Amazon Book Ranking

I originally wrote my autobiography and though I did not expect much when I published it on Amazon as an e-book, it did better than I thought. It certainly won't make me rich unless something extraordinary happens but that's not why I wrote it.

Having realised that I could actually write a book and get it published with all that it involves, I was encouraged to write a novel. The subject I chose was one of time travel. I would base it on real life experiences which I could draw on from my autobiography. It would contain as much real life scenario as possible and this is what I did. All the characters in the novel called "Inside the Clock" are real although I have changed all the names. Any locations, dates and animals on the other hand are real and actually fit into a real life setting.

It is a short book but I have found that many people appreciate the shorter novel rather than have to wade through a long and arduous read. Some of course will like the opposite. I have never written a novel before but found it easier in many ways than my autobiography "Running for Home". This was mainly because it was much shorter and I had to do very little research whereas the research for the autobiography was extensive.

So now that my novel is published, how is it doing? Well being an Indie author is going to be a bit of a gamble and if you get the odd sale here and there, you are doing well. Much of the advice given so you can be successful as an author is to promote yourself on social media. Not necessarily easy especially if you are older. The other advice is that you keep on writing books and get a following. Again not easy. I don't feel I could write another book but who knows, I might once again get some inspiration from somewhere.

Also everyone needs a bit of luck thrown in for good measure and this is something that you have no control over at all. Once your book is published in the Amazon Kindle Store and you have done as much to promote your book as you possibly can, then you must hope for the best but don't give up.
Here is a screen shot of my book on Amazon. It is doing reasonably well for an unknown author

Don't expect too much and you will be happy that you know someone somewhere is reading your book, your creation.

How to write a Novel - Secret Tips

In this short essay, I give you some tips on just how to write a short novel. If you have never attempted to write a book before, please don't feel that it will be too much for you to cope with. At first, this is exactly how I felt but there is a secret to writing and it's not as difficult as you might have been led to believe.

I have written two books now, one an autobiography and the other a short novel. The hardest was the autobiography for sure but this was only because I had to do a lot of research for it. Writing your autobiography is in some ways easier than writing a novel since it is about your life and you can't change that. You just start at the beginning and go through your life although you will not be able to remember everything, you will remember the most vivid parts of your life and all those interesting stories that accompanied them.

With an autobiography, the whole plot is there already and all you have to do is write it all down. The computer can be really helpful here and if you set it correctly, it will in most part be able to correct your spelling as you go along. After you have finished the book, you can go through it and correct all the grammar to a good standard too by using the program set in the computer. This has been a great asset in my writing.

Break your writing up into chapters by choosing different points in your life such as how you did in school, your first job your marriage etc.

Writing a novel is going to be a little different but all you need is perhaps an event in your own life that has some potential. This could be anything like an interesting experience such as in your job or travel or tragedy. My novel came about by using an experience with my first love, a girl I knew a long time ago and how I messed it up because I was so clumsy and naive. I always wished I could go back and change what I had done and so was born my novel about time travel called "Inside the Clock" published on Amazon. You can view the first few chapters of this for free if you click on the link. This will give you some idea of what I mean.  Again it was not too difficult to write because it was based on true life events which I could remember well so the basic framework was there in the first place. So it was a true story but sprinkled with a little fiction.

As for the characters within your book, these can also be real so you already know them and will be more confident about writing about them. Of course you should change their names but as a consequence of being real people, your writing will convey more conviction and honesty. The locations within your book can also be real but can retain their real names such as in my own novel "Inside the Clock" and by clicking on the link you will get some idea of how I wrote it.

So if you've been planning to write a book but never got around to it, then these simple idea's might just give you the confidence to get started with it. You don't need a publisher either as you can publish your finished book for free on Amazon Kindle Store which is an amazing thing to be able to do. You never know, you might just surprise yourself and everyone else as well."Inside the Clock"

What day to travel back in time?

 I have written a novel based on a true story called "Inside the Clock".
 It was an idea that is becoming more popular in writing so I am led to believe. I wrote this book using my own real life experiences but inserting some fictional ideas into the text to make it compelling. Everyone, including the pets and the locations are real. Only the names of the people have been changed .

This is a story about traveling in time. If you could choose to travel back in time for just one day, what day would you choose and what would it be that you would change? Bear in mind that anything you did change could have catastrophic consequences when you return - if you could return.

