A CRACKING REVIEW FOR EYE OF ERASMUS

Gerry McCullough author of Belfast Girls has just been kind enough to review my book Eye of Erasmus. Here is her review:


Friday, 27 May 2011
The Eye of Erasmus - Time Travel and Romance in one!


This blog is about my favourite books, both those I read long ago, and those I've read recently.


This is my first attempt to write about a recent book, one which I read for the first time earlier this year. Most of the books I read are ones which I've owned for years, and am re-reading. But yes, I do acknowledge that it's good to read new books occasionally, and so I intend to intersperse new books and old in this blog. Last time I wrote about Georgette Heyer, this time it's a living writer, Teresa Geering.


Last year I was on Authonomy.com, trying in vain to get my book Belfast Girls (now published by Night Publishing) accepted by Harper Collins (who have published, I think, 2/3 books from this site in the 2 years it's been up. Don't get me started about the way the top six publishers work - they only accept books which are by well established writers or by celebrities. To get published by them, you should be a famous footballer/ model/ comic/ prime minister with a huge bust and with a brilliant ghost writer - I only qualify in one of those categories. I got a nice review and the advice to put my book in either the romance box or the thriller box - it's since been compared to Andre Malroux's The Human Condition, and is, I think, like that, a book about life. Not just a romance or a thriller. Okay, rant over.)


At that time I read a gazillion books, some of which swiftly passed out of my memory and some of which remained. One of those which remained was Teresa Geering's fantasy, The Eye of Erasmus. I found myself enjoying it greatly.


Erasmus is a hermit type, who has visions and falls in love across time with Shasta, a woman whom he first sees in a vision after walking on the beach in a thunderstorm.


I've been interested in time travel since I read The House of Arden by E. Nesbit - still one of the books I like best and re-read constantly - at the age of 10/11, from the children's library. As soon as I could, I went out and bought it.


The copy I read had a picture at the start of Elfrida and Edred jumping from a great height, Elfrida's skirt billowing round her, out of a castle window, and it fascinated me immediately. (Note for Mark Williams - Elfrida is a strong female child character, now I think of it! ) It's a picture which still recurs in my dreams - there's so much of romance in it. (Okay, psychologists, comment, if you must!)


Geering's descriptions bring the action of her fantasy vividly to life. The storm on the beach before Erasmus has his first vision of Shasta: 'The roaring waves...splashed him with the salt spray...the wind roared and whipped up the sea to a frenzy...'


And later, the description of Shasta in the market brings the smells and sounds of an eastern market immediately before us, 'a busy market on a warm day,' where she meets the cat Merlin and the boy Hesper.


The twists and turns of the plot are entrancing, and I don't plan to write too much about this in case I include any spoilers. But the love story between Erasmus - a rather spoilt, vain young man whom we still can't help liking - and Shasta, are at the heart of the story. The descriptions of Shasta in her garden: 'The heady perfume of the white roses...It was wonderful to smell the sea air, mixed with the night perfume of all that grew in the garden...' take us straight into the beauty and romance of Shasta's life, while the descriptions of Erasmus's cave: 'It was set above water level and perfectly dry...near the entrance was a large pile of kindling wood gathered after a recent storm...neat piles on oilcloth were his beloved charts...' create the hermit's cave for us, and the isolated life of Erasmus before his meeting in the ruined house with Shasta.


The visual imagery constantly draws us in.


I was able to buy this book on Kindle for just over £2.00, which still seems amazing to me. We're living in an age when books have suddenly returned to the equivalent prices of the old time 'Shilling Shockers.' (I still see secondhand books around with prices like this on the cover.) And we can take advantage of this, if we're wise, before the eBook becomes established and the average price shoots up, as usually happens.


You can buy The Eye of Erasmus here:


http://www.amazon.com/The-Eye-of-Erasmus-ebook/dp/B003VS0DR8


http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Eye-of-Erasmus-ebook/dp/B003VS0DR8/


And Tee's blog is at:

http://tgeering.blogspot.com/?zx=169f4b70694a25df


Give yourself a treat!




AND a quick justifed plug ............
And if no one minds me mentioning it, Belfast Girls, my own book, has been heading up the Sinclair Books Book of the Month contest for the past few weeks. It's recently dropped to 2nd place - you can still vote for it if you haven't done yet, at http://www.sinclairbooks.blogspot.com/
and you can buy it on Kindle for £1.39/$1.99 at:
http://www.amazon.com/Belfast-Girls-Gerry-McCullough/dp/1456387103
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Belfast-Girls-Gerry-McCullough/dp/1456387103
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Belfast-Girls/Gerry-McCullough/e/9781456387105

UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT - Kristen Stone

Under my spotlight today is Kristen Stone, who hails from Stoke Golding.


