Kimi's Secret

5/5

by

John Hudspith

Amazon.com

Amazon.UK

The length of the book worried me a little. It’s directed towards children so I wondered if the 446 pages would be off-putting, but then I got thinking about Narnia, Harry Potter and Alice in Wonderland – all classics and all long books, so that thought was soon squashed.

Kimi had an imaginary friend from years ago called Bentley, and he turns up out of the blue on the eve of her eleventh birthday. But it turns out he wasn't imaginary, and he has to take her to a magical world called Heart and he has to take her NOW.

Kimi’s Secret doesn’t hang about, and I was soon thrust into Heart on an enchanting, and sometimes frightening journey where Famoose, Balancers, Adepts and Tuplas all exist alongside murderous crows, police monkeys and aliens. The marvellous array of strange creatures didn't once seem out of place, they were all well-defined characters. I had a particular fondness for Stella, Kimi’s seventeen year old mentor, a zany (human) character, and Babbage whom I can’t even begin to describe! He is the main key in the plot, and probably has a story all of his own (maybe in the sequel?).

The story didn't flag, although I'd have loved a bit more time with Kimi before she was sent to Heart; but this book is directed at kids, and they want FAST and NOW, which Kimi's Secret certainly is.

The one thing I didn't approve of was the language. For some "bloody" "crap" and "shit" aren't too bad, but this book is directed at ten and above and I wouldn't be keen to know my children were reading such language, but then I'm from the era which remembers Enid Blyton with great fondness. The "swearing" could probably be measured in two lines in the entire book, so maybe not too much to worry about, and Bentley, one of the main characters, disapproved too so that could go some way towards redeeming it.

Kimi's Secret was written in conjunction with a school, Portree Primary, and in an interview I had with the author John Hudspith he told me the children were delighted that the book didn't condescend and spoke with "real" language. So maybe I need to get with the times!

John Hudspith has a story to tell with Kimi's Secret and I think he succeeded very well. It has all the elements that a fantasy/sci-fi story needs: time travel, strange creatures, space  ships, a new world. But one thing that stood out for me was the fact that Kimi has nice parents, and got on well with them. I liked that. Too many books and TV aimed show adults and the pre-teen at one another's throat. 


Kimi's Secret doesn’t exactly end with a HEA, there is a To Be Continued but you know Kimi is going to come up trumps even when it’s all stacked against her. The book starts off with a bang, becomes steady, but then takes off at a furious speed that makes you NEED to turn the page. 

For children (and grownups) who loved Alice in Wonderland you'll love Kimi's Secret. It's just as bonkers, as fast and as enchanting (I just didn't like the "swearing"). 

Blurb of Kimi's Secret

Wanna hear something really scary?

When death comes knocking on your door there is really only one place to hide. Dragged screaming to the paranormal world of Heart, where ghosts are real, big cats prowl, aliens are greylians, monkeys rule, trolls troll, fairies are vermin, the Adepts always know best, magic is mojo and roasted dodo is the dish of the day; Kimi Nichols is handed a secret that must never be revealed. To do so would mean the end of mankind. 

WARNING: contains imploding toads, gravity-defying clowns, liquefied brains, a sadistic dentist and a deformed taxidermist; great dollops of blood and bogies, half a million crows, and a giant with OCD.

Gothic horror meets supernatural sci-fi; Kimi’s Secret will leave you gagging, breathless and sleeping with the light on. Suitable for grinning little monsters aged 10 to 100.

Nail Your Novel: Why Writers Abandon Books and How You Can Draft, Fix and Finish With Confidence

5/5

Amazon.com
Amazon.co.UK
by

Roz Morris

This is a cracking how-to novel for newbie (but serious) and experienced writers alike. It's a novel to dip into, or read in one sitting but certainly one to keep for encouragement and inspiration.

At almost 200 pages it isn't too short or too long either. The intro is a bit long, and I did have to skip a few pages to get to the "start", but I felt nurtured by the author as she explained structure, plot, procrastination, characterisation, finding ideas etc and all in a non-patronising, girl-next door kinda way. In short I felt I had a friend.

Nail Your Novel also discusses your book's development, the synopsis, writer's block and so much more as well as the above. There were a few things that Roz Morris talks about that I know I should do, but don't, like use a notebook for ideas, a planner for character development but I think I will put that into practice and see if it helps with my own story writing.

I know what this book HAS inspired me to do and that's to look up Roz Morris's website and bookmark it! 


Blurb:
Are you writing a novel? Do you want to make sure you finish? Will you get lost and fizzle out? Will you spend more time reading about how to write than actually getting the words down?

Most books on novel-writing will make you read hundreds of pages about character arcs, inciting incidents, heroes’ journeys. It’s great to know that – but while you’re reading about it you’re not writing your book. 

And what these books don’t tell you is how to use this learning and get the job done.

Nail Your Novel is a writing buddy – and mentor - in a book. 

