UK Amazon Kindle Forum discussion

Hello everybody, I'm the author of the ongoing 'Words to the Wise' Gothic saga. In keeping with Highwayman's ideas on how I should proceed, I'll first explain what prompted me to begin writing in this particular genre.

I studied Gothic literature for some time and developed a passion for the often baroque manner of writing employed by novelists such as Ann Radcliffe, and later Gothic/horror writers of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries such as Poe and Lovecraft.

I suppose my aim was to recreate a certain style of writing that was popularised during these periods, an ornate and yet still atmospheric form of prose used to draw in the reader and envelop them in billows of periodic eeriness. It was also my intention to create a journey, since I do so very much love a literary journey. I like nothing more than to imagine the readers feeling as though they need to shake the dust off their feet once they have read the final word; although that may be pushing things a little beyond expectation.

So far things are going very well. I've had a few favourable reviews from like-minded sorts who also enjoy this particular approach to the Gothic engine, which certainly helps to fuel my intent in regards to completing the saga.

As for when it will be completed, I would say I'm probably a couple of years away yet. Book Three has already been written and I'm currently writing Book Four; there will be five or possibly six in the entire saga.

In the meantime, however, I have a few shorter tales yet to publish; ghost stories, horror, that kind of thing, some of which are set in contemporary times and which are told in a contemporary style. I suppose, at the very least, it proves that I'm not completely stuck in the past.

Anyway, thank you for reading, everyone. I shall post links to the books below if you wish to take a look. They're also available on the Amazon site.

All the best,

Cornelius.

Words to the Wise
Words To The Wise: Book Two

Hi Cornelius, looks like you and I posted our threads within moments of each other, so I thought I'd jump over and say hello! I'm a fan of gothic literature, and your books sound very interesting.

Bets of luck with them!

Hi Robert. It does seem as though we almost clashed there. Good luck with your book, also. Gods, sex, and death sounds like quite an intriguing concoction.

Hi Cornelius,

With your background, I'm guessing that the research for this series was pretty thorough. Good luck with the first two books!

Hi Shelagh, and thank you.

In answer to your question; yes, to a painful excess, one might say. By now, I should have learned my lesson and moved onto something else.

Good luck with your books. 'Mr. Planemaker's Flying Machine' ... what a great title!

Thanks Cornelius! If you are planning three or four more books in the series, there's lots more research to be done! I love doing research.

J.K. Rowling outlined all seven novels in the Potter series before she sumbitted to publishers. Do you have outlines for your books?

Hi Shelagh. Lots of research, indeed; I love it also. I had, however, already written the entire thing as one long novel some five years ago, so I know exactly where it's going and how it's going to end. When I came to editing it, I ended up expanding the story quite considerably, and now I find myself (happily so)knee-deep in a saga. I have made notes (both inside and outside my head) for everything I intend to add, and also for those aspects of the storyline that will require a fair bit of research; the only problem is that said notes are piling up, and they're nearing the ceiling.

Might I ask, from where did the idea for 'Mr. Planemaker's Flying Machine' originate? The story sounds intriguingly surreal.

Hi Cornelius,

I won't hijack your thread by talking about my book. I've added an explanation on my author thread, but thanks very much for asking!

I think that five books in a series is a much better option for Kindle -- you can always offer a complete set eventually.

Interesting that you should mention notes. How much of your research is handwritten and how much is stored on your compter (with back-ups, I hope!)?

Hi Shelagh. Yes,I've just seen your thread; silly me. As for hijacking my thread; I really wouldn't mind. I may have started the thread, but I have absolutely no problem with others promoting their own work inside it.

Your novel's origins may come from a deeply tragic event, but it is also very inspiring that you would begin writing it soon after. Your brother would've been proud.

A complete set? Now that would indeed amount to many words. If anyone who purchased the Kindle version was aware of the total, I dare say they'd run away screaming.

As for notes, I don't think I'm alone here when I lay claim to having paper everywhere; notepads, receipts with notes on them, pieces of card, and all manner of material that accepts ink.

There's also quite a bit stored on my computer, but I've made all the notes at the end of the story, and in bold. So I have roughly seventy or eighty pages of various ideas that spring up instantly; as in the progression of the main storyline, characters, sub-plots, and set-pieces etc. But yes, everything is backed up.

Hi, As you may remember from the 'next read' thread on the forum i am about to start book 2, you have said book 3 is written, do you know when you will publish ?

Hello there, John. I do remember, and I really hope you enjoy it.

As for Book Three, it is indeed written; it's now just a case of editing it, which I'll begin to do very soon. I only published Book Two last month, so I thought I'd give everyone a rest for a while.

Book Three is quite a size, so I'm guessing that it'll be about four to five months away yet.

You should watch out; if you spend too much time over here on the goodreads site, you'll have Gingerlily after you.

Trying to persuade her to join, at least with book three a little way in the future the to read pile will have chance to diminish slightly.

Oh I think you're kidding yourself there. By the time I publish Book Three, your TBR pile will be three times the size it is now.

Do you have any spare moments to read, Cornelius? Your books seem to take up a great deal of your time.

Hi Shelagh. Not as many as I'd like, to be honest with you. At the moment I'm reading 'Les Miserables' whenever I have some spare time, but I don't seem to get much of that.