I arrived just ahead of the rain, and the door was opened by Kris accompanied by her Staffy Bull Terrier Mutley who apparently is not only scared of the postman but would probably lick me to death. Even so I still felt inclined to hug the wall as I passed her by.

I settled myself on the sofa whilst Kris snuggled her legs up underneath her. The reason being that her feet don’t quite touch the floor when she’s sitting on a sofa. Mutley sensing that I was unsure of him settled beside me much to the amusement of Kris.

When I’m not slurping the red stuff I do love a nice cuppa ( not to strong mind) so Kris and I settled for that.

So Kris tell me a little bit about Stoke Golding.

Well Tee Stoke Golding, is the place where Henry VII was crowned after the Battle of Bosworth Fields. Or so the locals say. Not being a true Stoker myself I don’t really have a vested interest in the claim. The other thing of note around here is that if you travel in that direction (points to some distant hills) you are in the highest place in Europe. If it was possible to see that far, looking East, the next natural feature you would see are the Ural Mountains.

How interesting I really didn’t know that. I’m from the south in Kent and don’t know much about this area at all.

The spelling of your name is rather unusual Kris, tell me about that please and maybe about your family.

Yes Kristen Stone. Friends call me Kris. Well, actually friends don’t call me that at all because it’s a pen name.

Why did you want a pen name?

I chose it when I was about 14. At that time I didn’t like my real name, it’s boring and old fashioned. I thought Kristen had a much better ring to it way back then. Still has. And Stone is part of my maiden name.

So you are married then Kris?

Yes, to a wonderful man who thinks the world of me. A real old-fashioned hard working fella who believes it’s his job to provide for his family and has looked after me and our daughter and lets me do whatever I want. He has let me take time out to write even though I haven’t made a success of things – yet.

Sounds like a perfect set up.

It is. I’m very lucky and grateful.

And you have a daughter?

Yes. Grown up and married with three kids of her own, which makes me (grimaces) a Grandmother.

Smiles … I’m also a grandmother but I’m called nana faeries. She is Madison Teresa nicknamed Mad Tee by her dad after me. A real chip off my block.

Moving the dog off my foot where he is now lying asleep and snoring I ask …

So Kris when did you start writing?

When I was about 13 or 14. I used to buy exercise books from Woolworths and stick them together. I was a late developer as far as reading was concerned, but once I discovered adventure books I was well away and thought, ‘I can do that’. Unfortunately when I had my career interview I was told ‘You can’t just be a writer’. At that age I believed everything adults told me and went to work as a typist.

What do you do when you are not writing?

After writing and reading my next favourite thing is playing the piano. Sorry, trying to play the piano. I’m glad to say I am much better at writing than playing. The trouble is I don’t, and never have, practised enough.

What sort of music do you like to play honey?

Classical stuff mostly. I struggle through a bit of Mozart and Beethoven. The composer I have spinning in his grave the most is Chopin. I like Chopin because you can get away with putting your own slant on the music, it is not in strict tempo or form. Mind you, I have a wonderful piano teacher at the moment who encourages me to play anything and doesn’t worry if it’s not at the right speed.

Any other hobbies?

I’ve spent 20 odd years working with children in Brownies and Guides. That was fun but I’ve now handed over to someone who was once a guide and has never left. Well done, kid. I suddenly realized she had been an adult leader for nearly 10 years and it was about time she took over before she got fed-up and left. It was just at the time I had decided to concentrate on writing and didn’t want any distractions like – got to stop thinking because the girls are making beaded gekkos and I have to get all the stuff together -. I also do a bit of knitting and cross-stitch if I really need to chill. I’m definitely not into doing anything more physical than walking the dog around the village twice a day. Never have been sporty. I was the kid who was always picked last for a team at school. Luckily I have always been reasonably skinny even though I like chocolate.


Me too with the skinny bit – well not size 10 but just a little bit bigger these days…. Sighs remembering when I was a size 8-10 and then I gave up smoking ……………Anyway enough of that.

So tell me about your book and what‘s it called?

It’s all about a tribe of undiscovered people in the Amazon who are being wiped out by pollution from a mine. Their leader is called Kianda Mala which means Monkey Man in the language of the tribe.

Why do they call him that?

Because he has a tail.

OK … (Look of amusement on face) Fine. How come?

