tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3187563440011393442024-03-14T10:07:44.234+08:00Welcome to the Scat UniverseSciFi Novels by Jim GrahamJimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03687770771118286433noreply@blogger.comBlogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-318756344001139344.post-32541873148953597812012-07-01T19:27:00.001+08:002012-07-01T19:27:18.051+08:00Transfer of Blog to WordpressHi, this blog is being retired.<br />
<br />
Please use this link to take you to my new blog at <a href="http://jimgrahamscifinovels.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Wordpress</a>.<br />
<br />
I hope to meet you there.<br />
<br />
Best JimJimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03687770771118286433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-318756344001139344.post-55046282457380457262012-06-26T14:19:00.001+08:002012-06-26T14:19:49.592+08:00BIRDIE DOWN - 'High adventure of the best kind'<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The latest <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/320951990" target="_blank">review</a> for <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Birdie-Down-Rebellion-ebook/dp/B007C24EWE/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1340690396&sr=1-1" target="_blank">BIRDIE DOWN</a> is in.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'High adventure of the best kind' ... 'a winner' ... 'pleasing classic-sci-fi feel' ... 'what Rudyard Kipling would have called a "ripping good yarn"'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And it's still FREE. Check it out. Gift it on an Amazon Kindle, a Barnes & Noble's Nook, Sony's eReader or on Apple's iPad.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Also available from <a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/134591" target="_blank">Smashwords</a> in multiple formats.</span>Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03687770771118286433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-318756344001139344.post-61119592028083356832012-06-18T18:57:00.003+08:002012-06-18T18:57:54.147+08:00Book Covers and Marketing Campaign - BIRDIE DOWN and SCAT<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">OK, so I'm looking at fronting both BIRDIE DOWN and SCAT with some professional book covers, which gives me the opportunity to do what I didn't do last time - organise a campaign. I'm also thinking of making them exclusive for Amazon's KDP Select Programme for a few months to see how that works, but...</span><br style="color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;" /><br style="color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;" /><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I didn't know this (doh!), although everyone else appears to, Amazon ranks books not by total v</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="color: #333333; display: inline; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">olume but by the rate at which they leave the digital shelf. That gives Indies a chance, but it means there needs to be a fairly hefty take up in the early hours of a book's release for it to show up in their top 100. Once it's there, wonderful things happen: it appears in little thumbnails, casual visitors to the site get to see it, and they 'take a look inside'.<br /><br />Maybe some of them then buy it, or as with KDP Select, a whole bunch of US Amazon Prime members borrow it for free. That's all I need.<br /><br />So...<br /><br />was wondering who'd help me get the word out during the days leading up to publication, so that readers download them on the first day of their re-launch.<br /><br />If you're game, are a sport, or just like doing charity, please message me on my <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jim-Graham/125582784212980" target="_blank">FB author page</a>. Closer to the day, I'll send you a prompt and ask you to post a short message, or a link, on your FB page, or to 'twit a tweet'. Something like that, anyways. And if you do, then maybe, just maybe, I can make back the cost of the book covers!</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Ha!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="color: #333333; display: inline; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">With thanks</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="color: #333333; display: inline; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Jim</span></span>Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03687770771118286433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-318756344001139344.post-66910829233840045882012-06-09T22:23:00.002+08:002012-06-09T22:23:19.346+08:00Republibot.com BOOK REVIEW of SCAT<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Here's an extract from this weekend's Republibot.com Book Review for SCAT</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'Regular readers of Republibot may recall that a few months
ago I reviewed a book called “<span id="goog_1829266983"></span><a href="http://www.republibot.com/content/book-review-%E2%80%9Cbirdie-down%E2%80%9D-jim-graham-2012" target="_blank">Birdie Down</a><span id="goog_1829266984"></span>” by Jim Graham.
I called it the best independently published science fiction E-book I’d read.
As that book was a sequel, I decided to give the first book in the series a
shot, and I’m happy to say it, too, is a really good book. Mr. Graham has some
genuine talent.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'Sebastian Scatkiewicz - known by the semi-unfortunate
nickname “Scat” - is a former US Marine. We first meet him at the tail end of
the “Resource Wars” on earth a few generations into the future. The major power
blocs and nations are fighting each other for earth’s declining
goodies. The conflict is inherently corrupt, with nations and megacorporations
screwing each other left and right even as they fight the enemy in order to
gain advantage. The marines - and presumably the population as a whole - are
caught in the middle. “Scat” is a somewhat legendary leader in the field, with
a history of taking matters into his own hands, even if it’s not particularly
politically wise for him to do so.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jump forward several years: Scat took matters into his own
hands one time too many, and he’s now a civilian attempting to make a new life
for himself in the off world colonies. The colonies are mostly corporate, and
there’s an “Owe my soul to the company store” nature to them, though it’s not
nearly so oppressive as that. Still, there’s a feeling of nominal indenture
hanging in the air. There’s also a kind of cultural sterility: the companies
are pretty strict about whom they allow to emigrate. There are no religious
folk, there are no Chinese on any of the worlds we see, because the Chinese
have their own space empire and are a political threat, as are the religious.
