Peter Idone's Blog
April 21, 2018
Notes and Queries:
Notes and Queries: A Medium of Inter-Communication for Literary Men, Artists, Antiquaries, Genealogists, Etc, Volume 25
The following excerpt was discovered in the aforementioned book. The actual date printed in Notes and Queries was March 8, 1862.
Amazon books lists 38 pages of hardcover and paperback editions dating back to 1849. Notes and Queries, for its time, was not as obscure a literary journal as I first thought. The following is an excerpt from Third Series Volume First.
Idone. — Some remarks on De Quincey's writings in Fraser's Magazine for January, 1861, induce me to seek information on the following subject:
Similar in conception to the Confessions of an Opium-eater, and an imitation, is a work styled, The Hasheesh Eater, but there is yet another, of the same class, which appeared in an Indian serial (Saunders' Magazine, Delhi), some years since, subsequent to the former, and prior to the latter. The name is Idone; or, Incidents in the Life of a Dreamer. I have since seen the same, bound up, with a Preface, in which a curious explanation is given of its origin, along with a satisfactory denial, on the part of the unknown author, of his having seen any of De Quincey's writings before the publication of Idone. There was also a holograph entry on a fly-leaf, to the effect that the same author republished Mnemosyne and other pieces, a notice of which, cut out of the Athenaeum, was appended.
Now as several contributors of former years to these Anglo-Indian journals have subsequently reappeared in our own Magazines, perhaps some of the readers of “N. & Q.” may be able to give me the name of the writer in question. The copy of
Idone which fell into my hands was evidently printed in India.
I can’t remember the circumstances of how I ran across this little blurb; more than likely I had googled my name in searching for which web sites had pirated my novels to be downloaded for free on a pdf file. No matter. This popped up among the searches. What made me pause was that in my novel ALBION ROAD the main character, Steiner, is asked about a long experimental prose poem he had composed when he was younger titled THE OPIUM SMOKER. Actually, The Opium Smoker was an early effort of mine written back in the late seventies and I incorporated one of the poems in the novel. I find it all rather humorously coincidental. There is no telling what may turn up when you type your name in a search engine.
The following excerpt was discovered in the aforementioned book. The actual date printed in Notes and Queries was March 8, 1862.
Amazon books lists 38 pages of hardcover and paperback editions dating back to 1849. Notes and Queries, for its time, was not as obscure a literary journal as I first thought. The following is an excerpt from Third Series Volume First.
Idone. — Some remarks on De Quincey's writings in Fraser's Magazine for January, 1861, induce me to seek information on the following subject:
Similar in conception to the Confessions of an Opium-eater, and an imitation, is a work styled, The Hasheesh Eater, but there is yet another, of the same class, which appeared in an Indian serial (Saunders' Magazine, Delhi), some years since, subsequent to the former, and prior to the latter. The name is Idone; or, Incidents in the Life of a Dreamer. I have since seen the same, bound up, with a Preface, in which a curious explanation is given of its origin, along with a satisfactory denial, on the part of the unknown author, of his having seen any of De Quincey's writings before the publication of Idone. There was also a holograph entry on a fly-leaf, to the effect that the same author republished Mnemosyne and other pieces, a notice of which, cut out of the Athenaeum, was appended.
Now as several contributors of former years to these Anglo-Indian journals have subsequently reappeared in our own Magazines, perhaps some of the readers of “N. & Q.” may be able to give me the name of the writer in question. The copy of
Idone which fell into my hands was evidently printed in India.
I can’t remember the circumstances of how I ran across this little blurb; more than likely I had googled my name in searching for which web sites had pirated my novels to be downloaded for free on a pdf file. No matter. This popped up among the searches. What made me pause was that in my novel ALBION ROAD the main character, Steiner, is asked about a long experimental prose poem he had composed when he was younger titled THE OPIUM SMOKER. Actually, The Opium Smoker was an early effort of mine written back in the late seventies and I incorporated one of the poems in the novel. I find it all rather humorously coincidental. There is no telling what may turn up when you type your name in a search engine.
October 13, 2017
Red Vengeance
Tomorrow, Saturday, October 14 RED VENGEANCE will be available for free on Kindle at all Amazon outlets. This will definitely be the very last time this promotion will be scheduled. Don't miss out.
