tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87897328362869633182024-03-09T21:36:12.332-08:00Greg's BooksBlogging about my books and writing - and sometimes a few other things!Greg Curtishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10783031390790113616noreply@blogger.comBlogger154125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8789732836286963318.post-21535421448057051252024-03-09T21:35:00.000-08:002024-03-09T21:35:38.434-08:00A Busy Couple Of Months!<p style="text-align: justify;"> Hi Guys,</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNR6jtDQDC9gn-1YK3krpo_sfmpV-WRAGCifNYGHgwzmhNxHi8r9-bxNuWzncBRkLcMfT4rVDhtRoqR7ovks8xoA1FV_vH2wPGESc8x7KjdQ9DT-t9vTzs7uoL5XrgU7-ZA6ERzB_TJ_6pOHifdvFNxS25y4bJA7gI2jTXaBjQNcNnsGs83cZNNyA6xsYM/s2825/SinsOfTheFatherFinalCover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2825" data-original-width="1925" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNR6jtDQDC9gn-1YK3krpo_sfmpV-WRAGCifNYGHgwzmhNxHi8r9-bxNuWzncBRkLcMfT4rVDhtRoqR7ovks8xoA1FV_vH2wPGESc8x7KjdQ9DT-t9vTzs7uoL5XrgU7-ZA6ERzB_TJ_6pOHifdvFNxS25y4bJA7gI2jTXaBjQNcNnsGs83cZNNyA6xsYM/s320/SinsOfTheFatherFinalCover.jpg" width="218" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><p align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">Blurb:</p><p align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">Brian had too many problems in his life. Living the life of someone
in witness protection was never easy. The rules were hard. Never tell
anyone your true name. Never engage in personal relationships –
they were a trap. And never forget who you were supposed to be. And
he always followed the rules. Or he had. But after fifteen years in
hiding, things were starting to slip. He was forming personal
attachments. There was a girl he liked. And some days he almost
forgot he was in hiding!</p>
<p align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Then his family, the people he had put away for life, got out of
jail!</p>
<p align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Medea wasn't finding the life of a constable with the Fijian Police
Force that easy either. Constable it turned out, was another term for
dogsbody. The detectives treated her like a slave. Her bosses
screamed at her. And there was absolutely no respect! Still she put
up with it.</p>
<p align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
But when somebody started murdering tourists on the island and
leaving body parts everywhere, their real problems began!</p>
<p align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</p></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkxrXZwfI453kdxsVNVl_Cwuktk0BjJnqrOyzjN9KaOm9bBuOZOxIF8hFRtDDJ6j_ozuR3T7lYAdatVvGjUVoYfAK8QYae-zDFNhw6eR9LTNs3GJe3t0ZzHtkGYrPx5IC9kV-23crJYUEo26eQouTp7wgGjJ85rWdV3jT5HLf-1zcJX3W2qxGNsBkON2rm/s2825/DruidCover10Titled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2825" data-original-width="1925" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkxrXZwfI453kdxsVNVl_Cwuktk0BjJnqrOyzjN9KaOm9bBuOZOxIF8hFRtDDJ6j_ozuR3T7lYAdatVvGjUVoYfAK8QYae-zDFNhw6eR9LTNs3GJe3t0ZzHtkGYrPx5IC9kV-23crJYUEo26eQouTp7wgGjJ85rWdV3jT5HLf-1zcJX3W2qxGNsBkON2rm/s320/DruidCover10Titled.jpg" width="218" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Blurb:</div><div><p align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">Having a gift was cool. Magic was cool. Krys loved it. He loved being
a druid. But he didn't love everything else that came with it. Like
being a member of the Assembly. Having to attend the monthly forums.
Being bossed around by the watchers. And never being able to reveal
his true nature to anyone.</p>
<p align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Callista held similar views. Especially after the watchers had not
only demanded all of those things of her, but had stolen her money
and her mansion as well! They'd forced her into the life of an
indentured servant! And now they seemed to actually want to make her
into a watcher! All because of a little bit of fraud! Honestly the
normals would never have found out about it!</p>
<p align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
It just wasn't fair!</p>
<p align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Then one day a teenage boy started flying around New York, and none
of that mattered. The only thing that did matter was keeping their
secret lives, secret! Before the witch burnings began!</p>
<p align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</p></div><br /><p style="text-align: justify;">Sorry it's been a while since my last post. But I have been a little bit engrossed in my writing. And now I have two books out to show for it. (Covers and blurbs above!) So not a terrible start to the year. And hopefully there'll be a few more out in the not-too-distant future as well. And yes, Freaksville is on that list, currently going through its third edit.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The covers as usual are the creations of Deep Dream (all hail our AI overlords!) with me just adding a few tweaks and titles etc. And I have to say that while it's a frustrating program, often spewing out results that don't resemble anything like what I asked for, when it gets things right it gets them even better than I could have hoped for!</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Anyway, I'm proud of these two books, and busy, losing myself in writing several others as usual. But I will try to update my blog more often in the future (and hopefully apologize less for my failures in doing so as well!</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Hope you're all enjoying this new year, and I wish you all the best.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Cheers, Greg.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p>Greg Curtishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10783031390790113616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8789732836286963318.post-24715107140491674322024-01-07T10:50:00.000-08:002024-03-05T04:11:13.493-08:00Happy New Year!<p> Hi Guys,</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrFJ6a4Jb0687G9hsSti8sui1tRgWV8GC2TTbaiA2U8qwP9drXyow6qTT8ue0OAcXtXttELgQBMXk6sob7sVuUAPHVEnOLHV10KMKIDPeoJku55HqOPk_3YXJGK0phL6pUwrwYYCOHoO8DOuUbOZXQ-qhj34h_0Gn47Ml4Q1ykZW1FCNhSDynBqBAybASc/s2700/TheHuntTitled2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2700" data-original-width="2121" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrFJ6a4Jb0687G9hsSti8sui1tRgWV8GC2TTbaiA2U8qwP9drXyow6qTT8ue0OAcXtXttELgQBMXk6sob7sVuUAPHVEnOLHV10KMKIDPeoJku55HqOPk_3YXJGK0phL6pUwrwYYCOHoO8DOuUbOZXQ-qhj34h_0Gn47Ml4Q1ykZW1FCNhSDynBqBAybASc/s320/TheHuntTitled2.jpg" width="251" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: justify;">So new year - old problems!</p><p style="text-align: justify;">As you may have noticed another book got published right at the end of last year - and strangely enough it wasn't Druid! Those of you who read my posts will know that this is nothing out of the ordinary. I get side tracked and things happen. Which is more or less exactly what happened to me, yet again.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">So <i>"The Hunt" </i>is out. Another Detective / Police Procedural / Mystery which follows some well-worn themes - like someone needing to use extreme plastic surgery to escape her would be killers, but handles them in a new way. But it also has some new plot points, new locales, and a much more hard-bitten hero. (The only one who comes with his own armored car and an arsenal!) He also has a somewhat more jaundiced view of the world. And yes - this time I let the bad guys destroy the world! (Just a little bit! But you know - the bad guys just lose so much - they need a little reward every now and then!)</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Oh, and the cover as you can probably guess comes from Deep Dream. (Long may our AI overlords rule over us!)</p><p style="text-align: justify;">So here's the blurb:</p><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />Once she had been Chrissy Fuller – cover model. Then she had become
Chrissy Gordon – abused wife. And now she was Brittany Holder –
terrified. Fleeing for her life after shooting her husband. Desperate
enough to take any risk.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">
Icarus West meanwhile had always been a soldier. Now he just used his
skills as a private detective to recover what was missing. People and
property. But little could he know when he was asked to find Harry
Gordon's missing wife, that it would lead to disaster. He just knew
the guy was bad. That he meant to do his runaway wife harm. And that
he couldn't take the case.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">
But actions have consequences. So does inaction. And sometimes those
consequences were completely unpredictable!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">
Both Brittany and West were stepping into a world they just didn't
understand! Where nothing was as it seemed! But one that could kill
them both if they made a single mistake!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Hope you enjoy and have a great new year.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Cheers, Greg.<br /></div><p style="text-align: left;">
</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p>Greg Curtishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10783031390790113616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8789732836286963318.post-36426852527406780232023-12-03T12:05:00.000-08:002024-03-05T04:11:53.835-08:00Druid's Almost Ready For Publishing<p>Hi Guys,</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu1wfcw7QePVx_bYdLcg0CF60Dl-RxOSkkEVPEq7zq3BfO2V_hn6qz17uCllbjJ1D4bCOElQLRnZMD2dcLwiw7urN854qncEAWLiLXbEe5UkIk9kIL5cxlHd-GFhD_8z5lGLMnRDLlMzUGsjcaJ158Tm2HWvmc5osvIux8ZUrQg8g2oPQjPNDv_gfmhiNw/s864/MeOnDeepDream.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="864" data-original-width="640" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu1wfcw7QePVx_bYdLcg0CF60Dl-RxOSkkEVPEq7zq3BfO2V_hn6qz17uCllbjJ1D4bCOElQLRnZMD2dcLwiw7urN854qncEAWLiLXbEe5UkIk9kIL5cxlHd-GFhD_8z5lGLMnRDLlMzUGsjcaJ158Tm2HWvmc5osvIux8ZUrQg8g2oPQjPNDv_gfmhiNw/s320/MeOnDeepDream.jpg" width="237" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: justify;">To begin with I thought I'd let you know that Druid is now almost ready to roll off the presses. It's an urban fantasy that will hopefully be out in time for Christmas after just a little more editing.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The other thing I wanted to tell you is that that image you see at the top of the post is me - sort of! (Or it could be me if I shed twenty years, a hundred pounds, got to the gym a lot more, grew some designer stubble, maybe used a little hair dye, and underwent some plastic surgery,) Really, it's a dead ringer for me! At least Deep Dream seems to think as much.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The reason I wanted to show you this, is that this was a fun experiment which I only thought of the other day and tried out simply to see what would happen. And it's amazing! Normally when I use Deep Dream I use only a written command prompt, and often get some very random images. The people it comes up with might not be very representative of the instructions I gave the program or the image in my head. But if you add a photo as a reference, you tend to get something far truer to the image. And then it occurred to me - what if I began with a photo of myself?!