Indie authors - is writing that series the key?

Like most indie-authors I’m looking for the “secret of sales".  How do I get the word out, how do I attract those followers I need.  And yes I know it’s not all about selling, at least not for me.  I enjoy the writing and I get a real kick out of people who tell me they’ve read my books and enjoyed them.  In many ways I just want more people to enjoy them and if I can make a little on the positive side of expenses:sales balance sheet that would be great. 

For the complete blog follow this link

Who and what influenced me as a writer?

I was asked what influenced me as writer recently.  At first I thought it was an easy thing to answer.  I’ve said before that Arthur C Clarke’s Childhood’s End is what got me hooked on science fiction, the ending blew my teenage mind.  That lead me to reading more Clarke and Asimov then authors such as Greg Bear and Ben Bova.  Also, I grew up  at the time of the Apollo missions and the moon landings.  As a young lad, how could that not captivate my imagination?  Then later films such as 2001, Close Encounters and Star Wars were taking science fiction on the screen from clunky B Movie status to the mainstream.

However, having given my standard answer it occurred to me that these were things that had sparked my interest as a consumer of science fiction, and later fantasy through authors such as Raymond Feist and David Eddings.  However, had they influenced my writing?  In terms of the subject matter, yes.  I have adapted themes that those writers have explored before me (and I presume they adapted from earlier writers).   As for my actual writing, perhaps much less than Imagined.  They may have placed that spark, the desire to write.  However, as to influencing my writing that comes later, from the authors I’ve read just before and while I’ve been writing.

For the complete blog follow this link

What's wrong with a nice story?

The prompt for this post was a film I watched recently, Salmon fishing is the Yemen.  I knew it had good crits and it’d been on my “to see” list for a long time.  From the first few minutes to the end I enjoyed it.  It was a gentle tale, with an element of humour and even a bit of romance.  There was some violence, however basically it was a “nice” (and I know as authors the word “nice” is something to be avoided) story well told.

For the complete blog follow this link 

Guest post - The Timelost by Chris Turner

Hi,

This is the first time I've run a guest post.  What prompted me to run this one was the combination of the written word and sound.  If you follow the The Timelost link below you'll see what I mean.   I haven't come across this before and found it fascinating.  Anyway, I'll let Chris tell you about it:

Just follow this link  

Artificial Intelligence - should we be worried?

There’s a lot in the media at the moment concerning Artificial Intelligence, some hailing it as the next industrial revolution, others as Armageddon waiting to happen.  I know science fiction over the years has been full of the latter.  However, as any writer will tell you a good story needs conflict and in sci-fi what’s better than man vs. machine?.  I also know that Stephen Hawking is suggesting we, or at least some of us, need to get of this planet before the end of the century and find a new home before AI becomes too powerful.  I just don’t see why it has to be that way.  Why does it have to be the alarmist view?  Although, I admit neither I nor the professor will be around at that time, mores the pity. 

For the complete blog follow this link: http://wp.me/p3ycbY-1KR 

A writer's resolutions for 2018

In my previous blog I reflected on what I'd learnt in 2017.  So now It’s time to look forward to a new year and make my writer's plans for 2018, a.k.a. resolutions.  I do this every year and yes, I do look back at them from time to time.  Like most of us some I have fulfilled, others have been partially met and some discarded along the way.  So are they worth it?  I think so.  It’s a good time to re-focus, to assess what I’m trying to do, what I want to achieve.

So for 2018:  For the complete blog follow the link 

Another year as a writer - time to reflect

Well, that’s almost it for 2017.  I don’t know whether it's because I'm a writer and there never seems to be enough time, or it’s just that I’m getting older (as everyone does of course).  However, I sure someone is sneaking days out my years while I’m not looking.  Still, it’s time to reflect, which I think it’s important, especially for an indie-author.  What have I done well and what could have done better?  Where have I stepped up to the plate and where have I shirked or side stepped issues?

For the complete blog - follow this link