Secrets and Lies in El Salvador, by Sherrie Miranda, Reviewed.

On 23/04/2015 By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Review2 Comments

This novel reads like a personal account; it is presented in a way that takes the reader straight into the life of the protagonist as she finds herself. There are elements of the confessional here, suggestions of reportage, instances of the documentary. Secrets and Lies in El Salvador is written with passion, through the eyes …

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Running and Writing for ME/CFS No.29

On 20/04/2015 By stuartakenIn Author, charity, ME/CFS, Progress2 Comments

Confession: I really should have decided at the beginning of this week to write it off for the purposes of the book and the running. Wednesday saw Valerie and I bidding farewell to our daughter at Gatwick Airport. We’d stayed overnight in a B & B there so she could be in plenty of time …

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Running and Writing for ME/CFS No.28

On 12/04/2015 By stuartakenIn Author, Book, charity, ME/CFS

Running: The programme for this week was a 10-minute easy run on Wednesday, and 15-minute easy runs on Friday and Sunday. I managed Friday and Sunday with no problems, but Wednesday was a different matter. On Tuesday, as part of our on-going conversion of the slope at the end of our garden from briar and …

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IndieReCon – It’s Coming! It’s Coming

On 11/04/2015 By stuartakenIn Author, Book

There’s a free, online self-publishing conference taking place next week. It’s the third year of IndieReCon, and they have an action-packed schedule filled with all sorts of great stuff – a mixture of posts, vlogs, webinars, as well as the opportunity to drill deeper into the various topics with a series of online and Twitter …

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Running and Writing for ME/CFS No.26

On 29/03/201529/03/2015 By stuartakenIn Author, charity, Fundraising, ME/CFS4 Comments

Running: 10 minute easy run on Wednesday was an easy jog through the village, reaching further than before, so some improvement. 20 minutes in the forest on Friday, witnessing the arrival of spring as I jogged along the tracks. Due for 15 minutes today, but did that indoors due to the inclement weather. It looked …

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The Paintings, by Linda Acaster, Reviewed.

On 23/03/2015 By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Review4 Comments

Linda Acaster’s, The Paintings, is not a book to read before bed, unless, of course, you prefer nightmares to sweet dreams. This short chiller is subtly sinister, as it builds a story of the apparent ordinary into something with supernatural hints and underlying threats to reach a climax that is as satisfying as it is …

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Running and Writing for ME/CFS No.24

On 16/03/2015 By stuartakenIn Author, charity, Fundraising, ME/CFS, Progress3 Comments

Running: This week I ran all three of the set runs in the programme. Fifteen minutes through the forest, with the birds chirruping their joy in Spring on Wednesday. Twenty minutes on Friday, extending the same run. And then a short; ten minutes on Sunday, running up the steep rise of Church Road, down the …

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Mantle of Malice, by April Taylor, Reviewed.

On 16/03/2015 By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Review4 Comments

Mantle of Malice is the third book in the Tudor Enigma series, and, having read them all, I’d say it’s the best so far. In this alternative fantasy history, the main protagonist, Luke Ballard, has matured and grown in wisdom and experience. That’s not to say he no longer makes mistakes or has somehow overcome …

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Running and Writing for ME/CFS No.23

On 08/03/2015 By stuartakenIn Author, Fundraising, ME/CFS, Progress2 Comments

Running: This week saw me managing all three of the set runs in the programme. Ten minutes through the village with its rises and falls on Wednesday. Friday the longer run of twenty minutes and an extension of my normal fifteen-minute run through the forest. It was quiet, as usual, and I saw not a …

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Disorganisation, Distractions, Discipline and Desire.

On 01/03/2015 By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Organisation, Progress4 Comments

Some work best in disorder, with apparent chaos ruling. Some need order, pattern and habit to produce their best. I belong to the ‘clear desk’ brigade. Not from any notion that chaos is generally undesirable or disruptive, but because my memory isn’t good enough to cope with the randomness of a disorganised way of living. …

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Tips on Word Choice No. 24: Ruled by Intellect or Emotion?

On 24/02/2015 By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Creative Writer, Word Use2 Comments

Certain words/phrases can induce fairly specific responses in readers. As writers, we all know this, but do we use the power of emotion in our work? For these few weeks, I’m looking at something subjective: how to choose between emotional and intellectual words for effect. You won’t always agree with me, of course; you’re writers. …

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Running and Writing for ME/CFS No.21

On 22/02/201513/05/2017 By stuartakenIn Book, charity, Fundraising, ME/CFS3 Comments

Running; I was due to run for 15 Minutes on Wednesday, 20 minutes on Friday and 10 minutes today. Wednesday was fine. Good run through the forest and I enjoyed it. Friday I was away in Yorkshire: my bother died a few days ago and I was up in the home county to take my …

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Tips on Word Choice No. 22: Ruled by Intellect or Emotion?

On 12/02/2015 By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Creative Writer, Word Use

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Running and Writing for ME/CFS No.18

On 04/02/201504/02/2015 By stuartakenIn Author, charity

Writing: I’ve spent most of the last few days making the new home a good place to live. This is the beginning of a new life for us, and my wife has put up with a lot during the ten years I suffered with ME/CFS. She, of course, makes no demands, has no expectations, and …

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