#AuthorLife

CRIME EXPOSED, A BUCK TAYLOR NOVEL

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reviewed by Romuald Dzemo for Readers' Favorite

Crime Exposed: A Buck Taylor Novel by Chuck Morgan is the fourth entry in a riveting crime series. Buck Taylor is pulled into investigating the disappearance of a missing journalist, a case that eventually leads to murder and child pornography. The narrative starts in a very curious way, a powerful opening that piqued my sense of curiosity. We get a clear glimpse of the protagonist in the first line of the narration: “Jim McBride knew his wife was pissed... The sound of slamming doors that bombarded his ears indicated that whoever she was mad at would receive her full wrath. He was glad it wasn't him.” This strong opening already gives readers a hint of what to expect, and they are keen on discovering who Barb will turn out to be. But she disappears just after the first chapter and in a tragic kind of way that establishes the suspense and the irony that drives the narrative.

Chuck Morgan has a unique gift for plot, one that makes Crime Exposed: A Buck Taylor Novel a hard-to-put-down book. From the start, readers know what happens to Barb, but they become curious as they follow the investigation, wondering if the characters will find out what happened to her. The descriptions are filled with clarity and they offer readers great images. The prose is elegant and it captures both the emotional and psychological elements of the novel clearly while offering vivid descriptions of scenes and characters. This is a fast-paced thriller with memorable characters and a criminal investigation that is so real readers will believe it could happen.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

Crime Exposed is a work of exciting criminal fiction penned by author Chuck Morgan and is the fourth novel featuring Agent Buck Taylor and his investigative team. Following the events of Crime Unsolved, we find Buck ready for a new challenge despite all that he’s been through thus far. When a journalist goes missing, Buck and the team begin a series of questions, interviews and following clues which will lead them to a much bigger scandal at work. Not only is a brutal murder evidenced, but far darker and depraved practices are going on that need to be exposed and stopped as soon as possible.

Written for adults due to its language, violence, and themes of child abuse, this is a compelling and thrilling work of crime fiction which can easily be read as a stand-alone if you’re not caught up on the current series. The dialogue is suitably gritty for the context, and author Chuck Morgan has a gift for conveying so much personality from his characters just by the way that they speak. Buck Taylor presents initially as a classic hero, capable and strong-minded, but we see his weaknesses unveiled as the case challenges him, and how he relies on the bonds between his teammates to get through it. There’s also plenty of danger, revelation, and suspense to keep the action fresh, with well-placed plot moments throughout the tale. Overall, Crime Exposed marks an excellent addition to a well written series and is a highly recommended crime novel.

COMING SOON

HORRIBLE NATURAL DISASTER, OR MAN-MADE CATASTROPHE?

The picturesque Glenwood Canyon in Colorado has been a source of awe and inspiration for tourists and locals alike. But now, it has become a scene of chaos and destruction. The highway through the canyon, known for its engineering marvel, has been obliterated by a massive landslide, causing the Colorado River to be blocked. As the disaster unfolds, one question lingers in everyone's mind - was this a natural disaster or a man-made catastrophe?

Colorado Bureau of Investigation Agent Buck Taylor is determined to find the answer. But when a geologist is found murdered and another's wife meets a brutal death, Buck realizes that there may be more to this case than meets the eye. As he delves deeper into the investigation, he uncovers a web of secrets and lies involving a wealthy local family with a rich history. And as the body count rises, it becomes clear that someone is willing to do anything to keep the truth hidden.

Just when Buck thinks he's getting closer to the truth, an eco-terrorist group claims responsibility for the landslide, throwing the case in a whole new direction. With the harsh Colorado winter fast approaching, Buck and his team race against time to unravel the mystery before it's too late. But little do they know; the end of the road may bring about a disaster that hits closer to home.

 https://chuckmorganbooks.com

https://payhip.com/chuckmorganauthor

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07SMTMZX2/

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reviewed by Susan Sewell for Readers' Favorite

 "A forest fire sweeps through Colorado's Rio Blanco county along the White River, and while the flames ravage the pristine wilderness, the ugliness of greed, murder, and revenge are exposed in the exciting suspense novel, Crime Unsolved (A Buck Taylor Novel) by Chuck Morgan.

