Just another day in paradise.

So let’s get this blog started shall we?

Let's have a look at a positively wonderful library from my on-line newspaper...

 Library from Kresmunster Abbey in Austria 

Alternatively you can view my pins and my boards from Pintrest. http://pinterest.com/abikirk/

Back to why I am blogging today...

Question, How many of you are on Linkedin? Or maybe I should ask, do you know what Linkedin is? Well to put it plainly, Linkedin is like Branchout on Facebook; a website that connects people through profession, jobs and interests and whatnot. I joined about 2 weeks ago and after joining a group, “Book Writer” I began a topic which really needed to be addressed. Amazon book reviews.

Now if you are an author, published or not, then you know about reviews. There are some good and some bad- it comes with the package of being an author and you know for a fact you are not going to please everyone. However, there are some reviews which are, to put a too finer point on it, appalling. The reviews are basically troll work where other authors have stooped so low as to bitch about someone’s book without ever reading it and then shamefully boast about their work and how it is better in contrast. Abysmal! 

Though my book is not out on the shelves or indeed in Amazon’s warehouse at the present time, I know for a very sad fact that there will be one horrid review on my book from someone who dislikes me, instead of hating my book.

I was unsure how to take this when I found out and though I don’t understand the person’s real motive to do something like that, I feel that it should be said. I am not going to name names, for unlike them, I am not horrible. They know who they are.

But it got me thinking about reviews in general. There have been a fair few authors who have plugged their work on other authors newly published books. I have seen two authors do that to a few author friends and it upset me that there are actually very nasty people out there who rip authors to shreds because in truth, they are either jealous of the attention or really has some beef with that particular author.

I don’t really leave reviews on Amazon as I prefer Goodreads, if truth be told and while there is more response to reviews on Amazon, I find myself categorically adamant that there are more troll-like reviewers than actual reviewers who give the author some positive criticism.

Not everyone will like the best book in the world as no one can please everyone- there are over 8 billion people, odds are they’ll be a fair few who don’t like your book for one reason or another, but does it give those people a right to hate your book so much that they won’t read it and STILL leave a review?

When the masses of messages poured into my email account after posting about the Amazon Reviews on Linkedin, I found it interesting to point out that one clever chap mentioned that Amazon sends an email to you within 24 hours of purchasing a book from them, asking to review it. Well I’m not a speed reader so I couldn’t possibly leave a review within the first 24 hours of buying a book. Maybe after 3-4 months after I’ve finished it- and even then I’d choose my words carefully when reviewing.

I’m not a good reviewer, I’m quite poor. Usually I tend to say, “This book was amazing, you have to read it” and not give a clear reason on why it must be read, ergo with something that I know needs a review, I shall gladly give a positive one, even if I sort of didn’t like the book. 

There have been some terrible books that I have read. Most of them have got bad English, spelling, grammar and other nasty things like rape, bad sex and acutely bad swearing. That does put me off some books, especially if they are meant to be targeted towards teenagers. Bad form, but that's my opinion. 

When I was a bookseller, I gave my opinion and I gave reviews of the books for my customers. Then it was up to them on whether to buy it or not. Going slightly off topic here but I once had a customer who wanted something for her grandson, he was 14, nearly 15 and she wanted a funny, intelligent book. I told her to start off with Colour of Magic by Terry Prachett. You can't go wrong with him. She then told me about the Vampire books that she's heard about. Naturally I told her I had read Twilight and the P.C Cast books and gave her my honest opinion but I also told her that they were receiving much praise. She then asked me about the swearing and the sex and that was the point where by telling her the truth she flatly refused to by them.

While teenage girls love the fantasy of a mythical being sweeping her off her feet, there are only a handful of teenage boys who would want to read those types of books. However with the boys who I have spoken to who have read Twilight, Sookie Stackhouse and P.C Cast, they have all said the same thing, "Where is the action?" Made me laugh and to tell them honestly, you won't find that type of manly action. It's for girls right? Teenage girls who just want sex, swearing and a badass book they can brag about to their friends.

For e.g. a 14 year old came into the store and bought three P.C Cast books. On the cover they practically screamed out "Not suitable for under 16's" but she bought them anyway, thanks to mummy and as she was leaving the store she said out loud and proud, "None of my friends have these, they'll be so jel!"

Need I say more?

