Hello readers,
I thought I would pull this old post out especially for Halloween.
Enjoy!
Do You Want To Know How To Be A Self-Published Author? Maybe I Can Help.
Hello Readers,
It is a well known fact that a lot of readers dream about becoming a writer themselves one day. There is a load of info available on the internet to teach people how to write and there is more and more info becoming available on how to self-publish. I started writing many years ago, but I didn’t start to take it seriously until around 2010/2011. That’s when I joined a writers group, started editing my work and began researching how I would go about publishing when I was ready. Over the years I trawled the net, spoke to fellow authors, read books, etc… all the time making notes I what I found. One day as I was flicking through these notes, it occurred to me that I had all the information I needed in one place. I realized I could share that information with others and save them months of research. So I took all my notes and organized them into a step by step guide on how to self publish. The result of all this work is my most recent book:
So, if you are at the start of your writing journey and want a concise guide, packed full with information on what you need to know about self-publishing, you should grab a copy of Get Published.
Happy Reading
Do You Like Spooky Stories? I Sure Do.
Hello Readers,
I have just finished a short story for a Halloween ‘Scary Story Competition’ that I’m entering. The story is titled ‘Little Monster.’ I enjoyed working on this piece after having a bit of a break from my writing while I’m trying to find a new day job.
On Halloween I will send a free copy of this short story to everyone who has signed up to my newsletter/mailing list. If you’re not signed up yet you can do so by clicking on ‘sign up’ at the top of my website. If you are signed up, this is a little free gift to say Happy Halloween and thank you for subscribing.
Happy Reading.
Book Review – The Cloud by K.I Zachopoulos
The Cloud by K.I. Zachopoulos
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
The Cloud is a fantasy graphic novel about a boy and his wolf who go on a journey to find the boy’s father and return a wish that was stolen from him.
The Cover: This is a beautiful cover that clearly defines the fantasy elements of the story, however it does not convey that the book is a graphic novel. This is fine if it is housed on the bookshelves under graphic novels, but my suggestion to the author would be to add some subtext to make it clear. Something along the lines of ‘A fantasy graphic novel that will take you on a beautifully illustrated adventure.’
The Good Stuff: There is an interesting tale here set in an interesting world and it is beautifully illustrated. The layout and quality of the artwork is done to a professional standard, and it certainly looks like a graphic novel should do.
The Bad Stuff: While the tale is interesting and the artwork is visual feast for your eyes, by all accounts the story seems to be a little hard to follow. If you are a die-hard graphic novelist/comic reader, you may not be fazed by this, but for me, well… the artwork made it well worth a read.
Overall, if you are a lover of good art you will enjoy this book, but if you are after a smooth flowing, easy to understand story this may leave you a little unsatisfied. I’m giving this one an eye opening, mind marvelling 3 out of 5 golden bookmarks.
Want to know if you agree with my review? Grab your own copy from these links:
Allan Walsh writes Fantasy and Horror. If you’re looking for something new to read in these genres, why not check out his books here.
If you liked this review please share it on social media.
Book Review: The Writers Complete Fantasy Reference
The Writer’s Complete Fantasy Reference: An Indispensable Compendium of Myth and Magic from the editors of Writer’s Digest Books
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
The Writers Complete Fantasy Reference is a non-fiction title for writers. It covers aspects of the genre that will help the writer to create a believable fantasy world.
The Cover: This is a beautiful cover and screams fantasy, however if it were not for the title and other elements on the cover, I would not have picked it as a non-fiction book. The cover designer made good choices with these additional elements to consolidate the genres.
The Good Stuff: This book is packed with useful information for a fantasy writer. Ever wondered what the parts of a castle are? Look no further. Need to know what weapons were around in the middle ages? This is the book for you. What did peasants wear? It’s all in this book.
The Bad Stuff: It is only a non-fiction title and with such a great cover, I wanted more. The book is informative, but a lot of the details are common knowledge. Did I really need this book? Probably not. Will I ever refer to it? Probably, now I know what’s between the covers it will be easy to refer to if I need more details. It could even be used for some inspiration.
Overall, this is a good reference guide. It covers different cultures across our evolution and will certainly make you think a little more about things when you are writing your next fantasy novel. I appreciate the content, but reading a reference guide is a little boring for me, better suited as a reference, but it’s kind of a catch 22, without knowing the content how do you know what to refer to? I think there is value in this title and it certainly reminded me of the deeper level of thought required when planning your novels. For that reason I’m ranking this one 3 out of 5 golden bookmarks.
Want to know if you agree with my review? Grab your own copy from these links:
Allan Walsh writes Fantasy and Horror. If you’re looking for something new to read in these genres, why not check out his books here. You can also find his titles available in libraries.
If you liked this post please share it on social media.
What Are Your Favourite Horrors?
Hello Readers,
Halloween, All Hallows Eve, Samhain… whatever you want to call it, it’s rapidly approaching. I always loved Halloween when I was a kid, maybe it was all those Hammer House of Horror stories I used to watch on TV, the Twilight Zone, Tales of the Unexpected, or just the old black and white horror movies. Whatever it was, I loved it. So in the lead up to the big night itself, I thought I would list some of my favourite horrors (books and movies) for you all. Here they are:
- Interview with the Vampire
- Van Helsing
- The Lost Boys
- Fright Night
- 30 Days of Night
- The Grudge
- The Ring
- Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Slayer
- Priest
- The Number 23
- Let the Right One In.
Okay, maybe some are not exactly scary horror, but I like them none the less. What are your favourite horrors?
Allan Walsh writes Fantasy and Horror. If you’re looking for something new to read in these genres, why not check out his books here. You can also find his titles available in some libraries.
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Book Review – The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie.
The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
The Blade Itself is a fantasy novel about … well, a host of characters and the parts they play in this tale of feuds, conspiracies, and wars. Set in a vicious world with well-established cultures and classes, magic and science, superstitions and beliefs.
The Cover: I do get the feeling that this is a fantasy novel. The blood splatter suggests there will be some violence. It’s quite plain and doesn’t really grab me.
The good stuff: This book has a full cast of characters from Logen Ninefingers, Bayaz and Jezal Dan Luthar, to Major Collem West, Sand dan Glokta, and Ferro. Their paths woven seamlessly into the story in a world where life is neither fun nor fair. The characters own their individual personalities, their individual traits and their individual problems, while war broods all around. Abercrombie weaves a tale of respected men who lie and scheme, barbarians who have honour and respect and strong women who kick some serious arse.
The Bad Stuff: The only bad thing about this book is it comes to an end and leaves you wanting more.
In my opinion, this is a superbly written fantasy novel with a mix of aristocratic society and down-in-the-gutter, bang-to-rights hard men. This action packed novel packs a punch and deserves a place on the shelf of any true fantasy fan. I’m giving it 5 out of 5 golden bookmarks.
Want to know if you agree with my review? Grab your own copy from these links:
Allan Walsh writes Fantasy and Horror. If you’re looking for something new to read in these genres, why not check out his books here. You can also find his titles available in libraries.
If you liked this post please share it on social media.