BOOK SIGNING AT WATERSTONES

Keith was at Waterstones in the Ridings in Wakefield on Saturday 14th May, signing 6 titles that were on display. It was great fun and he had an enjoyable couple of hours chatting to customers, signing books and drinking tea.

Keith signing some of his novels and medical books at Waterstones

Calum is now going to crack the whip a bit and get him to finish the next West Uist mystery. He can't wait to find out what happens to him in this one!

REVISITING KING TUTANKHAMEN'S CURSE

We are now well into conference season. They are great fun to go to, to meet colleagues, chat about projects that we all have on the go and just immerse yourself in the subject for a day or two. The trouble is that once you have been there for a day you start to wish that you were somewhere else, or doing something different - like writing your novel or playing golf.

I was at a conference down in Norfolk last week and took time out to visit the Swaffham Museum. It has a rare wee exhibition about Howard Carter, the Egyptologist who discovered the tomb of Tutankhamen in 1922. He had been brought up in Swaffham, a fact that I had been unaware of all those years ago when I was a frequent visitor to the area, for my wife's father had been the Rector at Cockley Cley, a nearby village.

There is a facsimile of the tomb in the museum. You can look through a sort of window and see what it looked like. Then press a button and you see a film clip of Howard Carter crawling along a corridor. Then Lord Carnarvon asks anxiously, 'Can you see anything?'

Carter replies 'Yes, wonderful things.'

For a moment it felt as if you were there.

I have to confess to having a fascination with Tutankhamen, and the whole story of  Carter and Carnarvon. Over the years I have built up quite a library on archaeology, especially Egyptology. And although I know that it is all bunkum, I have a fascination with the story of the Curse.

I am sure everyone will have heard about it. The ancient curse supposedly warned anyone who dared to attempt to desecrate the tomb that they would die a horrible death.

The Egyptologists ignored the curse, of course, then strange things started happening. Carter's canary was eaten by a cobra, and some time after the dig Lord Carnarvon received a mosquito bite on his cheek. He subsequently nicked it shaving and soon after developed septicaemia, and died in a Cairo hotel. The lights went out in Cairo and seemingly at that very same moment Lord Carnarvon's dog at home in Highclere Castle howled, rolled over and died. And then over time a number of people associated with the dig died.

When Carter examined the mummy of the King he found a scar on the cheek. It was said to be on the same side as Lord Carnarvon's.

Such is the stuff of legend, and most of it has been debunked as sensational journalism with scant regard to facts. Yet it is a compelling story which has inspired many writers. I think it was etched in my own mind when was an aspiring writer.

I remember the excitement I felt when I heard that  the famous Tutankhamen exhibition was going to come  to London in 1970, complete with the golden death mask. I queued up for hours to see it. Years later I visited the tomb itself in the Valley of the Kings and guess what - I was bitten by a mosquito on my cheek!

My daughter Kate reminded me about it when I told her that I had been to the Swaffham museum. The thought of it made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. Although I have been scientifically trained, there was still a part of my mind that had wondered about the curse when the mosquito decided to feast on me!

A SAD DAY FOR GOLF

The flag is at half mast up at St Ninian's Golf Course today. Seve Ballesteros has lost his battle with cancer and passed away this morning. He will be sadly missed by golfers all over the world.

A golfing legend

We were fortunate enough to see him play several times when he was dominating the world of golf. He truly was a genius, conjuring up shots that no-one else would think of playing. Indeed, probably only a handful of the great players would have had the ability to play them.

The Reverend Lachlan McKinnon will be holding a special memorial service at St Ninian's this afternoon at 2pm, then he and Torquil plan to play nine holes in his memory. Anyone who is free around three o'clock is welcome to join them.

Seve Ballesteros RIP.

Calum Steel
Keith Souter

PLEASE HELP THE JAPAN QUAKE VICTIMS

The earthquake and tsunami that has devastated Japan has left masses of people in need of help. Our friend and fellow writer Charlie Whipple, who writes westerns as Chuck Tyrell has put together a collection of his short stories set in Japan, which is available as an ebook for about a dollar (it is available on Kindle for 69p). He and the publisher are donating the entire proceeds to the  victims of the earthquake and the tsunami. Please spare a little cash and buy the book, it is great read!

The book is called A MATTER OF TEA, after the title of the first story which won the 2010 Oaxaca International Literature Competition. It is an enchanting tale written by a master story-teller.