A fishing lodge, constructed despite a controversial land swap between the Forest Service and a wealthy developer, is ground zero for an out-of-control wildfire. An environmentalist group is claiming responsibility for the blaze, and the governor feels the need to call in CBI investigator Buck Taylor.

With a murder victim found among the ruins of the lodge and as murder isn't their usual mode of operation, Buck isn't convinced the environmentalists are the culprits. Working together with the local authorities, Buck combs through the remains of the lodge, looking for clues to the cause of the fire. The more evidence they uncover, the more it points to other suspects who have more pressing motives. Their leads indicate other fires recently started in the area may be related.

When an item discovered at one of those sites reveals there are more to the fires than environmentalists gone wild, the investigation takes a turn. A scheme which endangers the community and the environment is taking place, and someone is willing to kill to keep it hidden.

Professionally written in the style of a best-selling crime novelist, such as Tom Clancy, Crime Unsolved (A Buck Taylor Novel) by Chuck Morgan is a spell-binding suspense novel with an environmental flair. Intriguing subplots of fraud, survivalist paranoia, and murder weave their way through the fabric of the plot, creating a dynamic story. This is an action-filled, stimulating tale which contains fascinating details that are relevant in our present climate. The heroic efforts of those who confront the destructive forces of raging forest fires are beautifully portrayed, along with alarming environmental issues, such as chemical dumping. The chemical dumping factor is frighteningly eye-opening and increased the intensity of the story line.

I was captivated by the subjects presented within the text, and even though it was an exciting fiction story, I felt I came away from the book more knowledgeable than I was before I picked it up. I love it when that happens! Fire, environmental issues, murder, and arson are the keynotes for this thrilling novel, and if any of these topics interest you, then you will want to read this book!"

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reviewed by Amanda Rofe for Readers' Favorite

"Crime Unsolved: A Buck Taylor Novel by Chuck Morgan is a crime novel set in Colorado. CBI Agent Buck Taylor, who recently lost his wife to breast cancer, is eased back into work with an important assignment. He needs to find those responsible for an arson attack on a multi-million dollar fishing lodge development.

While Buck is attempting to solve one crime, he uncovers others including a scheme to dispose of illegal chemical waste, murder and a prescription drug ring. The plot thickens when Buck's brother-inlaw, Hardy, becomes implicated. Buck and his team work hard to bring the perpetrators to justice. In a dramatic conclusion, Buck ends up fighting a wildfire that threatens a local town.

Chuck Morgan writes a gritty crime drama with a solid main protagonist in Buck Taylor, a character I warmed to immediately. Buck has great depth and was the perfect leading man. He was aided and abetted by a number of powerful and interesting women characters including a close colleague, a casual love interest and a feisty daughter who works as a firefighter. His daughter, coincidentally, was part of a hotshot team that fought the wildfire that threatened the town.

The crimes themselves were complex and provided a satisfying plot line that I felt one could really become immersed in. I loved the spiky relationship between the volatile Hardy (Buck's brother-in-law) and the calm and measured Buck. Crime Unsolved has all the ingredients of a good crime novel and was a pleasure to read. I look forward to exploring more in this series of books."

COMING SOON

CRIME UNRAVELED, A BUCK TAYLOR NOVEL

HORRIBLE NATURAL DISASTER, OR MAN-MADE CATASTROPHE?

The picturesque Glenwood Canyon in Colorado has been a source of awe and inspiration for tourists and locals alike. But now, it has become a scene of chaos and destruction. 

In the heart of picturesque Glenwood Canyon, the Colorado River flows peacefully through the towering cliffs. But when a massive landslide blocks the river and destroys the highway, chaos erupts, and the once tranquil canyon becomes a scene of destruction. As the community struggles to make sense of the disaster, one question lingers - was this a natural occurrence or a man-made disaster?

