This is the poem for today from my poetry book, From January to June, One Poem a Day. In it there is one poem for every day of the year, including an extra for leap years.
This one is considering how quickly the years go by, especially later in life.
Tick tock. Time slips by, One tick at a time. The older we get, The faster it goes I’m wondering why.
Tock tick. Time flows on. It feels just last year I could run quickly, Pick up a hay bale Throw it to the sheep.
Tick tock. Time goes forth. It plods without care Of how bodies grow old But minds remain young Think still they can do.
If you enjoyed this poem, or even if you didn’t, I welcome your opinion. Please leave any comments in the comments box.
If you would like to read more of my poetry, click on the image of the poetry book in the sidebar. This will take you to where you can choose to buy from your favourite online platform.
I thought I’d tell you a little about how I set about writing my books and stories today, but first, for those non-writers amongst you I’d better make a few things clear. Writers ignore this as you already know it.
There are two–no, three–kinds of writers.
First are the plotters. They are the ones who write like you were taught at school, setting out to write an outline of their work before beginning. These people might write just a simple outline, but others go much farther and write a chapter by chapter outline. They search for the Inciting incident, decide where the first plot point is going to come, and all the other things we are told a good story needs. Then they refer to this as they write. It helps them to stay focused on the plot and not wander off.
Second are what are known as pantsers. These writers write ‘by the seat of their pants’. They don’t write a plan but simply start writing and see where the story goes. Sometimes they are called ‘discovery writers’.
The third type is a combination of the two, sometimes known as plantsers. These writers don’t have a massively detailed plan, but will often have a very general outline which they sort of follow.
I describe myself as a pantser. I haven’t the patience to write a detailed plan, although I often have something in my head. I often know the ending of a story before I start.
I do like to know my characters, though, so I will look at their background and what brought them to this point, even if it isn’t going to be in the story. People’s backgrounds affect how they behave, so this is important.
But in my Wolves of Vimar series, I have produced 4 prequels giving the background of some of the characters. There may be more to come in the future.
Once I have the characters and know them a bit, I begin to write. I allow things to happen as they occur to me. Sometimes it seems as if the characters are taking over. The first time this happened (in writing The Wolf Pack) I thought I must be going mad, because a character did something I wasn’t expecting. (No spoilers, so I won’t say what it was.) Then I discovered that other writers also have characters take over. They don’t always do as we want them to. One of my characters who first appeared in The Wolf Pack, a small dragon-like creature about the size of a cat, made no appearance in the second book, The Never-Dying Man, nor the third, Wolf Moon, but he demanded my attention, saying he must have a bigger role to play and he could be useful. So Muldee became a spy in Immortal’s Death and had quite a big and important role.
Stories often take a turn from what I originally envisaged. This is exciting. Sometimes it means I might have to change the ending. (Getting the right ending is difficult, so as to leave the reader feeling satisfied.)
There are times when I’m simply not inspired. A story is going nowhere and I spend hours trying to decide what to write. If I force myself to start, I frequently find that things happen and ideas flow that didn’t when I was just thinking about it. I suppose the characters are there and telling me what they want! :)) I have a couple of stories like that at the moment, but I have another project on the go, so they will have to wait.
But this method can take you down rabbit holes. This, of course, means more work in the editing process. It has to be sorted before anything else happens. Parts removed that are unnecessary and don’t add anything to the plot. Maybe characters need removing if they don’t do anything. But these can always be kept for another story.
I often run it through Grammarly or Hemmingway, a couple of grammar checkers. After I’ve done all I think I can do, I post it on a couple of on-line critique groups. These are invaluable and help me polish the manuscript as well as pointing out places where they got confused. Yes, I write confusing stuff sometimes.
Only then is it fit for human consumption, as it were. I don’t have beta readers, unfortunately. I’ve been unable to find any reliable ones, so it has to stand after this.
I hope to soon be back to my third historical novel set in the aftermath of the Battle of Hastings.
Thank you for reading.
If you have any comments, please add them to the comments box, and if you want to buy any of my books, you can click on the cover on the sidebar to take you to the online store of your choice.
This might only apply to people in the UK as pronunciation in the US for some words is different.
I’ve noticed in the last few years that pronunciation is not what it was.
Here are a few things I’ve noticed changing:
The word ‘ to’ is no longer pronounced as if it has an o after the t. In almost every case it’s now pronounced ‘te’. “I’m going te town.”
