#Imagine: Penny Grubb Interviews Author Stuart Aken

Recently, I was interviewed by crime writer, academic, and Chair of ALCS, Penny Grubb, on her blog.
For those who are interested, but missed that interview, here it is in full, with Penny's kind permission.

#justimagine Author Stuart Aken on Fusion, alien gastronomy and other delights

It’s a real privilege to have been asked to interview this group of very talented authors for Fantastic Books Publishing’s Fusion spotlight. There are some amazing admissions, surprising secrets and fascinating insights to follow in this series of interviews. Fusion itself is a brilliant anthology – twenty-five of the best tales of sci-fi and fantasy.

My first interview is with prolific author, Stuart Aken.

Stuart describes himself as a husband, father, novelist, playwright, short story writer, blogger, word wrangler, committed agnostic, romantic open-minded radical liberal, sometimes dangerous to know. He was born, against the odds, to a widowed artist, in a neighbour's bed, raised by a mother who knew what love meant and a step-father who lacked imagination but loved and educated him in things natural and worldly. Stuart tells me that he wrote the wrong things for half a lifetime, until he learned who he was and understood his opinion was as valid as that of anyone else.

Stuart was invited to contribute to the Fusion anthology as one of two professional writers. He says, ‘I was honoured and delighted to be one of the professional writers invited to contribute. Thank you to Fantastic Books for that opportunity to reach more readers, the very life-blood of the author.’ Of the other professional invited to contribute, Stuart says, ‘Danuta Reah is a well respected and popular writer and I was pleased to be published in company with her. Knowing the judges in the contest, I was confident only the very best stories would make it through the filtering process, so I was more than happy to be included with the winners.’

Anyone who is familiar with Stuart’s writing will know what a compelling tale he can weave. I wondered which of his own stories he would recommend to someone wishing to fight the tedium of a long haul flight. He had many to choose from, but went for one of his science fiction pieces, saying, ‘The Methuselah Strain is a science fiction novelette set on a not-too-distant future Earth. Those who’ve read the book, and commented, have found it absorbing and compelling, so it should distract your attention enough to make the time whizz by. There are no references to air travel, so you won’t be induced into panic by a simulated crash, but you might find yourself considering the message once you’ve finished and you doze off toward the end of your long flight.’

Smashwords

UK Amazon

USA Amazon

Taking the flight theme up into space, I wondered how Stuart would see Earth through an alien’s eyes. Mentioning something he’d written a while ago, he reminded me, ‘I made this the subject of a short story. It featured in Ten Tales For Tomorrow: A Gastronomic Treat at the Edge of the Galaxy.’

This ‘light-hearted’ tale is presented in the form of a spoof review by a restaurant critic. I read it several years ago. It’s one of several of Stuart’s stories that have remained etched on my brain and that make me glance at the night sky with some trepidation. As Stuart himself says, ‘Within the seasoned folds of the soufflé lurk sharp surprises for the unwary. Try it, you might develop a taste for something unexpected.’

Smashwords 

UK Amazon

USA Amazon

What I really want to know of course is what will come next from Stuart’s pen. ‘My epic fantasy trilogy for adults is well under way,’ he tells me, ‘with book one complete and book two undergoing the penultimate edit. Book three lurks in the fog of my subconscious, making increasingly frequent demands to be allowed to take material form. I intend to start writing that volume in the very near future. Also, I continue to produce short stories and, of course, make weekly posts on my blog.’

Stuart’s story, Rebirth, appears in the Fusion anthology but where else can his readers find him?

He says, ‘Find me, and my fiction, the only place I ever bend the truth and which, after love, remains my raison d’être, on my blog http://stuartaken.blogspot.co.uk/. This gives details of all my published work, with links to the outlets where you can buy them.’

Thanks, Stuart, it’s been a pleasure talking to you. Best of luck with the writing. Can’t wait for that epic fantasy to hit the shelves.

Stuart also has an Amazon Author page; UK readers can find it here and International readers can click on this link 

He has a profile page with Smashwords 

And a Facebook Author page 

You can follow Stuart’s Tweets 

And the last word goes to Stuart, who says, ‘Thanks, Dan and Gabi at Fantastic Books Publishing, for this opportunity to be part of your publishing concern. I wish you well with what I believe will be a very successful enterprise, bringing quality work to a growing circle of discerning readers.’

