If you like dystopian novels, then the Echo books are for you.
Warning, though. They do contain violence and swearing.
But hurry. Today is the last day of the sale.
Sorry npt to let you know earlier but I forgot to hit ‘publish’.
Tag Archives: books
Pay Someone a Compliment Day and 20 of My Favourite Authors
Today is Pay Someone a Compliment Day, so I decided to write a post about some of my favourite authors.
But first, I would like all my subscribers to know that I greatly appreciate your reading of my blog. And those of you who comment are super folk. I love interacting with you all.
Here are 20 authors. Actually, my favourite author is often the one I’ve just finished and enjoyed reading, but these are all to be recommended.
There are a couple I feel I should add, but hey-ho! I’ve limited myself to 20.
Now to the list of authors. This is not in any order, so if you find your name there, near the top or bottom, it doesn’t mean you are my favourite or least favourite.
Mary Deal Suspense/Thrillers; Romance
David Kummer Horror, although my favourite to date is not horror.
Sean Robbins Scifi
Debbie Manber Kupfer Young Adult, Fantasy, Paranormal.
D Wallace Peach Fantasy
Randall Krzak Thriller and Crime
Kent Wayne Dystopian scifi
Brian L Porter. Mystery and tales of his rescue dogs.
Cynthia Morgan Dystopian fantasy and Young Adult
Robert Scanlon Space Opera
Nicholas C Rossis Science Fiction and Speculative Fiction
Robert Jordan Fantasy
Frank Herbert Scifi
Brandon Sanderson Fantasy
Emily Bronte Not sure where this one goes. It’s not romance in the conventional way.
C.J. Sansom Historical
J.K.Rowling Fantasy
Anne Bronte Not quite sure where I’d place her work.
Georgette Heyer Historical
Terry Pratchett Comic fantasy.
There are others I’d love to add, but my limit is 20. Maybe I’ll do another post sometime and add these others.
Have you read any of these authors? Do you agree with my list. or are there those on it you would not have on yours? I’m sure there are.
Please let us know in the comments.
Please May I have Your Help
Vengeance of a Slave has now made it through to the last 50 in All Author Cover of the Month. It’s currently at Number 29.
In order to get higher, it needs lots more votes, so please will you pop over to All Author and vote?
In order to vote, you will need to sign up for the site, but you can unsubscribe afterwards, or maybe you would like to stay there and find loads of new books and authors.
It needs a huge push by my friends and followers in order to get to the top. The book currently at the top is one that I dislike the cover of, but I suspect the author has a load more people to call on than I have.
Still, your help would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you in advance.
Here’s the link to the site.
Happy New Year, and some news
I have just submitted the second part of my poetry anthology, One Poem a Day. This one goes from July to December.
Book 1, January to June was released just before Christmas.
My daughter had a book when she was very little which comprised one story of poem to read every day of the year. It was great as each poem or story was short, and at bedtime we could say, “That’s the end of today’s story.” No arguments about going to sleep.
I thought how nice it would be if an adult could have something similar. One poem to read each day for a year. So I set about, December 2022, to writing one poem every day. At times I thought I’d never do it, but eventually, I succeeded.
I decided to release the book in two halves so that people could begin to read on January 1st. Book 1 came out just before Christmas and has received a glowing review already.
Here is the review from Amazon.
VINE VOICE
Clever and unusual, a unique blend of poetic styles
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 9 December 2023
I thoroughly enjoyed this unique collection of poetry from V M Sang. I say unique because it’s rare to find such an eclective collection of different styles, forms and subjects in one one book, all by the same author. From Haiku to full length poetic pieces, covering a wide range of topics from the weather to personal feelings and the rare beauty found in the more mundane, everyday events in the poet’s life. Definitely something for everyone and I have no hesitation in recommending the book and giving it a 5 star review.
If you are interested in my poetry, you can buy by clicking here when you will be able to buy from your favourite store.
Acceptance in cover of the month competition.
Happy New Year to everyone.
I’m afraid this is something of a begging post.
The cover of Vengeance of a Slave has been accepted in All Authors’ cover of the month contest. The first round runs until 7th January when the top 100 will go on to the next round. It’s by votes, so please would you pop over and vote for it.You can get to the voting page by clicking
https://allauthor.com/cover-of-the-month/17022/
Thanks in advance, and wish me luck.