Charlie lives in Japan and has experienced past earthquakes, but nothing like this. He writes:

So I decided to let you read these stories and help the people in Tohoku at the same time. Buy this book for a buck -- well, for 99 cents -- and I and my publisher will give all the income we receive from your purchases to worthy charities that are helping in Tohoku. I will personally pick the charities and I will personally report to you about what has been or is being done.

Help me out. Buy this book of stories about Japan. Get your friends to buy a copy, too. Spread the word. Help me help the victims of Japan's horrendous earthquake and tsunami.

If you want to find out more about Charlie or buy the book (AND PLEASE, PLEASE BUY IT) then visit his blog:

http://chucktyrell-outlawjournal.blogspot.com/

Or you can buy it directly for your Kindle from Amazon.uk by just following the link to the left.

Thanks,

Calum Steele
Keith Souter

FACT OR FICTION AT SANDAL CASTLE

If you are in Wakefield on Saturday 26th March, come along to the first ever Friends of Sandal Castle event.  FACT OR FICTION.

                                 It takes place 3-5 pm at Sandal Castle Visitor's Centre.

                                                        All welcome

                                                         Free entry

                                                   Soft drinks and cakes 

FICTION -  Keith will be reading from two of his novels:

THE PARDONER'S CRIME - a mystery set in the days of Robin Hood  

THE FOOL'S FOLLY  -a mystery set during the Wars of the Roses

FACT - Helen Cox, a local historian will be talking about the history

                                                  It should be entertaining!

FELLOW WRITER CAUGHT UP IN THE DISASTER IN JAPAN

The world has been horrified by the pictures and news of the devastating earthquake and the tsunami that has hit Japan. We were relieved to hear that fellow western writer Charlie Whipple, who writes as Chuck Tyrell, is safe. He and his family are OK, but the country is in bad shape. He lives in Chiba, at the southwestern tip of the earthquake destruction. There are huge queues for supplies and power supplies are being rationed.

Chuck Tyrell writes brilliant westerns for Black Horse Westerns, Solstice Westerns and Western Trail Blazer.

Please buy one of his westerns available from Kindle via Amazon Kindle Store or through Smashwords.

VULTURE GOLD

Chuck Tyrell

This was Chuck's first western novel, originally published by Robert Hale's Black Horse westerns in 2005, now re-issued as an ebook by Solstice Westerns.

THE SNAKE DEN

Chuck Tyrell

“Sometimes a man’s gotta take a stand.” – Shawn Brodie, aged 14.

Arizona, 1882. Falsely accused of theft, Shawn Brodie is sent to serve three years in the Hellhole called Yuma Territorial Prison. Lamb to the slaughter, maybe?

This is what they are saying about it:

“Remarkable. A page turning thriller set in a frontier prison where a boy convict learns about the tough world of survival as he grows into a man. Told with gritty courage and honesty – a surprising blend of East and West, it’s a coming-of-age story like none you’ve ever read.” – Corinne Joy Brown, author of McGregor’s Lantern, Sanctuary Ranch, and Come and Get it!

“Though young, Shawn has the strong moral fiber to survive, no matter what comes his way. Chuck Tyrell has produced a memorable hero and a grim, gritty yet very real tale of brutality leavened with kindness, despair salved with hope, and ultimately an inspiring testament to a young boy’s journey into manhood.” – Ross Morton, author of The $300 Man

"Chuck Tyrell has brought authenticity and poignancy to a western with a difference..."
– Jack Martin, author of The Ballad of Delta Rose.

We are sure you will enjoy the read.

Calum Steel
Keith Souter

BACK IN PRINT

Welcome back readers!

Many apologies for the interruption of The Chronicle. The thing is that we've both been busy. Keith has been writing three books and I - well I've been involved in a bit of a mystery on the island. You'll be able to read about it in due course, in the novel DEATH IN TRANSIT.

So what sort of books has Keith been writing? Well they have been on diverse topics - one is going to be about Aspirin - the wonder drug, another is about Talking, and the third is about Dice and Dice Games.

Have a look in the column alongside.

Aspirin and Talking will be out this summer alongside Schoolboy Science Remembered. We are excited about that one.