CLICK HERE FOR FANTASTIC BOOKS PUBLISHING FUSIONSPOTLIGHT

This interview was originally posted by Penny Grubb - crime writer at  http://pennygrubb.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/justimagine-author-stuart-aken-on.html

For the rest of these interviews, every one of them fascinating, visit Penny’s blog at http://pennygrubb.blogspot.co.uk/                  

Related articles

• Interview with Linda Acaster from Hornsea Writers.
• Zemanta Power User - Stuart Aken
• Read Breaking Faith, Free: The Final Chapter

Zemanta User, Interviewed.

If you're unfamiliar with Zemanta, let me explain that it's an add-on available for blogs, websites and emails, that selects relevant associated articles and pictures to enliven your content. I was recently interviewed by the providers. Here's a link to the interview: http://www.zemanta.com/blog/zemanta-power-user-stuart-aken-2/
 And, for evidence of the sort of help it can give, just scan through some of my posts. I use my own photos for some but Zemanta has provided others and many links to articles relevant to my topics and content. Certainly worth investigating if you're a blogger, website owner or send emails that might be enhanced.

Sylvia L. Ramsey, Interviewed.

Regular visitors will know that I ran a series of interviews on this blog, mostly with indie authors, and that, after 110 of these, I decided to give the series a rest. I haven't changed my mind, yet. But Sylvia's book is an exception because all proceeds are to go to charity and I support such generosity. So, here goes:

Hi Sylvia. I last interviewed you in January 2011, and you'd already published a number of books and had numerous short stories and poems appear in various literary journals. I gather you've a new book coming out. Would you tell us something about it, please?

Hello Stuart.  Yes, I have a new book, Traveling a Rocky Road with Love, Faith and Guts. It is my fourth book,  and it was just released a couple of weeks ago. My newest book is a memoir, Traveling a Rocky Road with Love, Faith and Guts, was inspired by a young man that has some very serious heart problems, and all the people I have met over the years as a teacher, mentor and a bladder cancersurvivor. I have tried my best to encourage them, and to give them hope. To not give up on themselves or life. As I have traveled along life’s highway, I keep running into people who have let the rocks that have been thrown in their life’s road giving up on themselves, or life in general. The truth is that life is harsh, and it is not like the movies that give a false impression that it is smooth sailing. Being the hero that toughs it out and keeps on regardless of the situation is difficult, but with faith, it can be accomplished. It often takes a backbone, humor and a wishbone to survive it all.

Because of this, I decided to write a book to share my life’s experiences so that it may inspire someone to come back fighting when life knocks them down. The book is a journey though time from childhood to mature adulthood. The stories and poems in this book reflect the lows and highs of life. The loving memories, the hardships and the things we learn as we travel the road of life. It covers an abusive mother who had mental problems because of being abused as a child, childhood polio, a rocky marriage with a husband who was often abusive, the role of caregiving, death and grief, coping with bladder cancer, asthma, losing a home and more. Therefore, to not to scare you off with gloom and doom, there are funny stories along the way and an ending that I never dreamed would happen. My hope is that the book will bring about understanding to others, and be inspiring to even more. Our journey in life has a purpose, finding it is often the most difficult task of all.

You've had a number of serious problems to cope with in life; one of your supports through all this has been something you call 'faith'. As you know, I have a deep personal distrust of religious faith. Would you describe what you mean by 'faith'?

Regardless of what you believe or do not believe as far as "religious" faith is concerned, you must have faith in yourself that you can somehow overcome the various things that happen in life. Some call it perseverance and determination to not allow these things to conquer your spirit. I try never to use the word can't. I prefer to use the words: I may not know how, but I can learn. I will try, I may not be the absolute best at whatever it is...but I will try to do and be the best that is possible for me. Who knows what your best is unless you keep on trying. Giving up always equals failure. 

We've had similar responses, in one regard, to health issues that have come our way. In your case, research into bladder cancer has benefitted by your active support. I've done what I can for ME/CFS research in my quiet way. What drives you to continue with this support?

I know how important support is from others who have traveled the same road. Bladder cancer is one that has little in spite of the fact that it ranked 5th in prevalence. I have made it a personal goal for the past fifteen years to do my best to change this. When I speak with people who have just been diagnosed, I can hear the fear in their voices. They need someone to talk to that has experienced the same thing. They need someone to be able to talk to about their situation who understands. That was not available when I was diagnosed, or when I had my radical cystcectomy. Therefore, I decided to do what I had been taught as a child by my father: "I may not be able to do everything, but I can do something."

