Sharon Maria Bidwell

Ray Bradbury has recently annoyed thousands of writers and possibly almost as many readers when he said at BookExpo America that: “There is no future for e-books because they are not books. E-books smell like burned fuel.”

You can read about BookExpo and see the evidence of his quote here.

I have to admit that while I believe everyone is entitled to their opinion, the idea of something digital smelling like burned fuel raised an eyebrow. I’m tempted to sniff my computer screen, but I won’t. It just strikes me as an odd thing to say. If he’s making an environmental issue, well the phrase: “Save a tree; read an ebook!” seems to have caught on more widely.

For those of you who don’t know, an e-book is simply an electronic version of a book. It’s a book in digital format, which may come in the form of an html document, an rtf file, microsoft’s own reader, pdf… and there are other types of software out there, which I won’t bother to list as they are no doubt inventing new ones as I type.

I appreciate some people are going to laughing at the very idea of someone wanting to read a book in a digital format and I do see their point. As to why, I’ll address the pros and cons another day. However, love them or loathe them, e-books exist and the market is growing. Whether you like it or not, they’re not simply going to fade away overnight. In addition, many people like e-books for various reasons, which I’ve decided to discuss on my blog, so do drop by over the next few days. There is a market for electronic print. Companies would not be investing trying to create the ideal portable e-book reader if this were not the case. Large publishers would not be announcing that they are looking to offer their entire book range in both print and electronic formats.

Some people are just very resistant to change. I love print books. I feel there’s nothing like holding a print book in your hands, BUT a good book is a good book whatever the format. I think the future needs to be about personal choice. I’m not pretending to hold a candle to Bradbury. What makes me laugh is that many writers who are known for writing such futuristic stories, then balk when they meet the future head-on. I’m going to age myself here, but my uncle was one of the first people to own a television set due to his job. I recall when television shows only came in black and white. I remember when videos first came to the market. And do you remember when they said CDs would never catch on? Give it time.

Oh, okay, you don’t have to go read them but I’ve got to squeal a little.

Three great reviews from Literary Nymphs!

The Swithin Chronicles: Uly’s Comet is a complex story that showcases fantasy with a touch of emotional reality. … This is a tantalizing and exhilarating beginning to an inventive series that I enjoyed greatly.

The Swithin Chronicles 2: The Comet’s Tail: Sharon Maria Bidwell continues to astonish with this amazing series. The love scenes are sensuous and tantalizing, the emotions are intense and the storyline is outstanding.

The Swithin Chronicles 3: The Comet Cometh is an extraordinary journey that is a combination love story and psychic mystery. … Sharon Maria Bidwell illustrates a collection of works that evolves into a phenomenal conclusion in this episode. This series is intriguing, complex with fascinating revelations in each book. The many facets of emotions displayed melt your heart. This is an excellent series that I enjoyed immensely.

:o)
Shaz x

Okay, that’s stretching it but I am very pleased to announce that I’ve signed a contract with Aspen Mountain Press for another story in their Del Fantasma line. It’s a novella called “Virgin Special” and it’s a m/m/f vampire story.

Don’t know when it will be released at present. It’s lined up for edits and due to their schedule as well as mine there may be a few delays, or not. Right now, it could go either way but I’m happy to wait to suit them and they’re happy to work around me. This is just the right work for me at this time as it’s not too long, and not too fraught at what is a very busy time. Watch this space, as they say and I’ll be posting more info at the appropriate time.

If you’d like to see somewhere I can say my heart truly lies since I discovered its existence many years ago, then pop along to the Britwriters Blog.

There you can see some great pictures of a place swamped in Arthurian Legend. I don’t know if this place speaks to the storyteller in me, or if it’s due to great places like this that I wanted to tell stories but Britain certainly has many beautiful locations to spark the imagination.

It’s very seldom I buy something too beautiful to use. I’m one of those who believes if you’re too frightened to use it then it’s a waste to buy. Don’t buy things you can’t use or aren’t beautiful. Things you buy you should need or they should enhance your life. I haven’t always adhered well to this philosophy but maybe it’s true that with age there comes a certain wisdom. I tend to think before I buy anything now and if I’m not likely to use it or I can’t take it out of the box, then I’ll take a pass.

“Desire, A Private Journal” is an exception. I don’t know why I bought this. I was looking for a different kind of notebook, saw this, and felt intrigued. It’s truly too beautiful to write in. The cover has a lock but it’s not just any cover. It’s padded and scripted, and feels like a rather luxurious box. The ‘book’ lies inside, fastened to its protective box. The pages are smooth, thick, and mottled. There are beautiful phrases, lovely pictures, and exquisite poems spaced throughout. This book deserves elegant script — a handwriting skill I do not possess — and precious thoughts or heartfelt poetry. This is why the book has sat on the shelf for a few weeks untouched and will remain so until I can figure out exactly what I should write in it. Anything penned for this book will need writing out beforehand so I know exactly what to say, and my hand will tremble as I try to keep the flow of my handwriting at its neatest. I feel as though I should learn calligraphy before I ‘qualify’ to get anywhere near these pristine pages.

