The end is near for Poirot...

Hello everybody.

So the last four Poirot episodes are soon going to be aired on ITV 1 and I must say I can't wait. I have been a big fan of the Belgian detective for a very long time and I think that David Suchet is just excellent.

The first one, The Big Four, will be shown on Wednesday 23rd October at 8pm and will reunite Poirot (David Suchet) with his good friend Japp (Philip Jackson), now Assistant Commissioner of the Met. Also Captain Hastings (Hugh Fraser) and Miss Lemon (Pauline Moran) will make an appearance.

I really can't wait for this and once I've watched it I shall let you know my thoughts on it.

Take Care.

:)

Catch up time plus Breaking Bad Finale...

Hello people

I realize I've not put up many posts on here recently as I had been doing. With my other blog I started recently, PRESS START, which is getting a great response, and all the games I've been playing and reviewing and television I've been watching, I guess something has to fall behind.

But now that I've got a week off, I am playing catch up. Also this week gives me a chance to get some headway with my next installment of short stories which I am hoping to get released by mid November.

*SPOILER ALERT*

I don't know if anyone watched the Breaking Bad finale last week, but if you did, how amazing was it? It's been a long time since I've seen a TV series that actually answered pretty much everything and didn't leave any unanswered questions. Walter White (Bryan Cranston) got the ending that he deserved, but as much as his character became more and more evil throughout the series as he embraced his dark and criminal side, I couldn't help but feel sympathy for him in the finale episode as he returned to Albuquerque to right the wrongs, finally securing his families financial security, wiping out Todd, Lydia and Uncle Jacks gang, and freeing Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul) who was held captive by the gang.

I honestly thought that Walter would either get killed by the hands of Jesse of at the hands or the cancer that started his downfall at the start of the series. But after seeing the finale I'm actually glad it was neither. I guess it would have been too obvious. Instead Walter succumbs to the stray bullet from the machine gun he had rigged from his car to wipe out Uncle Jacks gang whilst he dove on top of Jesse to protect him.

In the end it was sort of a happy ending, Jesse was free to live his life and finally free from not only the gang that held him captive but also from the manipulations of Walter White. Walter had made sure that his wife Skyler was able to make a deal with the DEA and go on with her life with their two kids. And even as he had one last look at the meth cooking equipment before collapsing to his death, he had a look on his face that was sort of like a smile, like he had finally completed what needed to be done.

It was one hell of a ride and I glad I started to watch it. There is a reason why it won an Emmy and also why it is in the Guinness book of records for highest rated TV series, which is thanks to its meta-score of 99/100 on MetaCritic.com.

Until next time peeps.

Take Care

:)

Book Review: The Venus Complex by Barbie Wilde

The first piece of fiction I read by Barbie Wilde was a short story called Polyp which was featured in The Mammoth  Book of Body Horror. And then Sister Cilice from Hellbound Hearts, which in my opinion was the best story in the collections.
But of course I'm not here to talk about those stories. Although the latter short story certainly prepared me for what I was embarking on.

The Venus Complex is about the descent of Michael Friday, a respected art historian, who after a moment of rage filled madness kills his wife in a car 'accident'. It's told in the form of a diary which really livens the tension and at certain points you could be mistaken for reading an actual serial killers diary.

Apart from the dark sexual thoughts and psychotic dreams that Michael Friday has, he also likes to rant quite a bit and is angry at the world, which you can actually understand and may even agree with, I know I did.
Even though Michael Friday is quite an evil man in most ways, you can't help but root for him and want him to succeed in his 'Venus Project'.

I will warn you though, there are some truly shocking moments in this book and it is definitely not for the faint of heart. But unlike most stories I've read where they are just blatantly shocking, this is well written novel and I hope to see Barbie bring out some more delicious works of fiction in the future. Especially since the way The Venus Complex ends, there is definitely an opening for a sequel and would love to know what Mr Friday will get up to next, but at the same time if there isn't plans for another one then that would be okay as this book ends perfectly.

Some people have compared this to American Psycho, which I can see what they mean to a certain point, but I would have to mostly disagree because I think The Venus Comples is infinitely better and much better written in my opinion.
I really can't wait for the next book or piece of fiction by Barbie Wilde and I hope we don't have to wait too long.

If you have read The Venus Complex or are planning to then please let me know what you think, or better yet, tweet @BarbieWilde and her know what you thought.

Take Care

:)

War of the books!

It's the start of a brand new week.

To start us off, I have some more of my favourite books to share with you.