There are many ways in which individuals respond to adversity. Some fight, becoming aggressive and loud, some give up and succumb to whatever ails them, others take up the challenge in a more thoughtful and positive way. What do you think makes you respond so positively to the hardships that life's thrown your way?

I had two of the best role models, one was my father and the other was my grandmother. Another thing was my experience with polio at the age of four, and the time I spent in the hospital in a large ward with about sixteen other children. My bed was across from a little girl who had been in a fire, and her body was burned so badly. She never spoke the entire time I was there. There were only occasional moans. There were so many children there that were much worse off than me, that I could not feel sorry for myself. I wanted to get well and help others even at that time. I heard about the Red Cross and their drive to make people aware of polio. I started by helping to collect money for this cause as soon as I was able. I was one of the poster children. I talk about all this in my book.

So far, we've talked about you as the person. I'd like to know a little more about you as a writer. What made you decide to write, as opposed to any other creative activity?

Actually, writing isn't the only creative activity I indulge in, I also paint and sculpt. I love all the arts, and have participated in them. I directed a theatre program for sixteen years. I taught art and theatre courses. As far as my writing goes, that began when I was nine-years-old. I began writing news and feature articles for a small town newspaper in Southeast Missouri at the age of nine. Because of the nurturing and encouragement by the news editor, I developed a love and a need to write.

By the time I was working on my graduate degree, several of my poems, short stories and feature articles had been published. Since that time, over one hundred of my short stories and poems have found their way into literary magazines. I have been a featured poet in several literary journals over the years.

Do you have a favourite author? If so, who is it and what attracts you to their work?

That is a difficult question to answer because I have favorites in a variety of genre. In poetry, there are three, Frost, Millay, and a poem by Brecht, "To Posterity". Shakespeare's,  "King Lear" is one of my favorite plays. I read a lot of different types of books, and genre...so, it is an answer I do not have.

Do you have any advice for beginners in the field?

Keep writing, get as much feedback as you can get. Write enough to find your own voice. Listen to the feedback you get, but do not lose your voice. It is sometimes like painting, you may paint 60 or even a 100 before you get a good one. 

So many would-be writers have taken advantage of the ready availability of digital self-publishing, without first learning how to actually write. Have you anything to say about the proliferation of badly-written indie books?

I think this is something that comes with the territory of the new era. It can be unfortunate for the readers, and the good authors. Here again, I feel that before one publishes any work one needs some good critiques and to polish their work. 

When writing this particular book, how did you go about the actual process?

I was inspired to write this book because of seeing others give up on themselves, rather than do what was necessary to succeed. I began to write a rough draft lay-out of what I wanted to say, or put in the book. Then I wrote a draft of the book that was fairly brief. Before I continued, I asked a friend who is a professional writer to read it and tell me if I were wasting my time. He knows I respect his opinion, and I know he would be honest in his responses. I had my doubts because writing a memoir is so personal, and I really did not know if it would be something others would want to read. He liked where I was going with the book and encouraged me to continue. He, also, made suggestions that were a great help in how I developed the book. I began writing it once more. He read it again, and offered more suggestions. I did a re-write and added more. At that point, I was ready to get it proofed, and the next step what to make the required corrections. I was ready to make a decision on what to do with it. I weighed my options, and decided that since the proceeds from the book sales were going to the American Bladder Cancer Society plus I would have to market the book anyway to self-publish it.

You can find out more about me and or purchase the book at:

Purchase the book:

In the United States:

http://www.amazon.com/Sylvia-L-Ramsey/e/B002BMJ5NI/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1326569308&sr=1-

In the UK:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=sr_gnr_aps?rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Asylvia+l.+ramsey&keywords=sylvia+l.+ramsey&ie=UTF8&qid=1331910631

Website:

http://www.authorsden.com/visit/author.asp?authorid=140046

Blog:

http://love-faith-and-guts.blogspot.com/

The American Bladder Cancer Society

https://www.bladdercancersupport.org

An Interview with Leighton from Breaking Faith.

I had a piece from Faith a short while ago. Thought I should restore balance by letting Leigh have his say. 

Leigh: Seems a bit odd, you interviewing me, when you invented me, Stuart.

