yourself around. A good start is a blog. An even better start is to link your blog to a site like Zimbio.

Zimbio is an online magazine publisher that allows users to build interactive "wikizines", or web magazines, on whatever topic they choose. It is one of the fastest growing community sites on the internet and is one more easy to use tool to help bring your blog the traffic it needs!

A few pointers for a decent Blog:
1. Don't take yourself too seriously. Blogging isn't Booker Prize stuff.
2. Don't get pompous or overbearing.
3. Never lose your sense of humour.
4. Always try to develop your own style and personality online.
5. Use bold text and italics for emphasis on words and phrases.
7. Is your topic clear to someone who only reads the headline?
8. Have you sprinkled the headline and the body of your post with Keywords and Phrases that search engines will find irresistible?

Space is your friend. It makes reading from the screen easier. Nothing is harder to read than a solid block of copy on a computer screen.

Remember...
To use subheadings every few paragraphs. Big, unbroken blocks of copy makes a reader glaze over and move on elsewhere.
(Imagine you are trying to attract a surfer who has the attention span of a cabbage-white butterfly.)

To liberally sprinkle your blog space with relevant graphics. (This one isn't... because, as yet, it's not that kind of blog.)

Finally: before posting the blog you must ensure that it is well written. Read it thoroughly and also check your facts, spellings, sentence structure etc.
This is important to do because once you post your blog, it is displayed globally via the internet. (and you really don't want the world and its dog to write you off as just one more thicko with an IQ marginally less than his shoe size.)

Other cunning ploys to get your baby into the spotlight...

Social Networking...
MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, etc. Look for niche sites that fit your target reader profile. There are social networking sites for almost every shape and size of reader, To find them, just Google “Social networking.”
Create an interesting profile and get active in on-line communities. The biggest cost here will be in your time so spend it wisely, and identify the best opportunities to expand your reach. Host or join groups on these sites to gain additional exposure.

Launch a Website...
to showcase your talents. Use it to build an audience, share samples of your work, and lure buyers.

Host a Blog... (See above.)
With a good one, your audience will find you.

Publish a Newsletter...
Build loyal fans for life by publishing an interesting electronic newsletter with content related to your book(s). Get started with the free program:

"Email marketing pro" at
http://www.emailmarketingprofessional.com/

Form Online Partnerships with like-minded souls...
Seek out people who already reach your target audience, and devise ways to promote each other. You could publish articles on each others websites or newsletters, or share a blog.

Participate in Online Forums...
Find online communities where your target audience lurks, and make a name for yourself by sharing information. If you really want to stand out; start and lead a group. A good place to start is:
http://groups.yahoo.com/
(Be very selective with this ploy... there are a lot of card-carrying nuts out there who will flock to your group and contribute virtually nothing useful.)

Police Your Postings...
Everything you do on the Internet will live forever in cyberspace. Consider the image you want to portray and make sure everything you do and say reflects that.

Use a Decent Photo...
(Not one that granny took with her Kodak Pocket Instamatic... or the slightly suspect one from the last hazy, boozy night with the lads.)
Post it on all of your profiles so visitors can feel like they know you. (This actually works.)

Create a Biography...
Many sites allow you to post a bio with your public profile. Make sure you have several versions of your bio readily available in short, medium and long formats. This will not only save you time in having to rewite it each time, but it will also ensure that your message is consistent.

The goal when building a platform online is to get as much exposure as possible... for the least possible cost.

Next time...

"What's a Genre?"

5. Peer Critiquing... or, How to check on how robust your self-confidence really is.

2009-06-21T18:42:00.001+01:00

Once you have exhausted all the friends, relatives, and general acquaintances that you can cajole into giving you an opinion on your Masterpiece; (which, invariably will be positive... because they don't want to upset you by giving you an honest opinion)... it's time to launch yourself into the world of Literary Piranhas.

But, firstly... a Heads-up...

Are you of a nervous disposition, or prone to:

1) The onset of a touch of the vapours at the slightest criticism?

2) An inclination to throw your teddy into the corner if it doesn't all go your way?

3) Susceptible to doing a "Violet Elizabeth" if you don't agree with what your critics say?