There is no divisional line between children any more. It's blurred. Heck, when I was 15 I was reading Enid Blyton as well as Goosebumps, Animorphs and Harry Potter...the good old days of innocence in children is fading and teenagers are becoming adults before they realise that they have no childhood to speak of, which is a shame. Books, even in their brilliance, brings about a sense of devastation to teens and when children as young as 13/14 read mummy's 50 Shades of Grey, there is no hope for the world of books, teens or their mothers...I won't get onto 50 Shades of Grey...I'm too happy to annoy myself right now...

Any hoo, back to the topic of this blog...

For reviews, specifically for Amazon, I believe that if you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all. If the book wasn’t for you say so, but don’t destroy it by blasting the author because you don’t like him or her, or the book is violating your copyright, or they have stolen your ideas. Preposterous!

Books are our children. We created them from scratch, we’ve nurtured them, changed them to our ideals; they are part of us. So just think about that the next time to review a book you may not like or I may just tell you blatantly, “I don’t like your snot nosed child!’ See…it’s not nice, is it? And I don't even know your child (if you have one). But the point I am making should be clear, don't judge a book by it's cover or synopsis. Give it a chance and even if you don't like it, make a positive review with criticism. We are meant to be helping authors and readers. 

I leave you with a lovely quote...

Where the heck have I been?

Where the heck have I been? South Korea!

Ooh dear, well so much for trying to keep this blog afloat. Well in all fairness I have been really busy- to the point where my mind has gone bonkers and I'm finding out way too many interesting things with my life, which doesn't normally happen. Gosh where to start it's been a while... First of all I am now in South Korea! Joy! Teaching 1st and 2nd years at two schools has been a fun and it's been an interesting 6 months and now I am winding down the last couple of months until I go back home. Here is a pic of my school!

Teaching has been interesting, never thought I could, but I guess even I can surprise myself. Here are my English Conversation class discussing the lesson.

I got through English Camp, which was 2 weeks of fun in English, learning songs, writing a musical, finding an English name. Had a lot of fun.

Then the boyfriend and I went to Hawaii, Oahu for a week! That was so much fun! Saw Jurassic Park scenery and LOST scenery! Made my day that did!

Also I saw some rare Green Sea Turtles! That was lovely!

And some brilliant sites on the island.

Now I have started back for 2nd semester and things are going a little bit better. Also during which I was picked up by Pegasus Publishers for my book, Loving In Time. So that will be out in PB in a few months time. My literary agent is back in business and is searching for a publisher for Tattoo of the Black Angel, and I've had a word or two with some excellent people so I have a surprise for Wattpad people in a few months time. But I can't say anything at the moment... Next week is the Korean holiday called Chuseok- where relations go to the eldest brother's house or the family house and pay respects. The Waygooks and myself are going to Busan/Pusan for the holiday, to chill out, eat good food and have a brilliant time before the end of the nice weather!!!!

Clogs Are Turning!

Hello and welcome to another mindless brain numbing blog about random stuff.
Firstly, I hope everyone's New Year's were particularly memorable, especially to those who weren't drinking themselves into the hospital. Secondly, I hope that your New Years resolutions are still going strong.
Now, I don't smoke, or drink (maybe the occasional celebrational drink for my b-day/a friend's birthday or a wedding but they happen very rarely) and so, I wondered what could my New Years resolution be?

I got to thinking (it pained me to think so hard) but I came up with a very tricky resolution: To NOT listen to any K-Pop. Now being English you'd think it would be easy, but nope. I will be jetting away to South Korea in Feb and I refuse point blank not to listen to any weird K-Crap as I'm now dubbing it.

For those who listen to K-Crap, then well that's your own fault really, I have no patience for your mindless screaming, "I LOVE MBLAQ" or "I LOVE SHIN-ee" ;) I tolerate the screams of teenagers and their incessant yodelling of the members names on their fb page; to each their own.

And as because K-Pop, sorry K-Crap, is big in South Korea, it will be very hard to not listen to it. I have, therefore, devised a cunning plan (rubs hands like Bauldric), apart from bringing my iPod with me, THANK GOD!, I am going to be listening to K-Rock!

Now, I'm not quite sure that many people know this about me, so I'll say it loud and I'll say it proud. Many moons ago, I used to be a Goth. Black clothes, make-up, rocking out and shoved in a mosh pit to Korn, Nirvana and the like, and retaining that part of my very strange teenage life, I have decided that I like K-Rock. I heard a few songs from Youtube and I did like the music, the melody and the notion that they created their own music traditionally and organically. Yes and I know that sounds weird, but being a musician myself, I know how difficult it is to create and write a song and the repetition of learning it off by heart and the recording of it etc. That is a true artist, a person or band, who can play their own instruments, that's taken them years to practice> not someone who found out they look good, or are "Eye candy" as it's now called, think they can sing, get shoved in front of a microphone, can only shake their arse after told they'd get a load of dosh (money) if they open their mouths and pretend to sing while a computer makes their voice sound pitch perfect. That does NOT a musician or singer make.

