Writers Block and Orenda Publishing Roadshow

Hi guys

Well I'm still suffering from some sort of writers block and not done any writing.

The ideas are there but it's as if I'm scared to actually put on laptop and write like I'm not good enough.

Need to snap out of it as I want to send a short story to Cleckheaton Writers Group for the planned anthology which is drawing closer.

Any ideas guys?

Hopefully going to see Orenda publishers and authors tonight at Leeds Waterstones at 18:30 will get me into the writing mood.

Fingers crossed x

Lego Batman - Film review

Hi guys

Took my daughter to see the new Lego Batman Movie and we both agree it was great.  

Although to be honest I wanted to see it the most as I'm a comic and Batman geek.

The film starts with Batman (Will Arnett)  telling everyone including his most feared nemesis The Joker (Zach Galifiankis) that he needs nobody not even him which upsets The Joker.

We see Batman on his own in some hilarious situations at home including swimming in his pool as Alfred tells him he needs to be out more.

Meanwhile the Joker gets nearly all Batmans enemies together including Riddler, Bane and Penguin and hatches a plan to get Batman to notice and want him.  This involves getting put into the Phantom Zone and rescuing Superman's foes.  Plus a few others including King Kong and Sauren.

The film is great for Batman geeks and kids alike with witty one liners and includes nods to all the previous Batman films and the 60s TV show.  This includes Bat shark repellent .

By the end Batman with his new friends Batgirl and Robin (who won't leave him alone ) save the day - Spoilers! 

Overall the film is funny and has great visuals although near the end there seems to be so much going on in the action sequences it looks a little jumbled.  This may be improved when watching in 3D.

Bels Score     -     10/10

My Score       -      9/10

Dry January!

Hi guys

Hope you have all had a great New Year and reading and writing as much as you can.

As the title suggests my January hasn't even very productive in both although I have drunk quite a bit of alcohol.

Reading wise started Magician by Raymond E Feist and was doing well up until last week when got flu so need to catch up again.

Writing wise I haven't done any so far except this post and the last one but as I'm on holiday this week going to rectify that and get a few posts to you all this week so hope you enjoy.

Story wise still to finish the ghost story I started last November for the CLF Anthology which Cleckheaton Writers Group hope will be out in May.  Will keep you posted on news of that.

Although may start a 2000 word short story for the Writers and Artists competition which has a deadline of 13th February.   The winner gets a place on a Arvon writing course.  The entry is free and the theme is open.
See link below for details.

https://www.writersandartists.co.uk/

Other news I've won a copy of Charles Stross new novel Empire Games which I won answering a question on Facebook.   So hope to have that soon to add to my many TBR (To be Read) pile.

Anyway will fire up the old laptop first time since November.

Chat later x

Happy 2017

Happy New Year folks.

Hope 2016 wasn't the total disaster it was made out to be for you all.  OK there were a lot of celebrity deaths plus Brexit and Trump being elected President of the USA and to be honest it's too early to see what will happen.

For me 2016 wasn't too bad except where writing was concerned as I only managed to write one full short story, a chapter of my crime novel and first page of a horror story.
Also I wrote a few blog posts here and a few reviews on the Cleckheaton Literature Festival blog.

Sadly 2016 saw the early demise of the Cleckheaton Literature Festival which in its second year was still in its infancy and like the first year brought some excellent author talent including Ian C Douglas, Leigh Russell and Jason Hewitt to name a few.
Hopefully in a new format it could come back?

I didn't attend the Cleckheaton Writers Group as often as I'd liked either this year but couldn't get in to writing.

This year has been a good one for my reading as done more reading than previous years and reviews of the books I've read are on here including David Eddings Belgariad series.

I've also bought the most amount of books this year than any other, a lot of them signed as I've seen quite a few authors in Leeds this year including Joe Hill, Alastair Reynolds, Peter F Hamilton and Joe Abercrombie.

So 2017  -

This year I want to continue getting fitter as I started in 2016 but wasn't consistent so will be hitting the gym more and eating healthier.

I will also be reading even more this year as I've even more to read and have started Magician by Raymond E Feist.

Lastly there is the writing-  want to write more this year and have first draft of crime novel finished by August.
I will also blog here more and do more of last year's Cleckheaton Literature Festival reviews I never got chance to.
I will attend the Writers Group more too.

So onwards and hopefully upwards.

Have fun folks

Merry Christmas Readers, Writers and geeks

Hi guys

Just a quick post to wish any followers I have left a Merry Christmas and anyone else interested.