This isn’t one big happy Star Trekian future. The colonized planets are mostly
only marginally habitable (Which is a rarely-used plot device that I love), and
existence is relatively hardscrabble.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Much of the first half of the book revolves around a mining
asteroid, and “Go Down City” on one of the colony worlds. It’s built in a
cavern that’s been roofed over, and it’s a really fun location. It feels
completely developed and thought out, and feels lived in, like a real place. As
a guy who’s written a few books myself, I’m here to tell you that coming up
with a location that actually *feels* like a location is no mean feat, but we
get such a sense of Go Down that you can almost map some of it in your head. I
actually feel like I learned a few literary tricks from that, which I hope to
steal in the future.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The plot involves ...' The review continues <a href="http://republibot2.nfshost.com/content/book-review-%E2%80%9Cscat%E2%80%9D-jim-graham-2011" target="_blank">here</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thank you Republibot. Glad you liked it.</span><br />
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<o:p></o:p></div>Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03687770771118286433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-318756344001139344.post-44345440817351726962012-06-05T02:14:00.002+08:002012-06-05T02:14:47.155+08:002012 IndieReadersDiscoveryAward Winners<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sunday was a <span style="font-size: large;">big</span> day for <span style="font-size: large;">Indies</span>: the 2012 IRDA <span style="font-size: large;">Winners</span> were announced yesterday live from the Book Expo America in New York. Check out the winners <a href="http://indiereader.com/2012/06/meet-your-2012-irda-winners-and-read-their-books/" target="_blank">here</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And stay in touch with all the Indie news at <a href="http://indiereader.com/">IndieReader.com</a></span></div>
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<br /></div>Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03687770771118286433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-318756344001139344.post-3584169891782570722012-05-27T12:10:00.000+08:002012-05-27T12:10:35.941+08:00SCAT - free for the Memorial Weekend<div style="text-align: left;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'd like to thank all the readers of <a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/134591" target="_blank">BIRDIE DOWN</a> (all 1000+ of you) and the readers of this blog, by giving <a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/95221" target="_blank">SCAT</a> away for FREE this Memorial Weekend. Yes, that's right - an epic 160,000 word, hard SF thriller for free. Go grab yourself a copy from <a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/95221" target="_blank">Smashwords</a> using coupon VW44Q<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Chapters 1-100 of SCAT describe the backdrop to the
rebellion and the first rebel strike. BIRDIE DOWN picks up the rebellion from
there. The remaining chapters of SCAT push past the rebellion to a bigger
story.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/319362040" target="_blank">GOODREADS</a> review describes SCAT as a '<span style="font-size: large;">hard SF thriller</span>'
with a terrific late plot twist. It goes on to say: ‘Scat is a <span style="font-size: large;">big,
intelligent, interesting </span>novel. If you enjoy hard gritty sf with plenty of
well-handled dialogue,<span style="font-size: large;"> you will not go far wrong with this one.</span>’ Another review
says it is ‘clever, topical and <span style="font-size: large;">thought provoking </span>and the characters,
especially the lead character, Scat, are skilfully drawn.’ By this I think they mean it doesn’t
suck.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So now you can enjoy both stories for free. All I ask is that
you please go back and leave an honest review of either book when you’re done.
I hope you think that’s fair.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And to my US readers, I hope you're enjoying your Memorial Weekend.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Best</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jim</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03687770771118286433noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-318756344001139344.post-15381465901037734662012-05-23T21:48:00.000+08:002012-05-23T21:48:34.992+08:00BIRDIE DOWN BOOK REVIEW - Perfect for Lovers of Gritty SciFi<div style="text-align: left;">
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Another BOOK REVIEW for BIRDIE DOWN</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">'This story is perfect for lovers of
gritty sci-fi and fans of space opera will love it.'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">'No excuses not to grab a copy!'</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">-</span><a href="http://www.oakenbookcase.com/2012/05/23/review-birdie-jim-graham/" style="font-size: 12pt;" target="_blank">The Oaken Bookcase</a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjObcC97NF9cOknN593hRKCMO0661mYzbBvWhbPf_jxYJTOnO5vLqSGQcnLzDYA4a6gaPcktXVmZur-r85zXvPwVQ1uBhK2h66BNJCLkl2NGRYTfDGQxTltjhjW0L3uxncxuFjIpYLlTfua/s1600/Birdie+Down+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjObcC97NF9cOknN593hRKCMO0661mYzbBvWhbPf_jxYJTOnO5vLqSGQcnLzDYA4a6gaPcktXVmZur-r85zXvPwVQ1uBhK2h66BNJCLkl2NGRYTfDGQxTltjhjW0L3uxncxuFjIpYLlTfua/s320/Birdie+Down+5.jpg" width="215" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Still free from <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Birdie-Down-Rebellion-ebook/dp/B007C24EWE/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1337780620&sr=1-1" target="_blank">Amazon</a> and <a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/134591" target="_blank">Smashwords</a> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03687770771118286433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-318756344001139344.post-64639423817566627222012-05-21T11:28:00.003+08:002012-05-21T11:28:38.855+08:00SCAT - GOODREADS BOOK REVIEW<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">SCAT - <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/319362040" target="_blank">GOODREADS BOOK REVIEW</a> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'the dialogue-driven plot revolves around
ruthless resource-based political machinations worthy of Frank Herbert’s Dune<span style="color: white;">'</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'a big, intelligent, interesting novel<span style="color: white;">'</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'If