For Colorado Bureau of Investigation Agent Buck Taylor, the answer is crucial. But as he delves into the investigation, he uncovers a string of murders and a wealthy family with a dark history. With each new lead, Buck realizes there may be more to this case than meets the eye. But as the body count rises, it becomes clear that someone will do anything to keep the truth hidden.

Just when Buck thinks he's getting closer to the truth, a radical eco-terrorist group claims responsibility for the landslide, throwing the case into chaos. With the harsh Colorado winter quickly approaching, Buck and his team race against time to unravel the mystery before it's too late. But little do they know, the end of the road may bring about a disaster that hits closer to home.

https://chuckmorganbooks.com

https://payhip.com/chuckmorganauthor

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07HXPWC9G/

In the ever-evolving world of literature, self-publishing has become a transformative force, allowing authors to get their stories out to the world without the constraints of traditional publishing. One notable example is my recent work, Threads of Destiny: Unveiling the Secrets of the Past by Bhavanisankar Sarma. This book not only highlights my commitment to historical exploration but also serves as a testament to the potential of self-publishing.

The Self-Publishing Revolution

Self-publishing has democratized the book industry, offering authors a platform to publish their works with greater control over the process. Unlike traditional publishing, which often involves long wait times and close oversight, self-publishing gives authors control over their book's journey from manuscript to market.

Writing a Manuscript

The first step in self-publishing is making sure your manuscript is polished and ready to read. For Me, Threads of Destiny has undergone extensive revisions to ensure historical accuracy and an engaging narrative flow. Authors may consider professional editing services to polish their manuscripts, as a well-edited book improves readability and credibility. In my case, I was editing it because it was the story of my birth and where I come from.

Designing of book

The next important step is to develop your book cover design and format its interior space. Your cover often determines your reader's first impression, so investing in a professional design can make all the difference in your book's success. Threads of Destiny has an attractive cover that reflects the historical depth and intrigue of the book. Similarly, good formatting can make your book visually appealing and easy to read on multiple devices. I created a cover themed around my hometown, but also saw variations from publications and homemade designs.

Choosing a self-publishing platform

Once your manuscript and design are ready, choosing the right self-publishing platform is key. Popular platforms like Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), IngramSpark, and Smashwords offer a variety of services to help you publish and distribute your book. These platforms provide tools for eBooks and print publications, helping authors reach a wide audience. I used Amazon KDP and IngramSpark for their user-friendly interface and extensive distribution network, which enabled it to reach readers around the world with Threads of Destiny. Also, I found useful platforms of self - publication in my regional manuscript Telugu, like Logili.com, Pothis, Google Play Books, Flipkart

Marketing Your Book

Self-publishing also places the responsibility of marketing on the shoulders of the author. Developing a solid marketing strategy is essential to achieving visibility and attracting readers. Social media, book signings, and online book clubs effectively promote a book. For Threads of Destiny, Machavaram engaged in a targeted social media campaign, participated in interviews, and used a book review blog to generate buzz and drive sales. Writing a blog or posting a story can help our book reach a wider audience.

Manage the business side

Mastering the business side of self-publishing, including royalty management, pricing strategy, and book distribution, is essential. Platforms like Amazon KDP provide detailed insights and reports that help authors track sales and adjust their strategy accordingly. Machavaram has set a competitive price for Threads of Destiny, balances affordable prices and content value, and helps to attract large readers.

Conclusion

Self-publishing can be a rich journey, and provides the author's freedom to bring your own voice and unique stories to the primary view. My experience with Threads of Destiny: Unveiling the Secrets of the Past shows that self-publishing can have a big impact. With careful planning, expert help, and effective marketing, authors can successfully navigate the world of self-publishing and share their literary work with the world.
 

There's something undeniably special about the time just before bed. The day’s adventures are winding down, the world outside is growing quieter, and there’s a cozy stillness that invites you to sit close with your child, a picture book in hand. For many, this is the perfect moment to share a story—a moment of bonding, learning, and imagination. But beyond the charm of this nightly ritual, there are profound reasons why reading picture books to young children, especially at bedtime, is so important.

