Malia and Sasha Obama in the garden

Tell Me a Story - comment.

Who ever would have believed this. For the first time in almost 100 years, vegetables will be grown at the White House.

Michelle Obama drags Malia and Sasha to the garden.

Michelle, Malia and Sasha are preparing a 1,100-square-foot raised-bed organic plot on the South Lawn of the White House. There will be over fifty assorted vegetables and herbs growing, and will not only be used for family meals and snacks, but also official dinners - a table talking point no doubt.

The family are also planning to install a couple of beehives to assist with pollination - and presumably provide honey.

Michelle Obama said in an interview with The New York Times,

“Growing food locally is sustainable, uses no fuel for transportation, and reduces the amount of chemicals released into the environment. It also teaches children about healthy eating and avoiding obesity.”

Malia and Sasha were apparently starting to put on weight through eating too many pizza and sandwiches. The exercise and fresh-air in the garden will certainly assist there - a spot of gardening always helps shed a few pounds.

I spend quite some time in the garden - nothing like a spot of back-to-nature to get the old brain juices going. I've planned one or two stories whilst pulling weeds - maybe I ought to push it as a way out of writer's block - writers, take note - pick up your spade if you want to complete that novel ....

Thinking about it, this could be the start of something big. Let’s hope kids throughout America will follow suit, after all, what’s good for Malia and Sasha is seen to be good for them too. Malia and Sasha appear to be THE trend setters

Time will tell…

*** Malia and Sasha Obama, Malia and Sasha Obama ***

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End of post - Malia and Sasha Obama in the garden

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Writing tips – manuscript submissions guidelines 15 vital checks
Overcoming writer’s block
Ideas for saving money
How to deal with anxiety

Debut novel from author, Jim Zervanos

Tell Me a Story - author news

The debut novel, LOVE Park, by Jim Zervanos is due to be released today, May 1st, 2009. Take a look at this MediaWire release to see what you think.

Hope he finds success. Its always good to hear debut writers hitting the right chord.

• Next post on Tell Me a Story.

End of post - Debut novel from author, Jim Zervanos

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Writing tips – manuscript submissions guidelines 15 vital checks
Overcoming writer’s block
Ideas for saving money
How to deal with anxiety

An interview with author, Mark Sadler

Tell Me a Story - Interview

I’d like you to meet a Facebook friend of mine, author, Mark Sadler. I don't know about you, but I just love finding out what makes other writers tick. Each one seems to be unique in their experience and approach. Mark is no exception
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Hi Mark, I wonder if you’d like to introduce yourself.

Hi AJ. Life began in a small caravan in my grandmother’s garden in Dudley England, May 1956. By the time I graduated from Codsall Comprehensive in 1974 a future in writing seemed to be taking a clear path. The following year I immigrated to the States on a student visa to attend Ambassador College Big Sandy Texas and majored in journalism and speech.
In 1979, I was offered the opportunity to write an editorial column in a new publication, OKC Sports Fan Forum, covering the progression of soccer as America hosted the World Cup. A family started, two boys.
By 1993 employment opportunities took me to Tucson AZ, where I remarried and had a third son and live to this day, trying to start up a second career as a novelist; something to tide me over as retirement creeps nearer every year.

Mark, it's rare today to find an author who does nothing but write for a living. Do you have a 'real' job other than writing, and if so, what is it? What are some other jobs you've had in your life?

For the past thirty years I have worked in the debt collection business with a variety of collection agencies. I have also worked as a shop hand in a steel mill, been an employment counselor, sold furniture, made cheese burgers & fries, sold loft installation, had a stage act at a comedy club, performed voiceovers for radio commercials, and wrote an editorial column for a weekly sports magazine, but never swept streets as my father had once suggested was all I was capable of doing.

And just what was it that compelled you to write your first book?

After my last divorce I left town in the middle of the night and disappeared for a month. I ended up humping a sixty pound backpack over some of the most desolate and hardy terrain I had ever been on; the Appalachian Trail in northern Georgia.
The power of healing that the trail possesses is so far beyond anything one can imagine without having experienced it first hand and I wanted to capture that feeling a la Bill Bryson, Rick McKinney or David Miller but their stories were so compelling that I knew I would have a hard time competing; my story seemed diminished in their shadow so I took it to another level and built a murder mystery out of the scenario and fictionalized the story instead.

Okay, perhaps you could tell us a little bit about your book, let us know what it’s about.

Blood on His Hands is a contemporary thriller/mystery that examines the internal battle we all face at some point as to what we will tolerate in our lives when it comes to doing the right thing, the eternal fight of good v. evil.
It is manifested in the book when a cheating wife is caught red-handed by her husband. After killing them the husband leaves town. On the run he examines his life up until that fateful moment. Will he turn himself in and admit to a crime of passion, throwing himself on the mercy of the courts, or live life on the run?
We run with him as his journey takes him from rural Oklahoma to the glitz of Las Vegas and finally out on the Appalachian Trail in northern Georgia where he is forced to deal with the question of what to do with the rest of his life.

And are you currently working on any writing projects our readers should watch for release soon?

Well I’m not sure how soon, soon is but yes I am building a series of at least five crime thrillers featuring Nate Duarte, a Tucson police detective whose mother was an illegal alien and his father a border guard.
Look for lots of current action bringing in the daily headlines involving illicit drugs and illegal alien crossings. Duarte is, however, a sex crimes detective so each book will have a juicy crime to solve at the same time.

Mark, let’s go back in time. When growing up, did you have a favorite author, book series, or book?

