Science Fiction in Print

On By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Fiction4 Comments

A short announcement. The dystopian science fiction novella, The Methuselah Strain, will soon be available in print form. Copies will all be signed. This is a limited print run, so you'll need to get your order in quickly. The book isn't launched yet, but you can pre-order by clicking on this link. More on this …

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Running for ME/CFS no. 49

On By stuartakenIn Author, Book, charity, Fundraising, ME/CFS, Progress, Running

Three weeks tomorrow I'll be running the Great North Run. A half marathon that's been going for a long time now. I'll be one of 57,000 participants and, like most of them, I've been training now for a few months. This week's programme involved a reduction in distance and time spent running. I suspect this …

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Wellbeing for Writers, by Jennifer Barraclough, Reviewed.

On By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Creative Writer, Organisation, Review8 Comments

This is a handy little ebook that sets out to suggest strategies for writers that will help them get the most from their time and effort. I've been around for a long time, and been writing for many of those years, so there isn't actually a great deal here that's new to me. However, it's …

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Running for ME/CFS no. 48

On By stuartakenIn Author, Book, charity, Fundraising, ME/CFS, Progress, Running

A brief update for those readers who expect one of these posts on a Monday. First, let me direct you to the two previous posts for more details. You'll find post 46 here and post 47 here. Suffice it to say that training last week went according to plan and I'm well on track for …

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Monster of the Apocalypse, by C. Henry Martens, Reviewed.

On By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Fiction, Review

This dystopian science fiction novel grips from the start. Set in the not-too-distant future, it portrays a world devastated by plague. The few inhabitants left alive display all the emotions, characteristics and personality types that exist in the real world, so it's easy to empathise with the players here. The story is different from many …

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Running for ME/CFS no. 47

On By stuartakenIn Author, Book, charity, Fundraising, ME/CFS, Progress, Running

It's happening! It's really happening, 4 weeks today! My runner's pack has arrived from the sponsors. It includes my number and a timing chip, which will track my time from the moment I pass the starting line to when I stagger across the finishing line some 7 or 8 hours later! Joking: if I can …

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Running for ME/CFS no. 46

On By stuartakenIn Author, Book, charity, Fundraising, ME/CFS, Progress, Running

This series will draw to a natural close once I've run the Great North Run, on 13th September, and posted my final piece with the results. However, from now to the actual run, I'll be increasing my posts on an ad hoc basis when I have something new to report. So, yesterday, I did my …

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Running for ME/CFS no. 45

On 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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STUART AKEN: A SEARED SKY IS ABOUT HYPOCRISY, LOYALTY AND LOVE

On By stuartakenIn Uncategorized1 Comment

STUART AKEN: A SEARED SKY IS ABOUT HYPOCRISY, LOYALTY AND LOVE. An interview on Ognian Georgiev's site for readers and writers.

Running for ME/CFS no. 44

On By stuartakenIn Author, charity, Fundraising, ME/CFS, Progress, Running2 Comments

My programme for the last week required 9 sessions of 2-minute runs alternating with 2-minute walks on Wednesday, a 6-mile run/walk with 3-minute runs alternating with 1-minute walks on Friday, and a brisk 30-minute walk on Sunday. How did I do? Wednesday, I set out to do a familiar 'there and back' route through the …

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The Demon King, by Cinda Williams Chima, Reviewed.

On 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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Running for ME/CFS no. 43

On By stuartakenIn Author, charity, Fundraising, ME/CFS, Progress, Running1 Comment

A little late this week with this one. My apologies; other things on my mind. The programme for last week was: Wednesday, 6 sessions of 3-minute runs alternating with 2-minute walks; Friday, 5-mile run/walk with alternating 2-minute runs and 1-minute walks; Sunday, 30-minute brisk walk. Wednesday, I set out to do the session along my …

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A Renewed Regime.

On 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 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 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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