I am quite puzzled at some of the stuff my mind dredges up and have been meaning to share this story. Let me begin by saying I am currently engaged in a new writing project. I don’t want to say to much about this yet, as I am waiting to do a big reveal… however, I was writing a toboggan ride scene, which brought back memories.
First Toboggan ride
The one time I went tobogganing was the in 1978 when I lived in the U.S. We were good friends with our neighbours (who lived opposite in Lockhaven) and often attended The First Baptist Church with them. One day, their two girls, Melanie and Beth, invited me to come to a ‘Winter Retreat’ in the mountains, a weekend away with the Church. It inevitably meant prayers and devotions, but we could go out in the snow too. Now, snow in Lockhaven was incredible and it wasn’t unusual for 2-3 feet to fall in a single night. So with the slopes carpeted in fresh, fluffy snow, sliding to the bottom in blown-up inner tubes was the best fun I’d had ever!
But what I also remember was this musical piece playing in my head the whole evening, a real ear worm.
Musical Flashback
Writing my scene for a new book brought flashbacks of this era, including the music. I could not remember what it was, but I’m sure I’d attended band practise at Lockhaven Junior High School, earlier in the day. The band, conducted by Mr Bertanzetti (or Mr B as we called him) had been ranting and raving because we made such a mess of this new musical score. But it got inside my head, so much so it was stuck inside my mind all weekend, even when we were out enjoying ourselves in the snow.
I thought nothing more of it, got on with writing the scene, making it as exciting as possible, then that night I had a dream. In the dream, somebody said to me: “Oh, I remember that piece, it was called ‘Samba for Flutes.'”
Next day, the dream came back to me. I was telling my husband about it when I suddenly thought, Oh my God, it was, as well! Samba for Flutes.
How weird it that?
Sure enough, I looked it up and found the very same piece on YouTube. I cannot believe my mind reincarnated such a vivid memory, the toboggan, the snow and even the music in my head. But how on earth did the musical piece find its way into my conscious mind from so many years back?
More about the new book coming soon, but I hope you enjoyed my story.
This year I decided to take a break from writing. It’s not as if I don’t have ideas for further novels, I’m just not in the right frame of mind to attempt anything new. Consequently, I’ve stepped back and reviewed two of my previous books to see how they could be improved.
Visions (Same Face Different Place #2)
After receiving some good reviews for my debut novel, Beginnings (now free on all e-book platforms) it was time to take a critical look at the second instalment of my series, Visions.
Visions was always intended to be a slower paced, psychological thriller, drawing the reader into the 80s, where some radical changes took place across Britain. Visions is rich in 80s nostalgia, but I eventually realised that more was needed to hook the reader in and weave a little extra suspense into the pages. Since reading some excellent psychological thrillers by authors such as Caroline Mitchell, Dreda Say Mitchell and K L Slater, I began to wonder how I could turn my book into something more gripping.
Thinking about Visions, I feared it was overloaded with too many character backstories; first of all, James and his family, (owners of ‘Westbourne House’ a historic building in need of restoration). But after these introductory chapters, the reader had to wade through another character’s background.
Heroine of the series, Eleanor Chapman, consults her friend, Charlie, when James faces a dilemma about the restoration: should he leap into a risky partnership to save his home? Charlie’s first reaction is horror, but why?
This is where I want to keep readers guessing. So, I have broken Charlie’s story into smaller pieces and drip fed them into later chapters. This involved re-writing substantial chunks of the book, while at the same time, cutting down descriptions and shortening the chapters. I have taken on board some of my more critical reviews and as a result, would like to think Visions has more entertainment value.
VISIONS Edition 2 was re-published in April 2022, followed by a paperback version in May. Next I asked my author friend, Beryl Kingston, if she would like to read it, which she did. Beryl has been an avid campaigner in trying to save another historic building, Blake’s Cottage, in Felpham, Bognor Regis. I guessed it might appeal to her, since she was frequently embroiled in confrontations with some pretty odious characters! But I feel so strongly about her cause, I’ve included an extra dedication:
I also dedicate this book to my dear friend, Beryl Kingston, whose fight to save Blake’s Cottage in Felpham has inspired me. Visit her blog to read more about the deterioration of a historic house in need of repair. berylkingstonblog.wordpress.com
Beryl has some wonderful stories to tell of her own and has written over 30 books, many of which are best-sellers, but do take a look at her blog. It is packed with information about her campaign.
To get a gist of the story, take a look at the book trailer I made for YouTube
PLEASURES (Same Face Different Place #3)
Once Visions had been given a complete overhaul, however, I could not resist continuing the process by applying the same treatment to Book 3 of the series, Pleasures.
It was impossible to change the story, because parts of it resonated through the concluding books of the series. Same Face Different Place is a murder mystery suspense across 4 decades and I wanted to reflect some of the culture I experienced in my life. From the late 80s to the early 90s, the music scene as well as the political climate changed with the arrival of the designer drug, ecstasy. Then came illegal raves. Thus, with the 2nd generation of characters growing up into young adults, there was much focus on this in my story.
Like Visions, I embarked on some brutal editing as I felt Pleasures needed to be more tightly written. So I cut down on descriptions which seemed over the top, improved characters, worked on the dialogue and once again shortened the chapters. There are sixty chapters now, but the length of the book is reduced by about 30k words.