The combination of the letters, ‘th’ is rarely pronounced properly, but is pronounced as though it’s ‘v’ or ‘f’. “Are you coming wiv me?” This pronunciation was once only heard in less educated Londoners, but it’s spread throughout the country, and even university graduates pronounce ‘th’ in this way.
Recognise comes from the Latin ‘recognoscere’ It has a ‘g’ in the middle. It’s not a silent ‘g’. Or at least it shouldn’t be. People more often than not pronounce it ‘recernise’.
Another word that suffers from a silent letter which it shouldn’t is February, which is now pronounced Feb-yoo-ary instead of Feb-roo-ary.
Sky’s political reporter, whom I won’t name, drops the ‘g’ off every word that ends in that letter. She’ll say, “In a few moments, the Prime Minister will be comin’ through the door of Number 10 Downin’ Street and givin’ a speech about….”
I find these things irritating, but particularly the last one. The occasional mistake I can accept, but it’s not a mistake when it’s done every time.
Have you noticed any changes in the way people pronounce words? What is your feeling about it?
I’ve had a wonderful review of Vengeance of a Slave from Robbie Cheadle. Thank you Robbie.
You can read it on her blog. Click the button to read it.
A royal wedding. A missing duke. An empire on the brink of war.
Carthinal and his companions gather to celebrate Princess Randa’s wedding to Prince Almoro—until news arrives that Duke Larrin of Sendolina and his wife are missing, and their lands have fallen to enemy forces. With tension rising between Grosmer and Erian, the king dispatches a dragonet to uncover the truth.
As the Wolf mercenaries set out on a dangerous rescue mission, they are blown off course and forced into battles on land and sea. Meanwhile, rebellion brews in Hambara, and young Thadora—noble by blood but raised in the shadows—must uncover Erian’s next move.
Soon, loyalties will be tested, lives lost, and Carthinal will have to face a betrayal from someone he trusted the most.
A richly detailed epic fantasy adventure, IMMORTAL’S DEATH is the fourth book in the Wolves of Vimar series by V.M. Sang.
The first 3 books are available as a Collection. It says ‘The Complete Series’, but that was before Book 4 was published.
All three books in V.M. Sang’s ‘The Wolves Of Vimar’ series of fantasy novels, now available in one volume!
The Wolf Pack: Carthinal is ready for his rite of passage to become a mage. What he doesn’t expect is ending up on a quest to find the long-lost sword of the legendary King Sauvern. Followed by Randa, the daughter of the Duke of Hambara, and the young thief Thad, Carthinal will need all the help he can get in order to complete his quest.
The Never-Dying Man: After straying into Erian, Carthinal and his friends find preparations for war. Carthinal will need to face unpleasant truths about himself; Is his desire to further his magical career more important than his friends, and his country?
Wolf Moon: An invasion is planned to Grosmer. As the heroes make their escape, they accidentally stumble upon an old Dwarven city. Facing enemies on all sides, the five must find where their loyalties lie, But can they save their homeland from certain destruction?
Although it is better to read the whole series, I believe that each book can be read on its own. There are some things that hang over, as it’s a series, but most things are settled in each book. There is an overarching quest of finding and killing the Never-Dying Man to save the land of Grosmer.
If you choose to read any or all of the books, I would be more than grateful for an honest review, and if you would like a free review copy of Immortal’s Death (or any of the other books), please let me know in the comments.
There is no obligation to review, but I would be greatly appreciative.
I’ve been told that the release of Book 4 is imminent.
I invited Sandron, brother to Duke Larrin of Sendolina, to come and have a chat. He eagerly agreed.
Image: young man with a dragonet on his shoulder sitting in a castle room . Image generated by Vivienne Sang using Bing AI Generator
Hi, Sandron. It’s good of you to agree to join me.
Sandron: Thank you for asking me.
Me: I understand you are the youngest of three. What was it like, growing up with two older brothers?
Sandron: Well, I’d have preferred being the second. Not the eldest, though.
Me: Why was that? The eldest would become the Duke of Sendolina. Wouldn’t you have liked that?
Sandron: *Shakes his head.* Nah! Not for me. Too much work. But it suits Larrin perfectly. He was much more serious than either Brand or myself.
Me: Brand is your other brother–the middle one of the three of you?