Could you face living your life over again and would you then know your future and try to change all the mistakes you made? If you did this though, who knows what dangers you would instead place yourself in which would then
be unforeseen? Finally, if you had left loved ones to travel back in time, would some of them cease to exist because you changed something in the past?

The day I choose to travel back in time is a very personal incident that involves my first love. I could have chosen so many other days but this is one of the most nostalgic and one that I can remember quite vividly. Because it was a real event then it is more plausible and poignant and more likely to engage the reader. I could have chosen other days of course but these are perhaps for other books.

Inside the Clock is an attempt at a novel using as much reality as possible and you the reader will have to determine what is fact and what is fiction.

Don't be Afraid - Get Writing

Are you afraid to write a book? Are you afraid because of what people will think of you or your writing? Perhaps you feel that you could not possibly compete with some of the amazing writers that grace the book scene. And you would be right. So why even try and be humiliated?

So many people have been discouraged from writing either about themselves or writing a novel because they think that they will never be good enough. There must be so many wonderful stories out there just waiting to be told. Whether it be your autobiography or a novel.

Most aspiring writers are put off from creating their cherished stories because of the old establishment. Some feel that they have nothing of value to offer. Everything has to be just so, no mistakes and perfect grammar finding a publisher, the right layout - everything. It can be so intimidating can't it?

Now you can self publish on sites like Amazon and skirt round the whole intimidating system that held writers back for years. This of course does not mean that you can just write anything and get away with it. There still needs to be a reasonable standard of spelling and grammar. This can be achieved more easily than you perhaps imagine. Today's computers can help you write your book and once you get to know how to get the most out of Microsoft Office Word or similar systems, then you will be surprised at how much they can help you. These systems will correct spelling mistakes and also grammar even as you progress through your book.

So if you are an aspiring author then give it your best shot before it's too late. You know what they say don't you? There's a book in everyone.

Hello to everyone

Hi to everyone in the communities that I have joined. Who rates Google+? I think it's an amazing concept but I also like Facebook. I must admit that I don't really like Twitter so much because I like to waffle a lot!

I am still learning how to use this great resource and I am hoping to share some of my experiences I have had in my life along with the books I have written.

I can't believe I became an author at all. Not that I have necessarily written anything extraordinary, but if you've ever written anything then it can be quite rewarding.

Anyway, it's great to communicate.

Like time travel? A story based on real life events.

If you like the concept of time travel then you may like my new book called "Inside the Clock". I was inspired to write this novel by writing my autobiography "Running for Home".

"Inside the Clock" is based on true events which are taken from my autobiography. All the characters are real as are the pets and locations and you can actually visit these places. If you are familiar with these places already, you will recognise them immediately.

The book is based upon traveling back in time for just one day in order to change something in the past. If you could go back in time for one day, what day would it be? What would you change and why? What would happen if you changed too much; would it alter the future when you came back? Would certain relatives close to you cease to exist because of your choices?

Read "Inside the Clock" available in the Amazon Kindle Store.

"Inside the Clock" - my first novel

."Inside the Clock"

This is my first attempt at writing a novel. Its all about time travel but is actually based on a true story. All the characters in this book exist and are real but I have changed their names. All the animals featured in this novel retain their real names and all the locations are real and accurate and in fact can be visited.

If you could choose just one day in your past life to re-visit, which one would it be and why? I have not chosen anything radical but rather something more personal which involves the first love of my life.

When I go back do I change things too much or do I have to work it out so my future is not affected and certain relatives cease to exist? Once I go back in time, where will it be and will I be able to return...

Since this novel is based on true facts and events, you the reader must decide just what is fact and what is fiction.

"Inside the Clock" was inspired by the writing of my autobiography "Running for Home"" also available in the Amazon Kindle Store.

The e-bookreader comes of age

Tablet or e-book reader?

            If you looked at an e-book reader previously and found them less than ideal, then try looking
 at them again. They have definitely come of age. Book download times have reduced, features have increased and the reading experience has come along in leaps and bounds.
 

Tablet or e-book reader?

Tablet devices have made amazing progress too but tend to be expensive and if you were thinking of replacing your laptop with one then just make sure it can because the consensus is that they are not quite there yet. The e-book reader on the other hand is more directed at reading and it does this in an excellent way. Screens have improved contrast, sizes have reduced as well as weights. Now, many e-readers are truly pocket-able light and easily transportable.