My next job is to re-produce a paperback version but the e-book went live today.
As often happens, I start thinking about my books long before I actually start writing them. But the next book I have in mind will be a psychological thriller, which brings back some characters from Same Face Different Place and is also a sequel to Lethal Ties.
Today it is my pleasure to introduce author, Richard Dee, to my blog. Richard writes cosy mysteries in a futuristic Sci-Fi setting, his characters engaging, adding a playful twist. After reading ‘The Hitman and the Thief’ & ‘Andorra Pett and the Oort Cloud Cafe,’ I’ve been wondering what to expect from his new book, ‘We Are Saul.’
Book Blurb
When Saul is paralysed in an accident, he thinks it’s the end of his life. In fact, it’s just the beginning.
While trying to come to terms with his injuries, the mysterious Dr Tendral offers him a way to make a difference. All he has to do is join his project. There are no other details until he agrees, he’s either in or out. What choice does he have? Agreeing is just the beginning. Saul undergoes drastic surgery, only then is the full depth of the project revealed. Or is it? As time goes on and he learns more about Tendral’s scheme, Saul’s new life becomes increasingly difficult. In the end, he has to abandon everything as he learns the truth.
So, that is a little about the book and at the end of this post, I have included an extract. But let’s hear a little about the author. Over to you, Richard…
Author Bio
I’m Richard Dee and I’m from Brixham in Devon. I write Science Fiction and Steampunk adventures, as well as chronicling the exploits of Andorra Pett, a reluctant amateur detective.
I spent forty years in shipping, firstly at sea, then in Port Control and as a Thames River Pilot, with adventures to match anything you could imagine. When I retired, I just moved them out into space, changed some of the names and wrote them down.
When I’m not writing, I bake bread and biscuits, cook delicious meals and walk the Devon coast.
My first novel, Freefall, was published in 2013, my eighteenth, We Are Saul, will be published in June 2022
I also contributed a story to the 1066 Turned Upside Down collection of alternative history stories. I’m currently working on more prequels, sequels, and a few new projects.
I’m an active member of Exeter Authors Association, attending events and giving talks on World-building for speculative fiction.
You can keep up with me at https://richarddeescifi.co.uk/ where you’ll find free short stories, regular features on writing, book reviews and guest appearances from other great authors.
There’s also an offer for a FREE novella, when you join my subscriber’s newsletter.
I’ve read a review copy of ‘We Are Saul,’ and what a very thought-provoking novel! I reckon it would be a good candidate for Book Club fiction as it raises some ethical dilemmas, which prompts me to ask Richard some questions:
What inspired you to write this book?
Richard: It all started with a novel that I wrote back in 2016, called Life and Other Dreams. In that story, a man had vivid dreams of living a different life, in another place and time. As the story developed, his dreams and his reality started to overlap, so that he wasn’t sure which existence was real, or even if, somehow, they could both be real. The fact that he lived one life while asleep suggested the idea of a character living while not moving. It was only a short step from that to the concept of We Are Saul. Also, the film Avatar may have had something to do with it, but only in a general sense, the way that I made this story work was totally different (and devoid of any aliens, although there might be an evil corporation).
Is it based on a real person/real story or is it entirely fictitious?
Richard: It’s entirely fictitious, although I hope that it seems real. If I can leave the reader wondering whether it could be happening, here and now, then I think I’ve achieved what I set out to do. There’s a quote, attributed to Isaac Asimov, that says, “nothing has to be true but everything has to sound true.” I like to apply that to everything that I write.
How much research did you do for your book? How did you research it?
Richard: A lot. Some of it was done for Life and Other Dreams but once I veered away from real people and had to start thinking of artificial life, I needed to understand the mechanics of nanobots and xenobot technology. I’m just enough of a geek to have to know all about the basic science behind things before I write about them. As well as the nano technology, I needed a thorough knowledge of robotics. I also had to research wireless communications, the latest advances in battery technology and so much more. It can take a long time working out how to do something that might only take up a single paragraph in the finished book. I use various scientific websites and Facebook groups, such as Neuroscience News and Research, to keep up to date with the latest thinking.
Do you imagine ‘We Are Saul?’ could be a TV mini series or film?
Richard: It would be nice to think so, although I think it would need to be a multi-episodic series to get all of it in and do the full sweep of the story justice. A two-hour film would need to rush, or risk having to lose too much important detail.
Review Snippets
“The concept for this novel is very clever as it builds on the achievements in a number of areas including robotics and human enhancement, taking them to a whole new level.”
“This is one of Dee’s best stories. The problems Saul has are easy to relate to, as are the hard choices he is forced to make—especially the last two. All of this results in one of Dee’s best novels with an ending that really took me by surprise.”
“A truly captivating, lingering story that will drill deep into your brain, spark your synapses and give you cause to consider what the future may really hold for humanity.”
Intrigued? Below is an extract from the book itself and if that isn’t enough, go grab yourself a copy and lose yourself in this incredible story.
Chapter One
I’m Saul and I’m paralysed. Thanks to a drunk driver my life stopped when I was twenty-five. When I woke up, the last thing I remembered was walking along the pavement on a glorious spring day, following the metronomic motion of a young lady in front of me. One moment, my mind was fixed on speeding up and getting acquainted with the rest of her, next thing, there was a loud noise behind me coupled with a scream. Before I could turn, I felt an impact, a burst of pain and it all went dark.
