Predicting the future

And - no - before you ask, this isn't about predicting the actual future, but more about writing about what the actual future might be like. This usually comes under the heading of Science Fiction. I read a lot of it but so far haven't tried my hand at writing it, the Saskia stories '2065' and 'New Earth' (www.saskia.me.uk) being the only exception so far. It's far more difficult than it seems and the present has a habit of overtaking what you've written, making it look a bit foolish. A case in point. I've just done reading 'Wasp' by Eric Frank Russell. A story set well into the future, when Earth is at war with the Sirian Combine. His cars and other vehicles are run by power beamed from a central power station, needing no fuel or batteries. A brilliant idea that won't be overtaken anytime soon. However, how do you select one item of data from a huge database, say the personal details of a suitable spy? Mr Russell uses punched cards. Now bear in mind that 'Wasp' was written in 1958 when computer technology was well in its infancy. Back then, punched cards were state of the art and nobody at the time had the slightest idea what would happen to computers in just a few short years. Mr Russell used what he knew at the time, but the present (2013) has overtaken him just a bit. Now all we need is the beamed power system........

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

Horsing around

Could be interesting. In both my series of books, all the girls are - quite partial - to burgers. To be fair, usually the kind supplied by a certain high-street (and other places) fast-food chain. Should I stop them eating such things just in case of contamination by horse meat? On balance I think not. I just have to decide that the burgers they eat are good (nearly said kosher - improper suggestion there I think). After all, the books are fiction, not real life. Authors try to get as close to real life as they can - makes stories more believable. But perhaps we can go too far? So, it's decided. Burgers are in - horse meat is out - for the moment at least. Oh, err, other fast food suppliers are available.
Ian B

Patience is a virtue

They say Patience is a Virtue. Mind you, nobody really knows who 'they' are. Still, the words should speak for themselves. Sometimes it's difficult to be patient, especially when your latest book is about to appear on bookshelves imminently. I know this is the case because I've seen the book cover. For one reason or another, my publisher doesn't tell me the actual release date of the book. Not because they are being difficult, it's because they don't know either, at least not exactly. We're both of us in the hands of the ebook distributors. The book appears when it appears. So I have to be patient. But that doesn't stop me checking with various ebook websites regularly, sometimes several times a day. I'm patient, but only because I have no choice. Oh well, back to sitting cross-legged and  reciting mantras. Om, om, om.
Ian B

Always expect the unexpected

So what's unexpected? Well, most things really I suppose. Some things are nice, like unexpectedly winning the lottery for example, and some are not so nice and I'll leave examples of those to your imagination. I write books. It's nice to download the actual commercial version - proves to yourself that you are actually a published author - even if nobody ever buys your books. I digress (always wanted to use that phrase!). So there I was, reading my latest download of 'Holly'. Now the unexpected bit. At the end of the book I came upon an extra page which simply said 'by the same author'. The next page was the book cover for 'Lisa' which is book one of the Lisa trilogy. Next came the book cover for 'Jody'. Ok so far. The next page was the book cover for 'Saskia'! I hadn't even known the book cover had been done, never mind attached to downloads. Unexpected? You bet your life it was! I almost dropped the poor old reader. Nice? Oh yes! Now all I have to do is wait for the actual book. When that happens it'll be one down, seven to go. Suppose I'll have to get on with finishing book eight. Not sure there's a huge rush, but I should at least try.
Ian B