As a teen my tastes ran to Louis Lamour and Alistair McLean however I also enjoyed intricate relationships and to this day by favorite book is Sons and Lovers by D.H. Lawrence. I still read that one at least once a year.

And what about now: who is your favorite author and what is your favorite genre to read?

Currently I am fascinated with Jim Crace but I still fall back on thrillers and espionage as my main stays as far as genre is concerned. Patterson, Higgins, Forsyth all spin a great yarn.

How about bringing us into your home. Set the scene for us when you are writing. What does it look like? On the couch, laptop, desk

Well seeing as I am there as we speak it’s not hard to do. Low light, a lamp illuminates from behind the computers monitor. I have all my research notes to my right and opposite all the writing tools, dictionaries, editing rulebooks and Anne Lamott’s Bird by Bird for a little inspiration if I just can’t figure what to write next.
I peck at the keyboard, one finger on each hand is the standard, right into the computer, often referring to hand written notes, or Google references as I go. My glasses sit on top of the printer, I can’t see with the damn things on! Guess that’s part of being over fifty! Oh and in the evening there is usually a Dewar’s White Label, neat.

I like the idea of Dewar’s – always good for the imagination…. Focusing on your book, tell our readers what genre it is and what popular author you think your writing style is most like.

I had a hard time really putting a boilerplate label on the genre of Blood on His Hands. How about a contemporary thriller/mystery?
The story line is well-worn one; the struggle of the power of evil over good but the way it is told is unique. I was unable to pin point anything similar. I can’t compare myself to another writer but there are definite influences, Crace for one. His Being Dead was the inspiration for the scene after the bear attack.
I read while looking for inspiration just to see how my contemporaries handle situations, and I must admit that I really admire Norman Mailer’s ability to describe the physical attributes of his characters and I felt almost a type of permission to be a little more detailed after reading his works.

So how long did it take you to write it? When you started writing, did you think it would take that long?

Three years until I had a finished manuscript. It had actually been so long since I written formally that I went back and enrolled in college to take writing courses and work shops and it really helped with the style of my writing, especially when considering whether to write in the first or third person.

I’m glad you mentioned taking a writing course. I always advise newbies to study the nuts and bolts first. For some reason, a lot of them think a writer just sits down and produces publishable work – not so. We all have to serve an apprenticeship.

Mark, It's said that the editing process of publishing a novel with a publisher is can be grueling and often more difficult than actually writing the story. Do you think this is true for you? How did you feel about editing your masterpiece?

Oh I failed miserably. I thought how hard would it be, I surely don’t make more than a handful of mistakes and those would be typos? Well goodness, when I got that first proof back I let a friend read it and between the two of us, I’m embarrassed to say, we found over 200 errors, and not just typos; many grammatical problems, dangling modifiers, punctuation etc. Well it is now my resolve the next time to hire a specialist before sending in that first proof.

Before we finish, would you like to tell us where to find your books, any blogs you may have, or how readers can learn more about you and writing?

The best place right now to find information about my book is my website, http://www.markpsadler.com/. It will eventually be available at http://www.amazon.com/, http://www.barnesandnoble.com/ and through my publisher’s site www.bbotw.com, but that will only be after publication in June.
Also you can find me in Facebook, sign up to my fan page for more book updates and follow me on Twitter. If you don’t have access to any of those then just e-mail me at markpsadler@gmail.com and I’ll do what I can to help you find a copy of the book.

Thank you, Mark Sadler. Hope we see you name in lights soon.

• Next post on Tell Me a Story.

End of post - An interview with author, Mark Sadler

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Looking for a good read? Try:-

Short Moments - collection of 10 short stories

or

Past Sins - Contemporary fiction

'TRANS 2.0' and Julio Serrano's, World Book Day

Tell Me a Story - comment

I’m not sure what he’s trying to achieve, but to commemorate World Book Day, a Guatemalan author, Julio Serrano, has asked fifty of his friends to circulate different portions of his book 'TRANS 2.0' on their blogs.

Uniting fans

The innovative publishing project seems to be uniting aficionados of literature from all over the world as they rush to contribute to the open license scheme. The author’s site apparently will contain links to all of the participating bloggers.

I wonder where money figures in the scheme? Most authors write for money. We all need money, and writing is how authors earn the stuff. If the whole book is given away piecemeal, then what is he achieving, except notoriety – but then again maybe publicity is what it’s all about. Maybe he’s hoping to win fans in preparation for his next book ….

How about something like that for your next publicity stunt, Stephenie….

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• Next post on Tell Me a Story

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To Write A Story - 20 Ways To Write A Story Better
How To Describe - Mastering Descriptive Writing
7 Cool Ways To Jump-Start The Story Characters In Your Writing


End of post - 'TRANS 2.0' and Julio Serrano's, World Book Day
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Stephenie Meyer and Deseret Books

Tell Me a Story - comment.



Stephenie Meyer - has been hit by more problems – or is it yet one more publicity stunt…. I can’t help but be suspicious of the ‘happenings’ surrounding Ms. Meyer’s books. Maybe I’m super-critical, but in these circumstances I tend to think ‘hidden agenda’…. Her public problems are beginning to tot up…. And after each problem, her sales shoot through the roof….

As my old mum used to say, 'There’s no such thing as ‘bad’ publicity.'

The latest happening

…. Deseret Book stores have apparently taken the decision to remove Stephenie Meyer's best-selling vampire romance books from the shelves of its chain stores. Customers can ask for Meyer's Twilight, New Moon , Eclipse or Breaking Dawn to be specially ordered, but they will no longer be available over the counter.