#7 - THE WAR OF THE FLOWERS by TAD WILLIAMS

Before I get started, I just have to say I have read this particular book four times, so you could say it's my favourite book ever. It was also the first one I ever read by the author. This is a portal fantasy novel with a gritty feel to it. Portal fantasy is where a character from the real world passes through to a different world. There are some colourful characters in this book, including a Fairy called Applecore who has quite the mouth on her. It has everything you want in a fantasy book, including a great plot, heroes in the making, villains to despise, mystery, romance, suspense and a few twists to keep you on your toes. In fact, I might start reading it again.

#8 - THE WAR OF THE WORLDS by H. G. WELLS

Of course most of you will have heard this one, as it's one of the most famous classic sci-fi books of all time.  Published in 1898, this was the first book ever to depict an alien invasion. You can feel nothing but admiration for the author for coming up with such a unique idea during the time period. Martians invade Victorian England with advanced technology. It's told in he first person narrative and is presented as if it was a factual account. The entire book is just marvelous, but my favourite part is during the second part titled: 'The Earth Under The Martians', where the narrator and a Curate have taken refuge inside a ruined building. It's the deterioration of the relationship between the two that is quite fascinating, with the Curate becoming increasingly loud and traumatized by the entire situation (Well wouldn't you?) and the narrator has to silence him by knocking him unconscious.
It's a truly brilliant book and if you haven't read then I urge to go out and get a copy. It's one of those books that everyone should read.

Hope you enjoyed those recommendations.

Until the next time.

Take Care

:)

Mr Canning's Writing Tips: Finale

Okay people. Here are the last two of my Writing Tips.
Hope you've enjoyed all ten of them and thanks to those for the feedback. I will set up a page on the blog so that anyone who wants to look over them as a whole can do so.
And now without further ado....


Tip #9: Find the right time of day
For me, I find it difficult writing during the day. I write better at night. Now there are probably some writers out there who can write at anytime of the day, and that's great (I wish I could). But for those of you who find themselves sat in front of the laptop and just can't seem to write hardly anything, try doing at a different time of the day. I always used to struggle early on in my writing and found that I was easily distracted in the day time. Plus I find that the kind of stuff I write seems to be easier to produce at night. Of course it's going to work differently for different people. But you might find that changing the time of day might help.

Tip #10: Write, write, write  
This is one of the most important tips ever. At the end of the day if you want to become a writer then you have to actually write something. I've known of some people who have said 'I'd love to write a book' or 'I could write something like that.' Sometimes they even write a paragraph or two with the new laptop they bought and then, nothing.
To be honest though, writing is not for everyone and it takes a lot of discipline. But for those who have it in them, the only way you're going to ever do it is to actually keep writing. Of course don't push yourself (See Tip #2), but I do suggest that when you're in the mood for it, then do it. Eventually it will become second nature to you and you will be writing a lot more. Plus you will want to as the time goes by.

Well, that's it. I hope for those of you who have read these tips takes something away that is useful. And again as always, let me know. You can either comment below, email me: iancanning@gmail.com or tweet me: @Mr_Ian_Canning

Till the next time.

Take Care.

:)

Topic: The evolution of story in video games

"The princess is in another castle"

That was pretty much the story to the first Mario game. The princess has been kidnapped (damn you Bowser!) and you, as Mario, must travel through various lands and castles before rescuing her.
But back in those early years of video games, stories like that were fine.

But now as the success and popularity of these games become more and more, and also the technology side of it getting increasingly better, do we expect more than just a game to play?

Games like Bioshock, Heavy Rain and LA Noire for example have shown us that they are not just mindless video games that we supposedly waste hours playing, but are in fact well written stories with huge intricate plots that some films in Hollywood cannot even compare too. The game play is secondary, as the story is what is driving the player forward and you carry on just because you want to find out what happens next.
Sometimes I even forget that I am playing a game, especially during those fantastic cut scenes and plot twists that happen at important points, one of my favourites being in Bioshock, the moment you find out that the character, Atlas, who has been helping you, has actually been manipulating you with a hypnotic phrase 'Would you kindly?' It's hard to explain if you haven't played the game, but it was one of those jaw dropping, 'Oh my god', moments that you usually see in the movies. It's still to this day one of my favourite video game moments of all time.

Of course, it also helps with the improvement of graphics, motion capture and the amazing voice actors that they get, like Troy Baker & Nolan North. But also with the major popularity of games, even Hollywood actors are jumping on board. And with the right scriptwriting matched with the voice talent, it becomes truly magical.

Deep down for me, as much as I buy a game for the gameplay, the story is really important. I like to be fully immersed in the plot and be entertained. Heck, even Grid 2 which is essentially just a racing game even has a sort of story to it. And truthfully, I think it makes it better. Plus at the end of the day it has become another form of entertainment and has every right to be up there with movies, TV shows and books.

