Keith Publications: More Free Reads

Keith Publications – publishers of ‘Art Class’ have more free reads available on 31 October (happy Halloween!).  Visit Keith Publications llc at amazon.com to try these:

Thou Shalt Kill

Case Closed

Dead Water

Desecrated Ring

Insidious

Masquerade

On To The Next

The Warlock’s Woman

Love Sport

Enjoy!…

Keith Publications: Free Reads

Keith Publications (publishers of ‘Art Class’) have two anthologies available for FREE from Amazon until the end of 26 October.  They are:  A Shot of Love and Persephone's Song.

Enjoy…

How not to do it

I finished reading a novel this week.

That wouldn’t normally be the cause for a blog post, but this book has been a struggle.  I must have taken me four months to get through.  I brought it ‘blind’ after reading the blurb on Amazon, with the promise of Celtic gods, supernatural horror, Scottish scenery and, to be honest, the prospect of a bit of blood.

I’ve been fortunate to meet a few self-published authors recently.  While I’ve decided self-publishing isn’t for me, I’ve come to respect indie authors for their drive and self-confidence.

Having said that, independent publishing is also a way poorly written books can find their way into print.  The novel I inflicted on my Kindle was one a traditional publisher would surely never touch.

It was, though, an eye-opener to read something so badly written.  I could certainly see why some things are frowned on in writing:

• ‘Head hopping’ (or switching viewpoints).  Viewpoint seemed to change several times a page.  I found it hard to focus on a character, or to relate to a character;
• Style.  After having dangling participles thrust at me time after time I can see why editors dislike them and why they’re technically incorrect anyway.  That’s only the tip of the iceberg of my technical gripes;
• I got fed up with spelling mistakes and simple errors in grammar.  Normally these would be taken care of by an editor.  I appreciate now how distracting they can be;
• Characterisation.  I couldn’t tell the characters apart, or understand who they were or what drove them.  That meant I couldn’t build any empathy toward them.  I certainly didn’t care when a couple got killed;
• Plot.  There wasn’t one, really, apart from people dodging random monsters all the time.  That made it monotonous.

So, it was an education to read a book that had a lot of the flaws writers are told to avoid.  I’ve not always grasped why some things are considered bad writing, and this book helped educate me!

Back in the Saddle

I’m emerging from a few weeks where my online presence and my productivity have both been limited.  That’s been due to a (wonderful) holiday, a busy period with the day job, and helping my in-laws move.

Hopefully I’m back to normal now, and here’s a brief rundown of what I’m doing at the moment.

1.  ‘The Torridon Witches’ was published while I was on holiday.  It was a fun but surreal experience having the launch chat in a remote Welsh inn with gammon and chips followed by a gooey pudding – and of course a Welsh Ale.

2.  I’ve submitted ‘Footholder’.  (This is a novel retelling a Welsh story about a king who will die unless either he is at war, or his foot is in a maiden’s lap.  Despite the strange premise it’s a wonderful story, and I can only hope I’ve done it the justice it deserves.)

3.  I’m wring a new novel based around a World War One archaeological dig.  It’s more science fiction than fantasy/horror, and I’m enjoying both the change of genre and time period.

4.  A tentative start on a novel based on Irish myth. 

So, there we are.  I may not have been online, but I’ve been busy, honest!