SA: I know, but I'd like to give my readers a bit more insight.

Leigh: Readers matter, then, do they?

SA: They're the writer's lifeblood. Without them, the whole of the activity would be pretty meaningless.

Leigh: Bit insulting on us characters, isn't it? That attitude, I mean. I do have feelings, you know. In fact, you of all people, should know I have deep emotions.

SA: Fair point, Leigh. But you must also realise that you're a figment of my imagination, whilst the readers are real people. They have to have precedence in the mind and world of the writer.

Leigh: Fair enough. But it still makes me feel a bit like a spare part here. Anyroad, what did you want to know?

SA: Can we first get over the fact that I invented you and therefore know all there is to know about you? I'm not asking these questions for myself but for my readers. Okay?

Leigh: You're the boss.

SA: Perhaps you'd tell us which book you appear in?

Leigh: I'm the male protagonist, you might say 'hero' in that romantic thriller you wrote; Breaking Faith. By the way, I have to thank you for those great women you gave me to interact with. Had a great time with some of them; well, most of them, actually. And…

SA: Sorry to interrupt. It's great you want to talk this way, but I've a couple more questions to ask first, if that's okay?

Leigh: Right fire away. Though this was supposed to my gig…

SA: So it is. But if you could offer me some advice, what would you say to me?

Leigh: Honest, no holds barred?

SA: Express yourself.

Leigh: Well, there were times early on I thought you made me look pretty shallow. Of course, you let me develop as the story developed, but I felt I was perceived as a bit superficial to begin with.

SA: That's because you were being described through the eyes of Faith, and she had a very limited and specific world view.

Leigh: Fair comment.

SA: So, how do you feel about the way readers perceive you at the end of the story?

Leigh: Ah, well, by that time they know a lot more about me. I think I come across as a well-rounded bloke. I mean my initial obsessions, yes, I admit it's obsession, with naked women and sex, is modified by the way I grow to feel about Faith (this won't spoil things for readers who haven't yet read the book, will it?) and people get to know what really drives me, what really matters to me. I know I can come across to some as a bit too keen on getting their knickers off, but I really do love women. I mean, by that, that I love them in all their forms, all their ways. Look at the way a woman's put together. What better design for a living beauty can you imagine? Oh, I know we're all driven by our biological imperative, our need to pass on our genes and ensure they survive, but there's a lot more to it than that.

That's the trouble with the scientists; they reduce everything to rational causes, when we all know that feeling is a vital part of our make-up as well. And I, for one, don't subscribe to the school of thought that says our emotions are nothing more than sublimation of that damned biological imperative. Reducing us to chemical reactions is an insult to the race, don't you think?

As for those bloody godbotherers; well, they make my blood boil. Look, the early human race had no idea about what caused most things to happen. They lived in a world populated by wild and hungry predators, in a world where the climate and the environment were anything but friendly to them. They suffered earthquakes and forest fires, floods and droughts. No wonder they sought some reason for their plight. No wonder they came up with various different deities to explain the inexplicable. In those days, before science and rational thought developed, there was no other way they could make sense of their world.

But to continue these bloody myths into the modern world, when we know so much more about how the world and life work, seems to me to be nothing short of perverse. And, as soon as rational thought became widespread it was only a matter of time before some clever sod would pervert those beliefs in whatever gods were native at the time into methods of controlling the rest of the population. That's what religion is, after all: a control tool for despots and bullies. It's got about as much to do with spiritual wellbeing as a thistle up your arse.

Mind you, that doesn't mean I'm necessarily on the side of the scientists. Seems to me that a lot of what they have to say is open to debate as well. I know the best of them are open-minded and willing to be persuaded. But there's a good few who stick as doggedly to their theories and hypotheses as those bloody godbotherers do to their dogmas. Like to see a bit more doubt, a bit more humility, a bit more of an acceptance that we don't know the answer to everything and probably never will. Bloody good thing, too, if you ask me. I mean, can you imagine the arrogance of a human race that held all the answers? We'd be fucking impossible. It's the worst thing that could happen to us as a race, don't you think?

SA: Well, thank you for that, Leigh. You have some pretty wild ideas, don't you?

Leigh: Wild? I don't think so. But I guess I do get a bit passionate about things that matter to me. Why shouldn't I? The leaders in society, of whatever leaning or calling, have plenty of opportunities to have their say. It's not often the rest of us get a look-in, is it?

