Tracey Alley's Blog - Posts Tagged "tracey-alley"

Now it's entirely possible, no make that probable, that I've bitten off a little more than I can actually chew but it just feels like there's not enough hours in the day. I'm starting to feel like one of those mad authors you read about who stay glued to their keyboard pumping out one story after another but I've just go so much going on in my head right now that it's like I can't get the words down fast enough. I'm so excited about my new series of children's books - three so far and the artwork I've seen [all preliminary stuff] is just amazing. Then there's Slade's Destiny which I cannot wait to be ready for release - can't nag the beta readers though, very bad form. Then there's my non-fiction work which seems to be almost writing itself - of course, two years of research probably helps :)

Then I'm redecorating my house - believe me this is a project that is long overdue but I'm so hyped about it that I want to get every little thing exactly right - yes my husband is being driven slowly crazy. Plus I recently got back into my charity work which had fallen a little by the way side of recent times. Even though it takes up a big chunk of my time I absolutely love it - I guess you could say the charity was more for me :)

Anyway before I start to sound boring I'll sign off. Hope everyone is having a wonderful day.

Cheers,
Trace

I love cats, I've had cats all my life. My current fur babies are Hannibal my big Russian blue who is definitely mama's boy and Jazz a black and white moggie that we found dumped at only 4 or 5 weeks old - she's her daddy's girl. They make life truly more joyous, are loving and affectionate - when they want to be - but they also have some rather weird habits I've noticed.

1. Why on earth when they kill some disgusting thing, be it crickets, cockroaches, lizards, mice or yes, even birds [shudder] - why do they have to bring it straight to me, dump it at my feet and then look at me so expectantly. What do they want me to do? Eat their revolting offering? Pat them on the head? [well I do that but only when they kill mice and lizards cause I really hate those things]. I mean seriously, why?

2. Why is it that when I'm working, writing, housework, whatever but why when I'm busy are they all over me demanding attention and affection and yet the minute I sit down to relax and would enjoy some cuddle time they're not interested? Are they trying to assist me in my tasks? Distract me from my tasks? Or are they just plain ole ornery?

I give up - I've just decided that cat behaviour makes no sense. Of course it could just be MY cats that make no sense but either way I quit trying to understand. I'll just have to keep loving them and putting up with their weird little quirks.

Cheers,
Trace

So I'm trying to get all the Kaynos work finished up for publication before Christmas. The work on Slade's Destiny is going well and the short stories for the History Tales compilation are still flowing but I keep getting distracted by this other story that seems to desperately want to be told.

I almost feel like I'm being haunted by a ghost of manuscript future. This one will be a big leap for me, set in current times it's a paranormal, mystery, thriller with one hell of a twist at the end. Even when I'm trying to concentrate on my other stuff these characters keep clamouring for my attention with fascinating tidbits about their lives, their backstory and why this will be such a great story to write.

I'm usually a much more disciplined writer than this so this is a new experience for me. Normally I'll get a vague concept, build some characters around that, play around with the plotline for a while and then start committing words to paper. With this it almost feels already written and it's just waiting for my lazy typing fingers to catch up.

Has this ever happened to anyone else or am I just having a 'muse' moment?

I will have to write the story if only because I've gotten so sucked in that I have to know how it turns out - I'll keep you informed as well, unless it turns out rubbish of course :)

Hi all,
Well I knew it would happen eventually - there's not an author alive who doesn't get a bad review but I have to say for my first one I was actually kind of pleased. Pleased? I hear you say - well if I can post some of the comments made in the review you might see why. Obviously he didn't like the story itself - thought it was a little too D&D and S&S - that's ok as they happen to be fantasy stories and games that I really enjoy so I can hardly be surprised if that type of style crept into my books.