I opened my eyes to see a man’s face, complete with thick glasses and stubble, staring at me, very close. I blinked, tried to turn my head, failed. It felt like something was holding my neck still. I could move my eyes, that was about it. Flat on my back, my field of vision was limited. There was a lot of noise, machines bleeped and clicked, there was the hiss of compressed air.
“Where am I?” I said, my voice sounded faint and weak, like it was coming from miles away.
“You’re in a hospital. Intensive Care, actually,” answered the man, moving back a little. “I’m Mr McGee, a consultant neurosurgeon on the staff. Do you know who you are?”
“I’m Saul,” I said. “Why can’t I move?”
His eyes narrowed. “Saul, I’m afraid I’ve got some bad news for you.”
I had sort of gathered that my situation wasn’t brilliant. “Go on then, tell me the worst.” I tried to sound brave, inside I was more than a little frightened. Beside his head, I could just make out a screen. It showed multicoloured flickering lines, a row of numbers. That was me, my life was reduced to mathematics.
“You’ve had emergency surgery to stabilise your injuries,” he said. “Do you remember what happened to you?”
“It’s all a bit hazy, I was walking down the road, there was a noise behind me.” I stopped, that was it. “How long ago was that?”
He looked at me. “This might be a shock: three weeks.”
“Three weeks!” My voice was definitely getting stronger.
“I’m afraid so. What you heard was a lorry mounting the pavement and taking out everything in its path. Six dead but not you, the good news is, you’ll live.”
His face was blank, what wasn’t he telling me? Perhaps I had broken bones, internal damage. I was being kept still while I healed. I tried to move my arms, legs. It felt like they worked but I couldn’t see the sheet moving, had no idea if anything was happening.
The bed suddenly moved, the motion felt strange, as if my head was being tugged by some dead weight attached to it, that I couldn’t see or sense. I felt nauseous. Somewhere below me, I heard a machine start up with a rattle.
“What’s going on? I think I’m going to be sick.” I must have sounded panicked.
“It’s what we call the Low Air Loss and Alternating Pressure Air Mattresses,” he said. “Technical name for a special bed. It stops you getting bed sores from lying in one position, as well as that, it helps takes moisture away from your body if you sweat.”
Although it all sounded interesting, I couldn’t concentrate on his words. I was too busy thinking about the time I had lost. There were things I needed to do. There was clearly more, it was time to find out. “I’ll take your word for it. Tell me the bad news then.”
“Sorry,” he said, “I got distracted. You were thrown thirty feet in the accident. As well as a broken leg and arm, the impact also broke your neck. I’m afraid that it’s damaged your spine.”
“Oh, OK.” It didn’t register. “How long till I’m up and about?”
He shook his head. “I don’t think you understand what I’m telling you.”
Then it hit me, bones mended, spines did not. Panic set in. “What do you mean?” I shouted. “That I’m paralysed? That I’ll always be like this?”
“I’m afraid so,” he said. “We can’t fix you with the medical technology we have at the moment. In time, who knows? Your breathing and bowel function appears to be unimpaired, but your arms and legs don’t work. It’s called quadriplegia. Worst case, we can keep you alive and with care and expert attention, your life can carry on.”
I realised that it was all just ‘doctor speak’ for aren’t we amazing, look at what we can do. McGee probably felt really clever that he was able to prolong my suddenly useless life. There could be a paper in it, recognition of his skill from other doctors. My attitude to medical miracles was different. I looked at the quality of the lives that had been saved, the cost to those who had to do the caring. Just because medicine had advanced enough to make it possible. And from my position of good health, I had often wondered about the benefits of so-called miracle surgery.
I always thought that just because you could, it didn’t mean that you should. Now I was on the receiving end of the same ability to play God and cheat nature. Despair washed over me, my life had been full of adventure, extremes. I wasn’t used to spending time inside, with nothing to do. Immobility might not kill me but boredom would. Why hadn’t the lorry done a proper job, wiped me out in an unknowing flash; it felt like an additional cruelty to leave me like this.
Thanks for dropping by, Richard and best of luck with your launch.
I was overjoyed with my first book launch during the Festival of Chichester. The event took place at the New Park Centre, Chichester, on 9th of July 2021.
I have partaken in a number of joint book launches with Chindi Authors, a network of independent authors, mainly in West Sussex. But this event was for Lethal Ties only. My author friend, Dan Jones, guided me through the process – suggested it made sense to book it through the Festival, as they would handle the publicity. Dan attended the event with me to speak on my behalf and I was lucky to get a write up in the paper, further raising awareness about my book.
about The evening
The Festival of Chichester is a prestigious event, and I wanted my launch to be free. People who attended had to socially distance, but as guests arrived, there was wine and breadsticks for them to enjoy whilst listening to me talk about my new novel.
Dan filmed me talking, as shown in the video below and I have also included a resume…
Resume
The idea for Lethal Ties originated from stories in the news about child abuse (2015), mainly by people in power. There were massive cover ups. Children were not believed. But with institutional abuse happening on a massive scale, from churches and schools, to residential children’s homes, I wanted to write a thriller tackling this subject; not about the abuse itself, but focusing on the victims and the psychologically damaging effects.
