MEET RAE ANDREW - AUTHOR OF THE LAY OF ANGOR

Welcome readers. This week we are pleased to bring you news of a remarkable book by Rae Andrew. It is a racy, Gothic fantasy that is reminiscent of JRR Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings and George RR Martin’s Game of Thrones. I am sure that is bound to whet your appetite.

It smoulders, it fascinates and it intrigues.

THE LAY OF ANGOR, BOOK 1: GONDARLAN

By Rae Andrew

We give it a ***** rating

And we are pleased to welcome Rae into the office for a chat to tell you all about it.

Rae, welcome. I hope you don’t think I’m giving too much away by revealing your real name as Helen Cox. Tell us about yourself – or about you both!

Hello, readers. Well, I used to be an archaeological conservator and museum collection care advisor; then I met my husband and turned into a ‘writing housewife’ with a freelance publishing and lecturing business, Herstory Writing & Interpretation - Helen does factual history, and Rae makes it up! My special interest is the 15^th century, and I’ve written three non-fiction books on the battles of Wakefield and Towton (you can find out more on my website, http://www.helencox-herstorywriting.co.uk ). I also edit The Towton Herald, Towton Battlefield Society’s newsletter, act as Secretary of its Wars of the Roses re-enactment group, The Frei Compagnie, and I’m a pretty mean shot with a longbow!

Wow! You pack a lot into your life. Tell us about the book.

It’s an historical romance in a parallel world, more Gormenghast than Middle-Earth – dungeons without dragons and swords without sorcery, but plenty of black humour, political intrigue and nice juicy sex! The heroine, Princess Elinor of Gondarlan, is very moody because her father King Thorund is packing her off to marry a stranger – Jehan of Angor, a tattooed New Age hippie dressed in doublet and hose – and the running joke is the culture clash that happens when he arrives at the Gondaran court to woo her. Needless to say, the path of love doesn’t run smooth… not for Elinor and Jehan, at any rate.

And it is all in there, folks. How did you get the idea for the book? It must have taken a long time to imagine all that history.

Originally, from a rude story I wrote as a joke for a previous partner! His suggestion that I develop the characters and try to publish it got me thinking. I didn’t fancy writing contemporary erotica for the ‘adult’ market, or an historical ‘bodice-ripper’ tied to a real place and period - so I invented an Urth of my own, where I could bring in all sorts of personal interests and favourite themes from real-world history. I had the basic storyline roughed out in a couple of months – but it took nearly 10 years of further evolution, endless re-drafting and ruthless pruning to achieve the finished product!

How is the series developing? And how many books do you plan?

The second instalment, Breath of Gaia, has just come out on Kindle and Kobo, with the paperback to follow shortly. Book 3, Wolfsbane – which should be in print by early 2014 – is about a third of the way through. I’m planning one more, Children of Fafnir, to finish the saga, and I’d like to round off with an archaeological detective story linking a contemporary version of Urth with Princess Elinor’s world. But I could potentially write more - as Terry Pratchett has with his Discworld – if the demand is there! Meanwhile you can follow developments on the Lay’s own website www.lay-of-angor.co.uk or its Facebook page, The Lay of Angor.

We like that idea of the detective story and we are great fans of Terry Pratchett.  Your background in archaeology has clearly been a big help. The story drips with facts and has great atmosphere. As a history re-enactor I guess that has helped. Can you give us an idea of how you actually picture a scene?

Thank you! Yes – it’s given me loads of ideas, experiences and material to draw from. Lots of the environments are ‘real’, either places I’ve visited or seen on TV – for instance, Gondarlan is a hybrid of Scotland, Scandinavia and Iceland, and the architecture, costume and so on loosely based on European medieval. Within that framework, the details fill themselves in as if by magic – I see it in my mind’s eye, and hear the characters speaking, as if I’m watching a movie. They’ve taken on such a life of their own, I feel like more of a conduit, or a secretary taking dictation, than a creator; the main challenge is capturing everything on keyboard as quickly as it flashes through my head!

Rae – I mean Helen, it has been a pleasure. We wish you well with the rest of the series.