A Gateway to Language and Cognitive Development

One of the most compelling reasons for reading picture books to young children is the impact it has on their language and cognitive development. From the earliest stages of life, children are sponges for language. They absorb words, phrases, and meanings from their environment, and picture books are a rich source of linguistic input.

When adults read aloud, they introduce children to new vocabulary in context, which helps them understand and remember words more effectively. The rhythmic patterns, rhymes, and repetitive structures found in many picture books make them particularly effective for this purpose. These elements help young children anticipate what comes next, giving them the confidence to join in and, eventually, to read along.

Moreover, picture books are often a child’s first exposure to the concept of narrative—understanding that stories have a beginning, middle, and end. This understanding is a foundational cognitive skill that underpins later learning in areas like reading comprehension, writing, and even math.

Nurturing Emotional Intelligence

Emotions can be confusing for young children. They experience them intensely but often lack the words to describe how they feel or the understanding to manage those feelings. Picture books offer a gentle way to explore complex emotions in a safe and controlled environment.

Many picture books are specifically designed to address emotions and social situations. They might tell the story of a character who is feeling sad, scared, or angry, and then show how that character navigates those feelings. Through these stories, children learn that it’s okay to feel a certain way, that others feel the same emotions too, and that there are ways to cope with or express these feelings.

By discussing the story and the characters’ emotions with an adult, children also learn empathy—an essential component of emotional intelligence. They start to understand that other people have feelings, too, and that those feelings might be different from their own.

Fostering a Love of Reading

The stories we encounter in our earliest years often stay with us for a lifetime. By reading to young children, especially at bedtime, adults are planting the seeds of a lifelong love of reading. The comfort and joy that comes from sharing a picture book become associated with the act of reading itself.

As children grow, this love of reading will serve them well. It will motivate them to pick up books on their own, to explore new worlds through words, and to see reading as a source of pleasure and knowledge. In an increasingly digital world, where screens are competing for attention, fostering a love of reading from an early age is more important than ever.

Creating a Bond and Sense of Security

In the rush of daily life, it’s easy to overlook the importance of small, quiet moments with our children. Bedtime reading is one such moment—a time to slow down, to be present, and to connect on a deeper level.

For a child, the presence of a trusted adult during bedtime reading provides a sense of security. This routine becomes a comforting anchor in their day, something they can rely on no matter what else has happened. The physical closeness, the sound of a familiar voice, and the shared experience of a story all contribute to a feeling of safety and belonging.

This bond is not only comforting for the child but also strengthens the relationship between the adult and the child. It’s a time when you’re fully present with each other, without distractions, and that presence is incredibly valuable in building trust and connection.

Stimulating Imagination and Creativity

Children are naturally imaginative, and picture books are the perfect fuel for their creativity. The best picture books are more than just words and pictures; they are invitations to enter new worlds, meet interesting characters, and embark on exciting adventures—all from the safety of their own bedroom.

When adults read these stories aloud, they bring them to life. They can use different voices for the characters, add sound effects, and even act out parts of the story. This not only makes the experience more engaging but also encourages the child to use their imagination to fill in the gaps.

This kind of imaginative play is crucial for cognitive development. It helps children learn to think creatively, to solve problems, and to see the world from different perspectives. It’s also just plain fun, and that’s reason enough to do it.

Establishing a Calming Bedtime Routine

For many children, bedtime can be a difficult transition. After a day of activity, winding down can be challenging. This is where the routine of reading a picture book can be particularly effective.

A bedtime story signals to the child that it’s time to start winding down. The familiar routine, the soothing sound of an adult’s voice, and the calming nature of the story all help to ease the transition from wakefulness to sleep. Over time, this routine can make bedtime a more peaceful and enjoyable experience for both the child and the adult.

Conclusion: The Power of a Simple Ritual

In the grand scheme of things, reading a picture book at bedtime might seem like a small, simple act. But it’s so much more than that. It’s a way to nurture a child’s development, to foster a love of reading, to build emotional intelligence, and to create a lasting bond. It’s a moment of magic at the end of the day—a moment where anything is possible, and the world is filled with wonder.