Lethal Ties is about three friends who meet in a children’s home (1995) and one of them disappears.
Maisie and Joe have never discovered what happened to their friend, Sam. Yet both are traumatised. The pivotal scene in Lethal Ties is when these two characters cross paths after twenty years and they are two very different people.
About the characters
Maisie (32) works at West Sussex County Council (in the child care and fostering department). Fostered herself, she grew up with a caring couple, but at some point in her teens she started having nightmares, developed a phobia of forests and suffers panic attacks… but the one thing holding her back in life is her difficulty in forming relationships. This leads her towards therapy, as described in one of my previous posts FACING YOUR CHILDHOOD TRAUMAS.
Joe (32) was always meant to be a harder, more streetwise character. Where Maisie is successful in her life, he has fallen on hard times, been to prison, done drugs and ultimately ends up homeless… But one day Maisie finds him living in a beach shelter on Bognor seafront. Joe’s character was further inspired by Bognor resident Graham Levell, to whom the book is dedicated: See CONFRONTING THE DEMONS WITHIN.
The meaning behind the title
The word ‘TIES’ in the title refers to friendship but a reunion that triggers danger, hence the word ‘LETHAL,’ for there is a mystery at the heart of this story – and believe me, their enemies do not want them discovering the truth about what happened to Sam!
This becomes more apparent when Maisie starts to help Joe turn his life around.
A short book reading
I decided to give a reading at this point, a section that introduces both characters.
They are beginning to share memories about the children’s home but when Joe steps outside for a cigarette, a sinister black car lurks in the avenue – a suspense hook to keep people intrigued…
The psychological suspense genre
This is the genre my book is written in. My passion for reading psychological fiction began years ago, so I wanted to write one myself. These require a different approach, as opposed to writing crime thrillers. Less violence, more thinking, far more character driven stories, where you have to get deep inside people’s minds, then tap into their emotions.
The research
I spoke to people who worked in fostering, and people who had fostered. Then in September I mentioned my writing project to Dan Jones, who worked in children’s homes in the 1990s, the era of Maisie and Joe’s back story. Dan later told me about his best friend, Graham, who grew up in care and had some fascinating stories to tell, which included drink, drugs and homelessness. Yet he managed to turn his life around.
I didn’t want to say too much about our conversation in the Waverley Pub, Bognor but it seemed a perfect opportunity to invite Dan to take the stage and describe his work in children’s homes.
Dan gave an enlightening speech as can be replayed in this next video.
The event concluded with me raising a glass to Graham Levell
There were questions from the audience (to both me and Dan), the evening concluding with a thought-provoking and lively discussion. At the end of the video, you can hear my answers to the questions but not all the questions (the acoustics were not good enough). Last but not least, I brought along a box of paperbacks. I was delighted that everyone who attended bought a signed copy and I sold them all, a great result!
Conclusion and aftermath
I felt the book launch went well and it was good to have Dan there, who I feel has been very involved in this project. After Dan spoke, I mentioned my tribute to Graham Levell (and raised a glass in his honour as mentioned). As Dan said, if the worst hadn’t happened, he would have been there, but if he couldn’t be there physically, he was definitely there in spirit.
At the end of the evening, Dan bought four copies of Lethal Ties for members of Graham’s family. They were scattering his ashes next day. It seemed like an eerie coincidence in the aftermath of my book launch, as if the two were spiritually connected. Even stranger, the ceremony took place on the beach in Marine Drive West, a stone’s throw away from my home. Dan used to live nearby (1996-2013) and he told me that he and Graham spent a lot of time on the seafront there, philosophising and just hanging out, chatting, often at the sea edge, walking out and back with the tide… I hope his memory lives on.
What Next?
This has been on my mind for a long time, but I always imagined holding a book launch at the Waverley Pub. This place has special significance now, since it is where I interviewed Graham in September 2019. Furthermore, Dan and Graham’s family went there to raise a glass to him, (after scattering his ashes). I’d asked the management if I could hold a book signing, some weeks ago.
BOOK SIGNING AT THE WAVERLEY – AUGUST 22nd 2021 – from 2:00pm
This event is now booked. I’ll be in the snug room for the afternoon, happy to talk to visitors about Lethal Ties, set in Bognor Regis. It is here Maisie and her friend Jess visit on a Friday night, to listen to live music and socialise. And there is a scene in the snug room where Jess presses Joe to share his most intimate secrets…
“No one took much notice of them as they crept around to the other side of the bar; a secluded snug room that separated them from the main lounge.”
I look forward to meeting people, happy to sign more paperbacks and raise another glass to Graham Levell. I hope he rests in peace and long may his spirit live on.
It is rare I dedicate an entire post to a book review, but this deserves some recognition.
For the benefit of the unconverted, I’ll explain something about the series first. ‘Six Stories’ by Matt Wesolowski is unlike anything I have read. These novels do not follow a conventional story arc. They are unique. The what is going to happen has happened, but what lurks beneath the story? Six Stories is more of an aftermath, a series of podcasts, in which six people pick over the bones of what they think happened… it is up to you, the reader, to work it out.