SA: If I could just return to the book for a moment? I'd be interested to know how you came to employ that sod, Mervyn?

Leigh: Ah. Merv the perv. In many ways I was as guilty of attempted conversion with him as Faith was with me in the initial days and weeks. I took him on for practical reasons: my workload was such that I couldn't afford to spend as much time in the darkroom as I needed to turn out the work I was producing. Merv had a natural skill with the chemical and physical processes. He'd absolutely no imagination, of course, but he was able to follow my lead and soon learned what I did and didn't need from him. Let's be honest, as a man he was a bastard, but as a printer…well, I'd never have found a better one. Once I'd got him in Longhouse, I tried to work on him and change his attitude to women, people in general, I suppose. Waste of time, of course, but that was my hope and intention.

SA: And your attitude to glamour photography; how did Faith influence that?

Leigh: Initially, I thought she was just a prude with some distorted view of nudity gleaned from her upbringing by that shithouse, Heacham. But when I really thought about what she had to say, she actually made sense. As you know, I stopped doing the glamour work completely and only did full nudes after that. Like Faith said, real art requires absolute honesty. I've her to thank for showing me that truth.

SA: Well, Leigh, thank you for your time and your thoughts. It's been most interesting.

Leigh; You're welcome. I hope the readers have got something out of it. Maybe some of them will understand where I'm coming from a bit better, eh?

SA: Perhaps. Let's hope they comment and then see what they say, shall we?

Why do people believe you when you say there are over four billion stars, but check when you tell them the paint is wet?

Read Free, My Novel Here: Chapter 1.

3 years ago, I published Breaking Faith as a paperback and on 24 October 2010 I published it as an ebook through Smashwords.

Those who've read the book have enjoyed it: some of their comments are shown below. I'd like more people to read the book. That is, after all, why I wrote it; to be read.

So, I'm offering the chance for everyone to read it free, here on the blog. I'm posting a chapter of the book each Friday until the whole novel has appeared.

The Prologue was posted on 6 January. Here's a link, if you missed it: http://stuartaken.blogspot.com/2012/01/read-free-my-novel-here.html 

Read, enjoy, tell your friends. The more who read, the happier we'll be.

What others have said about

Breaking Faith

...I could not believe how determined this book was to make me read it...set in the summer of 1976, it details Faith’s journey from isolation, deprivation and abuse...to enlightenment...A shocking but captivating story...’ Shirley Mace

I read this book in one sitting, unwilling to put it down, immersed in Faith’s journey from darkness to self-knowledge. The characters drawn with a fine brush...The denouement is sudden, violent and completely satisfying. Mr P. F. Field

...a story of triumphant human spirit. The novel simmers with heat, lust, decadence and sexuality...Stuart Aken is indeed a writer to watch. Karen Wolfe, author.

1

1976

Monday 9th February

‘You’re having me on!’ I thought one of my former lovers must be playing silly buggers.

‘What do you mean, Mr Longshaw?’ Her voice had an edge of nervousness, almost fear, to it.

‘Pulling my leg. I mean you’re not really Faith Heacham.’ It couldn’t be her.

‘I’m sorry; I don’t know what you mean by pulling your leg.’ Her anxiety was briefly overcome by undisguised frustration. ‘But I am Faith Heacham.’

I struggled to accept that Faith Heacham was on the phone to me, of all people. But her naivety convinced me. I answered the rest of her hesitant questions and, in spite of misgivings from a small warning voice, invited her for interview.

Abby tried to recapture my attention, playing the coquette, shrugging her gorgeous shoulders and bringing beguiling movement to her breasts.

I closed the mouthpiece with my hand. ‘Patience.’

The door from the kitchen opened and, apprehensive at once, Abby flung one arm across her chest. But, seeing it was only Ma, she relaxed again.

‘Until one o’clock, then. TTFN.’

‘Pardon?’

‘Ta ta for now.’

‘Oh, I see. Good morning, Mr Longshaw.’

The short call finished, I replaced the phone and wondered what had made me agree to interview this strange girl from the village.

Abby saw my puzzled frown. ‘Who was it, Leigh?’

Carrying coffee mugs on a tray, Ma stumbled over Abby’s polyester wrap on the floor and kicked herself free of it.

‘Faith Heacham.’