"We're never really given a reason for these things," said Steve Hartvigsen, manager of the Deseret Book store at Valley Fair Mall. "We just get a return sheet and send books back."

Leigh Dethman, Deseret Books spokeswoman, was not available for questions about the decision, but an e-mail said,

"Like any retailer, our purpose is to offer products that are embraced and expected by our customers. When we find products that are met with mixed review, we typically move them to special order status."

Elizabeth Eulberg, director of publicity for Stephenie Meyer's books, said in a statement, “She had not been alerted to any changes regarding the distribution at Deseret, and had no further comment.”

So what's going on .... the left hand doesn't seem to know what the right is doing... or is it all smoke and mirrors to whip up interest....


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To Write A Story - 20 Ways To Write A Story Better
How To Describe - Mastering Descriptive Writing
7 Cool Ways To Jump-Start The Story Characters In Your Writing

*** Stephenie-Meyer, Stephenie-Meyer, Stephenie-Meyer ***

Next post on Tell Me a Story.
End of post - Stephenie Meyer, and Deseret Books
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Deirdre Madden short listed for Orange Prize

Tell Me a Story - author Deirdre Madden.

Author Deirdre Madden, an important voice in writing in Northern Ireland, has been short-listed for the Orange Prize for Fiction for her novel, Molly Fox’s Birthday. Her interest in how others perceive their status in the world often leads her to scrutinize establishments that affect people's lives.

Madden, wedded to poet Harry Clifton, is the only author on the list who has been short-listed in the past for the award. Her novel, One by One in the Darkness , lost out to Anne Michaels’ Fugitive Pieces in 1997.

Madden has previously won the Rooney Prize for Irish Literature, the Somerset Maugham Award and the Hennessy Award for Short Fiction.

Deirdre Madden is also the creator of two books for children, Snakes’ Elbows and Thanks for Telling Me, Emily, a member of Aosdána, and lectures creative writing at Trinity College Dublin.

The Orange Prize for Fiction, established in 1996, is an annual award for fiction written solely by women, and open to all women authors who are writing in English.

This year’s winner, chosen by a panel of judges, will be announced on June 3rd at a ceremony in London, where she will be presented with a cheque for £30,000 (€34,000) and a bronze statue known as a Bessie.

I can only say, good luck, Deirdre Madden, may this be your year.

*** Deirdre Madden, Deirdre Madden, Deirdre Madden ***

• Next post on Tell Me a Story.

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To Write A Story - 20 Ways To Write A Story Better
How To Describe - Mastering Descriptive Writing
7 Cool Ways To Jump-Start The Story Characters In Your Writing

End of post - Deirdre Madden short listed for Orange Prize.
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Stephenie Meyer steals another author's ideas

Tell Me a Story - comment

Wow! If this is true it's better than any blockbuster!

Stephenie Meyer - plagiarism?

Can this really be true? Heidi Stanton, a former friend of Stephenie Meyer, author of the crazily lucrative Twilight series, is suing Stephenie Meyer for stealing her ideas. Film production on New Moon has been halted as a result.

Heidi Stanton, who studied alongside Meyer at Brigham Young University in Utah alleges Stephenie Meyers stole the vampire story from her. Apparently it's identical to a short story she wrote while they were attending college together. - Well the little tinker.....

Stanton filed her lawsuit against Meyer in Utah last Tuesday, April 14th declaring idea infringement.

She stated, "Quite frankly, I was shocked when I began watching the movie with my husband last week. I immediately told him that she got that idea from me! I wrote a fictional short story with the same ideas when we were in college together."

Stephenie Meyer claims the storyline for Twilight came to her in a dream. She completed the first book three months later.

Production of New Moon has since been "put on hold" until the case is resolved. It's scheduled for release at the end of the year.

I wonder just which one is spinning a yarn? I know who has most to lose.... or does she. Shit.... I suppose it means she'll sell another million copies.... As my mum used to say - "Them that have, will have..."

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*** Stephenie Meyer, plagiarism, Stephenie Meyer, plagiarism, ***

• Next post on Tell Me a Story.

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To Write A Story - 20 Ways To Write A Story Better
How To Describe - Mastering Descriptive Writing
7 Cool Ways To Jump-Start The Story Characters In Your Writing

End of post

Tell Me a Story Internet Ranking.

I just have to share this news with you.

Tell Me a Story
- has been rated amongst the top 90% of all blogs on the Internet. It has apparently been been calculated by taking into account Google, Yahoo, Technorati, blog rank and traffic rank. I've no idea how it's made it, but it has. Who am I to argue.

It's great to think that blogs about writing manage to achieve recognition.

This is what they had to say about it :-

A website grade of 92/100 for Tell Me A Story (ajbarnett-story.blogspot.com) means that of the hundreds of thousands of websites that have previously been evaluated, our algorithm has calculated that this site scores higher than 92% of them in terms of its marketing effectiveness. The algorithm uses a proprietary blend of over 50 different variables, including search engine data, website structure, approximate traffic, site performance, and others.

I can't tell you how good this makes me feel. Thank you to all who take the time to read my blog.

• Next post on Tell Me a Story.

