THE VICTORIAN AGE OF CREDULITY

At the Chronicle we have come to the conclusion that books are a bit like buses. Nothing for ages then three come all at once. Indeed, Keith has three new books that are all coming out at about the same time.

Here is one of them - MEDICAL MEDDLERS, MEDIUMS AND MAGICIANS - The Victorian Age of Credulity. If you are interested in the Victorian era then we think you might find it fun to read.

Have a look at the video clip to see what it is about.

CalumSteele
Editor

THE CLASSIC GUIDE TO KING ARTHUR

We are pleased to announce that Keith's forthcoming book The Classic Guide to King Arthur will soon be published by Golden Guides Press, a brilliant new publishing house.

If you want to know about all the legends, facts, theories and fantasies appertaining to King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table then read the book.

And as a taster, here is a wee video clip produced by the West Uist Chronicle:

Enjoy!

Calum Steele
Editor

LATEST SCIENCE BOOK BEING USED TO GET YOUNGSTERS INTERESTED

Hello readers. We thought you might like to see a novel review of one of Keith's latest books, SCHOOLBOY SCIENCE REMEMBERED. This was published in the Whitby Gazette on 3rd February 2012.

Lab man’s

rocket

science

lunch club

A CAEDMON lab technician decided

that the best way to review a new

science book would be for him to

conduct a series of experiments, with

the aid of some pupils.

Roger Hartley runs the Caedmon

Science Club at lunchtimes and said

that bringing the textbook alive by

conducting such experiments would

be a great way for children to get

enthused about science.

He added: “Practical work in science

is probably more important now

than it’s ever been. It’s what’s going

to enthuse them so they go on to

become scientists. Seeing something

go flash-bang is really what captures

their imagination.”

Using an experiment from the book,

Mr Hartley showed the children how

to make batteries using just twopence

coins, kitchen foil and some

vinegar.

Mr Hartley started the science club

to prove that rocket science does not

have to be impossible and he proved

this by showing the children basic

chemistry experiments, such as firing

fizzy pop bottles across the classroom.

Schoolboy Science Remembered

is a new book by Dr Keith Souter and

Mr Hartley has reviewed it for the

Gazette.

He said: “Dr Souter writes with an

easy style that veils the subject’s

complexity.

“His heroes, the old chemistry

teacher Prang, Sherlock Holmes and

Patrick Moore help lead us from one

discovery to another.

“With their help we find our way

from “The Kitchen Laboratory” to the

quantum theory, we pass through

cooking chemistry, many good “Eggsperiments”,

atomic theory and the

periodic table, acids and alkalis, and

DNA to name but a few.

“This book is so much more than

a list of tricks, experiments and illusions;

it would give any reader a good

grounding in basic science. So much

so that chapters such as “Magnetism

and Electricity” could have come

straight out of the year 7 curriculum.

“If I had owned this book at the age

of 12 I would undoubtedly have been

banished to the shed at the end of

the yard and I would have loved every

minute of it.”

Schoolboy Science Remembered is

published by Pen and Sword Books

for £14.99.

USE SCIENCE TO CLEAN THE SILVER CUTLERY FOR CHRISTMAS DAY

Welcome Readers,

Do you want to know a quick easy way to clean the silver cutlery for your Christmas dinner? An easier way than elbow grease and silver polish? We managed to get Keith to give us a tip using science to do the job for you.

Basically, silver gets tarnished on exposure to the air. The tarnish is a result of a chemical reaction between the silver and sulphur substances in the air. This produces a layer of silver sulphide on the silver. You can use polish to remove it, or you can use chemistry. Believe us, folks, the chemistry does the trick and you can get on with something else.

