Are blogs like buses?

I think they might be. I don't post anything for ages, then do two within a couple of hours.
Two more books have appeared in the wild. Only in the States at the moment www.omnilit.com . Can you believe I've waited three years and four months for this moment. The original book, 'Saskia' was accepted for publication originally on 25 November 2010. That original publisher turned out to be something of a charlatan - but that's another story. Mind you, I'm glad in a way. The current publisher had me make some changes that have actually improved the stories in small but significant ways.
I wasn't expecting books one and two to appear together, but the whole series is actually at eight books and rising - the effect of the three year-plus wait. Don't suppose they'll thank me if I send the rest in one go.....
So that's 'Saskia' and 'Saskias'. Book three is called 'Valley of Light'. Watch this space.
Ian B

Coincidentally speaking

Do you believe in coincidence? I can add as many coincidences as I want, I write books after all, it's not real life. But real life has a way of intruding, of sticking it’s nose in whether we want it to or not. Take the 'Saskia' series.
First, the Saskias are called Saskia because I liked the name Saskia. It was only after I began writing the books that I decided to find out what it meant. If you look it up, what you’ll find is that it means ‘Saxon Maid’. That’s a bit - well - boring (sorry if you’re actually called Saskia, but read on, it gets interesting), so I looked a bit harder. Then I found the reference to ‘Valley of Light’, much more interesting, and if you read the books, when they appear, you’ll know I’ve used that in the stories here and there.
Now the slightly spooky bit. Bear in mind that I was writing book eight, at the time. Again, if you read the books you’ll know that the girls save the whole world from time to time. I was looking for something else on the internet when I stumbled across yet a third meaning of the name Saskia - and the hairs on the back of my neck really did stand up. Saskia really does mean ‘Protector of Mankind’, I didn’t make that bit up!
Now you see why I say that the real world has a way of intruding? The interesting thing is, why didn’t I see that third meaning when I originally researched the name? And why have I written umpteen thousand words about two girls who save the world before I knew that their name meant ‘Protector of Mankind’?
Do I believe in coincidence? As Rio says in the book about her, “I don’t really believe in coincidence - or perhaps I do - or at least maybe I will now”. I’m with Rio.
As  matter of interest, 'Rio' will appear eventually. It's a story from the point of view of one of the other characters for a change - but don't worry - those Saskias stick their noses in as usual. For a quick glimpse of Rio the Famous Photographer, have a look at her short story on www.saskia.me.uk
Ian B

Size matters - doesn't it?

I like reading as well as writing, goes without saying I suppose. I like to read in bed, disconnects the brain before sleep. A standard paperback book is just nicely big enough to hold in one hand (unless it's an epic volume with about a million pages). But what's this thing with the larger size books? You know, the ones about a third to a half larger? Ok, they have less pages, but they're much more difficult to hold. Quite apart from that, I have a library (read - set of shelves) with all my books on them. When I built them, they were 'normal' book size - the bigger books don't fit! Oh well. Suppose I'd better get used to reading electronic books in bed.
Ian B