Category Archives: Guest Post

Remember, Remember … Bonfire Night Memories with Michael Parker

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Continuing the celebration of a special bonfire night in my novel The Purrfect Pet Sitter, I am delighted to welcome fellow Chindi Author, Michael Parker to my blog to share his bonfire night memory. 

Michael Parker shares a bonfire night memory from the 1950s:

In the early fifties me, my brothers and mates would gather round the bonfire built on the estate by ‘responsible adults’ and watch it burn until it was low enough to throw potatoes in along the edge. The trick then was to retrieve them before they were burnt to a cinder. This often resulted in singed eyebrows and hair. Can’t imagine that happening these days. We all smelt of wood-smoke, char and almost burning flesh.

 I think you’re quite right Michael, health and safety wouldn’t let that happen these days, but I bet the potatoes tasted good! x

About Michael Parker:

Michael has been writing thrillers for many years and has experienced the highs and lows of being a writer since his first book was published in 1980.

He has been married to Patricia for fifty seven years and they have four sons, ten grandchildren and three great grandsons (when last he updated his profile). His main hobby is writing, of course, and to date he has thirteen novels to his credit, nine of which were traditionally published. His other hobbies are snooker, speedway, football and music.

Michael is a born again Christian and played keyboard in his church fellowship in Spain for several years. He has worked as a maintenance technician most of his adult life, serving sixteen years in the Royal Air Force, and about seventeen years with a food manufacturer. He retired in 1996 (at the age of fifty five) and moved to Spain a year later, where he lived with Pat for seventeen years.

Writing has been Michael’s hobby for as long as he can remember. When his first book was published by Macmillan in 1980, he was described as a “gifted narrator” in the Financial Times. Here are just some of his titles currently available on Amazon.

Michael is also a member of the Chindi Authors. You can keep up to date with news of his writing and new releases via his blog | website | Facebook | Twitter 

You can also discover more of Michael’s memories and gain an insight into his life in his rarely promoted book, The Sum of My Life, available on Amazon.

 Look inside or buy the book.

Don’t miss more fabulous firework memories from fellow authors between now and November 5th, and as always, do get in touch. I’d love to hear your firework memories too. x

Guest Post: Creating book trailers with Helen J Christmas

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To celebrate Helen Christmas being the Chindi Authors‘ Author of the Week, she is joining me on my blog to talk about creating book trailers for her thriller series, ‘Same Face Different Place’.

And so over to Helen …

“Making a trailer has been on my mind for a number of years, having been inspired by the YouTube trailers created by other authors, so here is the story behind my own.

“‘Beginnings’ the first book of my series ‘Same Face Different Place,’ combines a gripping crime thriller with a romantic suspense. I was trying to depict a dark and sinister atmosphere based on the criminal underworld of 1970s London.

“I took some photos in East London around the dockland area; for example one scene is a chase across the East End, where the two main characters, Jake and Eleanor, find sanctuary in a park for a while. I used this as my starting point, focusing on shady patches of trees, tunnels and bridges, just the type of places you would have to duck and dive if you had a criminal gang pursuing you. I also took photos of Waterloo Station, in which another exciting ‘ambush’ scene happens in the story.

“Next I needed a young couple to play the fated ‘Eleanor and Jake’ so asked my nieces (13 and 17 at the time) if they would step in, along with one of their male friends. Together we spent a fun afternoon doing the photo shoot. Carys wore a short black dress and boots, (just like Eleanor when she escapes with Jake from an East End brothel) and I even bought a long dark wig for effect.

“The next stage was to use photoshop, to superimpose the best shots onto a background, quite an engrossing task but worth it. Here are some of the pictures I used to make those images.

“Waterloo Station. One of the first scenes, showing ‘Eleanor’:

“My niece, Carys enacting the role (cut out using photoshop). The resulting scene of Eleanor’s capture:

“These stairs are actually from Morrison’s car park, Bognor. Scene of Eleanor escaping (I also had to create a shadow):

“So I had all my images worked out, the trailer script and the music. But the next part I struggled with. I tried using Flash to put it all together but this is old technology and the resulting YouTube video was very poor. The only solution I found was to make an image slider for my website with the same text and pictures, but this still couldn’t be published on YouTube.