Review of Sophie and Candy by Brian L Porter
Blurb
Before Brian L. Porter met his wife Juliet, and they embarked on their lives as dog rescuers, he adopted two beautiful dachshunds who shared his life as his constant companions.
This is their story. SOPHIE AND CANDY – A TALE OF TWO DACHSHUNDS tells how their lives had such an impact on the author that he discovered how the love of dogs can teach us, as human beings, to love and be loved, unconditionally.
There’s laughter and tears, love and loss in this story. Taking the reader back in time almost thirty years to a previous period in Brian’s life, it’s a fascinating and beautifully illustrated insight into the beginning of a life devoted to the love of dogs. Sophie and Candy were two very special dachshunds who left Brian with a lasting legacy of love.
My Review
Sophie and Candy by Brian L Porter is book 10 of Mr Porter’s tales of the dogs he and his wife, Juliette have rescued. In some ways it should really be the first as Sophie and Candy were the dogs that kick started the Porters into their dog rescuing.
It is a lovely, heart-warming story of the love between a human family and two very special little dogs.
It all started when, as often happens, Mr Porter’s son asked for a dog. They found these little beauties whose current owner could no longer look after them and didn’t want them split up.
The dogs helped Mr Porter through a variety of life traumas, including the death of his mother, whom the dogs loved as much as she loved them.
The book contains many lovely photographs as well as the beautiful story.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. Well worth spending a few hours reading. It is an easy read.
Only one criticism. There are a number of word repetitions in close proximity, but that is no major problem.
I give it 5*
My ranking of books. In order to get a particular number of stars, it is not necessary to meet all the criteria.
This is a guide only.
5* Exceptional. Wonderful story. Setting well drawn, and characters believable–not perfect, but with flaws. Will keep you up all night. No typos or grammatical errors.
4* A thoroughly enjoyable read. Great and original story. Believable setting and characters. Very few grammatical errors or typos.
3* I enjoyed it. Good story. Characters need some development. Some typos or grammatical errors.
2* Not for me. Story not very strong. Unbelievable and flat characters. Setting not clearly defined. Many typos or grammatical errors.
1* I hated it. Story almost non-existent. Setting poor. Possibly couldn’t finish it.
Released at last
The first part of One Poem a Day has now been released. It would make an amazing Christmas present for someone.
Take a lyrical journey through the first half of the year with V.M. Sang’s FROM JANUARY TO JUNE.
This anthology captures the essence of everyday life, nature, and the world around us through the versatile medium of poetry. From haiku to narrative poems, and the humor found in limericks, From January To June is a diverse collection of poetry.
A calendar in creativity, a diary in verse; this collection is the perfect companion for daily reflection and inspiration, providing a poem for each day that resonates with the diverse experiences of life.
You can get your copy by clicking on the book cover in the sidebar or clicking the button below.
Watch out for the next volume, From July to December, which I hope will be released early next year.
Do you enjoy reading poetry? Let us know in the comments box.
Book Reviews: Why They Matter SO Much
I recently read this post from Kristen Lamb about leaving book reviews. Please read it fully. It is very important to authors.
If you are a reader, no matter HOW you read a book, try to leave a review of some sort. It doesn’t matter if you checked it out from a library, borrowed from a friend, or “stole” it from the Urgent Care waiting room while they held you hostage.
Go to Amazon, ideally. Whether anyone likes it or not that is where most REGULAR PEOPLE look for books/book reviews and try to leave a review.
Yes, feel free to leave a book review at Goodreads. But I will say that, as I have mentioned far too many times before, regular people (*code for readers) have no idea what Goodreads even is. AVID readers do. Readers who are also writers or who aspire to be authors do.
Normal folk? Not so much.
Do you leave reviews for books you read? If not, why not? It doesn’t need to be an essay, a simple comment is sufficient.
And you don’t have to have bought it from Amazon to leave a review there.
A Halloween Poem.
Tonight is Halloween. This is an ancient festival that we have adapted to our own times. This poem harks back to those times when people really believed that the spirits of the dead could return to Earth, including demons and other malevolent creatures.
Hallowe’en
The moon has hidden her face tonight
Turned away from the Earth.