You’ll have to read the book to find out how Tee. Why I created a character with a tail is a different matter. It came from a song I learnt when I was working as a Snowy Owl with Brownies. The song asked : ‘If everybody had a tail and chose it’s shape and size, would you prefer a tufted one to swat at passing flies.’ It goes on ‘and if it were prehensile, what tremendous fun ‘twould be, the envy of your neighbours as you swing from tree to tree.’

Kris is conducting an unseen choir while singing the last line. Won’t comment on the singing.

Well, my mind being what it is I started to create such a character and ended up with Kianda Mala.


How long did it take you to write it Kris and what is the title?

Forever and a couple of years. I started the original story probably 20 years ago, then put it away when I couldn’t get it published. Then a couple of years ago I decided it was time to really fulfil my dream and become a writer. I got the book out and was really glad it was not published before. I have now re-written it and am very pleased with the finished book. It’s much better now, even if I say so myself.

The title is ‘Edge of Extinction.’

What was your aim in writing this?

First and foremost it is a story, but I wanted to create a place and make it feel real. Kianda and his people don’t exist but I wanted the reader to feel that they do, to feel their plight and to think that if perchance they happened to wander into the middle of the Amazon, unlikely as that might be, they would come across the village and the people. I don’t know if I have succeed in this. Time and sales will tell!

I’m getting dry Tee, fancy another cuppa?

Ew now you’re talking Kris thanks. I’ll just sit here and get some life back into my foot.

Strokes Mutley in the hope that she will get off. It’s not gonna happen so I give up.

Having finished our tea I ask Kris … Have you anything else planned?

Oh, yes. I have almost finished work on my second book which is completely different to the first. I could probably get away with putting this firmly in the Romance section as it involved the developing relationships between the main characters. That’s all I’ll say for now. Oh, and after that I have a thriller, but that is in need of lots of work yet. For one thing it’s too short.

You’re a bit of a dark horse then Kris. So do you have anywhere special to work?

No. I’m usually sitting in the corner of the sofa with my laptop on my lap. It is a lovely laptop, almost unique as it has the keypad at the front instead of the back of the machine, so I can sit with my hands resting on my lap and type away like the furies if I want. I’m really not looking forward to the day when it refuses to work any more.

Do you have a preferred time to work?

Evenings, mostly. I’m definitely not a morning person. By the time I’m up, soaked in the bath (compulsory to get me moving) sorted a couple of things out for my hubby, taken the dog round the rec – it’s getting on for lunchtime. I spend most of the afternoon checking emails and doing other things and then after the evening news I start writing. Once I start I could go on for hours, finishing well after midnight. I don’t set myself targets. I just do what I want to do until I have finished that idea or my eyes won’t stay open any longer. One of the reasons I wanted to write, apart from sharing my ideas and stories, was that I can decide when to work. I hated having to get up at a set time and be somewhere for so many hours. Luckily we can afford for me not to work and my husband loves working. There’s no accounting for taste. My ideal would be to spend the winter somewhere warm to write every year and only come back to England when the winter is over.


Personally I love the mornings – well in the summer anyway. Each morning almost feels like unadulterated purity. The morning dew on the grass, birds and squirrels coming to feed, and safe in the knowledge that nothing has been touched. Everyone else is still sleeping. Anyway I digress…..

So why have you gone to Night Publishing Kris instead of one of the big publishers?

Firstly because the big publishers wouldn’t touch this book with a barge pole. It’s not instantly viable. I’ve been told the writing is good. Everyone who has looked at it so far has loved the style. But it doesn’t fit into any particular genre easily so the big names can’t see a profit and won’t take the risk. To be honest, I don’t blame them. But I also strongly support the idea of Print on Demand and ebooks. I love ebooks. I have over 100 on my Sony, new and old, and loads for Kindle on my laptop. The Sony fits into my handbag and goes everywhere with me.(Pulls it out and waves it around). And it doesn’t collect any dust! As for Print on Demand, I think that is great for people who like to feel a book in their hands when they read without the waste of unsold volumes.
In this world of dwindling resources it must be the way things are going. I’m not a lover of wandering around bookshops. If anything they depresses me because I think to myself ‘with all these available why would anyone want to read mine?’ Not an inspiring thought for a would be writer. I am very grateful to Tim and Night Publishing. I’m really glad he had the idea and hope it lasts for ever – or at least as long as I am around writing.

Well, thanks, Kris. It’s been great getting to know you (both burst into song).

Is there anything else you would like to tell me in the way of promo? Your web site for instance.

Oh yes please Tee, it’s www.kristen-stone-the-writer.com

Now before you go can I get you another cup of tea, Tee. (Laughs at her own joke)

I wouldn’t mind Kris and then I must go providing I can get this dog off my foot

                                                                      Who Me?