you enjoy hard gritty sf with plenty of well-handled dialogue, you will not go far wrong with this one.'</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Br0hbXx5UZ-5q8qOrhk9vE-F-j02A-Iq2hliOIi3mrQEX1VL1ir8A64oqIWvT51XN67FcIUg02ywa4H7vQJ39KCMkQTbZvEwgYuACcgdumOaXl5XfSNjB3gWbs8hR92W6T6mJT9docde/s1600/Scat+title+thumbnail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Br0hbXx5UZ-5q8qOrhk9vE-F-j02A-Iq2hliOIi3mrQEX1VL1ir8A64oqIWvT51XN67FcIUg02ywa4H7vQJ39KCMkQTbZvEwgYuACcgdumOaXl5XfSNjB3gWbs8hR92W6T6mJT9docde/s320/Scat+title+thumbnail.jpg" width="237" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Available from <a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/95221" target="_blank">Smashwords</a> for iPad, Nook, Sony E-reader and Kindle for pc</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">or from <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Scat-ebook/dp/B006OM9GX0/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1337570186&sr=1-2" target="_blank">Amazon</a> for Kindle, iTunes for iPad and <a href="http://ebookstore.sony.com/ebook/jim-graham/scat/_/R-400000000000000542378" target="_blank">Sony</a> for Sony E-reader</span></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03687770771118286433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-318756344001139344.post-57439112393878405062012-05-18T18:18:00.001+08:002012-05-18T18:18:41.901+08:00Are eBooks Too Cheap?<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Just caught Melissa Foster's tweet and read her excellent
piece for Huff Books: <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/20/ebooks-cheap-price_n_1160383.html?ref=books" target="_blank">Are eBooks Too Cheap?: Indie Authors Question 99 Cent Price.</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It truly is 'A Riddle Wrapped in a Mystery Inside an
Enigma'.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And as I can't solve it, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Birdie-Down-Rebellion-ebook/dp/B007C24EWE/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1337335909&sr=1-1" target="_blank">BIRDIE DOWN</a> stays free on Smashwords and Amazon...for
now</span></div>
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP4DETpDIgTinR-iZ5cMbw17bTStERzVOVlySH39V4W-bffMHWsFIvY5GQlEkuV3yff-leiKpSJiWUM9Fsrbk4NV_2CAN_p5gZUWLE6nrph_eCo3AexU9A6Kmf26ftPTCt23lTcHE2GUdo/s1600/Birdie+Down+thumbnail.jpg" /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Also available for free from Barnes & Noble,
Sony, iTunes and Kobo</span></span></div>Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03687770771118286433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-318756344001139344.post-88456945790146499372012-05-12T22:17:00.003+08:002012-05-12T22:17:51.471+08:00Finally - Amazon Price-Matches BIRDIE DOWN to USD0.00<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At last, Amazon has price-matched BIRDIE DOWN to <span style="font-size: large;">zero</span> Dollars. And right now its showing as <span style="font-size: large;">#51</span> for Free Kindle, SciFi, Adventure.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Grab your <span style="font-size: large;">free</span> copy now, before Amazon changes its mind.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Birdie-Down-Rebellion-ebook/dp/B007C24EWE/ref=zg_bs_158592011_51" target="_blank">BIRDIE DOWN</a> - 'the best amateur SF novel I've read.' -Republibot.com</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP4DETpDIgTinR-iZ5cMbw17bTStERzVOVlySH39V4W-bffMHWsFIvY5GQlEkuV3yff-leiKpSJiWUM9Fsrbk4NV_2CAN_p5gZUWLE6nrph_eCo3AexU9A6Kmf26ftPTCt23lTcHE2GUdo/s1600/Birdie+Down+thumbnail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP4DETpDIgTinR-iZ5cMbw17bTStERzVOVlySH39V4W-bffMHWsFIvY5GQlEkuV3yff-leiKpSJiWUM9Fsrbk4NV_2CAN_p5gZUWLE6nrph_eCo3AexU9A6Kmf26ftPTCt23lTcHE2GUdo/s1600/Birdie+Down+thumbnail.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03687770771118286433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-318756344001139344.post-63266627811432965462012-05-08T11:24:00.002+08:002012-05-08T11:29:01.822+08:00Wanted - Beta Readers. Must love SciFi...<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What is a <span style="font-size: large;">beta reader</span>?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well, Wikipedia describes a beta reader (also spelled betareader, or shortened to beta) as "a person who <span style="font-size: large;">reads</span> a written work, generally fiction, with what has been described as "a <span style="font-size: large;">critical eye</span>, with the aim of <span style="font-size: large;">improving</span> grammar, spelling, <span style="font-size: large;">characterization</span>, and general <span style="font-size: large;">style</span> of a story prior to its release to the general public."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So that's what I'm looking for: someone who can second guess my work before I foist it onto an unsuspecting public. Although in this case, I'm not looking for an editor-type who has a meticulous eye for fulls stops and semi colons, more for the <span style="font-size: large;">generalist</span> who understands characterization and can comment on the general style of a story.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There's no benefits and it can be quite stomach-churning at times. But there is the satisfaction of knowing you contributed to a better book, and you do get a <span style="font-size: large;">mention</span> on the acknowledgement page, along with a <span style="font-size: large;">free e-copy</span> of the book when it's published. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you love to read SciFi, and would like to give this a try,<span style="font-size: large;"> please</span> message me on my FB page at <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jim-Graham/125582784212980">http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jim-Graham/125582784212980</a> or email me on jimsgraham@hotmail.com</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Best</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">J</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03687770771118286433noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-318756344001139344.post-22856018305570371882012-05-04T17:02:00.000+08:002012-05-04T23:44:53.928+08:00Happy Star Wars Day - 4th May<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">35 years old and still the <span style="font-size: large;">most</span> <span style="font-size: large;">popular </span>SciFi franchise of all time, <span style="font-size: large;">Star Wars</span> is currently leading the <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/03/greatest-movie-franchise-of-all-time-star-wars-harry-potter_n_1474647.html" target="_blank">Huffington post Ultimate Fan Face Off </a>against the Harry Potter series by 52.1% to 47.9%</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Vote <span style="font-size: large;">now</span>. Vote <span style="font-size: large;">Star Wars</span>.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUWJ0gFok4WDLtkcmqdg3vWsnppe_3mj8nUn6Mk9PI1A8DCLc1bjHUamlqVMXMEslpREpjtGA51inLrgVdzeGGHPtb_ING7cC_RWlm-hIFGXB2p03Fhd3SpzcrRHTfxkGmOgr_UbS-Y74B/s1600/Star-Wars-star-wars-30672813-1600-1200+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUWJ0gFok4WDLtkcmqdg3vWsnppe_3mj8nUn6Mk9PI1A8DCLc1bjHUamlqVMXMEslpREpjtGA51inLrgVdzeGGHPtb_ING7cC_RWlm-hIFGXB2p03Fhd3SpzcrRHTfxkGmOgr_UbS-Y74B/s320/Star-Wars-star-wars-30672813-1600-1200+(1).jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The force be with you, always</span></div>Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03687770771118286433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-318756344001139344.post-24655076234836243452012-04-30T15:32:00.000+08:002012-05-04T23:46:32.492+08:00BIRDIE DOWN - Still free for all...<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">BIRDIE DOWN is still
