Discord's Child FREE for a week

March 5, 2017
It's Smashword's Read an Ebook week again until 11th March. I've enrolled Discord's Child in it, so all you need to do is visit http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/ksdearsley, click on the novel and use the code SFREE to download a copy for free. This is a really good opportunity to 'try before you buy' if you're unsure whether to get the next in the series, Discord's Apprentice, or to treat yourself to the paperback versions, which should be available from CreateSpace and Amazon from 1st April. Don't forget you can find Exiles of Ondd related tweets on the imaginatively named Twitter account: @ExilesofOndd.
    If novels are too long and tweets are too short, you can find fiction that's just right at Binnacle Ultra-shorts' site where the winning entries from previous years are being posted from the most recent to the earliest. Each one is online for three days only, so it's worth checking the site regularly to read a new miniature gem. The latest competition doesn't close until 15th March. All the entry details are at http://www.umm.maine.edu/binnacle.
    There's more inspiration and plenty to read at http://www.harriscentral.org, especially for short story writers. This is the new website of Bruce Harris, whose anthology, Odds Against, in aid of Huntington's Disease Association will be on sale soon.
    That's all for now, folks. Enjoy!
   

Posted by K. S. Dearsley. Posted In : Coming Soon 

 

Running Late

February 27, 2017
My blogging schedule has gone out of the window once again. My apologies. I have a really bad habit of seriously underestimating how long it takes me to do things, especially if they involve a computer. A big tip to anyone involved in writing or publishing is to work out how long you think you'll need to do something, double it and then add at least a fortnight! I'm hoping I'm back on track now, but as soon as I finish keying this in, I'm going to recross my fingers. It hasn't helped that I'v...
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Posted by K. S. Dearsley. Posted In : Coming Soon 

 

To Have and to Hold

February 5, 2017
Wow! The proofs of Discords' Child and Discord's Apprentice have arrived early. They're looking good, although I do say it myself. I've yet to go through them with my nit-picking comb, but all being well, they should be on sale from Amazon and Create Space by Easter, so you'll have something to read while you're scoffing your Easter eggs. Once I know everything's okay and I have a firm date, the details will be on here straight away. I want to offer some introductory deals, so watch this spac...
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Posted by K. S. Dearsley. Posted In : Coming Soon 

 

One Step Closer

January 30, 2017
I've finally done it–I've clicked on 'order proof' and am now nervously awaiting the arrival of print copies of Discord's Child and Discord's Apprentice.
    The process so far has been relatively painless. I used my files for the Kindle copies and pasted them onto Create Space's template. With print there are extra things to think about concerning the layout, fonts and sizes etc., but at least the manuscript should be free of typos and grammatical errors (I hope!). I also adapted the digita...
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Posted by K. S. Dearsley. Posted In : Coming Soon 

 

Classic Examples

January 23, 2017
Reading classic novels to improve your writing might be useful, but it does have pitfalls. The bestsellers of yesteryear might have stood the test of time, but that doesn't mean they aren't dated.
    In the mid-19th century, the narrator often broke off from telling the story for a long passage of moralising or description, which probably wouldn't go down well in a contemporary work. They mention public figures who were once famous, and occupations or household items that were commonplace bu...
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Posted by K. S. Dearsley.

 

All Systems Go

January 16, 2017
It's been a couple of weeks since I posted a blog, but I haven't been slacking. In fact, the past fortnight's been rather productive, if a little tedious in places.
    After the end of the year hiatus, there have been quite a few mid-month deadlines and submission periods to prepare for across drama, short story and poetry competitions, Then there are the themed hashtag Twitter accounts I've discovered including #MuseMon, #2bitTues, #1lineWed, #Thurds, #SciFiFri, #SchemingSaturday and #6WordS...
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Posted by K. S. Dearsley. Posted In : Coming Soon 

 

Get Ready

December 19, 2016
With everyone winding down their day job and racing around preparing for the season's madness, is it really worth thinking about writing? If you want to be in with a chance of winning any of the many free-to-enter competitions that have closing dates coming up–yes! Here are a few to consider.

* The 14th Binnacle Ultra-short competition for up to 150 words of prose or 16 lines of poetry on any subject that takes your fancy. Closing date: 15th March 2017. Details at http://www.umm.maine/edu/bi...
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Posted by K. S. Dearsley. Posted In : Competitions 

 

What Lies Beneath

December 13, 2016
I recently visited an art exhibition that included a portrait section. Among the works included were several of celebrities that had clearly been done from photographs, either film stills or publicity shots. They were skilfully done, but they got me thinking about what a portrait is.
    There are many paintings and drawings of people–real people, not simply figures painted from the imagination–that are not classed as portraits even though their physical features are recognisable. To be a ...
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Posted by K. S. Dearsley.

 

Guilty Pleasure

December 5, 2016
I confess: I like A Town Called Eureka. The series, which is on Pick, is not exactly the most realistic show on television. In fact, the other half says it's ridiculous, and with my critical head on, I'd have to agree. I got into watching it, because it's on straight after Monkey Life. The series about Monkey World Primate Rescue Centre in Dorset seems to be on a loop and I'm currently watching something like the fifth circuit, plus the new series. I'm addicted to the chimpanzees and the capu...
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Posted by K. S. Dearsley.

 

Aliens and Humans

November 28, 2016
Why do people write and read fiction or poetry? I believe it's to make sense of the world, to learn about themselves and/or the human condition. Even if a science fiction or fantasy tale has no humans in it, it won't work if there's no humanity in it.
    When you write about the vastness of space, describe dust clouds around planets, or the power of black holes you have to do so in such a way that the reader can relate to them, have feelings e.g. fear of their power, awe at their beauty, or ...
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Posted by K. S. Dearsley. Posted In : FantasyFiction 

 
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About Me


My writing career began as a freelance feature writer for the local press, businesses and organisations. Now a prize-winning playwright and short story writer, my work has appeared in numerous publications on both sides of the Atlantic. I write as K. S. Dearsley because it saves having to keep repeating my forename, and specialise in fantasy and other speculative genres.

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