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To Write A Story - 20 Ways To Write A Story Better
How To Describe - Mastering Descriptive Writing
7 Cool Ways To Jump-Start The Story Characters In Your Writing


End of post - "Tell Me a Story Internet Ranking."
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Writer's cramp and all that jazz

Tell Me a Story - viewpoint

Does writing cramp your style? Have you ever suffered writer’s cramp? Well it now seems there’s a brainy reason for it…

I’m lucky enough not to be affected, but the crippling condition of writer's cramp arises when a writer attempts to keep up with a long interview or when a musician desperately tries to perfect a difficult piece.

My thoughts on the subject...

Seems a good idea for authors to use a digital recorder to me.... Buggar scribbling, you miss half of what's being said.

You’d be forgiven for thinking it a muscular problem – well it certainly ends in the muscle, but it seems it starts in the brain. In a new paper, researchers in France used an MRI to study 26 right-handed people prone to writer's cramp and 26 people not plagued by the problem.

Writer's cramp and the brain.

I must admit it passed me by, but apparently it had been identified some time ago that there were differences in people prone to writer's cramp, when compared with those without. Specifically, they had less tissue in the cerebellum, the thalamus, and the sensorimotor cortex - parts of the brain affecting senses and movement.

The new research shows that white matter (made up of message-carrying nerve cells) connecting these regions is affected as well.

I wonder if it’s the same for all cramp conditions. Bananas take away cramp in other parts of the body. Wonder if it means bananas are good brain food….. Mmm, better pick some up next shopping day....

• Next post on Tell Me a Story.

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To Write A Story - 20 Ways To Write A Story Better
How To Describe - Mastering Descriptive Writing
7 Cool Ways To Jump-Start The Story Characters In Your Writing

*** writer's cramp, writer's cramp ***

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Are Amazon crazy?

Tell Me a Story - viewpoint.

Writers beware....

Amazon online bookstore have lost their heads

When posting a review for Amazon, reviewers are no longer allowed to include anything other than their name in the signature. There are to be NO links to, or mention of, their own books whatsoever in the review or signature line.

Amazon remove reviews.

Amazon have apparently already removed numerous reviews from their lists, which had previously been accepted.

This rule also applies to any comments in a book review. Amazon doesn’t want authors to mention their own books anywhere on the review page.

This is crazy stuff.

Most authors create very readable reviews, and to add a tiny advert in the signature is not SPAM. In fact it adds a certain credibility for a professional to take time to create a review.

I don’t know what is going on with decision makers at Amazon, but their heads must be full of shit.

Surely, the job of Amazon is to sell.

If an author has written a review and the person reading the review chooses to go to the book mentioned in the signature line – isn’t that a potential sale?

Are Amazon absolutely mad? They're shooting themselves in the foot....

*** Amazon remove reviews, Amazon remove reviews ***

• Next post on Tell Me a Story.

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To Write A Story - 20 Ways To Write A Story Better
How To Describe - Mastering Descriptive Writing
7 Cool Ways To Jump-Start The Story Characters In Your Writing

End of post - Are Amazon crazy?

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La Pista restaurant, Jalon

Tell Me a Story - restaurant review.

Most restaurants around Jalon tend to close on Monday evening, probably because people eat out at the weekend and aren't bothered about Monday. Whatever, Monday is traditionally not popular - which is awkward when you choose that day for a meal out.

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It's my wife's birthday on Monday, and we normally go out for a meal to celebrate, but like I said, we can't, so I'll probably cook something special for her birthday instead.

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At any rate .... Val decided to move the day forward and celebrate on Saturday evening, not quite the same, but ....

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La Pista Restaurant.

We chose 'La Pista Restaurant' for the celebration, a recently renovated and re-opened restaurant, near the centre of the village. We were VERY pleased.

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The bar area is stylish, leather sofas and armchairs in the corner - a great place to relax with a pre-meal gin & tonic.

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La Pista menu is chic, very up-market .... and we took quite some time to choose from the delicious-sounding dishes - but when we finally started to eat - wow my tastebuds were blown away. It was fantastic. Full marks, no let-downs what-so-ever.

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Unbelievably, the sophisticated menu is only 17:95 euros for a 3-course meal, bread, allioli, and half a bottle of wine per person.

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We absolutely love La Pista Restaurant .... we'll definitely be going again.

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• Next post on Tell Me a Story.

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To Write A Story - 20 Ways To Write A Story Better
How To Describe - Mastering Descriptive Writing
7 Cool Ways To Jump-Start The Story Characters In Your Writing

.End of post - La Pista restaurant, Jalon

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A Lion Called Christian, by Anthony Bourke and John Rendall

Tell Me a Story - news

Wow, good things can happen given time. It just shows it’s never too late.











Success for, 'A Lion Called Christian'

A YouTube video, which was only two minutes long, but viewed more than 44 million times, has produced a best selling book.... And it's happened many years after the book was first written.

A Lion Called Christian has finally hit the big time, and it's all due to a short video clip that emerged last year. The video showed a reunion between the authors — Anthony Bourke and John Rendall — and the lion they reared and nurtured before being freed into the wild.

Out of Print.

Amazingly, 'A Lion Called Christian' was first published in 1971 but has been out of print for several decades.

"The book has been revised and spruced up," says Charles Conrad of Broadway Books. "It's a book of great animal/human bonding. People are looking for a feel-good story in the midst of all the bad news."

I'm chuffed to little monkeys for them. I suppose it's vindication for what YouTube can do. I've read several times that authors should put their work on it - maybe it's time for all aspiring scribes out there to take heart from this, and do something about it....

All power to the authors. Well done Anthony Bourke, well done John Rendall – let’s hope it keeps selling. It does my heart good to hear of success like this – especially after so many years.