He also said however, "This is an author with a strong, free flowing, natural command of English, who produces language that is very easy to read, and read quickly." and went on to say "whenever the author does switch to description or narration, the reader is carried along rapidly by the clarity and flow of her English." There were other very complimentary comments but I'll leave that for now. If you'd like to read the whole review here's the link - http://indiefantasyreview.blogspot.com/

As a writer I couldn't help but be secretly pleased by his judgement of my writing skills. It would be one thing to say he hated the story and I wrote like a seven year old but this wasn't that kind of review.

So while I'm not exactly bragging - who brags about a bad review? - I am encouraged and feel like a real writer for maybe the first time. I've joined the queue of all other writers who get both good and bad reviews.

I know that bad reviews are supposed to bring us down but I have to be honest and say this one just encouraged me to keep putting proverbial pen to paper and keep writing.

Cheers,
Trace

I used to be one of 'those' kids - you know the kind, they're always asking 'why?' I'm sure there were times when I drove my parents, siblings, aunts, uncles - actually any one who happened to stand still for long enough for me to start asking questions completely crazy. But I was also extremely lucky that the people in my life never seemed to be exasperated with me or get bored with my constant questions.

Of course once I was a little older my mum introduced me to the library and I fell in love for only the second time in my life - the first was with words and stories so this second love seemed to follow naturally from that. But once I'd found libraries the questions suddenly seemed endless and my range of interests just kept growing.

My mum used to say I was like an intellectual butterfly. I'd flit from one passion to the next with barely a breath in between. But I was also thorough with my curiosities. I remember once, I think I was about 14, and we had an election. I didn't understand how it all worked, why did we vote for one guy when we voted in our local electorate yet someone else entirely got to be the Prime Minister? So I talked to some people and went back to my [still] favourite place and started reading about politics.

Before I knew it I was studying not only how our system of politics worked in Australia - something just quietly I'm not a huge fan of - but how politics work in other countries as well. Then it's the history of politics from monarchies, to tyranny's to Athenian democracy, republics to empires - well, you get the picture. Then, as now, once I decide I want to know how something works or why it is or where it came from I don't give up.

Although I've always loved to study even until quite recently I've often wondered if I'm not a little 'weird' in my constant pursuit of knowledge. Then my beloved older sister, Cynthia, told me something I hope I'll never forget - You're curious, you have a desire to learn and these are good things. Don't ever stop asking 'Why?'

So as they say on TV - live life a little more curious.

Cheers all,
Trace

I've been reading through a thread on another forum where a reviewer was scathingly attacked by the author who felt they'd received a bad review. Unfortunately this is not the first time I have seen this type of behaviour.

As authors we need to develop a fairly thick skin - no matter how good your book is and it may even be a masterpiece there will always be someone who doesn't like it. This happens to EVERY author. A bad review, for an author, might sting a little, might even bring you down for a while but it's actually NOT the end of the world. Even a bad review from a 'professional' reviewer shouldn't be the end of the world either.

When an author reacts badly, especially in a public forum, to a negative review it simply gives all authors a bad reputation. Most reviewers today, on the internet at least, are doing their reviews in their own time, out of their own love of books. So what if they didn't like your book? It's just possible that the reviewer made some very valid comments - in that case a good author should learn from them, they'll probably write an even better book next time.

As a writer I love getting glowing reviews but I'm also not so egotistical [yes I'm using that word] to believe that I've written the greatest novel ever in the history of publishing. Personally I think my books are good, I think a lot of people would enjoy them but I cannot demand that they do, any more than I can vilify someone who didn't like it.

We, as authors, need to remember that reviewers are putting themselves out there just as much as we are by publishing our novels. Reviews, to readers, are extremely important and serve a vital function - I know many people who buy books by previously unknown or unfamiliar authors solely based on the reviews written about them.

I don't write reviews of every book I read - there's only 24 hours in a day - but when I do write a review I try to be honest and fair and if that means I didn't like it or noticed some plot errors or whatever the case may be I will point them out. Because I'm pretty busy I usually only write reviews if I either really liked the book or if I wasn't that impressed.