“Finally, (some four years later) Carol and I met up in Haskins café and spent a most enjoyable morning creating the trailer in i-Movie.

“Carol showed me how she put together her trailer and so I’ll hand back to Carol to share the stages used to create a book trailer in iMovie …”

I use iMovie. It is easy to use on any Apple device, once you know how, and the end product is easy to download and share across social media channels.

The process (this is what works for me):

  1. Have the script prepared: A shorter version of the book blurb tends to work well as you will have already worked on that and prepared a piece of text to entice readers.
  2. Gather photographs that relate to the script: I use Istock or similar where I can create a board of pictures I think will work. I screen shot them to try them in place before I purchase them, otherwise expensive mistakes could be made. Of course you could use your own photographs (as Helen has) too, but they need to be good quality clear pictures.
  3. Have videos ready: I like to add bits of video as I think it brings the trailer to life. For the trailer for my first novel Crazy Over You, I purchased a bit of video I felt fitted well. For The Purrfect Pet  Sitter I was more prepared. I had recorded my dog running, a shot I knew I wanted to use, and had videoed the Littlehampton fireworks when researching the book. Video clips can be expensive and so using your own saves money.
  4. Select your music: There are many sites offering music suitable for trailers, search royalty free music.

Put it all into place:

  1. In iMovie select projects and movie (not trailer or theatre) and import the images and video.
  2. Once there, you can begin dragging and dropping the images into your movie; adjust the amount of time you want each to be shown and how you want them to appear, I like the movement created by using the ‘Ken Burns’ option on images. (I aim for the final trailer to be around a minute and a half).
  3. Use the text options to add captions to your photographs or to insert titles.
  4. Insert transitions to move smoothly between slides.
  5. For uploading to Amazon you need to have a still image that stays for a few seconds to start the trailer off; this will be your trailer thumbnail on your author page.
  6. Add your music and adjust timings of your clips and the piece of music to suit your trailer. You can trim the music to size, fade in and out and so forth.
  7. Having trouble? Do a Google Search for the problem you are encountering. There will be step by step guides and videos to help!
  8. Saving, downloading to your device and uploading to social media is easy with the share button.

Helen continues,

“Thus, after my cup of tea with Carol, by the end of the day, I had created my first ever book trailer for Beginnings and successfully uploaded it to YouTube.

“I had so much fun doing this and it was wonderful to get together with Carol and spend some time with her to create it. But I didn’t stop there. I was on a roll now and couldn’t wait to create another trailer for ‘Visions’, the second book of the series:

I didn’t use actors for this one but I did purchase a few stock images from 123RF.com. Eleanor is older in this story as depicted by the young woman walking up a hill and the movie is also little longer.

“Quite a few people have said the trailer makes them want to read the book which makes it a very worthwhile exercise. Book trailers are another useful marketing tool for authors and easy to share across social media as well as adding to your Amazon and Goodreads author profile.”

About Helen J. Christmas:

Helen is self employed and enjoys running the web design company, she and her husband set up from home. They have no children but enjoy the company of a faithful border collie and a fluffy white cat. Helen confesses to have got most of her ideas for writing, whilst walking Barney along the beach.

Discover more about Helen J. Christmas and the Same Face Different Place Series here: Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

To purchase books from the Same Face Different Place series: Beginnings | Visions | Pleasures | Retribution Phase One | Retribution End Game

Thank you, for sharing your experience of creating book trailers Helen and I am glad to have been able to help! Enjoy the rest of your time as Chindi Author of the Week. x

 

Review of Helen J. Christmas’ Beginnings

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Beginnings by Helen J. Christmas

The Blurb

Beginnings is a romantic thriller set in the criminal underworld of 1970s London. Eleanor Chapman is 16. She has no idea her father is employed in a world of organised crime until the day he is forced to go on the run, leaving her at the mercy of dangerous people.