Thanks for reading and if you would like to discuss further or tweet me your favourite video games which you feel had the best story: @Brutal_Atlas

B_A

Books, glorious books!

Here are some more of my favourite books.

Right, let's just jump straight into this.

#5 - THE RATS by JAMES HERBERT

This is another author that my dad introduced me to and told me I should read 'The Rats', and I am so glad he did. This is quite frankly, one of the best classic horror books ever written. It's a gripping read and definitely doesn't hold any punches. The rats in question are the size of dogs and as the book continues are relentless. This is also the first book of a trilogy, the other two being 'Lair' & 'Domain',  the latter being more apocalyptic and the best of the three. There are some truly memorable moments and is definitely not for the faint of heart.

#6 -WONDER BOYS by MICHAEL  CHABON

I picked this book up really cheap and thought, yeah why not! This is basically just a delightful book and is for anyone who loves a book with good old fashion humour. It's full of wit and has some absolute hilarious moments in it. Again it's another one of those novels that I really like because of it's quirkiness. Some people actually say that they prefer the movie because it's short and more to the point in terms of driving the story along. I disagree! If you love to read then I would recommend the book over the movie any day. I love the fact that it's packed with detail and takes longer. What's the rush?
A WONDERful book all round.

Hope you enjoyed my favourite picks. If you have read any of these then please let me know what you think.

Till tomorrow then my pretties....(that was a bit weird!)

Take care.

:)

A slight change for today

Hello everyone

Hope you all had a good weekend.

Monday is usually the day where I put up some of my favourite books, but seen as though I've not had time today, I will be posting those tomorrow. I had plenty of time to do it, but with work and GTA V, time seems to have drifted away from me.

Also been watching Star Trek: The Next Generation which is now on Netflix. I have to say I never was a huge fan of the show, or of Star Trek in general, but now that I'm older I quite enjoy it. Also I didn't realize how humorous it is. Plus Patrick Stewart is ace and a fine damn good actor.

As the series finale of Breaking Bad nears, it's great to see that such an amazing TV show has been recognized for its brilliance with an Emmy for best drama, beating Downton Abbey and Game Of Thrones (Thank God!). So a congratulations to the cast & crew, you deserve it. I certainly cannot wait for the finale.

Okay that's it for today. Tomorrow I shall post more of my favourite books.

Take care.

:)

Mr Canning’s Writing Tips: Part III

Step right up Ladies and Gentleman, I have some more of my writing tips just for you. Read them, enjoy them, tell me what you think and maybe even try them out yourself.


 Tip #7: Keep a folder of cuttings
Get yourself a nice folder or even an empty shoebox and any newspaper or magazine articles that you like then cut them out and stick them inside. Sometimes random articles, especially ones based on news happenings around the world, can actually inspire to come up with stories to write. Maybe you can even create your own fictional account of how that certain event took place and who was involved. You never know, you might come up with a bestseller.

Tip #8: Observe the world around you
When your out and about during your daily travels, maybe your sat outside with a nice tea or coffee to go, take a look around at your surroundings and watch the people that pass you by and try to imagine what their lives are like, give them names, their own background, do what you normally would do when trying to come up with a character for your stories. Plus, pretend they are hiding a dark secret or have just committed a crime, play it out in your mind. Also try to picture a dramatic scene unfold before you and let your creative mind take control. The more you do it the more easily it will come to you. This is why we become writers right?

Okay, just two tips today and then next Friday I shall post two more and then that's my ten writing tips to the world. And for those of you who didn't catch the other two posts here they are: Part One & Part Two

Have a good weekend everybody

Take Care

:)

That Thursday feeling?

Everyone having a nice Thursday?..good.

I must say mine is going very well. It's Friday tomorrow, which means one more day then day off for me. Yippee, means I can play Grand Theft Auto V all day....ahem.... I mean write :)

Also, today I managed to secure myself a proof copy of The Echo by James Smythe, which is the follow up from The Explorer, which was brilliant. So, can't wait to read that.

As for my next lot of short stories, they will hopefully be ready within the next 2 months. These stories will be a bit more humorous in tone but will still maintain that macabre feel that I love so much, haha. The title and front cover are as of yet undecided, but as always I will post here when it is.
Okay then, as tomorrow is a Friday, that can only mean one thing...more of my writing tips. So please visit my blog for those, but also I will tweet the link when the page goes live.

Have yourselves a wonderful day folks.