So, the next time you sit down with a picture book and your child, know that you’re doing something incredibly valuable. You’re not just reading a story; you’re shaping a future reader, thinker, and dreamer. And that’s a pretty powerful thing.

CHUCK MORGAN CRIME FICTION AUTHOR

 CRIME INTERRUPTED, A BUCK TAYLOR NOVEL

 "Reviewed By Anne-Marie Reynolds for Readers' Favorite 

Crime Interrupted by Chuck Morgan is a Buck Taylor novel. Durango, Colorado is the target of a Mexican gang, shattering the peace and putting lives in danger. Buck Taylor is a senior officer with the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, called in to assist the Durango sheriff because no one sticks to a case harder than Buck does. A recent widower, Buck throws himself into his work to distract himself and finds himself smack bang in the middle of human trafficking, drugs, and violence. Investigating a triple homicide, Buck is up against some dangerous players. The DEA, FBI and ICE all join forces to bring the cartel down, centering their attention on Durango and culminating in a showdown the likes of which the sleepy town has never seen. 

Crime Interrupted: A Buck Taylor Novel by Chuck Morgan is a gripping, edge of the seat novel. Right from page one, the action kicks off and never stops, gaining pace as each chapter passes. The plot is very clever and takes you on a winding, heart-stopping adventure as the main protagonist faces down dangers we could only dream of. One thing that makes this a remarkable story is that it is so true to life, with believable characters that you can easily identify with. The development of both plot and characters is well synchronized, details being fed throughout the entire story until it reaches an explosive conclusion. As this is the first in a series, there is a lot of ground being laid in terms of characters for the next book. This is a really well-written crime novel and I am looking forward to reading more Buck Taylor novels." You can learn more about Chuck Morgan and "Crime Interrupted" at https://www.chuckmorganbooks.com

Whenever I look at my body of multi-genre work in English, the underlying human possibility intrigues me no end, and why not for my mother tongue Telugu, touted as the Italian of the East, has no linguistic connection with it whatsoever.

To start with, I was born into a land-owning family in Kothalanka, a remote Indian village, of Andhra Pradesh to be precise that is after the British had folded their colonial tents from the sub-continent, but much before the rural education mechanism was geared up therein. It was thus the circumstances of my birth enabled me to escape from the tiresome chores of primary schooling till I had a nine-year fill of an unbridled childhood, embellished by village plays and enriched by grandma’s tales, made all the more appealing by her uncanny storytelling ability. Added to that, as my great great maternal grandfather happened to be a poet laureate at the court of a princeling of yore, maybe their genes together strived to infuse their muses in me their progeny. 

However, as the English plants that Lord Macaulay planted in the Hindustani soil hadn’t taken roots in the hinterland till then, it’s the native tongues that held the sway in the best part of that ancient land. No wonder then, well into my secondary schooling, leave alone constructing an English sentence, whenever I had to read one, I used to be afflicted by an unceasing stammer. Maybe, it was at the behest of the unseen hand of human possibility, or owing to his foresight, and /or both that, in time, my father had shifted our family base to the cosmopolitan town of Kakinada to admit me into Class X at the McLaren High School. And with that began my affair with the English language, facilitated by Chinnababu, my classmate, which, courtesy Abbimavayya, my maternal uncle, found fruition in the continental fiction, in translation, however to the detriment of my mechanical engineering education to the chagrin of my vexed father.     

Nevertheless, even as the Penguin classics imbibed in me the love for language that is besides broadening my outlook of life, my nature enabled me to explore the possibilities of youth. That’s not all, all through; it was as if destiny tended to afford my life to examine its intrigues while fiction enabled me to handle its vicissitudes with fortitude that stood me in good stead throughout. Besides, in those days of yore, as letter-writing was in vogue, I was wont to embellish my missives to friends and the loved-ones with the insights the former induced and the emotions the latter stirred in me. So to say, all those letters that my latter-day novels carry owe more to my ingrained habit than to the narrative need of my muse.