October 6, 2017
Free on Kindle
Albion Road will be free on Kindle on all Amazon outlets on Saturday and Sunday October 7 and 8. Enjoy the read and have a good weekend.
September 8, 2017
free Kindle download
Nearly 1000 people entered the giveaway. 379 people have it on their to-read list. Now is an opportunity to download the Kindle version of Albion Road for free. Saturday September 9, and Sunday September 10 Albion Road will be available on all Amazon outlets. Hope you take advantage and read the book. Write a review if you are so inclined, positive or not, and let me know what you think. Thanks to all.
September 1, 2017
reviews/Red Vengeance
I would like to thank the two giveaway winners from Great Britain for their reviews. Authors are always appreciative of people taking the time to write down their opinions. It seems as though my books do better in the UK than they do here in the states and its one of the reasons I include giveaways for G.B. My novel RED VENGEANCE performed well and I guess the subject matter appealed largely to the male readers in England. Speaking of which for all those who have RED VENGEANCE on their “to read” list I am offering a free Kindle version for Saturday September 2. It will be a long holiday weekend perfect for catching up on some reading. So, on that note, Happy Labor Day – Workers of the World Unite!
https://www.amazon.com/Red-Vengeance-...
https://www.amazon.com/Red-Vengeance-...
August 11, 2017
Free Kindle versions
My two previous novels, THE SACRIFICE AREA and RED VENGENANCE will be available for free tomorrow 8/12/17 on Kindle. Download a copy on Amazon. Hope you enjoy.
August 4, 2017
Free on Kindle
ALBION ROAD August 5, 2017 a free version on Kindle will be available tomorrow Saturday 8/5 on all amazon.com outlets.
July 29, 2017
congrats
I would like to extend congratulations to the 5 Giveaway winners for my novel ALBION ROAD. I am happy to see that a couple of winners are from Great Britain. I hope my novel is worthy of your time. All the best.
June 29, 2017
As a reminder
There will be two of my books available for free on Kindle over the next few days. ALBION ROAD will be available on all Amazon outlets July 1st and July 2nd.
THE SACRIFICE AREA will be available for free on July 1st.
THE SACRIFICE AREA will be available for free on July 1st.
June 27, 2017
Why the year 2000?
Some readers may wonder why ALBION ROAD is set during the early months of the year 2000. Is there a particular significance of this date for the author? One answer is that this year marks the middle age of life for the main characters. The novel uses flashbacks, memories, etc. that date back to the 1970’s and 80’s when the characters were in their twenties and thirties. To bring the story into a more present time, let’s say anywhere from 2010 or 2013 the characters would be far older and, in the case of the protagonist, Steiner, would be hard pressed to act in the way he does. At the age of 46 he has plenty of youth and determination left to him to embark on this challenge he has set for himself. Also, he as at that age when a certain amount of world weariness is just beginning to creep in with the possibility of mid-life crisis waiting just around the corner in a few short years. That is one major reason. Another reason is more historical and personal. For my own life, looking at the recent past, 2000 is the year when the world and America in particular, was recognizable to me. Since 9/11 and these nearly two decades since so many changes have occurred that it is almost frighteningly irrevocable. I think for any author writing literary fiction or some genre or other set in our present has to grapple with a very different America than what once was. No story or character can exist in a vacuum without giving some nod to the social and political implications that have transpired and are still unfolding.
My first novel, THE SACRIFICE AREA, was set in the very near future. Although not giving an established date I imagined it to be in the early 2020’s. I wrote the novel beginning in early 2004 and in the period of time it took me to write the book the intensity of what was going on played a role in how the story was shaped. Everything was darker, economically challenging, a certain powerlessness affecting some of the characters in the novel. I certainly wasn’t trying to foretell the future and I didn’t. But you end up predicting a mood.
My first novel, THE SACRIFICE AREA, was set in the very near future. Although not giving an established date I imagined it to be in the early 2020’s. I wrote the novel beginning in early 2004 and in the period of time it took me to write the book the intensity of what was going on played a role in how the story was shaped. Everything was darker, economically challenging, a certain powerlessness affecting some of the characters in the novel. I certainly wasn’t trying to foretell the future and I didn’t. But you end up predicting a mood.
