Thursday 17 November 2016

New Release Date.

It's been a while since I posted anything here. In truth it's been a challenging few months for me on both a personal and professional front.

As you will have probably gathered, the original release date for "The Unwilling Recruit" has passed and the novel is still not available.  Well for reasons too numerous and convoluted to go into a decision was made between my publisher and myself to push back the release into the new year.

So, now the new official release date for my novel will be May 2nd 2017 and I would like to take this opportunity to assure my supporters that this date will not change and to offer my sincerest apologies for the delay.

Thank you all for your continued support.


Wednesday 21 September 2016

A Superb New Resource for Independent Authors

"TopShelf Magazine truly lives up to its name. An objective, incisive, and insightful journal focused on helping bookstores and libraries thrive. TopShelf offers a polished professionalism that rivals the trades and is a must read for booksellers looking for ways to broaden their market and boost sales, as well as authors and professionals looking to keep their finger on the pulse of the bricks-and-mortar book industry."

~ Jon Land
USA Today bestselling author of over 37 novels.

WANT YOUR BOOK SEEN BY THOUSANDS OF BOOKSTORES AND LIBRARIES?

TopShelf Magazine is a monthly buyers' guide for booksellers. Our highly selective vetting process showcases the best books from today's market, making TopShelf the most trusted source for news, reviews, and resources. We provide bookstores and libraries with the tools needed to help their business expand markets and increase revenue.

TopShelf Magazine is delivered FREE to bookstores and libraries all across the continental United States and is available FREE to anyone (including non-U.S. residents, booksellers, and libraries) in digital form, and in print for just the cost of shipping and handling.

It is our dedication to providing excellent marketing advice, trustworthy reviews, and connections with hundreds of invaluable resources that keeps booksellers and librarians coming back, and, which makes TopShelf Magazine an amazing place for authors to get noticed. There is no better place for your books to be listed.

Even better, TopShelf Magazine includes web, email, and social media marketing with every listing, no matter your budget. So you know your books are being seen by bookstores, libraries, and hundreds-of-thousands of readers throughout our growing network, where we send daily messages to hundreds-of-thousands of opt-in recipients.

TopShelf Magazine | Advertise | Become an Affiliate | Testimonials

Copyright 2016 TopShelf Indie Authors & Books, LLC

Thursday 7 July 2016

Editing - What to expect.

Having just completed the editing on my first novel "The Unwilling Recruit" I felt it was appropriate to share my experiences of this little publishing adventure so far.

In all honesty the experience wasn't as painful as I had imagined, although it did have its moments.  The whole process began with a nerve-wracking wait while a group of individuals I did not know sifted through my manuscript.  I did not know these people, we had never met, so I had no way to predict how they would respond to my little creation.  How much would they want to change?  Was I going to be looking at months of re-writing to bring the manuscript into line with their vision?  If so, how much of my own work would be left at the end of the process?

These questions weighed quite heavily on me during this waiting period.  Please keep in mind, at this point I was a complete novice when it came to both publishers and editors.  This was the first outing for me into the field of traditional publishing.  What was I getting into?

On the whole, and with hindsight, I would have to say that, for the most part, my fears were unfounded.  My publisher has turned out to be a very pleasant and understanding individual and the editors have been very generous with their comments on my manuscript.  Am I lucky in this regard?  I don't know.  I have no yardstick by which to measure these people or this publishing house.  What I can say is that I am, currently very happy here and, if things continue in this vein, I foresee a long and potentially fruitful relationship.

So, what have I actually had to do?

It goes without saying there were a lot of errors within the manuscript.  A whole host of typos and grammar issues were highlighted and seeing all of that red pen across my manuscript was, admittedly, a little discouraging at first.  Ultimately though, these were all elements that could be fixed quickly with very little fuss.

One thing I did not expect however, was the language issues.  I am an Englishman writing in my own language as you would expect.  My publisher is American.  It never occurred to me that our two countries would perceive and use the same language so differently. Words that I considered common use were virtually unheard of across the pond while their alternatives I considered at times to be "clunky" and ugly.  To say there were a lot of discussions between us on this issue would be an understatement.  Ultimately however, this is the core of this little article.

I honestly feel I am fortunate to have the relationship with my publisher that I currently enjoy.  We have been able to rationally, and at times, even with humour, discuss the numerous vocabulary choices within my manuscript.  I have had to recognise that my publisher was trying to ensure my work would be accessible to the widest audience possible.  Similarly my publisher was more than willing to accept my need to retain what I believed to be a level of artistic integrity to my work.  Somewhere during the course of our numerous conversations I honestly feel a good compromise was reached.  In the end I would estimate approximately seventy-five percent of the editors suggestions were taken on board.  Of the remaining twenty-five percent I think there was an even split between elements I insisted remained unchanged and elements where I accepted the need for change but was unhappy with the alternative suggested so created a third, entirely new option.