</p><p style="text-align: justify;">So, I tried it, using a minimal command prompt and a photo and got something that was of course a supermodel twenty year old guestimate of me. And while it was pretty, I really couldn't see a lot of myself in it. But by adding a little to the command prompt description and playing with the parameters I got the above - which is probably fifty percent me and fifty percent the AI's built-in biases for young and beautiful people. And it's truly strange and amazing and awesome to look at it and see something that's almost me. A little like staring into the uncanny valley! (And then for variety, I started using some of the other engines on Deep Dream like photoreal, fantasy and artistic and got even more weird and whacky versions!) It's been a blast!</p><p style="text-align: justify;">And yes, I know, AI is terrible, and all the machines are going to rise up and destroy us shortly, but damn - some of it is worth the ride towards the apocalypse!</p><p style="text-align: justify;">So I think my point here, is to recommend to all of you that you try the same experiment with photos of yourselves and whichever AI you use and see what comes out. It's just so damned much fun!</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Anyway, that's just my two cents worth, and I hope you take it for what it's worth. I'll also try to put out another post before the end of the year. (Maybe I'll even try to hit the gym again too now that I know what I could almost be like if I really, really, really work at it!) And in the meantime, as usual, be good or don't get caught.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Cheers, Greg.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"> </p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"> </p>Greg Curtishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10783031390790113616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8789732836286963318.post-30151883194315517662023-10-29T19:39:00.000-07:002024-03-05T04:12:14.778-08:00A Pirating We Will Go!<p>Hi Guys,</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUv_0NGVCknd6WdvEs_kEde79P53IdViu8d70BXlROxhuGXzDVQmwp3qA_4fM5yeGSDWN8d6-22gBFy3vYNCR4NvdecaHwaCfkaZPU-mb4ly33qnlBbS2Kwy5GLjTi1jn1TapadtJkVmZCATzRdnWchtlz8poULjvTsob0wrmnnOxzXU3SExDjNHthWXGm/s3239/ThePirate'sSonCover5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2850" data-original-width="3239" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUv_0NGVCknd6WdvEs_kEde79P53IdViu8d70BXlROxhuGXzDVQmwp3qA_4fM5yeGSDWN8d6-22gBFy3vYNCR4NvdecaHwaCfkaZPU-mb4ly33qnlBbS2Kwy5GLjTi1jn1TapadtJkVmZCATzRdnWchtlz8poULjvTsob0wrmnnOxzXU3SExDjNHthWXGm/s320/ThePirate'sSonCover5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"> </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Just to let you know - The Pirate's Son is now up and out there. It's another mystery / detective, but this time set in New Zealand - Hamilton, Britain and the Canaries. (Also on the Seven Seas!) And it asks that most fundamental of questions - what happened when a banker goes nuts and takes up piracy?!<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Anyway, I'm pleased with the book and pleased that it's finally done. And yes, once more the book cover comes from Deep Dream. So for those of you curious about these things, here's the blurb:</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">
</p><p align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
A pirating we will go!</p>
<p align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
It wasn't easy being an architect! That was what Cliff was
discovering. Because one day he might be sitting at his desk,
designing a barn, and the next he could be in jail because his
bastard of a father – who wasn't even his father – had collapsed
his bank and run off with the money. And while he did that Cliff
would be left to answer for his crimes!</p>
<p align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
It was that old pirate blood showing through!</p>
<p align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Then again, it wasn't so easy being a police detective either as DI
Richards was discovering. Not when her suspects were crazy, the
mastermind behind the fraud was missing, and the crimes made no
sense. But she had hope. It would all come together – maybe. And
hopefully her boss wouldn't yell at her!</p>
<p align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
But then when her chief suspect started cruising the seven seas,
plundering in a luxury yacht turned pirate ship, she knew that the
chances of that were slim to none!</p>
<p align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
It was time to batten down the hatches and prepare for a storm as a
geriatric madman in a pirate ship declared war on the world!</p>
<p align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Anyway, hope you guys enjoy the book, and I'll enjoy a nice long nap on the couch!</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Cheers, Greg. <br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"> </p><p style="text-align: justify;"> </p><p style="text-align: justify;"> </p><p style="text-align: justify;"> </p><p style="text-align: justify;"> </p><p style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></p>Greg Curtishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10783031390790113616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8789732836286963318.post-91729551469300078462023-09-27T01:43:00.004-07:002024-03-05T04:12:46.026-08:00Hobson's Choice<p> Hi Guys,</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbIgG8rvShYYOds_7l0VP7qlHnwG8ULXg7moYXyZIQpcAPGPU3IJgEOjZn5Q1Jcj1aha-mgBKMFP6fOSwIEw1EVoCX2fYcS28iOlbaozOQzBAshmcbuXWR5R2iIyzF-wmTxbKaTTMvlVGy-pgVUL9CKDjI1VY0Ikg89CT2Ig9HAgzybsCeYuhzDF1otW2z/s2700/Hobson'sChoiceCover6Titled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2700" data-original-width="1769" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbIgG8rvShYYOds_7l0VP7qlHnwG8ULXg7moYXyZIQpcAPGPU3IJgEOjZn5Q1Jcj1aha-mgBKMFP6fOSwIEw1EVoCX2fYcS28iOlbaozOQzBAshmcbuXWR5R2iIyzF-wmTxbKaTTMvlVGy-pgVUL9CKDjI1VY0Ikg89CT2Ig9HAgzybsCeYuhzDF1otW2z/s320/Hobson'sChoiceCover6Titled.jpg" width="210" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Well yes, it's finally happened! I've put out another book - Hobson's Choice - which is my third detective novel, though not related to either The Keeper or Alone In The Dark. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">As well as a simple detective / police procedural work, it also delves into the spy genre as well. So as well as the basic whodunit plot lines, it also has the more paranoia / suspense plot lines of who's trying to kill me and who have I actually been working for for all these years? There's also a bit of old school spycraft that I remember seeing on shows like Mission Impossible as a kid. And for those who like it, I set the book in Bora Bora. (Yes, I admit it, I do like Death in Paradise - even if it's a different mythical island.)</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Also don't ask me what happened to the dagger. I had an image of a dagger covered in black rose petals in my head and Deep Dream had a different one in its! But I still think it's a great image, even if it's not quite right.<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Of course as usual, while I was finishing off Hobson's choice, I was also starting two more books, so my timetable for other books has been thrown off a little - but what else is new?</p><p style="text-align: justify;">In the meantime, Here's the blurb for Hobson's Choice:</p><p style="text-align: justify;">
</p><p align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"> </p><p align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">One Crime – Two Choices</p>
<p align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
James Hobson is a copper. A British detective, retired on medical
grounds and living in the French Pacific. And life is good. Until a
gang of armed robbers raid the Sandstone Resort and kill and injure
dozens of his neighbours. After that he has only one choice – to be
a copper again. He can't allow such horrible brutality go unanswered.
Not on Bora Bora.</p>
<p align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Sarah Goldman is a spy. A cleaner for the Agency. And she has covered
up the gang's tracks. But after having been there during the raid and
seen what they did – can she still be that woman? Will she ever
forgive herself?! Then again, can she quit? Or will the Agency kill
her first?!</p>
<p align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Until she can make that choice however, she has one job to do. To
stop Hobson from investigating the crime! If she fails – her
tropical vacation will become her funeral!</p>
<p align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</p><p align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
And here, hopefully, if something is working, is the link:</p><p align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">https://www.amazon.com/Hobsons-Choice-Greg-Curtis-ebook/dp/B0CJQ5HY7W?ref_=ast_author_mpb</p><p align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Anyway, I hope you guys enjoy the book, and of course keep yourselves safe and don't get caught!</p><p align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">Cheers, Greg.<br />
</p>
