Happy New year 2019

Here's to a great 2019!

Enjoy folks.

Last book haul of 2018

Hi guys

Here is the last book haul of 2018.
Two are presents (One I bought myself).
The other is what I ordered from Waterstones in Leeds on Xmas Eve and got yesterday which was great but one of the corners is a bit bent

The White Towers by Andy Remic I got from Waterstones is even signed by Andy!

So will have to get onto these ASAP but I have a huge TBR pile to go through. 

I haven't read much this year maybe four books.

In 2019 hope to get through at least fifteen books.

See ya

Merry Christmas 2018

Merry Christmas one and all.

Hope you all received the books and writing apps you wanted.

Have a fab day.

Neil

Aquaman - Film Review

Hi guys

Went to see the new DC film Aquaman not so long ago and have to admit, it's one of DC/Warner Bros better films.

Set after the events of the ok Justice League film people now know about Metahumans and Aquaman who occasionally goes rescuing people.  The opening rescue on a submarine is intense and sets up the story of his nemesis Black Manta. 

Aquaman/Arthur Curry is played spot on by Jason Momoa who plays the role tough but for laughs.

Amber Heard is great as Mera the love interest and Patrick Wilson at first is unrecognizable as Ocean Master the brother of Aquaman who wants war with the people of the land and the main bad guy.

Also in a great role is Willem Defoe who plays adviser to Ocean Master.

The film has plenty of action and the underwater effects are stunning.

The film also has an environmental slant about what we are doing to our oceans.

Overall  -  A fast paced action packed film with a likeable lead and great effects. The story is good not great but has a couple of twists.

Score  -    8/10

Bookshelf Tour - Bookcase 2

Hi guys

Here is my second bookcase which I have only had two to three years and just about full already.
This has more recent books and series including John Gwynne and RJ Barker.
Enjoy.

ON TOP

As much as I hate books on top of shelfs like this it had to be done so put all the books I got at library sales on top which ain't as important as new books.

TOP SHELF - BACK

This back part has my crime from Leigh Russell and Helen Cadbury and some Fantasy including Stan Nicholls. 

TOP SHELF  - FRONT

The front has newer series and books including John Gwynne and RJ Barker and Andy Remic and Justina Robson. 

MIDDLE SHELF - BACK

This part is basically two lots of Book sets. One George RR Martin plus newer books purchased.  Also Bourne Book set.  Both sets from Book People.

MIDDLE SHELF  - FRONT

This shelf houses my Joe Abercrombie books. Not read any yet but meant to be similar to David Gemmell .

Also has my Sci fi including Peter F Hamilton and Alistair Reynolds.   Also the Warhammer 40,000 collectable books that are still out now.  Would buy more but they are thick and yep not read any.

BOTTOM SHELF 

The bottom shelf consists of my graphic novels.  These include Transformers , Marvel and DC.  All are available at newsagents as collectable editions.  But alas I have run out of space.  Also there are some SFX magazines and Harry Potter set books one to four.

Hope you have enjoyed my bookcase tours and seen what books I got.

Will take me years or even decades to get through.

Not sure if I should read books on Bookcase one first or Bookcase two? 

Or mix it up and read some of both?

Think at my rate of reading it will be twenty years by time I start Bookcase two.

Well see ya soon x

Bookshelf Tour - Bookcase 1

Hi guys

Thought I would share with you what books I have on my two bookcases.

So the first bookcase I have had over twenty years. When I started getting back into my reading in my mid to late teens.

This bookcase has endured four house moves and holds together ok.  Although most of the books I have had ten years plus. Some still need reading. (I mean most need reading - lol)

TOP SHELF

As you can see I've a good collection of my favourite author David Gemmell. Plus his wife's books.  Got to get reading his books again only read first six Drenai books.

Like Raymond E Feist too which I'm currently reading and Terry Goodkind although only read first book and not too sure. If you look closely you can see Reflections the Anthology my stories are in!

MIDDLE SHELF

At the back is a good mix including Ursula Le Guin's Earthsea books and the classic yet massive Dragonlance tales. Plus Ian Graham too.

Then the front of the shelf has my second and third favourite authors Terry Pratchett and David Eddings.

BOTTOM SHELF

Here at the back of the shelf I have my ten Sci fi classics bookset I got from Bookpeople.  Plus mainly random old books including Edgar Allan Poe and Star Wars.

At the front I have J R R Tolkien and Doctor Who booksets from Bookpeople and some I bought.  Also some Andy McNab.

Book Haul - July - December 2018

Hi guys

Well decided to tidy my room up after months of procrastinating.
The amount of books, magazines and tat was mounting up too much on my table so decided to sort it and my bookshelves as well as my room.

The amount of books I had collected was frightening too especially as space on both my bookshelves was getting low.

So here is the book haul:-

So quite a few lol.  Some I got free from Edge-lit and Sledge-lit. 

The books I'm most looking forward to reading are the Andy Remic book and Ian Graham.  Plus the Justina Robson book has been calling to me also.

In fact they all have but I've loads to read on my TBR pile.  Some waiting to be read over 20 years!

Anyway up next:-

Bookshelf 1 tour!