I took singing lessons when I was younger and it was difficult, not because I was crap at singing thank you!, but because I had a certain range or pitch and my music teacher had to help train me to reach certain pitches, both low and high, in order to expand my singing range. I ended up being Soprano, when I used to be Alto. So I felt better in myself for reaching such high notes.
Anyway, after saying all this I hope I am trying to make a valid point in that pop is crap and fake, rock is hard work but authentic and rap is...don't even get me started on it.

So summarising, I'm not going to listen to K-pop at all for a whole entire year while living in Korea.

So as it goes with my writing. A'hem! Good! ^^ Yesterday I managed to remember something from over a year ago and I decided to write out the plot, go me, another fantasy story, only worth one big fat book over 200-300 A4 pages, but I've only written the plot and the prologue! I will still stop writing when I'm off to Korea. If I have ideas, then I'll write them down, but I can't miss anything while I'm there, it's a new country, a new experience and a new year that I don't want to miss.

x

No Freaking Way!

Ok so, for starters, sorry I have been neglecting the blogging thing, I've just been uber busy. Again with the bullet points:
-I got a literary agent who wants to publish Tattoo of the Black Angel
-I have got so many books now from work my floor will break and I shall fall into the room below me
-I have finished Scar of the Centaur (WHOOP)
-I have finished Journey In Time (Sequel to Loving In Time)
-I finished my NaNoWriMo story and will soon commence the second in the series, albeit very slowly.
-Still preparing for South Korea, cannot wait to go!
-Going to go on a whirlwind tour of Wales to see all my friends in the 2nd week of Jan, my friends don't know this yet, so I think I may need to tell them soon...
-I watched season 7 of House within 2 days
-I ate two Terry's Chocolate oranges in two days
-My Canadian friend is just awesome, I love her to bits and her present is coming with me to S.Korea!
-I own my own mini Zanpakuto kasa! I feel very cool, just like Ichigo from Bleach! hehe
-Getting nervous about going to Korea but doesn't everyone?

Right I think that is everything bullet pointed so far to the point of being updated within a month or so.
Now then, onto business. What to discuss?

Being an "author" or "writer" or "soul spiller", whatever you want to call it, I get very strange questions from my readers. So here are a few things which I hope will clarify some questions.

Question: Do I like myths?
Answer: Blatantly obvious and a resounding, Yes! I love myths/mythology and everything in between, however, I rarely read mythology stories... =/ I know, weird right? I haven't read Percy Jackson or Hunger Games (not mythology but still a question that people annoyingly keep asking me) so please...STOP ASKING ME!
But in all fairness, I prefer action books, like Andy McDermott and S. Larsson. Their books are just frigging awesome, but they are also adult books and I know a lot of my readers wouldn't read them because they may find them boring. Sorry, but being an archaeologist, I must love McDermott it's my being to love him and forever more! (The main character is an archaeologist called Nina)

Question: How do you write out your plots?
Answer: Depends. Sometimes I write it on paper when I'm taking a walk or I'm away from my computer, or sometimes when I'm at the computer I have my notes right in front of me. Personally, I think it's imperative to plot down the backbone of the story and give yourself a reason on why you are actually writing, what are you trying to accomplish? I'm not sure about other authors, I suppose they have a great idea and must write it down for entertainment, but for me, I think it's about finding that moral, that "something special" that makes a book. Think it corny of me for saying, but I want to show that behind my weirdness that people deem "flippant, idiotic and childish" about my personality, that there actually is something about me that should come across the pages that I write and will say "Oh so that's who Abi is?".
Recently I paid a visit to some of my old managers. I won't mention any names or professions, but when I told them that I had written 12 books within a year and a half and I had got a literary agent, they were dumbfounded. They thought I was a "special" girl and not in the sense of a gift, they thought I was a little "mad up-stairs and slow" and so I was belittled by my colleagues. It hurt so much, but with their words, I decided to change tact and keep at it and I have surprised everyone around me.
With this determination to let go of those who thought ill of me, I have strived to write out all the plots of my stories from the very beginning, or else I may lose sight of what I am intending to write: A inspirational book that gives insight into other cultures, old religions, hopeful and good morals and also teaches some amount of education in history.


I hope that everyone has had a good New Years. Congrats to my two wonderful friends Dave and Mand who have recently got engaged. <3 you guys!