Her life is spiralling out of control yet on the night she plans to escape, she stumbles across a mysterious prisoner. His name is Jake, a rock musician from Holland and he has a contract on his life.

Their daring escape across London eventually draws them into a place of hiding before Jake’s chilling story begins to unfold. He was the one vital witness to a sinister scene leading up to the death of a British MP and now those responsible want him silenced. As two young people, thrown together by fate they develop intense feelings for each other. It does not take long for Eleanor to realise that she will do anything possible to keep Jake alive.

Their tender love bond keeps you turning the pages as they live on a knife edge, desperate to escape London. Will they outrun the deadly enemies who stalk them? Or are the people at the top more powerful than they think?

Beginnings: Book 1 of the series “Same Face Different Place” a romantic British thriller through the decades.

Genre: Thriller / Romantic Thriller / YA

Publisher: Chichester Publishing

My review:

As you may have noticed, I generally read contemporary romances and romantic comedies so this romantic thriller was a departure from the norm for me and I have to say I really enjoyed it. The story was edgy, at times shocking, gave an intriguing insight into the criminal underworld of London in the 1970s and yet remained a romantic tale of two people desperate to survive their circumstances and be together.

All characters are portrayed well giving clear mental images of what each is like as the story unfolds like a film displayed before you; I willed Eleanor and Jake, the main characters, to find their escape and I recoiled from the particularly nasty villain Theakston (who by the end of the book becomes more complex than he first appears). And I liked the fact that amongst all the drama Eleanor finds support from characters whose warmth and kindness are evident.

The end of the book, for me, felt like a pause in the action, there is a shift in direction, mood and atmosphere, opposed to closure, which left me temporarily content with where the main characters were at, but wanting to know more. This must surely be the mark of a good opening novel to a series. I look forward to reading Visions, the next story in the Same Face Different Place series!

YA guest review by Amelia Thomas:

Beginnings was full of action and insight into a world I previously knew little about. I was interested to learn more about the gangs and violence in London during the 1970s – it was intriguing and at times horrifying. Theakston, the criminal, was a well written nasty character, with horrible ideas about how to hurt or murder people.

I was interested to see how, like today, newspapers could report incidents one way while the “reality” was more dramatic and far reaching. I liked Eleanor and Jake, the main characters. Eleanor, particularly, was strong and determined, I hope she continues to be as the series continues.

Click to buy the book.

About the author:

Helen J. Christmas lives on the south coast of England with her husband. She has a passion for gripping stories with strong characters. With a love of writing since childhood, she started her own series of books ‘Same Face Different Place’. Her first book ‘Beginnings’ is set in the 1970s: a London thriller entwined with romantic suspense. Helen finished her 2nd book, ‘Visions,’ in 2013: a 1980s psychological thriller set in the counties of London and Kent. Her 3rd book, ‘Pleasures’ was published in 2015 and new for 2017 comes the final instalment ‘Retribution’ in 2 parts.

Writing is something she juggles around her family and social life as well as running a web design company, she and her husband set up from home.

Discover more about Helen J. Christmas and the Same Face Different Place Series here: website | blog | Facebook | Twitter

Helen J. Christmas is also a member of the Chindi Authors group known for celebrating and helping independent authors.

Thank you for the great read Helen!

My reviews are added to Amazon UK and Goodreads x

What do reviews mean to you?

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Some people agree with Thumper’s dad, “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say nothing at all”, while others feel entitled to an opinion no matter what that opinion is.

But no matter what your stance, whether you are a writer or a reader – receiving or leaving reviews – one thing is for certain, reviews matter!

This week I’ve been asking my fellow Chindi Authors, known for celebrating and helping independent authors, what reviews mean to them as writers and, as readers, what their opinion is on leaving reviews ranging from 1-5 stars.