<p align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p>Greg Curtishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10783031390790113616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8789732836286963318.post-87813860980971375312023-09-03T20:06:00.001-07:002024-03-05T04:13:13.486-08:00Enjoying Some Down Time - On The Couch!!!<div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"> Hi Guys,</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVHspghqiNylI8HWjDlaSg-PJW0HcMF61cmqiQChAbE8JeFgIeXBqFQDO2qNPWbO7SyXyRWVR01Z34hYJ4DLuEVuYB3IXkdK8UF1KxBlrfJC3KM8521-LKeN_CmDtlsnWl9Srp_nxQ3DaC_fPwA59PZ6y7lw0PWzmakUs2t-pbJthsMUl69bRP5yP7PWN3/s864/SummonerCover6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="864" data-original-width="672" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVHspghqiNylI8HWjDlaSg-PJW0HcMF61cmqiQChAbE8JeFgIeXBqFQDO2qNPWbO7SyXyRWVR01Z34hYJ4DLuEVuYB3IXkdK8UF1KxBlrfJC3KM8521-LKeN_CmDtlsnWl9Srp_nxQ3DaC_fPwA59PZ6y7lw0PWzmakUs2t-pbJthsMUl69bRP5yP7PWN3/s320/SummonerCover6.jpg" width="249" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Been a little while since I posted anything - mostly because I put my back out about three weeks ago and haven't been able to do much in the way of sitting, standing or walking since then. It's no fun having a back that goes out more often that you do!</p><p style="text-align: justify;">However the good news is that I have been writing - lying on a couch and tapping away on my laptop which my back seems to be okay with. And I expect my next book should be out shortly. It's another detective - Hobson's Choice - which I'm just finishing off now. </p><p style="text-align: justify;"> Mostly what I'm doing is tweaking the dialogue of one of the characters who is Tahitian and likes to mangle not just the English language but French as well. You'd think this would be easy for me as after two years of failing to learn French at college, my French teacher was glad to see the back of me. But it seems that in order to mangle French properly you should probably know how to speak it first! (I think it may be a little bit late for that in my case!)</p><p style="text-align: justify;">I've also picked up a couple of words of Tahitian as well writing this, but I keep wondering when I read the correct pronunciations of the words, whether I should try writing them phonetically. Because the way they're written doesn't match at all with they way they're said!</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Other than that the book is basically finished, and two others, Druid and Freaksville, are in the editing process, so hopefully won't be that far away - if I can ever stop starting new books!</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Anyway that's my life at the moment. Hope things are doing better with you guys.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Cheers, Greg.<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p>Greg Curtishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10783031390790113616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8789732836286963318.post-76215013518026474652023-06-28T23:01:00.000-07:002024-03-05T04:13:37.072-08:00DRUID<p> Hi Guys,</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNWnXm9a207GuLZnr2eC1M7hBZd-3O0PA-K1DCuK9zMWZvPNpTL5BabVl1eGIZv1F5VTwRLRFRz5mhyDAhL8Ex9p6ZMVBqAZmei_GmSmYognHQJv8l-95iT1yMam8F10lSSI1EpiSojCfO8iblALfR6nm6ymLFJ8rSJB97u8VA797SkObJafoSdxeiqS62/s2825/DruidCover10Titled.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2825" data-original-width="1925" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNWnXm9a207GuLZnr2eC1M7hBZd-3O0PA-K1DCuK9zMWZvPNpTL5BabVl1eGIZv1F5VTwRLRFRz5mhyDAhL8Ex9p6ZMVBqAZmei_GmSmYognHQJv8l-95iT1yMam8F10lSSI1EpiSojCfO8iblALfR6nm6ymLFJ8rSJB97u8VA797SkObJafoSdxeiqS62/s320/DruidCover10Titled.jpg" width="218" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Just to let you guys know that I am actually working and the first draft of DRUID is now complete and the revisions / edits are underway.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Druid is a basic urban fantasy and the tattoos are a part of the magic of the man - Krys Ingrim. In fact in this world all those with magic can only use it by shaping the gift within them through markings painted on their bodies - which makes it kind of tricky to hide what you are from the rest of the world if people know that secret! Of course the background to the story is that the secret gets out and the magical have to try and keep their heads down while battling a traitor within their own number and an international intelligence agency wanting to utilize their gifts. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">The story is set in Rotorua, New Zealand and the main protagonist lives not that far from my door. Just on the other side of the lake in fact - a place called Haumarana. So be warned, there are some Maori names in the work which are going to sound odd to non-kiwi ears. (The spell checkers didn't like them either - and some of the auto-corrections were hilarious! Haumarana for example they believe should be either maharani or amaranth - neither of which I'd ever heard of before.)</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Meanwhile Freaksville is still in process. I've reached the final chapters and love the story but can't quite figure out what the ending is. (Oh the joys of being a pantster!) But I will keep working on it and I'm hopeful it will be out shortly.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">As always I hope you're all doing well and keeping out of trouble - or not getting caught!</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Cheers, Greg.<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p><br /></p>Greg Curtishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10783031390790113616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8789732836286963318.post-48717988976008717192023-06-01T02:13:00.002-07:002024-03-05T04:14:06.597-08:00More Fun With Covers and Deep Dream!<p> Hi Guys,</p><p>Just having some more fun with Deep Dream. I don't know what all the fuss is with AI, but so far my computer hasn't tried to kill me - although my new phone is driving me to the point of epic insanity! But Deep Dream is amazing.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0QRU03SqJX8EfBXdZYwyii_J3cD7eF8VmajrAqq7UzLBVQRksGuU-z0Zt7cjYgWASQxbpDT_27EZd_Gn4uuQ_SOoF2LQpJ2bSTHrhS4zbhBCNiHaFGWy6S4maaO24qdZZo7YkhIEijIl5Vc8JOKlt3Z8y8wr0GIMeo4DCgy8tXlKGa_TZVmsG5wYezQ/s896/catsDinner1Titled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="896" data-original-width="704" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0QRU03SqJX8EfBXdZYwyii_J3cD7eF8VmajrAqq7UzLBVQRksGuU-z0Zt7cjYgWASQxbpDT_27EZd_Gn4uuQ_SOoF2LQpJ2bSTHrhS4zbhBCNiHaFGWy6S4maaO24qdZZo7YkhIEijIl5Vc8JOKlt3Z8y8wr0GIMeo4DCgy8tXlKGa_TZVmsG5wYezQ/s320/catsDinner1Titled.jpg" width="251" /></a></div>Damn he looks confused and horrified!<br /><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAP415FRE7QDv-D3GBD53IpOy3vs4rcXVTEwW6y16w1kP3kNBaJ3rI_brOse-rpRw4aHUVLFkmbedG2JaRDEYCFRCLzZLI5wZiaIA5ElrcH921IKYBedYwZMhVGENU_Y2ggMNVD4VZ2kSosfpIdOGJbST95hQe5FKkus8cSxeSCE0gJeOCAJeDkgeYeA/s928/wizardess10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="608" data-original-width="928" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAP415FRE7QDv-D3GBD53IpOy3vs4rcXVTEwW6y16w1kP3kNBaJ3rI_brOse-rpRw4aHUVLFkmbedG2JaRDEYCFRCLzZLI5wZiaIA5ElrcH921IKYBedYwZMhVGENU_Y2ggMNVD4VZ2kSosfpIdOGJbST95hQe5FKkus8cSxeSCE0gJeOCAJeDkgeYeA/s320/wizardess10.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Don't really have a book for this image - just playing around and it came up.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUh70qQc27z6cgdXyVens2YMXskZX1Wt8cRIMpOk6mRMYY-0jNuNtY-1KsGgYXh5ybcxHjgkBm-B_9d-0-aYBVZrR-eQuAuPcNIw9PJt6nZZUL0v_y4-kgJWHlAvcZoBKDH4uM08AyMeozSBLsEYS8Xz3oi3xBRQKuhuH4LJAYvCTNxHcSoeVbLb2kag/s864/TattoodWizard12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="864" data-original-width="672" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUh70qQc27z6cgdXyVens2YMXskZX1Wt8cRIMpOk6mRMYY-0jNuNtY-1KsGgYXh5ybcxHjgkBm-B_9d-0-aYBVZrR-eQuAuPcNIw9PJt6nZZUL0v_y4-kgJWHlAvcZoBKDH4uM08AyMeozSBLsEYS8Xz3oi3xBRQKuhuH4LJAYvCTNxHcSoeVbLb2kag/s320/TattoodWizard12.jpg" width="249" /></a></div><p>This could be the cover for a book I'm working on - Dream Five (It's an urban fantasy that I keep getting stuck on.)<br /></p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Ey4JCvOK41GqLnesnx6NKxLQORGoUkIgFQebsdG-BDT_B1LxMA2y17IYTNvleEa0tK5-NSwndP9xrem4V5gBo-RIZoOi77L0rQ911tEfD5biHdEJrY0i1cx3FNjxFSg8716OV5iwk8JIZwXr4-JntgKIwGtUCkyj_VYxKyZ30FSn-kGUH-KA7FuPXg/s1680/BartonVilla4FlyingSauceandDeeWallaceRough.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1050" data-original-width="1680" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Ey4JCvOK41GqLnesnx6NKxLQORGoUkIgFQebsdG-BDT_B1LxMA2y17IYTNvleEa0tK5-NSwndP9xrem4V5gBo-RIZoOi77L0rQ911tEfD5biHdEJrY0i1cx3FNjxFSg8716OV5iwk8JIZwXr4-JntgKIwGtUCkyj_VYxKyZ30FSn-kGUH-KA7FuPXg/s320/BartonVilla4FlyingSauceandDeeWallaceRough.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>And this was one of the covers I was looking at for the next Barton Villa book. (Actually it's two Deep Dream Images put together by me!)<br /></p><p><br /></p><p>All I can really say is that this program is bloody awesome!</p><p><br /></p><p>Cheers, Greg.<br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Greg Curtishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10783031390790113616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8789732836286963318.post-24312463297765621192023-05-16T14:04:00.000-07:002023-05-16T14:04:18.998-07:00I Have Entered The Modern Age!<p> Hi Guys,</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg780BWNaErdZVVpB22zr4PifYpuhxxG4QHAU7jWrLO3toKIR7PWur4ZX7GFRvqkoaq1zW8jVPVB4CdeT6NRY0qrTF6gk-NogX2_9oZV2Xz1uIYcMAf72bqstTVuGz1plqunXFvRpLET6ob7XmFE4fK_BLt_iAc6H7OFAVQ7M2Gs9YLoKPwnzVP_Ysmgw/s896/CatOnCell.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="896" data-original-width="704" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg780BWNaErdZVVpB22zr4PifYpuhxxG4QHAU7jWrLO3toKIR7PWur4ZX7GFRvqkoaq1zW8jVPVB4CdeT6NRY0qrTF6gk-NogX2_9oZV2Xz1uIYcMAf72bqstTVuGz1plqunXFvRpLET6ob7XmFE4fK_BLt_iAc6H7OFAVQ7M2Gs9YLoKPwnzVP_Ysmgw/s320/CatOnCell.jpg" width="251" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Yes, it's true. I have finally entered the modern age - though admittedly I was dragged into it kicking and screaming. Or put another way, my old land line died. So yes, now I have a cell phone! (Five or ten years behind the rest of the world!)<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">I'd like to be able to say I love it - but I don't. It looks pretty enough, but my fingers are too clumsy to push the keys on the screen - and for some reason it seems to click on keys before I even touch them. It's not like a proper keyboard at all. And I can't tell you how infuriating that is when I'm trying to enter my fifteen digit password! (Maybe the guy at the shop was right about using a shorter one!) And even when I'm sure I've entered the password correctly, it doesn't work! It just keeps telling me to try again in thirty seconds. One of these days those thirty seconds are going to be the length of time it has left to live!<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">As you can guess things have not been quiet in the house. There has been an awful lot of yelling at the damned machine! Enough that the cats keep running away - or staring at me as if I'm having some sort of fit!<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">So anyway, I guess it's back to the Spark store to get the password changed, and then to pray that in time the world goes back to the glorious age of land lines and actual buttons! (And yes, I do see the irony in that - a writer of science fiction unable to deal with even current technology! I may actually be a technophobe! But I comfort myself with the fact that many writers even in this computer age, use typewriters or even write by hand. I'm in good company.)<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">In the meantime, somewhere between screaming like a two year old on crack at the phone and pulling my hair out, I have been writing. Jumping as I usually do, between several different books. But a couple of them are close to completion at least - including the long promised Freaksville. All while I wait nervously for the first reviews of Moody Rockers.<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Anyway, cheers, for now. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Greg.<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p>Greg Curtishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10783031390790113616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8789732836286963318.post-15991873545026455712023-04-30T21:55:00.004-07:002023-05-03T22:50:00.161-07:00Moody Rockers is out!