DEITY (SIX STORIES #5)
Journalist, Scott King, reviews a case, interviews six different people over the death of an enigmatic pop star, Zach Crystal. Think ‘The Beatles,’ ‘The Bay City Rollers’ and it may call to mind thousands of hysterical fans – something akin to religion…
But with super stardom comes a sense of invincibility. Starting out with sister, Naomi, the ‘Crystal Twins’ hit fame in the 90s until eventually, Zach goes solo. Just before his death, darker rumours about the megastar begin to surface; chilling video footage of two girls trapped in a cave, sobbing and terrified. And in a case similar to Jimmy Savile’s, accusations of abuse come crawling out of the shadows.
Who is lying? Who is telling the truth and at what price?
This fascinating medley of view points inspired me to make some comparisons of my own, thoughts I’d like to share.
Episode 1: Monster Busters
You’ve heard of online grooming, internet predators using fake portraits on social media to attract victims. This phenomenon appeared in Matt’s second series, Hydra: Monster Busters (or pedophile hunters), adults who pose as children to entrap the online groomers – and if they agree to meet – game’s up! Here, we meet Ian Julius who claims to have caught Crystal trying to arrange meetings with underage girls but as the ultimate iconoclast, is turned into a figure of hate.
I had to ask myself why?
If someone is famous enough, they become almost untouchable, while genuine cases, where youngsters are abused sexually by their ‘heroes’ are not believed. The ‘accusers’ are threatened or compensated. Likewise, Ian the monster buster suffers trial by media, with sparse evidence to prove what he’s uncovered about the star. The upshot is Crystal turns the tide, suing the Monster Buster £millions after his claims go public.
Think Jimmy Savile, a man who covered up vile abuse against victims for decades and got away with it. Could this be a similar story?
Episode 2: Zach Crystal Stan
The second character Scott interviews disputes such claims, YouTuber and super fan, Sasha Stewart. In the first part of her podcast, Sasha lashes out at Crystal’s accusers. Dismisses their claims as ‘bullshit,’ quick to demonise them for exploiting the megastar to make money. In Sasha’s eyes, Crystal can do no wrong, a benevolent star who invited vulnerable girls in care to stay in his amazing woodland fairyland. He donated masses to charity and she is 100% dedicated to defending him.
Think Michael Jackson, another megastar who built an ultimate fantasy attraction.
This episode put forward a different perspective, one I could easily be swayed by. I never believed the stories about MJ, a child like figure, if not a modern day ‘Peter Pan’ who lived in a surreal bubble. The similarities are unnerving, victims offered huge sums in compensation. It begs the question were these stars easy targets to exploit?
Yet in another way I was reminded of the Rochdale abuse scandal. These too were ‘vulnerable girls,’ groomed and raped by a gang of Muslim men but instead of arresting the perpetrators, police feared the right wing backlash. Worst was the way the victims (some as young as 12) were portrayed, as if they were to blame.
Episode 3: The Secrets of the Whispering Wood
With extracts from a live interview between podcasts, this episode is quite spooky, but I’ve started to notice a common theme. All ‘Six Stories’ books include some folklore or monster in the background; in the first it was the hideous Marsh Hag, Nanna Wrack, ‘Black Eyed Kids’ in ‘Hydra’, the ‘wood-knockers’ in ‘Changeling’ and a vampire in ‘Beast.’ Deity unmasks a terrifying creature, known as a Frithghast, some form of apparition that takes the form of a deer, half rotted, exposing glowing red eyes and antlers.
Local groundskeeper, Craig, describes the legend; a man employed to manage Crystal’s estate, a vast area of forest in the Scottish Highlands, where the megastar created his famous treehouse lit with fairy lights. Craig has seen the fans Crystal invites here (12-15 year old girls from troubled home backgrounds, or in care). But whilst security is tight, there is something sinister in the atmosphere. Rumours of the Frithghast abound, alluding to the video footage at the start… and it’s a bit gruesome.
Nothing is conclusive, only that it ends when Scott discovers a note left on his windscreen, a lead to the next interview…
Episode 4: The Special Girls
Here we meet Marie Owen, mother of one of the girls who stayed at Crystal Forest. This I found a particularly sad episode, in so much as her daughter vanished to join a vigil of mourning fans. All I discovered in this episode was how obsessed and infatuated the girls became with their idol and it made me wonder if they were looking for an escape, or a crutch, in a similar way to religion.
This story is of a mother’s pain, someone who has tried everything possible to fulfil the her daughter’s dream, yet lost her in the process. Furthermore, she is vilified in the media – so I have to ask:
Why did the megastar choose to rehouse them, from a council estate to some exquisite mansion? Was this an act of kindness or a means of compensation to suppress something more sinister?
Episode 5: You Get to Go Home
Remember Skexxixx, from Hydra, a fictitious superstar in his own right? Describing the religious care home he was brought up in and manipulated into thinking he was evil, he tells of a secret alliance with the megastar, in so much as he was contracted to write his songs after the split from his sister. Conversely, he has also recognised a darkness in him.
“Something evil lived inside that man. Something cold.”
There is an unusual thread to this story, one that intrigues me, that when Zach Crystal went solo, he and Skexxixx formed an almost symbiotic relationship and he dated his sister, Naomi. Throughout this podcast he reveals that Zach was no angel and no genius so how did he became almost God-like?