Oh the drama!

Right so the last time I blogged it was the end of September...
You may think I'm boring and have no life because I haven't blogged since then, well you'd be so very wrong.
Don't really want to talk about me so I shall hurry up in bullet points since the end of September:

-Finished National Trust Contract at end of October
-Didn't do Halloween but listened to awesome Halloween music
-Got accepted to Korea after having an interview they got back to be 4 hours later with a "Yes"
-Now working in Waterstones until Jan as I didn't get a permanent contract (see rant below). Surrounded by books is awesome, my friends will be getting books for Crimbo.
-Participating in NaNoWriMo
-Trying to finish 2 other books- Yikes!
-Bought two dresses from TU today, which make me look like a 1980's teacher!

See? Simples!

Anyway so let's have a rant about the economic crisis...and yes I know people think it's blah and well they can think that if they want. I heard a fully grown man, in his 60's at least, say that he never wanted to get into politics as he didn't see the point...I guess he votes for Labour then.

I'm not gonna b*tch about parties because there are several things I'd like to say about Cameron right now, but I won't bore, instead I'll just say that I AM ONE OF THE 99% and because my country has failed me, after hearing about over 1 million people in the UK is unemployed, I'm buggering off 5,000 miles for a job. Damn, I hate this stupid government.
Anyway I don't agree with the man that he never wanted to get into politics, because if you don't get at least the basic then you don't understand how to see the country is failing or improving and it's best to keep on top of this rubbish.

Greece, I am so sorry. You have had such a poor year and I meant that in the state your country is in, not in money, but how you have been poorly run.

Italy, I am so sorry for you are heading in the same way as Greece and Germany cannot afford to bail you out.

France, Ireland...good luck in the Euro and Germany, really Merkel? REALLY? Tut tut woman, for shame on you.

China, I totally agree with you, I wouldn't give the EURO money either.

America, finally you are beginning to realise that your country and indeed the rest of the "civilized" world (can we really call the UK civilized after the London riots- most Londoners are yobs anyway and can't speak properly- and they want to get rid of the Queen's English- it's the only accent that foreigners can understand for God's sake!)is run by a big computer on Wall Street. May you try and occupy your entire country but bare in mind the 1% which is part of Obama runs your country and you did vote for him- reap what you sow...the UK is paying for the price too, and so is Greece and Italy.

To the UK, we are going back into a double-dip of recession. If you have the chance, get the hell out of the country for a few years. Social unrest is all around- London sparked off what the UK will turn into if we don't claim back our country, our land, our history! And damn it, our Ancestors would weep in their graves if they saw what our country has turned into. Damn it, never had I thought that I was being forced out of my country; but there you have it folks.
I am 25 with a Masters and I'm unemployable- either too young or over qualified. The UK is sh*t, why people come here to live is beyond me- oh yes, to take our benefits, I forgot! Doy!


Anyway, so apart from that annoyance in the world currently, I wish that things pick up better soon; a great dark cloud looms over our heads in these times. Too many evil acts in one world, where's all the good gone? Well I try and do my best where I can, give to charities, help the old people and write for those who wish to be entertained. It's small but I try and do one ARK a day - (Act of Random Kindness) Try it, it makes you feel better by making others happy, even for a brief moment. :)

Live long and prosper! x


OOOO I forgot- Books I bought within the past two months:

Inheritance- C Paolini
The Girl who Kicked the Hornets Nest- S Larrson
The Girl who Played with Fire- S Larrson
Destined- PC Cast
The Power of Six- Pittacus Lore

I'm on a reading roll!

So, two months ago, actually it may have been longer than that, I was lent "The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo". Now normally I don't read books like that, mystery is just not my genre and at the time, I wasn't reading anything else apart from Naomi Novik's historical/fantasy book Temeraire which is an odd book and I kept at it just because I hate not finishing a book. Anyway. So after the weird dragon book, I started with Stieg Larsson's book and it took me ages to get into it. I found Lisbeth to be a goth with a bad attitude, Blomkvisk was annoying because even though he was clever he kept missing things out and it took him ages to get the ball rolling...HOWEVER...after persevering, I finished it and I must say I now know why it became an international best seller.
With the book not being my genre, I really did like it and I give it a 4/5*.

So of course with me as soon as I finished the book I wanted to watch the film...didn't know that the Swedish had made an original! Shocked as I was unaware of this, I bought and downloaded it from iTunes and low and behold, I watched and enjoyed.
Now, praise for the film keeping to the book, sort of, a lot was missed out which was a shame, but they got Lisbeth Salander spot on in my opinion. And I saw the new trailer for the American version and the new Lisbeth, I'm sorry but I'm not quite sure...I'll have to wait and see but meh...

