My Very British Blog

I was recently nominated for The Very British Blog by Vanessa Wester Author

           Your page should also have links back to your sponsor, in my case Vanessa Wester.

http://www.vanessawesterwriter.blogspot.co.uk/

 

The VERY BRITISH BLOG TOUR was founded by Author Paul Anthony (@paulanthonyspen ) who mooted the idea to Clive Eaton ( @cliveeaton ) 

 

The idea is to use the same introduction and then answer the same questions on your blog/website as the author who nominated you, many of which have a specific British slant.  Then you invite 10 other authors to do the same.

Once you have filled ten spots, you feed further interested parties to those ten people, and so on. The more people involved the more exposure the tour will get, and so it then builds. Use the hash-tag #VBBT2013 as a means of identifying tweets, to then retweet.

 

Anything you can do to make the page look 'more British' the better... By the way, we British have certain conventions, traditions and procedures that are expected. There is a dress code in the reading of this British blog and you are expected to comply with it.

For example…

Gentlemen will wear suits, white shirts and dark ties. (Military ties are expected wherever possible). Think James Bond at his most debonair. Ladies will wear dresses (one inch above the knee, no higher, no lower) and floral summer hats. A break for tea and cucumber sandwiches (I am unable to partake of this particular pleasure as I am intolerant of cucumber - How unBritish is that) is expected at some stage, and is permissible. The list at the bottom the page is not a queue. We British hate queues, and will accept them no longer. It is an invitation, and you are expected to accept that invitation and support the home-grown product. Now then, let us proceed in an orderly fashion. As you know, we are all very boring and staid in Britain, aren’t we?

Well, there’s a myth about the British and your starter for ten is - stuffy, class conscious, boring, staid! But is this still relevant in today’s world? Let’s find out from our wonderful writers what they feel about it...

On with the show...

 

 

Q  Where were you born and where do you live at the moment

 

A  Well I was born in Salford, which technically speaking a city in itself, and is now part of Greater Manchester. It was, (at my birth) classed as Lancashire so, I still maintain that I am a Lancashire Lass to that effect.

 

Q  Have you always lived and worked in Britain? Or are you based elsewhere at the moment?

 

A  No, I have only ever lived and worked in Britain, and find it hard to imagine living anywhere else really. That is except when I read some of the other bloggers lives, and then I wonder about what tomorrow may bring.

Q  What is your favourite part of Britain

A  Goodness that is a truly difficult one for me to answer. Can I have two places perhaps.
Firstly I love the Welsh mountains and the magnificent countryside around Wales especially in Snowdonia. A number of my ancestors hailed from this area,  perchance this is why I have such an affinity for this area.
The second place has to be the Isle of Man, as my parents lived there a number of years. I used to enjoy watching the TT as the riders shot around the island on their magnificent machines. The island is kind of beautiful and magical, and well worth a visit.

Q  Have you "highlighted" or "showcased" any particular part of Britain in your books? For example, a town or city; a monument or some well-known place or event?

A  Yes, funnily enough after the previous question. The opening chapter of my first book takes place in the  Snowdonia National Park. This is where the heroine Alex is travelling through to get to her new job in Bangor, North Wales.

Q  There is an illusion- or myth if you wish-about British people that I would like to discuss. Many see "Brits" as "stiff upper lip". Is that correct?

A  Well as you've probably observed from my bio and Blog my written genre includes erotica

So I think that that blows that little myth a little out of the water, don't you think so?

Ask anyone who knows me, and a "little crazy" is what they may describe me as, yet, I still consider myself a true Brit.
But, it doesn't stop me loathing queue jumpers- so shoot me!

Q  Do  any of the characters in your books carry the "stiff upper lip"? Or are they all "British Bulldog" and unique in their own way?

A  The heroine Alex is a "Brit" and a little "British Bulldog". She starts out a little "stiff upper lip" but in true erotic romance form she becomes (what dare I say?) less stiff, as the story unfolds. I am also considering introducing a few new characters in the second book, that ipitomise the "British Bulldog" characteristics nicely.

I have combined the next two questions naughtily

Q  Tell me about your recent books? & What are you currently working on?