Gondarlan is available as an e-book for £2.99 on Kobo and Amazon Kindle (Kindle Prime members can borrow it free). The paperback is available at £7.99 plus p+p from York Publishing Services – order from www.YPD-books.com, by phone on 01904 431213, email to enqs@yps-publishing.co.uk or order through any good book-shop. UK readers can also buy signed copies at the discount price of £7.50 inc. p+p direct from Rae Andrew – email your order to her.story@hotmail.co.uk.

DEATH IN TRANSIT - coming soon

DEATH IN TRANSIT

By Keith Moray

The next novel in the West Uist crime series - to be released 30th April 2013

The lack of light pollution made West Uist an idea place for astronomical observation.

            The Heavens Above show, a regular Scottish TV review of the latest news about astronomy, is being broadcast from the island and there has been an influx of amateur astronomers. At the same time, the West Uist Astrological Society has staged a series of lectures by a celebrity astrologer.

            Tension between the two groups is clear from the start and when a body is found floating in Kyleshiffin harbour it is unclear whether there has been a tragic accident or a cold-blooded murder. A chalked astrological sign on the harbor wall   gathers significance when a second body and another sign is discovered. This time there is no doubt – it was murder most foul.

            And the signs are that there will be more deaths, unless Inspector Torquil McKinnon and his team can solve the case and find the Zodiac Killer.

ZOMBIE CAT - The Tale of a Decomposing Kitty

Zombie Cat

The Tale of a Decomposing Kitty   

By Isabel Atherton

Illustrated by Bethany Straker

For all of you zombie fans and cat lovers (well, perhaps I had better rephrase that, for all cat lovers who are also zombie fans) this brilliant book is a sheer delight. It is more than that, we at the West Uist Chronicle believe that it has the potential to be a Christmas bestseller and may well attain cult status.

The book is written by Isabel Atherton, literary agent extraordinaire, and illustrated by talented artist Bethany Straker. It is a short picture book for adults about Tiddles, an everyday cat-about-town who is transformed into one of the undead.

The story is wittily told and beautifully, yet macabrely illustrated. It is short, but merits several readings. Each reading reveals a little more and each illustration tempts you back again. We predict that a copy in your house will gradually decompose, like Tiddles aka Zombie Cat, although not from decay, but from frequent readings by the family, guests and whoever else passes through your abode.

The West Uist Chronicle gives this book an unreserved ***** rating.

And now, here are the creators to tell us about themselves and about their journey among the undead.

Welcome, ladies.

Isabel, tell us a little about yourself and your background.

Hello readers! First of all, I am the director and literary agent at Creative Authors Ltd. You can read more about my agency here: 

www.creativeauthors.co.uk. 

Creative Authors prides itself on its eclectic list of authors. I only ever take on authors and books that I feel extremely passionate about. I’ve also recently started to write for pleasure myself. It’s been a very interesting experience sitting on the author’s side of the fence with Zombie Cat.

Bethany, give us the lowdown on yourself.

I’ve been illustrating magazines for a number of years now, and started working on books last year. Illustration has always been ‘The Thing That I Wanted To Do’ from an early age. It took persistence, some fairly unhappy years at university and a lot of worry – but I’m happy I can dedicate my career to illustration full time now. I like the weird and wonderful, the creepy, the odd and the funny – and I try to have these things as a base for my work and ideas. I love old scary movies like Robert Wise’s ‘The Haunting’ and their use of light and dark, which often comes out in what I do. 

Isabel, where on earth did this idea come from?

I’ve always been an ideas type of person and I love helping my authors develop their initial concept into strong book proposals. This led me to think what it would be like to experience what it feels like to be in the author’s shoes. I therefore decided, at the next stroke of inspiration, I would jot down the idea and follow it through. A little while later, just as I had been bemoaning to my husband about my own lack of personal creativity, and as I started to drift off to sleep – the words ‘zombie’ and ‘cat’ jumped into my head. I leapt out of bed and promptly sent myself a text, so I would remember the idea in the morning.
 

Bethany, these illustrations are spectacular. How did you choose this style to illustrate Zombie Cat?