(For those not familiar with this expression... Violet Elizabeth Bott is a character in the "Just William" series of children's short stories by Richmal Crompton. She is the lisping precocious, simpering, seven year old, spoiled daughter of the local nouveau riche millionaire; whose companionship William reluctantly endures, to prevent her carrying out her threat of... "I'll thcream and thcream 'till I'm thick.")

More here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Just_William

If you answered "Yes" to any of these three questions, then perhaps you are not really cut out to be an author.

Now to the main subject... Critiquing.

This is defined as: “to review or discuss critically." Critique is still regarded by many as pretentious jargon. What it really means is this:

All writers at some point need critiques by their peers. After working on a piece for so long, it's really easy to miss seeing its problems. Writers need to see their work through fresh eyes. All manner of things will become apparent in your work that you never considered. Good feed back will point you to problems other people discovered. You will also discover how it affected them. Did it touch them, make them laugh; make them sad? Did it draw them into the plot? Did it affect them at all?

This is where the Peer group comes in. Be prepared; if you choose to use a forum or any social networking group, you will get all manner of opinions on your work; ranging from... on the one hand; the fixated reader who sounds as though he/she will probably start stalking you and wants to have babies with you; to the supercilious, self-styled, literary virtuoso who pompously rubbishes your work, as "Nescient Drivel." (Crap; to you and me.)

The Australians have the perfect saying for one of these latter types:
"he's really up himself"... ( to have a high opinion of oneself .)

Sensibly; you should try for one of the places where ordinary people like you and me want to have their work reviewed by ordinary, struggling writers, in exchange for reviewing theirs.

One to try is "Free Stories Center" at www.freestoriescenter.com/

I put chapters of my published book on there a while ago, and received several useful reviews.
So; you ask ...what happens if the story I put on there gets published later? Easy! Email the webmaster Sean Bryant, and he will remove the story. He even put the back cover blurb of the book, and a link to Amazon on the site for me. Nice Guy; and well worth thinking about.

The other is "YouWriteOn" at http://www.youwriteon.com/

This one is a MUST. They published my first novel through Legend Press and their imprint New Generation Publishing. Edward (Ted) Smith at YouWriteOn is also a really helpful guy.

So; the moral is:
Be brave! You have nothing to lose but your anonymity!

Next time:

To Boldly Go... ?

4. Writing the Dreaded Blurb... or; "Judging a book by it's cover."

2009-06-20T14:03:00.003+01:00

Just before we proceed to the subject of tearing each others masterpieces to shreds (otherwise known as Peer Critiquing;) A quick heads-up on what is probably one of the most important aspects of getting your baby off your hard drive and into the bookshops.

The Dreaded "Blurb."

No-one ever said this was going to be easy. You will have to work hard to make the 30 seconds someone spends looking at your book cover turn into the decision to buy that book.

When you submit your work to a Literary agent or Publisher; depending on their criteria; your submission will usually include:

1) A query letter composed of a blurb of the book... which is usually called "The Hook."

2) Some information about the book; which usually includes genre, word count, etc.

3) Possibly, some sample chapters, if requested; and

4) a short author biography and/or list of writing qualifications... (previous publications, awards, degrees; articles, reviews; etc.)

The blurb really is the one thing that will attract an Agent's or Publisher's attention. If you can't hook them, you won't land them. Your cover letter and synopsis may be Literary Gems; but are of little more value than scrap paper unless you catch their attention with "The Hook."

The blurb is the short narrative on the back of a book which tells a reader what the book is about. A great blurb can make the difference between a customer taking out his/her wallet to buy your book... or putting the book back on the shelf. Great blurbs really do sell books.

