My Wonderful Wobbly Life by Charles Irwin (VBT, guest post, excerpt, and GIVEAWAY) GFT

Interestingly enough, I don't remember submitting this as one of my sample questions...but I am happy to share a guest post by author Charles Irwin, who answers the hypothetical question...

If I’d never heard of me would I read my book?

by
Charles Irwin 

From my professional experience, this question is unclear and is open to debate, like questions used by Zen philosophers.  

My explanation for this opinion is, that for seventeen years of my working life I was employed by the Australian Government as a patent examiner during which time it was my responsibility to read applications for patents from inventors.  The primary task was to interpret and criticise what they had written, assess its legibility and check that it met the requirements of the Patents Act.  Once those criteria were met, I would grant a  patent for the invention.  

That may appear to be quite simple, BUT each word of the application needed to be construed in the context that it was used.  Therefore, when I saw the suggested topic for this blog, my Interp & Crit mode automatically got to work and I metaphorically flinched.  I will now, if I can consciously remember how, interpret and criticise the question asked, “If I’d never heard of me would I read my book?” 

‘I’ and ‘me’ are used as grammatical correctness for the same person.  Therefore, the sentence is based on an impossibility, unless ‘I’ and ‘me’ have bad memory recall or are not acknowledging the existence of each other. (ourselves)   

How are ’I’, ‘me’ and ’my’ associated?

‘Me’ is the objective case of ‘I’ and ‘my’ is the possessive form of ‘I’, they are therefore a single being. 

“Would ‘I’ read my book?”  ‘My’ book is a book I have in my possession and belongs to ‘me’.  Why is it presumed that ‘me’ does not also wish to read my book, or maybe is unable to read? 

For clarity, I suggest that the question be rewritten thus: -

“As a reader, why would I read a book written by someone I do not know?” 

Or, “If I’d never heard of you would I read a book written by you?” 

Any book ‘I’ chose to read would need to meet the interests ‘I’ was interested in at the time.  ‘I’ could be looking for a book to entertain ‘me’, enlighten, or educate ‘me’.  Hopefully, this book, being autobiographical, will generate interest covering all three criteria and whet the reader’s appetite.

Being an engineer and patent examiner by profession, the writing produced during my career has mainly been of a technical nature, not easily interpreted or understood by lay people.  When it came to putting my story in words on paper, I wrote in the same vernacular that I speak so, hopefully, it is undemanding to read.  

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My Wonderful Wobbly Life

by Charles Irwin

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GENRE:  Memoir (Autobiography)

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BLURB:

Having survived quite a few birthdays and had some interesting experiences, I wrote them down. That's how "My Wonderful Wobbly Life" was conceived. It was nearly born in 2004, but decided to hang on until 2018 to become 'Born again' Alleluia!!!!

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EXCERPT

“When they told my mother her little Bobby had brain damage and was a cripple, can you imagine how she felt? According to her, devastated!

The way home from the hospital led to one of London’s bridges across the River Thames.  She stopped halfway across with the intention of SPLASH!!! End of story for both of us. She hesitated. The thought of a man crippled by polio, who had succeeded despite his disability and become President of America, came into her mind. She walked on thinking, if F.D. Roosevelt can succeed, so can my Bobby!

When my father arrived home that afternoon my mother was on her hands and knees scrubbing the kitchen floor, filling the bucket with her tears.

“What’s the matter Peg?”

“Oh Bert! our little Bobby’s a CRIPPLE!”

“Well Peg, even if he is, there is one thing we are not going to do. We are not going to be ashamed and hide him away. He will come everywhere with us.”

He was as good as his word. I went everywhere with them when I was young and have fantastic memories of fun times. One of my favourites was being at a dance hall, possibly the Wimbledon Palais de Dance. I could not have been older than three or four, but I distinctly remember my father dancing around the dance-floor with me standing on his feet. It made me feel so proud and grown-up and I was then content to sit and watch for the rest of the evening.  He was a real Yorkshireman, proud of me, his son. “

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Charles was born in London U.K. in 1932. During his birth the forceps slipped, resulting in brain damage to the motor control nerves of his right side and causing total body spasticity. However, his intellect was not damaged. Throughout his life the two adversaries, controllable brain and semi-controllable body, always needed to be balanced. 

After several years of work and study he became a Chartered Production Engineer. In 1971 he emigrated to Australia and became a senior examiner in the Australian Patent office. This autobiography illustrates the rhyme: “He started to sing as he tackled the thing, That couldn’t be done - but he DID IT!” 