I’m finally able to move but with dog still attached to foot.

Kristen is in hysterics as he is taking no notice whatsoever of her commands.

Phew what is it with me and dogs I wonder?

A Really Funny Book

Kate Rigby of the Night Publishing Stables has written a really funny book called A Little Guide To The Unhip.
Here is my review which I did last year after my original read.

LITTLE GUIDE TO UNHIP – K.J. RIGBY


I have been trying to read this for some time now and when Tim Roux asked for us Brits to review it, then it was an ideal opportunity for me to sit down and get on with it.

I didn’t want to be persuaded by other reviewers so I plunged straight in.

First let me say definitely don’t read this when in the company of others because you would be constantly explaining your mirth.

And laugh I did – out loud most of time, because I unfortunately fitted most of the categories.

From the umbrellas (Hands up to that, I’m lethal!) to packing a potty to pee in to avoid soaked pumps and a stung botty by nettles. (Done that too)

I’m from the wussy south, but again, I do resort to the odd f**k s**t and b*****ks as opposed to golly, gosh etc.

 This I feel would make a very interesting TV programme or weekly slot on TV ... aptly named.... A Little Guide to Unhip read by KJ Rigby.

Many of us remember waiting with breathless anticipation for Pam Ayres to read her latest “One of Me Poems” in that wonderful accent also from KJ Rigby’s’ neck of the woods.

I only intended to read excerpts as chores needed to be done. However, I read word for word as it was so much fun.



HIGHLY RECOMMENDED 5 Stars

TKG 20/08/10

SIX WEEKS by JESSICA DEGARMO

I highly recommend this book and I bet if you read it, like me, you will be shouting No! No! No! when you get to the last line. A real cliff hanger.

SIX WEEKS - JESSICA DEGARMO




Abortion of a child must be one of the most horrendous decisions a woman will ever have to make.

Such was the situation with nineteen year old Imogene. Already tending to her arthritic, alcoholic, abusive mother and eight year old step sister Sarah whilst holding down two part time jobs and a college eduction.

She is befriended by a nun who suggests she takes her situation one week at a time until she can come to her final decision.

Her father is prepared to help in any way possible, whilst Matthias the father of the child is prepared to bite the bullet and marry her.



Jessica Degarmo had me riveted to the storyline as it twisted and turned. Would Imogene keep the baby, have it adopted, or abort. I was left guessing right up to the final sentence where we are left with a very clever cliffhanger.

I was left screaming NO! NO! NO! …. at my laptop screen as I still had no idea of the final decision.

A marvellously written piece of work which I read in one sitting and one which I would also highly recommend.



ã Teresa Geering 16/05/2011

My writer friend Poppet aka Gemma Rice has got a new website.
I've reviewed several of her books on here so why not take a look at her web site.
Here's the link  http://www.gemmariceandauthorpoppet.com/

THE BRINGER Took my breath away

And here is my review

REVIEW OF THE BRINGER



SAMANTHA TOWLE






Everything stopped in my household as I began to read The Bringer. Completely mesmerised by this stunning book I eventually began to take on tasks one handed as my Kindle was in the other. Samantha had me completely hooked. At times I was convinced I had the storyline all worked out but I was out smarted again and agin by the brilliance of the writing technique.




*************


A Bringer is a being completely devoid of emotion and feeling. Their function is to escort souls to Heavens door and leave them there for the next stage of their journey.


Max though who suffered a recent demise, is determined not to go on his journey with Lucyna (The Bringer) until he extracts a promise from her to keep an eye on his grieving thirty something son James. Against all the rules and expectations of ‘The Elders’ she reluctantly agrees. After all she only has to look in on him once - or twice doesn’t she? but what she didn’t expect was her overwhelming feelings she suddenly started to experience. Something completely unknown to her. Yes and you guessed it those feeling were love which bowled her off her feet, bearing in mind of course that she can travel at the speed of light at will.


There are many twists and turns in this mesmeric book including other celestial beings that turn up unexpectedly with their own tales to tell.

Many times I felt a tear coming on, but this is certainly no slushy Mills and Boon romance. This is a solid, rock you to the core, epical storyline and I urge you to read it.


Highly Recommended.


5 Stars is the maximum, but I would definitely give The Bringer 105 stars


The Bringer has burnt itself into the depths of my soul.


ã Teresa Geering 12/05/2011

The Magic of Finkleton

Here is a book for the child in all of us. I loved it and have given it 5 star reviews on Amazon.com Goodreads and Barnes and Noble.

