Tag Archives: reading

I Need Your Help, Fellow Bloggers

Good Morning from Northern Ireland. I ask a favour of you all. My Irish fantasy novel, ‘The Kirkwood Scott Chronicles: Skelly’s Square,’ is nearing 100 five star reviews in both the USA and UK & Ireland. It would be great if I could get one, or both of them, to 100 in the near future.Continue reading “I Need Your Help, Fellow Bloggers”

The 12 Blogs Of Christmas #10

As this Christmas blogging series glides (limps) to an end I thought I’d be a little selfish when it came to today’s suggested topic – Christmas presents. I’ve always been somewhat awkward promoting my own work so one of my New Year resolutions has been to be a little braver when it comes to stickingContinue reading “The 12 Blogs Of Christmas #10”

Are You A Bookaholic?

Well, are you? It’s nothing to be ashamed of and I promise I won’t tell a soul. Just you, me and the WordPress community. It can be our little secret, okay? Books have been a great comfort to me in recent years, so much so that I started to write them myself. They teach me,Continue reading “Are You A Bookaholic?”

It’s Irish Book Week

Did you know I’m Irish? And I write books? Three to be precise, and I’m working on the fourth. This week is Irish Book Week so I’m asking a big favour. Many of you already do/have but if you’re a reader and looking up try out a new author, then please have a look atContinue reading “It’s Irish Book Week”

Win A Signed Copy of An New Jerusalem’

Good Morning from Northern Ireland. It’s Day 2 of the launch for my new book, ‘The Kirkwood Scott Chronicles: A New Jerusalem,’ and I have a competition for you all that is also being run on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. The winner, drawn randomly on Friday, will receive a signed paperback copy of the bookContinue reading “Win A Signed Copy of An New Jerusalem’”

Two Days To Go!

The next instalment in the ‘Kirkwood Scott Chronicles’ series – ‘A New Jerusalem’ will be available for pre-order in two days time, prior to going on sale in October. I’m very excited and hope you are as well. If you haven’t read ‘Skelly’s Square,’ the first book in the series yet, it’s available to buyContinue reading “Two Days To Go!”

Thoughts From The Prancing Pony – I Don’t Like Hobbits

Hobbits annoy me. There, I’ve said it. Apologies to all you Elijah Woods fanatics out there but they do. Sir Ian Holm will no doubt be turning in his grave and Sean Astin will be…well, doing whatever Sean Astin does these days. Didn’t he pop up in the last season of ‘Stranger Things’ or something?Continue reading “Thoughts From The Prancing Pony – I Don’t Like Hobbits”

More Kind Words

The positive reviews for ‘The Kirkwood Scott Chronicles: Skelly’s Square’ keep coming in. Hard to believe that it will be a year old later this month. But, worry not, for Book 2 in the series, ‘A New Jerusalem,’ is out in October 2020, published exclusively by the good people at Potters Grove Press. Thank youContinue reading “More Kind Words”

Researching Book Three

Another day in paradise. Or lockdown hell, whichever way you wish to look at it. I woke up to more five star reviews for ‘Skelly’s Square’ on Amazon. The USA and UK are now tied at 56 five star reviews each. These mean so much to me as they bolster my ever fragile confidence. TheyContinue reading “Researching Book Three”

Thank You

Really pleased to announce the blog has passed 12,500 followers. If you add up the Twitter and Facebook accounts that means over 25,000 people now follow us online. Mind blown. Fionnuala, the kids and myself are forever grateful for your support and encouragement during these testing times. I’ll keep blogging as long as people keepContinue reading “Thank You”

Thank you River

I was delighted to wake up to this review of ‘Skelly’s Square,’ this morning from River Dixon, a blogger, poet & writer who I hold in high esteem. When times are tough and you’re doubting your own ability, reviews like this encourage and motivate an author that they are headed in the right direction. ThankContinue reading “Thank you River”

Bomb Girl – Would You Read This?

Thank you to everyone who has been reading and posting such great reviews for my new novella, ‘Bomb Girl.’ It’s a psychological thriller set in modern day Northern Ireland with a smattering of the supernatural. It’s available to buy now on your local Amazon site or free on Kindle Unlimited. Like my writing? Then checkContinue reading “Bomb Girl – Would You Read This?”

How Do You Connect With Your Readers?

It never fails to amaze me that people regularly return to this blog to read my words. I’ll never complain about having to read and reply to comments because they are my oxygen, the main reason I write and post on WordPress. I want to make a difference and help people. So when I wakeContinue reading “How Do You Connect With Your Readers?”

