Symi Saturday Photos
Here is a set of random Symi photos from the last few months. Have a good weekend!
Symi Saturday Photos
James Collins Amazon Author Page
James Collins Amazon Author Page
We’re reaching the end of our two weeks of self-publicity and ahead of tomorrow’s Symi photos, here’s a link to my author page on Amazon. From there you can click to buy any of the books in Kindle or print format, and they are all free on Kindle Unlimited.
As always, reviews are welcome and much appreciated, especially the good ones. Also, if you’ve enjoyed any of my books, please feel free to share the links with your Facebook friends and anyone you think might be interested. A lot of my ‘traffic’ comes from the blog, but an increasing about comes from Facebook and Twitter sharing. What’s particularly helpful is if someone suggests a book on a group page. That’s something I don’t like to do myself as it doesn’t feel right, but if a third party, a loyal Symi Dreamer, for example (you) recommends a book in a reader’s or writer’s group or anywhere where other group members might benefit, then it helps spread the word.
You will notice that I have two other titles that I’ve not talked about over this past two weeks, Into The Fire and You Wish! It’s not because I don’t think they are any good, it’s mainly because they are my two firsts and perhaps a bit obscure. (They, like a couple of the other older books, could do with some editing and proper proofing – one day.)
Once again, thank you for putting up with the last two weeks of self-blurbing, we will be returning tomorrow with our usual Symi photos and, all being well, I shall be back to blogging next week. As you read this, we should be arriving back on Symi on the morning Blue Star ferry. Between the time of writing this (Monday 12th March) we should have: spent a couple of nights in Rhodes, had our annual health checks done, flown to Athens for an afternoon and night, seen the new museum, caught a plane to Frankfurt and then another to Split, had a week there with a quick overnight in Dubrovnik, flown to Munich, had a fast scurry to a flight to Athens, indulged in a night at the airport hotel (small mortgage required), trained it to Piraeus and boated it, overnight, to Symi. Now would be a good time to thank everyone who contributed to the honeymoon fund at our wedding last year, and to thank every one of you who has bought one (or all) of my books over the years. Still waiting to be written are ‘Unforgivably’, a Miss P novel and ‘The Eastling’ (working title) the third in the Saddling series.
The Judas Inheritance
The Judas Inheritance
Today’s novel has a Symi connection. Although it’s not named in the book, those who know Symi may recognise the island on which the story takes place. It’s a dark tale inspired by the economic downturn seen in Greece in recent years, and in particular, the increase of suicides during that time. It’s not got a lot of laughs in it! It does, though, have some historical truth in the history the story explains, and there are things in it which exist. The plaque on the wall, for example, and the location of the finale is a house I was at only the other week.
The Judas Inheritance is the story behind the film ‘The 13th‘, or is it the other way around? Either way, the film is based on my original draft, and the novel was written in full, from my screenplay treatment. As usual, there’s more in the book than the film (and, I hope, it makes a bit more sense). This story is written in the first and third person, to give us a film feel with the present tense observer in some chapters and the first person past voice through diaries and other devices in others. Anyway, here’s the blurb.
An ancient curse? Desperation in the economic crisis? What is causing the suicides of so many adults and children on this small Greek island? When Chris Trelawney arrives on the island to take away his late father’s belongings, he finds that he has been left little more than a mystery. Was his father mad at the time of his death, or did he actually believe that he had awakened a powerful evil? An ancient evil that now stalks the islanders, growing stronger by the day. A curse that will cause the death of everyone around Chris unless he allows himself to believe that such things exist. But when he discovers the truth, Chris realises that death is the easy option.
“I enjoy reading James’ whimsical and slightly caustic blog about Symi and also his other lighter read Jason and that Sargonauts. I need not have worried. The writing relies on your imagination to picture the ‘evil’ and is a fine piece of psychological fear writing rather than the currently more popular slasher type.
James manages to skilfully alternate between a first person and a third person narrative, no mean feat in itself, and the final third of the book is a page turner reminiscent of Stephen King at his best with a final twist on the ferry home which I did not see coming.” Amazon review.
Lonely House
Lonely House
We’re off into horror land with today’s plug for ‘Lonely House.’
This book started off as an idea for a film script. In fact, if you were to analyse it, you would see that it follows a classic four-act film structure. 1) Set up leading to twist, 2) Dealing with the twist leading to a story-changing revelation, 3) Dealing with the consequences leading to a crisis and climax, and 4) Resolving it all. As I like to put it: Act one, there is no problem. Act two, what is this problem? Act three, how do we deal with it? Act four, dealing with it. Or, if you will excuse me, your basic four-act film story or novel in this case, looks like this:
- Chilling
- Wtf?
- No, seriously, mate, WTF!
- Phew (or not)
It is also written mainly in the present tense to bring the reader right into the horror – and it does get a bit bloody in places. The story takes place in an unspecified location but, if you’re brave enough to make it to the end, the last scene is set in Dymchurch on the Kent coast.
“How much horror can one friendship endure?”
Drover and Pete are two hopeful drifters looking for a better life. Desperate for food, they break into an isolated house deep in a forest. There they accidentally shoot an old man just as the rest of his family arrive for a birthday gathering.
Under intense suspicion from the family, the boys attempt to cover up the accident. But they are not the only ones keeping a murderous secret. Mistrust and deception unearth a primaeval ritual as the lies give way to a terrifying truth.
With time running out and a deadly force closing in, Drover and Pete’s survival rests on the strength of their friendship, but they must face some horrific choices in order to stay alive.
“Loved this book from start to finish. A real page-turner with twists and turns all the way. How James comes up with these stories amazes me. Horror, mystery and a degree of sadness. Who will come out on top. Keep reading.” Joan West
“James tantalises you by just releasing enough information on each character to keep you wanting to know more about each of them. He has mastered that technique of forcing you to start the next chapter as you really care what happens to these people – some you want to stay with you, others you may want to kill. This excellent story has a very satisfactory outcome – depending on your moral compass.” Derek Stephen
The Witching
The Witching
And so to The Witchling. This is my most recent publication, and it follows on from ‘The Saddling.’
I am thinking about a part three and part four and making this a series of novels set in my imaginary village on Romney Marsh. The Saddling has a set of subtle themes: Winter solstice, the water element, self-discovery and family history. The Witchling also has subtle themes: Summer solstice, the fire element, self-acceptance and, again, family history. Saddling is about a willing sacrifice, The Witchling is about the burning of a witch. You don’t have to have read Saddling to follow the story, but it helps if you have.
“The sins of our ancestors have committed us to the flames.”
Saddling is cursed and dying. The village will be lost unless someone burns at the stake on solstice morning. Six months after the life-changing events of The Saddling, Tom Carey must solve the witchling mystery and risk his life to save his lover.
Mystery and action combine in a sweltering thriller set on the Romney Marshes. The main characters return, you will meet new ones, but is William Blacklocks really dead? That’s just one of the mysteries to be solved as the story hits the parched ground running and doesn’t let up until the fire-pile is lit. The question is, who will burn to save Saddling?
“I have been waiting eagerly for the release of this book, having so enjoyed The Saddling. I read it in one sitting, ignoring other stuff I should have done. And I’m so glad I did. I was in the village by chapter 2, straight into the story, willing the characters to do as they should. A great read, it might even be better than The Saddling? You’ll have to read it to find out, but I think you won’t be disappointed!” Amazon review.