THE MAGIC OF FINKLETON BY KC HILTON


I have yet to read a book from the Night Publishing stables that has not left me in awe of the brilliant writing ability of it’s authors.
The Magic of Finkleton by KC Hilton is no exception.

William Finkles’ uncle dies unexpectedly leaving his store and home to his nephew. Ironically Williams’ family home is burnt to the ground at exactly the same time. So the family due to this qwerk of fate relocate to the village of Finkleton.

Sceptics would say ‘coincidence naturally’ but the dwellers in Finkleton would state even more clearly ‘that’s the magic of Finkleton.’

William, his wife Emma and their three children Jack, Elizabeth and Robert settle into their new home and start to become established in the welcoming village. The old fashioned store holds many secrets that the children discover one by one. Elizabeth (Lizzie) the bookworm through her obsessive factual reading of her great uncles’ books. Jack through his obsession with tidyness, and Robert through his obsession with machinery.

The dusty old shop slowly allows each of the children to discover their Great uncles’ secrets. Each child at first is determined to keep their discoveries well hidden from their siblings until the opportunity arises for them to disccuss their finds in full.

Through trial and error the children correct the crop rotation by learning to control the weather. To state more would give this wonderous storyline away.

As it states in the prologue …….. Some folks say Finkleton holds the luckiest lands in England. Others shrug instead and say that it’s a magical place.

This is a striking book for all ages and which of us can ignore the magic that fate has to offer. I would urge you to buy this book and enjoy it’s magic.

Highy Recommended 5 stars.
ã Teresa Geering 08/05/2011

Authors On Show

Today I interviewed the Queen of Authors on Show.
A medium with several books under her belt and now branching out into the world of fiction.
Here is the link to the interview:

http://authorsonshow.com/tee-2/

A ZANY ROMP INTO THE TWILIGHT ZONE

I have just come back from a parallel universe starring the laugh out loud Colin Rapper  a k a 'Crapper' as he is known by his students.
Here's why ................

                  DAYREALING BY MIKE CHURCH




Colin Rapper commonly known as ‘Crapper’ works as an English teacher in the zany world of Looniversal Learning. If you have a sense of humour and can ‘back chat’ you fit in nicely there.

It’s inhabited by students of at least the forty plus age group, who’s main objective in life is to make Colins’ life as disruptive as possible. Among the many varied subjects nestles ‘Cooking the books for crooks’.

Colin is very fond of making lists which he either can’t find when needed, or they turn up instead of reports he should be presenting to Miss Snapper commonly known as ‘Miss Slapper’.

The beign of Colins’ life appear to be the dithering, treacherous, tone deaf - when it suits her - Miss Tedley and Jack. Their main aim in life to wind him up on a regular basis. Miss Tedley and her friends also cause mayhem when they attend the gereatrics arobics class. ‘determined to get down and with it’

Scott is the brains of the bunch. When he takes to the school roof to hurtle himself into oblivion no one worries too much as he has paid his course fees up front. As he hurtles through the roof onto the unsuspecting Colin totally flooring him, Colin is heard to remark
“Look Scott if it’s about that hyphen usage …….”

A typical quote from the book ….

“Why did you send Samantha home?”
“Because your Samantha set fire to the library”
“Nobody ever uses that bloody library. Why is it such a big deal?
“Because Miss Tedley was in there having forty winks at the time”

I never did work out what the mad cap Miss Tedley was doing in any class apart from causing major disruption.

From the first page to the last I never stopped giggling and at time even laughing out loud.
Quite often I felt I had slipped into a parallel universe or the twilight zone.

So if your planning to take a long walk off of a short pier (so to speak) I recommend you take along the zany humour of Mike Churchs’ Dayrealing. I can guarantee, you will be clutching at thin air trying to get a firm hold, thus enabling you to finish this mad romp in Looniversal University.

Thoroughly recommended with 5 stars for 'best effort.'

ã Teresa Geering 07/05/2011

THE BOY FROM THE BAY STRIKES YET AGAIN

                 He's done it !!!!!!!!!!!

Reggie Jones the Boy From The Bay has won the monthly Night Reading poll.

His book DIVISION OF THE DAMNED will now be published by http://nightpublishing.com/.

Here is the cover of the book.

and the lovely fella himself is

here is the link to his blog http://divisionofthedamned.blogspot.com/

Wahoo !!!

        ARSENAL 1 - MAN UNITED A BIG FAT ZERO - YET AGAIN ..............


                           BACK OF THE NET. GET IN.

         LIVERPOOL SMASHED NEWCASTLE AS WELL - RE - SULT !!!