<span style="font-size: large;">free</span> for all and averaging 4.20 Stars.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The US-based SciFi website,
Republibot.com, says 'this is the <span style="font-size: large;">best</span> amateur SF novel I've read... <span style="font-size: large;">Highly</span>
recommended' - 5 Stars<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Take a look. And if you're feeling as
generous as they were, <span style="font-size: large;">please</span> pass the word...</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/134591" target="_blank">BIRDIE DOWN</a></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigSrXwg0Z1d-4PBY_06OR3PVLAS3JIVjgQv6Fdv5hz3kf7FUZkQbh203pKz-4b7OLpat2Sd9Y_k6fsrAyuo0jT-xBglTLAQ0kFXXOZGLhktk1vow6quKc3bCrvVPv_2AG08CygE6y4Pt11/s1600/Birdie+Down+thumbnail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigSrXwg0Z1d-4PBY_06OR3PVLAS3JIVjgQv6Fdv5hz3kf7FUZkQbh203pKz-4b7OLpat2Sd9Y_k6fsrAyuo0jT-xBglTLAQ0kFXXOZGLhktk1vow6quKc3bCrvVPv_2AG08CygE6y4Pt11/s1600/Birdie+Down+thumbnail.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03687770771118286433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-318756344001139344.post-33147992263229794322012-04-30T15:26:00.000+08:002012-05-04T23:48:00.616+08:00SCAT - Smashwords Space Opera Ranking #24/152<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>SCAT</b></span> - a complex space opera-thriller that <span style="font-size: large;">builds</span> and <span style="font-size: large;">builds</span> until the action leaps off the page, taking everyone into another dimension.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So much for the hype. But how's it doing in the <span style="font-size: large;">real</span> world? </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well it's averaging 4.67 Stars on Smashwords and is ranked <span style="font-size: large;">#24</span>/152 in Space Opera sales. Not bad for a first novel. In fact, I'm rather chuffed!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Please take a look and if you're feeling generous, <span style="font-size: large;">please</span> pass the word...</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/95221" target="_blank"><b>SCAT</b></a></span></div>
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<img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5S0-oR41wRbrDNE9GkXItQj70QKf4OwXHe_wCorovBwxJqy0riMRzLj5S2vQgsYkLa1USqci7omVgyk_fuPWqOkwm6rWHv0oL_Gz78bhXNrKdHvv22isZq0-1pWSY_7eMQyvKz1UPPzo8/s320/Scat+thumbnail1.jpg" width="228" /></div>
<br />Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03687770771118286433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-318756344001139344.post-23871444654126638212012-04-28T00:37:00.000+08:002012-04-30T02:52:52.911+08:00Join me on Facebook... drop by whenever you like<div style="text-align: center;">
Come join me on Facebook at my <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jim-Graham/125582784212980" target="_blank">Jim Graham</a> author page</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And whilst you work out how to do that, here's a copy of my Facebook network. Neat, huh? Looks like a constellation. See that bright star in the centre of the universe? That's not me. It's my wife. The centre of <i>my</i> universe.<br />
<br />
And the baby clusters? They're my newly established networks of fellow authors and a few of the readers of BIRDIE DOWN</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBtDhGfEUQJAn0cTkGpGWojIkcpR1rPMThh_f6M1tG4ibS1VrqkszQhSRLF6qRbMDS96TDDiz0SsAfX4_RvnVruNZMvZE4eYlO-dLzicrZ6SzHke1gJGcyGLWKWT63KYjsjs1kXilcKGlP/s1600/The+Centre+of+My+Universe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBtDhGfEUQJAn0cTkGpGWojIkcpR1rPMThh_f6M1tG4ibS1VrqkszQhSRLF6qRbMDS96TDDiz0SsAfX4_RvnVruNZMvZE4eYlO-dLzicrZ6SzHke1gJGcyGLWKWT63KYjsjs1kXilcKGlP/s1600/The+Centre+of+My+Universe.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Courtesy <a href="https://apps.facebook.com/myfnetwork/?ref=bookmarks&count=0&fb_source=bookmark_apps&fb_bmpos=4_0" target="_blank">myfnetwork</a> </div>Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03687770771118286433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-318756344001139344.post-13459069270032776342012-04-24T23:21:00.001+08:002012-04-24T23:21:55.801+08:00Casual Reader Reviews and FeedbackBIRDIE DOWN is a free SciFi ebook available from Smashwords for reading on Kindle, iPad, Nook, and Sony Ereader. It is currently attracting book reviews from dedicated book reviewers, but I'd really like to know what the casual reader thinks of it before I wade into the sequel.<br />
<br />
If you read SciFi then maybe you can help. If you want to help, just click the BIRDIE DOWN avatar to the left of this page and then download the book for free from Smashwords. It's around 250 pages long, and I'm told it's pacey enough to be read in two or three sittings. If you can then post an honest review on the book's Smashword page, or post your comments here, you'll be helping out a newbie Indie writer.<br />
<br />
Thanks.Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03687770771118286433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-318756344001139344.post-55341250365480336302012-04-17T04:49:00.000+08:002012-04-24T01:14:42.391+08:00An Extract From SCAT - Scat's first pathfinder mission<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Scat’s first Pathfinder mission was meant to be a very quick
and simple one. He entered the brightly lit, over-sized chamber, alone and
suited up as for a Prebos belt-walk. From inside his suit he could hear the
roar of the extractor fans as they continuously re-circulated the chamber air.
Above him, the furnace was ready to ignite, should the wormhole fail to
maintain its positive pressure.<o:p></o:p></div>
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At the far end of the chamber stood the unopened and spinning
disc of transparent liquid-like elements.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Ratti was conducting operations from the cabin built into
the chamber, high up and to the left of the unopened hole.<o:p></o:p></div>
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‘Ready, Scat?’<o:p></o:p></div>
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‘As ever I will be, Carlo. Open her up.’<o:p></o:p></div>
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The outer-edges of the disc danced with light. Its inner
surfaces shone like highly polished tubular chrome, turning in on itself in a
smooth, continuous movement. As the eye opened up, the liquid-like elements
appeared to increase in depth, becoming more three dimensional, like a camera
lens. As it opened wider, the eye appeared to float, unthreateningly, inviting
investigation.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Beyond the eye lay the surface of a planet, still referred
to by its catalogue number, one of several orbiting the smaller of two stars, a
typical binary system. He had been told of its precise location and distance
from Runnymede but Scat couldn’t relate.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He was keeping his cool by focusing on the more tangible
things. Between him and the hole lay his designated bugbot and a couple of
drones; the bugbot fitted out with a range of sensors plus a PIKL and a neural disruptor.
