Running for ME/CFS no. 45

On 09/08/2015 By stuartakenIn Author, Book, charity, Fundraising, ME/CFS, Progress, Running3 Comments

The race is 5 weeks today. And this week's blog post is on time, for a change! Wednesday's session consisted of 6 runs of 4 minutes, alternating with 1-minute walks. I covered 3.3 miles in 35 minutes, taking a loop through the forest and averaging just over 10 minutes per mile. Friday, I was required …

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The Demon King, by Cinda Williams Chima, Reviewed.

On 29/07/2015 By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Creative Writer, Fiction, Review

This story sits well within the sub-genre of magical fantasy. There are the wizards and amulets, thieves, hill-folk, princesses and queens associated with the genre. The tale is well told, with plenty of action and a good deal of well-handled romance in the various relationships. For me, however, it is a little formulaic and reminded …

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A Renewed Regime.

On 26/07/201526/07/2015 By stuartakenIn Author, Book, charity, Creative Writer, Fiction, ME/CFS, Organisation, Progress5 Comments

Way back in 2014, that's last year in case you're not sure, I was writing fairly regularly and working on a couple of projects. But, in the middle of that year, we made a momentous decision: we would move house from our domain of 14 years and settle in an area of the country where …

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Running for ME/CFS no. 42

On 20/07/2015 By stuartakenIn Author, Book, charity, Fundraising, ME/CFS, Progress, Running5 Comments

This week asked for a Wednesday session of 6 times 3-minute runs alternating with 2-minute walks. However, after the last fortnight's issues, I decided to do a straight 20-minute run initially, to get back into some sort of pattern. That turned out to be no problem and I actually covered a little more ground than …

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Slam, by Nick Hornby, Reviewed.

On 17/07/2015 By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Review1 Comment

Much to the probable annoyance of nearby sun-lounger occupiers, I read this on holiday by the pool. Annoyance? Yes; the book had me laughing out loud with its wit. This very funny and often moving story is told through the voice of boy growing from near 16 to 18 years old. He becomes embroiled in …

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The Prey, by Andrew Fukuda, Reviewed.

On 17/07/2015 By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Review1 Comment

This science fiction novel was found in the small library of the hotel where I holidayed on the Greek Island of Thassos. Although this is the middle book of a trilogy, it stands quite well on its own. The depictions of both a world strangled by the genetic mistake of a fanatic and a sub-society …

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Never Let Me Go, by Kazuo Ishiguro, Reviewed.

On 16/07/2015 By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Fiction, Review2 Comments

Discovered in the small hotel library whilst holidaying on the Greek island of Thassos, this book was one I'd always intended to read. I'm glad I did. It's an imaginative, moving and subtly horrifying romance about organ donation based on the use of clones. Told in 1st person by Kath H, it begins by recounting …

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Sapiens, by Yuval Noah Harari, Reviewed.

On 16/07/2015 By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Review4 Comments

Subtitled, 'A Brief History of Humankind', 'Sapiens' is a work of extraordinary scholarship presented in very readable form. There's a great deal of humour here, carrying the message. The whole text is readily accessible without any dumbing down. Thought-provoking, mind-enhancing, terrifying, encouraging and illuminating, this piece of work encompasses many disciplines. It examines human endeavour …

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Where There’s Smoke, by Penny Grubb, Reviewed.

On 14/07/2015 By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Fiction, Review3 Comments

This great crime tale in the P.I. Annie Raymond series see the detective back in Hull, working with people she'd much rather forget. As with all Penny Grubb's fiction, there is much more going on than meets the eye at first. Annie is at once suspicious, as she is sent back to her old tramping …

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Internet Research for Fiction Writers, by April Taylor, Reviewed.

On 21/06/201521/06/2015 By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Fiction, Organisation, Review2 Comments

Sometimes, you come across a reference book and wonder, 'Why didn't I find this sooner?' April Taylor's Internet Research for Fiction Writers is such a book. An earlier find would've saved me a good deal of time. Still, now that I have it on both my iPad and Mac, I can use it for the …

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Running and Writing for ME/CFS no. 37

On 15/06/2015 By stuartakenIn Author, Book, charity, Fundraising, ME/CFS, Progress2 Comments

Writing: Those of you who follow the blog will know that the book was launched yesterday, 14 June, in digital and print forms. For those who missed the announcement, please follow this link to the post, where you’ll get the details. This part of this series of blog posts has now come to a natural …

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Today’s the Day!

On 14/06/2015 By stuartakenIn Author, Book, charity, Fundraising, ME/CFS, Progress2 Comments

From today, you can read my latest book. M.E. and me: Chronic Fatigue, My Recovery After 10 Years is now available as an eBook through Smashwords by clicking here, or in digital and print forms through Amazon by clicking here. ME/CFS is a debilitating condition that’s still not properly understood. It deprives victims of their …

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In the Nick of Time!

On 12/06/201512/06/2015 By stuartakenIn Author, Book, charity, ME/CFS, Progress7 Comments

The paperback proof copy arrived today and it looks good. I was hoping to get this in time for the print version to be available at the same time as the ebook, which has been on pre-order for a couple of weeks. The launch date for that is 14th June. The process with Amazon and …

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Like Being on TV; only Different.

On 11/06/2015 By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Fiction2 Comments

Yesterday, 10th June, I spent an hour in live conversation online with Sally Ember. Sally is a writer and writing tutor who has ventured into the world of Google+ Hangouts in a way beneficial to readers and writers. She invites writers to share their thoughts with readers in her weekly show, Changes. I choose to …

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Live Online, Talking Books, Fiction, and Much More

On 09/06/201509/06/2015 By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Creative Writer, Fiction5 Comments

Tomorrow, Wednesday 10th June, I’ll be live online in conversation with author Sally Ember, Ed.D on her talk show at *Changes*. It’s not so much an interview as a chat between authors and bloggers, covering topics of mutual interest. We’re both interested in writing in different genres, especially science fiction and speculative fiction, as well …

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