:)

TOPIC: The eBook dilemma

It’s a strange one the eBook. I don’t think anyone thought it would take off the way that it has done, becoming increasingly popular as more and more people own tablets and E-readers. But then again, the same could have been said about music years and years ago, thinking I would only buy cd’s (that's right kids, CD’s), now I actually prefer my mp3 player and instead of buying cd’s I handpick and download certain tracks, saving cd purchases  for my absolute favourite bands. But I can’t help but think that it’s just not the same for eBooks and that paperbacks will always be in demand. (I hope so anyway).

For me personally as a book lover, I prefer having a physical copy in my hand. Nothing beats the feeling of buying a fresh new book. But as an Author trying to be published I feel eBooks are a great way for more and more wannabe writers to get their stuff out there in the great wide world instead of having to go through all the red tape jargon when trying to approach a publishing house. But I would love it in the future to get properly published, just to see my work in an actual book form and to see it on shelves in bookstores.

Of course the more indie authors that are out there (and there is a lot of them, great ones too), then the harder it is to be noticed yourself, plus as a reader its a lot harder to know which eBooks are actually good and which are absolute garbage. But at the low prices most of these kinda eBooks are I guess it’s good to take the chance.

The big problem for me about having all the books I love on one device is that, if it happened to break then I can’t read anything and in the end they're not exactly cheap. Plus its not like I read more than one book at the same time. Of course I do understand that they are good to have for when you go on holiday. Much less space than taking a couple of paperbacks with you.

But in the end I think both physical books and eBooks can live side by side. Besides there have been a fair few success stories where eBook authors have been signed up by big time publishers because of how immensely popular they have been. No need to mention names, we all know which ones I am talking about.

It's about time we get to choose what we want to read, and not what a publisher tells us what we should be reading, and hopefully in the future they will take a much more relaxed approach for aspiring authors like myself.

If you have any thoughts on the subject then please don't hesitate to share them on the comments section below, or tweet me: @Mr_Ian_Canning

Plus if you have an eBook that is fiction then please tell me about them and I will share my favourite 3 in a future article.

Have a lovely day folks.

:)

A lot of people calling in sick today I imagine...

Hello people of the information highway,

Today see's the release of Grand Theft Auto V and I reckon that a lot of people have booked today off work or have just called in sick. (I know for sure people have definitely called in sick)

As well as being an avid reader and watcher of TV shows, I absolutely love my video games. I grew up with them back in the days of Commodore 64 straight through to now. It's just another form of entertainment and with the technology, great scriptwriting and voice talent it's just another great form of story telling.
Of course it's also great fun too and I've been a big fan of the Grand Theft Auto series ever since the first one back in 1997. I find it quite maddening that people blame violence and such on games like this, especially when they make films like Saw & Hostel. (Hello? They're real looking)
It's just a fun game to have a mess about on and also play with a few friends online, like most games are, and I for one am looking forward to playing the latest one.
But where am I going to fit the time to all my other things is a bit tricky!

That's it for today. Tomorrow I will be posting another topical article about my thoughts on the future of books and the rise of the eBook.

Until then, take care and have a nice day. (And if you are playing GTA V today...make sure to take rests in between).

:)

Some more of my favourite books...

Hello all of you wonderful people.

Hope you all had a great weekend.

It's the start of a brand new week and I shall start the proceedings by sharing with you some more of my favourite books from the old bookcase. And of course if you haven't read last weeks favourite books then click here.

#3 - THE WOMAN IN BLACK by SUSAN HILL

This is one of my absolute favourite ghost stories. I like to read this one every year around the winter period as I feel the cold atmosphere and the chill winds really lends itself to the overall experience of this brilliant and traditional ghost story. I love the beautiful descriptions of the surrounding countryside and then also the creepy and unnerving feeling during the scenes involving the house and the marshes that surround it. This is a ghost story that will truly frighten you and will stay with you for the rest of your life. The last few pages left me gobsmacked and I couldn't wait to read again straight away. Absolutely LOVED it!

#4 - ALL MY FRIENDS ARE SUPERHEROES by ANDREW KAUFMAN

I think it was the title of this one that grabbed my attention and then when reading the blurb at the back, I thought, why not. I was so glad I did. This book is such a quirky and charming story an just made me smile all the way through it. It's only 108 pages long, but it's 108 pages of pure gold and doesn't need to be any longer. The story follows Tom, who is the only normal character and the rest are all superheroes, but not the regular ones that we all know and love. They are all unique and with crazy abilities including a girl who cries televisions. I don't want to say too much as I think people should enjoy this book and it wont take you long to read. Also if you like this book you should check out another one he wrote call 'The Tiny Wife' which is also another small quirky book.