In 10 easy steps it will tell you:
*how to shape your big idea and make a novel out of it
*how to do your research and how to use it
*how to organise your time. 
*how to plot and build characters
*when you’re going to hit problems and what to do about them
*how to write on the days you don’t feel inspired
*how to reread what you’ve written and polish it. 

Along the way, Thumbnail Notes give tutorials about storytelling and storycraft – strictly when you need them. The author has written nearly a dozen novels that have made it into print – and this is how she did it. 

You don’t even need to read the whole book before you get started. You read a section, then do as it says. And, once you’re finally satisfied, Nail Your Novel will tell you how to sell it to publishers and agents.

You’ve dreamed of writing a novel. Don’t procrastinate with another theory book. Don’t launch in, get stuck and throw your hard work in a drawer. Nail your novel. 

Birdsongs

3/5

by

Jason Deas

Amazon.com

Amazon.co.UK

Birdsongs focuses on Benny James, a failed FBI agent, who has developed his own business as an investigator. 

He lives in a houseboat, which is different, but I was disappointed that he didn't seem to spend much time there. We heard about it, but that's more or less about it. 


As a murder/mystery book Birdsongs has it all: a murder (or two), a grouchy failed FBI agent, love interest, and several characters that made you wonder if they were the baddies or not.


In the first half of the book I felt Benny James was a caricature of every crime book the author had read until news anchor Rachael Martin arrived on the scene, and then I saw more character development and some very good scenes between them. Indeed, the book heated up until I was turning the pages quite fast.


The secondary character Red, was my overall favourite. Jason Deas did a fantastic job bringing out the sympathetic and menacing characteristics that made up this person. Secondary characters do have a habit of trying to take over, but I think Deas managed to control this one very well.


Over all, Birdsongs had likeable characters, plot and visualization but I think the author needs time to grow before he writes anything else. He certainly has potential, and will be an author to watch out for in his chosen genre of crime.

Blurb:

Birdsongs is a fast-paced mystery centered on former FBI agent, Benny James. 

Fired from the FBI for inadvertently sleeping with the perp in a murder case, he tries to disappear to a houseboat and retirement. Not having what it takes to relax, Benny starts a service offering discreet investigations. That is until a body is found crucified near his marina.

The local police department requests Benny’s help and he knows if he can catch the killer, redemption is his. The Chief gives Benny and the department ten days to solve the crimes before he promises to request the help of the FBI. 

As the case grows, grabbing national attention, and the murders continue, the media soon fills the normally quiet town. Media goddess, Rachael Martin arrives and adds spice to an already flavorful mix. A few newcomers straggle in as well. An ex-convict fresh out of prison from a thirty year murder rap slinks in unnoticed with revenge on his mind. 

Days later, a Greyhound bus delivers a strange young man raised by deaf-mute parents from deep within the Ozark Mountains. An old newspaper clipping and a dark secret pulls him to town. Whatever is going on has something strange to do with birds. 

At each murder site, dead birds are displayed in disturbing ways—the killer arranging them as an artist might. All the strange occurrences and unexplained visitors to this quiet town press Benny James to his max as he vehemently struggles to solve the most important case of his life.

Treespeaker

3/5

by 

Katie Stewart.

Genre: Fantasy
Amazon.com
Amazom.co.uk

I love paranormal type novels, and even though this was a fantasy and something I normally avoid I thought I'd give it a go. The main reason I don't like fantasy is because of all the strange made up names, and there were a few of them in Treespeaker, and quite a lot in the beginning. It took me a while to sort the main characters from the minor.

The Treespeaker opened fast and furious as the tribe's shaman, Jakan the "treespeaker", saw a vision of a hellish future for his tribe called Arrakesh. At first he is unable to understand the foretelling but when a stranger (Beldror) arrives he realises his visions will come true if doesn't act. Beldror's charm wins over all but Jakan, and it is Jakan who is ousted from the tribe instead of Beldror. After the explosive start it did make the rest of the book seem less exciting, but please don't confuse that with boring. The plot was delicately woven, and although I think a few more things could have happened to spice it up I realised that maybe there is a niche for gentle fantasy?


I identified Treespeaker (at first) similar to Avatar in the way that it was set in a strange land with even stranger creatures and mind (physic) abilities. But Treespeaker was much less action than I'd expect from a fantasy (and indeed Avatar), it had more of a subtle plot, and seemed to focus primarily on problems that could be found in the modern day.


Overall,  I quite liked Treespeaker. Its plot didn't exite, or have me fast turning the pages until the end but I was pleased to finish and know the outcome. I enjoyed meeting all the character's that Treespeaker introduced me to.

Blurb: 

A Treespeaker is one with his forest, moving with its spirit, inseparably bound to it.

Terrifying visions warn Jakan that a visitor to his tribe is not who he claims to be. As the villagers fall under the spell of the stranger’s mind-bending sorcery, Jakan grows desperate to be rid of him. Events take a sinister turn when he accuses the stranger of sacrilege — and it is Jakan, not the outsider, who is expelled from the forest.
Join Jakan on his perilous journey across a blighted land as he searches for the secret that will save his people — and himself. 