Ma frowned at the name. ‘Shilling short of a pound.’ Thumping down the tray in emphasis.

I decided against pointing out the anachronism; Ma didn’t take kindly to that sort of criticism. ‘I’m interviewing her after lunch.’

Abby arched delicate pencilled eyebrows. ‘You’re interviewing the village idiot?’

‘Didn’t sound like an idiot. Local, uncertain, nervous, naive but not stupid. Voice like burgundy silk, with none of the coarseness you’d imagine. Funny, I’ve never heard her speak, you know. Wouldn’t expect that voice from a tiny wench like her.’

‘Beats me why you want a Girl Friday anyway.’

‘Answer the phone when I’m working, amongst other things.’

‘Stick an extension in the Perv’s darkroom and get him to take messages.’

‘Of course! I never thought. Merv’s unique and candid misogyny would be perfect. Work like a charm on every secretary, receptionist and potential model who called. Good idea, Abby.’

‘Sarkey sod.’

I tripped the shutter. ‘Shift your lovely bum a tad to the left. Beautiful.’ Another work of genius captured on film.

‘Can’t Ma take messages?’

‘I do.’ Ma’s face said all she needed to on that subject and she left without another word.

‘She does. It’s not just that. Takes me hours to type a letter. Paperwork clogs up my creative cogs, I’m forever running out of film and paper, and the tax return’s murder. Anyway, a good pair of legs under a mini or micro and some bold boobs in a see-through might keep those damned reps out of my hair. Do wonders when clients visit in person.’

‘All three of them.’

‘Cheek. If I had some glamour here to greet them, there’d be more.’

‘Faith Heacham hasn’t got legs or tits. She’s not glam. She’s skinny and square. I’m glam. I’ve got legs and tits.’ She displayed to best advantage.

‘And very beautiful they are, Abby. But you’ve all the organisational skills of a bramble bush, and your idea of accounting is, “Any money? Yes, stroke no. Spend it”. Anyway, you’d not work the hours I want for the wages I’m offering.’

She yawned her boredom again and I prepared to finish the session with a last couple of shots. ‘Move a bit further over, honey, and don’t pose. It’s “Housework au Naturel.” remember? You’re supposed to be actually doing the hoovering.’

‘As if I’d get involved in housework. I’m not a skivvy. Anyway, if it’s supposed to be au naturel, shouldn’t I be completely nude?’

‘They’d never publish it. And I’d never get you on page three like that.’

‘Even so, wouldn’t you like…?’

‘Of course, even if it’s just for my personal collection.’

She did; leaving just the shoes to enhance the length and shape of her legs. I repeated the poses I’d already done.

The roll finished, Abby decided she’d had enough. She took my hand off the film magazine I was about to remove from the ‘Blad. ‘That’ll wait. I won’t.’ She dragged me into the sitting room, where Uncle Fred’s framed sepia parents, stiff in matching gilt frames, glared Victorian disapproval at us from the ancient oak mantelpiece. The roaring fire countered the ice in their stares, making the sheepskin rug yet more inviting. Abby rested her lovely skin on the soft wool and pulled me down to join her.

An hour or so later, I left her glowing inside and out, languorous on the creamy fibres. At her request, I stuck a stack of singles on the radiogram and wandered off as Hot Chocolate sang ‘You Sexy Thing’, appropriately enough.

Back in the office, I replaced denim flares and the psychedelic shirt Abby had insisted on removing from me during the shoot, and took the films to the darkroom for processing.

Merv, however, was not lurking in the orange glow of his domain. The stockroom door was ajar and, fixated by his view through the tiny window, he didn’t hear my approach. I loathed his attitude to women.

‘Stripping another unfortunate female?’

‘You do it.’

‘Merv, comparing my photography of women with your lewd mental despoiling is like placing Velazquez in the same frame as Vargas.’

He grunted. ‘Seen that ‘un starkers.’

I peered over his shoulder, down through the white-encrusted skeletal sycamore to the lane end where a small, anxious young woman stood ankle deep in fresh snow. It took me a moment to recognize her, though she wore her usual cast-offs and was expected.

‘Not that one, Merv. I doubt even the doctor’s seen that little body.’

‘I ‘ave! Seen the lot. Outside it were an’ all. Doesn’t shave its armpits. All ‘airy they was. Mucky little twat.’