Charles chronicles his journey from useless to useful, with humour and joie de vie. He pays tribute to friends who only gave him help when it was asked for. At a young age he recognized his psychic abilities and, by using lessons at the end of each chapter, shares some insights with readers

Website

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The Kingdom Lights by Stephen VS (Guest post, excerpt, GIVEAWAY) GFT

I have the pleasure of having a guest post by author Stephen VS, who is writing about:


5-10 musts every story in your genre should have

World building – when dealing with the sorts of crazy concepts and creatures typical to the genre of fantasy/steampunk it’s important to spend time world building. There are lots of different ways to do this, but the best way is to start slow. Don’t overwhelm your reader, ease them in gently. If you introduce concepts slowly they are more likely to be accepted, and it will build a foundation so that when you introduce more farfetched concepts, they’ll be easier to take.

A strong antagonist – A hero is only as good his villain. A strong and present antagonist gives your hero and your readers something to rally against and gives a point of reference as to where the story is going. Introduce your antagonist as early as possible and the threat that they present to your hero. If you don’t do this, the story can seem unfocused as the reader wonder where it’s all going. A clear and present danger streamlines and empowers any story .
 
A world that makes sense – It doesn’t matter what you create, it has to make sense. For example in your world people may have the ability to come back from the dead, okay fair enough. But what is the limit to this? What are these people like – walking zombies or completely normal? You have to create real parameters for your world otherwise things will seem “cheap” as though you are just making things up as the story needs it. Do yourself a favor, create a set of rules for how your magic/technology works and stick to it. You will create a far more powerful narrative this way.
 
A history – if you are going to create a fictional world it isn’t enough to simply start telling your story from day one. A believable world means knowing where you have come from. Does your world have two nations that are at war? Are allies? Have never met? Well what were these nations doing a hundred years ago? Five hundred years ago? Our world today is the way it is because of things that happened a long time in the past. If you are going to create a world this is something you too must bear in mind. A good writer knows everything about their world, even if they don’t put it on paper. Go the distance, make a real world with a real history, it will elevate your writing from good to legendary .
 
Limitations – you might think this is a strange one, but limitations are just as important as creating cool stuff. Do you want to know why it is so difficult to make a compelling Superman movie as opposed to say Captain America? Because Superman has no limits, no real weaknesses (apart from the obvious one) and therefore it is hard to have Superman in a situation where you really think he is in danger. Captain America on the other hand – you put a gun to his head and he might die. If your protagonist is too powerful, or his technology too advanced then you may box yourself into a corner where nothing can hurt them.







The Kingdom Lights

By
Steven Seng (Steven VS)

BLURB:  

In a world where cities float, airships sail the skies and mythical creatures are summoned in a pinch, Celes Vale is distinctly average. Living in the shadow of his talented cousin and his powerful aunt and uncle, Celes is resigned to a future of soot, factories and well, more soot.
  
But on the night of his twelfth birthday everything changes.  A blinding light, a whispered voice and in an instant Celes becomes the first ordinary child in history to develop magic, sending him on a fast-track ticket to the greatest of the floating cities, Gardarel.  Boasting grand, elegant buildings wrought from shimmering white stone, the entire city appears as though it has been built from light, and so it has come to be called the Kingdom Lights.

  Though some welcome Celes, others want the dirt-ridden up-start off their city, preferably head first.  Nowhere is this clearer than in the attitude and actions of the beautiful and haughty Lady Ban and her sneering nephew, Marcus Blackwood.  But Blackwood, with his gang of goons and unimaginative one-liners, is soon the least of Celes's problems.
  With a little magic and a lot of detective work, Celes and his group of Scurriers and Wisps unravel the dark truth behind Lady Ban's prim, perfect smile an alliance to the villainous Wardens and the masked man who leads them.  However, in his attempt to expose Lady Ban, Celes unwittingly stumbles onto an even darker conspiracy, a plan that could lead to the complete destruction of Gardarel itself.



EXCERPT

Tidus was crying. Tidus often cried and Zephyr wondered how best to cheer his friend up this time.

“It won’t be so bad. I mean, we’ll be in different schools, but maybe your magic is just getting started.” That’s a good approach, thought Zephyr. The tears ebbed and Zephyr thought he heard a sniffle. “I’m sure it’s taking a bit longer…bit longer than normal. But I bet… I bet when your magic does come, it’ll be really strong!” he finished enthusiastically. Tidus howled. Oh no, maybe it’s not working at all.