At the end of the entire process, I firmly believe that I have a vastly improved manuscript and, most importantly, one which I am happy to attach my name to when it is brought before the public.

I am not sure this would have been possible without the relationship I have garnered with my publisher.  I now find myself in the position of really looking forward to the official release date for my novel on November 15th 2016.




Friday 13 May 2016

I Have A Publisher !!

Well, the title pretty much says it all.  I was fortunate enough to be offered a traditional Publishing Contract by an independent Publishing House based in America:

TopShelf Publishing

Work has already begun on re-releasing my début novel under their imprint.  There have been some notable changes in order for this to happen.  The title has changed slightly and the cover has undergone a radical change.  This is a very exciting time for me as it kind of validates me as an Author.  I am no longer "flying solo" in my writing endeavours, but now have a team of dedicated individuals behind me who believe in my vision.

"The Unwilling Recruit" has a scheduled release date of November 15th 2016 with the second novel in the series following November 2017.  

Obviously the previous incarnation of my first novel, formerly titled "An Unwilling Recruit" has now been withdrawn from sale in all its forms.

"The Unwilling Recruit" however is available now for pre-order.


Monday 4 April 2016

Book Review

I finally managed to get a book reviewer to take a look at my first novel "An Unwilling Recruit" .  It was well worth the wait and all the effort.  Here is a little taste of what she had to say:

"Within the first few pages I was instantly drawn to the characters, and soon as eager as John to discover exactly what had occurred, and why he was suddenly so unique."

If you'd like to know more then please go and read the full review at Darrienia: The Forgotten Legacies Series ~ K.J. Simmill


Or better yet, buy the book HERE.

Saturday 2 April 2016

Why Write?

What is it to be a writer?  What is the purpose?  What does it mean?

I don't think anyone can answer those questions easily.  I also don't believe there is any such thing as a wrong answer, everyone has a different reason for choosing the path that they walk in life, and that is just as it should be.  But, for what it's worth, here are my answers to those questions.

Regardless of race, colour, creed, religion, we all have one important and unique thing in common.  We dream, we fantasize, we imagine ourselves in situations vastly different to those we have experienced.  This is a unique and very precious gift.  For most of us, those dreams never leave the confines of our own heads, becoming islands of calm that we can constantly retreat to in order to escape the myriad pressures of our day to day lives.    These are private islands, private spaces, safe havens where no one else is allowed to roam.  We rarely discuss them, even with those we love and trust the most.  But writers, they're different.

A writer has a unique ability that goes beyond the mere words they put on paper.  It is the gift of trust, of openness, the willingness to take one or more of their personal islands and extend an invitation to the reader to come and join them there.  This ability to take something so personal and throw it open to such intense public scrutiny is truly remarkable, a selfless act which should never be underestimated. Writers freely offer us a piece of themselves every time they commit their words to paper.  But why do they do this?

Well, I can't speak for every writer in the world, past and present, it would be far too presumptuous of me to even attempt that.  What I can do, is tell you why I do it.  The stories in my head, the islands I visit, they are as real to me as anything in the material world and, while I revel in the peace that my infrequent excursions to these places bring, I recognize that, without companions, they can be very lonely and two-dimensional.  In order for my islands to really come to life, I need to share them, as far and as wide as I possibly can.  I need others to feel what I feel, to enjoy, appreciate, even come to love the creations my mind has wrought.

So this is why I write.  There are those who wish to change the world around them through the medium of their words.  I have no such lofty goals.  I may have a similar dissatisfaction with elements of the real world but, rather than try to change it, I seek to create on my island sanctuaries, worlds where those dissatisfactions simply do not exist.  These are the places over which I have complete control and, if I am successful in my aims then these are also places that need to be shared.

In that sense then, every novel that I write is an open invitation to the reader.  Come with me on what is a very personal journey.  Explore my world with me and if you like it there, then you are welcome to stay for as long as you like, for once created, these islands, these worlds will remain long after I am gone.

Tuesday 29 March 2016

Interview

As a part of my ongoing efforts to increase awareness for my writing I have begun to conduct a number of interviews on-line.

So- if you want to know a little more about me then please take a look at the latest interview.

In The Chair 67 by Jan Ruth

Overall, it was an interesting experience and one I will be repeating.  Look out for more interviews over the coming months.



Saturday 26 March 2016

Easter Book Promotion!!

As it's Easter, I thought it was appropriate to offer another little book promotion.  So, from now until Thursday 29th March I am offering my first novel "An Unwilling Recruit" for only 99p!!

