The Final Ramble 2019

Life is too short not to care about the future of our environment. Even if the majority of us have adult problems in an adult world those problems will be minuscule compared to what’s coming if we don’t all do something. You can say what you like about Greta; she’s just a kid and what does she really know? That’s an unfair question to ask simply because it puts someone at a disadvantage due to age. I only know what I know because I have lived longer than her and even then it isn’t much. I’ve been through that early twenties phase of thinking I know everything and having an answer for everything. Now when somebody asks me something I think about it first before realising I don’t know. Trust me when I say this; I’ve spent the majority of my life figuring out I don’t know a lot, but the answers, I know where to find them. And what exactly are we going to do about this girl who is just trying to spread a message? Give her a break, put what you think about her and the way she delivers her message aside, but embrace the message that we need to do something about the future of this world.

Life is too short for grudges and hatred. That person you think you ‘hated’ for years upon years is a person also. They feel just like you, inside they might actually be willing to let go like you and I’ll tell you now, hating long term is bad for everyone’s soul. Of course there will be situations where forgiveness may never see the light of day and I understand that too but it’s important to move away from a grudge. Time has a way of moving a lot of water under that bridge we call life.

Life is too short to be unhealthy. This is a serious one for me because over the past few years I’ve had my fair share of ‘health stuff’ to deal with and I still am. This doesn’t just refer to physical health but mental health also. Do what you have to in order to help your own mind – it is our greatest wonder and our greatest feature. The heart comes in at a close second, it’s a muscle so use it, walk, run, yoga, take the stairs, do what you’ve got to do. Eat well but eat healthily and wisely. I’ve taken the majority of meat from my diet in recent times and spent over 100 days of this year alcohol free. The whole meat thing may even help the environment and well no booze equals more smiles trust me.

Life is too short not to help others like you. This year I have read some incredible independently published books. I’ve travelled to different lands and worlds via those words, met many characters who have faced many diverse adversities and I don’t regret reading even one word of it. People have been thankful for my review efforts and I’m only doing what I would want others to do for me.

Be safe, be healthy and have fun this festive season. To paraphrase Doc Brown; ‘your future is what ever you want it to be, so make it a good one…’

To everyone who has ever graced this blog with their eyes and taken in just a few of my words; Thank you. See ya’ll next year! (I might have one last book review before the year is out) 

 

The Relic Spell By Jimena I. Novaro – Review

A gripping tale of magic and sorcery with an important message…

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From the very start of this story I found myself immersed into an original and intricately crafted world of sorcery that is both full of action and intrigue. Jimena Novaro has written a book that also captures and reflects on modern times with a distinct rich and poor divide in the setting of ‘Port Monica’.

We are introduced to main character and hero ‘Orion Tamura’ who is perhaps the only powerful sorcerer left in town. By day he’s a regular school kid from a not so privileged family that includes two younger siblings and a mother to look out for. By night he is joined by best friend ‘Max’ and together they fight demons – there are a host of creative, fun and chilling creatures they face off throughout the story. On the surface their relationship appears to be of old friends, or even sorcerer and warrior but for Orion he wants more and Max already has someone else, this makes for a conflicting scenario our hero must face as well as the apparent dangers that already lurk in their home town.

There’s a mysterious back story to Orion’s father who like many other sorcerers vanished during the ‘Phyrian War’, we only get snippets of what happened and I imagine more of the ‘war’ will be explored in future stories. Much of the history in this book is what makes everything so well detailed and thought out. I must give credit to the author for bringing to life a world full of depth and even realism for the genre.

A powerful spell is unleashed that threatens to ravage ‘Port Monica’ and Orion begins his journey to face the evil that is behind it. Along the way he is helped by part demon fighters (Elsa comes to mind), fellow sorcerers (Julian) and even his ex girlfriend in what is an enjoyable voyage of revelations into this bold world of magic where ‘natural energy’ and ‘demon energy’ are pitted against one another.

It’s very clear to see Jimena Novaro has spent much time writing a story that feels personal and inviting at the same time. The book contains so much for a reader to enjoy, from a wealth of great characters to a story where something is always happening; if there isn’t action, there’s tension, intrigue or mystery.

Novaro even pays tribute to her own Argentinian routes which is a nice personal touch, while also reflecting on modern society and creating a main character that is bisexual and another character who prefers to be referred as ‘they’ – a first I have known in any book and a huge step in the right direction for not only story telling but the world.

The Relic Spell is a story about so much more than sorcery and magic, from family, friends to politics and even society its highly enjoyable!

5 Stars – This was a great read! I would like to thank the author for providing me with an ARC. Reviews left on both Goodreads and Amazon UK 

The Relic Spell is out now! 

 

Weekly Ramble #54

I need an agent. That is my conclusion if I want to achieve what I want to achieve. With every book my following goes from strength to strength and without disparaging any of my supporters, it’s not enough. My reach or lack of it belittles what I have achieved in writing. Without sounding high and mighty, my efforts as a story teller are falling on deaf ears. 