You need:

• a large dish to take about three or four pints of hot water
• a sheet of aluminium foil to cover the bottom.
• hot water
• gloves to protect your hands -  you will be making an alkaline solution so don't get it on your hands
• a tablespoon of baking soda
• a tablespoon of  salt

Now:

1. Lay the aluminium on the bottom of the dish or a pan (BUT NOT AN ALUMINIUM PAN!)
2. Place the cutlery piece by piece on the foil. (IF THE CUTLERY HAS HANDLES OF ANY OTHER MATERIAL DO NOT DO THIS, YOU DO NOT WANT TO RISK AFFECTING THEM.)
3. You need hot almost boiling water. Pour about two pints into a jug and put it in your sink. The reason you do it there is because you may get some effervescence or frothing. Add half a tablespoon of the baking soda and the same amount of salt salt and stir it up.
4. Pour it over the cutlery in the large dish. Prepare another two pints of hot water and add the remaining half tablespoon of baking soda and half tablespoon of salt.
5. Then just watch, you will see the tarnish mysteriously disappears and the silver is cleaned.
6. The tarnish will be transferred to the aluminium, which will form as a residue on the foil.
7. Using gloves, remove the silver when clean and thoroughly rinse and clean it in cold water.
8. Pour the solution away.

[If you happen to get any of the solution near the eyes, wash with cold water]

The Chemistry:

This is a very simple electrochemical reaction that will not harm your silver. Essentially, Silver Sulphide in an alkaline medium will allow the sulphur in the Silver sulphide to react with the aluminium, to form aluminium sulphide, leaving the silver free of tranish.

If you are interested, this is shown by the chemical formula

3Ag2S                +       2Al                 ->          6Ag              +         Al2S3
Silver Sulphide             Alumnium                     Silver                        Aluminium sulphide


Remember to rinse thoroughly.

If you found that interesting and helpful, you may like to check out Keith's book SCHOOLBOY SCIENCE REMEMBERED, available from Amazon. To get a flavour, just check out the video clip of the book - it will only take about a minute to view. You will find it in the September archive; just scroll down it. The book is available through the West Uist Chronicle bookshop at the bottom of the blog, or directly through Amazon


All the best for a Happy Christmas

Calum Steele
Editor

THE LITTLE BOOK OF GENIUS

We are pleased to announce that Keith's latest book - a great gift for Christmas - The Little Book of Genius, published by The History Press is now available from the publishers, Amazon and all good bookshops. It is also available as an ebook for Kindle. You can even get it from our own West Uist Bookshop at the bottom of the blog! (Just click on General non-fiction and you'll see it.)

Have a look at the video of the book.

And here is how the publisher describes it.

At any party, there’s always one person who stands out from the crowd, because he or she talks more intelligently and tells better jokes than everyone else there. And everyone else wishes they were as knowledgeable and witty as that person.

   Thanks to Keith Souter’s The Little Book of Genius, they can be, or at least appear to be. The first part, which is based on serious scientific foundations explained in an accessible and light-hearted manner, explains some handy techniques for winning an argument, getting your point across, telling a joke and generally making the most of yourself. The second contains the essentials of what you need to know about literature, history, art, music, science, sport and other subjects, so that people will think you are cultured, intelligent and well-read.

    With the help of The Little Book of Genius, you can be the envy of everyone else at the party!

Anyway, have a look. We at The West Uist Chronicle think it is a good read.

Calum Steele

THE CURSE OF THE BODY SNATCHERS

We are delighted to announce that Keith's latest novel, specially written for youngsters will be published by G-Press, an imprint of Golden Guides Press in February 2012.

It is a dark tale set in Victorian London. The action moves swiftly from the old Cross Bones Graveyard to the Thames and to fashionable areas of London. There are phrenologists, police officers, mediums, ghosts and of course - The Curse of the Body Snatchers. It is just the sort of novel that youngsters will delight in reading last thing at night!

Have a look at the video to get a flavour of its atmosphere.

And if you want to pre-order the book either do so on the bar on the left or visit our own WEST UIST CHRONICLE BOOKSHOP  at the very bottom of  the blog.

Calum Steele
Editor

THE POCKET GUIDE TO DICE AND DICE GAMES

Dice have been around for a long time. For about 5,000 years in fact. Keith was recently interviewed on the Simon Mayo Show on BBC Radio 2, about his forthcoming book THE POCKET GUIDE TO DICE AND DICE GAMES, which is due to be published in March 2012.

With photographs of dice from his personal collection and illustrations by the talented Laura Matine, this book is a pot-pouri of history, magic tricks, tips about playing dice for fun, and important information about the mathematics of odds. It is a must-read if you are contemplating a trip to a casino.