Great stuff!

• Next post on Tell Me a Story.

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To Write A Story - 20 Ways To Write A Story Better
How To Describe - Mastering Descriptive Writing
7 Cool Ways To Jump-Start The Story Characters In Your Writing

End of post - A Lion Called Christian, by Anthony Bourke and John Rendall

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Will Fetter, and The Lucky One

Tell Me a Story - viewpoint

Film scripts, film adaptations and Will Fetters.


Will Fetters - the lucky one.

A certain Mr. Will Fetters has landed the job of screen-writing "The Lucky One," an adaptation of the latest Nicholas Sparks novel that's been accepted by Warner Bros.

"The Lucky One" , a romantic drama, tells the tale of an American marine in Iraq who keeps a picture of a woman he has never met, because he believes it brings him good luck. However, when he tries to find the woman on his return to the US, he finds strange events surrounding her.....

Will Fetters, is also screen-writing "Memoirs," a drama about Summit relationships.

Nicholas Sparks has previously had film adaptations made of his books such as "The Notebook" and "Message in a Bottle" which earned $81 million and $52 million, respectively. His most recent film, "Nights in Rodanthe," brought in a more reserved $42 million.

I wonder if any of them thought of adapting the romantic drama, 'Without Reproach' as a film.... I'd be happy with far more humble returns.

*** Nicholas Sparks, "The Lucky One", Nicholas Sparks, "The Lucky One" ***

• Next post on Tell Me a Story.

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To Write A Story - 20 Ways To Write A Story Better
How To Describe - Mastering Descriptive Writing
7 Cool Ways To Jump-Start The Story Characters In Your Writing

End of post -Will Fetter, and The Lucky One

Phil Sandusky, book signing

Tell Me a Story - Review.


For all of you lucky enough to live in the Jacksonville area, you're in for a real treat. Be introduced to and speak to an artist of our times.

Phil Sandusky

Artist, Phil Sandusky will autograph copies of his book "Jacksonville Through a Painter's Eyes" (Pelican Publishing), between the hours of 1pm and 3 p.m. Saturday, April 25, at The San Marco Bookstore, 1971 San Marco Blvd. Call (904) 396-7597.

Mr. Sandusky, who is a resident of Jacksonville, is an impressionist, whose creations are in collections all over the world. He is represented by Stellars Gallery in Jacksonville. Photographer Jon M. Fletcher evaluated Sandusky's book recently saying:-

"The 96-page hardbound, book showcases full-page prints of Sandusky's paintings. The 32 pages of text are complemented with Sandusky's compositions. The text, besides providing an unfettered look into the artist's growth as a painter, also offers lessons in seeing. Sandusky writes about the simple technique of eye squinting to simplify a scene and to make shapes and patterns more apparent."

Phil Sandusky, I wish you well. Hope you're innundated with people. Good luck on April 25th.

• Next post on Tell Me a Story.

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To Write A Story - 20 Ways To Write A Story Better
How To Describe - Mastering Descriptive Writing
7 Cool Ways To Jump-Start The Story Characters In Your Writing

End of Bedlam Review - Phil Sandusky, book signing.
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Twilight fever and Wuthering Heights

Tell Me a Story - Comment

Stephenie Meyers has done it again.

Twilight


“Twilight” fever has had an unforeseen outcome. It’s actually been responsible for a sharp increase in sales for Emily Brontë’s “Wuthering Heights.”

Brontë’s novel about fanatical love is apparently read by "Twilight" heroine, Bella, in “Eclipse.” Because of this, young adult readers in France are enthusiastically scooping up translated copies of “Wuthering Heights” to see how it compares.

At least they’ll get to read something decent now….

• Next post on Tell Me a Story.

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To Write A Story - 20 Ways To Write A Story Better
How To Describe - Mastering Descriptive Writing
7 Cool Ways To Jump-Start The Story Characters In Your Writing


End of post - Twilight fever and Wuthering Heights

Bridport here we come

Tell Me a Story - info.

Come on scribes. Here’s a chance to show what you can do. There’s nothing like a competition to hone those writing skills, it pushes you beyond the limit you thought you had.

Bridport Creative Writing Competition

Bridport writing competition is one of those contests that really stretches the creative side – it is very high profile – agents and publishers tend to be on the lookout for the next best seller from these competitions. Not only that, it has incredible prizes… So get out that thinking box – and write.

The Bridport Prize International Creative Writing Competition was founded by Bridport Arts Centre in 1973 and has developed in importance and regard.

The competition has always been a magnet for entries from the UK and overseas. These days thousands of submission are received from over 80 countries worldwide.

The prize money and entry fees for the Bridport writing competition have risen over the years until today, the first prize in each category is £5,000 (approx $7000), second prize £1,000 (approx $1500) and third prize £500 (approx $700). An additional 10 supplementary prizes (for each category) of £50 each are awarded. The entry fee for 2009 is £6 per poem and £7 per story.

So get out those pens and access the Bridport Writing Competition here

• Next post on Tell Me a Story.

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To Write A Story - 20 Ways To Write A Story Better
How To Describe - Mastering Descriptive Writing
7 Cool Ways To Jump-Start The Story Characters In Your Writing

End of post on Tell Me a Story - Bridport Writing Competition

Spring is sprung.

Tell Me a Story - post.

"Spring has arrived, an end to bleak winter, the earth is re-born."

It's been a long cold winter, we've suffered storm damage, but with the sun comes a better frame of mind. I feel more like tackling the damage.... after a coffee and brandy by the beach that is ....