A  My first book is as yet unpublished, although, I have recently been approached by a publisher and requested to submit a manuscript for their perusal once completed.
It is the first in a series of books based on a paranormal erotic romance set in a Steampunk world - what a mouthful!
It tells of a prophecy, that is over 200 years old. These adventures take place initially on eart and then we are transported to the Steampunk world of Syros. This world is populated by Dragons, Dragon Riders, werewolves, and  magicians (amongst other characters)
 

 Q  How do you spend your leisure time?
A  I love music, so go to watch live bands when I can. I love watching movies, and love an eclectic mix including Romance, Paranormal, Thrillers, Fantasy and musicals (to name but a few)
I myself love to sing and used to belong to a number of amateur theatre groups. I frequently get asked to sing when out and about.
And some people find it strange that I LOVE going to the gym - weight training and Pilates too.

Q  Do you write for a local or a global audience?

A  I believe initially I wrote for my own pleasure really as I love to write and rewrite my stories and poetry. Yet, I am happy that I that my novels appear to have some appeal for a global audience.

Q  Can you provide links to your work?

Not to my work per se but I have included my Blog link here

http://missscarlettflame.blogspot.co.uk/
 

I have also given you links to the following Blogs who hopefully will be doing their own Very British Blogs for your pleasure and perusal also. I will be attaching their posts to mine as soon as they are completed ENJOY

http://talesofgrim.wordpress.com/

 

http://www.frecklefrolics.com/

http://thegrumblinggargoyle.blogspot.co.uk/

http://blog.gothicsteampunkclothing.com/

http://johndolanwriter.blogspot.co.uk/


http://1000trillionsuns.blogspot.co.uk/


http://kingtaff.wordpress.com/
 

 

 

 

more to follow

 



Good Day to You

Well you beautiful people the first draft of the first chapter of my book has finally been dispatched to my beta readers and also to a couple of my author friends. So, just awaiting their critique and proof reading at this moment in time. As you may imagine I am understandably nervous too, but positive thoughts.

So a big shout out to The Orchard Book Club, Lisa Rumblelow, Rachel Brightey and Sheree for undertaking my beta reading, and also being so enthusiastic and supportive of myself.

https://www.facebook.com/OrchardBookClub

Since sending out the initial draft I have already reworked my manuscript and improved and expanded this piece of work

 STEAMPUNK MUSIC

One of the aspects of the genre of Steampunk as you may be aware involves the music as presented by numerous artists such as Thomas Dolby, Darcy James Argue, The Clockwork Cabaret to name but a few. But my absolute favourite by far is the group Abney Park.

Although I have never (as yet) seen Abney Park live their bio reveals that their stage shows are often  inclusive of clockwork guitars, flintlock bassists, belly dancers and Tesla powered keyboards. All of which I hope you agree sounds amazing.

 



They have also produced a number of books based upon the lyrics of their songs and the world that they have imagineered can be discovered in both written and artwork form, these are available in hard copy and to download at their website.

http://www.abneypark.com/
 

Although I haven't read any of these volumes as yet, as you can imagine they are on my "sort after" book list and I will be downloading them in the near future and ultimately reviewing here.

The first novel produced by "Captain" Robert Brown (Second Edition) is entitled THE WRATH OF FATE (Book #1 of The Airship Pirates Chronicles).

I noticed with interest they have also produced a beautifully illustrated and  detailed source book for this genre entitles Underneath the Lamplight. Which is available to download or in hard copy at their site. Definitely worth a visit in my eyes too.

Their new and upcoming novel Retrograde I believe will be available some time this year.

BLOGS

I would also like to recommend a number of exciting Blogs I currently subscribe to please visit and enjoy. These are very clever and artistic authors and Bloggers too.

http://www.alexandriaconstantinovaszeman.com/Blog.php

 

http://johndolanwriter.blogspot.co.uk/

 

http://thegrumblinggargoyle.blogspot.co.uk/

 

http://seumasgallacher.com/

 

http://www.vanessawesterwriter.blogspot.co.uk/

 

http://carolhedges.blogspot.co.uk/

 

http://jameslusarde.com/

 

 

Well Bye for now and will speak again soon

So it begins.....

Hello and come on in...

Today I would like to share a little more of the world my characters inhabit and also paint a picture for you of one of the main characters.

From the title you may have a picture in your mind's eye.

Let me now pull you in and experience the colourful world for yourselves.

The novel and the prophecy therein revolves around a number of characters. Alex (Alexandria ) is the main protagonist and the heroine of the series. The heroes are multiple and include three werewolves and a dragon rider! and his dragon. A magnificent beast of a dragon he is, and he is known as Talos.