Well I hope you enjoyed those and if you have read them or are going to read them at any point then please don't hesitate to leave me a comment or tweet me: @Mr_Ian_Canning

See you again tomorrow.

Take Care

:)

Mr Canning's Writing Tips: The Sequel

Howdy peeps

It's that time again where I shall share some more of my own personal writing tips that help me and may even help you. Also if you didn't see the first set then click here and enjoy.

Tip #4: Try writing while listening to music
Sometimes when I'm stuck and trying to write a certain type of scene, then I like to listen to music whilst I write. I find that certain styles of music really inspire me. If I'm trying to write a very a dramatic piece or scene then I will listen to something to match that, like Time by Hans Zimmer, which is an amazing piece of music. I just feel it gives me the emotion I need to write a specific scene and helps a lot. Also I can't write in complete silence. Some people can and that's great, but I get easily distracted by the sound of nothing...(if that makes any sense?)

Tip #5: Take lots of random photographs
Go out once in a while, or if you're out in the city/country side/day trip etc, bring a camera with you and just take as many pictures as you can. Then when you're sat at the place where you write and you're finding it hard to imagine a certain place or scene, look over photos and see if anything jumps out at you and inspires you. Or even sometimes just looking at a particular photograph can inspire you to write a new novel or short story which has happened to me a few times.

Tip #6: Create or Claim your own writing space
This tip, perhaps, should have been near the beginning along with the notebook, but it kind of slipped my mind. But yes, you should make somewhere in your home your own place to write whether it be an unclaimed spare room or an unused shed (you never know!). For me, it's the table in my apartment. It's nothing special, but when I sit at it to write , usually late at night, I make sure that it's clear and I have my cup of coffee next to my laptop and my notebooks open and around the rest of the table. At that point I'm in my element and I'm ready to write. You would be surprised at how having your own workspace for writing actually inspires you to write. Try it!

Okay people that is it for now. Check back next Friday for another installment of Writing Tips! I have a few more up my sleeve. And so I shall leave you to enjoy your weekend and I will see you next Monday for some more mini reviews of some of my favourite books.

Take Care

:)

Hello Autumn, my old friend

Well, I don't about you but I'm so happy that the weather has started to get colder. I'm not a huge fan of hot weather, especially when the air is so humid that you can't even breathe. Couple of months back during one of these warm nights I actually woke up in the middle of the night and was really struggling to breathe.
Luckily I have quite a large sized oscillating fan and just switched and left it on that night.

I prefer Autumn and Winter because of so many reasons. Here are some:

1. Hot meals, Hot chocolate (with marshmallows)
2. Christmas, Halloween, Bonfire Night, Christmas (Worth mentioning twice I think)
3. Having a lie in under a nice thick duvet (Can't do that during a hot day!)
4. Snow (It's great fun, looks nice & clean and sometimes gets you a day off work or school)

It's just nice to be able to breathe some ACTUAL fresh and cold air into my lungs. Helps me to wake up in the morning before heading off to work instead of acting like a zombie and sweating bucket loads before its even the afternoon.

 Anyway, just want to say thanks to people who have been visiting my blog, means a lot and also to let you know that tomorrow I will be posting another segment of my Writing Tips. So keep your eyes peeled.

Take Care.

:)

TOPIC: The jump from page to screen

'The book was much better'

How many times have you heard this phrase? A lot I bet.
Now of course this statement is true most of the time, but I feel that there are some real gems of movies out there that are based on books (plus sometimes I feel people just say that just to sound clever).
There's nothing quite like watching the iconic characters you loved in your favourite book living and breathing on the big screen. Of course there is that feeling that sometimes it will never live up to the original source material or that the big wigs in Hollywood might completely mess it up (Tom Cruise as Jack Reacher springs to mind.)

But there are occasions, very rare occasions, where the movie has actually surpassed the book. These are in my opinion of course but I'm sure that some of you will agree with some of my choices.

'The Shawshank Redemption' was actually a novella by a writer you may know called Stephen King and was part of a collection  of 4 titled 'Different Seasons' (Which also had a story called 'The Body' which became Stand By Me). There isn't actually much difference between the book and the movie, apart from the fact that the character Red is actually white in the book, so already the movie is better because Morgan Freeman is fantastic as Red.
But what makes the movie so much better is that the plot is much tighter and much more focused, without there being so many wardens that rule over Shawshank prison they are combined to make one that stays throughout. Also instead of it spanning over thirty years, the movie cuts it down to a decade or so which I feel is much more plausible. I feel that after thirty years you wouldn't bother with trying to escape. And of course the fantastic film score of Thomas Newman just makes the whole thing so much more enjoyable. So yes, I would have to say the movie is much better in this instance and I'm not ashamed to say I shed a tear or two towards the end.