Check out the video about the book.

And if you are interested in pre-ordering it, check out the side bar on the left, or go straight to The West Uist Chronicle Bookshop at the very bottom of the blog.


Calum Steele,
Editor

SCHOOLBOY SCIENCE REMEMBERED

Do you remember those wonderful days in the school lab? Not those days when you had to do those dreadful tests, or when your science teacher demonstrated yet another experiment that failed abysmally and the chemicals turned the wrong colour. Rather, those days when you learned about some amazing principle and felt stimulated to go home and try it out yourself. And when you did, do you recall that Eureka moment?

The West Uist Chronicle is pleased to announce that one of Keith's latest books SCHOOLBOY SCIENCE REMEMBERED is now out. It takes you on a voyage of scientific re-discovery. From the kitchen laboratory to the bathroom test site you will be able to do experiments galore, investigate the mystery of the pyramid, find things out about your body and make things fizz. If you want to re-experience those Eureka moments, then this book is for you

Did you know?

That Tycho Brahe, the great Renaissance scientist had an artificial silver nose and was assisted in his experiments by his court jester

• That you can make a battery from a stack of coins, blotting paper, silver foil and some salt and vinegar
• That an ancient Greek inventor, Hero of Alexandria invented a steam machine 1,700 years before James Watt built his steam engine
• 
  That you can make a crystal set radio from a toilet tube, copper wire, a pencil, a safety pin, a few drawing pins and paper clips, and an old razor blade

Well, you can find out here. Have a look at this video.

And if you are interested in obtaining a copy, scroll down the left hand side, or pay a visit to The West Uist Chronicle Bookshop at the very bottom of the blog

Calum Steel
Editor



THE WEST UIST CHRONICLE BOOKSHOP IS NOW OPEN

Dear Readers,

Due to much demand for some of the various books written by Keith our honorary editor we have decided to open The West Uist Chronicle Bookshop. You will see it at the bottom of the blog if you just scroll down.

We will be adding other books, not just Keith's as we go along, but why not have a look for yourself.

Calum Steele

THE TRADITIONAL WEST

You might say that we have always been fairly traditional here on West Uist. Well, THE TRADITIONAL WEST  that is our headline here  is actually nothing to do with our wee island of West Uist. In fact it is a long way over the water and then a long way west from there.

 It is all about a great new anthology of traditional western short stories, published by Western Fictioneers  in the USA.

Please have a look at this great trailer from it, made by Larry Martin, one heck of a western writer. And he is pretty darned good at making videos, too.

So what is it all about:

The classic American Western returns in this collection of brand-new stories by some of the top Western writers in the world today.  Twenty-four members of Western Fictioneers, the only writers’ organization devoted solely to traditional Western fiction, take readers from the dusty plains of Texas to the sweeping vistas of Montana and beyond, in the biggest original Western anthology ever published!

Western Fictioneers was founded in 2010 to promote the oldest genuine American art form, the Western story.  Its worldwide membership includes best-selling, award-winning authors of Western fiction, as well as the brightest up-and-coming new stars in the Western field.  The organization’s first anthology features original stories by Steven Clark, Phil Dunlap, Edward A. Grainger, James J. Griffin, Jerry Guin, C. Courtney Joyner, Jackson Lowry,  Larry Jay Martin, Matthew P. Mayo, Rod Miller, Clay More, Ross Morton, Kerry Newcomb, Scott D. Parker, Pete Peterson, Cheryl Pierson, Kit Prate, Robert J. Randisi, James Reasoner, Dusty Richards, Troy D. Smith, Larry D. Sweazy, Chuck Tyrell, and L.J. Washburn.  With original cover artwork by acclaimed artist Pete Peterson, THE TRADITIONAL WEST is more than 120,000 words of classic Western fiction.

You may remember that our own Keith Souter writes with several different hats. This time he has his western hat on and has a story in the anthology under his other name of Clay More. 

He is proud to have a story sitting in the anthology along with some of the best western writers in the world.





The Traditional West is available now on Kindle and will be out shortly in paperback.

Calum Steele
Editor