Talos is BIG and by that I mean EPIC in size and a dragon amongst dragons. He stands a massive eight foot tall at the shoulder and his length is around twenty foot long. He has beautiful gold/mother of pearl swirling eyes. His scales are in many different shades of red, gold and amber, that reflect shimmering hues of fire.

His meeting with Alex becomes the hinge pin for the exploits that Alex finds herself in, as she becomes telepathically linked with Talos.

As the prophecy unfurls we get to know a great deal about Alex, and her many foibles.

The first chapter of my book will be going out to my Beta readers this week and a few author friends so expect a portion of this book and a look at the calibre of writing to expect in next week's Blog!


Meanwhile I have just downloaded a number of books by the very talented  Alexandria Szeman who is a prolific writer and a very talented one too.

I will be reading her novel The Kommandant's Mistress and reviewing this next week, I am looking forward to this.

 

 

A Synopsis of the book:

The rumours spread by the Camp's inmates, other Nazi
officers, and the Kommandant's own family insist that she was his
"mistress", but was she, voluntarily? Told from three different
perspectives - that of the formerly idealistic Kommandant, the young Jewish
inmate who captivates him, and the ostensibly objective historical biographies
of the protagonists - this novel examines one troubling moral question over and
over: if your staying alive was the only "good" during the War, if
your survival was your sole purpose in this horrific world of the Concentration
Camps - whether you were Nazi or Jewish - what, exactly, would you do to
survive?  Would you lie, cheat, steal,
kill, submit? 


Flashing back and forth through the narrators' memories as they
recall their time before, during, and after the War, and leading, inevitably,
to their ultimate, shocking confrontation, "Szeman's uncompromising
realism and superb use of stream-of-consciousness technique make [this novel] a
chilling study of evil, erotic obsession, and the will to survive"
(PUBLISHERS WEEKLY). 


Winner of the Kafka Prize for "best book of prose
fiction by an American woman" ('94) and chosen as one of the NEW YORK
TIMES BOOK REVIEW's "Top 100 Books of the Year" ('93), the tales told
by the Kommandant, his "mistress", and their "biographer"
will mesmerise and stun you, leaving you wondering, at the conclusion, which,
if any, is telling the complete truth about what happened between them.
(Originally published by HarperCollins '93, HarperPerennial '94, & Arcade 2000; formerly writing as "Sherri")

I truly look forward to reviewing this book.

Alexandria also has a Blog which is available here

 

www.alexandriaconstantinovaszeman.com

 

 

Goodbye for now and hope to see you soon

  Well Hello again

I was recently asked to expand on the subject of Steampunk and to explain a little bit more about what is meant by this term. Therefore after giving this some thought I believe that some examples of this genre may be useful.

The first novels (that I am aware of) to include what is now considered to be Steampunk are those of Jules Verne 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, and those of H. G. Wells such as The Time Machine. These are now considered the epitome of this genre.

Steampunk has in general terms been described as modern technology i.e. Computers but powered by steam and also set in the 1800's

The genre intimates that this happened due to an alternate time line pertaining to the Industrial Revolution, resulting in the overall use of steam as an energy source.

Keep in your mind's eye the machines used in the film The Wild, Wild West from 1999      

 

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

 

 

With imagination it is possible to imagine these machines to include analog computers, air ships and other machines such as these.

 

A good example is also the train that could be used in time travel from Back to the Future Part 3

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ktMe0xclxA

 

 

There are also sub genre to this which includes clothing (goggles being popular!), music, comics, the list goes on and is worth exploring.

 

I hope our little discussion assists in your understanding the genre that will be described in this new world my books are set in

 

Now I promised you a review of a book I read quite recently by the amazing James Lusarde so as promised I will share it with you here
 

The Train of Arousal

 

The use of imagery in this book is so beautiful and sensual and unexpected. Oh my goodness James Lusarde is truly a very gifted wordsmith, this beautifully written piece of erotic prose quickly drew me in and delighted me. His scintillating narrative was such a pleasure to read and the clever imagery kept me reading. Who knew erotic fiction could be so beautiful and left me wanting more. Congratulations James you have just acquired a new fan. Next time I board a train it will be with a knowing smile Well I'm sure you will agree that this would make an excellent choice of reading on a train!! I hope you will make some time to visit James's Blog here for more information http://jameslusarde.com/ I can thoroughly recommend a visit to this Blog and also to purchase his wonderfully sensuous books. Bye for now and see you all soon