As a person who started this at absolute zero I cannot help but look back and be damn proud of where I am. But if this dream of mine was a house I built from the foundations, I’m still siting in the footings of the basement. For the stories I have written and the efforts I have put in, the return if I were to look at this as a business person is lacklustre. The board of directors would have shut me down after book 2’s release.

It’s conflicting because ‘business’ is not what this journey is about. I’ve written 5 books. Every single one them became a huge learning experience in both publishing and the written word. Some incredible folks have helped me get them out there; editors, cover artists and the like. Reviewers have kept my belief alive. For all these efforts in vain I am a story teller and I know what a story is. You can only learn to write stories by finding it within yourself. Anyone can be taught grammar, punctuation, spelling and all of the functions of language, but to be able to pen a story from beginning, middle to end with everything in between, that is what I learned while putting together 5 books.

And now after everything I set out to do, even in creating this blog, I am back where I started – looking for a literary agent. But this time I am armed with experience and the know how of story telling. The times have changed and everything I thought I knew about getting an agent, the last time I queried circa 2013, has changed. Apparently science fiction isn’t looked down on anymore. It just so happens to be the genre I am going to use to find an agent. But I need a book and I’ve got one. This year I drafted ‘Jack Thorn’ a story, the story that got me into writing. It’s funny how things go full circle. And as I said, I need an agent…

Have you queried to agents recently? Any good responses? Let me know via the comments, this is our journey, not just mine… 

The Irishman – Review

Martin Scorsese delivers with his impeccable standard while managing to make a story heartfelt and a tribute to a timeless genre by way of some fantastic performances…

I haven’t seen Joe Pesci in a film since probably ‘Casino’ and even after all that time he hasn’t lost any of his presence and the same can be said about everything else in what is arguably the Netflix film of the year

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For a gangster epic ‘The Irishman’ feels subtle in some senses, especially for Scorsese who is known for that ‘Goodfellas’ style of telling you it how it is and who could forget the fourth wall breaking style that he adopted yet again in ‘the Wolf of Wall Street’.

In the earlier stages of this film it takes a little while to work out that this is the story of a Henchman/Problem Solver/ ‘House Painter’ known as Frank Sheeran portrayed by Robert De Niro who may be the greatest actor of a generation. It is on this journey that Frank delves deeper and deeper into the world of ‘bosses’ and he meets Russell Bufalino (Pesci); a somewhat quiet but powerful type. In this world Frank becomes renowned for ‘problem solving’ and it isn’t long until his perhaps not so reputable ways of handling business is noticed. Al Pacino plays the man (Jimmy Hoffa) who notices Frank’s efforts and they develop a bodyguard/adviser friendship.

It’s obvious to see these three greats of cinema have aged but that doesn’t take anything away from their performance, in fact they may be older but arguably better than ever at portraying the characters they did. There’s a combination of computer generated effects and make up that works well in showing their age and perhaps youth. This is a story that is told over time.

For a Scorsese film it runs long but with a sense of freedom this time around. Scenes of dialogue feel extended almost as if the camera starts rolling prior to the plot lines being anywhere near said. The truth is I never noticed the film’s length even if I did watch this in 2 sittings (I go to bed early on weekdays, it’s how I stay looking this good…). Not once did my attention waver and the story felt somewhat final in some senses like this could be it for a generation of gangster films like this. Easily I could imagine a story like this being turned into a serial of five or so episodes. The three hour plus running time would let you watch it that way.

Those who are familiar with Scorsese’s works will thoroughly enjoy this, a film with cinema worthy presence. Anyone else I would recommend it to just for the level of performances that compliment a great story. I enjoyed it.

9/10

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Book Review – The Ghost Beside Me by Lee Hall

A tip of the cap to the awesome Mullen Crafts for this sweet review!

Mullen Crafts

Book: The Ghost Beside Me (Available on Amazon*)
Author: Lee Hall

The Ghost Beside Me by [Hall, Lee]
Neville has carefully crafted his life to keep social interactions to a minimum. He works as an accounts clerk, leads an introverted life, boards in lodgings where he can very much keep to himself as he desires. His only friend Humphry Hardwick, is very much the opposite. Loud, brash, jolly, outgoing, and always asking if Neville has met that special lady yet. Hardwick is convinced a lady in his life is all Neville needs to turn from solitary loner who hides among numbers, into a social butterfly.

Neville keeps a diary of his wearisome and dreary life. Particularly as his new lodgings seem to become that little bit less wearisome, and certainly a little less dreary. He begins to question if his self enforced life of solitude has sent him on a downward spiral of insanity. Or is…

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MIND: Two Short Tales of Horror by E.H Night – Review

Two deep descriptive accounts that play with the imagination…

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For two quite short tales E.H Night has proven that sometimes less can be more, especially in this capacity for this is a reading experience that is unique and imaginative. The descriptive and deep style of writing has a way of surrounding the reader while also giving plenty of room for the imagination to run wild. It’s almost like these stories simply suggest what is happening and our imagination’s fill in the rest – this is a form of story I hold in the highest regard.