Thank you! Firstly, I decided on a colour palette. I wanted it to be grimy – so when it came to drawing it up I wanted the grime to be reflected in the amount of detail, too. I enjoyed adding little extra elements of humour and, of course, as much grisly gore as I could fit in! 

Isabel, what else have you got in the pipeline? Is Zombie Cat going to rise again? I think everyone will want to know what happened to good old Jake. Are you collaborating again?

Zombie Cat may rise again. It all depends on sales figures and whether the publisher feels they’d like to see a sequel. I wouldn’t rule it out. Right now,I am moving over into children’s picture books.

I have a title called ‘The Bad Easter Bunny’ out in February next year and I am working with a wonderful French illustrator called Stephanie Rohr. You can see a little more description here about the book:

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-bad-easter-bunny-isabel-atherton/1111970766

Beth and I are also collaborating again on a few more titles (we love working together!), which are coming out up until 2014. These include ‘Smelly Ghost’ (pub, Autumn 2013) - this is a story of a ghost who gets the toots from eating too much scary junk food, such as eyeball pizza, fizzy snot soda and beetles blood ice-cream.  ‘Springy Chicken’ (pub, Feb 2014) is the story of Martha, a Bantam chicken, who was so savaged by a fox she lost her legs. Her owner saved her by fitting her with springs for legs, so she is able to boing! around the place. Sadly the other hens don’t like the fact she’s different. Finally, Beth and I are collaborating on ‘Mr Cow’s Deep Sea Adventure’ (pub, Summer 2014). This is the tale of Mr Cow, a Friesian cow, who can’t make cheese or yoghurts and has no desire to. He wants to explore Aztec Mountains, scale tall sand dunes, but more than anything he wants to be the first cow deep sea diver. This one is inspired by Whitstable, my hometown, a small seaside town in Kent.

Bethany, if you are collaborating with Isabel again, will you be using the same style? What else are you working on?

Isabel and I make a great team. We are collaborating on several children’s books, which Isy explains above. All of them have my signature style, although I have made simplifications for each target age group. Of course, I have also left out the gore! Smelly Ghost will be out in 2013 and I can’t wait to see what the response will be. I love working with an author like Isy as she has such a great imagination and sense of humour in her work. I also have another picture book out in late 2013 – this one is called The Lonely Curiosity Rover and is about the Mars Rover. I’m collaborating with a new author called James Duffett-Smith and we’ve been influenced by the style of 1950s Soviet propaganda posters.

Ladies, it has been a pleasure. We wish you the greatest of success with Zombie Cat – and will be looking out for your next work.

Thanks so much, Keith and Calum!

We really love this book and if you would like to hop over to the Amazon opposite, you can order your copy!

Keith Souter

Associate Editor

Calum Steele

Editor

THE LITTLE BOOK OF GOLF

As all our readers of The West Uist Mysteries will know the Padre is a keen 8-handicapper. And our local St Ninian's course is one of the toughest tests of golf in the Western Isles. We are pleased to say that Keith Souter, who pens the West Uist Mysteries as Keith Moray, has just had another book published by The History Press, entitled THE LITTLE BOOK OF GOLF.

It is an ideal stocking-filler.

Full of interesting anecdotes, history and trivia about our national game.

Keith is no Nick Faldo, but he's a keen golf historian.

It is out now in hardback and Kindle.

And we are pleased to announce that Death in Transit, the fifth novel in the series has been accepted for publication by Hale.

Calum Steele,
Editor

THE CURSE OF THE BODY SNATCHERS

We are absolutely delighted to have received a copy of Keith Souter's first children's novel THE CURSE OF THE BODY SNATCHERS, published by G-Press, an imprint of Golden Guides Press.

It is set in Victorian London and is the first in a series The Adventures of Jack Moon. We predict that youngsters of 8-13 will love it and scream for more! And with much of the novel taking place in mist-covered graveyards, with ghosts, ghouls and spectres on the loose, screaming is an apt word.

Have a look at the 55 second video clip.

And if you want to purchase a copy, then it will be available in all good book shops, including our very own West Uist Bookshop at the bottom of this blog. Alternatively, hit the button to the left and go straight to Amazon.

Calum Steele
Editor

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