So to the more dedicated and braver reviewers out there than I am - I take my hat off to you and offer you a very big thank you.

To the author's whose books receive negative reviews I suggest, respectfully, that you take a long, hard look at the review - you might learn something from it or it might just be one person's opinion but try and remember we're supposed to be professionals - not kids in the school yard.

Cheers,
Trace

I'll be honest - prior to publishing my books online I'd never spent any time in internet forums or chat rooms and really knew nothing about the electronic world. The internet, to me, was basically Google, Internet banking and email. However, when I published my books that all began to change. I joined a few forums, got a Facebook page and Twitter account and at first it was all very exciting. I'd had no idea this world existed.

Now, however, I'm becoming a little saddened and jaded by some of the behaviour I'm seeing in different internet forums. I had a couple of friends who used internet dating sites and would tell me horror stories about people's rude and bad behaviour on those sites and I tended to think they were exaggerating. Now I know better.

While there's a vast majority of people who participate in internet sites that show manners, decorum and class there is also, unfortunately, a small minority who seem to have no idea or do not care about how they behave. Rudeness and bad manners are still unacceptable behaviour even if it is done in the privacy of your own home. Think for a second - would you really speak that way to someone you met on the street or to someone who invited you into their home?

The anonymity of the internet does not give anyone a license to engage in aggressive, rude or poor behaviour. Obviously there are people in the 'real world' who do behave badly. Yet I cannot help but think it appears that the internet offers a kind of security blanket to people who would, perhaps, otherwise know and behave better.

There are still many forums, Goodreads among them, that I would highly recommend but sadly there is a growing list of those that I would not. Perhaps it's just a sad indictment on the society we find ourselves living in.

Hi all,
Pinched this idea from Karen but I thought I'd try my hand at flash fiction - something I've never done before - so would appreciate all comments and opinions on both content and idea.
Here Tis


Sins of the Father

Becky’s heart pounded heavily in her chest as she watched the neat suburban house across the street from her car. Was it from fear or excitement, she wondered. For ten years she had thought about and planned for this moment; it had taken her that long to find him. He had moved around so much, hiding the monster within behind a mask of normality. Only Becky it seemed knew him for what he truly was, human filth.
He lay beyond the so-called justice system of the courts. The woman he had so brutally raped, Becky’s mother, had chosen to end her own life rather than live with what he had done to her. Then Becky’s sister, her twin, had made the same choice; unable to live with the knowledge of what they were, products of incest. For those sins alone Becky had felt that her father, her uncle, the sperm donor whose lusts had given her life, should die as a fitting punishment. Yet that had not been the trigger for her actions today.
Becky had tried to live a normal life, tried to overcome the feelings of guilt over sins that were not her burden to carry. It had not been easy. She had married, he was probably a good man, yet she had always found it difficult to fully trust him or fully commit to their marriage. Her now ex-husband had been, for many years, surprisingly tolerant and understanding. Until her son Tim's suicide. A stupid class project tracing their family tree had been given to Tim's class; eventually the truth had come out. Tim had been thirteen, he had not been able to cope, could not even begin to see past the sins of his beginnings.
That had destroyed Becky’s marriage and formed the seed of her plan. It was then she had begun looking for the man that fate had decreed would be her father. Strangely she had given no thought in all those years to the consequences of her actions, she still did not care about the consequences. This man, this monster, had caused three deaths and he would pay for them. Beyond that Becky really did not care about what might happen to her; she had already lost everyone of value to her because of his actions. She was only forty-five but she could no longer see any future for her, there was no point.
Taking a deep breath Becky exited the car and carefully crossed the street. She knew he was home, his near new car stood proudly in the driveway. She also knew he was married but that knowledge did not cause her to falter in her intentions; her only hope was that it would be he who answered her knock and not his wife. Becky was not prepared to deal with anyone but him. Fortunately it was he who answered the door, his face changing subtly from one of gentle welcoming to one of a flickering of fear. Not fear of Becky, they had not seen each other in so long she doubted he would even recognize her, but fear of the gun she held steadily in her hand.
When planning this Becky had imagined the speech she would give before she pulled the trigger and exacted the justice that had been denied. At the sight of him, however, her prepared speech flew out of her mind. In his late fifties he looked strong, healthy, at the peak of his life. He even looked handsome, was obviously successful; life had not punished his sins, now it was only Becky who could make him pay once and for all.
Not a trace of guilt, not a hint of remorse; perhaps he did not and never had even thought of those things that had haunted Becky’s existence. Mere seconds passed as these thoughts flashed through her mind. Without a word she pulled the trigger, again and again, emptying the gun until she was certain he was dead. Calmly, ignoring the screams she could hear coming from within the house, Becky walked back to her car and drove away. The police would almost certainly catch up with her but in the meantime she intended to put the flowers she had already purchased on her son’s grave.