Sandron: Was. Brand is no longer with us. He was murdered by that fellow, Hammevaro, at a banquet. He’d come to Grosmer as Erian’s ambassador and poisoned the wine for the top table. That included all the dukes, Crown Prince Perdillon and his wife, Princess Helloria, King Gerim and Queen Carolla and Princess Dara. Sadly, King Gerim died, along with several dukes. Princess Helloria had just gone into labour with Prince Gerim and so she and Perdillon had left, and Prince Almoro was sulking over Randa, so remained in his room. Brand was one who succumbed, too. *Wipes his hand over his face.*
Me: Why did Hammevaro do this?
Sandron: In order to try to remove all experienced leaders to make Erian’s invasion easier. *Thumps the table.*
Me: You miss Brand.
Sandron: Yes. I miss him every day. *sighs* We had such fun, especially when Randa came to live with us. Her father sent her to share our tutor. *grins*. We called him Snagtooth. His real name was Professor Snaggletuf, as he had very uneven teeth the nickname fit.
Me: Larrin became Duke of Sendolina. What did Brand and you do?
Sandron: Brand joined the army. It suited him, and I’ve no doubt he’d have made it to the highest level. Second sons went into the army. Third sons, *pauses for a second* usually joined one of the temples and became priests. That wasn’t the life for me. I honour the gods, of course, but don’t have a preference.
Me: Why didn’t you join the army?
Sandron: No good at following orders. I’d have questioned them if I thought I had a better idea. Not a good trait in a soldier!
Me: So what did you do?
Sandron: *He broke into laughter.* I became the leader of a bandit gang. No one knew until we captured Wolf on their way back from finding Sauvern’s Sword and Randa recognised me. She then gave me the idea of becoming legit and forming a mercenary troop.
Me: You have a much bigger part to play in this current part of the story. Are you pleased about that?
Sandron: Yes… and no. It doesn’t always show me in the best light. But I was pleased to help my country.
Me: Thank you for coming to Dragons Rule OK.
Sandron: It was a pleasure. Thank you for inviting me.
I’m really looking forward to the release of this book. I enjoyed writing it immensely. It took a long time, but very shortly it’ll be released into the wild.
If you’ve not read the other books in the series, it begins with The Wolf Pack, goes on to Wolf Moon and The NeverDying Man, and now Immortal’s Death.
It all begins with a prophecy found in an ancient book.
When Kalhera descends from the mountains And orcs once more roam the land: When impossible beasts occur And the Never-Dying Man is once more at hand, Then the Sword that was lost must once more be found. Only it can destroy the threat And kill the Immortal Mortal To balance out his debt.
A newly-promoted mage, a priestess in disgrace, an outcast ranger, an aristocratic young lady. These come together along with others, to try to find Sauvern’s Sword–a mythical, magic sword lost for hundreds of years.
Their quest leads them to near death, rescue by strange creatures, a visit to foreign lands, capture and escape.
Can they succeed in finding the Sword, in order to save the land of Grosmer from peril?
You can get the books by clicking on the cover in the sidebar.
If you have anyone who likes Epic Fantasy in your family, these would make excellent Christmas presents.
The first book in the Wolves of Vimar series opens with the burial of a king and his magical sword, and the sacrifice of twelve warriors whose spirits will protect his body from harm until the eight “wolves” come. This prophecy results, many years later, in a quest, as eight characters are sent by a duke to bring back the sword.
The book is divided into thirds. Part I takes its time introducing the characters who represent a variety of races including humans, elves, dwarves, and their half-elf leader, Carthinal. The group includes the duke’s entitled daughter Randa, a married horselord couple, and a young thief with a thick accent. The backstory for most of the characters comes through multiple points of view with some omnipresent narration.
Part II of the story begins the journey. The author’s attention to world-building is evident as the “wolf pack” wends their way across the land. Part III covers the journey home. The pace is moderate throughout with tangents for fun, humor, and a bit of romance. Much of the book’s journeying reminded me of a Dungeons and Dragons quest, with a variety of creatures offering challenges along the way including Yetis, dragons, nymphs, bandits, hobgoblins, and other fantasy monsters.
The characters are distinct but for me, the book was more of a plot-driven read than an emotionally-deep character-driven one. Most of the characters don’t have significant arcs apart from Randa, the entitled duke’s daughter, and for that reason, I found her the most interesting. Though the first book in the series, it also stands alone well. Recommended to YA readers of high-fantasy quests who enjoy a leisurely pace, plot-driven stories, and encounters with otherworldly creatures and monsters.
After publishing some of his short stories on his blog, Hugh W. Roberts, who is dyslexic, received numerous requests to publish his short stories in a book.