The blurb for my novel: "A Bright, and Shining Land" goes like this:

The distant Eastern Kingdom of Astalan has fallen. Falanholme... The Bright, Shining Land; stands, encircled by the most dreadful peril. The Forces of The Darkness have now subjugated almost all of her surrounding neighbours. When Falanholme falls; Baelar...The Lord of The Underdark; will invoked his terrible, creeping "Night of the Shadows Rising." All will be plunged in back into Chaos, as it had been, long ago, in The Age of The Beginnings.
The great plumes of smoke rising in the east bear silent witness to the terrible fate of Astalan, as, what can only be minions of The Darkness, sweep up from the south; pillaging and burning that once-idyllic Kingdom. Falanholme now stands alone; the last beacon of hope left for the subjugated peoples of the West. Falanholme steadfastly refuses to yield.
Against overwhelming odds, nine Guardians of The Light, and a Wraith-Hunter Warrior maid; though, so far outnumbered in warrior and sword; will not go down meekly, and quietly into the Darkness. They will wager all... without question; to preserve such truths and freedom as their peoples hold; no matter the odds arrayed against them. Inspired by their stubborn resilience, the Realms and Kingdoms of Falanholme rise together; casting aside such petty differences they hold; and united, fight as one, for their right to live.

Go here to get some really helpful advice on writing blurbs:

http://marilynnbyerly.com/marilynnbyerly/blurb.html

The perfect scenario that you are striving for, is...

whoever picks up the book, reads the blurb, and thinks "I must read this book." They open the cover and read the first paragraph. This is where the real hook lurks in waiting. If your first paragraph makes them think "I must have this book in my life... I cannot possibly live without this book... I must buy it Immediately"... you've hooked them!

If you can do that; then you're on your way.

Next time:

Peer Critiquing... or; What the hell you you know, Smart-ass?... I'm the author!

3. Editing... How to completely screw your "Field of Dreams."

2009-06-19T21:35:00.002+01:00

So; you're ready to become your own Editor? First things first. Disconnect your smug drive. You might think you've just written the best thing since sliced bread, and you're bound for the dizzy heights of Tolkien and J.K. Rowling; but...
What you have just completed is probably just marginally better than something your pet tom-cat could dash off. You now have to go into Jack the Ripper mode and cut all the crap out of your masterpiece.

The best course of action is to lock it away for at least a month and try to forget you ever wrote it. With luck, when you eventually decide to give it an autopsy, you will have gained a little distance from your work and will have a fresh, more objective perspective when you finally do pull it out and attack it.
Pretend you've never read this stuff before. Print the whole thing off... it's much easier to pick out mistakes from print than it is from a monitor screen.
Have a notepad and pencil handy, and start reading from the beginning. Of course you know the story... but do you? You have written it, so you must do... right?

WRONG. There will be mistakes in continuity. Are the characters consistent through the book? Do the events follow on from each other? (Flash-backs are fine; as long as they are kept within the context and framework of the plot.) There will also probably be lots of commonly over-used words and clichés.
(We all tend to write in the same manner that we speak... everyday clichés are almost guaranteed to sneak in.)
Consider whether each cliché you find has any real literary or informative value. If you have used it merely as verbal shorthand, replace it with a more original and descriptive word or phrase.

A good source for alternative words are any one of the several on-line thesauruses... or, if you really are serious about your writing; the program "Babylon" is one of the best. Here's a screen-shot:

http://www.babylon.com

While we're on the subject of software; you might need something to sort out your punctuation. Some authors have written countless books using only commas and full stops... (periods; for our American friends.)
Additional punctuation... (Semi-colons, apostrophes; hyphens, ellipses; etc)... break up long passages, and give the reader a chance to gather their thoughts before ploughing on.

A good guide to correct punctuation is here:

http://www.correctpunctuation.co.uk/

I use a nice little program called "Grammar Expert Plus." It is written in American English, which means it picks up on British English spellings; but it still has many uses. For example; you paste your chapter in; set which parameters it should pick up, and press go. It's very useful for catching repeated words...
eg: "the the"... very easy to do when you're pressing on towards your word-count goal for the night.
Here's a screen-shot of it in action:

http://www.wintertree-software.com/app/gramxp/index.html

The one thing I NEVER use is MS Word spellchecker. I call it "Bill Gates' Gremlin Factory."
It will pick you up on all manner of irrelevant errors, and will also try to sprinkle your work with "Curly Quotes" when you really wanted good old, plain quotation marks. It also has an annoying habit of trying to change the first letter in every line to a capital... (and all the red and green squiggly lines under words it has picked out, eventually make your eyes go funny.)