My Current Read

Yes, shock, horror it’s a book about the Battle of Waterloo. I’m about 100 pages, the author focusing on the accounts of the men (and women) from both sides who were present just outside a little known Belgian village called Waterloo on 18 June 2015. The carnage which followed reshaped the map of Europe andContinue reading “My Current Read”

Kirkwood Reaches Kolorado

Ryan from Colorado received this little beauty in the post the other day. Those of you who’ve been living under a rock these past few weeks might not know I’ve written a book. Well….I’ve written a book. You can check it out by clicking on the link below. Thank you to all those who haveContinue reading “Kirkwood Reaches Kolorado”

Can I Ask You A Question?

Whenever people ask me what my book is about, I hmmmm and haaaaah without really giving them an adequate answer. I used to describe it as ‘Harry Potter meets Trainspotting,’ until Fionnuala told me it’s nothing like Harry Potter….or Trainspotting for that matter. Sorry to disappoint all you Daniel Radcliffe and Ewan McGregor fans outContinue reading “Can I Ask You A Question?”

Normal Service Resumed Tomorrow

Just a brief notice that normal blogging service will be resumed tomorrow after real life intervening over the last day or so. See you all then. Until then feel free to drop by my Facebook author page at the link below. Thank you all. https://www.facebook.com/StephenBlackAuthor/

Some Questions For You All

I got an e-mail from my publisher yesterday to let me know the publication process had commenced. I’m hopeful, therefore, the book will be out at some point during the summer. Yes, it’s that close. Scary stuff. Various questions popped into my head so I thought I would share them with you all, rather thanContinue reading “Some Questions For You All”

Having Difficulties Getting To Sleep? Then Read This

The older I get, the weirder I seem to be getting. Hard to believe, I know, but true. Take my sleep patterns for example. I can’t remember the last time I experienced an uninterrupted night’s sleep. No matter how tired I am, at some point during the hours of darkness my mental alarm clock willContinue reading “Having Difficulties Getting To Sleep? Then Read This”

What Was Your Favourite Childhood Book?

Today sees the start of my ‘bucket list’ challenge to re-read my favourite childhood book, ‘The Lord of The Rings.’ I purchased it on my Kindle last year with this intention in mind, but have always found an excuse not to start. Well, no more. I’m holding myself accountable to the good people of WordPressContinue reading “What Was Your Favourite Childhood Book?”

Stop The World….I’ve Lost My Kindle

If you asked me what three items I would take onto a desert island (go on, ask me) I’d probably plump for my glasses, a lifetime supply of Diet Coke (surely that counts as one item?!) and my beloved Kindle Fire. You see, I read….a lot. And the Kindle is my way of stashing hundredsContinue reading “Stop The World….I’ve Lost My Kindle”

Where Do You Find The Time To Read?

I’m currently reading ‘Dark Places’ by Gillian Flynn. It’s a fantastic read. Eerie, edgy and beautifully written. The twists and turns of the plot leave me none the wiser as to how the story will turn out. It ticks every box as far as I’m concerned, a real page turner. Well, it would be ifContinue reading “Where Do You Find The Time To Read?”

Beta Readers Required

Happy August one and all. This looks like being a big month for me. I’m now nearing the end of the third edit of my debut novel ‘The Kirkwood Scott Chronicles – Skelly’s Square’. This has been a long road and I’m sure regular readers are sick to the back teeth of my updates onContinue reading “Beta Readers Required”

Death To Words. Long Live The Emoji.

Much as the caveman must have pondered life before fire or the Victorians wondered how folk managed before the invention of electricity, one question has vexed me above all others as I continue my blogging journey. We have sent people to the Moon, plumbed the deepest depths of the oceans and scaled the highest peaksContinue reading “Death To Words. Long Live The Emoji.”

The Best Thing About Writing Is The Not Writing Bit

When I decided I wanted to write a novel last summer I naively believed that it would be a reasonably straightforward affair. Get idea – Write Idea down – Send idea off to publishers – Get six figure advance and three book deal – The end. Oh what a silly boy I was. Ever sinceContinue reading “The Best Thing About Writing Is The Not Writing Bit”

Fun Friday Continues….Even Though It’s Saturday

Today’s question is for all you bookworms out there. What was the last book you read and what did you make of it? To get the ball rolling here are the last few I’ve read. I read a lot much to Fionnuala’s dismay but I know that in order to succeed as an author youContinue reading “Fun Friday Continues….Even Though It’s Saturday”