Well tomorrow is the (anti) climax of all the rushing around, stressing, getting skint and merry.  A time when ol big red will have been and emptied his sacks and kids everywhere big and small will be opening their presents.

Then later in the day everyone over indulges in food and snacks and the adults drink too much.  Yep you've got to love Xmas.  The kids love it.  It just goes too fast.

Hopefully you will all be receiving what you asked for from books, kindles, sci-fi movies and boxsets.
The writers out there will hopefully be writing whilst everyone else has fallen asleep after dinner then looking forward to the most important part of Xmas day - Doctor Who!

Tomorrow will be one day closer to the end of 2016 which has been a jinx year for celebrities and a lot of others too.
It is also the year that gave us Brexit - so next year we are in unknown territory for the UK.
It also brought us Trump winning the presidential election in America so there might not be a 2017.

Anyway hope you all have a fun and probably drunken Xmas day.

I was going to share a Christmas story but only came to me two days ago so will hopefully share next year.

Merry Xmas

Neil

Star Wars - Rogue One - Film Review

When Star Wars - A New Hope first hit cinemas in 1977 the film started very oddly for a film as it was already in the middle of a story.
Darth Vader had just captured the Rebels led by Princess Leia to get back the stolen plans for the Death Star.
This film is the story of how the Rebels got those plans.

SPOILERS

It is also the story of Jyn (Felicity Jones) who years after being separated from her father Galen (Mads Mikklesen) goes to find him as he is the main engineer and architect of the Death Star.  But is he to be trusted? Has he helped the Rebels by putting a weak spot in the design?

Jyn is quickly accompanied by a rag tag group including Rebel Captain Andor  (Diego Luna), blind Force sensitive monk Chirrut Imwe (Donnie Yen) and Android K-2SO (voiced by Alan Tudyk).

The action is excellent although it starts of slowly but with some stand out pieces including Darth Vader in rage mode and the inclusion of Grand Moff Tarkin who was played by the late Peter Cushing and digitally brought back to live with the help of body double and voice over.  It is weird seeing his image on screen again but you realise how we miss a great actor.  It is cleverly done and they do the same with Princess Leia at the end with digital effect of a young Carrie Fisher.

The film also acts to connect the Prequels to the Original films as Vader is based on Mustafa where he got his limbs chopped off and burnt.
It also includes Bail Organa  (Jimmy Smits) who at the end of the Prequels was charged with bringing up Princess Leia.

It also has cameos from everyone's favourite droids but because of this it could be a plot hole as R2-D2 and C-3PO watch the Rebels fly out at the end yet at beginning of a New Hope they are on board Princess Leia's ship!  Maybe they set off later and catch up to the Rebels?

The action and tone is grittier and darker than most Star Wars films and the new droid K-S2O is very funny.

Overall  -  A welcome addition to the Star Wars Canon and one of the better films.  Especially better than the Prequels and this should have been the film the Prequels ought to have been.  With some great visuals and set pieces including the final battle it is oneasy of my favourite.  It also gives A New Hope more depth.

Score  -  10/10

Book Review - The Infinity Trap by Ian C Douglas

Like JK Rowlings Harry Potter novels,  The Infinity Trap by Ian C Douglas is a book for all ages.  Aimed at teens it is also a book adults can enjoy.  It takes you on an exciting adventure on Mars and is a roller coaster of a ride.

The story of Zeke Hailey starts as he arrives to go to Mars to join a school for psychics although he is there in dubious circumstances as he cheated his exam to get there.
Zeke needs to go to find out what happened to his dad, who joined years before and became a Mariner.  Then his Dad was sent to outer space with most of the other mariner's.

Once on Mars at the school called the Chasm there is more going on that just bullying and psychic lessons!

With a great supporting cast including rich friend Scuff and Pin-mei,  it also offers good antagonists to hate.

The book is well paced and action packed with great set-pieces.  Also the dialogue sparkles and rings true.  It also throws in a few curve balls.  Some characters aren't what they seem.

It also features some fun future technology plus aliens and an alien language.
The world building of the future is spot on which I knew it would be as Ian has given two great world building workshops over the last two years at Cleckheaton library.

Plus the book finishes with more questions to ponder including:
Why don't the mariner's come back?
What is the creature in the abandoned observation post?
Plus many more.


Overall -  A fun sci-fi adventure for children of all ages blending Harry Potter, Doctor Who and more.  Well written and fast paced with well timed cliffhangers that have you wanting more.  Only complaint is it's too short.


Score  -   10/10

Author Ian C Douglas signing at previous years Cleckheaton Literature Festivals