The End

I've never wanted, as an author, to be pigeon-holed. I've always wanted to be able to experiment with different genre's and even different styles within the same genre. I already write poetry, children's books, non-fiction work as well as fantasy and my latest experiment with flash fiction was very, very different to anything I'd written before.

The beauty of Amazon and self-publishing is that you have the freedom to do these kinds of experiments but I'm beginning to wonder if that's a 'smart' thing to do career wise. Mention the name Stephen King and people automatically think 'horror', so much so that when he wanted to branch out a little he had to write under a pen name. The same is true of Terry Pratchett - he's famous for his Discworld series and very few people even know that he actually does write other books. So does that mean that to have a truly successful writing career you have to pick a genre and stick with it?

Don't get me wrong, I love writing fantasy. I've cherished every moment I've spent in the land of Kaynos. I just don't want to be stuck there forever. Perhaps my imagination is limited but I think there are only so many good stories that I can write in that mythical land before it would become boring - for me, at least. But I can't help but wonder if I'm doing my overall writing career a disservice by wandering off into other genre's.

Or is this perhaps the new direction that writers and publishers will start to take? Is it possible that those of us who are riding the Indie train will set a new trend? Will we start to see Romance novelists writing Horror, or Mystery writers penning Westerns? And if that should become the accepted norm in writing and publishing how will readers react to that? As a reader, if you grabbed the latest Stephen King and it turned out to be a comedy - no matter how well written - would you be disappointed?

These are just a few thoughts and maybe it's just me and my own desire to try my hand at so many different things - I guess I just want to be able to tell ALL the stories in my head, not just the fantasy ones. :)

I've read quite a few comments lately about whether or not writers should review other writers work; particularly in the Indie industry. Obviously there's no cheap yes or no answer to this question because some people, writers or otherwise, just don't write reviews - ever.

If, however, you are the kind of person who will write a review for a book then I don't believe your profession should enter into the equation. Writers, or at least in my opinion good writers, should be first and foremost readers. That means that it's perfectly ok to write a review, good or bad.

Some people have said they couldn't write a review just because the book wasn't to their personal taste but my question is why did you read it in the first place? I've bought and borrowed many books that I thought would appeal to me only to find that aspects of the book weren't to my liking. If I review that book, even if I give it a 1 star review I should be able to tell people what I personally didn't like about the book and why.

I've only really started reviewing books since my own novels were published - because I know how much they mean to the author but that doesn't mean I should sugar coat it. A book may be very well written technically but have aspects to it that I personally didn't like - if I say that in a review another potential reader might just think 'wow I'd really enjoy that'.

If you're a reader than you're already a reviewer whether or not you make those reviews public. How many of us have ever discussed a book with friends or family and NOT commented on the things we liked or disliked? Probably none of us. Just becoming an author yourself doesn't change the fact that you have opinions, valid opinions and you have the right to share. Even if the book was so bad you couldn't finish it don't be afraid to say that - potential readers want to know and writers simply have to learn to take criticism, deserved or otherwise.

So readers of the world write your reviews without fear just be honest.