As you read your masterpiece; fix one thing at a time. A really useful way to find problems that you probably would not otherwise see, is reading it aloud. (The whoopsies will stand out like the proverbial Tom-cat's doodaa's.)
When reading words out loud it is far easier to hear the awkwardness of a wrong word; sentence, or phrase. OK, so you might feel a total idiot if your partner walks in whilst you are in mid-flow; but, if it helps to avoid the slush pile, a red face is a small price to pay.

Save your earlier versions of the book. Hard drive space is cheap... and you might just need to refer back to an earlier situation or character, if the one you've replaced it with, doesn't quite work out.
Don't be afraid to use the "Find button." You might have inadvertently mis-spelled the name of a character or place, somewhere along the line. Once you have found the wrongly-spelled word(s), you can correct them all in one hit with "Replace with."

Now we arrive at the point at which you have to get brutal. Red pen any passages that begin to drag and make the reader lose interest in wanting to turn the page. Everyone... even the famous authors sometimes pad out the storyline to get a decent word count. The trouble is; "padding out" doesn't add anything, it can actually detract from the storyline by slowing down the action. You don't have to tell the reader in great detail, where the main character went to school, or what the parents did in their spare time.

Just as an example of "Hyper-padding" go to the very funny:

http://www.scary-crayon.com/misc/50k-novel/

and enjoy!

Line editing is exactly what it says on the box... reading each line and correcting as you go; checking for grammar, spelling, punctuation, etc. Before you reach this stage in your editing, you will have probably done a fair amount of rewriting, so line editing really should be the last type of editing you do.
A lot of this is really tedious work, but it is important. A clean manuscript tells editors and publishers to whom you are submitting your work, that you are serious and professional. It tells them you are someone they can probably work with. Publishers will often make decisions based on the first few pages, and a tidy, professionally written submission could make all the difference.

A final heads-up... you really should line-edit your masterpiece at least THREE times. If the phrase "Sod that for a game of Tin Soldiers" springs most readily to mind... then you might as well hit "Delete" right now... for you are heading for the slush pile as surely as night follows day.

Next time...

How about a bit of mutual ripping to shreds? (Critiquing; in polite company)... and the most vital component of all... The Dreaded Blurb.

2. Swimming with Sharks... or, The oozelum bird syndrome.

2009-06-18T20:35:00.000+01:00

(oozelum bird... see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oozlum_bird)

So; there's this big folder on the hard drive containing three word files making up the fledgling Trilogy. Time to start sniffing around the web to gather a few clues, hints, and ego-dents, with regard to whether it ever sees the light of day.

It really didn't take too long to realise that the chances of Literary kudos for an apprentice novelist were marginally less than the likelihood of striking a match on a jelly. The general concensus was:

1. Find an amenable Literary Agent. Publishing novels is nigh on impossible without a literary agent, most of whom will not even consider newcomers. Even those literary agents who claim to be open-minded about beginners generally are not, and usually, will not even bother responding.

The usual reply, (If at all... and after about a month)... was: "Sorry; I don't represent un-published authors."

2. Try the publisher direct... (The usual reply... if at all, and after anything up to three months)... was: "We don't represent un-agented authors."

So; pick an Agent... or a Publisher, and write a synopsis. Synopses are far more difficult to write than the novel ever was. It's not easy condensing 120,000-odd words into a few pages. But it is really important. You have to tell the entire story in your synopsis; and this one piece of writing the only thing that might make the Agent/Publisher decide to look a little further into your sample chapters.

A really good guide to writing synopses can be found at:

http://www.writing-world.com/publish/synopsis.shtml

Even with the most polished synopsis in the history of the written word; your chances are still pretty thin.
You will soon get used to the standard reject letter, or, if your Literary Nemesis is in a good mood that particular day; something personal and friendly, like...

"An interesting concept, but, unfortunately not quite what I'm looking for at the moment. I wish you the best of luck in placing your book."

Nice and friendly; not ripping your baby to shreds... but still, a resounding raspberry.

Now; come the first of the sharks;

Vanity publishing.