Barely four foot tall, Zephyr was small even for a Wisp. Covering his entire body was a thick robe that extended all the way over his head, upon which it became a large furred cowl. Being made of a great deal of spirit and magic, Zephyr’s face was rather hard to see and appeared as no more than a haze; dark as midnight, punctuated by two large silvery eyes that shone as bright as lighthouse beacons, hiding the pale skin that lay beneath.

“You’re just saying that,” sniffled Tidus, another Wisp with crackling eyes of electric blue and a full year younger than Zephyr. “You’ll go to the Anchor School in a few weeks then you’ll go to the Lunar Academy next year and I’ll be…I’ll be…” He hiccoughed, his whole body jolting. “I’ll be all on my own!”

“No, no, no. We’ll still be friends!” he said, giving Tidus a small pat. “And you’ll have so much fun at your new school, you won’t even notice.”

Amazon link




AUTHOR INFORMATION:

 A resident of the sleepy coastal town of Bexhill, East Sussex, England. Steven graduated in the summer of 2013 from the University of Southampton with a Bachelor of Medicine Degree and a Master’s Degree in Global Health from Sussex University – where he spent the majority of his time in Shawcross writing this novel!
In between writing and dreaming Steven is a medical doctor and has worked at the University Hospital of North Staffordshire and the Princess Royal where he fights the system with quirky lanyards.
Steven’s debut novel steampunk fantasy The Kingdom Lights is out on October 17th published by Neverland Publishing.

Website


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Life Flight by Shaunna Wolf (VBT, excerpt , review and GIVEAWAY) ADULT title

                                              


Life Flight by Shaunna Wolf is an erotic romantic suspense novel
for ADULTS only.

Blurb:  Malachi Blackfeather has spent twenty years in the Army. Two of those years as a Vietnam POW. Now that he's out, all he wants is some peace and quiet to figure out what to do with the rest of his life. Between the flashbacks, and an over interest in sex that is now being called sex addiction, finding his path isn't easy.

Kat is trying to escape an abusive marriage. Her soon to be ex is a master at manipulating the system, and her family thinks she should stay with him, "because no other man will want her". She's looking for escape in any form she can get it.

When they meet, sparks fly. Trapped by a blizzard, can two damaged people, who think there is no chance of love in the world for them, find each other, and survive an unforeseen circumstance that puts both of them in danger?

Mystery, romance, and danger, fill this novel, with a story that will draw you in and not let go.

Excerpt:
 The heater stood dark and cold.  I should have gotten up after we were done.  Filled it and restarted it.  I hadn’t wanted to move.  Still didn’t want to, despite the cold in the room.  Dim light streamed in through the window, sleety snow still battered the glass.  Shook the door in its frame.  How long could this blizzard go on?

I tightened my arms around Kat.  Forever.  Then she would have to stay right in this room with me--in my arms.  Nothing made sense, everything my life had been for the last twenty-five years rang like a bad dream, a nightmare from the pits of Vietnam.  So dead inside that any feeling fed me, woman after woman, man after man, no one let me hold on to what I felt for more than a few shared moments.  Lies whispered to the tiny ember of my soul that I had left.  This is the one, they told me, this one will make you feel, will bring you back to life. 

They never did.

Kat ran her hand down my arm.  Snuggled closer to me.  A chill that had nothing to do with how cold the room had become, shook me.  Spoke to me.  I could again with her, and I knew I would keep feeling what I was.  Alive.  Warm.  As if I had a soul inside me, not just a demon who preyed on others for my next fix of emotions.

“I should fill that heater and get us some warmth again.”

“Yeah, I suppose one of us should,” she said with no intention to do so in her voice. 
I tightened the bear’s embrace I held her in, tangled my legs with hers.  She pushed at my arm, wanted to make me let go of her. 

“I don’t want to let go of you yet,” I said.  If I let her go, the surging emotions inside me would vanish with the warmth of holding her. 

Life Flight (Amazon link)
Freya's Bower buy link

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My review:

4 1/4 out of 5 stars

Life Flight by Shaunna Wolf is a gritty and erotic suspense novel that centers around two tortured souls who seek solace with each other in a single heated encounter that surprises them when their connection continues.  Captain Malachi Blackfeather spent twenty years in the Army and saw his own version of hell and combats his demons by engaging in very intense and edgy sexual encounters.  He comes to realize that Kathrin (Kat) White Wolf uses sex to deal with her own issues, despite the risk.  The two of them bond through a series of unusual events but the harsh realities of their respective pasts pose a serious threat to not only their mental and physical health but to their very lives.  They have been fighters for all of their lives but unfortunately they may have finally found something that can break them both.