Spring on the Costa Blanca, Spain.

Just thought you might like to share a few pictures from around the Costa Blanca as Spring finally arrives.

It's amazing what a bit of sunlight does. All of a sudden we become filled with strange urges of wanting to 'work'. There seems to be a need in all of us to make things nice and sparkly, just like nature.... So in our household .... we're busy painting, and repairing and building....

• Next post on Tell Me a Story

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To Write A Story - 20 Ways To Write A Story Better
How To Describe - Mastering Descriptive Writing
7 Cool Ways To Jump-Start The Story Characters In Your Writing

End of post on Tell Me a Story - Spring is sprung.

How to write a successful book

Tell Me a Story - view

Writer's, authors, wannerbies, here's the answer to your prayers. Here’s an angle for writers, if you write about the financial crisis, it will sell.


Forget that novel, write about the financial crisis




Publishers at the Paris book fair said booklovers were lining up for books about the credit crunch, for books suggesting unusual solutions to the problem, or books just offering guidance on how to live more cheaply.

"The crisis is good for at least one thing: sales of these kinds of books," said Jacques Mazel, of publisher Fayard, pointing to a shelf full of volumes about the economy.

People apparently want to come to terms with what is happening, and they want to find useful tips for the future

The book fair seems to be having a plentiful year, with staff at all the major publishers' stands describing large crowds and a steady flow of bookshop owners and librarians.

Business was also good at Rustica, a publisher focussing on gardening. Jean Margueritte, who has been staffing Rustica at the annual book fair since 1982, said he had never sold so many books about growing your own vegetables.

He said, "Because of the crisis, people are falling back on simpler, healthier leisure activities like gardening and reading. People are tired of excessive consumption and they are also increasingly aware of environmental issues."

I think it's quite obvious I'd have been a lot better off if I'd written about money. I certainly haven't made anything from Without Reproach - it hasn't even been available on Amazon or B&N for 6 months - Temporarily unavailable - No idea why - publishers say it's Amazons fault - but what about B&N, what about Borders?



So for now, Without Reproach just sits on the table - and that's where it will probably stay.

**** A successful book **** A successful book **** A successful book ****

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End of post on Tell Me a Story - How to write a successful book

Clive Cussler and THAT legal battle

Tell Me a Story - view.

Maybe it’s not the peak of an author’s career to have their book turned into a film after all. To me, just to sell more than a handful of copies would be heaven, but to have a film made from your book ….

Wow! I've always thought of that as having made it.

But like I say, maybe it’s not the best thing ever…. A long-running legal battle over the 2005 flopped film, "Sahara" has taken a startling turn.

Clive Cussler

A judge has ruled that author, Clive Cussler, must pay Crusader Entertainment nearly $14 million in legal fees.

The $13.9 million award is exceptionally high and reflects the price tag of a prolonged legal battle for "Sahara" between well-heeled Hollywood challengers.

Legal battle

Before the film was even released, Clive Cussler took legal action against Crusader Entertainment for about $40 million, declaring it had violated his entitlement to script approval on the film, "Sahara". Crusader counter claimed on several grounds, including that Clive Cussler prejudiced the film with unreasonable script demands and instructed his fans not to see "Sahara".

"Sahara" grossed $68.7 million at the domestic box office but lost more than $80 million when all costs were tallied.

Battles here, battles there.... Who'd be successful....


Makes me wonder if all this hassle is worth it? Maybe it’s a good job the film rights for Without Reproach weren’t taken up after all ….

Next post on Tell Me a Story.


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To Write A Story - 20 Ways To Write A Story Better
How To Describe - Mastering Descriptive Writing
7 Cool Ways To Jump-Start The Story Characters In Your Writing

End of post - Clive Cussler and THAT legal battle
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Audrey Niffenegger, "Her Fearful Symmetry"

Tell Me a Story - review.

Okay, so it’s a financial crunch-time. As authors, we expect fewer opportunities, less chance of an advance, less sales. It’s a sad fact but one we have to face. There’s no money in writing – or is there?

Frugal

In this time of frugality in the publishing industry,we expect purses to be closed tight – the ‘moths living in darkness syndrome’. Yet for the lucky few it seems it hasn’t made any difference.

Her Fearful Symmetry

Audrey Niffenegger's novel, "Her Fearful Symmetry," her first novel since the million-selling "The Time Traveler's Wife," has been bought by publishing house, Scribner. It is due to be published in September.

The incredible advance for "Her Fearful Symmetry", the story of twin American girls who live near a cemetery in London, was at least $4 million, according to two insider officials. They refused to be named, saying they were not supposed to discuss financial details.

Nearly all the major publishers placed bids for "Her Fearful Symmetry" - which explains why the advance was so high.


I wish a few of them had bid for my novel…..

"Time Traveler's Wife," by Audrey Niffenegger, was published by MacAdam/Cage, and came out in 2003.

**** Audrey Niffenegger **** Audrey Niffenegger **** Audrey Niffenegger ****

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To Write A Story - 20 Ways To Write A Story Better
How To Describe - Mastering Descriptive Writing
7 Cool Ways To Jump-Start The Story Characters In Your Writing

End of post - Audrey Niffenegger, "Her Fearful Symmetry"

The Restaurant Salamanca, Jalon

We've started to eat more 'special' meals at home recently. The financial crunch has forced us to take steps to save money, but I don't mind. The meals we create are better than most places.... except for....

Restaurant Salamanca.