Helen Christmas, thriller writer: “I am happy with the mix of reviews I have which includes 5, 4 and 3 stars. I draw more strength from what the reviewer writes as this is what people look at.”

J. L. Dean, historical novelist: “I find a considered review more valuable (and more fulfilling) than an unsupported 5 star review.

“When I write reviews, I come at them as an editor. I can thoroughly enjoy a book while seeing its faults.  If I write a purely positive (or negative) review, I am going to affect how that writer feels about themselves, their book or even me for that day but if I write a critical review, then it may contribute to that writer’s craft, and writing is a craft.”

Dan Jones, author of books on Autism and Hypnotherapy: “I like to have at least a couple of good, honest (4/5 star) reviews early on in a book’s launch. I don’t think about reviews beyond this. And I only look at my reviews if perhaps I want to share some comments onto Twitter or Facebook. I’m more interested in readers sharing that they liked my books with their friends.

“If I have strong views on something I will leave a review and rating 1-5. I’ve no problem leaving any rating if I feel strongly about it and feel I should say what I want to say.”

Christopher Joyce, children’s author: ” I think authors may get a little obsessed about reviews mistakingly thinking they affect sales rankings. They don’t. When your book is found on Amazon, they certainly help. The trick is getting it found in the first place.”

Rosemary Noble, historical novelist: “I am slightly ambivalent. It’s great to have some good reviews, but there are always people who will hate your book. I am astonished when I read something amazing and then see reviews of 1 and 2 stars.”

Derek Nudd, non-fiction author and reviewer: “To me, star reviews are just too blunt an instrument. Five should really be kept for something of truly pivotal influence, either on the language or the wider world. For most of us that leaves four to play with – dock one for this and another for that, we can easily sound unjustly harsh. I have given three-star ratings – with explanation – and positive written reviews to books I keep by me in the ready-reference pile. I have to say I’m mainly thinking of non-fiction here.”

Michael Parker, thriller writer: “Reviews seem to be a necessary evil in the book world. I try very hard not to read my reviews because often the review says more about the reviewer than the book itself.”

Angela Pitch, historical novelist: “Reviews to me are very important, especially when they come from complete strangers; it means so much when somebody objective comments.

“I always review books I read but would not bother if I felt less than 3 stars was deserved. If I felt it would help the author, I would send a private message with a suggestion for improvement.”

Patricia Feinberg Stoner, author of comic verse and limericks: “I think honest reviews are useful. The problem comes when someone you know gives you their book to review. If you hate it, what do you do? And even if you love it, can you be totally unbiased?”

Emily Williams, author of women’s fiction and YA novels: “I love to receive reviews, and they all mean a lot to me when I receive them, that someone has taken time to read my book and leave their thoughts. They do seem to make a difference to sales, as in the larger quantity of reviews the more sales.

“When it comes to writing reviews I do tend to just write the positives I found and leave out anything negative, especially public reviews on Amazon. Thoughts and advice, on the other hand, can be shared privately.”

Thank you to all of the Chindi Authors who kindly shared their opinions.

For me, I love to receive reviews that show someone has taken something positive from their reading experience. As I know how important they are to me as a writer, I also make sure I leave reviews when I have enjoyed a book too. A glance through my blog will show you my motto that size doesn’t matter, even a short review will do, and for authors trying to get their work, and their name noticed this is very true. It also reminds readers that if they could take a moment to leave even a sentence or two, it is appreciated.

Thank you so much for reading my blog. Whether you are a reader, a writer or both, I’d love to hear what reviews mean to you too! x

Book Boyfriend Blind Date 2

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With Valentine’s Day nearly upon us, and so many lovely heroes still to choose from, Book Boyfriend Blind Date continues!

Once again the lovely authors from Choc Lit and Ruby Fiction have been answering these two, all important questions to help you find the perfect Valentine’s date:

If I went on a blind date with the hero from your book, how would I recognise him and where would he take me?