 Increasing stock in book libraries

The availability of books available to download is growing exponentially and it is so easy to look around for that previously elusive title in the local book shop. But get this, if you like the classic books such as Sherlock Holmes, Alice in Wonderland and Treasure Island, then through a scheme called Project Gutenburg, you can get these free and there are a massive 18m of these available. More than you can read in a lifetime.

Battery life

This is one area that has improved with progressing technology. Take as an example the Kindle 3, this can last for a whole month if used properly. This is a great asset and convenience, especially when on holiday. Tablets have a reasonable battery life too when taking into consideration the amount of features that can be run all at once, including a back-lit touch-screen for example.

Cost

Cost for an e-book reader will at first glance, seem quite a lot, but when compared to a tablet device then it won’t look so bad. When taking into consideration the cost of one of these devices, look at it like this; you are investing in a reading experience over the long term. It may encourage you or someone you bought it for, to read more. The electronic books that you do download, will be cheaper in the long run than their paper counterparts. No matter how many books you do store, your device will always remain the same

Bitdefender Antivirus Plus 2014 - The Best Antivirus Software Ever

Bitdefender Antivirus Plus 2014

Bitdefender Antivirus Plus 2014

You have to admit that it can be difficult to figure out just what is the best antivirus software to buy.
But there is one and it's available right away. If you have been having problems with your antivirus software then there is a good reason for this. They aren't all as good as one another.

Why the free versions aren't so good

Ever had the free version of antivirus software? Yeah, so have I and guess what? It didn't work too well and you know why? They always leave something out so when things go wrong, you have to buy something to put it right again. One of the biggest of these is the back up. They won't give you enough back up capacity and when you run out it comes up as a problem. When it asks you to fix it, you have to pay for it.

Get a good version. Bitdefender Antivirus Plus 2014

Here's a good version and it's called

Bitdefender Antivirus Plus 2014

This is what the experts say about it:

Pros
Bitdefender Antivirus Plus includes 24/7 technical support.

Cons
There are no significant drawbacks.

The Verdict

: 9.8/10

Bitdefender Antivirus Plus 2014 is a combination of total protection, plenty of features, and the most complete support you can possible get with a price that is so competitive that you will wonder why you tried to save money before.

 

And here is the lowdown on its performance

If you’re searching for the worlds best antivirus software, then Bitdefender is supreme.



The Bitdefender Antivirus Plus package is the best antivirus software and it's the TopTen REVIEWS Gold Award winner. It is what is called a top-tier antivirus software with superior protection and extreme performance. It's brilliant for advanced users that want to control the complete process manually or for ordinary users who would like Bitdefender to make all the decisions.

Bitdefender will provide complete protection and peace of mind without costing you or your PC's performance.
The actual Installation is quick and of course comes complete with step-by-step easy to understand instructions. The loading process includes a pre installation scan which doesn’t require a reboot before you can be up and running. The user interface can only be described as elegant.  Modules can be dragged or dropped to perform actions directly from the main window. This application has a feature called Autopilot and is used to make security-related decisions without the need to prompt you for responses. So the process is made so much easier. You will not have to configure anything, there will be no alerts and no pop-ups to contend with either.

 If you do happen to choose to make any manual changes to your security settings, the Autopilot will shut itself off in a very similar way to the cruise control of your car. If you touch the brake or accelerator, it will automatically disengage.

If you are serious about protecting your computer, then this has to be a good move on your part. Let's face it, these days the internet is of paramount importance to everybody. Can you imagine what life would be like if someone stole your computer? In a sense this is what a virus can do. The inconvenience is staggeringly inconvenient to say the least.

So there you have it, the best you can get. After all there is a saying and it's this "you only get what you pay for" but in this case it will probably pay for itself. So ask your self, is it worth the money? Enough said. Bitdefender Antivirus Plus 2014

 

I'm a Lucky Man

It's only when you are older that you start to realise how lucky you are. I was listening to a radio programme on Radio 5 Live today about two lads that had to look after their Dad who had Alzheimer's. Their Father was quite young when he got this debilitating disease. They were just teenagers when they were thrown into being carers. Their Mother was not living with them at the time so it was down to the lads to do everything for him as he deteriorated.

When I look back at my life, I realise just how good it has been. I am over sixty and I still have both my parents and they still live in their own home. They are in their late eighties now and have never really suffered any health problems that were serious enough to cause much concern. They are still active and my Father still drives a car. He only gave up towing a caravan last year but retains the caravan as a static on a nearby site.