Here's what the cover says:

A fantastic foray into the world of science and schoolday experiments which involve turning household goods into exciting but informative experiments. Dr Keith Souter explains the science behind the simple but fun experiments and, by understanding how they work, it will also help to explain the world around you from the position of the Harvest Moon to the composition and osmosis of food and drink. Discover how to make your own kaleidoscope, crystals and even a steam turbine from an old cocoa tin and why you ll never want to compost a floppy potato again. A must-buy book for everyone interested in what happens when and why. The Theory of Everything is contained in these fact-filled pages. Did you know? Steam engine designer, George Stephenson, was inspired by a kettle lid rattling under the pressure of steam Moth balls or Alka Seltzer can be turned into a self-propelling boat Mirrors can be used to help people recover from strokes and even paralysis

It is illustrated by Andrew James, the subject of an earlier interview.

Calum Steele

THE CHRONICLE'S FLASH FICTION COMPETITION WINNERS

We at the Chronicle take a pride in our investigative journalism. There are no other journalists like us on West Uist!


We have great pleasure in giving you a little information on our three winners.

First,  Simon Sylvester, whose winning 26 word story LAST ORDERS took first prize.

Simon Sylvester

Simon was born in 1980. His short stories have been published in magazines including Smoke, Gutter and Fractured West. His nanofiction collection 140 Characters is published by Cargo Crate, and he writes new stories daily on www.twitter.com/simonasylvester

Photo by http://www.neilthomasdouglas.com/

He lives in Cumbria with the abstract painter Monica Metsers, earning his crust as a teacher, journalist and labourer. 

His nanofiction collection is available as an ebook or as a print on demand paperback from Cargo Press at

http://www.cargopublishing.com/cargo-crate/140-characters-simon-sylvester/

Why don't you check out his stories on twitter and his collection on Cargo Press. Just click the links.

And in second place with his story MEMORIES


Andy McNab
I was born in 1986 in deepest Yorkshire.

I have dabbled in History and Law at various institutions in Hull, London and York for several years now.

I am an avid reader and I have always fantasised about writing something of my own, but a lack of confidence has hindered me from putting pen to paper.

Fortunately in my haste to hide from my textbooks I stumbled upon the addictive medium of FLASH FICTION. And thought I would try my luck.

This is my first attempt at writing anything and I am very happy that people seemed to enjoy my story!


And in third place with his story D.I.D. SHE DO IT


Joe Lunn
I was born in 1985 in Cawthorne, Barnsley. You can follow me on twitter    http://twitter.com/#!/Joelunn07

I have been interested in writing stories from a young age although not so much in my teen years. This competition has given me great encouragement to write more stories in the future.

This is the first time I've entered a writing competition and I was extremely pleased and surprised to have done so well. I guess the endless hours I've spent watching crime movies  and episodes of C.S.I. have inspired me to write my story.

This is my first attempt at writing anything and I am very happy that people seemed to enjoy my story!

And we certainly enjoyed all of your stories.

Congratulations again, guys!

Calum Steele

Keith Souter

THE POLL IS FINISHED AND THE RESULTS ARE IN....

Good morning folks,

The poll finished last night and we have three clear winners:


First prize         LAST ORDERS by Simon Sylvester
Second Prize     MEMORIES  by Andy  McNab
Third Prize       D.I.D. SHE DO IT by Joe Lunn

All three winners will be notified by email this morning and their prizes will be on their way this week.

These three stories consistently topped the final long-short list of 26 stories. All three were well crafted, told a story and had a twist. And the results speak for themselves. The public liked them.

Congratulations also to all of the writers who made the long-short list. Every one of them had its strength and deserved to be there.

Thank you also to all those writers whose stories did not make the list. As we said before, it was a very hard task whittling it down to a list of 26 stories. We literally had stories from all round the world.

Please come back later. We will try and get some information on these winning writers.

Calum Steele
Keith Souter

THE FINAL STRETCH

Dear Readers,

The flash fiction competition is heating up. The votes are still coming in, as you can see.

The order at the top of the leader board has shifted:

LAST ORDERS
MEMORIES
D.I.D. SHE DO IT

And in 4th place   KYOTO


Still half a day, so anything can happen.

I must say that after watching the Australian Open tennis final and seeing our lad Andy Murray falter, Keith and I needed something to lift our spirits. This flurry of voting is doing just that.

We have really enjoyed this competition - some really great stories.

Calum Steele
Keith Souter

 PS We are looking forward to the French Open now!