Fight Club is another one of those double whammy's where both the book and the movie are absolutely brilliant. The movie pretty much follows the book on cue most of the way, but again there are slight changes where the movie gets the upper hand I feel. For instance the first time Jack and Tyler Durden meet - In the book they meet on a beach where Tyler is building a wooden structure but in the movie they meet on a plane when Jack is traveling back from a business trip, I find this scene so much better because it's where we are given a slight clue to Tyler's true identity as they both realize they have the same briefcase. Also at the end of the book it is unclear whether Jack, the narrator, is actually free from Tyler Durden, whereas in the movie he is able to rid of him and become the dominant personality by shooting himself (Ouch by the way!!)
Don't get me wrong both endings are great, but I feel the movie would not have been as good with the books ending as movie audiences need that sense of closure.

Other movies which I think are much better than the books are:

• The Prestige
• The Green Mile
• American Psycho

And now for Mr Canning's final thought:
I think in the end we should treat both the book and the movie as two separate entities and enjoy them for what they are. Now tell me, which books to movies have you really enjoyed? Leave a comment and share your thoughts or tweet me: @Mr_Ian_Canning

Take care folks

:)

If only there were more hours in the day....

Think I might just ramble on with this post.

So, apart from the reading and the writing that I quite enjoy doing, obviously, I also like to game and watch a lot television. I've recently gotten into a lot of different American TV shows recently which I discovered on Netflix like Breaking Bad and Fringe. Plus not to mention the ongoing Once Upon A Time (which finished on Sunday - Season 2) and the brand new Under The Dome which is based on the novel by Stephen King.
I swear there isn't enough hours in the day, but hey, we make do don't we???.

 It's funny about Breaking Bad actually because I tried to watch it once and turned it off after the first 5 or 10 minutes. For some reason I just couldn't get into it, but now second time round I'm hooked. I started from the beginning (Obviously Ian - duh!)  a few weeks back and now I'm already onto season 5. I guess I'm just trying to catch up with everyone so that I can watch the series finale when it's released on the day and not have it spoiled. Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul are so great to watch in this series. Especially Cranston, who I've only ever seen in sitcoms like Seinfeld and Malcolm In The Middle, so it's quite interesting to see him play a character who is slowly embracing his dark side as the series unfolds.

And soon my favourite show, The Mentalist, will be back and it's going to be EPIC as finally the elusive killer, Red John, is going to be finally revealed. Before this year is out too! I must say I am definitely looking forward to it and hopefully I will have guessed right too (Brett Partridge).

As well as all that, Grand Theft Auto V is out next Tuesday (17th) and I have to carry on with my third installment of short stories. Better get the coffee on standby....it's going to be a busy few months.

Right, that's enough blabbing from my end. I shall post again tomorrow.

You take care of yourself okay?....Good

:)

It's the start of a new week. Have some mini book reviews.

Hope everyone had a great weekend.

It seems some of you like my writing tips, which I'm glad about . Check back this Friday (13th) and I will be posting some more.

Anyway, today I'm going to share with you some of my favourite books that I think you may like.


#1 - STONE JUNCTION by JIM DODGE
 

This was one of those books that I took a chance with when I was starting to venture out from my usual sci-fi and horror books I always read and fancied something different. It was the cover that caught my attention first and after reading the blurb at the back I though, hell, why not. I was so glad I did, Stone Junction is such an amazing book with an array of bizarre characters that the main character, Daniel Pearse, meets along the way as you witness him on his modern odyssey and slowly changing from boy to man. This book is American literature at its best and more people should read this.

#2 - THE STRAW MEN by MICHAEL MARSHALL

I was first introduced to this book by my dad who gave me it to read a few years back, including the next two after (The Lonely Dead & Blood Of Angels). This is such a gripping story from the very start with a fantastic and shocking opening. Along the way is a mystery and conspiracy that the characters, Hopkins, Zandt, Nina & Bobby are embroiled in with some great twists and turns along the way which are quite shocking.
 I also loved the way it changes from first person to third person, depending on which character was being followed in that particular chapter. You would think that would be difficult to follow but you hardly notice and it works really well.  I urge people to read this trilogy, especially if you're fans of authors like Denis Lehane & John Connelly.

Okay I think that will do for now but I will be posting more throughout the foreseeable future. Hope you enjoy these and if you read them at all or have read them already please leave a comment and tell me what you thought. Also feel free to recommend me any books that you absolutely love as I'm open to anything.

Hope you all have a great start to the week.

Take Care.