Providentially, when I was thirty-three, my eyes and mind seemed to have combined to explore the effect of the led on the leader, and when the resultant ‘Organizational ethos and good Leadership’ was published in The Hindu; I experienced the inexplicable thrill of seeing one’s name in print. Enthused thus by the fortuitous development, I began to articulate my views on general, and materials management, general insurance, politics, and, not to speak of, life and literature in over a score of published articles. But fiction writing was nowhere near my pen and the thought of becoming a novelist was beyond my horizon for Leo Tolstoy, Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Nikolai Gogol, Ivan Turgenev, Emily Zola, Gustav Flaubert et al (I hadn’t read Marcel Proust and Robert Musil by then) were, and are, my literary deities, and how dare I, their devotee, to envision myself in the sanctum sanctorum of the novel.

All the same, when I was forty-four, having been fascinated by the manuscript of a ­satirical novella penned by one Bhibhas Sen, an Adman, with whom I had been on the same intellectual page for the past four years then, it occurred to me, ‘when he could, I can for sure’. It was as if Sen had driven away the ghosts of those literary greats that came to shadow my muse but as life would have it, it was another matter that not wanting to foul his work, as he hadn’t obliged the willing publisher to pad it up to a ‘publishable size’, that manuscript remained in the literary limbo.

So, with my muse thus unshackled, I set to work on the skeletal idea of Pardonables, the working title of Benign Flame, with the conviction that for fiction to impact readers, it should be the soulful rendering of characters rooted in their native soil, not the hotchpotch of the local and foreign caricatures sketched on a hybrid canvas, the then norm of the Indian Writing in English. Yet, it took me a full fortnight to make the narrative flowing with the opening – ‘That winter night in the mid-seventies, the Janata Express was racing rhythmically on its tracks towards the coast of Andhra Pradesh. As its headlight pierced the darkness of the fertile plains, the driver honked the horn as though to awake the sleepy environs to the spectacle of the speeding train.’  

However, from then on, it was as though a ‘novel’ chemistry had developed between my muse and the mood of its characters that shaped its fictional course, and soon I came to believe that I had something exceptional to offer to the world of letters, nay the world itself. So, not wanting to die till I gave it to it, I tended to go to lengths to preserve my life that was till I delivered it in nine months with a ‘top of the world’ feeling at that. Then, when one Spencer Critchley, an American critic, thought that – “It’s a refreshing surprise to discover that the story will not trace a fall into disaster for Roopa, given that many writers might have habitually followed that course with a wife who strays into extramarital affairs” – I felt vindicated about my unique contribution. Just the same, as there were no takers to it among the Indian publishers and the Western agents, I was left with no heart to bring my pen to any more paper (those were the pre-keyboard days) though my head was swirling with many a novel idea, triggered by my examined life lived in an eventful manner.  

Nevertheless, sometime later, that was after I happened to browse through a published book; I had resumed writing, owing altogether to a holistic reason: while it was the quality of Sen’s unpublished work that set me on a fictional course from which I was derailed by the publishers’ apathy, strangely, it was the paucity of any literary worth in that published book that spurred me back onto the novel track to pursue the pleasure of writing for its own sake. It’s thus; I could reach the literary stations of - Crossing the Mirage and Jewel-less Crown that was before my pen, in the wake of the hotly debated but poorly analyzed post-Godhra communal riots, took a non-fictional turn with the Puppets of Faith. 

Thereafter, as if wanting me to lend my literary hand to other genres, my muse heralded me into the arena of translation, ushered me onto the unknown stage, put me on a stream of consciousness, took me to crime scenes, dragged me into the by-lanes of short stories, and driven me into the novella fold. However, as a prodigal son, I took to my first steps into the Telugu short story field with my ‘Missteps’ తప్పటడుగులు.

Whatever, it was Michael Hart, the founder of the Project Gutenberg, who first lent his e-hand to my books ever in search of readers. But who would have thought that life held such literary possibilities in the English language for a rustic Telugu lad reared in the rural Andhra, even in the post-colonial India? So, the possibilities of life are indeed novel and seemingly my life has crystallized itself in my body of work before death could dissipate it.