The clouds are scurrying away in fright
From what the night may give birth,
For tonight the veil is thin.
The wind is blowing the leaves around.
They hide in crannies and nooks.
Cowering, shivering, hope not to be found
By phantoms, ghosts and spooks,
For tonight the veil may tear.
Build a bonfire, create some light.
The spirits are afraid.
They like the shadows, shun what’s bright
And lurk within the shade
For tonight they cross the veil.
Ghouls and spectres, wraiths and shades
Return to Earth tonight.
We’re filled with dread as daylight fades.
The smallest sound will give us fright
For tonight the veil has gone.
This poem appears in my poetry book, Miscellaneous Thoughts. It is available in your favourite store, as ebook, or ‘real’ book.
There are more Halloween poems there as well as others from the various seasons, the countries of the UK, limericks, Haiku and many other things.
Most of my poetry is rhyming poems, so if you enjoy that kind of poetry, you will probably enjoy my poems.
Get your copy by clicking on the image of the book in the sidebar or the button below.
Did you like my poem? All comments will be read and answered. Add yours in the comments box.
Review of Nebula by Robert Scanlon
Overview
I received a free copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
In all honesty, I wish I’d read Book 1, Constellation, before reading this, as it’s the second book in the trilogy. Having said that, it is possible to read this without reading book 1 because Mr Scanlon skillfully fills in the gaps during the story without making it seem like an infodump.
The story is told in first person present tense. Not my favourite tense to read, but I got used to it as the story progressed. It seems to be the current fashion.
Story.
India Jackson is, for want of a better word, a Space Pirate. She is recruited to find out what Oberon, the leader of a different sector, is planning in order to capture Constellation, a ship that India secured for her sector. (Book 1)
A Space Station is destroyed, and India is accused of the deed. She flees with her crew to unsavoury parts of the galaxy in order to find out more, but with a price on her head, and possible traitors, it’s difficult for her.
I cannot say more without spoilers.
Blurb
Indy Jackson has had enough of war politics. After beating rival space fleets into submission and reclaiming a fabled battlecruiser, she refuses to kowtow to the derisive attacks from the military. But when an anonymous terror attack destroys a key space station command, she’s thrust into a power play that could be terminal.
She brought parts of the galaxy to their knees. Now one mouthy space pirate has become prey…
Forced on the run and accused of the horror assault that claimed thousands of lives, Indy ventures into lawless territory to find answers. But instead of gathering support, her reputation threatens to send her to the grave.
Can this fish-out-of-water and her ragtag crew save the entire sector from annihilation?
Nebula is the intense second book in the Blood Empire space opera series. If you like driven heroines, interstellar standoffs, and underhand political motives, then you’ll love Robert Scanlon’s intergalactic adventure.
Characters.
The book is told from Indy’s POV as it’s in 1st person, so we know her better than anyone else. She is a complex character, and can be unpredictable. Although she doesn’t mind breaking the law, she does have a strong moral sense and guilt feelings for people who die in her service, or because of her plans.
I think many people will know someone like Indy in their complexity. I certainly felt with her, and liked her.
Other characters are less well developed.
Writing
I have no complaints about the writing.
Mr Scanlon does well in making us feel the dangers and excitement of space. Near the beginning, Indy performs a dangerous manoeuvre while escaping that we can almost feel.
His descriptions of the places visited are clear and we can easily visualise them.
Grammar is good. No typos that I spotted.
If you are a fan of Space Opera, then I suggest you read this book.
I give it 5*
My ranking of books. In order to get a particular number of stars, it is not necessary to meet all the criteria. This is a guide only.
5* Exceptional. Wonderful story. Setting well drawn, and characters believable–not perfect, but with flaws. Will keep you up all night. No typos or grammatical errors.
4* A thoroughly enjoyable read. Great and original story. Believable setting and characters. Very few grammatical errors or typos.
3* I enjoyed it. Good story. Characters need some development. Some typos or grammatical errors.
2* Not for me. Story not very strong. Unbelievable and flat characters. Setting not clearly defined. Many typos or grammatical errors.
1* I hated it. Story almost non-existent. Setting poor. Possibly couldn’t finish it.
Do you enjoy Space Opera stories? Have you read Nebula, or its earlier book, Constellation? What did you think of them? Let us know in the comments.
