Authors Electric

We are in the process of major renovation/remodelling works to our home. They have been a very long time coming. We bought this ‘dream house’ twelve years ago, and very soon realised that although it occupied a dream position, with stunning sea views all around, the fabric of the house was far more nightmare than dream. I used to joke that I would live in a shed on our plot; but as the years have gone on, and we have not got any younger, the need to do something drastic to avoid that very scenario has become finally necessary. So what’s that got to do with writing you may well ask? Well, it has definitely had an affect on mine. Living in temporary accommodation for four months, and now back home with the renovations going on around us, I have found it difficult to concentrate for long periods of time. Or indeed find the space, physically or mentally, to continue work on my second full-length book. I have satisfied the writing urge with short stories, flash fiction pieces, and blog post...

You don't belong here! Out of my pond! Awaiting publication of her second book, a friend expressed her fear that readers might ‘hate’ it. Not that they mightn’t like or agree with how she had continued the protagonist’s story (or ‘journey’, see below), but hate it … It's not unusual. Extremes jump easily to mind, in the land of heightened emotions — or L H E. Take the story of what were once called ‘displaced persons’ or ‘refugees’, people seeking a refuge from oppression, torture, or war. Only a few weeks ago these people were renamed ‘migrants’ and the ‘powers that be’ discussed whether it was unwise or even unnecessary to launch the lifeboats if a shaky boat crowded with them capsized in the English Channel. Then, Afghanistan: and thousands of those opposed to the new regime were under threat, and our Government promises to rescue 20,000 women and girls. The public leaps to be behind this, and its Government. We then hear some reality stories — the reluctant Foreign Secreta...

There's a digital sign on the dual carriageway near me with large, unmissable yellow letters that used to display safety messages such as "Is there a motorbike in your blind spot?" or  "Don't drink and drive!" Over the past two years, nearly every time I've driven past it, this Sign says "Thank you to all key workers." Now, don't get me wrong. I'm as thankful for our key workers as the next person. I know they are probably working twice as hard as before, while having to deal with the emergency-rule stuff as well, in order to care for the sick, put food on supermarket shelves, fix boilers, empty the bins (provided the entire crew is not isolating), as well as many other things we normally don't even think about but without which society would crumble overnight. The first few times I saw The Sign, I thought "that's lovely for key workers to get some thanks". The next time, I thought "yes, but at least they still ha...

A confession: various inconveniences/impositions have caught up with me this month and I’ve run out of time. Rather than not blog, I’ve fished out an old ramble about being variously haunted. I apologise and hope to do better next time.  Hauntings All houses, all enclosed spaces which have been inhabited by people, no matter how transiently, are haunted. When a word is spoken inside a room, it sets up vibrations which become smaller and smaller but never really die away altogether. Every word said, every noise made, in every house everywhere, is still there. Trapped inside. It is the same with shapes and movements. They create patterns, disturbances in the air which attenuate but never quite go away. In a new house, there are the sounds of hammers and drills, builders chatting, laughing, swearing, all just under the threshold of hearing. The air is full of the unseen movements of people laying floorboards, shinning up ladders, painting walls, drinking tea. An old house also c...

Image Credit:  All images created in Book Brush using Pixabay photos. I like reviews. I write them reasonably regularly (mainly on books) and I use them as an indicator of whether I’m likely to enjoy a “product” or not for everything from groceries to books I’ve been recommended to read. It doesn’t mean reviews are always right of course but I find them a useful general guide. If everybody loathes something, there is usually a good reason for it. Now with my writing hat on, I find obtaining reviews difficult as most authors do and I refuse to go down the paid-for review route. Not very ethical to my mind. I want a review to be honest and not to be “bought”. (Also smacks of desperation to me but that’s another matter. I would far rather have fewer reviews honestly obtained). I recently received a one star review for my second flash fiction collection, Tripping the Flash Fantastic . Now ironically part of me is pleased about this. Every author gets these. It kind of shows you have p...

 Every so often one of those situations arises when you’re not quite sure whether you have slipped into an alternative dimension, as there is something not quite right about everything. It can be something to exploit, and extrapolation can lead you down all sorts of weird and wonderful pathways. Yesterday it was Walkies at RHS Wisley day. We were warned as we entered, because dogs are normally strictly forbidden. There were possibly hundreds of dogs there, in different parts of the grounds, all on leads. I have never seen such well-behaved canines in my life. It was uncanny, I never heard a single bark all afternoon. No dog was reprimanded for anything, no legs were lifted, none of them were pulling at their leads or trying it on with other dogs. There was every conceivable breed and every conceivable colour, size or shape. After a while my mind started to drift, and I wondered whether the dogs were, in fact, taking their owners for a walk. That positions had been reversed by some ...

  During the month of August I have joined in with a book marketing challenge, which I have thoroughly enjoyed doing so far; although I will admit it has been a real challenge. Some of the days are tough but I've enjoyed working my way through them. This has got me thinking about these challenges - are they worthwhile and more importantly, do they drive book sales? Half way through I would say a categorical yes to the first part, while the second part is difficult to measure in tangible terms. Firstly, the question you are probably asking, how do you get involved in these challenges? I got involved with this one as one of my friends said she was doing it. I asked her if I could join in and we first cleared it with the authors who set the challenge. Whilst the challenge is out in the universe and I suppose I could have just done it, I believe it is polite to ask the originators as they have put the hard work into preparing the challenge, may have a specific reason for doing so and m...