Although both of these stories are very different they are linked by their sensibility to the environment of the earthy surroundings. I managed to read both in thirty minutes and I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for something different, descriptive and on the darker side.

5 Stars – Reviews via Goodreads and Amazon UK 

-| Mini Paranormal Romance Review… The Ghost Beside Me by Lee Hall |-

Here’s a very recent review of my just released paranormal romance ‘The Ghost Beside Me’ which is available to download for less than $2…
A huge thanks to the awesome Feed the Crime Blog for the kind words…

Feed The Crime

So if you haven’t heard me talk about Lee Hall this year then I’ve no idea where you have been! Lee contacted me back in March to see if I would like to review his book Darke Blood which I really enjoyed! I then read and reviewed The Teleporter which I adored, it has made it’s way into my most surprising books of the year list.

When it comes to The Ghost Beside Me Lee asked if I would be a BETA Reader (my first ever time) and I just fell in love with the story it’s a paranormal romance which as you know is not usually my jam however I read this in one sitting!

Let’s just get started…

“Even in the deepest darkest of voids one can find something truly worth having in life, or death…”

The paranormal is a subject that E. Neville holds with the utmost…

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Red Dead Redemption 2 – Review

A stunning visual spectacle with a truly beautiful story…

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I don’t play many video games these days. My time is valuable and so if I am going to pick up my playstation controller it has to be for a good reason and this year Red Dead Redemption 2 has been just that.

Rockstar have put together a game that is not only a spectacle visually with a stunning looking backdrop of emerging America but they have constructed arguably the best story a game has ever had. The ballad of main character Arthur Morgan is one of a man trying to find his way in a world becoming more and more civilized by the day. Gunslingers and outlaws are becoming a thing of the past and the group Morgan belongs to are looking for that final payday. He’s a real character in a sense that he has a detailed history, believable flaws and even health problems all of which that just add to the realism of a story that is both emotional and beautifully tragic at the same time. The old west can be a brutal place and it spits you out as a player sometimes while also being an immensely rich and a fun environment to play in. GTA of the wild west it is not, although some will say it is, RDR2 is more complex in a lot of ways.

I spent much time doing everything but main story line stuff and even side story line stuff, much like GTA but with less intentions to commit criminal acts, in this game being wanted is a pain in the ass. You can turn your attention to pretty much everything that is interactive in the world. You can craft, fish, hunt and generally just live in the world. Your choice to be honorable or not is always held in account. There are only a few real drawbacks, as a player you have to ride horses quite often and the mechanics of combat can be clunky.

There are some points in the game where this is a truly cinematic experience which is complimented by the rich soundtrack. Galloping along with seven or so fellow outlaws by your side will make it as authentic as the Magnificent Seven or the many Clint Eastwood films in the genre.

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The characters that join you are one of the strengths that help carry a main story so rich with drama, action, deception and so much more.

For everything RDR2 is the one thing it isn’t is a disappointment. I spent five months gradually playing out what is an incredible and sometimes poignant story that at moments brought a tear to my eye. Games are becoming more and more cinematic while also retaining the charm of being a solo experience although many times my better half would happily watch. There is no medium out there like a video game and the satisfaction that comes with it is hard to recreate elsewhere. If anything this sort of thing is an escape from our own world, like all good story telling RDR2 is very effective at it!

9.5/10  – stands shoulder to shoulder with the likes of Fallout, Skyrim and of course GTA

The Ghost Beside Me Official Book Launch!

Yeah I don’t do lavish book launches… you’re over there and I’m here so unless we do some kind of Skype/LAN party this is as good as it gets!

My 5th book ‘The Ghost Beside Me’ is officially launched today, with the paperback going live which you can grab on Amazon for less than $5

The e version is less than $2!

I am more than happy to send you a free e-copy in exchange for an honest review!

 

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I think we can all agree that Design For Writers have put together an incredible cover! 

Already some well read and well cultured types have downloaded it when it became available a few days previous – shout out to those awesome people! Within hours of being added to Goodreads we already got a review! Thank you to awesome author E.H Night for the rating! 

Review

2019 has been a damn important year for me in terms of interaction. I’ve been acquainted with so many awesome fellow authors and bloggers whom I am proud to call my friend. This book launch is dedicated to all of you who have proven to me that this whole writing journey is worth sticking with!

For those who do grab a copy, remember to leave a review! Peace out, rock and roll man! 

Book links: (I should probably include them somewhere) 

UK PAPERBACK LINK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/171328829X

UK E- BOOK LINK:  https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0825DY6VB

INTERNATIONAL PAPERBACK LINK: https://www.amazon.com/dp/171328829X

INTERNATIONAL E-BOOK LINK: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0825DY6VB

 If you aren’t UK or Amazon.COM this book should still be available wherever you are! 

I can send you a free e-copy in exchange for a review! Hit me up in the comments!