And so it is with very great pleasure, that I invite you to get a drink, sit back and enjoy, as you join me, in considering which of these heroes you would choose from book boyfriend blind date round two:

Josh Owens from The Velvet Cloak of Moonlight by Christina Courtenay

Josh Owens – you’d mostly recognise him by his delicious New Zealand accent, but you can’t really miss him as he’s tall and has the kind of looks that could sell millions of bottles of aftershave if he stared moodily out of an advert – clear green eyes, black tousled hair and dark stubble.

Where would he take you? To a little country pub somewhere near the Welsh border, where you could sit in near the open fire and feel as though you’d known him forever, time had stood still for centuries and the past was only a breath away …

Marc Peterson from Little Pink Taxi by Marie Laval

Marc Petersen, the hero of Little Pink Taxi, is half French but he has fallen in love with Scotland. Therefore he would definitely take you there for a blind date. It would be in a hotel in a beautiful old castle, with roaring fires in the massive stone fireplaces, a cosy lounge where you would enjoy a dram of whisky or a locally brewed pine needle beer (rumoured to put you in the mood for romance), and a restaurant serving delicious and heart-warming dishes. There would also be four-poster beds, atmospheric views of a loch and perhaps even a ghost or two…

You would recognise him straight away by his sexy French accent, of course!

William James Austen from Dance Until Dawn by Berni Stevens

Will is a vampire, so he’d probably be the very pale man lurking in the shadows. Tall, dark and devastating with a wit as sharp as his teeth, and very hypnotic green eyes.

He would almost certainly take you to his club, Dusk, which has live bands playing several nights a week, a very trendy DJ and a werewolf as manager. I hope you like to dance because he’s very fond of dancing – and dancers.

Bill Blythe from Follow A Star by Christine Stovell

Bill Blythe would be fairly easy to spot as he’s tall, strapping and red-haired. His idea of showing a woman a good time would probably be to take her to see the Foo Fighters, but his heart’s very much in the right place. As one happy reader said, ‘Oh my goodness … wouldn’t we all like a Bill in our lives!’

The hero from The Best Boomerville Hotel by Caroline James in her Ruby Fiction debut

The hero in my story (I can’t giveaway a spoiler by telling you who he is!) would wine and dine you in the gorgeous, private, candlelit restaurant in the 17th century panel room at Boomerville. You will recognise him as soon as you walk into the room for he stands, to smile warmly; his handsome face glowing in the light from flames dancing from a fire which burns in a cast-iron grate. The discreet corner table will have an arrangement of red roses and a bottle of chilled champagne. He holds out his hand and as you walk forward he pulls out a chair and you slip your legs under the white linen cloth. He pops the cork with ease and fills your glass and as the deliciously cold bubbles explode in our mouth you gaze at your hero and wonder, ‘Where have you been all my life?’

Nathan Baker from The Purrfect Petsitter by Carol Thomas in her Ruby Fiction debut (well I had to let Nathan join in the fun!)

Nathan has fine stubble and blond, ruffled hair. At around six foot two he is tall and has a muscular physique. If he isn’t in uniform (he’s a fireman) then he’ll be smart casual in his favourite, Timberland does lumberjack, jeans, t-shirt and open checked shirt, style. Being an extreme sports enthusiast Nathan would happily take you on a date that thrills. But if what you fancy is cuddling up in front of an open fire, sharing a bottle of wine and getting to know each other better, he’s pretty good at that too.

I am so going to miss my inbox filling up with these fabulous answers. I hope you’ve found someone to spend a bit of quality time with this February. I think I am just going to read all of the answers one more time before I make my final choice 😉 Happy Valentine’s Day everyone!

Thank you so much to all those who took part. You can find all of these lovely authors on Twitter: Christina Courtenay | Marie Laval | Berni Stevens | Christine Stovell | Carol Thomas | Caroline James | Choc Lit | Ruby Fiction |

Haven’t discovered Book Boyfriend Blind Date 1? Don’t miss out, check it out here!