Of course they are becoming frail and both have had falls recently. My Father was pulled over by his over exuberant dog. A neighbour brought him home and it appeared that he had not broken anything. A hospital trip should have been on the agenda but he was not having any of it. He looked like he'd been beaten up for a couple of weeks.

Rather than take it for granted, I now realise that I must try to make the most of what limited time I have left with my parents. My Mother is showing early signs of Alzheimer's so time is not on our side. I had been unable to visit them for eleven months before my last visit and the signs of deterioration in them both was evident. I left it far too long but life can be difficult with work and lack of money getting in the way.

I have to make up for this somehow and this year at least, I must put more effort into visiting them before it's too late. If you have both your parents, remember they are precious and don't leave it too long before you visit them. When you look forward it seems that it's a long time but when you look back, you will find it has passed in a flash and that's why the saying makes so much sense; "life is short".

Do you fear Self Employment? - Best Autobiographies

Don't fear self employment, it's not as bad as you might imagine. I have been self employed for 28 years now and I vowed that I would never work for anyone else ever again.

Having done a number of jobs in the past like the Merchant Navy and three trades in the Royal Navy, I know enough about being employed to make a judgement.

One thing I did like about being in the Navy was the security it gave me but I also have to admit that I was in the wrong job. But you know what, it is notoriously hard to just change jobs when you have commitments hanging over your head and bills to pay. It can be a real nightmare. For more information read this amazing book

In my case I had no choice over my discharge from the Royal Navy. I was discharged because of stress aggravated by Naval service. No body's fault really, just one of those things. All this was a long time ago though and to be honest I was relieved to get out and at the time, I didn't have very many commitments even though I was married. I didn't have any kids as well so the decisions I made would be easier. Although I owned my own property, it was a mobile home on a Naval caravan site.
We loved it here but we could not stay so I put the place up for sale and sold it without any problems.

After a foray into the jobs market I was able to get a job with accommodation as a gardener for a millionaire in Kent. There had been many applicants but somehow my wife and I had impressed them enough to get the job. We only lasted a month here though and it left me with a bitter taste in my mouth and I began to wonder where my life was leading. For more information read this amazing book

I spent the next two years unemployed in Malta. This was a highlight though and as my wife is Maltese, we had many relatives to rely on. I had received a gratuity of £5000 on leaving the Navy, and this is mainly what we lived on for two years. When the money ran out and a bad on foreigners working in Malta, we returned to the UK and briefly to my parents house. We were now homeless and almost penniless apart from a small pension granted to my from the Navy, but not enough to live on.

We did not last long here either so moved in with friends in Durham whom we'd met in Malta. It was then that I met a window cleaner who was selling his round. It wasn't something I had considered before but I decided to buy the round.

Because I was so eager to work for myself at this time, I was keen to make it work. After some training from the old guy I was away on my own. There was a lot to learn but it didn't take long to learn the routine. Soon I was able to come off social security although they did not give me much on top of my pension. Then we applied for a council house and got one within six weeks. Since I had been in the Navy, I got some priority but remember, the waiting list was not so long in 1986.

Things were looking up and my wife would help me clean the windows too. After a few months we really began to learn how to clean windows well and even we were surprised at how fast we could get the round out of the way. We also began to pick up extra work. Some I got by canvassing newly built houses and began to get some good work. Others I got by people just seeing us work and asking us to clean there houses.

I had bought an old Morris Minor which should really have been in the scrap yard but it got us about at first. However, we were doing so well that I was able to sell this and get a big Rover SD1. It seemed like an amazing turn around and not long after we bought an old caravan to go touring in at weekends.

So being self employed was suiting us but don't get carried away, absolutely nothing is ideal. It was hard work especially in winter. Going back to peoples houses collecting at night and being responsible for my own tax. I had to be self disciplined too and this won't suit everyone but to be my own boss for once far outweighed the downside for me.

Also, when you are self employed, the money can be better than you initially imagine. We could have done better but we are content with the life we had self employed and one big plus was that I got to spend a lot of time with my family. I concentrated on short hours but with a relatively high pay. Also I am actually in a very secure job, a job for life and one from which I can't get the sack.

So if you're thinking of going self employed make sure you are prepared for the responsibility that it brings but the upside can be very rewarding. For more information read this amazing book