Take the Body and Run, by Jada Ryker, Reviewed.

On 19/10/2016 By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Fiction, Review

I hate to do this, but I must give an honest opinion. I got to chapter 8, 25% of this book, but wasn’t engaged at all. Much of the dialogue held no interest, and there was too much American cultural reference to make me want to read on. I really didn’t care about any of …

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A Sojourn on Samos.

On 18/10/201618/10/2016 By stuartakenIn Author, Nature5 Comments

Nestling close to Turkey, so you feel you might swim the channel to the mainland, lies the Aegean island of Samos. If you dared that swim, though, you’d probably be swept into the wilder parts of the sea never to be seen: the undercurrents are very strong! Valerie and I hadn’t visited Samos and chose …

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A Sickness in Time, by M. F. Thomas and Nicholas Thurkettle, Reviewed.

On 16/10/2016 By stuartakenIn Author, Fiction, Review

This is science fiction, but it is also so much more. Time travel with a difference; it’s plausible. The protagonists are wonderful characters, flaws and all. And I love the depiction of the arch-villain who represents everything I hold to be bad in the world. A great story, full of adventure, action and event, but …

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The Pink Beetle, by Caspar Vega, Reviewed.

On 15/10/201615/10/2016 By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Fiction, Review

Unusual, intriguing, compulsive; a story with a very different structure. This isn’t an easy read but it is engaging and tells a tale. A form of fantasy, but set in contemporary times in a place we recognise as the USA. Is it crime? Well, sort of. But not in any form I’ve encountered before. Something …

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Looking for the Best Word? Tip #08

On 14/10/2016 By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Grammar, Word Choice

These posts examine similar, and sometimes dissimilar, words in an effort to suggest ways writers might make their work more varied, accessible, interesting, accurate and effective. A good thesaurus provides alternatives for the idea of a word, but not all suggestions are true synonyms. Context is vital. Placing alternative words in the same sentence to …

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The Birth of Death, by Joseph Macolino, Reviewed.

On 11/10/2016 By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Fiction, Review

Fantasy for YA readers, this tale of magical creatures failed to grab my attention, though I imagine those interested in the lore of elves, satyrs, centaurs, et al, will find enough here. I found the writing style a little stilted and was unable to engage with the characters, so didn’t read past the first quarter …

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Animal Magnet, by Gary Anderson, Reviewed.

On 09/10/2016 By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Fiction4 Comments

A remarkable book, this. And one that makes several demands of its readers. It tells the story of a family through a number of centuries, dipping into significant life events and back-referencing to identify the particular family member placed under the microscope. Starting in Hungary and ending in USA, via France and Mexico, it travels …

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Looking for the Best Word? Tip #07

On 07/10/201620/09/2016 By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Fiction, Grammar, Word Choice

For a short introduction to this series, please click this link. These posts examine similar, and sometimes dissimilar, words in an effort to suggest ways writers might make their work more varied, accessible, interesting, accurate and effective. A good thesaurus provides alternatives for the idea of a word, but not all suggestions are true …

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Looking for the Best Word? Tip #06

On 30/09/201620/09/2016 By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Fiction, Grammar, Word Choice1 Comment

For a short introduction to this series, please click here. These posts look at similar, and dissimilar, words to suggest ways writers might make their work more varied, accessible, interesting, accurate and effective. A good thesaurus provides alternatives for the idea of a word, but not all suggestions are true synonyms. Context is vital. …

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Looking for the Best Word? Tip #05

On 23/09/201620/09/2016 By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Fiction, Grammar, Word Choice

For a short introduction to this series, please click this link. These posts look at similar, and dissimilar, words in an effort to suggest ways writers might make their work more varied, accessible, interesting, accurate and effective. A good thesaurus provides alternatives for the idea of a word, but not all suggestions are true …

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Denying Digital Demands

On 20/09/2016 By stuartakenIn Author, Procrastination, Progress5 Comments

Regular readers will know I’m a little ambivalent about the digital world that enfolds and sometimes threatens to overwhelm us. Social media has a lot going for it, but it also absorbs much of our time and attention. There are times when a simpler, less demanding lifestyle calls. A period of spiritual refreshment is needed. …

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Looking for the Best Word? Tip #04

On 16/09/2016 By stuartakenIn Author, Fiction, Grammar, Word Choice

For a short introduction to this series, please click this link. These posts examine some similar, and dissimilar, words in an effort to suggest ways writers might make their work more varied, accessible, interesting, accurate or effective. A good thesaurus provides alternatives for the idea of a word, but not all those suggestions are …

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Don’t, by Bob Selden, Reviewed.

On 14/09/2016 By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Grammar, Review, Word Choice

This book has a couple of informative subtitles: ‘Unlock the do in don’t…’ and ‘How using the right words will change your life’ I could add, ‘How using the right words will change the lives of those around you’, too. So, what’s it about? Essentially, it’s a manual for using the right language to make …

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What’s it Like to Run the Great North Run?

On 11/09/201630/07/2017 By stuartakenIn Author, charity, Fundraising, ME/CFS, opinion, Running

I'm reminded by this morning's BBC1 TV showing, that a year ago I ran the Great North Run. It struck me that others may be wondering what that's like for the ordinary person. I wrote an account after the race, and you can find that by following this link. I'm resurrecting this post for a couple …

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