That's a grand total of 498 downloads! By my reckoning, that's about 490 people I don't know, that now have an e-copy of my book... I think that's amazing.
This has been written specifcally for a 'Faith' poetry contest where they are looking for poems
that in some way pertain to this theme. It doesn't matter if it's
spiritual, political, intellectual or emotional as long as faith is
clearly represented. (Content may not be suitable for minors)
In the spirit of the forthcoming festivities, I have made the Kindle edition of my poetry book Encounters free to download for two days. That's right folks, for two whole days, staring today 14th December until midnight tomorrow 15th December, you can have this lovely collection of poetry for absolutely nothing, nada; totally Free and Gratis.
No catch and no need to leave a review (unless you feel compelled to do so, of course! ;) )
If you don't have a Kindle, amazon provide software that is free and easy to download, so that you can access Kindle content from your PC, MAC, iPhone and android. Click HERE to find one for you...
Okay, okay! I'm the first to admit that I'm no David Bailey.
These were taken on my HTC about 20 minutes ago, when the sun was shining and the sky was an amazing colour of blue. In the time it's taken me to upload the images, and start preparing this post, the temperature has dropped to minus 4 degrees and a heavy fog has decended!
It's hard to see from these pictures, due to the restrictions of the focus on the HTC phone, but even the branches and twigs on the larger trees are sporting frozen needles, just like those on the rose hips and spider's web.
Some of these crystalised spikes are between 2-3 cm in length!
They looked gorgeous in the sunlight.
And by contrast, these images were taken just 10 minutes later... how quickly the weather changed!
Is it cold enough for you? I'm not sure how everyone else fared, but we woke up to a hard frost this morning. The way it covered the bare branches of the trees and bushes would have made a lovely photograph, but with the prolonged bouts and frequency of my coughing fits, I couldn't have done it justice.
As cold as it is, I've just found a lovely five star review of Encounters, the first for the Kindle edition. Makes me feel all warm and fuzzy, or is that down to the electric blanket?
If you'd like to read the review, please click here.
Earlier this year, March to be precise, I lurched into the world of self-publishing with the release of my poetry book Encounters. Initially available in paperback, my intention was to follow up shortly after with an edition for the Kindle platform. This is when 'Sod's Law' made it's presence felt for the remainder of the year.
A little over a year ago, I had absolutely no knowledge of what a Vignette was... and then along came two very talented ladies, determined to breathe life into an unknown literary form.
Their dream flourished, and today they celebrate a successful year with the release of their first anthology, 'The Best of Vine Leaves Literary Journal' . Here is how they did it...
What struck me first about 'The Inbetween' was the voice in which it is
written. It has an 'Olde Worlde' quality that helps to set the scene and
mood perfectly for the story that unfolds.
The story itself,
whilst short, manages to combine all the elements of a good fireside
tale. There is conflict between old and new religions, drawing on the
magic of folklore with just enough resolution to leave me satified yet
still fire my imagination into wanting more.
A magical little morsel that begs to be read by an open log fire on a winter cold winter's eve.
As regency romances go, this was easy to read and extolled the genteel virtues of the period.
Although the depth of characters and plot could have done with a little more substance (for me), there is still sufficient of both to provide an enjoyable read. The Earl's Inconvenient Wife is perfect for a touch of escapism, on the bus or train during the rush hour commute, or a night duty coffee break.
I'm
not a big reader of popular women's fiction, but there was something
about the Author's desire to steer the central character away from the
'streotypically glorified women portrayed today', that appealed to me.
Jessica Bell promised a real woman, real situations and relationships, all of which, she delivers in abundance.
You
know that you have read something special when the story, imagery and
emotion can be easily re-called many, many months after you have turned
the final page.
If you enjoy historical romance with a strong-willed, independent heroine, then I think you will welcome the chance to read this book.
In 'A Knight to Desire', Gerri Russell draws inspiration from the history and legends of the Templar Knights and weaves a wonderfully intriguing tale of war, betrayal and romance.
Not only that, but by placing the heroine firmly within the male orientated world of the Templar Knights, the author has taken the role of the 'strong' historical heroine to a completely new level, giving the reader a feminine role model who is not only equal to, but surpasses the abilities of her leading man.
I don't believe it! The Accidental Poet has received a 'Super Sweet Blogging Award'
courtesy of Maureen Vincent-Northam, freelance writer, copy editor and genealogist, author of 'Trace Your Roots' and the Writers Checklist.
I normally shy away
from politics and the news for my poetic inspiration, if only for the reason
that there are plenty of poets out there who do so better than I.
I know that this is a
controversial subject; one that everyone has a strong opinion about, but as I
read of Tony Nicklinson's passing, I was moved to write the following poem, in
dedication to him and to others who are currently facing similar situations.
Are you growing weary of the same old "Wham! Bam! Fang you Ma'am!" type of Vampire plot lines currently on offer? Looking for a Vampire book with a little more intellectual bite?
Yes?
