Madeleine McDonald’s book is a traditional romance set in an unusual location. Told from the points of view of the two main protagonists, the story reveals secrets about both that neither are aware of in each other. The clash of cultures and personal histories makes the possible resolution of this romance uncertain until the very …
Continue reading Enchantment in Morocco, by Madeleine McDonald, Reviewed.
I’m cautious about reviewing poetry: it’s an esoteric art form with echoes of the world of the contemporary arts. In other words, a field full of the pretentious attempting to bamboozle the unwary, and too often succeeding. It differs from the world of visual art in the amount of cash thrown at it, of course, …
Continue reading Navigating Nightmare Ecstasy, by The Junk Talk Poet, Reviewed.
Characters are fundamental to my stories, as readers will know. I’m in the initial stages of writing a new science fiction novel, set on Mars. For a while, I’ve been beset by a mysterious barrier to getting on with the story. Lots of preparation, research, and reading round essential topics of interest. And I have …
Continue reading Name a Character in my New Novel.
This novella introduces amateur sleuth, Georgia Pattinson, early music soprano and a lady with guts. Sound a little specialist? Not a bit of it. Whilst there are references and interesting details relating to both her skill and the musical world she inhabits, this isn’t one of those elitist books that allows a special interest to …
Continue reading Whistles After Dark, by April Taylor, Reviewed.
Perhaps, Amazon can be persuaded to do something positive for authors who provide it with a living? The company currently has a policy preventing honest reviews from writers giving opinions on the books of other writers they may know. The whole policy is a sledgehammer to crack a walnut. It’s intended to prevent dishonest reviews …
Continue reading Amazon: a Solution to the Review Problem?
Subtitled, ‘English and How it Got That Way’, this is typical Bryson wit and erudition at his best. I confess, I was tempted initially to disagree with some of his numbers on the speaking of English, but a quick gander at Google soon put me right on that issue. The book is divided into 16 …
Continue reading The Mother Tongue, by Bill Bryson, Reviewed.
This book came to me as a prize in a raffle at the Fantasticon 2015 fantasy convention in Hull. I doubt I would’ve come across it otherwise and don’t think I’d have read it. The novel is clearly aimed at young women and I suspect many of them, especially cat lovers, will enjoy it. The …
Continue reading The Spirit of a Witch, by Sarah Jane Avory, Reviewed.
Had to share this: another reader has added a 5 star review to those slowly accumulating for my science fiction novella. It's really rewarding when a reader shares well-considered thoughts on your work as an author. Many thanks to the reviewer. Longing For Simpler Times, 1 Jan. 2016 By Amazon Customer This review is from: The Methuselah …
Continue reading Another 5* Review for The Methuselah Strain!
Having seen the Daniel Radcliffe film adapted from this novel, I was eager to read the book. In common with many readers, I generally find books much better than the films made from them, but in this case I was disappointed. The narrative is written in the first person and in the style of a …
Continue reading The Woman in Black, by Susan Hill, Reviewed.
What a read this YA fantasy novel is! The story follows the exploits of Christopher, a slightly damaged 16 year old, and his friend, the adventurous girl, Sama, as they battle incredible forces. There is a fascinating mingling of World War I times with the myths, legends and history of Arthurian Britain. How this connection …
Continue reading The Boy in Winter’s Grasp, by John D. Scotcher, Reviewed.
I Just had to post the link to this review of The Methuselah Strain, especially as the reviewer clearly understands exactly what the book is about. via Review of The Methuselah Strain (Stuart Aken ), reviewed by John Scotcher on Dec 2, 2015.
Writers share ideas to improve their craft. Here, I'm looking at ways to trim our writing. Readers will thank us. I'll examine common redundancies and flabby expressions All things being equal: Avoid this empty phrase. e.g. All things being equal, he would have her in his bed by midnight. Try: If he had his way, …
Continue reading Cut The Fat; Make Your Writing Lean: #Tip 15
Do you write reviews? Do you read them; perhaps use them for some idea of whether a particular book is for you? It's certainly the case that reviews are an essential element for indie writers to get their books noticed. So, as with all matters commercial, an element of fraud and cheating has entered the world …
Continue reading Honest Reviews
This novella, a mix of fantasy and soft science fiction, is a romance set in a dystopian society. Told from the points of view of the male and female leads, it manages to get inside both characters and express the experiences, emotions and thoughts of each. The book is one of a series set in …
Continue reading To Buy a Wife, by KC Klein, Reviewed.
A short while ago, I entered a short story into a contest. As usual, I then forgot all about it. A few days ago, I received an email to tell me my story, whilst not a winner, had been shortlisted and was to feature along with 25 others. It’s a collection of humorous stories written …
Continue reading Featured in a New Anthology.
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Antidote to the Novel
Stuart Aken 