This naturally leads into a discussion about the victims – or ‘accusers’ as they are called with a very interesting play on words: “If I punched you in the face right at this moment and you called the cops, you’d be the victim of an assault by Skexxixx; you wouldn’t be ‘Scott King the Skexxixx accuser.’”
This once again highlights the power surrounding the megastar.
Episode 6: Being Nobody
There are many strings to this story; a disgraced star, the unaccountable death of his friend, James Cryer, in the forest, a terrifying legend, accusations of former fans, the enigma surrounding Crystal’s temporary disappearance, a live TV interview in which he announced a sudden come-back and finally his demise.
Zach Crystal’s woodland mansion and tree house were destroyed in a fire, where it is believed that he too, perished. But the loose ends floating around in the ether are too numerous, to an extent that no one really has a clue what happened.
I am not going to say much about Episode 6 but it blew me away; the man behind the mask revealed, the truth of his death and that of his friend explained in a manner that ties up the entire mystery. After reading all episodes, this book concludes with such a brilliant twist, I cannot tell you how chilled I feel…
It’s been a while since I mentioned writing, especially my current work in progress (WIP).
This standalone novel is a psychological thriller set in 2015 located in my home county of Sussex.
Sadly my writing took a nose dive in 2019 when I lost all confidence. I started the book in March 2019 but then things went a bit wobbly. It was like learning to ride a bike again. As soon as I made some progress, I would read it back and shake my head. Stop. Edit. Have another stab at it and still it didn’t engage! Grrrr! I was tearing my hair out with frustration, I even shed tears, thinking the creative power in my brain had been switched off. Even when we took a holiday in the most beautiful part of France, I read some good psychological thrillers to see if I could figure out where it was going wrong. I was inspired enough to embark on another complete re-write. But then the dreaded Coronavirus struck, leaving me so anxious, I was unable to move forward again.
Outline Synopsis
Joe, Maisie, Sam. We were three kids in a care home, too young to protect ourselves. Three friends who were inseparable until the night Sam went missing.
The story is centred around a group of fictitious children’s homes that existed in London in the 90s. Maisie, a professional woman at 32, has psychotherapy, unable to understand what lies at the root of her recurring nightmares and panic attacks.
Joe meanwhile, has led a troubled life from serving time in prison to being homeless. When the two characters cross paths in 2015, they recall memories of the strange parties they were taken to by the home’s sinister owner, Mr Mortimer… but what happened to Sam? 20 years ago he vanished, never to be seen again.
Yet as Joe tries to turn his life around, he is subject to a campaign of online abuse that makes them wonder if their enemies are still around – until a police investigation is launched.
Back in the writer’s chair
By mid April it struck me I needed to take a different approach; look at the nature of the police investigation at the heart of the story. Going through the chapters, I identified which parts needed research and further delighted to get some help. Speaking to a senior police officer who worked on similar cases to the one I am writing about, I have found a new direction. So I finally thrashed out the nuts and bolts of the investigation
With a brand new focus, the next hurdle was getting inside the heads of my characters. They took a while to come out, especially Maisie. So by the time I was immersed in a second re-write, I drafted her scenes in first person, something that enabled me to think like her, imagine her life and feel her anxiety (something which comes naturally.)
Joe’s character has been easier. Writing his part in 3rd person, he is a likeable rogue with fire in his belly; an angry rebellious young man at the pinnacle of his life. Now all he wants is justice.
Last of all, I wanted to be able to picture my characters which is where Pinterest came in useful. You only have to key something as obscure as ‘auburn hair’ in your search and dozens of faces appear. I found the right faces for both Maisie and Joe (depicted as Jack Falahee), as well as their childhood friend Sam.
Joe, Maisie, Sam.
We were three kids in a care home, too young to protect ourselves.
Three friends who were inseparable until the night Sam went missing.
The remainder of the story
I have now drafted out a huge part of the story and about to tackle the final phase. But with a full synopsis worked out, I think I have an adequate foundation to complete a first draft. Wish me luck because if I succeed I’ll be looking for beta readers and an editor.
I’ve seen lots of fellow authors rediscover their writing passion during these strange times and hope this will be the start of something promising. That aside, I’ve really enjoyed getting back into it.
I am a writer but a reader too. Reading brings me so much pleasure it got me thinking about what I look for in a novel.
There are many great writers out there but reading is subjective (a little like music, TV and food) where our tastes vary. For example the type of literature that wins the Booker Prize is rarely likely to end up on my reading list. Many years ago, I belonged to a book club and whilst I enjoyed some titles, others I found too heavy, written in a style I didn’t like, had horrible characters or were grindingly boring, to the point where I gave up. Reading should be a pleasure, so why waste precious reading stuff you hate?
With no desire to be ‘intellectually challenged’ I have identified the one vital ingredient that keeps me turning the pages. A book has to be engaging. I want loveable characters who I will gun for and a writing style that is moving, thrilling and stirs my emotions. A good book is one that stays in my mind for a long time after I have finished it.
I’m not going to reveal my TBR list – nor am I going to compile a list of my favourite books from last year – I will save all that for another post.
But I would like to set a challenge…
Re-written below are three passages from three different novels but which one do people find the most engaging?
Extract 1
It was a baking hot day and Sammy wondered what the lads were getting up to in Romford. Some of the clothes they chored they kept for themselves. Anything else, they sold to Bob the Fleece who drank in the Beacon.