Cellar Door

4/5

by Paul Fenton


Amazon.co.uk
Amazon.com


The first thing that struck me about The Cellar were the words in the blurb: WARNING: This book contains strong language. Not too much, but it's there. As soon as I read it I thought - juvenile. I began reading expecting no storyline, bad writing and swearing just for the sake of it. There was neither. It was very well written, very funny and also very dark. It was very slow to build,  and half way through the book I began to wonder if there was an actual climax. In the end I gave up expecting one and settled to enjoy the Zak and Sara's banter and chaotic world.   


The Cellar Door had *real* characters with flaws (an awful lot!). The narrator, Zak, was a nice enough bloke who was plodding through life with his eccentric wife Sara when the modern world struck (credit crunch) and they both lost their jobs. Then they found a hidden door in the cellar and beyond that many relics from the 1940s. 


If you are upset by bad language then I don't think this book will shock you (there are a few c-words, but the book was so funny they became acceptable!), if, however, you frown on illegal drugs being banded around (and sold) like sweets maybe this book isn't for you. 


Paul Fenton built a controversial storyline around a young couple who clearly loved one another, and I enjoyed how he sewed their relationship into the story. Sara, who (according to Zak the narrator) murdered chinchillas at the start of the story, was someone who took me almost to the end of the book to warm to, and it made me wonder why she'd fall for someone as "sensible" as Zak. But Zak, became the almost-hero, and he alone made this story with his wittiness and dry humour.


Actually, I think I fell in love a little bit with Zak.

Blurb: Zak and Sara discover a hidden room adjoining the cellar of their house. The room contains a large supply of opium resin, four crates of World War Two machine pistols, and a decapitated corpse in a bath-tub. They've both recently lost their jobs and are struggling to pay their bills, so they attempt to profit from their discovery ... just until the economy picks up again, of course.

They're not the only ones interested in what else is under the floor of the house, though.

WARNING: This book contains strong language. Not too much, but it's there.

Cash in on Kindle Publishing

2/5

by Scott McElaney

Amazon.com
Amazon.co.uk

A nicely written, but VERY short non-fiction book (26 pages and that’s including the long intro and “thank you for buying” at the end). 


I couldn’t work out if Scott McElhaney wrote it just to brag about his earnings or because he wanted to help other writers. He’s very upbeat and practically promises authors will sell their ebooks and make lots of money – not true (not straight away anyway).

For very new authors this little book may be helpful - it is certainly positive. It leads you to the correct places to show you how to upload an ebook. He also encourages authors getting other authors, friends and family to tag their books, and I know that a LOT of people (me included) think this is unethical, so I didn’t agree with him here.


It's short, but it's upbeat, and sometimes that's what you need to become a writer.

Blurb: Going through a self-publishing company (even a digital publishing company) will cost the author anywhere from $300 - $3000 up front. In almost every case, the author never makes up for these fees in the royalties they receive afterward. Amazon's Kindle publishing charges nothing except for a portion of the royalties.

After his many experiences with self-publishers (including to the extreme that he even won the nationwide Christian Choice Book Award in 2008 for one of his self-published novels) Scott McElhaney gave up on other forms of publishing and decided to focus his efforts on Amazon Kindle publishing. Not only did he give up on other forms of publishing, but he chose to inform others on the secrets of getting their books into the Amazon forefront and making some money. And best of all, this book is not supported or authorized or paid for by Amazon.com. 

Scott McElhaney, bestselling author of Talking to the Moon, Mommy's Choice, Daylight in Blossom, and Saving Brooksie now shares his secrets in this short but informative book.

The Amulet of Kings. The Banned Underground

3/5

by Will Macmillan-Jones

Amazon.co.uk

Amazon.com

Now this book is a fine example of how subjective reviews are – I hated it and was all ready to give a scathing review but as I threw it down in disgust my adult son picked it up and thoroughly enjoyed it! He read it almost in one evening, and I could hear him chuckling from behind his bedroom door. 

The story was a backdrop to all the jokes and puns blowing through the author’s mind at the time of writing it, and as a character-loving type of reader I found this frustrating as I couldn’t get to know any of the characters.

I’m not sure even which age-group to recommend this for: teens wouldn’t understand some of the references to “old” TV shows/stars. Adults could find following the teenage main characters (if there was a main character!) a put-off.

The footnotes were also cumbersome on my Kindle, and I found it impossible to read, in fact. The book (which I also had) was better. These footnotes were jokes/observations from the author and although they fell flat with me, my son found hilarious.


I'm giving it a three, but my son (who's lent the book to his friend) would have given it a much higher mark. 

Blurb: What could be worse? Having to take a holiday in the (rainy) Lake District in the North West of England with an aunt who turns people into frogs for a hobby? Or battling the local dark lord, whose attempt at world domination starts with the nearby underground dwarf mansion and its enormous collection of used pizza boxes? Or getting involved with a jazz-loving bog troll and his dwarfish R&B band? Or is it being miles from a McDonalds? Join the teenagers and find out in this comical adventure where jazz and magic make a tongue-in-cheek laugh riot!