He understood these things, so he focused on them. It helped to stop his
imagination from spinning out of control.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Previous drone surveys of the insertion area had recorded distant
footage of several ambulatory life forms. They already knew that the planet was
covered in a great many different forms of vegetation, some of it quite large;
analogous to Earth’s bushes and trees, and that the air was breathable. Several
drones had been pushed out into local orbit, storing data for transmission each
time the eye opened. They had shown there to be several different climate
zones.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lynthax had chosen a temperate area, mid-way between the
planet’s equator and its northern pole, for the site of its first human visit.
Ground insertion was to be onto a secluded glade within a “wooded” area a
little way up a hill slope, the other side of which was a large
vegetation-covered plain. Despite the drone’s remote encounters with life
forms, he was advised that the likelihood of his encountering any of it whilst
he spent his planned 15 minutes on the surface was about the same as a summer’s
walk through the Yellowstone National park. Scat couldn’t give that comment any
context. He’d never been. In any case, he didn’t think anyone on Runnymede
could offer any kind of re-assurances about what he might meet.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As he approached the wormhole, he glanced up at the
marble-sized power source, mounted in a ring at the top of a tall rod to the
right of the hole. It appeared to be spinning within the ring but without
touching it. He pulled his eyes away: Dave had briefed the Pathfinders not to
look directly at it and never to touch it. Over a couple of cool and crisp
post-training beers the night before, the trainers had told stories of researchers
freaking out, security guards refusing to clock on, electrical equipment being
drained of power when in close proximity to it. Apparently, no one liked being
near the thing.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘Just don’t get close and don’t be drawn to it,’ he recalled
Dave as saying.<o:p></o:p></div>
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But the urge to look at it again was strong so he checked
the bugbot for a second time. He then knelt beside the drone to punch in his
personal activation code, and willed the eye to open fully to allow him to step
through it. Still, the spinning marble drew him in, and again he had to work
hard to push it out of his mind. He stood, checked that his belted equipment
was buttoned and strapped down, trying hard not to look at the marble out of
the corner of his eye.<o:p></o:p></div>
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‘Any time you’re ready,’ Ratti said.<o:p></o:p></div>
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He could feel himself wavering, losing his concentration.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i> 'Damn it, Scat! Focus.
Focus!' </i> he told himself, taking
three steps through the hole.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The new world opened out around him. In an instant, air from
the chamber side of the wormhole rushed past him and onto the bushes ahead. He
swivelled around to get his bearings and to check how far he was from the tall
vegetation behind him, feeling as vulnerable and as disoriented as a dog dumped
at the roadside.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As expected, there was the wormhole, through which he could
now see the chamber, and around the other side of it, perhaps 50 metres away,
was a bank of thick foliage.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He fiddled nervously with his solida-graf and located the bugbot
that had followed him through the hole. He took local control of it and set it
to defensive, cranking it up to maximum sensitivity. He then turned back to the
view he had seen from Runnymede.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He was standing in a glade of flower-like life on solid, dry
ground. He knew he was in an area of rolling hills but couldn’t see further than
50 – 75 metres in any direction. The shallow valley was on his left, the
vegetation canopy at eye level, sunlight dappling the undergrowth in dark and
light patches that moved as the canopy swayed in the light wind. Ferns, bushes,
and the larger bushes, which could pass for trees, if one overlooked the
multiple trunks, rose up the hill towards him and covered most of the ground
surrounding the glade. Through the “trees”, he could just about make out some
rocky outcrops.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Directly above him the sky was blue but tinged with yellow
closer to the ground.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
On the other side, to his right, bushes, or trees, nestling
in thicker undergrowth, obscured his view of the ground. As expected, the
canopy climbed the hill as it rose to its summit.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘No dallying, Scat. Sightseeing is for later on. Just run
through the checks, get to the top of the rise, and come on back.’<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘Roger that. Just checking for Injuns, is all. Everything
working to spec,’ he replied, looking down at his solida-graf. ‘Comms good… Bugbot at 100%... Ground firm... Air pressure
at 98% Runnymede normal… Temperature and humidity as expected... Radiation
normal... I’ll call the drones through and send them out to the 3 km markers.’</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
On Runnymede, the dark brown, oval-shaped drones woke up,
drew power from their fuel cells, flipped open their rotor blades and lifted
their man-sized bodies into the air. In seconds they were both through the
hole, rising to an unfamiliar sky, relaying a stream of data back to Ratti and
his assistants.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Scat look up through the vegetation.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘I’ll start moving up to the skyline. It looks thicker at
ground level than we thought. No paths or animal runs. I can’t see the second
sun; the atmospheric refraction is too intense.’<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He felt odd wearing a suit in near normal gravity and in an
oxygen-normal atmosphere, but moving through the vegetation was cumbersome work
so he was grateful for its air-conditioning. Occasionally he would look down at
his solida-graf to check that it was still working. Of course it was. There
were no immediate threats. It was quiet because it had nothing to say. He was
just nervous.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After a few minutes of panting, he eventually reached the
top of the hill, wishing he’d stayed a little fitter than he was. The trees
still blocked his view, but he could see the wood thin out and the ground
brighten up some 20 metres further on, just over the crest. To his left a tree
rose from the ground, arched above him then plunged back into the ground on his
right, sprouting flowers of red and leaves of all colours.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He pushed on, down a slight incline, then arrived at the
wood’s edge to a view he could only describe to himself as stunning.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The sky above seemed huge and distant, and off to his left
was the second sun, a faraway star as bright by day as Venus is by early
morning when seen from Earth. The hillside slipped away to a wide expansive
savannah, dotted with low bulbous trees, a sea of thick ferns of red, brown,
green, yellow, and white flowers tinged with blue. The vastness of the plain
gave him a sense of freedom that he hadn’t experienced since his trips across
the Gap Plain on Trevon. It was as close to a National Geographic movie of the
Rift Valley as he would ever see in his lifetime. He felt right at home.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘What’s the matter, Scat? Your heart rate and blood pressure
have become erratic.’<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The question brought him back to mission.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘Nothing. It’s just more beautiful than I expected.