Usually, Sammy and his pals would spend their ill gotten gains on records, booze and cigarettes. But these past few weeks they’d be saving every penny. Next weekend was the Dagenham Town Show, the biggest local event of the year. The fairground was awesome and it had been Sammy’s idea they club all their money together so they could go on as many rides as possible. The fair stayed for a couple of weeks after the actual Town Show and it was a cool place to hang out. Sammy loved the atmosphere of the playground. An air of excitement surrounded it and he couldn’t wait until next weekend.
Extract 2
The effects were sweet while they lasted. Her mind filled with clouds and she became oblivious to everything, her limbs like liquid as they took her upstairs and locked her up again. She sensed she was in her room, lying on the bed, covered in a blanket. The lamp was still on, casting a pretty pink haze around the walls; the noises around her distant, fading in and out subliminally as she hovered on the edge of sleep. She seemed to be floating.
Engulfed in softness, she felt as if a layer of cotton wool had been wrapped around her. Her mind started swimming – gentle memories. She could picture her mother with her soft brown eyes and warm smile, the chime of her voice as she sang along to songs on the radio. There were times she had kissed her and tucked her in at bedtime with her teddy bear.
The next memories conveyed the protective presence of her father; days when he took her to the park to swirl her around on the roundabout or push her on the swings – a trip to Southend-on-Sea with rides at the fairground and ice creams. Like episodes in a TV drama she let the memories run on. She felt as if she was re-living her childhood with the knowledge that she could never have those days again…
Extract 3
So when we talk about these horrible things she did to me when we were kids, it automatically begs a question, doesn’t it? Did I have anything to do with her death? – I haven’t asked that question.
You don’t need to. It’s there, between us. It’s hanging over everything; it has since she died. The messed-up little brother. I’ve never told anyone about the things she did – for that reason; that question would rear its head. It’s like when someone dies and the first suspect is the partner. That’s fucked up, but they’re also the most likely killer. That’s what we are as a species, as a society. We’re these strange mutant apes that got too big for our boots and spend our time killing each other. Did I kill my sister? No. I didn’t know her well enough to kill her, if you get what I mean. We were like strangers. I rarely visited Inverness, and she never came down to London to see me. It was like we were colleagues who’d worked together and gone our separate ways.
Some names have been changed to disguise the books they are but I’d love to know your thoughts. So please feel free to comment.
Rosebrook Chronicles has been produced as an audiobook with FREE codes available for listeners
It is always exciting to announce a new venture. Writing has been slow this year but with the publication of Rosebrook Chronicles The Hidden Stories in July, followed by a successful blog tour, I wasn’t sure which direction to take next.
Talking to fellow author Rosemary Noble (who launched her own audio book this year, Search for the Light), I wondered whether to dare dip my toes into unknown territory.
I love audio books and enjoy listening to them as an alternative to music. Favourite titles include Six Stories by Matt Wesolovki and more recently, Silent Victim by Caroline Mitchell. I also enjoyed Rosemary’s audiobook which was entertaining and moving.
Audible on my i-pad, perfect for holidays.
Creating my first Audiobook
I’ve discovered this is quite easy to do yourself using ACX, a company affiliated to Amazon. So with nothing to lose I decided to look into it, following the steps online to begin my first project. To get started, you search for your title Amazon title and link it to the project. Once you have found it, claim your book and this gets the ball rolling.
Step 2, decide how you want to produce your audiobook. I chose the option where someone would narrate it for me, as opposed to producing it myself. Next I was able to specify from a list of options; genre, preferred voice, accents, age and tone. You are also prompted to provide an audition script. After that, it becomes a waiting game…
Auditions
I never expected to hear anything but within two days I received messages of two auditions. How exciting! The first was a professional trained actress whose auditions include the highly acclaimed ‘Handmaiden’s Tale’ but professional does not come cheap.
The second narrator, Paul Metcalfe, had a pleasing voice, which was perfect for this project and a mixture of accents that suited all characters. Furthermore, I thought it would be more appropriate to have a male narrator, given the characters are mostly men.
Furthermore ACX offers a royalty share program which costs nothing. Paul was quite happy to go along with this offer and over the next few months did a great job narrating the stories. In fact the amount of work and commitment he gave to this audiobook was overwhelming at times. The short story format worked well and I was able to suggest edits along the way.
It was an absolutely joy to hear my characters come to life, where parts of the story and the dialogue seemed incredibly real. I listened to snippets at various times of day, on my i-pod while driving, on my laptop and on holiday and as the book developed it got better and better. The end result is I have an audiobook to be proud of.
A huge thanks is owed to Paul for the time investment and enthusiasm he put into this.
To Launch Rosebrook Chronicles, I have FREE audible codes to give away
The next stage of this project is to get some honest reviews on Audible. If you would like a free listen, please leave a comment on this post or complete the form below with your email address and I will send a code to you direct.
Bounty Referral Program.
If you are considering joining Audible as a member for $7.99 month and want to download my audiobook as your first purchase, follow this link and I will credit you with a £10 Amazon voucher as a thank you.
If you love audiobooks, you will enjoy being a member; one credit per month to fill your device up with new stories.
You were one of two brothers in need of a loving home. When we met you at the rescue Centre in Liss, the moment you trotted through the door, your chocolate brown eyes met mine and I felt an instant bond. What a wonderful day that was when they told us we could adopt you.
