The August 2020 edition of Electric Press – Literary Insights magazine is now online. Read for FREE below
We welcome contributions and submissions for the next edition of Electric Press magazine, the November 2020 edition. Click HERE for details
Month: July 2020
Don’t Tell a Writer Your Secrets!
by Karen J Mossman
Sometimes the most embarrassing things can be humorous and I wrote something a little risqué by my standards. I also wanted it to be a little cringe worthy because we’ve all been in situations that have made our toes curl.
You know that saying, never tell a writer your deepest secrets? No? Well, perhaps I made that up but it’s true. They may write it in their book!
I’m guilty of that. Someone, who will remain nameless, once told me how she lost her virginity, and many wonderful things are written in books about ‘the first time,’ the reality is it is often embarrassing and messy. You always hope you’ll never see that person again, right?
If we collected stories of first times, it would end up being really funny simply because people keep that to themselves. They don’t want to share their inexperience or be made to feel foolish. I know I wouldn’t. The truth is we have all been there and hearing someone else’s stories makes ours less shocking. The more we hear, the more amused we get, do you follow?
I wouldn’t dare ask you about your first time and neither would I tell you mine, so instead I put a tale in The Magic of Stories, one I made up, with a little bit of truth in it!
Meanwhile, I will leave you to read this amusing post entitled:
41 Things I Wish I Could Say To The Guy Who Took My Virginity
Peter Peter comes to Electric Eclectic… but not as you know him…
Peter Peter Pumkin Eater, the new book from Michael J Elliott is now avavilible as an Elerctric Eclectic ebook, ready for you to download now.
BUT WAIT…
Don’t confuse this version of Peter Peter Pumpkin Eater with those cosy, friendly children’s tales or light-hearted ghostly fables… Michael J Elliott is, after all, known as ‘The Horror Bloke’ and even though this is not a horror story in the truest of senses, it is one of dastardly murder.
About Michael J Elliott’s Peter Peter Pumpkin Eater…
Peter Gord is a simple man with simple tastes. He loves cooking and baking, window shopping for bakeware and kitchen appliances and checking out the latest cookbooks.
Unemployed Peter enjoys these things in between doing the housework.
Peter’s greatest pleasure is fantasizing about murdering his wife Delores.
Brash, overbearing Delores takes every opportunity to belittle Peter.
In his mind, Peter gets his revenge by slashing her throat or baking ground glass into her cookies.
When Peter finally gets a job with a local charity helping the poor and homeless, his fantasies become darker and more brutal.
Of course, he wouldn’t really act on them.. Would he?
You can download your copy of Peter Peter Pumkin Eater right now by following either of these links, Enjoy.
USA https://www.amazon.com/Peter-Pumpkin-Eater-Michael-Elliott-ebook/dp/B078L783LM#ace-2333354231
Michael J Elliott
Michael J Elliott lives in a bayside suburb in the State of Victoria, Australia.
Michael J Elliott was writing stories since his early schooldays and was described by his school principal as “A new Alfred Hitchcock”. He is known in literary circles as ‘The Horror Bloke’.
Michael continued his love of writing in high school, acted in films for Media Studies, which he went on to study at college, along with writing film scripts and radio adverts.
He is a member of a community social theatre and writes many of the sketches and routines are were performed. His comedy work has appeared on television.
Michael is the commissioned illustrator of the children’s book series, ‘Girlies Adventures‘ written by Claire Plaisted.
You can find out more about Michael by taking a look at his YouTube Channel, ‘Dark Realms Diaries‘, a channel for horror and thriller fans, which features Myths, Legends and trivia from dark side of the world surrounding us.
Don’t forget, grab a copy of Peter Peter Pumpkin Eater today and enjoy the tale… if you dare. Just click below.
Your Story
I first posted this in November 2014, on Ramblings from a Writers Mind my blog where I Write about Writing for Writers.
I am now including it here, on Electric Eclectic’s blog, as I think it is relevent for those of you who have not, as yet, attempted to write their story
Once again I sit here with a vague idea running through my mind, yet I have an uncertainty of how I am going to transfer my thoughts onto the page.
I do not view this predicament as a problem because this is one of my Ramblings and, the whole point of writing a Rambling, is I take a loose concept and start writing without any structured plan.
On good days the whole thing sort of stitches itself into a passable tapestry of cohesive substance.
I hope today is a good day.
Although, I have often heard people say ‘I could write a book about.. this or that’, or ‘that would make a fantastic story’, I rarely, if ever, find any of the people expressing such actually write a darned thing, about anything, ever.
It is all too easy to say such and such would make an interesting story, but far, far harder to write it; I am not speaking of the technical aspects of creative prose, simply the act of putting pen to paper and jotting out more than a few paragraphs.
One of the most difficult things to do is to start writing a story, your story.
I have known people who have journals, diaries and vast libraries of notes, all ready to start writing their story. Ten years later those notes have vanished, the diaries are collecting dust in the loft and the journals long forgotten.
But none of that matters, they say, because… ‘it’s all here in my head’, ‘it’s my life story, so I know it anyway’, or ‘I plan on starting it after…’
I have heard it all.
Once upon a time, I used the same lame excuses to procrastinate about writing the stuff I had bobbling around in my own head. Now, if I go a day without writing at least a few paragraphs, a short story, a poem or one of these Ramblings, I get tetchy and irritable.
Honestly, I suffer withdrawal symptoms.
It is my love of writing and, by ‘writing’, I mean actually transcribing words onto paper, (or in this modern world, onto a computer screen); the more I write, the more I need to write. The more I write, the more I learn about writing, about words, syntax and grammar.
But most of all, I learn about the pliability of words, how they can be moulded and shaped, crafted as a glassblower would fashion his works from a semi-molten liquid into goblets and vases. It is akin to a cabinet maker taking great lumps of raw wood and, carefully whittling and chiselling away until an intricately polished dresser stands proudly displayed.