Anyway, so now I got "the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" over and done with, guess what I am reading now? It's a sequel, it's about aliens and the power of 6! That's right! Pittacus Lore's Power of 6 and OMG it's just awesome. I love, love, LOVE this book also. Nearly finished it and when I have done with that I am going to re-read all the Eragon books for the last and final instalment, Inheritance.
Aren't we all just gagging to read Inheritance though? Come on! I've been waiting for what...4 years, maybe heading 5 years for that book to come out! The final one! EEEP! So many theories are flying all over the place and I do not doubt for a second and Wattpad will have a new fanfiction of the Eragon series...I'm just waiting for that to happen.

As I said that I wouldn't talk about me, I won't, but I will talk about a new series I am going to start writing soon. The first one will commence in November and I am using NaNoWriMo to finish the first book called "The Trial". The series is called "The Barcode Series" and its a sci-fi story with seven books in total. It is a BIG project I am taking on and I dare say it will take up most of my time.

Currently I am writing the last book of the Tattoo of the Black Angel Trilogy, which Scar of the Centaur should be finished by November (fingers crossed) and Journey In Time, which again I am heading for another 30 chapter book approximately 120/130 pages, should be finished also around November.

So many things to do and not enough hours in the day.

Rainbow Themed Wedding and a Sunburning Dig!

Ok so weddings...When I think of them, I think a lovely little church, big white candles, tasteful flowers, THE white dress, the vows, the vicar who should be Rowan Attikson, the bridesmaid who should be dressed up as Dr Who like Alice Tinker did in Vicar of Dibley, the lovely music like Watermark by Enya.
All your friends are around you, you stand as the bride enters and everyone goes "aww" as the little flower girls walk down the aisle in lovely little dresses as they throw petals on the floor...
Ok I'm being too gushy here and too out dated. Man, I need to re-think these weddings, or at least be invited to a traditional one. Hint people, HINT!
So, the wedding was definitely 1980's born adults, aka my era. The awesome cheesy music was played, a fantastic Hog roast was cooked and I danced like a pillock for the better part of the wedding or well actually until the very end! Cupcakes were lovely, lollypop flowers were cute and tasty! And pictures of drunken friends were taken. It was a fantastic day! Not to mention I ended up getting lost and found myself in Kent...after taking 5 poor buggers with me, sorry guys but we had much mooching around a graveyard (we're all archaeologists) when we found out a castle was closed...sigh.

Ok so the following day after the wedding, we, myself and two partners in crime in my car, drove back to Bristol to park up and then head over the Sunny Wales! Met up with a mate in Cardiff and went to the Cardiff festival and listened to Attack Attack and Funeral for a Friend aka emo music. After little children picked on me as I sat down and stared off into space, my three tall handsome fellows came to my side and rescued me, sending off the 20 odd little gits who wanted to pick a fight with me. So when two friends left, there was one and he took me back to his caravan to begin a fun weekend excavating!

Friday night, when we arrived in Trellech, was entertained by the A level students who did nothing but demand for alcohol, poor little sods. Met two very rambunctious boys who were very funny. Friday we began to excavate, I got my archaeological hat on and was tested on the finds that came up in the past 5 years at the Medieval site. I didn't do too badly considering my period is Bronze Age and the area the Med, not Britain! So I felt somewhat cool and hip! Then off to cleaning up the tower, found pieces of pottery and slag then helped the boys with the top soil of the trench. It began to rain, so it was over and I found out, I was annoyingly sunburnt. Damn my pasty white sensitive skin! But we were all, getting lost *cough* I mean, going out for an adventure to the Forest of Dean, yes that's mentioned in Harry Potter, and having a stroll around the forest! But then by Sunday, I had to go back, but not after a mornings worth of excavating and telling a little toss-pot of a 17 year old that he needed to either dig or sod off and either do context sheets, drawing or pot washing. You can't just sit there and stare at people working! I don't agree with that!

So I was driven back to Bristol and ended up driving back home on the M5 through a fricking thunder storm with lightening! Called on a friend in Dawlish, had tea and fresh bread and jam (cheers my little Canadian) and went to parents house to see my dogs lol and give my mum her 60th b-day present and card THEN got home...

All in all a fantastic few days and I wouldn't have done it any other way...apart from wearing sunblock! haha I'm such a spanner!