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BS Murthy is an Indian novelist, playwright, short story and non-fiction writer, translator, a 'little' thinker and a budding philosopher with "Addendum to Evolution: Origins of the world" published in The Examined Life On-Line Philosophy Journal, Vol. 05 Issue 18, Summer 2004 that's republished in Academia.edu. https://www.academia.edu/21434144/Addendum_to_Evolution_Origins_of_the_World

All his fictional work was borne out of his conviction that for fiction to impact readers, it should be the soulful rendering of characters rooted in their native soil but not the hotchpotch of local and alien caricatures sketched on a hybrid canvas.

His  body of work in varied genres in the public domain in umpteen sites can be Googled

The writing of Iron Blood & Sacrifice.

I talk to other aspiring novelists on various forums and whilst impressed with their commitment and endeavour, talk of 3000 word per day challenges and producing a novel every two months just falls on deaf ears with me and I usually go elsewhere at this point. I have also found that these ‘pumped-up’ authors who proliferate these forums, are often the most cruelly critical to new members, falling well-short of the ‘constructive type’ in many posts. I wonder how they find the time to write three thousand words a day and troll the forums so effectively. The talk is inevitably about carving a career out of creative writing and how much they can earn from it. I have a completely different perspective and I walk a different road.

My degenerative physical condition forced me to quit writing as a freelancer, as the hours at the computer were highly detrimental to my condition and impacting the problem in my neck. So, I decided to get off the conveyor belt and begin writing for myself and in my own time. Ironically, I ended up working harder and longer than anything I had ever done as a freelancer, as the writing of Iron Blood & Sacrifice turned out to be a five-year undertaking, which in many ways is on-going.

As I was writing up the first draught, I realised that being 61 years old and in poor health, this was probably going to be not only the biggest thing I had ever written, but also one of the last. I have been on benefits for 15 years from my disability and remain as poor as a church mouse, so obviously any earnings that may one day accrue from these books would be most gratefully received. However, my motivation for writing these books has very little to do with income, as it was always about getting these ancient stories which had been rattling around in my head for as long as I can remember, down on paper (so to speak). It soon became something of an obsession, as I realised the import of these largely untold and forgotten tales and their connection to Wales’ most endearing legends and heroes, those of Mabinogion fame; Lludd, Caswallawn Fawr, Llefelys and Rianaw.

The more I researched, the more questions were thrown-up and I soon realised that the history of this truly ancient period is sketchy at best, riven with inconsistencies and contradictions at worst. I realised early-on that I had to steer my own chosen path through this minefield of conflicting, fragmented history and make of it what I could. It took almost a year to establish the historical time-line through my fiction, so that it followed the known history, and to weave-in the names of the known, along with my fictional names of the unknown. I came to realise too, that this trilogy was likely my ‘swansong’ and so I was determined to make it the very best writing I had ever produced. More, it became my way of honouring these long-departed ancestors and pay them eternal homage and respect in my own little way.

In the depths of this obsession, with the screen swimming in my vision, I would find myself pinching the bridge of my nose from a headache and realise that I needed a rest and a cup of tea. A quick time-check often revealed that it was 4 or 5 o clock in the morning and I had been working for 8 – 9 hours straight! Some days I would work for 14 hours but it was a very strange, tortured existence looking back on it. Gripped by this obsession and surviving on pain-killers and coffee, my mind would just fly-away, and my writing would become increasingly wild. Coming-to at whatever ungodly hour in the dark with my eyes raw and my head splitting, I would switch off and stagger to bed. This went on for seemingly endless month after month.

Whenever I reviewed that work the following day, it would always need the most proofing and editing, being full of misspelled words and erratic punctuation. It was like reading someone else’s writing in a way, a very strange sensation but I found my best creative writing amongst the drivel I’d produced in that state.