Here, at last, are 28 short stories that will take your mind on a roller coaster of a ride into worlds that conceal unexpected twists and turns.
‘Glimpses’ allows the reader a peek into the lives of everyday people who are about to have life lead them on an unpredicted path. From a mysterious deadly iPad app to a hole in the fence that is not all it seems, to a strange lipstick that appears to have a life of its own, you will encounter terror, laughter, sadness, shock and many other emotions on journeys which promise a thrilling and gripping climax.
If you are a lover of shows such as ‘The Twilight Zone’ and ‘Tales Of The Unexpected’, then you are in for a real treat with this first collection of short stories from Hugh.
Dare you take a glimpse into the lives of these unsuspecting characters?
As this is a book of short stories, my usual format for reviews won’t work.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading these stories. There were stories of different lengths, so you could choose a short one if you haven’t much time, or a longer one if you wanted to settle down and relax.
I began at the first story and worked my way through.
Every story has an interesting twist, which, for me, made it very interesting and exciting trying to decide what the twist would be.
Some of these stories will horrify you, some will sadden you, yet others will make you smile, but they will all surprise you.
The book is well written and I didn’t notice any typos of grammatical errors.
If you are a fan of such TV programmes as The Twilight Zone or Tales of the Unexpected, then this is the book for you.
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.
And another review from Amazon
“If you are looking for a thoroughly entertaining read, Glimpses is the book for you. Each story, cleverly crafted through Hugh’s wonderful imagination, will whisk you away to many different worlds, past, present and future. Every story makes a compelling read and just when you think you know what’s going to happen next, Hugh masterfully reveals a brilliant twist. With bite-size and longer stories, Glimpses is a must-read. I loved it.” – Esther Chilton, Writer, and Author.
Today is Armistice Day, the day when peace came to the world after WW1. It was said to be the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. For convenience, I suspect, it seems to have been moved to the nearest Sunday,
As I’m having to spend a lot of time trying to get through checking the edited manuscript of my latest WIP, I’m unashamedly reposting the one I posted for 100years since the end of that dreadful war.
WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.
I’ll never truly understand How World War 1 began. The death of Archduke Ferdinand Started the deaths of many more, The young, the old, the rich, the poor. All died with guns in hand.
My Grandad went with Uncle Jim And Our Poor Willie, too. They sent them off, singing a hymn. Grandad went to Gallipoli, Uncle Jim left his love, Polly. Gas in trenches did kill him.
I cannot see, in my mind’s eye Grandad with gun in hand. A peaceful man, sent out to die. He fought for us, for you and me So we can live and so that we Safely in our beds may lie.
Grandad came home, and Willie too, But millions more did not. Their duty they all had to do. They died in fear, in noise, in blood. Everything was caked in mud. Yet in those fields the poppies grew.
The War to end all wars, they said, So terrible were the deaths. The youth of Europe all lay dead. Yet 21 short years to come Another war. Once more a gun In young men’s hands brought death.
One hundred years have passed since then. What have we learned? Not much! Too many men are killing men. Wars still abound around the world. Bombs and missiles still are hurled At those who disagree with them.
My Grandma always referred to her brother as ‘Our Poor Willy’. No one knows why she called him that, though.
Please leave a comment. I love to hear from you and of your thoughts.
This poem, and others, can be found in Miscellaneous Thoughts. You can buy it by clicking on the cover in the sidebar where you will be taken to the online store of your choice.
I would normally have written about it myself, but I’ve received the edited manuscript of Immortal’s Death and need to go through it. I’m consequently a bit short of time.
First of all, before I begin this post, I would like to say that I tried to respond to the comments and suggestions that many of you gave for my story based on Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. For some reason, WordPress said they couldn’t respond. Apologies. I hope the replies get through eventually. I did try several times!
I have been honoured to appear on Mary Deal’s blog. I love Mary’s books, she is an excellent author of mystery and thriller, and all the books I’ve read kept me on the edge of my seat.
Mary has featured an excerpt from my historical novel, Vengeance of a Slave. This is set in Roman Britain and tells the story of a slave boy, ripped from his family at merely six years old, and how he builds up his hatred of the Romans in the hope of escaping and taking revenge.
There is also a link to an interview I did with Mary some time ago.
I was looking through some of my photographs the other day and came across several of lovely trees. I thought I’d share them.
I love trees, and they are so important, not only for helping with removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and turning it to oxygen, but also to preserve other wildlife.
Dragons Rule OK. V.M.Sang (author) 