<p> Hi Guys,</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnI19eqjPH9dWut_Fjq4eguttEsfk2fT-EtK-MliMYxNvNJx6Tk2htVuOb-fy2gtANlpFMVWzYWrIoA80-N_-RhiaRdkyjb94No3Si68K8YxOMcvFUmtLxWJrwvzVx5GkRNTPkGirJTDkHvL5QM-3cidvlGMNuG9bWjFoF1zWKhFUEuqfbfDsos9XX_Q/s2700/MoodyRockersCoverFinal1Titled.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2700" data-original-width="1800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnI19eqjPH9dWut_Fjq4eguttEsfk2fT-EtK-MliMYxNvNJx6Tk2htVuOb-fy2gtANlpFMVWzYWrIoA80-N_-RhiaRdkyjb94No3Si68K8YxOMcvFUmtLxWJrwvzVx5GkRNTPkGirJTDkHvL5QM-3cidvlGMNuG9bWjFoF1zWKhFUEuqfbfDsos9XX_Q/s320/MoodyRockersCoverFinal1Titled.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>Yes, it's been a battle, but Moody rockers is out in Kindle, finally. I did the paperback too, but thus far, after hours of pulling my hair out this morning, I haven't had word from Amazon as to whether it's going to make it through the inspection process. There were four typos after all! But we'll wait and see, I suppose.</p><p>Moody Rockers is an urban sci fi set in 2030 New Zealand, when backyard genetic engineering has become a thing, and it explores a number of the issues associated with the technology - not to mention a growing freedom of expression movement called Moody Rocking. Essentially it's the next step in body art. Why paint an elf or an ogre on your skin when you can actually become one?! </p><p>Doctor Robert Moody is my MC and the guy who invented the process (this year in fact so he'd better get moving!), which is why the movement bears his name. And why he's becoming the next thing to a cult leader whether he likes it or not!<br /></p><p>But the story is essentially a slightly futuristic police procedural revolving around the criminal side of genetic body modification. What people can do to themselves - and others - with the technology. And what those who have been modified can do on the criminal side of things. (And of course I had to have werewolves and elves and super soldiers because as Homer would say - doh!!!)<br /></p><p>It also looks at how this particular technology will change our society and the problems it may cause. But the advantages it will bring as well - like longer life spans and improved health. It's essentially a genie that is almost out of the bottle.</p><p>Anyway, it should be an enjoyable romp, and I hope people enjoy it.</p><p>https://www.amazon.com/Moody-Rockers-Greg-Curtis-ebook/dp/B0C3ZDYDGC/ref=sr_1_2?<br /></p><p>Cheers, Greg. (And as always, be good or don't get caught!)<br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Greg Curtishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10783031390790113616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8789732836286963318.post-5118942586159715412023-04-09T15:10:00.000-07:002023-04-09T15:10:46.780-07:00Alone In The Dark Is Out In The Open!!!<p>Hi Guys,</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigbJ6r3IE41k9z3sKEqMU6TtMafPcUisKns8SNz7NMHcWdc49B7W-uA9C1_yFl6bjsu5iKxXjtus83kAo0pAiSd6nXJprL1wVq_zhuD3kczdkVLqN4YP820-QFaK6Aw5629nvd15Y31zYar3wdp_To4_rztle-fjMKrCe4x9zo_W-s4mk73kWmYQYDDA/s2825/AloneInTheDarkCover4Titled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2825" data-original-width="1925" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigbJ6r3IE41k9z3sKEqMU6TtMafPcUisKns8SNz7NMHcWdc49B7W-uA9C1_yFl6bjsu5iKxXjtus83kAo0pAiSd6nXJprL1wVq_zhuD3kczdkVLqN4YP820-QFaK6Aw5629nvd15Y31zYar3wdp_To4_rztle-fjMKrCe4x9zo_W-s4mk73kWmYQYDDA/s320/AloneInTheDarkCover4Titled.jpg" width="218" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Well it happened guys! I was supposed to be working on Freaksville (which is almost done - still) and got side tracked again. As usual! And I ended up finishing off Alone In The Dark - which is another detective / police procedural.<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">But I will say this one does touch just a tiny bit on genetic engineering - in as much as it has some skin pigmentation etc mixed in with cosmetic surgery. But in this case, that genetic tweaking, is really not a lot more advanced - if it's more advanced at all that is - than what's currently available, which is why I felt comfortable including it in what is essentially a basic detective novel.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">In essence this is a book about a woman in witness protection who is offered the ultimate don't get killed card - change your name, face and race and then take up residence as a new person in a foreign country. And so Maryanne Simpson was born. (Her old name is deliberately never used in the book because the story is not about who she was, only who she has become!) And I have a detective of course - Dan Murdock with the New Zealand police whose job it is to track down criminals using exactly the same sort of technology through the black market clinics, to escape justice.<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">I wanted to explore in this book, a lot of the reasons that people might use this sort of technology, both for good and ill, as well as of course, what it would be like to live as a different person of a different ethnicity, in a strange land - all while living with the threat of a violent death hanging over you if you get caught. As well as throwing in a murder mystery to round everything out! (There may be a few odd jokes as well!)<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Anyway, I hope people enjoy it and as always to all of you, be good or don't get caught!<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Cheers, Greg.<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p>Greg Curtishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10783031390790113616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8789732836286963318.post-73983543130067824672023-03-17T23:52:00.003-07:002023-03-17T23:53:16.020-07:00More Book Cover Designs<p style="text-align: justify;"> Hi Guys,</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Okay, just having a little fun with Deep Dream. So take a look!</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdkPqpuCVMQ0k22-oEjNTp4ryoR5VO0eO6rOxxGIBlrhNyEjluT61BceVD1I50VZ0xx4sBbYx-K2p413wMDfkJquflfkcNe28A0d8KSdPhbLuz9t4GqsVp_aAqHadmZcgUQb5rIJrs25c7MfNv0MB4zci4SImpCOwUHE0KUTfUh2PCSkkhd4Bhl-G3bg/s960/BartonVilla4FlyingSaucerAndDeeWallace5.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="608" data-original-width="960" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdkPqpuCVMQ0k22-oEjNTp4ryoR5VO0eO6rOxxGIBlrhNyEjluT61BceVD1I50VZ0xx4sBbYx-K2p413wMDfkJquflfkcNe28A0d8KSdPhbLuz9t4GqsVp_aAqHadmZcgUQb5rIJrs25c7MfNv0MB4zci4SImpCOwUHE0KUTfUh2PCSkkhd4Bhl-G3bg/s320/BartonVilla4FlyingSaucerAndDeeWallace5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: justify;">So this, or a variant will be the cover for the next Barton Villa. That's Dee Wallace by the way. and pretty close to how I imagined her, just a little hotter!</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi74UY13SHXy1OwSg8z_yCcL79D21rZytNmKi1fZ7P4OzQsCs20uf2HdMgOph4RPcNpNn83E22QPbI-pyLurA-5h8bGoQfbSkc8aVxVpSETjdbdrgihcTD7ann1hO_-JdiAiS2FkTcqKFptsUK79xmziDOyofw9tSphrELOT5a5aB2wFyXP20YTWIrNFg/s600/GhostCover1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi74UY13SHXy1OwSg8z_yCcL79D21rZytNmKi1fZ7P4OzQsCs20uf2HdMgOph4RPcNpNn83E22QPbI-pyLurA-5h8bGoQfbSkc8aVxVpSETjdbdrgihcTD7ann1hO_-JdiAiS2FkTcqKFptsUK79xmziDOyofw9tSphrELOT5a5aB2wFyXP20YTWIrNFg/s320/GhostCover1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSjVwsFiVmqNF2ZYOGmW4pH_5CXXInToD2Rx-eg66800WM6ikmMnZVvLMlaZkD-Jmv1k0h3jrW47fcfJhmHGvF3qk5TDK2s5-w_0FP_MUvEaUQVHE7R2yuLwBXQULQzC2sjiOn1szspQ9PQnTdNvgLiJgYjhsgQrgvQOfEpSlIDNhpxE-SkkxgHl130w/s896/GhostOfAChanceCover2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="896" data-original-width="704" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSjVwsFiVmqNF2ZYOGmW4pH_5CXXInToD2Rx-eg66800WM6ikmMnZVvLMlaZkD-Jmv1k0h3jrW47fcfJhmHGvF3qk5TDK2s5-w_0FP_MUvEaUQVHE7R2yuLwBXQULQzC2sjiOn1szspQ9PQnTdNvgLiJgYjhsgQrgvQOfEpSlIDNhpxE-SkkxgHl130w/s320/GhostOfAChanceCover2.jpg" width="251" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: justify;">A couple of versions for the other novel I'm working on - "A Ghost Of A Chance" It's a steampunk fantasy in case you couldn't guess!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLsVaXfdbmgr4NvuddpudeLP2ZsEA88Mf3OQDZqTj2AR8ai0ZvLWbjofMKAKyStbhLhjFr5b-LkTM_-dP8xQG_cPZrbz_WdZNFjlmXgQ6vbnHrbRcpcMGsoxH589XI8SSSUgtRbWAAQ4jheukgIVRHgUgz8oyFvlKtbXDm-C5iAl699GrCBeMPo2PNfA/s1120/MoodyRockerCover16.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="1120" height="146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLsVaXfdbmgr4NvuddpudeLP2ZsEA88Mf3OQDZqTj2AR8ai0ZvLWbjofMKAKyStbhLhjFr5b-LkTM_-dP8xQG_cPZrbz_WdZNFjlmXgQ6vbnHrbRcpcMGsoxH589XI8SSSUgtRbWAAQ4jheukgIVRHgUgz8oyFvlKtbXDm-C5iAl699GrCBeMPo2PNfA/s320/MoodyRockerCover16.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: justify;">And while I was looking for covers for Moody Rockers - an urban sci fi, I somehow created this! Hell if I know how! But here's something closer to the actual cover:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy_iRv7QXY7zh8IY5VkvC3JFNCpB4_QIuMJbiWyEG7fvEXp2sFouuM6yrdtu1so2nFXAMKx6MYXOMrTUUC_NMKcHGrtm6ehchLHvLLGmTqqMaiYWfop67y42PZDod7Cwasd_DjwkNHIMkFWgVLlCN4b-zzA5ue2HQJI6URQD7B0bqBQtEqXvZnRHTErw/s1056/MoodyRockerCover8.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="544" data-original-width="1056" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy_iRv7QXY7zh8IY5VkvC3JFNCpB4_QIuMJbiWyEG7fvEXp2sFouuM6yrdtu1so2nFXAMKx6MYXOMrTUUC_NMKcHGrtm6ehchLHvLLGmTqqMaiYWfop67y42PZDod7Cwasd_DjwkNHIMkFWgVLlCN4b-zzA5ue2HQJI6URQD7B0bqBQtEqXvZnRHTErw/s320/MoodyRockerCover8.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: justify;">Damn this thing is fun!!!</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Cheers, Greg.<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p>Greg Curtishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10783031390790113616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8789732836286963318.post-50923818888749987682023-03-11T16:21:00.001-08:002023-03-11T16:21:54.104-08:00Freaksville is Coming Along Nicely<p>Hi Guys,</p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdRXivdwSRSQtpVjrDlnIIkTnSdjdB1JO9lA5BYOcbPKqkZ0_wXwBLwXfZeCOPAzVuQ2FTJo9sDCNjO28fSF82T8NcGk0kUSgLKtvgr1N4Vmjn6TzH7auhnQMBDUZ8ZlIDABKiR-H13OudgI6Uww93B_bTzkTbvisD15pJp_97u_lmdrn8Yyp0O8vl-g/s3573/FreaksvilleCover1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2700" data-original-width="3573" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdRXivdwSRSQtpVjrDlnIIkTnSdjdB1JO9lA5BYOcbPKqkZ0_wXwBLwXfZeCOPAzVuQ2FTJo9sDCNjO28fSF82T8NcGk0kUSgLKtvgr1N4Vmjn6TzH7auhnQMBDUZ8ZlIDABKiR-H13OudgI6Uww93B_bTzkTbvisD15pJp_97u_lmdrn8Yyp0O8vl-g/s320/FreaksvilleCover1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"> </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Just thought I'd write a short post to tell you that, no, I haven't been just simply sitting on my arse, twiddling my thumbs all this time. (Just some of it!) In fact I've been busy writing two different novels - oh the perils of being a pantster! <br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">The first is "A Ghost Of A Chance" which is about an astral traveler in a steampunk world who discovers all the strange troubles his talent can get him in. At the moment I'm a little bit blocked on it, which is why the second book, "Freaksville" is coming along a little faster. Freaksville is an urban fantasy set in New Zealand about an engineer trapped in a community full of nyads, dryads and - you guessed it - faeries. It also skirts the boundaries between urban fantasy and urban sci fi which means it may end up being classed as science fantasy. (Oh, it also has a six legged cat!)