So go grab a copy while you can!!

BUY!!  READ!!  ENJOY!!  REVIEW!!


CLICK HERE to purchase your copy now ONLY 99P!!

Wednesday 23 March 2016

Getting Personal.

Good evening all.

As you will have noticed, all of my posts thus far have focussed on my work, whether it be my earlier acting career or, my more recent forays into the world of writing.  I think it is probably well past time that I expand upon that.

If you can detect a note of reluctance here, then congratulations.  You see, I am an intensely private person.  It is against my nature to broadcast my views, feelings and especially aspects of my personal life in this manner.  I find it exposes me in a way that makes me very uncomfortable.  Having said that, I realize that I need to engage more with my prospective audience.

Going forward therefore, I intend to post items of a more personal nature on this blog.  Exactly what, I cannot say at this juncture.  I am, however, open to suggestions.  If there is anything in particular that you, as my reader, wish to know about me, then please, feel free to ask.  I would also welcome any comments you may have an this, or indeed, any of my posts, past, present or future.

I should inform you at this stage that all comments are monitored by myself prior to them being published on this site.  I have no wish to censor anyone or block opposing viewpoints to my own.  The reason for this monitoring is that I have no wish to provide a platform for the various "trolls" and "keyboard warriors" that inhabit this environment.  I will not tolerate, abuse of any kind, and such posts will not see the light of day here.  If you object to my opinions in a reasonable and erudite manner then I will happily present your objection to the public and engage in an open discussion with you on whatever the subject may be.

I sincerely hope that this position meets with everyone's approval, and I look forward to presenting myself to you and engaging with you.

Thanks for reading.

John

Tuesday 22 March 2016

"An Unwilling Recruit" - Video Promo.

I have a new promotional video out now for my first Novel "An Unwilling Recruit".  This is the first in a series called "The Armageddon Wars" with the second novel due for release in April.


CLICK HERE to purchase a copy of "An Unwilling Recruit"

Friday 11 March 2016

I Need You !!

Hello to everyone,

There have been some interesting developments regarding my second Novel "Fool In The Ring".  As you may be aware, I had planned to release the novel this month and, in truth, it is ready to release now.  However, I am putting back the official release date in order to try something a little different.

I submitted my manuscript to Amazon for their Kindle Scout Campaign programme and, surprise surprise it was accepted.  So, what does that mean?

Well Kindle Scout selects previously unpublished manuscripts and places them in front of the general public (i.e. YOU) for a period of thirty days.  During that time you have the opportunity to nominate manuscripts you believe are worthy of being published.  At the end of that thirty day period Amazon will then offer selected authors a publishing contract for their manuscript.

So, starting today, I launch my Kindle Scout campaign for "Fool In The Ring"  and I need your help.
I am not asking you to make any kind of purchase, all I am looking for is a little time investment on your part.  This is what I need:


  1. Visit my Campaign Page  -  Please take a look, as a little reward you will find the first 5000 words of my novel there as a taster (that's almost 4 whole chapters!!)
  2. Nominate - If you like what you see there then please nominate my book.  A large part of Amazons' decision will be based upon the number of nominations I can generate over the thirty day period.
  3. Share - Share - Share !! - Help me spread the word, please share this post through social media as far and as wide as you possibly can.  You can be sure I will be doing the same.


It goes without saying that I am going to be repeating this message a lot over the next thirty days, so I apologize in advance if I become a little repetitive.

I thank you all in advance for your time and support.


CLICK HERE for the Kindle Scout Campaign page.

Sunday 28 February 2016

Teaser for Book 2 of "The Armageddon Wars"

Hello there.

Assuming everything goes to plan then I intend to release my second novel in "The Armageddon Wars" series at some point next month.  The book will be titled "Fool In The Ring"

With that in mind I thought a little snippet from the up-coming novel was in order.  So, here it is:


“So what do you think happened here?”  She asked.
“It has all the hallmarks of a mugging gone bad.”  Cunningham answered.
“Go on.”  Jane pressed.
“Well, “  Cunningham continued slowly, mentally creating a sequence in his head that would fit the evidence.  “Your man Hunt was wandering around here late at night and the boys saw an opportunity for an easy take down.  They jumped him, fought and one of them hit him with a rock.”
“Why do you say that?”  Jane asked.
“We recovered a blood soaked rock from the scene and there was a substantial pool of it on the grass.  Since neither of the victims showed any external signs of an injury that could have produced that level of blood loss, it’s a reasonable bet the blood belongs to Hunt.”
“Okay.  So what next?”
“That’s where it gets a bit tricky.”  Cunningham admitted.  “Cause of death for both victims is unclear.  We know that Griffiths died here, while Marshall made it to the river.  We’ve got a blood spatter trail leading to the waters’ edge as well so it’s a good bet that Hunt chased Marshall into the water.  Marshall got caught up in the trees further down, maybe Hunt didn’t.  I’d say it’s even money he washes up further down river.”
“You think he’s dead as well?”
“I wouldn’t be surprised.”  Cunningham admitted.