Starry-eyed authors, who want nothing more than to hold their published books in their hands, are prime targets and easy pickings for these predators.
Such publishers often misleadingly refer to themselves as 'partnership', 'self-publishing', 'joint venture', or 'subsidy' publishers. But however they may refer to themselves, and however much they may deny that they are - if they charge you to publish your book - they are a vanity publisher, and make their money not by selling copies of a book, but by charging clients as much as possible to print an unspecified number of copies of that book. They may even claim to market them. Most major bookbuyers and acquisition editors will not buy copies of books centrally from vanity publishers, leaving the poor author to market them as best he might.

First major heads-up... ALWAYS check out an agent or publisher in "Preditors & Editors." at http://www.anotherealm.com/prededitors/

This site recommends accredited Agents and Publishers, and blows the whistle on the sharks.

Also worth checking out:

Absolute Write Water Cooler at http://www.absolutewrite.com/

and:

http://ezinearticles.com/?Publishing-Scams:-Six-Red-Flags-That-Scream-Rip-Off&id=81336

The good guys can be found in:

Writers' & Artists' Yearbook 2009 at http://www.writersservices.com/agent/

or for those in the USA...

Association of Authors' Representatives, Inc. at http://www.aaronline.org/

So; that's the first of the sharks harpooned.

The next one to watch out for, is...

Self-Publishing.

Self-publishing should really be seen as a last resort. It is better to get your book published and distributed at someone else's risk and expense, and to have the process handled by experienced people with adequate staff and equipment, than to struggle with it yourself.
Even if your book turns out to be a big success, it is highly unlikely that you will do better with it in terms either of sales or of profit by publishing it yourself than you would have done with an established publisher. The rule of thumb with this type of publishing is the same advice as for playing the Stock Market... Don't risk more money than you can afford to lose.

Probably, the best self-publishing site is Lulu, com at:

http://www.lulu.com/publish/index.php?cid=uk_brangclid=CIOHuNLZlJsCFZ4U4wodATqKpg

If you decide to go down this route, remember, if you want to get your book onto places like Amazon, you must have an ISBN (International Standard Book Number) allocated.

How do you get an ISBN?

In the United Kindom, contact:

The UK ISBN Agency
12 Dyott Street
London WC1A 1DF
Phone:(+44 )0207420 6008

In the United States, contact:

R.R. Bowker
121 Chanlon Road
New Providence, NJ 07974
Phone (908) 665-6770 Fax (908) 665-2895
You can download the application form or apply online here:
http://www.isbn.org/standards/home/isbn/us/secureapp.asp

In Canada, contact:

The National Library of Canada
395 Wellington Street
Ottawa, ON
Phone: (819) 994-6872 Fax: (819) 997-7517
Email: isbn@nlc-bnc.ca

The cost of a block of numbers depends on the country in which you're applying. Generally you will receive a block of 10 numbers, but larger blocks are available upon request.

Generally allow 10 business days from the time an ISBN application is received at the agency (not from the date sent by the publisher.) Priority processing is available in two business days from receipt of application. Express processing is 24 business hours.

The ISBN should be printed on the copyright page, and in the lower right hand corner of the back cover of your book. You should use a font size between 9 and 12 points. The number should also appear on the upper edge of the left hand flap of a dust cover. For disks and cassettes, the number should be printed on the label. Once assigned, an ISBN can never be reused.

As you can see; its real fun stuff... and that's BEFORE your lovingly nurtured baby even thinks about turning itself into hard copy.

Next time:

Editing... Your Field of Broken Dreams.

1. In the beginning...

2009-06-17T20:56:00.007+01:00

First things first.

This is the story of how a simple request turned into two years of keyboard thumping, and eventually resulted in a published novel. If I can do it... you can probably do it too; but there are things you need to know. But first; a little Shameless self-publicity...

The novel is the first book of an Epic Fantasy Trilogy titled:

"The Eternal Watchtower."

