Win £400 for Christmas and Get Your Book Published

Satsuma are proud to be working with http://www.freshbooksonline.com. Click Here for details of the Winter competition.

They want authors ,possibly self published though published can also be welcome too ,to register for FREE and your book will be listed in their impressive site ,and you may win upto £400 in cash and markeing help.

We think it is almost impossible for a self published author to be found. There are thousands of new books a day on Amazon and other online stores. The traditional book stores ,what’s is left ,only want to buy sure things. Any help in the marketplace is a great help.

Register here now ,by 14 Dec ,to be entered into the draw for £400

good luck

Stress is an illness and needs to be treated.

 

I am a cricket fan. I was at Edgbaston in 2005 to witness probably the greatest test of them all. England and Australia going at it 100% but ,and this is key for me ,with great fairness and played in a competitive spirit. Who can forget Freddy Flintoff consoling Brett Lee after the winning wicket?

To see how far cricket has fallen to the realms of panto and disgrace is a great sadness. This weekend to witness the appalling treatment of the opposition ,by the Australians has questioned whether this great game can recover. For one of the world’s best players to decide to go home ,due to depression ,is a matter that the whole world of cricket needs to take responsibility for.

For Michael Clarke ,the Australian captain to be fined 20% of his fee for suggesting an England player may have his arm broken by the bowler is a joke. If you said this in a pub or on a bus you would be arrested for threatening behaviour. For another Australian ,Warner ,to describe the England player as poor and weak shows how lacking in basic humility these people have now become. Don’t forget his gloating came after his team had won.

Trott has gone home. Depression and the need to relax and get away from the limelight the cause. Another sportsman struggling to cope with the ludicrous demands of international sport ,the goldfish bowl ,the ever ending microscope ,the CT scan of every technique.

The cricket world needs to stop the bullying on the pitch ,require the players to set standards and the captain’s have to consider their role in damaging people’s health by non stop sledging.

Satsuma are proud ,never more so than now ,to work with Kam Bedi or KB Lifecoaching. Kam can help you find clarity with your goals and positivity. Providing techniques to help you with stress and anxiety. Stress is an illness and needs to be treated.

Kam can be contacted through her website on http://www.kambedi.co.uk

More Fresh Writing ,Fresh Reading that Pushes the Boundaries From Dog Horn Publishing

How about this for a review of the great book ,published by UK publisher Dog Horn?

Black Static magazine writes of Douglas Thompson’s Mechagnosis:

‘Beautifully written, beautifully characterised, particularly in the case of Wroclaw, an old man yearning for the things he feels he has missed out on, this is a book that will reward future readings, one that like The Machine itself, has secrets to reveal, visions of other realities.’

Mechagnosis is experimental fiction from an up-and-coming new voice ,described by Interzone Magazine as a  “name to watch” It is  Trans-genre writing that defies categorisation. Unusual fusion of mystery, action, poetic insight and psychological insight.

Douglas Thompson is no stranger to praise as his short stories have appeared in a wide range of magazines and anthologies, most recently Albedo One, Ambit, Postscripts, and New Writing Scotland. He won the Grolsch/Herald Question of Style Award in 1989 and second prize in the Neil Gunn Writing Competition in 2007. His first book, Ultrameta, was published by Eibonvale Press in August 2009, nominated for the Edge Hill Prize, and shortlisted for the BFS Best Newcomer Award. His critically acclaimed second novel, Sylvow, was published in autumn 2010, also from Eibonvale. A third novel “Apoidea”, has recently been published by The Exaggerated Press. He is a director of the Scottish Writer’s Centre and Marketing Manager for Eibonvale Press UK. Click here for more information about the author.

Mechagnosis tells the story of Scott Malthrop who is a murderer with a difference: his entire house is filled with an enormous device gradually assembled by him and his father over four decades. Known only as “The Machine” the device seems to transport Malthrop to different locations in space and time by feeding off his memories and a vast array of sentimental objects and trophies taken by Malthrop from his own past and that of his victims.