Jane was impressed.  In all but two particulars, she figured Cunningham had pieced together an accurate sequence of events.  He hadn’t mentioned a third assailant however.  From the footprints around the scene Jane felt sure there was a third man, or boy, one who survived and managed to get away.  The other fault in the Inspectors reasoning concerned Hunt himself.  Jane knew of his abilities and, therefore, knew the cause of death for the two unfortunate teenagers.  She didn’t believe for a minute that Hunt had simply died in the river and been washed downstream like some piece of errant flotsam.


I hope you all enjoyed that, please feel free to leave comments or questions.

For those of you who took advantage of the promotions that have been run over the course of this past month for the first book in the series - "An Unwilling Recruit", I sincerely hope you are enjoying it and, of course, I would be eternally grateful if you would take the time to leave a review on Amazon, even if it is only a few words.

Many thanks for your continued support and Happy reading.

Sunday 21 February 2016

Last Chance for a FREE copy!!

Tomorrow marks the final day of my February book promotion.  That means it is your last opportunity to grab yourselves a FREE kindle copy of the first novel in my contemporary supernatural fantasy series "The Armageddon Wars".

I have been running this promotion in preparation for the up-coming release of the second book in the series.  So far "An Unwilling Recruit" has been receiving some excellent reviews;

Daniel Tobias Lewis-Dayle :
(Author of "The Auriala Chronicles" )


5.0 out of 5 stars"From pretty much the first page it grabbed my attention."


But you don't have to take anyone else's word for it.  You can still grab a FREE kindle copy and decide for yourself.


CLICK HERE to get your copy.

Sunday 14 February 2016

Week 3 FREEBIE !!!

This is the third week of my February book promotion.

Tomorrow marks the third and penultimate opportunity for you to grab yourself a kindle copy of my début novel; "An Unwilling Recruit", absolutely FREE .


CLICK HERE for your FREE copy.

Saturday 13 February 2016

Now Available on Amazon

So, "Caring For Mum" - 2nd edition is now available on Amazon in both print and Kindle versions.

The print version is currently priced at £4.14 with the Kindle being priced at £2.07

The overall production value of the book has increased massively with a brand new cover design and much cleaner format,  This is definitely value for money and a great asset to anyone looking at undertaking the task of Caring for a loved one.

Please spread the word.




Friday 12 February 2016

"Caring For Mum - 2nd Edition"

It's has been just over a year since I published my first book dealing with the field of Caring.  "Caring for Mum" was intended to provide a rough guide to prospective carers.

As the year has progressed I have come to realise that "Caring for Mum" was not complete.  I have learnt some new lessons during the past year and I felt it was necessary to share this new information.

With that in mind I have re-packaged and up-dated the original book and produced a second edition.  The production value is vastly improved with a whole new cover and interior design but, more importantly, there is an entirely new chapter included which deals with the area of Care Agencies.

Alongside all of those changes I have decided to price this book lower than the original predecessor in the hopes that more people may find it affordable and accessible.

The print version of the book is available as of today with the kindle version following in the next few days.



CLICK HERE to purchase a print copy for £4.14

Sunday 7 February 2016

2nd Chance !!

Don't forget that tomorrow is your SECOND opportunity to obtain a FREE copy of my début novel "An Unwilling Recruit".

After tomorrow there will only be two more chances to get yourself a FREE copy this month.

Don't miss out, grab it now.


CLICK HERE for your FREE COPY.

I hope you enjoy it, and please remember to leave a review.

Thank you all for your continued support.



Sunday 31 January 2016

February FREE Book Promotion!!

Work is progressing on the second instalment of my novel series "The Armageddon Wars".  I have high hopes to be able to confirm a release date sometime around March.  In the meantime I thought I would offer everyone an opportunity to avail themselves of a FREE copy of the first book in the series, "An Unwilling Recruit".

During the course of February I am offering a FREE kindle e-book version of "The Unwilling Recruit"  - you will be able to obtain these FREE copies on the following four dates in February;  1st, 8th, 15th and 22nd.

For those of you who miss this opportunity, don't worry as I have also decided to permanently reduce the price of both the e-book and print version of "An Unwilling Recruit".

So make February your month to start reading and enjoying "The Armageddon Wars".

CLICK HERE to obtain your copy of "An Unwilling Recruit".