All of this was done on a second-hand Compaq laptop and as I didn’t have internet connection at the time, I had to list and batch-up my research requirements for the task in hand and download all the information at a friend’s house. Obviously you can’t arrive, say ‘hi’ and just open your laptop, so I walked a fine line with many of my friends when I was invited to visit or for dinner. However, all my friends are fine folk and so I received much support at this difficult time and managed to continue with my research. I was in no position to visit the locations featured in my books and so those which were unfamiliar to me, needed a lot more research and so I would find myself in one Café or another, or McDonalds furiously downloading photos of locations via their free wi-fi. Slowly, chapter by chapter I managed to write out Iron Blood & Sacrifice. As this went-on however, my health deteriorated at a similar rate to my obsession and so I had to take-stock one awful day, a day when I had talked myself out of calling an ambulance for my almost unbearable pain, three times.

I realised that what I was doing just wasn’t sustainable, as I was wracked by terrible pain and had lost over a stone in weight, not good for a skinny man. I realised too, that I had written almost 600,000 words! I had a kind of collapse then, from exhaustion and poor diet probably, needing almost three weeks of rest and good eating to recover. My best mate and neighbour Brian and his wonderful wife Mel kept me alive in this period and I can never thank them enough for their kindness and generosity.

All this then needed sorting out, like the wheat from the chaff and with a new, more sustainable regime at home. Due to the huge volume of text I had produced in my madness, far too much for one book, I realised that I should have been writing a trilogy from day one!

In two years, I have turned that huge volume of distracted gibberish, interspersed with half-decent writing, into three readable and coherent novels. I then purchased a book cover from a designer on Fiverr, (for a fiver) and from that initial drawing, I produced my three Book Covers using only Microsoft ‘Paintbox’. Then I published the trilogy as E-books via Kindle/Amazon and Smashwords, and the rest as they say is history.

Being bereft of funds I have never been able to print these books, so that I can ‘hard-copy’ proof them and you writers will appreciate how vital a step that is. Reading a printed copy is almost like reading someone else’s work and the errors and discrepancies jump out at you. In contrast, screen proofing causes word blindness and you always miss something. I hated publishing these novels without that crucial final step, but you can only do what you can do, and so I have to accept that there will be some errors here and there in punctuation. I follow the advice my late father gave me; ‘Don’t let what you can’t do in life, stop you from doing what you can!’

I have learned to achieve a balance in the time I spend writing now, as the bulk of the work is done, and I now spend the time polishing certain parts and perfecting each chapter, of each book in turn but I am saving a little money to get them printed soon. I spend a lot of time now marketing the book in all the free ways possible online and I write, or prepare a lot of blogs now, much of which are excerpts from the books. They are being well-received, as I get over 1200 reads a month currently, but this is yet to convert into any meaningful sales of the associated books.

I still suffer daily with chronic pain and so my writing time is very limited these days. I have another associated novel sketched-out to follow the trilogy and featuring the books’ main characters. I have ideas for two or three more books, all in the same era and based around these same established figures and individuals. However, I will need to be highly motivated in some form or other to even consider writing these, as I know well my inclination toward the obsessive when writing about my deeply held passion, and I’m not sure my body is up to it. Still, slowly – slowly I might have a go this year coming. Obviously, I am not looking to write three thousand words a day, not even three hundred. Neither am I motivated to attempt a novel in 8 weeks, and a growing readership is far more valuable to me than the few quid I’ve received from Kindle or Smashwords.

I put absolutely everything I had into these three novels and in every sense; physical, emotional and spiritual. Looking back, the actual writing was like some long, tortuous, three-year ordeal in physical terms but in psychological and emotional terms, it was a joy and a revelation. My focus now is on perfecting this trilogy and marketing it to the best of my ability with almost no budget. I’m sure it can be done, it’s just going to take time, but I’m convinced that these stories will be well received and not just by the Welsh, as they are full of action, adventure and humour at the end of the day. All I have to do now is get them out there.

I am comforted and often humbled by the efforts of my family and friends in my support and must thank them all for their help and belief. Buoyed by this aid and confidence from family and friends alike I push-on, ever hopeful.

Cymru am byth!

Eifion Wyn Williams.

Historical fiction blogger & author.

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Conclusion

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