Words can be shaped and formed in a million and more ways, they are the basic raw materials of a writer’s art, the fundamental building blocks for wordsmiths, the elemental ingredient of the author’s labour.
What is more, these words are free. They cost nothing and are readily available to everyone, including you.
So why not take advantage of this?
Now is the time to clamber into the loft and bring those diaries into the daylight, time to dust off your old journals and to recall your history. Now is the time to sharpen your quill, your pencil, or charge up that laptop and start to write the story you have within yourself.
I shall leave you with this wonderful quotation from ‘I know why the Caged Bird Sings,’ by Maya Angelou,
“There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.”
Paul.
Wheter you are a ‘newby’ or experienced author, there is much to learn about writing and publishing and any advice or guidence that can save you making mistakes and a ton money is a must.
These two books, The Frugal Author and Lots of Author Stuff you Need to Know do just that; they save you heartache by stearing you away from common mistakes and pitfalls, show you ways of doing things which could save you hundreds of pounds (or Dollars) in both the creation and the publishing of your books.
These two books contain the answers to those questions which have been plaguing you for an age. The ones you really want to know the answers to but have been afraid to ask. They are full of the distilled results, the acquired knowledge and personal practice of being a successful, award-winning, Amazon bestselling indie author, one who dislikes paying out more than is necessary.
These ARE NOT a ‘how-to books‘. They ARE NOT a step by step guides or tuitional publications. These books simply share methodology, ideas and principles which you can adopt fully or partially, implement in part or whole over time, and adjust to suit your working practices.
Download your copies today, The Frugal Author and Lots of Author Stuff you Need to Know.
Pictures Telling Stories, The Ghost on the Stairs
by Karen J Mossman
I don’t really know whether I believe in ghosts. I’ve never had an encounter, nor do I want one. I’m open-minded and believe that others have seen them and they believe.
The one thing I do know is that I love to write about them.
With this book, I had such great fun because I love my main character. Cassie, who is a clairvoyant. She is fun and sassy at times. Before I knew it I had mixed up two elements that generally don’t go together, or do they?
Scary ghosts and humour, because this isn’t a comedic book, it’s deadly serious. I believe in writing about life as it is and so many people find humour in the things that frighten them most, Cassie is no exception.
The first photograph shows the book cover, which I absolutely love. I designed one myself but was never happy with it. Then, Paul White, from The Electric Eclectic Booksmade this one for me and it says just what I needed it too, plus it is very clever having the book on the stairs, who’d have thought of that!
The second photo is the creature that haunts the house. It started out as a man but soon turned into something demonic. Here is a small excerpt.
I’d brought Damien into this and he was good enough to stand by me, the least I could do was to protect him. He was a non-believer; he shouldn’t be seeing this.
The picture underneath the ghoul is Cassie as she stares in wonderment around her. She sees more than she ever tells and has learnt to leave the undead to make their appearances on their own.
Finally, the biker is Damien, one of two sporting brothers who are also models. Winning cups and the hearts of girls is what they do. Daniel is married to discover the house he bought with his wife his haunted and she refuse to go inside.
Damien comes to Cassie to ask for help. She soon falls in love with him but is aware of his disbelief in all she does and fears their relationship may not last because of it.
Damien’s love for Cassie is severely tested, and it may be too much for him to stay with her.
Sinner Sid by Jack Kregas
Electric Eclectic’s latest book is now live!
The great thing about these books is that they are quick reads aimed at introducing you to new authors.
Jack Kregas has two other books under our brand and they are short, brilliant reads too. All information is at the bottom, plus a very special offer by the author to you.
Sydney Moffit was despised in some circles. He was viewed as the devil on earth.
Sydney Moffit was a man loved by tens of thousands. He preached and said what everyone was thinking but too afraid to say.
Sinner Sid was an evangelist. His job title was Sin Consultant.
The rest is history.
Jack Kregas has been a busy man for on the 2nd July is exciting new novel Club Cargo has been released. Follow this link for all the details.
Also by Jack Kregras under Electric Eclectic books
Jack on Amazon
A review from Magic Reviews
A very special offer for followers of this blog, and reading all right to the bottom!
The author has got copies to giveaway, yes, that’s right. If you would like to receive a copy of Sinner Sid, contact us here and ask for a copy to be emailed to you. Please don’t forget to leave a review.
Yes! Email me a copy!
Do You Know What an Indie Author is?
by Karen J Mossman
I’m sure you do, and we all take it for granted everyone else does too. But this isn’t the case. Not long ago, I gave a talk to a group of ladies and asked them the same question, already knowing what their answer would be. Imagine my surprise when most said they didn’t. I spend my life in two different worlds, the online one, and the actual world.
In the latter, people are impressed you are a writer. They will happily buy a paperback and are interested in what you as an author have to say. In the online world, readers are very different, they download books and not interested in paperbacks. Neither are they impressed by you being a writer because almost everyone is. You are not unique; you are just one of many.
For those reasons, I believe we should treat the two worlds differently.
We need to address the question about Indie authors and once I explained to the group what an Indie author was, the next question became, “How do we find them?”
If you think about it, there is no central point; nothing on Amazon that says this book is published by an independent author, so what would you do?
Well, send them to Amazon and put Electric Eclectic Books in the search bar. It also works on Google and on Goodreads, too.
Launched in November 2017 by author Paul White, the brand has grown and grown. It originally started out as offering novelettes to find your new favourite author but now offers full novels too.
There are a lot of choices with Electric Eclectic and a lot of talented Indie authors just waiting to be discovered!
Paul White also wrote an interesting blog article about Indie and Readers. Head over and give it a read.
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