<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">But what I really wanted to talk about was a new art program I've recently discovered. And maybe I'm a little behind the times, but it is wondrous. It's called Deep Dream AI, and as the name suggests, it actually has an AI generating images for you based on how you describe the image you want. And it is stunning! It does beautiful pictures, though it has problems. Number one unfortunately is that it can't do wings, which is why I had to tinker a little with the image above. (And there's more to do yet - this is just a draft!)<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">What blows me away though, is that the computer generates these images all by itself based purely on a few words you give it. Now that truly is science fiction!<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Anyway if you've got a few spare moments, I'd recommend hopping over to the site, and taking a look. It has a limited free offer - probably about fifteen or so images you can experiment with - but unfortunately after that you have to pay. But it's well worth just seeing the brave new world of computing arriving in front of you.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">(I just hope AI's don't start writing books - or I'll be in trouble!)<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Other than that, I really haven't got a lot else to report. But as usual I wish you guys all the best. And as always, be good or don't get caught!</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Cheers, Greg.<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p>Greg Curtishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10783031390790113616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8789732836286963318.post-45441010245937320952023-02-05T11:13:00.000-08:002023-02-19T15:18:09.626-08:00Byson Darious: The Man, The Myth The Unicorn!<p> Hi Guys,</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnJxEB7yOW4pe18UKVFt8fj0nxNTkzc1R3Eos-2mxqTJNl2soAdicl7hAFiwuEvv9j7syAFIIvqEjjAHrD70xjJutg-GKqfpcatPBqm7rYOoiINB2K2fQ-M9BqpEjxyDJspgpVsXpUXhBtM4lDBqs7-eztIvaatV7v_LWYIev5h5Thmxsaj1wNNv4tRg/s2850/BoundUnicorn3Titled.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2850" data-original-width="1875" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnJxEB7yOW4pe18UKVFt8fj0nxNTkzc1R3Eos-2mxqTJNl2soAdicl7hAFiwuEvv9j7syAFIIvqEjjAHrD70xjJutg-GKqfpcatPBqm7rYOoiINB2K2fQ-M9BqpEjxyDJspgpVsXpUXhBtM4lDBqs7-eztIvaatV7v_LWYIev5h5Thmxsaj1wNNv4tRg/s320/BoundUnicorn3Titled.jpg" width="211" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Happy New Year all. (Yeah, it's been a slow start to the year for me!) </p><p style="text-align: justify;">But I've been busy. Ever since I finished the first draft of Bound off around Christmas, I've been more or less head down in the book, editing and revising. A book that grew out to a hundred and seventy one thousand words! Every time I thought I was done, I realized there was just a little something more I needed to add. Still finally - yesterday - it's done.<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Bound is a light-hearted epic fantasy about Byson Darious, an apothecary trying to live a simple life, but whose family seem to want to drag him into their own troubles - or get him to dig them out of them. And mixed in with that Byson has his own secret - that he has bound himself to a unicorn to gain a little more magic of his own. Naturally that has it's own unexpected consequences! But in the end, as the world is falling into ruin, it may be the very thing that's needed - naturally!<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Anyway it's gone up and I'm glad. I'd almost begun to think for a while that I would never finish it. Now I can turn my thoughts to other things for a while - like getting the back yard cut back some more. A lot more. And solving the riddle of the ages - why when I threw out lawn seed on a patch of ground a few months ago, did only clover grow? I think it's magic! A curse. Or the cats did it - which is fairly much the same thing!</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Also I have another pile of books in various stages of completion waiting for me to finally get round to finishing, and as usual I have no idea which I want to get to first. But I suppose there's no shortage of them to throw myself into. (That's a good thing, right?!)<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Anyway I hope all of you are well and enjoying life in 2023. And as always be good or don't get caught!</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Cheers, Greg.<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p>Greg Curtishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10783031390790113616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8789732836286963318.post-60952720934367139662022-11-25T16:32:00.000-08:002022-11-25T16:32:25.695-08:00So I Can See Again!!!<div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"> Hi guys,</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeCuzrSSw311oTAHzuJNt4dwVgec-RAS5al11Rm_ChBjdFTyx3pkO0BJQBd_wkMJvbvt3nQ1gSTSbgpZx3GnB5-t2lA1tgJvmosWjqLbiSaM46etMW-YnLl3nE2bhxABO1TCX5o1iJMJu8RNjugxDOkYdEPVuAO5O5GsbKCH6ArYb3b7k7L5CfSWJXIQ/s2700/KeeperFrontCoverFourWaterBTitled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2700" data-original-width="1800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeCuzrSSw311oTAHzuJNt4dwVgec-RAS5al11Rm_ChBjdFTyx3pkO0BJQBd_wkMJvbvt3nQ1gSTSbgpZx3GnB5-t2lA1tgJvmosWjqLbiSaM46etMW-YnLl3nE2bhxABO1TCX5o1iJMJu8RNjugxDOkYdEPVuAO5O5GsbKCH6ArYb3b7k7L5CfSWJXIQ/s320/KeeperFrontCoverFourWaterBTitled.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">So the good news is I got through the cataract surgery on my left eye, and it went sort of alright. Sadly I've got something called negative photopsia in the eye, which is something I'd never heard of. It's basically a black border on the outside of my vision, but which will hopefully go away in a few months. If not optomotrists have a cure - sort of. It's called wearing glasses with thick black rims until you stop noticing! (And no, I'm not kidding!) <br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">The bad news is that I got my vision changed to far sight, which makes it difficult to read the computer screen. In short I need reading glasses. </p><p style="text-align: justify;"> And the really bad news is that now that I can see again - I'm starting to see all the typos in my latest books! Bugger! (Guess what I'm going to be doing over the coming month!!!)<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">But with my new and improved vision in one eye, I finally managed to complete another book - The Keeper - which is a change from my usual fare. It's a straight detective. (Actually when I listed it on Amazon they let me put it in a category called Female Sleuths which seemed to fit perfectly.) So no magic, no spaceships just a crime - and a whole lot of lions! (Also a lot of very bad language and some poor jokes!)</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Don't know why I decided to complete this book now, but it's been sitting on my computer for a couple of years and I suddenly felt the need to go back to it. That's the way we pantsters roll I suppose.<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Anyway, I'm finally back at it now that I can see the computer screen from more than six inches away. I don't think I'll be able to get Bound out before January - it only needs a few more chapters, but then come the revisions and edits. (And that doesn't include the fact that I might get side tracked again!) But at least my writing speed is up to normal again.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Hope you're all doing well etc, and if you are looking at cataract surgery, do check out negative photopsia - it's actually quite common.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Cheers, Greg.<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p>Greg Curtishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10783031390790113616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8789732836286963318.post-34192272598014569762022-10-05T17:23:00.001-07:002022-10-05T17:29:44.612-07:00Out Of Darkness<p> Hi Guys,</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEOeAPB2F8U8bgw1c3cq2jqIaFcbt8Q6isGLZvOX15hhBz6Ucx0edLANPr7kZ9mAQ6K_41JqHFEf70pw5K315Hbwm2B7qZW9bz15TtydGkSzkoDE-F8MGFYkYJ_2x4qkLFUFpIUUkIa75NxQGEpTOUF_I7fOH768XxVFaZ3HWQxAqfMA7LnVfS92Y_hQ/s4224/FarryCoverImageDungeon2RedBarsTitled.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4224" data-original-width="2648" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEOeAPB2F8U8bgw1c3cq2jqIaFcbt8Q6isGLZvOX15hhBz6Ucx0edLANPr7kZ9mAQ6K_41JqHFEf70pw5K315Hbwm2B7qZW9bz15TtydGkSzkoDE-F8MGFYkYJ_2x4qkLFUFpIUUkIa75NxQGEpTOUF_I7fOH768XxVFaZ3HWQxAqfMA7LnVfS92Y_hQ/s320/FarryCoverImageDungeon2RedBarsTitled.jpg" width="201" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Yes - Farry is finally published. It only took two years, give or take, got a new title - Out of Darkness -, and got rewritten half a dozen times! It also increased in size by 70 thousand words!</p><p style="text-align: justify;">But some books are difficult - and this one has been a nightmare. The main problem has been the ending. I've had to rewrite it so many times to find the one that worked best. (Which sounds odd when there were only two possible endings - Farry was either going to end up with his former wife or his girlfriend - but there you have it!)</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Still it's done and I still have a little hair left on my head!</p><p style="text-align: justify;">But one thing I do have to say is that this is quite a heavy book. It starts off in a very dark place, which is why the ending was so tricky to write. I couldn't have my main man begin in such a bad place and end there as well. Yet given where he'd started it was always going to be impossible for him to find a perfectly happy ending. (Oh the problems of authors - always having to do the best we can for our characters! It's a heavy responsibility!)</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Anyway I'm glad to finally have it finished so I can move on to something else - something lighter. And in the meantime I can wait for my eye surgery which shouldn't be too far away now. Really looking forwards to having someone come at my eye with a knife! And it'll be both eyes in time!