The book title is:

"A Bright, and Shining Land."

and is available from:

http://www.amazon.com/Bright-Shining-Land-Eternal-Watchtower/dp/1849238162

and

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Eternal-Watchtower-Book-One-Shining/dp/1849238162/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1246048241&sr=1-1

Details are as follows:

Paperback: 284 pages
Publisher: YouWriteOn; 1st edition (June 13, 2009)
Language: English

ISBN-10: 1849238162
ISBN-13: 978-1849238168

Price: $12.99 (USD) or £7.99 (GBP.)

----------------------------------------

One evening the phone rang. It was Sarah.

"Hi, Dave; sorry to bother you, but I have a real favour to ask. You're quite good at writing. I'm a little concerned about the kids progress with their reading, and wondered if you could write them some sort of Fairy tale to maybe spark their interest."

Being a soft touch; I agreed. What sort of thing was she wanting? The kids were aged seven and eight. She said she wanted something not too violent, but not too childish. Oh good! Plenty of scope, then.
I said that she should leave it with me and I would get back to her.

Being born in the heart of rural Gloucestershire, I grew up surrounded by myths and legends of "What there might be in the woods"…"What were the things that went "Bump" in the night?"… "Was that really a screech owl … or something else?" I decided to draw on the imaginings of my childhood.
It would be a take on the well-worn "Good versus Evil;" but, just to give it a twist; why not pitch it as if the reader was sitting in the presence of an old storyteller; listening to the tale being read? This might work... and it would give the kids imaginations a little exercise... and it wouldn't be populated with Elves, Dwarves, Orcs; or any other worn-out stereotypes.

So; the tale began. The first title, when researched, was too close to a publication by an American Authoress... as was the main character's name, to yet another publication's main character.
Moral: Always research every character name, place-name, and situation used, to avoid accusations of plagiarism!

45,000 words later; Sarah phoned again.
"Sorry Dave; you might as well forget it. Their father has just brought them home one of those damned hand-held computer games... sorry!"

I read the emerging story once more, before it went into the recycle bin. There's something there... I'll carry on, and see where it leads.
(Probably, not very far... who publishes unknown authors these days... unless they have silicone-enhanced chests, or can kick a football?)... and besides which, the original was written in close-couplet verse form... and that really is a big No-No for publishers.
So, with great encouragement from a very special American Lady, I proceeded to convert it into prose, and press on, regardless.

An example of the close-couplet original is as follows:

The Old Storyteller sat warm, in the fire-glow, surrounded by children he held in his spell,
the weaving of magical tales of imagining, mystery, fable, such things he could tell,
and, wide-eyed, they listened, and drank in the magic... such things that the grown-ups no more, understood,
of Dragons and Princes, and Maidens and Darklings; the simple told difference t'wixt Evil, and Good.
He read from a Mighty, and Leather - bound volume embossed with Gold leaf slowly fading with age,
these, then... The Chronicles of Falanholme; enchantment, adventure on each Vellum page.

Fine for kids... but...
Re-written, it read like this:

The Old Storyteller sat in his great, oaken chair close by the hearth, where he was warm in the glow of the great log fire. He sat, surrounded by younglings he held firmly under his spell as he wove his tales of Imagining, of Mystery and Fable. Such wonders he could weave about them; and wide-eyed, they listened, and drank in the magic of such tales of things that the grown-ups no longer understood.

He told tales of Wizards and Warriors... of Dragons and Princes; tales of Fair Maidens and Unicorns, of Darklings and Ogres... the simply told difference between Good and Evil. He read from a mighty leather-bound volume, by the flickering light of the fat, honey-wax candles. The great volume was intricately tooled about with Leaf of Gold… with age, now fading dim. This then, was volume, the first, of The Chronicle of Falanholme... Enchantment, Adventure on each Vellum page.

That's better!....

Eventually; it ended up as a 400,000 word Epic Fantasy Adventure, and bore no resemblance to a fairy tale... it was more akin to Tolkien on Steroids.
Who would want a brick of a novel like that? Probably no-one, unless they were very bored... or suffered from insomnia. So, I arbitrarily chopped it into three parts, re-wrote the endings of the first two parts to link them all together; chose suitable titles for the three books, and a title for the trilogy, and jumped into the shark-infested waters of Literary Agents and Publishers.

Next time:
Swimming with sharks.