:)

Mr Cannings Writing Tips

Well hello there...How are you?...Good good

Anyway, today I am going to share some of my writing tips that help me do what I do. Some of them may not work for you, but if you are struggling putting pen to paper or fingers to keys and trying to convert your ideas  and thoughts into a story, then maybe give them a go. I will post more throughout the next coming weeks. So...here goes:

Tip #1: Always keep a notebook on you
I always keep a notebook on me at all times. You never know when inspiration will strike. It doesn't matter what it is, whether its a passing thought, something you saw happen on the streets or something that piqued your interest, just write it down. You never know what could come from such a small idea. I've jotted down random things down in the past and eventually when looking back at them Ive expanded on them and eventually written them into stories. But make sure you have a pen too as there is nothing worse than coming up with a great idea and you haven't got a pen on you.

Tip #2: Don't force yourself to write
Some authors or tutors in the past have always said that you should always try to write so many words a day, basically force yourself to sit in front of the computer and type. But I disagree. I find it that it doesn't work for me as I need to be in a creative mood to sit and write, plus I write at my best when I'm not pressuring myself to do it. It shouldn't feel like a chore or be like work, it should be something that you enjoy doing and you will find the more take that approach then the more you will want to write.

Tip #3: Read, Read, Read
It seems an obvious one but you really should read other books. Not only is it great to read but also you start to get a sense of structure and how things are written. Especially if you're unsure when writing conversations between characters and knowing where to put all your little punctuation bits. Plus sometimes it great to clear your mind of your own writing, especially when you need a break, and just enjoy another authors work.

Okay, that will do for now. I have lots more tips, but for now I will leave you with those to mull and ponder over. Let me know what you think, whether you agree or whether you try them and they work for you.

Also I will be doing regular posts on my favourite books and authors with reviews and such. I am going to try and post much more frequently on here. I may even post stuff that isn't even to do with books and reading etc.

But now I shall say my goodbyes. Till we meet again.

Take Care.

:)

And so the journey continues...

Hello people of the Internet,

Its been a couple of weeks now since I released my second collection of dark short stories: Wash Down Hope With A Glass Of Despair. I've yet to hear some feedback but I'm sure I will soon, although my Dad did tell me he read the first story: Such A Perfect Day, and said he liked it.

Ive now begun work on my next installment of stories which shouldn't take too long as some of them have nearly been written (They were supposed to be released earlier, but didn't quite fit with the other ones yada yada yada). Plus I've started writing my first full length novel. Ive had this particular idea in my head for some years now and feel like it's time to get it on paper. Originally Sick Sad Little World was supposed to be my first novel, but as I was writing it I didn't feel there wasn't enough story to tell without it seeming a bit long winded for no reason so decided to make that one a novella.

Anyway, that's my update, will write some posts soon. I also want to start doing some reviews of some of my favorite books or anything else I might think of. Not completely decided yet. Will keep you posted.

Take Care

Ian

:)

Book Trailer - Wash Down Hope With A Glass Of Despair

Hi again,


Here is a Book Trailer for my latest Short Story collection:

 

 Thanks for watching and take care.

:)

Wash Down Hope With A Glass Of Despair - Released Today!

Hello people,

Today see's the release of my latest collection of short stories: Wash Down Hope With A Glass Of Despair.

 1. SUCH A PERFECT DAY
We follow a man who seems to be having an awful day. Will his luck change?

2. PEEPHOLE
James Trent discovers a hole in his apartment that leads out in to what appears to be another world.

3. 4355
A man, who debunks mysteries, comes across an abandoned building which houses a strange elevator. But what lies on floor 4355?

4. SUNSHINE THE WOLF
Michael Harris, a wannabe actor, creates the next big children's TV character. But with an alcohol problem and severe claustrophobia, will Michael lose everything in the end?

If you could leave a review for it on AMAZON then please do. It would be great to know what everyone thinks of it, plus it helps me out a lot.

And for those of you who purchase it. Thank you.

Take Care

:)

That time is soon upon us...

Hello people of the internet,

It has been awhile since I posted on here and that's because I've been busy with work and also with putting all the final touches and editing of my latest short story collection: Wash Down Hope With A Glass Of Despair.

I mentioned in the last post the four stories that would be appearing in this one, but now that has changed. Two of them are still staying: Last Orders & Sunshine The Wolf.
It's just one of those things where I'm always coming up with random ideas for short stories and feel that they would fit better with certain other ones (if that makes even the slightest bit of sense).
Anyway, the next installment of my short stories will be making its way to your kindles or kindle apps (that's right you don't have to have kindle to read these - so download he app free - then buy my stuff...NOW haha).
I'm especially looking forward to hearing your thoughts on Sunshine The Wolf, as I've been sat on that one for quite some time tweaking it and trying to come up with a decent ending for it. It's certainly my favourite one I've written so far, but also he one that's given me a bit of a headache too.