Eleven years later, it feels hard to imagine where that time has gone but these are just a sample of the memories we hold in our hearts for you.
You loved your walks, especially on the beach. Winter took on a special meaning, the days getting shorter, as you bathed in the sunset.
Gorgeous winter sunsets on Bognor Beach.
Then came the snow, a thick white carpet in West Park where you played football with other dogs. I’ll never forget how much you loved that baggy old football!
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In the summer you became a big part of our holidays. Our first was in Dulverton with my family, days when you loved kids throwing stones in the river and we watched with pleasure as you dived in to retrieve them. I never met a dog who so much enjoyed swimming either, seeing your little head bobbing along in the river when we stayed at Sandy Balls in the New Forest.
Barney after his swim. We sourced a doggy bathrobe (though I was reminded of the wolf in Little Red Riding Hood dressed as Grandma.)
Our favourite holidays were in the UK as you were a very special part of them. Ever since you became a part of our life we explored new places; Scotland, Cumbria, Yorkshire, Derbyshire, the Cotswolds, Cornwall and Wales.
Barney got to ride on a steam train in Yorkshire.
Securely nestled in a holiday cottage.
In a dog friendly cafe in Hebdon Bridge.
Fun and games in Camarthen, Wales.
The best ideas for my novels arose when we were walking along the beach. I still write. Yet this morning I was aware the huge empty space on the floor where you should have been lying. I’ll forever cherish the companionship you gave me in the morning.
It seems strange not to hear your incessant barking when people knock on the door. You always yearned to protect us, a devotion that manifested itself in the way your eyes used to follow us.
The silence in our house feels very deep right now but your presence resonates in our thoughts.
We miss you dearly old friend. You gave us eleven wonderful years and we will treasure every single one of them.
Publication Day is getting close for noir suspense saga, ‘Rosebrook Chronicles, the Hidden Stories’ with a FREE short story to download.
Rosebrook Chronicles is a series of interlocking stories which fuse into a compelling saga. People inspire me and while my favourite genres are thrillers and suspense, I like stories that delve deep into the human psyche.
Abused as teenagers, three young adults strive to repair their broken lives; Robin has ambitions to rise to power, while orphaned siblings, Beatrice and Peter, yearn to find one another.
Deeper stories of these characters drive the plot, intended to keep the reader emotionally hooked. What lies at the heart of Robin’s political power play? Why are Peter and Beatrice kept apart for so long and is there something more sinister behind their segregation?
A dark suspenseful drama from the 70s to the 90s, this is a unique blend of social history and domestic noir.
New Edits thanks to my Beta Readers
This book has passed under the eagle eye of four beta readers, successful, talented authors in their own right. I would like to convey my thanks to Ray Green, Joel Hames, Rose Edmunds and last but by not least, best selling historic fiction author Beryl Kingston, for taking the time to read my book.
Inspiration
Completing some extensive edits (to address points raised my beta readers), I was pondering over the launch date. I approached a few literary agents, since Rosebrook Chronicles was quite different from my previous work. Writing this book, I found a distinctive voice for each character and endeavoured to explore the deeper issues of child abuse, the impact on victims and the way it shapes people’s lives.
It’s been interesting but I know what it feels like to be suppressed by controlling people, the power of lies and of not being believed.
This leads me to mention the books I enjoy reading, all psychological thrillers.
This is one of the most original stories I have read. This book certainly opened my eyes; a story of gossip with terrible consequences, how one rumour can unleash suspicion and any one of your friends could be a killer. An absorbing book with a heart-stopping twist.
This is the first book I’ve read by Dreda Say Mitchell but Oh Boy what a good read! The secrets of the past are drip fed through the plot. Why is Lisa so drawn to this house? Who is the mystery man who left the suicide note and could her life too be under threat? Brilliant.
A crime thriller packed with psychological suspense, where you start to question who the victim really is. Amy is forced to confront her past, to get into the head of a sinister kidnapper. What ensues is a gripping game of cat and mouse, a race against time to save the victims.
I am currently reading this and utterly hooked. It is not just the beautiful descriptions of the Lake district I am enjoying but the pure unadulterated suspense. I am dying to know what is causing Leona’s panic attacks, a phenomenon I can relate to. A real page turner.
To conclude, there are some bloody good psychological thrillers out there at the moment. But aspiring to their standard is something I dream of!
FREE SHORT STORY
So let others be the judge with a FREE story to download and read at your leisure.
Chapter 14: The Bracelet can be downloaded either as a PDF or mobi file… and if you enjoyed this short story and want to read more about the lives of Bibi and her daughter, my book can be pre-ordered from Amazon.
Please note: the mobi file cannot be delivered wirelessly to your Kindle as with Amazon. You need to email the file to your device (the address can be found in your Amazon account under devices) or use the Kindle app on your computer.
There are many great writers out there but reading is subjective (a little like music, TV and food) where our tastes vary. For example the type of literature that wins the Booker Prize is rarely likely to end up on my reading list. Many years ago, I belonged to a book club and whilst I enjoyed some titles, others I found too heavy, written in a style I didn’t like, had horrible characters or were grindingly boring, to the point where I gave up. Reading should be a pleasure, so why waste precious reading stuff you hate?
Same Face Different Place 