I left Merv his fantasy, unwilling to explore or argue and suddenly aware of the dangers of his corruption and loathing meeting with her reputed purity. ‘Depending how things go this afternoon, you may soon see her; face to face.’

‘Eh?’

‘I’m interviewing her in twenty minutes.’

‘It’ll never effin’ model for you!’

‘Girl Friday, Merv.’

‘Waste o’ time. Less brains than a shagged sheep.’

‘I’ll accept your expert assessment of the sheep, Merv, but have you actually met the girl, spoken with her?’

‘Everyone knows. Even its effin’ dad says it’s thick as cow dung.’

‘I admit he seemed determined to brand her an idiot before he sent her out to work. Anyway, I’ve nowt to lose by giving her a hearing. The only other two who responded were great to look at and fun in bed but the blonde had all the mathematical aptitude of an artichoke and the redhead thought typewriter keys were arranged alphabetically.’

‘You’ll not gerrit in bed, Leigh. Never tecks its knickers off. It’ll not even teck off its coat if it knows a man’s lookin’ at it.’

I turned him away from the window to face me but he couldn’t meet my eyes, despite our equal height. ‘I want that order printed and finished, Merv. I’ll deliver it after the interview.’

‘Waste of effin’ time if you ask me. It’s got nothing you want.’

I left Merv to it; confident he’d do his usual perfect job. As a photographic printer and technician, he was brilliant; as a man… I shuddered.

At my desk, I picked up the morning paper and waited for Faith Heacham to knock at my door. Recalling her, apprehensive in the snow, I wondered again how the skinny, ragged, village idiot had persuaded me to interview her.

###

Of course, whilst I want you to read the book, it would be even better if you bought it. So, if you can't wait until next week's instalment, check the links below, which will take you to a place you can make your purchase, either as paperback or ebook, depending on your preference.

            Sample or buy as any format Ebook: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/stuartaken
            Barnes & Noble - Nook: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Breaking-Faith/Stuart-Aken/e/2940011126079

            Amazon paperback or Kindle To buy from USA Amazon

            Amazon paperback or Kindle To buy from UK Amazon

Apple idevice:

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Web site: http://stuartaken.co.uk
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Are You On The List?

Avril Field-Taylor is a talented lady, who, I am pleased to say, shares a writing group with me. A writer of crime fiction, historical crime fiction, Sherlock Holmes stories and much else, she is also a very accomplished singer. In celebration of Christmas, she devised the following ditty, based on the song, Behold, the Lord High Executioner, from the Mikado, sung by Ko-Ko. It scans even better when sung to that tune.

Avril’s Christmas offering to her Hornsea Writer colleagues – with apologies to Gilbert & Sullivan.

 

When the Orange Fiction prize requires authors to be found,

I’ve got a little list, I’ve got a little list,

Of the stalwart Hornsea Writers who on keyboards daily pound

And to whom all life is grist, to whom all life is grist.

There’s Karen’s Granny Beamish who can really mess your mind

By making you eat sprouts or something equally unkind.

While not forgetting Georgie, the dog whisperer supreme

And her gorgeous cohort, Matt, who’s every thinking woman’s dream

She’s a definite contender and she’s not to be dismissed

So just put her on the list, yes just put her on the list.

There’s Linda’s Torc of Moonlight, so diverse and quite complex

Whose characters are damaged but they’re always up for sex

They interact and squabble as their feelings they convey

With sultry scenes of passion so hot under the duvet.

Oh yes, Linda is a writing force, on that we must insist,

So she’s going on the list, yes, she’s going on the list.

Then we’ve Madeleine’s romances that will really touch your soul

In far flung places round the world from Europe to the pole

Her settings are so well drawn, to our chairs she keeps us glued

And ne’er by word or gesture are her people ever lewd

So for sweetness and decorum, we need one romanticist

And she’s going on the list, yes she’s going on the list.

And Penny’s Annie Raymond books are never ever dull

The stories all take place near here in Holderness and Hull

The pace grows bit by bit until the tension is extreme

And if someone interrupted you, you’d very likely scream.

She’s a master storyteller and her plots all have a twist,

So for that, she’s on the list, yes for that she’s on the list.

Not forgetting Stuart Aken, who can write with white hot heat

Complete a novel in a month, you know that’s no mean feat

His imagination knows no bounds and sometimes shocks occur

Ensuing mental visions make us all wince and go urrr.