As Malthrop’s experiments become ever more violent and life-threatening, they cause distortions in the surrounding quantum fabric, and spark off pursuit from two very different directions: a local Police Inspector and two “Angels” sent back from the end of time. This peculiar triangle gradually closes in unexpected ways, as each of the participants find their roles transformed by their imminent encounter with Malthrop and his mysterious Machine.

For more details of the author and book click here

For a link to Amazon click here and funky book retailer The Robot Trading Co  here

Aly Korshid. Get to know the author of the fabulous A Tender Power

If passion ,love and despair ,set against a global background are your “bag” then the new novel , A Tender Power ,by Aly Korshid will tick the boxes.

Available now from York Publishing on here and Amazon here spice up your life this tale of cross cultural and religious love. Here is the blurb

“From stifling desert camps in Dubai to the bustle of Wall Street and London, follows Eddie Lancaster, a spoilt heir to a US banking dynasty and Amir, a scholar of an altogether more forgiving way of doing business: Islamic finance. Their common link is Leila, an alluring Saudi woman, the niece of Amir and ex-Harvard colleague of Eddie. He carries with him an adoration of Leila that only seems to grow with their years apart.

The story takes place over several decades and is set against the descent from boom to bust for international finance. Meanwhile Eddie’s father, the patriarch of the Lancaster dynasty, is forced into an involvement with a shadowy organization that uses blackmail, murder and terrorism to get its way – or merely make a point. And just to complicate matters Eddie’s mother has become even more intimately involved with the ringleader, oblivious to his identity and the danger she is in.

With presidents, sheikhs, academics, powerful businessmen and terrorists all vying for an advantageous position in a global meltdown, the scene is set for an explosive finale. The world is looking for the level heads to win the arguments and save the world from financial catastrophe. But has the answer been staring us in the face all along?”

Aly Korshid also gave us the chance to talk about his work and influences in our author blog

Q1. How did you become a writer?

I was writing since I was 8 years old, I wrote short stories then become interested in banking and finance where I wrote numerous articles published in trade business and banking magazines, I wrote a 4 books and 3 joint books on Islamic Banking and finance.

Q2. How would you describe your genre?

I am considered as an academic who is able to simplify a difficult topic into simple and easy to understand topic.

Q3. What authors do you enjoy reading?

Sarah Morgan, Hillary Boyd, Jan-Philip Sendker,  Liane Moriarty, Abby Clements,

Q4. What authors have influenced your style of writing?

Taha Hussain

Q5. You can take 1 book on holiday. What would it be?

Romance and love story

Q6. What is the next book you intend to release?

2^nd Part of “A Tender Power

Q7. EBook reader or print?

Both. A Tender Power is available in both formats. Click here

Enjoy!

Storytelling! The New Rock and Roll

 

Satsuma are proud to be working with Mara Menzies ,master Storyteller.

Mara offers storytelling as a way to educate ,inspire and clarify. She can help kids but also adults and businesses. She offers a range of services from corporate events to entertainment.

This is Mara’s story

I have been a storyteller for as long as I can remember, with influences from both my Scottish and Kenyan roots. I grew up at the Kenyan coast and was privileged to live in a rural community where stories was part and parcel of daily life. Moving to Scotland was a great shock to the system but it was here that I began to consolidate my years of storytelling experience and begin to use stories in a myriad of different ways.

I’ve always told stories, presenting for the BBC, teaching in both Sudan and Madagascar using story and song and simply visiting schools and sharing some tales. Scotland is a country so proud of its heritage that being a storyteller here is just delightful, as we are surrounded daily by myths and legends, histories and folktales and invented chaos. Living in that environment has a tremendous richness and depth.

I work with a variety of audiences from sharing stories with tiny nursery age children, working with wonderfully grumpy teenagers, right up to training teachers and organisations how to make better use of and also how to better tell their stories. My stories are told with great enthusiasm and energy. I never read stories as I believe in that old traveller saying that stories should be told eye to eye, mind to mind and heart to heart.