This intense novel is a compelling yet uncomfortable read.  The emotional scars that each of the main characters bear causes them to seek solace in a relatively unconventional manner yet it works for them.  The innate decency that forms the core of Malachi and the determined refusal to conform that allows Kat to cope with her diabetes, spousal abuse and subsequent horrific experiences make both of these people memorable and the addition of the connections of the secondary characters weaves an impressive tale that draws one in even as fears mount that there can’t possibly be an acceptable resolution.  There are certain elements that are a little too contrived for me and a few dangling threads that aren’t quite tied off as neatly as I would like but wow, this is one of those stories that makes you anxious to get to the end because you can’t wait to see how it turns out. Definitely a page-turner but be advised that this darkly sensual story is definitely not a light and airy read.

A copy was provided to me in return for an honest review.
Submitted to Night Owl Reviews
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Author Links:

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Blog: Critters at the Keyboard
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Flick (spotlight, guest post on 10 Elements Every YA Story Should Have and GIVEAWAY!)

                                           


I am fortunate to have a guest post from Keira Des Anges, who has an intriguing young adult novel out.  Here are some words of wisdom from the author:


10 Elements Every YA Story Should Have
by Keira Des Anges


YA fiction is hot.   The books and movies sell millions worldwide, and luckily for YA writers, this trend doesn’t seem like it’s going to stop.  Yet what is the key to writing a successful YA book?  Here are some points to consider: 

If You're 30, Don’t Sound Like It:  Most YA fiction isn’t written by young adults, so it’s important to stay in character.  If you’re 30, channel your inner 13-year old.  A teenager doesn’t talk like you, me, or your office co-worker…although sometimes I wish they did!

Limit the Use of Slang:  Too much slang is overrated.  I have two teenagers and they use slang sparingly (and yes, I do eavesdrop when they’re talking to their friends).  It’s okay to sprinkle some slang in here and there, but slang changes and will eventually date your book.  ‘Fresh’ was in when I was young, but no one uses it now.  10 years from now, today’s slang will be obsolete.  In order to stay current, less is probably more.

Don’t be Afraid of Big Words:  Now that we’re limiting the use of slang, what type of words do we use?  Personally, I think teenagers are smarter than we give them credit for.  Yes, they’re reading for entertainment, but the wonderful byproduct of reading is exposure to words they’ve never heard before.  Don’t force big words – it should flow – yet, don’t dumb-down the vocabulary either.

Know Your Audience:  Understand what your audience likes to read.  We all write books we enjoy, but we write for the readers; therefore, what they enjoy is of the utmost importance.  Read other successful YA books, look on social media and research topics that are important to today’s youth.  What you learn may translate into a great story both you and the readers will love.

Make the Characters Real:  The characters need to be interesting; perhaps someone they can identify with.  They want to live the fantasy, buy-in to the characters.  That’s why they’re invested in the story.  If the characters or story are too unbelievable, they lose interest…fast.

Pace the Story:  This is probably the speediest generation EVER!  They want things yesterday, or the day before.  This is why pacing is so important.  In order to keep the reader interested, the dialogue needs to be entertaining and the action must flow quickly.  Everyone likes a little drama, but tweens and teens crave it more.

Identify a Theme:  What is the theme of your story?  Is it a person searching for his/her identity, a coming of age story etc?  I think we have to guard against becoming too ‘preachy,’ but some type of lesson, or insight about the character’s development, is definitely helpful.  Hopefully, the reader will walk away a little introspective.

A Little Romance is Helpful:  Boys may not need it (and even this is debatable), but if your audience is teenage girls a little romance – even the slightest hint at one – is a necessity.  It doesn’t have to be the focal point of the story, but I don’t know too many teenage girls that aren’t interested in dating or boys!

Talk to Actual Teenagers:  Who knows more about being a teenager than an actual teenager?  Yeah, we were all teenagers once, but that time has come and gone.  Each generation is different.  If you know any teenagers, talk to them.  Find out what they go through, what is important to them, even what they like to read.  Teenagers are a wealth of creative information that can make our story more believable and stronger.

Perhaps a Book 2, 3 or 4:  Never rule out the possibility of a sequel.  Maybe your characters journey isn’t over, so how the book ends is just as important as how it begins.  If the readers really enjoy your work, they’ll be waiting for book 2 with bated breath!

I hope this information is helpful!  Please leave a comment if you have any tips of your own.
   