Visibility now out to around 20-30 km.’<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘Well, it was bound to be an improvement over Trevon, Scat.
So, are you ready to breathe local air?’<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘I’m ready.’<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘OK, take it off.’<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Runnymede had sampled the air and they knew it to be safe,
but only to the limits of human understanding. As with all new environments,
there were bound to be pathogens that had gone undetected, unfamiliar gases as
well. Despite numerous tests on animals on Runnymede, the only true test would
be for a man to take a deep lungful in situ, just as they had once done on
Trevon, Constitution, G-eo, Runnymede and all the other human habited planets
in the OR. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Scat took off his helmet and continued to breathe normally
as instructed, whilst Ratti monitored his blood gases. The smell of sap, pollen
and decaying vegetation, dung and damp, musty, fertile soil saturated the air. There
was none of the usual closed habitat smells of solvents, ozone, plastics.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘Seems good, Scat. Nothing of note from your end?’<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘No. Nothing. All’s good. The air smells of shit.’<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ratti didn’t reply immediately. Data from a drone was
distracting him.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘We have indications of a large moving mass, Scat. Off to
your right. One of the drones is flying intercept. Do you see anything?’<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘No. I’ll move around and see what I can see.’<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Scat turned to contour around the hillside, keeping the wood
line to his right. More and more of the plain came into view. The colours of
the ground ferns seemed to change in waves, back and forth, as they bowed and
flickered in front of a gentle breeze. Then he saw them.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Around a kilometre away, and stretching from extreme left to
extreme right horizons, were several tens of thousands, if not hundreds of
thousands, of four legged life-forms whose mass formed a continuous slash of
brown against the colourful ferns. They were walking slowly, 20 and 30 abreast,
dipping their heads frequently in a manner that was repeated kilometre after
kilometre along its length. He kept walking, hoping to see more from where the
hill sloped away more sharply to the plain below.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
His solida-graf began to bleep gently as it received data
from the drone. Scat instructed it to throw up the images. As the close-up
pulled into focus, he stopped dead in his tracks.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘Do you see this, Carlo? Do you see this?’ he shouted
excitedly.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘Not yet, Scat. We’re moving the hole over the hill to get
better reception. What do you see?’<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘A truly wonderful sight!’<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘What is it?’<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘Meat!’<o:p></o:p></div>Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03687770771118286433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-318756344001139344.post-63837103681941276702012-04-17T04:39:00.000+08:002012-04-17T04:39:34.712+08:00Extract From SCAT<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
The journey from the <i>V3</i>
to Go Down City would be a short but spectacular one, so Scat hurried through
the shuttle’s cargo bay and into the launch room, grabbing a forward-facing
launch seat close to the flight cabin.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Before him and filling the window to the port side of the
flight cabin was a living and shining Trevon. To the starboard was the
blackness of space. As they closed in on the planet, Trevon’s horizon flattened
out until the brilliant white band of its terminator ran in a straight line
from roof to floor. It then appeared to rotate and drop below them as the
shuttle altered its approach and offered its heat shield to the thin upper
atmosphere.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A frenzy of heat and light wrapped itself around the shuttle,
obliterating the view, leaving a visible disturbance in its wake.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Some 20 minutes later, the shuttle slowed sufficiently for
the air to part before it and Scat could then see the sky all around him. The
blackness of space was gone and the refraction in the atmosphere obscured the
detail he had seen from space. The shuttle continued towards a morning sun that
pushed a wave of light across the mostly white and sometimes green Trevon
surface, in places scarred and brown where mines dug deep into the crust. A
line of clouds obscured the frozen continental seaboard, dissipating over a sea
of gunmetal blue. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Scat’s spirits lifted. If he were lucky, the sky would be
clear on the surface, the air sharp and bracing, smelling of decaying
vegetation, snow, salt - all natural things.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At 20,000m, the shuttle extended its wings and slowed from
Mach 4 to a sedate 450 km per hour, its flight properties changing from a
ballistic missile to that of an air-rider. As it descended through 5000m it
buffeted slightly, dipped, straightened, yawed and banked as it lined up on the
Go Down City spaceport, only just visible in the haze some 10 km away. Then a
member of the crew closed the flight cabin door in preparation for landing,
stealing the view away. In no time at all, it was hitting the runway, wheels
screeching, cabin rumbling, loose bin lids rattling.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The three shuttles pulled off the runway to a row of
buildings set back from the main terminal and once they had powered down,
everyone, including the flight crew, disembarked along a closed and windowless
gantry into a small customs hall reserved for Lynthax personnel. Teams of
environmental specialists pushed past them in the opposite direction to
fumigate the interior. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In the background, and spread out around the hall, were
several groups of Lynthax Security, each trooper armed with a stun gun and,
this time, a lethal small arm. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Off to Scat’s right he could see the supervisors, who, like
him, had been led on board the <i>V3</i> in
plasticuffs, being re-arrested. As he looked back at the head of the queue in
which he was standing, he saw two troopers waiting, looking at him. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It would be his turned next.<o:p></o:p></div>Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03687770771118286433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-318756344001139344.post-34716159197916078022012-04-17T04:32:00.000+08:002012-04-30T14:58:36.108+08:00Another Extract From Birdie Down - the rescue goes wrong<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There was a slight thump. The rear
door sprung open. A disoriented Smithy fell out into a patch of flattened grass.