Last night was treat-night for us. We took ourselves down to the village and had a meal at one of my favourite eating houses, the 'Restaurant Salamanca'. The food there is excellent and damn good value.

I love the place. The atmosphere, the service, the food - all wow factors. I wish I could cook like that!!!!

The restaurant Salamanca is a tastefully reformed bodega just off the centre of the village of Jalon. A terrific menu means you’ll always find something there to tempt you. Beware though - most dishes are rich in sauce - which are so delicious you can’t stop going back time and again - waistline be damned.


If you're ever in the area, pop in, I promise it's worth a visit.

Whilst we were there a couple of years ago, the UK BBC network TV guys were interviewing the owners with presenter, Nadia Sawalha - so that tells you something.

I always come away feeling pampered. It's family run, and the owners strive to make you feel special.

Steve, the head waiter (at least I think that's his title) runs around like something gone mad, trying to make sure everyone is looked after properly - especially if the owners aren't around. It's all part of the evening, that feel-good factor.

Ah well, roll on next treat-time.... Salamanca here I come....

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To Write A Story - 20 Ways To Write A Story Better
How To Describe - Mastering Descriptive Writing
7 Cool Ways To Jump-Start The Story Characters In Your Writing

End of post on 'Tell Me a Story' - The Restaurant Salamanca, Jalon

Will books disappear?

It seems the book reading world is evolving. Will we see a time when paper books finally disappear?

Barnes & Noble have purchased e-book seller Fictionwise.com for $15.7 million, in an effort at running an e-book store. The transaction, broadcast on 5th March, is part of Barnes & Noble's strategy to introduce its own e-book store later this year.

Last month, competitor Amazon, released Kindle 2, the second edition of its e-book reader. And this week, Amazon revealed its Kindle application for iPhone and iPod Touch.

So will books disappear?

Fictionwise, from Barnes & Noble will present its own eReader application for handheld devices, desktop computers, and laptops. Likewise, opponents Lexcycle have its Stanza application for e-book reading. So someone somewhere certainly thinks books have competition.

While customer awareness in e-books has improved over the years, they have yet to attract a majority market. Analysts ascribe cost as the stumbling block to the widespread adoption of e-books.

However, as with all things electronic, prices will eventually tumble – and then we shall see.
Maybe it’s time for me to take a serious look at getting some of my work into e-format…. Maybe books will disappear.

Will books disappear **** Will books disappear **** Will books disappear ****

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To Write A Story - 20 Ways To Write A Story Better
How To Describe - Mastering Descriptive Writing
7 Cool Ways To Jump-Start The Story Characters In Your Writing

End of post on Tell Me a Story - Will books disappear?

Change of style

Same blog

No you're not on the wrong blog. Technical problems have meant that I've had to change the style.
Same content - different look.

Please stay with me.....

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To Write A Story - 20 Ways To Write A Story Better
How To Describe - Mastering Descriptive Writing
7 Cool Ways To Jump-Start The Story Characters In Your Writing

Dance at Liverpool Street Station

A dance in Time

My thanks to Bob Malcomson for this email of a YouTube video. Thought you might like to share it.

Friday Jan 16, 2009, T-Mobile launched their new commercial "Life's for Sharing." It was shot at Liverpool Street Station in London. They used 400 dancers and 10 hidden cameras. No one but the station employees and dancers knew what was going on... You can see the number of passersby that shot what they could with their phone... It was aired on YouTube and TV. Great
commercial .... enjoy!!!!!

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To Write A Story - 20 Ways To Write A Story Better
How To Describe - Mastering Descriptive Writing
7 Cool Ways To Jump-Start The Story Characters In Your Writing

End of post - T-Mobile TV commercial

Pride and Prejudice - or not!

Apparantly Jane Austen's timeless novel, ‘Pride and Prejudice’, is being rewritten as a zombie horror book and film.

Pride and Prejudice - Zombies - Now I’ve heard everything.



A travesty of the novel will be available in April called ‘Pride and Prejudice and Zombies’, with Hollywood film studios looking to turn the new book into a movie.

• .Shit! Why don’t they look for something original like ‘Without Reproach’?

The book has been written Seth Grahame-Smith, who has been sanctioned to update Austen's imaginative romance because it is out of copyright.

Devotees of Jane Austen are in for a surprise, when female protagonist Elizabeth Bennet and her sisters becoming zombie assassins trained to fight like Japanese ninjas by the demanding Mr Darcy.

"It quickly became obvious that Jane (Austen) had laid down the blueprint for a zombie novel," Grahame-Smith said. "Why else in the original should a regiment arrive on Lizzie Bennet's doorstep when they should have been off fighting Napoleon? it was to protect the family from an invasion of brain-eaters, obviously."

Grahame-Smith said about 85 per cent of his novel is Austen's original text. "I hated her when I was forced to read Austen in school, but when I started re-reading I realised she was a brutal, but very funny, satirist," he said. "I can only aspire to be as mean-spirited as she could be."

All I can say is, what a load of cobblers – but he’ll probably make millions from it – why didn’t I think of it first…..

• Next post on Tell Me a Story

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To Write A Story - 20 Ways To Write A Story Better
How To Describe - Mastering Descriptive Writing
7 Cool Ways To Jump-Start The Story Characters In Your Writing

End of post - Pride and Prejudice - or not!

550 Other words for said

Can you hack it with words.

Writing a story - looking for other words for said, confused about what you should do about said? Take a look at my Bukisa article if you want that special word.