But there’s no denying Stuart is a writing alchemist

So we’ll add him to the list, yes we’ll add him to the list.

An interview with Avril, the writer of these lyrics, can be accessed by clicking here.

And an interview with Karen can be read by clicking here.

My interview with Linda will be found by clicking here.

To read the interview with Madeleine, click here.

For the interview with Penny, click here.

And, for an interview with Stuart (yes, I know, that's me), click here.

Okay, so there's no picture of me, but, hell - the site's mine and I'm all over the place already!

My thanks to Avril for permission to use her piece of festive fun.

A very Merry Christmas and a staggeringly successful New Year to all of you.

110 Author Interviews Revisited

Unfair to single out one author, so have a squirrel instead.

Listed below are the names of all 110 authors I've interviewed on this blog. A click on the author’s name will take you to the interview on the blog. They’re listed in order of appearance and one or two may appear twice, because they’ve come back for more. The views expressed are varying and quite illuminating. I've decided to end this particular series at this point. 

Once I've completed the novel I'm currently writing for the NaNoWriMo challenge, I intend to start a new series of interviews based entirely on writers whose work I've read and enjoyed. These will be more targeted, with questions set specifically for the author concerned. This series has been all about comparison of one writer with another. The coming series I intend to be more specifically about each individual writer. Watch this space.

Avril Field-Taylor  Penny Grubb  J.F Jenkins  Linda Acaster  Karen Wolfe  

Madeleine McDonald  Kathleen McKenna  Gwen Morrison  Richard Jay Parker  

Sasha Petrova  Steven Jensen Stacey Danson  Catherine Chisnall  John Pearson  

Sharon Dwyer  Jake Webber  Sibel Hodge Nick Quantrill  Sarah Barnard 

Lila Munro  J Russell Rose  BethAnn Buehler  Neil White Valmore Daniels  

Kristal McKerrington  Linda Swift  Claude Bouchard  Danielle Thorn  P.J. Dean 

Toni V. Sweeney, aka Icy Snow Blackstone  Margaret Blake  J.B. Hendricks  

Monique Martin Karen Cantwell  David Perlmutter  Rodolfo Pena  

Andy Frankham-Allen Tracey Alley  Phillip Chen Edward Wright  Lorraine Sears 

L.M. Pruitt  L. Anne Carrington Patricia Rockwell  M.J. Webb Derek J. Canyon 

Geoffrey Thorne  SueAnn Jackson J.E. Taylor  K.J. Rigby  Victoria Roder

 Jesse S. Greever  Catherine Condie  Paul Rudd  Lakisha Spletzer   Lyn Fuchs 

  Laura B. Gshwandtner Terry W Ervin II  Ruth Wheeler Joanne Kerzmann  

Alan Nayes  Charlene Wilson  Alan Naylor  Poppet Christa Polkinhorn  

P.I. Barrington  Tommy Taylor Wayne Gerard Trotman  Sylvia L. Ramsey 

Wayne Zurl  Shiela Stewart  Jean Fullerton  Elena Dorothy Bowman

Dewey W. Dempsey Ronnie Dauber  Zoe Winters  R.S. Charles  

Lesley Cookman  Patricia Mitchell Lapidus Kristie Leigh Maguire 

  Elizabeth C. Mock  Gary Hoover Helmy Parlente Kasuma  Valerie Douglas

 Chris Hambleton  Boyd Lemon  Ian Alexander Lucinda Brant  Linda Acaster

  Anonymous Indian Denise Varrico  Stuart Aken  Susan Moody  

Lynda Hilburn  Pandora Poikilos  Prue Batten  Kay Springsteen  

Linda Swift  Markee Anderson  Adrian Dawson   Karen Pokras Toz

 William Horwood   Sandra McLeod Humphrey  Jeff Horton  

Stephen L. Brayton  Sarah Baethge  Faith Mortimer   Jeannie Walker 

Claudia Culmone

There is no significance to the colours, I was merely trying to break up the otherwise dull presentation of these many links.

On 7^th July, I interviewed myself here (an odd concept, perhaps, but the reasons will be clear if you visit it).

I've enjoyed the interviews, in spite of the time and effort needed to produce them. I hope they've proved useful to readers, writers and the authors concerned. My thanks go to all who contributed to this series and those who've made the effort to make comments on the interviews.