Sunday 25 September 2016

Waterstones Event Tuesday 27 Sept

Hi guys

Thrilled to say I'll be going to see two giants of hard Sci-fi on Tuesday coming up.  Peter F Hamilton and Alistair Reynolds.
This will make up for missing Brighouse Sci -fi weekend which I hope went well.

Check out below -

In Conversation with Peter F Hamilton and Alastair Reynolds

Tuesday 27th September 19:00 at Leeds
Join us in conversation with best-selling authors Peter F Hamilton and Alastair Reynolds as they dicuss creating universes and all things sci-fi. 

Night Without Stars is Peter's epic second and final part of the Chronicles of the Fallers whilst Revenger gives us an epic tale of kidnap, betray and revenge. 

Tickets are £3 and can be bought from the ground floor till. To reserve your place pop into store, ring 0113 244 4588, send us an email at leeds@waterstones.com or tweet us @WstonesLeeds
Further details: 0113 244 4588

Monday 12 September 2016

Sci Fi Festival - Brighouse Library - 22 - 25 September 2016


Starting 22nd Sep 2016 See all Dates for this event

22nd-25th September 2016 Enjoy free film screening sand meet sci fi authors over four days of sci-fi fun at Brighouse Library.

Tickets for all events are available on a first come, first served basis. Book online at www.ticketsource.co.uk/calderdalembc or ring 01422 288060.

Thursday 22nd September
2pm 'I Origins' (film) NB being shown at Central Library, Halifax


Friday 23rd September
12pmJoe Pitts - Local Author of Annie's Lights. A talk discussing Joe's science fiction novel set in various places including Bradford, Ilkley, and Leeds.

1.30pm H.G Wells' The Time Machine (film) 


Saturday 24th September

11am Mark Wright Co-Author of Doctor Who-ology. Join Mark as he reads extracts from his work and talks about his audio-books, comics and everything Doctor Who. He will also run a quick writing workshop where you can learn to create weird and wonderful creatures and worlds.

1pm: Big Hero 6 (film) 1pm: On Fantasists & Fairy Tales- Local author Dan Micklethwaite will be reading from his debut novel, 'The Less than Perfect Legend of Donna Creosote'. Set in Huddersfield, it tells the story of a young woman who becomes troubled by her isolation and turns to her beloved books for a different kind of escape. Dan will discuss his influences and inspirations, including Cervantes’ Don Quixote, as he examines the role that fantasy and fiction play in shaping our adult selves.


Sunday 25th September
1.30pm The Prestiege (film)

4pm: Christopher Priest—Author of The Prestige, The Gradual and The Adjacent Christopher will talk about his new book ‘The Gradual’ and his talk will cover the themes ‘Reality, Memory and Doubt’ His talk will follow a screening of Christopher Nolan’s adaptation of The Prestige.


Want more information?
Call 01422 288060 or visithttps:www.ticketsource.co.ukcalderdalembc

Wednesday 7 September 2016

A new easier way to publish? Social Publishing

Here is a great idea that bypasses the Publishers and lets reader choose if a book should be published -  check it out from the Writing Magazine site!

https://www.writers-online.co.uk/news/latest-news/let-people-power-get-you-published-with-social-publishing


Let people power get you published with Social Publishing

Social Publishing
Bringing the power of publishing to the people
A new publishing platform gives readers the chance to influence which books are released.
Social Publishing is a new publishing company which aims to merge traditional publishing with social media. Rather than sending the first three chapters of your completed novel to a publisher, upload them to the Social Publishing platform for free.
Readers of the site then vote for the manuscripts that they wish to see published. This allows Social Publishing to publish books which might slip through the net of a traditional publisher, including more diverse genres and characters.
Social Publishing professionally edit and produce books in both ebook and paperback formats and release them on a variety of platforms including Amazon, Kobo, Apple and others.


Some Writing Competitions

Hi guys

As promised the other day I an more focused on writing and blogging -  to kick off here are a few Writing Competitions to get your creative juices going -

http://www.authorspublish.com/kraken-press-now-accepting-manuscripts/

http://www.magicoxygen.co.uk/molp/

Good luck and will post more soon

Neil

Sunday 4 September 2016

Sept Update - New Name - New Focus - CLF and more

Hi peeps

I haven't done an update for a while just book and film reviews but there are a few changes.

As you may or may not have noticed I've changed the blog name from Neil''s World of Wonder to the more appropriate Neil''s Writing World.

The reason for the change is that I want more focus on my writing and need to be more dedicated to being a writer.  I admit I've been lazy this year and haven't even written one short story!  I think I needed a break but will be back writing soon.

As well as writing more I intend to blog more for you guys and hope to add more followers.

So what have I been doing instead of writing?
Well I've recently come back from a holiday in sunny Skegness.
I've also started keep fit and finished a four week fat loss challenge and started at the work gym.
I've also been reading more this year and half way through David Eddings Belgariad series.

Sad news - I also attended and blogged some events of this year's Cleckheaton Literature Festival - although it was agreed in July that it was to finish.   This is sad news for the Library,  readers and Authors alike.  Apologies for this late news.  Although the CWG (Cleckheaton Writers Group) hope to hold one off events.
I will also reshare some of those CLF blog posts along with some new ones here on this blog.

More sad news - Sadly in the wisdom of council cuts the opening times for Cleckheaton Library have reduced so now this could impact the Writing group for members who work.
Although CWG meetings are still fortnightly starting Monday 5 September the time will be 5:30pm - 7pm.

Writing projects - I will be starting two short stories soon - the first being an horror story for the planned CWG Anthology.
The second will be an adult fairytale for Writing Magazine competition with the deadline of October 14.
Also need to decide which novel to finish - the crime novel Blood Shores or the Sci Fi Wormhole Effect!

I've also aquired even more books to read including a signed copy of Wolf's Head by Steven A McKay and a signed copy of Heart Shaped Box by Joe Hill along with a new Robin Hobb book, Peter Jame's The House on Cold Hill,  Helen Cadbury's To Catch A Rabbit, the complete First Law books of Joe Abercrombie and James Bond Spectre Novels by Ian Fleming and Trigger Mortis by Anthony Horowitz.
So I've even more to read!
I hope as the winter months draw nearer as well as being at the gym I hope to read and write more as well as blog.  The last quarter of 2016 is going to be busy!
So will blog soon folks and here's a photo of my new books.


Thursday 1 September 2016

The BFG - Film Review



Went to see the Hollywood re-make of Roald Dahl's classic 1982 novel The BFG today with my daughter at Showcase Cinema in Birstall.  This was mainly to show her the fancy leather recliner seats the cinema now has.

Also she is reading The BFG book at the moment and as a child it was one of my favourite children's books and the animated movie is a classic.

This update is in the safe hands of Uber Director and film maker Steven Spielberg.   His love of the source material is evident in this special effect family film.  The giant effects are some of the best I've seen in film.  Plus the acting is top notch in particular Mark Rylance ad a CGI Big Friendly Giant and young actress Ruby Barnhill as orphan Sophie.  Also British veteran Penelope Wilton is great as the Queen.

The plot is well known now to readers of all ages and to sum up briefly it involves the adventures of orphan and insomniac book nerd Sophie seeing and being taken by the BFG to Giant Country where he catches dreams to give to people.  Unfortunately he isn't the biggest giant and is bullied by huge Giants including Bloodbottler and Fleshlumpeater who eat people.
Together with the help of the Queen they plan to get rid of the bully Giants.


Overall - A fantastic family film for the kids and big kids alike.  Only problem I had was when BFG in London and no CCTV cameras but I picky - ha.

Score   -  9/10

Bels Score  -  9/10