He found his footing and stumbled his way into the forest, clutching his PIKL
to his chest.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bales watched Day’s impressive display
of suppressive PIKL fire. The compound’s rooftop weatherproofing began to
smoulder under the barrage of laser strikes. An occasional pulsed energy strike
caused blue fingers to run along the balcony railings and arc across the open
space between the compound and the outer fencing. There was only a single blue
line of defiance, and it came from the main gate, a hundred and fifty metres
away. It bounced harmlessly off the cockpit glass in front of him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bales engaged the downward thrusters
and aimed the nose of the Furtive at the Main Gate. He raised his left
flightcontrolskin and pressed the middle finger against the thumb. He pressed
down for a short 2000-round burst, pulling his fingers apart as quickly as he
could. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The main gate disintegrated into an
expanding dust cloud. Large chunks of concrete flew off to bounce across the
roof and into the clearing. A breeze then pushed the cloud towards him,
obscuring the view.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bales lowered his left hand and
allowed the Furtive to settle back onto the ground.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Day was right. The rail gun was a
beaut. He marvelled at how the GCE had engineered something so powerful - yet
so smooth, quiet and with so little kick-back. The Furtive had hummed as he
fired; it barely vibrated.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He checked behind him. The rear
engines had powered up in synch with the rail gun to steady the ship. The edge
of the forest smouldered. Perhaps he should have warned Smithy about that. He
hoped he was OK.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He looked up at the clock. 30 seconds. No
movement out front that he could see, but then the dust cloud was making its
way across to him. He raised the nose again and gave the main gate another
short burst. The dust cloud thickened. He looked back over his left shoulder at
the forest. Nothing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">45 seconds. He looked again. There was
still no sign of Smithy, just the smoking trees and a thin dusting of powdered
masonry.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">50 seconds. There was a rap on the side
of the hull. He looked up at the monitor. It was Smithy with another much
taller man, both of them holding their hands over their mouths. It must be
Goosen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He popped the rear door.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">‘What about the other guy?’ he shouted
over his shoulder.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> ‘Couldn’t
make it,’ Cummings replied, PIKL arm outstretched. He leant in and held the end
of the barrel just behind Bales’ head. He flicked the PIKL to maximum power.
Bales froze when he heard it whine in his right ear. ‘Hands where I can see
them. And kill the engine.’</span>Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03687770771118286433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-318756344001139344.post-87255639652083784822012-04-17T04:27:00.000+08:002012-04-17T04:32:37.601+08:00An Extract From Birdie Down - the bad guys are on the hunt<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cummings stood inside the forest’s
edge and studied the still rippling water. They had just missed him. He flipped
the filter down over his right eye and ramped up the thermal imaging in his
left.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Coming from bright sunshine into such
a gloomy environment had left Sparks all but blind. He fished around in his
trouser pocket for a night scope. As he waited for it to boot up, he unfocused
his eyes and looked for movement in his peripheral vision. Still he saw
nothing. Hemmings shrugged in the gloom. It was like entering a cave.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cummings flicked his filter up. There
was nothing to see, just a wall of trees.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">‘This way,’ he ordered.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cummings broke away to the left and
followed a spit of dry ground around the edge of the pool, looking down at it
for signs of foot prints. He continued for a few hundred metres as it curved
around the far side.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sparks followed Cummings closely,
looking out across the pool through his scope, trying not to bump into him
whenever he stopped to check a piece of ground.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The lower half of the image began to
sparkle. He stopped and looked into the pool with a naked eye. It was moving of
its own accord. The fish were beginning to thrash.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">‘Sir. <i>Sir</i>!’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cummings stopped in his tracks, hoping
Sparks had seen them. He looked to where Sparks was pointing. He saw the fish.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">‘Ignore them,’ he ordered. ‘Just turn
your sonics up. Now follow me.’ He set off again, annoyed to have wasted a few
precious seconds.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sparks and Hemmings followed Cummings
less eagerly as he made his way around the last half of the pool. They
constantly looked up at the now stirring canopy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cummings stopped, kicked at an empty
airbed and placed his hands on his hips. Sparks and Hemmings sighed with
relief, hoping Cummings would call the hunt off. But the relief was
short-lived.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He pointed across to a pool that lay
fifty metres or so off through the trees. Or maybe it was the edge of the
river; it was difficult to say - anyways, it was brighter. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">‘That way,’ he said. He set off at a
run, splashing across the water, heedless of the growing noise above them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sparks shook his head and made to run
after him, but something hit him on the shoulder. Hemmings froze, staring at
Sparks’ back and then at the water. Sparks turned around.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The pool behind them was already foaming.
The branches above them were swaying and starting to sag. Another black ball
hit the water beside him. It re-emerged and then scampered away on the surface.
Then another. And then another.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was raining rats.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hemmings screamed, bent over and clutched
at his leg below the knee. He started to dance in a frantic effort to tread
water.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sparks took a step backwards and
looked down at his own legs. Below the surface he saw rats tearing into his
boots. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cummings jumped up and spun around,
cursing under his breath. The water below him boiled. He roared in pain as
something tore into his calf.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The sonics weren’t penetrating the
water.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hemmings slipped. He thrashed as he
tried to stand. Sparks wanted to help, but the rats were now ripping into his
trouser legs and taking bites from out of his boots. He snatched down to push
them away. They grabbed at his hand. He pulled it out of the water and the rats
let go.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cummings staggered towards the river
line. Sparks tried to follow. Hemmings continued to thrash about on his back.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Out in the river the water pushed and
sucked at Sparks’ legs. The rats let go and sped away on the surface, back into
the forest.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cummings growled and cussed. He raised
a leg as high as he could to inspect his wounds but stumbled backwards. Sparks
caught him before he was swept downriver. He looked back into the forest. There
was no sign of Hemmings; no pleas for help; just the shrill noise of rats as
they dropped into the pool and the constant thrashing of water.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cummings steadied himself and took a
deep breath. He raised his pain threshold. Sparks could only grin and bear it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">‘What use are these friggin sonics if
they only work above water, eh?’ Cummings asked, grimacing between sharp
stabbing waves of pain.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">‘None, sir. You think they’ll be of
use against them?’ He pointed across the river.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One by one, large brown reptiles slid
into the water, attracted to the high-pitch squeals of the rats descending into
the pool behind them. Their tails whipped left and right as they powered
themselves across the river.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">‘I doubt it,’ Cummings replied, taking
a first shot with his PIKL. ‘Back to the Farm. <i>Quickly</i>.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">‘What about that Scatkiewicz guy? He
must be close,’ Sparks asked. He then turned awkwardly in the swirling water to
face the forest. ‘And what about Hemmings, sir?’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cummings switched to the company net.
He cussed as his right leg gave way again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">‘Hemmings is gone, Sparks. You fancy
going back in to confirm it?’ He broke off as the companynet came to life.