550 Alternative words for said

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End of post - 550 other words for said

Jinxed!

Okay, I found a new site I want to share with you.

Funny everyday life quotes

If you fancy a belly laugh, make over to Jinxed and put it on your bookmark. I think it's great.

• Next post on Tell Me a Story

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To Write A Story - 20 Ways To Write A Story Better
How To Describe - Mastering Descriptive Writing
7 Cool Ways To Jump-Start The Story Characters In Your Writing


End of post - Jinxed.
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Malia and Sasha Obama and their fashions

To be the daughter of the most powerful man in the Western world has to be a taxing affair. However, Malia, 10 and Sasha, 7, the daughters of America’s first couple Barack and Michelle Obama, shoulder that responsibility unconsciously.

Malia and Sasha Obama's clothing



From the time it was suspected they were headed for the White House (no adverse credit remortgage there), the daughters have been grabbing the interest of the world, with the inquisitive searching the Internet to discover more. Fashion accessories are what people want to know about.

It seems the media is insatiable

How tall

Since inauguration, searches on the web about the two girls escalated over 500%. The inquisitive want to know such mundane things as, "how tall is Malia Obama (5'6")," "Sasha Obama age (7)," and "find letters to Sasha and Malia."

Malia, Sasha and Fashion

The inauguration weekend embarked the girls on a new course to celebrity with frantic searches on everything from "Sasha and Malia inauguration outfits," "Malia and Sasha Obama pictures," and "Sasha and Malia Obama and Jonas brothers."

The girls, who have their very own fashion press, sent the hits sizzling on the website of fashion accessories store, J.Crew, causing it to crash, after it was revealed that their coats came from the online store. It seems their clothing taste is uppermost in a lot of people's minds.

Wow! I wish Malia and Sasha said they liked Without Reproach, maybe readers would show a little more interest ….

**** Malia and Sasha **** Malia and Sasha ****

• Next post on Tell Me a Story

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To Write A Story - 20 Ways To Write A Story Better
How To Describe - Mastering Descriptive Writing
7 Cool Ways To Jump-Start The Story Characters In Your Writing

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Underfloor heating rules, Okay!

Villas with no insulation.

If you’ve been following my blogs, you’ll already know that Spanish winters can be damn cold – not necessarily because of cold days – but because villas have little insulation and at night the temperature dips – ugggh!
.
When will they catch up - well maybe they are doing - but not in my villa - and the construction of concrete beams forming the ceiling, means that I can't get into the roofspace to lay any - well not without major building work.

Keep away from shade .

Winter time in Spain can bring beautiful sunny days – and when it is, it's warm providing you’re out of the wind and of course, away from shade.

When it's sunny, I absolutely love my little courtyard. A coffee with a splash of brandy goes down well around midday

.But come evening …. Whoops! Where's that sun gone. Who stole the heat .... Hells-bells, get out your thermals, lads.

Expensive

Gas central heating has become very expensive to run -it's all bottled stuff around here - delivery man has a field day when it's cold.

So, I’ve had a high-efficiency eco wood burner installed to help out . You know the sort, has an insulated firebox, an auto vent on the stack to prevent heat being lost up the chimney, fans to circulate heat around the room..... all high tech stuff.... different to the open fire I knew as a kid.

I love it – thought it was the bee’s-knees–

- until I visited a friend’s home.

What a lovely snug place he has – I couldn’t understand why it felt so comfortable until he pointed out he'd had underfloor heating installed. Wow – what a difference.

My memories (showing my age now) of underfloor heating are of electrical elements buried in several inches of concrete – and not a lot of efficiency. They were heated in the middle of the night by off-peak electricity, which made it lovely in a morning but dreadful in the evening. I never saw the point. .

Lower, yet snug.
.
.These modern underfloor heating systems such as the one in the picture from HandyHeat Floor Heating Systems, of Nottingham, UK, seem great. Not a bit like I recall. They're warm all day.
.
The air temperature is actually several degrees lower than my place - yet it feels more snug. Something to do with - warm feet cool head - I've no idea how - but it works.


Reproduced by kind permission of HandyHeat


Underfloor heating seems the way to go, so I might just give it a whiz – if I can sell enough books that is..

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Story Characters - 7 Cool Secrets
Book Strategy - Tactics To Promote Your Book
Plot Of The Book - Mastering The Art Of Plot




Underfloor-heating Underfloor-heating Underfloor-heating ***
End of post - Underfloor Heating rules, okay!


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Fifty years of Jack Higgins

Congratulations, Jack.

Novelist Jack Higgins, observes fifty years of writing this year - wow!

Eight years ago, Mr. Higgins, 79, was diagnosed with a progressive neurological disease. It made him tremble so much that about two years ago he was on the verge of quitting writing.

However, whilst visiting a friend, he accidentally banged his head, and was admitted to hospital - and miraculously his tremors disappeared.

He was lucky

He commented, "In a way it is a bit like Lazareth. It has been a blessing late in life -- this unprecedented cure. People have got in touch with me who have got this crippling thing to say what can they do. I can't tell what to do. I was just lucky."

Jack Higgins has written in excess of 60 novels. His 1975 novel "The Eagle Has Landed" was made into a smash hit movie and established him as an international best-selling author.

May you have another fifty years, Jack. I wish you well.

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To Write A Story - 20 Ways To Write A Story Better
How To Describe - Mastering Descriptive Writing
7 Cool Ways To Jump-Start The Story Characters In Your Writing

End of post - Fifty years of Jack Higgins