</p><p style="text-align: justify;">But that's life for me at the moment. I hope all of you are doing well, and best of wishes to any of you caught up in Hurricane Ian. It sounds really bad and I wish there was something I could say to help. But all I can really say is keep your chins up. I'm sure things will work out in time. They normally do even when things seem darkest.<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Cheers, Greg.<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">.<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p><br /></p>Greg Curtishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10783031390790113616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8789732836286963318.post-25478961799095560512022-08-18T22:45:00.003-07:002022-08-20T14:07:42.663-07:00Conway - Ancient Space Travelling Humans In The Tropics Space Opera - On The Way. <p>Hi Guys,</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiI48rdS9KMBWcEv2gCQFkJtq8e3oD1mq24PC14QrFL1mFxgzpNy0xiMzJQ-SO_jn8Bjt_K72CLEaRaHfVXbuipCmmZbAB5kZbWiSWJPbh_70AwiARUzP0VNn5r7tmMrSuWFQZIOA7XXWmVWMcK0QCLEeKBnNBVPML_5PJDl_-VwAEzTHzIK2t-aW73w/s2831/ConwayFrontCover1Titled.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2831" data-original-width="1923" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiI48rdS9KMBWcEv2gCQFkJtq8e3oD1mq24PC14QrFL1mFxgzpNy0xiMzJQ-SO_jn8Bjt_K72CLEaRaHfVXbuipCmmZbAB5kZbWiSWJPbh_70AwiARUzP0VNn5r7tmMrSuWFQZIOA7XXWmVWMcK0QCLEeKBnNBVPML_5PJDl_-VwAEzTHzIK2t-aW73w/s320/ConwayFrontCover1Titled.jpg" width="217" /></a></div>Thought I'd let you know that I haven't been completely bone idle this past month or so. (I tried to be, but people and especially the cats wouldn't allow it!)<br /><p></p><p>So this is the next book coming off the press - probably very shortly since it's already been through it's main revisions and edits. It's another ancient humans from the stars space opera book - I sort of like that theme - with a few tweaks from other books. It may be slightly heavier than the Barton Villa books, and it's somewhat cynical about governments and rule (I'm just feeling that way a little lately!)</p><p>But the cover from 123RF looks glorious. Wierdest space craft I've ever seen and I love it! Actually it's supposed to be a shuttle - a futuristic steampunk space shuttle?! It took me a fair bit to get it looking like that by the way. This is the original image I purchased:</p><p> </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi557tsHYXAYf77vWk-PQ-4fa7WhCnk-Lua5A2ZF9qsqorWy6xKQEaKR2MobqJ-x9bHuf6LcDpj2ZtEano6gqgopUy9xKiUSUZuXfeCrR9rE9RaBqdt60WuHlbteCL409osgWvYg5AeQYNJv5UfPEhkCMYYDRnksO2RIwPh766chSyXVQ6FW1ue3J0qKQ/s4000/ConwayCoverImage.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2250" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi557tsHYXAYf77vWk-PQ-4fa7WhCnk-Lua5A2ZF9qsqorWy6xKQEaKR2MobqJ-x9bHuf6LcDpj2ZtEano6gqgopUy9xKiUSUZuXfeCrR9rE9RaBqdt60WuHlbteCL409osgWvYg5AeQYNJv5UfPEhkCMYYDRnksO2RIwPh766chSyXVQ6FW1ue3J0qKQ/s320/ConwayCoverImage.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <p></p><p>The original brilliant image is by 3000AD <br /></p><p>And this is the first time ever the AGFA filter in Photoscape has actually been useful for me! But it gave me the start of the green grass. Then I had to use practically every other filter there was to bring up the colour and vibrancy and add some sky. It took me ages. But I love the result! It's not bad for a blind man! (At least until my cataract surgery in a few months!) </p><p>But here's the thing - why shouldn't space craft be colourful?! Especially alien ones?! Why do they have to follow the set layout of colours and shapes - mostly metallic cylinders with pointed noses and stubby wings that the world seems to dictate? I'm not sure what the design language of this image is - kitchen utensil perhaps? - it looks to me like on of those old style loose tea brewing spoons - but I hope 3000AD has a few more of these coming!<br /></p><p>Anyway the book is on the way, and hopefully not long after that I'll be able to actually see the computer screen again!</p><p>Cheers, Greg.<br /></p><p>.<br /></p><p> </p><p> </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Greg Curtishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10783031390790113616noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8789732836286963318.post-31850573146943063712022-07-01T14:55:00.000-07:002022-07-15T07:31:47.928-07:00It's out!!!<p> Hi Guys,</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn1yxYlrE2kK-ZI2At9iu6iut8KWAd-g_myeCvbeJjcb-DX0e2BI8C1pc_OkBfamzptTL7bm1jzENEFL2J57ZUeLAQrjLPTIVXKWUG1rmncVU2ZdXbvNeu_QuuaGH0XuhZ8l2nrDOFmmV649zyYt2LjNly1vupx4fzj9b1HpjeWWFW_nn-sdPQhG56Dw/s2700/AFarmersTaleCover3Final.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2700" data-original-width="2200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn1yxYlrE2kK-ZI2At9iu6iut8KWAd-g_myeCvbeJjcb-DX0e2BI8C1pc_OkBfamzptTL7bm1jzENEFL2J57ZUeLAQrjLPTIVXKWUG1rmncVU2ZdXbvNeu_QuuaGH0XuhZ8l2nrDOFmmV649zyYt2LjNly1vupx4fzj9b1HpjeWWFW_nn-sdPQhG56Dw/s320/AFarmersTaleCover3Final.jpg" width="261" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: justify;">Just to let you know, A Farmer's Tale is finally out! And man - this one has been a struggle! Not only did it keep growing and growing - I think it has finally ended up at 170 K - a lot of the time I spent writing, rewriting and then immediately unwriting it. I don't know how many revisions it's had. And then it had multiple edits while my eyes tried to commit suicide in my head!<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">But it's finally done and I feel good about it. Hugely relieved too - there were times when I doubted I would ever get it done. And now I'm sitting here wondering what to do next - is it finally time to take up drinking? (I've been watching a youtube film reviewer a bit lately - the Drinker - and he makes it sound like so much fun!)<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">A Farmer's Tale is an epic fantasy set in a world with multiple races and realms, most of them just a tiny step away from the traditional ones, and of course some demons - different ones for each race. I also tried to get rid of the idea of an uber powerful villain in this one. There is one - but he's no James Bond type Doctor No and you barely get to see him. He also does what he does for understandable if not acceptable reasons. I wanted this story to be less about over the top mad men and the battle to defeat them, and more about the struggle to survive what they've unleashed.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The other theme I made use of in this work was that small things, minor magics, could in time bring about the most terrible consequences. It's just a matter of adding that spell in the right (or wrong) place.In that it's not so much different to a disease. Just think of all the times and places in history where a disease like small pox has been introduced to a new population - and then see the absolutely horrible outcomes. Maybe it's not a nuclear bomb going off, but in time the results may actually be far worse.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Anyway it's out, and I'm exhausted. So I hope you'll all enjoy the book, while I'll enjoy a good long rest - and maybe a beer!</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Cheers, Greg..<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p>Greg Curtishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10783031390790113616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8789732836286963318.post-80178706460708410772022-05-22T12:41:00.005-07:002022-07-15T07:32:13.461-07:00A Farmer's Tale<p> Hi Guys,</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://scontent.fakl2-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/280398814_5123940027693171_5146676188335945084_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s960x960&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=730e14&_nc_ohc=xFQDqdQ1AcwAX_eZj1z&_nc_oc=AQlF5OMkOfoMABGkmyTpKnCw7lih_-NuQfOpZq05loo9gaiACRpIXr7a9RZJvES1Ce4&_nc_ht=scontent.fakl2-1.fna&oh=00_AT9n3Hxj60n_sEMUJHVhBe1Zukm9-vO-eVFbcOPLAbtaeA&oe=628D375A" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="676" height="800" src="https://scontent.fakl2-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/280398814_5123940027693171_5146676188335945084_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s960x960&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=730e14&_nc_ohc=xFQDqdQ1AcwAX_eZj1z&_nc_oc=AQlF5OMkOfoMABGkmyTpKnCw7lih_-NuQfOpZq05loo9gaiACRpIXr7a9RZJvES1Ce4&_nc_ht=scontent.fakl2-1.fna&oh=00_AT9n3Hxj60n_sEMUJHVhBe1Zukm9-vO-eVFbcOPLAbtaeA&oe=628D375A" width="676" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: justify;">Good news, for once. I just polished off the first draft of a new book - A Farmer's Tale. So hopefully it should be out in the next month. </p><p style="text-align: justify;"> The odd thing about it is that A Farmer's Tale wasn't one of the half dozen or so books that was on my to do list. It was something that I'd half written and then put aside meaning to complete, years ago. But then a couple of weeks ago I just suddenly felt the need to pick it up again. I suppose that's just life as a pantster!</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The book is an epic fantasy - yes I'm returning a little bit to my writing roots, and it's a little bit like Maverick. It's centered around a guy called Arven who really isn't a wizard at all. He's a farmer with a few spells as he regularly tells his fellow mages. There are no wizards! (Which in his world is fairly accurate. There's also no staffs, spell books or flying broomsticks either. And spells are cast instinctively with no one knowing what the words that come out of their mouths or the gestures they make, mean. They just come to them. And magic is learned more or less by copying one another.) But as he is informed by the faen (faerie) Queens when everything turns to custard along with his life, he isn't meant to know the answers. He just knows the right questions to ask!<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Anyway I'm deep into the book now, losing sleep as usual as the writing bug bites. But I thought I'd let you know that there is hope on the horizon. Oh and that image up top (which I love!), I might alter it a bit but it's the cover.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">So best of luck with everything guys. And as always be good or don't get caught!<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Cheers, Greg.<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p>Greg Curtishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10783031390790113616noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8789732836286963318.post-66901723315437332272022-04-26T21:29:00.000-07:002022-04-26T21:29:57.538-07:00Writing and Music<p>Hi Guys,</p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp8IGWD1gvCHYc1FOTAjzvEz5GVqLezauZuguOk-BZrcJSTde11qXUQpjY8DQMZ75j-Vf8z4gSwibubJbqr_0oQ1UjtAlMr22WiRmvnqkJJSSGH-fzfrlGvXnKQOMf6_1a5dFvzPOc6gAphf4cBmQk3HfX_YJsWa8_WYwXzrt8mp_NcGSm0jicSQdz1g/s690/ElfByQuarkmaster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="690" data-original-width="526" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp8IGWD1gvCHYc1FOTAjzvEz5GVqLezauZuguOk-BZrcJSTde11qXUQpjY8DQMZ75j-Vf8z4gSwibubJbqr_0oQ1UjtAlMr22WiRmvnqkJJSSGH-fzfrlGvXnKQOMf6_1a5dFvzPOc6gAphf4cBmQk3HfX_YJsWa8_WYwXzrt8mp_NcGSm0jicSQdz1g/s320/ElfByQuarkmaster.jpg" width="244" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>No books out at the moment I'm afraid. But half a dozen all sitting at the finish line just waiting for me to write the last chapter or two to push them over. I only wish I knew what to write! Sigh!