Then allow me to introduceCelebrity Blood by Nathalie Suteau.
Over the last two days, I have been working on a promotional
video for Encounters. I needed some captions etc. to go with the images used. Here
is the result.
Following on from my previous post, here's a non-traditional senryu.
e-readers formatting nightmare for poets
A
senryu is a form of poetry that originates from Japan. Traditionally, it
follows the same structure as a haiku and contains three lines and
specific syllable count of 5- 7-5 . The haiku deals with nature whilst a
senryu is primarily concerned with human nature and is often humorous
or satirical in content.
The above is an example of a non-traditional senryu in that it follows a 3-5-3 syllable count.
And what a beautiful day to wake up to. The sun is shining for the second day in a row down here, which no doubt means the powers that be will be considering another 'hose pipe ban' before long.
I have just spent the best part of three days re-formatting the manuscript for Encounters, making it e-reader friendly for it's launch on to the Kindle platform in the not too distant future. And what an experience that was!
If you're looking to read something short and sweet with
feel good factor and a subtle dose of karma, then look no further than this
offering by Talli Roland.
At around 20,000 words, Miracle at the Museum of Broken
Hearts is a short Novella, which, I imagine to be the right combination of
length and depth to the plot and characters, to make it a light reading
experience.
In this, her debut novel, Kay Dorney has managed to blur the
lines between the natural, supernatural and preternatural worlds and
phenomenon. She does so in a way that makes a refreshing change from the
plethora of books available within this genre.
After the trials and tribulations of publishing Encounters, I promised myself that I wouldn't inflict any more of my poetic musings on the world at large. In fact, I haven't had a single creative thought in several weeks/months. That is to say I hadn't, until the wee small hours of Friday morning when, suffering the Mother of all headaches combined with a session of insomnia, I broke the creative drought.
I have been so busy concentrating on getting my book Encounters'Out there', that it has been quite some time since I tried to be creative and write something new.
So as I sit here, with the mother of all headaches and the time fast approaching 02.30 in the UK, what better use could I make of my time, other than to try and break this creative drought?
Forgive me folks, for I have sinned. It has been many weeks since my last post; I would venture to say that it feels much longer, but I know some who might say that it's 'Not been long enough!'
The truth is, I had neither the time nor inclination for surfing the net or writing over the last month or so... been too busy with other aspects of life that just appeared to drain all energy. Anyway, in an attempt to rectify my lack of attention to all things writing, I have slowly been getting back in the saddle. (Again!)
Hot on the heels of my poetry collection Encounters, comes my first interview.
In her latest blog post, freelance writer and editor Maureen Vincent-Northam deploys her investigative skills to interview yours truly. Want to read what she unearthed? Then head on over to the Writer's Checklist and satisfy your curiosity.
Another wonderful 5* review has just arrived at Amazon in support of Encounters. I am so pleased with the response to date I could dance a little jig.
'Refreshingly Insightful' is just one of the accolades used to describe one readers thoughts on the content held within the covers. To find out what else was said, follow the link below.
Putting a collection of poetry together for publication is no easy matter. Not only do you need to have written the poems in the first place, but you also need to decided on the theme and style you want your book to follow.
I'm starting to feel all warm and fluffy, Encounters has just received another stellar review over on amazon. This time from Cathie Hinchliffe. Why not hit the link below to see what she had to say? Go on, you know you want to....
Joe Murray is the owner of the Lazy Luncheonette in the fictional Yorkshire town of Sanford. A self-confessed grumpy old sod, with pockets deeper than his short arms can reach and a mild case of `duck's arse disease', Joe has developed a reputation as a successful amateur detective.
A big THANK YOU to Maureen Vincent-Northam who has just posted a wonderful 5* review of Encounters on Amazon . Want to see what she has to say about it? Follow the link below
If you like Historical Novels with believable characters, settings, conflicts and a touch of romance, I readily recommend this book.
This is the first book in what promises to be a memorable trilogy.
In Dark Deceit, Cathie Dunn has incorporated all the necessary characters, settings, conflicts and resolutions required to ensure a captivating and easy to read historical novel.
This is a tightly written, well-researched psychological crime thriller.
From the opening page through to the final scenes, Frances di Plino guides the reader through a labyrinth of twists and turns in both the main plot and multiple sub-plots;
A refreshing new poetry book, Encounters is obviously written from the heart, covering aspects of life and human emotions which touch us all.
This is done with skill, sensitivity, imagery and humour. The poems are clear and reader-friendly and the first one, The Poet’s Curse, neatly sets the scene. Attractive photos are included to reflect the mood of particular poems, ie; a sleeping baby for the gentle Lullaby. I found the words for One More for the Nightingale going round in my head (always a good sign!) The Short Forms at the end are brief, evocative and tantalising.
All in all a good read, from the saints and sinners of All Hallows Morn and the tragedy of Learn to Fly to the down to earth Man Flu.
Just a little bit of fun for a sunny afternoon....How was it for you?
Hi darling...I'm home
could you lend me a hand?