For young children, listening to stories opens their young minds to all kinds of possibilities and this stimulates an interest in reading more storiesbetter than anything else. Adults too need stories  more than ever before. Oftentimes we build up a fear of speaking to others and that is simply what storytelling is.

I provide storytelling training workshops that demonstrate ways for each individual to find their own unique way of telling stories. Stories have an unsuspecting way of reaching deep into us and can have immense power.

I’m also interested in all the different resources available out there so if you are keen to develop your own style of telling, have a personalised story created just for you or simply want to listen to stories then you’ve come to the right place.

I’ll be blogging regularly, sharing my experiences and draw you into this magical storyfilled world.

 

 

Email: maramenzies@gmail.com

Tel: +44 (0) 7828 900 502

Skype: marastoryteller

Facebook: Mara Menzies

Also take a look at www.tototales.co.uk to see what theatrical storytelling productions I am working on too.

If you have an event to plan and you want a new slant or approach contact Mara for details

 

 

What is Self Esteem?

Here is everything you need to know about self-esteem and self confidence.

Everyone has an opinion about ourselves. Its how we feel about ourselves and how we value ourselves. Throughout your life the level of self-esteem can change ,as it is the end product of your circumstances and experience.

If you have low self-esteem your value of your own self will often be negative. You may focus on what you feel are your weaknesses, and mistakes that you have made.

Consider this quote from the great website at http://www.mind.org.uk

“People think I am confident because I can address a room full of people. The reality is that I spend most of my time thinking that I’m not good enough. If I… give a speech, I spend the next few days thinking about all the mistakes I made”

If you have high self-esteem, you will generally see yourself in a positive light.

You might find that life events such as losing your job, ending a relationship or being bereaved give your confidence a huge knock, but high self-esteem can act as a buffer to absorb these knocks and help you bounce back.

Your beliefs make the difference between high and low self-esteem. It is important to realise that these are only opinions, they are not facts. They can be biased or inaccurate, and there are steps you can take to change them.

Holding negative beliefs about yourself lowers your resilience and ability to cope with the stresses of life. This can place you at a higher risk of developing mental health problems such as eating disorders, depression or social phobia, which are closely related to your mood and self-belief.

Low self-esteem can be triggered or made worse by existing mental health problems, such as a panic disorder or schizophrenia. You may find that the pressure of other symptoms and the stigma associated with mental health problems impacts on the way you see yourself.

Steps to Take

It’s not scientific but share your concerns. Find out what others feel about what you say or do. They will value you higher than you value yourself. As my mother says a trouble shared is a trouble halved.

Speak to an expert ,such as Kam Bedi in London. Her website is http://www.kambedi.co.uk. Kam is a trained life coach and help you understand where you are and help you find clarity with your career and relationships

 

Whatever Happened to? ………Marc Cohn

I’m having a typical  Friday moment.

Starring music onto Spotify. Stumbled across Marc Cohn. The Original Walking in Memphis. My favourite track was Perfect Love with James Taylor

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=699cZHpW88Y

Down by the boathouse at Shaker Lake
When there wasn’t nothing but love to make,
They were two young lovers wishing on the stars above.

Getting old!

Any other Favourites?

Whatever happened to Marc Cohn?

What’s Hot for National Short Story Week Next Week?

We love short stories. We love long stuff too but short stories are an art in themselves.It allows the author to tighten up their skills ,no place to hide. We think that this makes better literary quality and the extra foces brings special rewards.

Sue Whitaker is one of the best in the UK. Living in Yorkshire she has written a great trilogy of short stories about the excitement and tales from a yorkshire charity shop. You will cry ,laugh ,empahises and understand.

We also love Sue’s selection of stories for Children. Book one is And Jake Makes Three.

Here is the blurby thing…Brother and Sister ,Sam and Jess ,team up with Jake the dog. Exploring on the Moors they find the concealed entrance to a disused tunnel. Strange nightly sounds follow and Gran shares the local tale of a ghost train;a train carrying the lost souls of smugglers ,who hauled their contrabnd ashore at the nearby bay”

If that doesnt get the kids off the Xbox and reading what will??