Congratulations on the downloads for 'Mr. Planemaker's Flying Machine', by the way. You must be very pleased.

Thank you, Cornelius! Yes, downloads are looking very healthy! We saw the musical vesion of 'Les Miserables' a few years ago in London. It was brilliant.

I've always found the idea of the musical version somewhat ironic; it is called 'Les Miserables' after all. I'm wondering if the songs are as despairing as the subject matter. Then again, I'm only about three hundred pages into it. Perhaps, later on, the characters will begin to exhibit the joys of living; they'll sing, dance, join the circus, and live happily ever after. I tingle at the thought of it.

I have seen the musical three times over the last 8 years in London, perhaps i need to read the book !

The musical is sad though not at all like watching Mama Mia :-)

I think that, if the same book was written today, it would be trimmed down a great deal in the editing process. Still, it is a very good read.

I must, however, admit to feeling a little bewildered at the moment. Obviously musicals such as 'Les Miserables' have literary merit and I can very well imagine, from what I've read of the book so far, that the songs are indeed quite sorrowful. But recent live shows of 'Batman', and now a musical rendition of the film 'Ghost', have left me somewhat baffled regarding which material the West End will turn to next.

Towards Darker Climes was a brilliant read, a worthy part in what seems to be a well thought out and exiting series.

I have just finished it and await the next with anticipation.

Many thanks, John, I'm really pleased that you enjoyed it, and thank you for the review. I shall start editing Book Three shortly.

Hello all. I thought I've pop in and tell you that I've just published my novella, A Dish Best Served Cold, on the Kindle. It's just over 25,000 words long, so it should provide at least two to three hours worth of reading.

For those among you who are familiar with my previous works, this is a far cry from my usual Gothic style; it's a contemporary ghost story without dark castles and imposing mountains. Anyway, here lies the blurb:

"I've done something ... terrible."

In the pre-dawn hours, Michael's phone call to his best friend instigates a chain of events that propels them into uncharted avenues of despair.
Detailing the consequences of delving too deeply into the unknown, 'A Dish Best Served Cold' is a supernatural novella that explores the darker side of human nature and the beyond.

There, all done.

Cornelius

Hello Cornelius, I've spent all afternoon reading your A Dish Best Served Cold. I really enjoyed this story, it kept me guessing till the end, it was really chilling and full of atmosphere. I wanted to ask a question so I will PM you in order not to spoil it for anyone else eif you dont mind?

Hmm, blurb sounds good...


Amazon direct link
A dish best served cold

Should I be claiming freebies for all this? Probably not, but if you want to post a bottle of local Ale up Cornelius I'm sure you will be picked for a group book or a quiz link....

Corrupt? Moi?

Hi Lynne, and thank you; I'm really glad you enjoyed it. Your question has been answered.

Simon: You rogue, you. (Ahem ... the ale is on its way)

Thanks for the direct link.

Good afternoon everyone. For those of you who might be interested, and even for those of you who may not, I have returned Book One of my 'Words to the Wise' saga to the arena. It has been polished, pruned and pickled.

pickles and prunes do NOT sound like a good combination! and if you add polish to it.... Words to the wise eh... 'Don't eat it. A dish best not served at all.'

Hope it does well for you after that ;)

Thanks, Gingerlily. Although I see nothing wrong with a pickled prune that's been polished. Not only would it assault the palate, it would look quite refined.

Now have a few of those raspberry vodkas and then try and say: "Pickled prune that's been polished".

hic...pockled pulished pring...pilished prule sbeen poclished... erm i sheem to beee avin sgome dickifultiii....

Good to see you back here Cornelius. I've been telling Geoff that if he wants the poignancy of immortality he should look you up. Well, your saga anyway.

I know you are shy so here is the Amazon link....



Words to the Wise - Awakening

Thanks Kath. I'm trying to inch my way back into society. What is this bright orb they call 'the Sun'?

Thanks for the Amazon link, Highwayman. I really must learn how to do that after I've acquired more information about this Sun thing.

Isn't that a newspaper? Or do you mean the thing that is supposed to light up the sky occasionally? I have been told that the Irish used to be sun-worshippers, but they stopped becasue there was no evidence that the sun actually existed.

Don't be silly, Gingerlily. How can the Sun be a newspaper? It would burn. It makes no financial sense. You can't pull the wool over my eyes.

Are you a sheep farmer as well as a writer? I hear Geoff knows some interesting things about sheep - maybe you could compare notes...

I can't see the Sun being a newspaper, perhaps you can only see it in the Mirror!

Sheep and Sun are my life, Gingerlily. Make of that what you will.

That would make me an 'Observer', Vanessa.

Some Times one must Express ly avoid certain threads..

Oh - I've got Mail from my Guardian.

Bet he doesnt have any News of the World for you.

Only for my Private Eye.

Tell him Hello from me.

I might have to call Time Out on this discussion!

OK

Don't want it to end in a Punch up.

As long as you don't Telegraph your blows.

This is getting into Top Gear now! Lets just Take a Break and Chat for a while

I was just about to fling my glass into the fireplace, Gingerlily!

Is it the right shape for that Patti?

I think we need an Independant referee.