</p><p> But I thought I'd turn to another topic that's been on my mind lately - music and writing. No not what I listen to while I write - that's always silence. If I try to listen to music I end up stopping writing and just listening which means that nothing gets done. Rather this is about how certain songs seem to serve as the inspiration for some of my stories.</p><p> Probably every writer gets asked the obvious question - where do you get your ideas from? And my usual answer is to stare blankly back at people and say something like - all over the place! (I really hate that question!) But music is definitely one of the triggers for my ideas.<br /></p><p> I think I've told you once upon a time that Dragon was written with AC/DC's Thunderstruck constantly in my head. It is the entire theme of the book - hard driving rock building up to one explosive battle after another. Fantastic song by the way!</p><p>Thief - actually it was two books I was writing at the same time which somehow merged into one part way through - was inspired by the film Date With An Angel and in particular one song from that movie - Higher Love (the Steve Winwood original not the Kygo / Whitney Houston cover which I also love). <br /></p><p>More recently I wrote Prince of Stars, and that's also based on a song - Southern Cross, by Crosby, Stills and Nash. I love that track and again the theme was what inspired the book. My hero was a man, a sailor, driven to set sail by a failed romance that he could never come to terms with. He could neither return to her, nor could he cut her off. In the song he is tied to her - tied with a silver chain. I even named the ship Music as a sort of tribute to the music.</p><p>And I also mentioned at one time that Pawn was based on that seventies telly show - The Aphrodite Inheritance (which is a little dated but still an engrossing story - and it's amazing to see seventies fashion!) But what I don't think I mentioned is that while I was writing that book the theme music for that show kept running through my head every time I sat down in front of the computer. It's surprisingly powerful despite being so light and melodic.</p><p>So I think looking back on my writing I can clearly say that music is one of my most important inspirations. But it's not the only one by any means. <br /></p><p>My point in this post is really just to say for all you budding authors out there, that ideas can come from anywhere. Maybe also to add that while everyone says to write what you know to anyone looking to write a book - I would add a second line - write what you love! I should also mention that currently I've been listening to a bit of Huey Lewis and Heart. Can't wait to find out what they might inspire me to write! (And how the woman in the graphic by Quarkmaster will feature!)<br /></p><p>Cheers, Greg.<br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Greg Curtishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10783031390790113616noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8789732836286963318.post-57993911126657230272022-03-19T18:10:00.000-07:002022-07-15T07:33:11.175-07:00So A Funny Thing Happened ... !<p>Hi Guys,</p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgJJsizqnCjP_24KCEkNl-PpllBR567sYYyyMG71xSun8Y4wV6zKCuKmA45Iyn9t5Jj6xfZ83kBtPssGDRhR3DqXoNHNyVv75mcI9tkL8nrNjd-sESjKMfa0T2NGwPy3xGrfMnN_DBHdx9vHWdeAXaXzx4_EIZIJhhInsWI1jYH1InXxBITDJdttTQ0qg=s4000" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="4000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgJJsizqnCjP_24KCEkNl-PpllBR567sYYyyMG71xSun8Y4wV6zKCuKmA45Iyn9t5Jj6xfZ83kBtPssGDRhR3DqXoNHNyVv75mcI9tkL8nrNjd-sESjKMfa0T2NGwPy3xGrfMnN_DBHdx9vHWdeAXaXzx4_EIZIJhhInsWI1jYH1InXxBITDJdttTQ0qg=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /> <br /><p></p><p> </p><p>Yes, you guessed it - the Barton Villa bug grabbed me again! This is the problem with being a pantster - I never know what I'm going to write next.</p><p>But I'm really happy with this book. I'd missed that crazy island and it's characters, even after I had so successfully ended the previous trilogy by sending everyone off to Mars to live happily ever after. It's a little like that old sweat shirt you put away in the closet which you think you'll never wear again because it's a bit faded and maybe it's got a loose thread here and there. And then one day you find youself thinking about it and pulling it out because you really liked it.</p><p>So that's what happened to me. But as I swung into it again, I decided that I had to make a few changes. For a start I didn't want to bring Moncrief Jones out of retirement - I mean the man's been shot, beaten up, in a car crash and suffered numerous other horrid injuries. It's getting old. So I thought I should let him be. At least for now. (But who knows, there could be another good beating in his future!)</p><p>I also wanted it to be a harder, edgier sort of book. More a Sam Watson type story - and you know she's always ready with her gun - and it's trained on the bad guy's nuts!!!</p><p>The other thing I did was to go back to the racism theme I explored in book three. I don't know why exactly but something about all the Black Lives Matter protests and the police killing of George Floyd etc, has really got under my skin a little. You can't watch that horrible event and not think to yourself, just what the hell is he doing? It just goes on and on. Also the John Griffin story - Black Like Me - has stayed with me for a long time. Not just the experience of a white reporter medically altering himself to appear black and experience life as such, but the reaction he got after what he'd done was revealed. It really is a thought provoking story. So I returned to that and made the bad guys the white supremacists who had united into a world wide movement. (Something about that feels horribly close to the bone lately.)</p><p>The other thing I should mention is that us sci fi writers are supposed to pose questions about the future etc and of course various technological advances coming. The genetic manipulation needed to change a person's skin colour from white to black or any other colour of the rainbow, is probably only five to ten years away. The ethics involved in doing so however are light years beyond us!</p><p>So just think - what are you going to do when your son or your daughter comes to you one day and says - I want to be black / or white / or yellow? Makes you think, doesn't it! <br /></p><p>Anyway that's where the book comes from, and I hope people enjoy it.<br /></p><p>Cheers, Greg.<br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Greg Curtishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10783031390790113616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8789732836286963318.post-66383478689157877282022-02-12T13:00:00.000-08:002022-02-12T13:00:01.449-08:00Progress At Last!<p style="text-align: justify;">Hi Guys,</p><p style="text-align: justify;"> </p><p style="text-align: justify;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgGhxXYymxIT84HyCndCmYE8vcKW8jZgLqXIEv7MFJRzl4SSE8CzqqSWJ0JBFeTivA7W6b6Vsmobjg-azfUEc6li5dfv8bDccKy0R_wOhMw9UHX3mllTqcWp6AWZjeg8wUTDndAXoJYmvmddEfGD0XhzEQ4d4FYWiWzRi4QjhKXeuK0EsLDXCFhj0INfA=s4000" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2700" data-original-width="4000" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgGhxXYymxIT84HyCndCmYE8vcKW8jZgLqXIEv7MFJRzl4SSE8CzqqSWJ0JBFeTivA7W6b6Vsmobjg-azfUEc6li5dfv8bDccKy0R_wOhMw9UHX3mllTqcWp6AWZjeg8wUTDndAXoJYmvmddEfGD0XhzEQ4d4FYWiWzRi4QjhKXeuK0EsLDXCFhj0INfA=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"> </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Yes, it's happened at last. Gorgon's Run is finished and out. And I'm absolutely thrilled about that! There was a time there that I thought I'd never finish it. That I'd never even be able to get out of bed again!</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Thankfully I seem to have started healing - though oddly the nurses who visit me still say there's a gaping golf ball sized hole in my back which is going to take maybe months more before it closes over. (I did get my sister to take some pictures and was going to show you guys, but she says no. It's just too horrible to look at! Even better, the cyborg bandage was removed from my back and I can now walk about freely without tripping over cords and tupes or listening to the non-stop chugging of the pump sucking the endless ooze out of the wound. (Whoever invented that thing is an evil genius - and not in a good way!)</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">I'm still not a hundred percent yet. Mostly I'm just tired - and my back itches like crazy - probably because it's reacting to the adhesives of the bandages holding everything together. That ironically leaves me back at square one, looking for door posts to rub against like a cat!!! (Which reminds me - must start sterilizing them so I don't end up developing more abscesses again!)</p><p style="text-align: justify;"> </p><p style="text-align: justify;">By the way - have to say that the district nurses who visit me every couple of days and all the staff at Rotorua Hospital are absolutely wonderful. We don't give enough praise to our healthcare people.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"> </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Anyway, Gorgon's Run is out in Kindle, paperback - and for the first time ever - hardback. (Can't wait to see what that looks like!) You'll notice that the covers are different - it's simply because the book sizes are all slightly different. And in case you're wondering what it's all about - here's the blurb:</p><p style="text-align: justify;"> </p><p style="text-align: center;">Gorgon's Run<br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">
</p><p align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Life as a rural detective in the Waikato wasn't what Clem had always
dreamed of. He wanted to investigate homicides not missing farm
equipment. And to add to his woes his commander hated him. But he was
a gorgon. He might hiss a bit, but he would endure.</p>
<p align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</p>
<p align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Then he was handed the worst murder possible. One he couldn't solve
because it had been committed by magic. The Council could never allow
the existence of magic and magical creatures to be revealed to the
world.</p>
<p align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</p>
<p align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
A thief's life was a better one, and Acadia was pleased with what she
did. Until the night the FBI rang her up to tell her her baby sister
had been killed. Then she was plunged into a world of grief and pain.