I appear to have purchased
much more than I planned.
Did you bag any bargains,
were the BOGOF's half price,
did you buy any goodies,
did you remember the rice?
Of course I remembered,
do you think that I'm thick?
NO...don't look in that bag,
they're my personal bits. Okay, keep your hair on,
there's no need to shout,
but I don't understand
what the fuss is about.
Can you lock up the car please?
Quick, here's the key.
I'd do it myself
but I'm desperate to pee!
***
Jeeze, when you're tetchy
you sting like a wasp.
I can't understand it;
I'm completely nonplussed.
I'll show you the reason
I was touchy before,
I've pee'd on this stick
and this is the score.
Well...I guess it's official;
not sure what else to say.
I guess that it means
we'll be parents one day.
So honestly sweetheart
is that all that I get?
Just a couple of 'Wells'
and an 'Oh bloomin' heck.'
Oh come over here,
now don't be dramatic,
I'm just wondering if
there is space in the attic.
Of course I'm excited,
my heart's jumping for joy.
Do you think you can tell
if it's a girl or a boy?
To celebrate the recent release of Encounters and my first 4 star review, I am offering a 20% discount over on Lulu.com for a limited time only...
48 hours to be precise.
If you want to take advantage of this offer, you can find it here, Encounters - 20% off
If you like to read psychological thrillers, this is one book that you will not want to miss And It's FREE on amazon until Monday...don't delay, get your copy now.
A serial killer is out there, targeting women, using them and when he's finished with them, he leaves them hanging... quite literally!
Hubby has been away looking after his mum following her knee replacement.
Whilst he's been away, Lara and I have developed a routine for the
mornings. She wakes me up between 6 and 7am, shouting 'Wakey wakey,
Mummy,' I make the morning drinks and then we both head back to
'Mummy's' bed to enjoy the delights of early morning Cbeebies and a
cuppa.
What happens when the simplest rules of care provision are ignored?
The answer is simple... Standards of care begin to slip, avoidable mistakes are made, lives of those that are already 'vulnerable' are potentially put at greater risk.
I've done it...I've finally put my money, or poetry, where my mouth is and taken one step closer to publication. Yes... I have just sent the MS off to a Copy Editor. Not just any copy editor though, no...only the best for 'My Precious' in the wonderful guise of one Maureen Vincent-Northam.
To find out more about her and her credentials, check out the following link,
So whether you have a funny or interesting short story burning to get out or are you feeling romantically inclined to put your thoughts into verse, get writing now and select either of the links above to enter your masterpiece. Cash prizes for winners.
Ok, I tried the dynamic templates and hated them so have tried a different one. Will see how this one pans out over the next few days. Begining to wish that I hadn't started now...
I've decided that my blog page needs a bit of a re-vamp. Although it is now easier to read and not as cluttered, I'm not sure if this is the one I want to stick with. It feels a bit impersonal to me and I need to work out how to add a few gadgets and images to make it feel more homely...not easy to do with a toddler on the rampage with a Hobby Horse around the house!
Ever the one to plan ahead, I bought a few of Trevor Forest's books last year for my daughter. (For use as gifts when she can read for herself.)
Despite the fact that she is only two years old, she loves listening to stories, pictures or no pictures and Faylinn Frost is the book I chose to read to her.
With St.Valentine's Day around the corner, I just thought I'd share a little 'Hallmark' moment of my own. Don't worry, this one is NOT a contender for the book! lol...
When floundering at lowest ebb,
one guiding light shines through.
You are my one eternal love...
This is the third book flying under the STAC Investigates colours, that I have had the pleasure to read.
This time around, we find Joe, Brenda, Sheila and the rest of the Sanford Third Age Club taking a festive break at the Regency Hotel in Leeds. Also in attendance are members of the Leodensian Historical Society.
Tracy is a new addition to the office. At Nineteen, she is a girl about town who knows it all, or so she thinks. Like most people these days, she's addicted to Facebook, MSN and other Social Media, but when she's told that she can't access these at work, she resorts to keep her best friend abreast of events via a series of e-mails.
From the first insightful poem of 'Bipolar Tongues' right through to the very emotive and touching finale of 'Thorns Like Dough' Jessica Bell draws you in and keeps you with her through the stark reality of a Daughter's relationship with her Bipolar Mother, from childhood to adulthood.
Try as I might, I just could not put this book down.
Okay, okay! I'm the first to admit that I'm no David Bailey.
These were taken on my HTC about 20 minutes ago, when the sun was shining and the sky was an amazing colour of blue. In the time it's taken me to upload the images, and start preparing this post, the temperature has dropped to minus 4 degrees and a heavy fog has decended!
It's hard to see from these pictures, due to the restrictions of the focus on the HTC phone, but even the branches and twigs on the larger trees are sporting frozen needles, just like those on the rose hips and spider's web.
I don't believe it! The Accidental Poet has received a 'Super Sweet Blogging Award' 
Encounters by L.J.Clayton