December 2018! Nano update! Reflections!

Hi peeps

Wow how fast has 2018 gone.  It's true as you get older time seems to move faster also.  This year so far has whizzed by and to be fair it's not been a bad year.
For one I've got back (slowly) into writing and attempted Nanowrimo.  Sadly I only managed 6,000 words but will keep on writing Colony X as I'm loving the story.

Plus I'm now published in Reflections - Cleckheaton Literature Festival Anthology.
The third launch is at Cleckheaton Library on Saturday 15th December at 1pm.
Or you can purchase from Amazon at the link below:

https://www.amazon.in/Reflections-Cleckheaton-Literature-Festival-Anthology/dp/1526207540

So upcoming posts include a few more bits from Sledge-lit which was over a week ago but still some notes I can make into posts.

Will also do a six month book haul on the books I've to find a home for and two book shelf tours before the new year.

Enjoy

Sledge-lit 4 - Haul

Hi guys

At each Edge-lit and Sledge-lit you get a goody bag which I think is great.

I did a post in July with my haul so here is my Sledge-lit 2018 goody bag haul.

So got the Sledge-lit brochure plus purple bag with biscuits, a badge and bookmarks.   I also got more bookmarks etc which I forgot to photo.

The books - 

Quite excited about the books after swapping bags I finally got my hands on a Andy Remic book as I've been searching different Waterstones for one since I met Andy in July at Edge-lit. 

Looking forward to reading The Iron Wolves and will order sequel at Waterstones.

Also looking forward to The Path of the Hawk by Ian Graham.   Haven't seen his work since the brilliant and gritty Monument which I read ages ago as it was recommended by David Gemmell. 

From the back it looks like it is a prequel as it has Ballas in from Monument. 

Lastly is Firestorm by Lucy Hounsom. I picked up the second book then Firestorm thinking it was the first book in the series but it's the third - doh.

The series has intrigued me since I saw Lucy in Waterstones Leeds with her debut Starborn.

As I couldn't just have the third book I ended up buying the first two in Waterstones today lol x

Sledge-lit 4 - In Pictures

Hi guys

Just back from Derby and my first Sledge-lit.  It was a blast and met more new writing buddies.
Here's a few pics of the event.

Nano update and Sledge-lit 4

Hi guys

Well sadly I haven't written much in the last week and half of Nanowrimo but will continue the best I can till the end of November!

The aim for the challenge is 50,000 words which will definitely not be hit now so my new aim is 20,000 words.

Although after November I will continue with the story as I have found my mojo with it and have a lot planned for it.  I'm also enjoying writing it when I do.

Now I know how hard novel writing is.  That's probably why I mainly write short stories.

I will try to write on my tablet this weekend whilst I'm at Sledge-lit 4 in Derby.  It is a winter version of the Edge-lit event I went to in July with Authors, agents, readers.
So will be fun!

If you're going to Sledge-lit 4 will see you there!

Nano - Week 1

Hi guys

Well I'm doing Nanowrimo this year although way behind but at least getting words down.

It's a Sci fi adventure called Colony X.

Here is an extract.

After an awkward pause, “Mr Maynard could you escort Captain Bank’s crew out and the guards.  I need a private word with the Captain.”
Captain Ben Banks sat patiently as his crew were sent into the reception.  The two men locked eyes.  Not one blinking until the President stood up and sighed.
“Its true.  We’ve found only twenty habitable planets so far and still looking for more.  With the population still on the increase and the resources still depleted we thought people would start to panic.  Plus our sponsors needed something new as it has been five years since we started sending colony ships to the twentieth planet.  So we falsified the last five planet sending the people to already established worlds in which case it would be too late for them once they had got to their destination.”
Ben shook his head and laughed, “So you’ve started shafting the rich as well as the poor.  The ones who will likely die here in another generation,”
Changing the subject President O’Hare responded with  “In hindsight we should have let you and Captain Chow know.  In fact I will have Captain Chow requested here at once and updated.”
“Well we just follow orders.  No one on my crew will say anything,”
“Even the newer guy?”
“Even Kazon.  You know a secret as big as this will get out sooner or later right?”  Ben looked at the President and thought back to when he was on a fishing trip with his Dad before fishing was banned.  This was the second time he had seen a worm wriggling on a hook.
“Until then we will keep on our search for new planets.  Captain Banks you are dismissed.  Enjoy your shore leave.”
With that Ben stood, saluted and left the room.
President O’Hare looked to an open door to his left.  It led to a meeting room but now it was pitch black.
He smiled at the darkness as if something was there watching him.
“That fucking Captain and his misfit fuckwits,”
He banged his fists on the marble table repeatedly.  Cracking his knuckles of the hard table, blood poured from his hands as his ginger hair shook wildly about his head.

After a few moments he stopped. Looking at the crimson red on the white marble he laughed.  He looked over at the door again.  It had shut.
“No one asks me questions.  No one fucks with the President.”

Published at last - Cleckheaton Literature Festival Anthology

Hi guys

I'm actually getting published at last hopefully not for the first and last time. I have two stories in the Anthology.
See posters below.  I will be attending the 10th November launch at Cleckheaton Library at 13:30.