Worse, she found herself immersed in a world of the supernatural as
she investigated the murder. Of wizards and gods and ancient Greek
myths. A world she'd never even imagined.</p>
<p align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</p>
<p align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
And somewhere in the middle of it all were the revenants.</p>
<p align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
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</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">As always, best of luck to you all, and be good or don't get caught!</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Cheers, Greg.<br /></p>Greg Curtishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10783031390790113616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8789732836286963318.post-71314376975795742622022-01-20T07:51:00.000-08:002022-01-20T07:51:35.699-08:00Here's Hoping For A Better New YearHi Guys,
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg419C6LDhVfq_NDsdyiMxse6Ys99s1Xgan4jyZsN8yhtevoalEq5dD3UHFHxHeDIUrLUvHbx4HmAOw6ZheXf1XgM0z69S2PzPpv9XjQhpiPOInmRRtuVQugPB6lB7wbo3uLHVi9MZY9FpCYTN4YWkYK33BBmCk8DxwhKNBHWgO9ffw7UJieYswVutQPw=s1200" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="857" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg419C6LDhVfq_NDsdyiMxse6Ys99s1Xgan4jyZsN8yhtevoalEq5dD3UHFHxHeDIUrLUvHbx4HmAOw6ZheXf1XgM0z69S2PzPpv9XjQhpiPOInmRRtuVQugPB6lB7wbo3uLHVi9MZY9FpCYTN4YWkYK33BBmCk8DxwhKNBHWgO9ffw7UJieYswVutQPw=s320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">
Running a little behind schedule with my writing at the moment - as usual! But once again I have an excuse!!!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">In my case it began with a boil or a pimple on my back, somewhere about the middle of December. No big deal you'd think - except that it itched abominably and was right between my shoulder blades which drove me a little crazy. So for the next week or so I was imitating my cats, and rubbing myself like crazy against door posts. But I live alone and the cats didn't say anything, so so what?!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Then whatever it was on my back became infected. So I trundled off to the Doc's and got some antibiotics as you do and for a time I thought everything was coming right. Until it wasn't Somewhere around the start of the New Year the antibiotics ran out and I just started getting sicker and sicker. We're talking major fever and incredible pain as if someone had a fist full of broken glass in my back and was squeezing. Which finally resulted in my calling for an ambulance in the middle of the night.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Roll on from there and I got to spend a few nights in the ED while they cut out a couple of absesses out of my back, one of which was the size of a golf ball, and then got to enjoy uncomfortable hospital beds for the rest of the week - though the food was fantastic!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">After that they sent me home with a cyborg bandage - I'm not kidding! The damned thing is a bandage that the district nurses keep applying to my back every few days and which comes with its own suction pump that I have to carry everywhere. And every few days they cart away another cup full of ooze from my back. They tell me they'll be doing this for the next two months! Meanwhile I'm utterly exhausted, my back both itches and aches constantly, and it has become very hard to think about anything for more than a couple of seconds. Hence the reason I'm so far behind in my writing. And the nurses keep taking photos of my back! They say it looks a little like a bullet wound!<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">All because of a boil!<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I"m not sure what the lesson here is. Don't scratch? Always keep your door posts nice and sterile? Maybe just that I'm getting older and more prone to these sorts of things? And it's more dangerous in the height of summer when you're sweating constantly? Or perhaps that I'm just a natural living pus factory!<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Anyway, the upshot is that I haven't done any writing or editing for about a month. But the good news is that Gorgon's Run has still been through three complete edits, and I'm hoping as I start to find a little more energy, that I'll be able to do the final pass through before the end of the month and publish it. There's always hope!<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">So that's been the end of 2021 and the start 0f 2022 for me. Not the best of times really. But I suppose I've lost a little weight which is always good. I hope all of you have had better starts to the year and with a little luck, my next post will be to tell you that Gorgon's Run is out and Farry is nearly ready to start going through editing.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">So cheers and a Happy new year to you all.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Cheers, Greg.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>Greg Curtishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10783031390790113616noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8789732836286963318.post-85315306280386022812021-11-25T21:08:00.000-08:002021-11-25T21:08:09.724-08:00Gorgon's RunHi Guys,
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrZbRdv6HoFHBXcTeflUuJOKnfRkQBBsv7zowiJxN4G1eqvgJesIwZAfWZ2adVL4ZW43GVsaofAVAKCbEkWSH3Fr69P-dhag-zw4HlLOwcPoMzSskiQt2QgrqWdAWSFXQPR-JsuHjhwQ1X/s2048/GorgonsrunFrontcoverimage1ModdedYellowMoonTitled.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" height="320" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1659" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrZbRdv6HoFHBXcTeflUuJOKnfRkQBBsv7zowiJxN4G1eqvgJesIwZAfWZ2adVL4ZW43GVsaofAVAKCbEkWSH3Fr69P-dhag-zw4HlLOwcPoMzSskiQt2QgrqWdAWSFXQPR-JsuHjhwQ1X/s320/GorgonsrunFrontcoverimage1ModdedYellowMoonTitled.jpg"/></a></div>
Thought I'd just drop you a note to let you know that the next book is in process. The first draft is done and currently I'm busy revising it. The books called Gorgon's Run, and it's an urban fantasy, a little like the Wizard at Law series. (But possibly a bit darker in tone)) Hope fully it should be out in December, well before Christmas! It's also a little different in that the main hero is actually a gorgon! (And a police officer)
The artwork for the cover camer from 123RF as a lot of my stuff does these days. But just to show you how I modified it, here's the original image I purchased.
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI9eBDDA0bOP0QkufQQFzsE3v0vqgKi94AuJkG94QGfAtSaWxpc96WAu12IWjqYu7aAJrAw6zXc9K6vB64tHMn7iHNuLYNglyaB4Y6WsIZlsH_dXd6DQEjmm4VjyLE82UTT1otk6sZs3Ni/s2048/Gorgonsruncoverimage.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="320" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI9eBDDA0bOP0QkufQQFzsE3v0vqgKi94AuJkG94QGfAtSaWxpc96WAu12IWjqYu7aAJrAw6zXc9K6vB64tHMn7iHNuLYNglyaB4Y6WsIZlsH_dXd6DQEjmm4VjyLE82UTT1otk6sZs3Ni/s320/Gorgonsruncoverimage.jpg"/></a></div>
And by the way - the monster may not actually be the villain of the piece. He may just be a lonely old sea monster looking for love!!! Aren't we all?!
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Cheers, Greg
Greg Curtishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10783031390790113616noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8789732836286963318.post-39735148081819005052021-09-30T14:42:00.000-07:002021-09-30T14:42:10.699-07:00Who? is out!<p>Hi Guys, </p><p> </p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT9P2-abX91s903eSkGG8nEXS9iwTWmZv6jYFYk9_xz7fJlUIGgoDxrWoBjtozV85PwL7vT_IjVCWHKltM27CGusBX_NeOfoctptPj2ESkwMD8DbIu-SVzMvPsLqLRSMQDcr80mGuH2Z5-/s2048/WhoCoverImageNumberFiveTitled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1698" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT9P2-abX91s903eSkGG8nEXS9iwTWmZv6jYFYk9_xz7fJlUIGgoDxrWoBjtozV85PwL7vT_IjVCWHKltM27CGusBX_NeOfoctptPj2ESkwMD8DbIu-SVzMvPsLqLRSMQDcr80mGuH2Z5-/s320/WhoCoverImageNumberFiveTitled.jpg" width="265" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: justify;"> Well this has got to be something of a record for me - two posts in two weeks! But also two books! But having said that I'm extremely happy to have got both books done - and extremely tired! (It also may be a while before the next book comes out, as I was devoting all my efforts to these two books and everything else is a way off.)</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Who is a science fantasy novel set in the near future when global warming is starting to dictate the will of the world, and when exotics - vampires, werewolves and other odd people - have been exposed. When their exposure has required a formation of a specialized world wide policing initiative - the Exotic Protection Service or Dog Squad. And where my main protagonist is actually something completely new (or old) a skin walker.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">I had a lot of fun writing it and I hope you'll have a lot of fun reading it.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">It's actually been good to get back into just solid writing and putting away the troubles of the world for a bit, and I think that maybe one of the best things about writing. Though I worry that the time is coming when I may be unable to continue as my eyesight worsens. It's nothing revolutionary, just a cataract and presbyopia, but I'm utterly opposed to the idea of someone with a scalpel getting anywhere near my eyes! Novartis has a drug for the presbyopia coming out for those who are affected - UNR844 - roughly one seventh of the world's population, but they don't seem to be in a hurry to market it. So the message here is if you are starting to suffer the effects of old man's eye, send them a letter.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">In the meantime I'll keep struggling on and I'll wish all of you the best.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Cheers, Greg.<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p>Greg Curtishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10783031390790113616noreply@blogger.com0