‘Muldrow? Wake the medic up and get your butt into the air.’</span><span style="font-family: 'Bookman Old Style', serif; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03687770771118286433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-318756344001139344.post-67078648447563378072012-04-16T03:57:00.000+08:002012-04-24T06:08:24.888+08:00It Ain't Half Bad...I'm not much into stats, but earlier today I was reviewing Birdie Down's progress on Smashwords where it is a free-to-read. I've got to say I'm not disappointed: it's climbing the rankings and now sits at #413 out of a total 1250 or so SciFi freebies available on the site. That's not bad considering I published it only two months ago.<br />
<br />
The book averages 4.25 stars and has received four reviews, which range from 'this is the best amateur SF novel I have read' and 'fantastic read' through 'Graham doesn't disappoint' to 'for a book written in 5 weeks, it ain't half bad.' I'm not sure what to make of that last one, but it did go on to say 'it's not something to avoid.' So there you have it. No excuses. It's free, and the worst review so far says there's no reason not to take a look. You can either click the Birdie Down book cover to the left of the page, or use this link: <a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/134591">https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/134591</a> at zero cost.<br />
<br />
For everyone who has (taken a look, that is), many thanks for spending some time with it. I hope you enjoyed it. If you could now post a review you'd be doing me a big favor. I suck at the promo side of the Indie business, and need all the help I can get. Besides, reviews are helpful to other readers, too. Even a Two Star review helps (not sure about One Star though;-) as it shows the reader at least finished the book!<br />
<br />
My very hot and humid Malaysian holiday finishes soon. I'll be clearing the miniature ants out of the key board (just got a couple during the previous paragraph) and will crack on again with Petroff's Pogrom. The plot line is gelling, I'm ready to develop a couple of the characters a little further and some scenes are already imagined, so I can't wait.<br />
<br />
All I need now is for the markets to behave themselves for a while - and for the day job not to get in the way.Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03687770771118286433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-318756344001139344.post-39065721664349305762012-03-29T03:46:00.000+08:002012-04-21T18:53:35.062+08:00Sequel to BIRDIE DOWNI've started the <span style="font-size: large;">sequel</span> to BIRDIE DOWN. It'll probably be of around the same length, and be of similar pace and style. It'll focus on human trafficking and Lynthax's abuse of Trevon's undocumented 3rd generation inhabitants. The issues won't be quite the same as we understand them today, but of the sort that'll exist in 2210.<br />
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The working title is <span style="font-size: large;">'PETROFF'S POGROM'</span>. It's anyone's guess as to how long it'll take. BIRDIE DOWN took 5 weeks to pen, 6 weeks to clean up, and 2 weeks of dithering over publishing.<br />
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Looking forward to it.<br />
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<a href="http://t.co/1mdfkUBZ">http://t.co/1mdfkUBZ</a>Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03687770771118286433noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-318756344001139344.post-87263815876323348632012-03-24T19:40:00.000+08:002012-03-27T00:27:06.932+08:00More praise for Birdie Down<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">More praise for Birdie Down:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><a href="http://haveyouheardbookreview.blogspot.com/2012/03/birdie-down-by-jim-graham.html">http://haveyouheardbookreview.blogspot.com/2012/03/birdie-down-by-jim-graham.html</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">'Jim Graham didn't disappoint...Birdie
Down is a well crafted tale and action filled...You'll enjoy the way this story
unfolds'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">4 out of 5 stars<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Which is 4 more than I was expecting.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</div>Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03687770771118286433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-318756344001139344.post-23265006244265507732012-03-18T05:25:00.003+08:002012-03-27T00:27:32.403+08:00Thank You to Readers of 'Birdie Down'<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you're reading this as one of the 300 or so who downloaded 'Birdie Down' in the last 4 weeks, then I'd like to say a big thank you for your support. That's 300 more than I expected, so it stays free-to-read.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Like you, perhaps, I'm an amateur without the back up team, so I rely on readers to tell me if I'm hitting their sweet-spots or turning their tummies. Not many readers like to do that, but I'd really welcome the feedback before cracking on with the sequel. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you're feeling adventurous please drop me a line at jimsgraham@hotmail.com. If you're an exhibitionist, then maybe you could leave a review. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I don't mind constructive criticism. I'll take it all positively. It all helps.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thanks</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jim</span></div>
</div>Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03687770771118286433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-318756344001139344.post-50819096076312208582012-03-15T17:15:00.001+08:002012-03-27T00:30:57.780+08:00Republibot.com Review of 'Birdie Down'<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">BOOK REVIEW: “Birdie Down” by Jim Graham (2012)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhId_lYls4w5L0U2sGVuETCTGDuTfmyWE8wsD-DeV68z8-8JfDI2Mfc-FWJBNGhU6ewe_YM6DCmb2b0YSxIJERLTPSoPbNACXeJ5ypDup-bOd332DY66YA6ZqFaGsy_HseMSGZ4Fz98JleT/s1600/Birdie+Down+thumbnail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhId_lYls4w5L0U2sGVuETCTGDuTfmyWE8wsD-DeV68z8-8JfDI2Mfc-FWJBNGhU6ewe_YM6DCmb2b0YSxIJERLTPSoPbNACXeJ5ypDup-bOd332DY66YA6ZqFaGsy_HseMSGZ4Fz98JleT/s200/Birdie+Down+thumbnail.jpg" width="135" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'this is the best amateur SF novel I have read...I enjoyed
it. I really did... I’m so impressed by this that I’m going to pick up his
first book, and review that ASAP. That’s something I’ve never done before...'</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The full review can be found here</span><span style="color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"> </span></span><a href="http://republibot2.nfshost.com/content/book-review-%E2%80%9Cbirdie-down%E2%80%9D-jim-graham-2012" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://republibot2.nfshost.com/content/book-review-%E2%80%9Cbirdie-down%E2%80%9D-jim-graham-2012</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am, of course, speechless. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'Birdie Down' is still Free-to-Read from</span></div>
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<a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/134591"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/134591</span></a></div>
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<br /></div>Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03687770771118286433noreply@blogger.com0