Flick
by Keira Des Anges, a young adult novel

  Leanna Matthews enjoys flying below the radar. She does well in school, has a few close friends and hides the fact she’s an astral-traveling telekinetic. But there’s no escaping her creepy dreams or Simora, the bizarre little spirit lady, who suddenly pops out of nowhere to warn her against keeping secrets and predicts an encounter with a sinister evil. For the first time in forever someone…or something…is on to her.

But life turns around when Leanna meets Piper one sunny afternoon. She’s inexplicably drawn to him, almost as if she’s been waiting for him to come. Forbidden to have a boyfriend, Leanna throws caution to the wind, lying to her family and friends to be with him, while ignoring Simora’s ominous message.

Yet Piper has a secret of his own. He is on a mission and Leanna, unwittingly, is the key.


EXCERPTOne of the fringe benefits of astral traveling is never using doors, and when Leanna walked straight through the wall into the brightly lit hallway, the hustle and bustle of the day seemed all but forgotten.  Various medical personnel marched determinedly to their destinations and Leanna quickly dodged a team of doctors rushing down the corridor and the hysterical woman behind them.  She moved out of habit really; even if they bumped her they’d simply melt right through.

She stopped by the nearest nursing station hoping to hear news on her aunt.  But to her disappointment, the staff proved useless.  They were more interested in Nurse Johnson’s fling with the new anesthesiologist than discussing their charges.  Her mother was a medical professional; Leanna knew nurses were an integral part of the medical team.  But these guys were worse than an episode of Grey’s Anatomy!  Eventually bored of their gossip, Leanna made her way to the opposite end of the floor.

“Hey, Leanna!”  Her name rang out clearly as she passed by the waiting room door.  “Over here!” said the voice.

Startled, Leanna turned around to peek inside.  Three people sat in the small, blue waiting area.  Two women whispered animatedly to one another and a stoic looking man held a magazine, although his eyes seldom moved across the page.  They didn't see her, so Leanna wondered who just called.
Then she saw her. 

A little Indian woman, no more than four feet in stature sat in a green and purple, wing-backed armchair in the middle of the room grinning and waving madly at her.  She looked no more than thirty years old and was dressed in shimmering gold from head-to-toe with a sheer, golden scarf draped over her bright, oval face and jet-black hair. 

Tiny glittery shoes peeked out from beneath the frock and sparkled as brightly as Dorothy’s red slippers in the Wizard of Oz.  Leanna thought she even resembled a munchkin, in a cute sort of way.  Like Auntie, she seemed more real than anyone else in the room and her smile grew larger as Leanna approached cautiously. 

“Don’t worry sweetheart, I don’t bite,” she said.  The little lady patted a second green chair embossed with bright purple and orange polka dots, which mysteriously sprang out of nowhere, and Leanna sat down.

“I’ve been waiting for you,” she beamed, greeting Leanna like a long-lost friend and clapping her hands excitedly.  “I’m so glad you finally came!”

“Waiting for me?  Why? Who are you?” Leanna asked, not quite sure she should be talking to her in the first place.

“Oh my!  You don’t know me do you?” she giggled childishly.  “I’ve been with you so long I sometimes forget you don’t remember.”

“Remember?” Leanna asked now thoroughly confused.  “I’m sorry, what are you talking about?  We’ve never met before,” she said apologetically.

“Oh Leanna, trust when I say I have been with you all of your earthly life, before and beyond,” the lady corrected.  “Until now you haven’t seen me because it wasn’t time.  But I have been with you as promised and kept watch over you.  Which, I might add, has been quite a task considering your little adventures,” she said smiling again, taking some of the sting from her words.

Leanna frowned, studying the peculiar, little lady in the shiny clothes.  She didn’t know why or how, but she did look vaguely familiar, like she might’ve seen her around; possibly in a dream.  Somehow, Leanna sensed there was more to the story than that.

Flick (Amazon link)

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

By day, Keira des Anges has the distinct pleasure of assisting teenagers with disabilities find employment, empowering one life at a time. By night, she is a chew toy for her dog and cat and avid reader of anything spooky, magical and totally out of this world.  She lives in sunny Florida with her husband and two kids.


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Website 


Book Video:   http://youtu.be/J0iUsTkB--w

Book Video embed code:  

Flick (Amazon link)

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One randomly chosen commenter will win a $50 Amazon/BN.com gift card.  Please leave a comment (and click on the Rafflecopter) with a valid e-mail address and let us know if there are any other tips you have for your perfect YA read or what the most recent YA book was that you have read and what you liked about it.

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