Or how about this excerpt

“they ran as fast as the restricting darkness would allow, stumbling and losing pace many times. The tunnel seemed endless”

Available from the publisher ,ETA Publishing  ,here or Amazon here

Support your Indie Publishers and Authors. Buy British

A Tender Power. Spanning the globe romance and thriller.

 

Now on Goodreads ,click here ,the exceptional work from Aly Korshid ,A Tender Power

Blurb time

…..From stifling desert camps in Dubai to the bustle of Wall Street and London, follows Eddie Lancaster, a spoilt heir to a US banking dynasty and Amir, a scholar of an altogether more forgiving way of doing business: Islamic finance. Their common link is Leila, an alluring Saudi woman, the niece of Amir and ex-Harvard colleague of Eddie. He carries with him an adoration of Leila that only seems to grow with their years apart. The story takes place over several decades and is set against the descent from boom to bust for international finance. Meanwhile Eddie’s father, the patriarch of the Lancaster dynasty, is forced into an involvement with a shadowy organization that uses blackmail, murder and terrorism to get its way – or merely make a point. And just to complicate matters Eddie’s mother has become even more intimately involved with the ringleader, oblivious to his identity and the danger she is in. With presidents, sheikhs, academics, powerful businessmen and terrorists all vying for an advantageous position in a global meltdown, the scene is set for an explosive finale. The world is looking for the level heads to win the arguments and save the world from financial catastrophe. But has the answer been staring us in the face all along?

Don’t get me wrong. Romance is not my normal bag but this is good. Cross religious issues ,global settings ,passion. Its got it all. Well worth a diversion.

Also Available in Amazon here and from Shelfari here

Wilfred Owen Died 4 November 1918.

 

On this day in 1918 the finest war poet ,Wilfred Owen was killed crossing the Sambre Canal in France. He was 25. His parents were informed on 11 November ,a week later ,on the day of the Armistice.

Of the many great poems Owen wrote i love this …..

He was killed on November 4 of that year while attempting to lead his men across the Sambre canal at Ors. He was 25 years old. The news reached his parents on November 11, the day of the Armistice. The collected Poems of Wilfred Owen appeared in December 1920, with an introduction by Sassoon, and he has since become one of the most admired poets of World War I. – See more at: http://www.poets.org/poet.php/prmPID/305#sthash.c6yF91et.dpuf

He was killed on November 4 of that year while attempting to lead his men across the Sambre canal at Ors. He was 25 years old. The news reached his parents on November 11, the day of the Armistice. The collected Poems of Wilfred Owen appeared in December 1920, with an introduction by Sassoon, and he has since become one of the most admired poets of World War I. – See more at: http://www.poets.org/poet.php/prmPID/305#sthash.c6yF91et.dpuf

Greater Love

by Wilfred Owen

Red lips are not so red

As the stained stones kissed by the English dead.

Kindness of wooed and wooer

Seems shame to their love pure.

O Love, your eyes lose lure

When I behold eyes blinded in my stead!

Your slender attitude

Trembles not exquisite like limbs knife-skewed,

Rolling and rolling there

Where God seems not to care;

Till the fierce love they bear

Cramps them in death’s extreme decrepitude.

Your voice sings not so soft,—

Though even as wind murmuring through raftered loft,—

Your dear voice is not dear,

Gentle, and evening clear,

As theirs whom none now hear,

Now earth has stopped their piteous mouths that coughed.

Heart, you were never hot

Nor large, nor full like hearts made great with shot;

And though your hand be pale,

Paler are all which trail

Your cross through flame and hail:

Weep, you may weep, for you may touch them not.

One of the greatest poets of the time ,his natural ability to create such a vivid picture of bleakness and darkness.

This blog was sponsored by http://www.fratpoet.com the showcase site where you can upload your songs ,lyrics ,rap and poems for £1 per month. All posts are free of spam and adverts and you can use the site to build a real fanbase.