So, I will post soon when Wash Down Hope With A Glass Of Despair is available to buy.

Take Care

:)

All these stories pleading for my attention...

Hello, it's me again.

Still continuing writing these short stories, but instead of the four that I had previously mentioned in my last post, I'm now writing about four or five more and also have ideas for another....million (or maybe slightly less :D ). The problem is I'm writing bits of each before going on to the next one and adding more to that one. So firstly the four to be published next might change. But I promise you will get to read all that I intend to write so, chin up.
But also secondly and just as good, there shouldn't be too much time between the second collection and the third collection to be published.
One particular short story that I've just been writing had me researching the American Civil War and that was pretty cool because I wasn't too versed on the subject and now I've gained some knowledge on it. Learning is FUN!

Right, I best carry on writing....actually its 2:30am as I type this, so I'm off to bed.

Till the next time and thanks for reading this.

Take Care

:)

INSERT WITTY TITLE HERE

Hi

I realize I haven't updated this blog in a while so I thought I better had.

There.....done.

Only kidding. Been busy recently with writing the next batch of short stories, plus gaming, watching the last few episodes of 'The Mentalist' (OMG!!), blasting the new Dillinger Escape Plan album and seeing family at my Grandads 80th Birthday party.

Anyway, I'm hoping to have the next collection of short stories up and ready by end of June or beginning of July! As always I will post on here and twitter as soon as it's available. (Twitter: @Mr_Ian_Canning)

As for the collection itself I don't have a name for it yet but here are the titles for the four stories:

SUNSHINE THE WOLF

LAST ORDERS

CORMAC

CAN'T SMILE

Right then....off to bed.

Till next time.

:)

So Far So Good...

Hello People,

So it's been nearly a week since Pull Out Your Teeth And Smile was released and I've just gotten my first review on Amazon which was ace. Sale have been a bit slow, but I'm sure will pick up gradually as I keep trying to plug it. Also more reviews like that should definitely help.

Also I'm working on the second volume of short stories. They shouldn't take too long as I've had these ideas in my head for some time. Plus one of them was going to appear in the first set of stories until I decided to withdraw it and give it a bit of a tweak.

Anyway, that's about it. Going to be busy for the next week so I wont be posting anything till a week today.

Take care.

:)

Pull Out Your Teeth And Smile - Released Today!

Here it is finally!

Pull Out Your Teeth And Smile is now available on Amazon. 

It's a collection of four short stories from the depths of my dark mind. It was supposed to be five but I recently removed one because I felt it just wasn't ready yet, so that will be in the next collection which I'm working on at the moment and will update you on that one soon as.

Thanks to anyone who purchases this and please write a review for it on Amazon, whether you liked it or not. I can take it :)

That's it for now. I'm off to bed.

Take Care

:)

Random Rambling's and Update

The last short story is almost complete. All that's left to do after is give it all a good editing and then that's it. Should hopefully be available very soon. Will update when it is.

Apart from that all I've been doing recently is watching a lot of 'The Mentalist'. I've started watching it from the beginning again as well as the new season on Channel 5. Such a fantastic series and I know once they finally unveil who Red John really is it will be pretty much over, which will be sad but at the same time I just want to know who it is now and wonder if my theory has panned out.

Of course there are so many suspects as to who it could be, but I've always thought it's Brett Partridge, a forensics investigator, who is in the very first episode during a fake Red John case and then pops up again at the end of season 2 during yet another fake Red John case. He fits the profile and even has a similar voice to the killer when he appears disguised at the end of the same episode.



 Brett Partridge:

But of course it could be anyone from a long list of suspects. I'm sure it will be an amazing reveal once it happens. I urge anyone who hasn't seen this series to watch it!

Right, that's enough rambling from me.

Till next time

:)

The Blog Is Back!

Hello people.

Thought I would bring back my blog, although it has a new address so I guess it's a new one but that's not the point.

It's been a whole year nearly since I published my first piece of writing on Amazon Kindle: Sick Sad Little World. I felt it was a good story which seemed to get mixed reviews from what I've seen.

I'm in the midst of writing short stories and will be publishing a collection of them within the next week or two. The first collection, which is titled 'Pull Out Your Teeth and Smile' is a collection of some of my more darker stories.

I will keep you posted as to when it's published on Amazon's website.

As for now check back for some other random posts in the future.

Take it easy :)