This is a special little book that would make a lovely gift but don’t be annoyed if the person you give it to never has the heart or nerve to touch it.

I’ve had some very important decisions to make this weekend and I can’t sound more cryptic than that, I know, but you’ll have to forgive me. I’m one of those who often feels speak things too loudly and you’re tempting fate. I’ll tell the good news — or bad — when it happens, which may not be for awhile yet. Let’s just say I’ve a few important weeks ahead and that physically I’m fine. Emotionally is another matter and I’m sure the blood pressure will suffer from a touch of nervous anxiety.

Feeling slightly ‘unreal’ as though I’m suddenly ephemeral because events around me have taken me by surprise, I was looking for something to ground me, bring me back to earth. No such luck but just another wonderful surprise.

“Uly’s Comet” and “The Comet’s Tail” were both reviewed by Joyfully Reviewed, to glorious acclaim.

Uly’s Comet is an amazingly intricate and fascinating fantasy book. It involves intrigue, love, hate, passion … involving fascinatingly flawed characters to keep you entertained and turning the pages. … Uly’s Comet clearly demonstrates Ms Bidwell’s talent to build an intricate world and society for her characters to inhabit and evolve in.

All in all, The Comet’s Tail is a fun and sexy romp … a wonderful fantasy tale that will leave you feeling hot under the collar and looking for the next book about these men!

My thanks go to Sabella for not only reviewing the book but thinking carefully about what she wanted to say. Although after reviews like those I can’t say it made this weekend feel any more real.

There are some books that as a writer you stumble across and just hate. This is one of those books. As a writer, you hate such a novel because it makes you feel inadequate, a charlatan. This is misdirection, of course. I know I can write. Reader response tells me that. That’s not to say I’m delusional in either my ability or my inability. I am simply aware that there are many writers out there better than I can ever hope to be. Equally, I’m very aware there are far worse. I also know that a writer never stops learning and can constantly improve.

Books such as “Captain’s Surrender” by Alex Beecroft is a read I love to hate. I hate that it exceeded my expectations and yet I love that I wish I had written this book. It inspires me; it makes me want to aspire and produce quality. The reader in me loves that this book became a part of my life, and will remain on my bookshelf, a keeper. I’m not parting with this one. Nope. Never.

Captain’s Surrender is the work of a talented writer, succeeding on multiple levels. As an avid reader, I plough through many books in all types of genres. I have works that are a light, entertaining read, to doorstop epics, and enjoy them all on many different levels. However, “Captain’s Surrender” is what the art of true storytelling is all about.

The story of Josh Andrews and Peter Kenyon takes place at a time in British history where the “crime” of homosexuality meant hanging. The infallible human heart would love to believe that love truly does conquer all, but when the threat of death literally hangs over your head in the form of a noose, what are two people in love to do? When two people love each other is there really such a thing as choice?

The book opens on a grotesque moment and from there your heart is in your mouth until and, possibly, long after you’ve turned the last page. That initial spark of love, of something beautiful between Josh and Peter amidst such horror is only one of the underlying themes of the book. As a writer, I’ve only touched on some of these themes and, strangely, in stories of a completely different nature and genre. I want to write a romance such as this, less explicit but just as emotionally gripping.

Whatever your sex or sexuality, this is a great read. My only criticisms, if you can call them that, is the cover doesn’t do the book justice and being that this is a British book by a British writer, with a British setting, I should like to have seen British spellings. However, the tone hits the period delightfully, and the dialogue is superbly composed.

This read is heart-warming, thought-provoking, and immensely enjoyable. Everyone should read this book once in their lives. Not only am I glad this made it to my to-be-read pile, I’m pleased to say it is on my list as a definite re-read. I wish Alex the best for a successful career as a writer, and I will seek out all future work by this author, no matter what the genre. I’ve yet to read Alex’s “The Witch’s Boy” but I will be in the not too distance future. Do yourself a favour and surrender to a great read.

Okay, so what’s it all about? Well, a blog run by published British writers but you don’t have to be a writer or British to read our posts or comment on them. If you have any questions, we’ll be having question and answer sessions, too. So do drop by Britwriters and find out what’s going on in our little part of the world, and if you’re a British writer then read our ‘about us’ page for details of joining.

http://wulfwaru.wordpress.com/

Like m/m romance? Want to know how a man from outer space found love in the quiet Cornish seaside resort of Padstow? Then check out my “Space, Man” interview at “In Their Own Words” and ‘see’ Mani in his white clinging spacesuit!

I’m trying to catch up with everything, including blogging, but I seem to have left my get up and go somewhere at the beach. Plus the sun is still shining and enticing me to laziness. Still, I’m glad to report that I came home to a great review for The Comet Cometh at ParaNormal Romance :

This book is full of conflicts; conflicts between persons, their world, their power, and their own feelings. There is excitement in the action with the battles and the warring of persons against each other. There is also wonderful love scenes that will set the reader afire. While this is the third book of a trilogy, it can be read as a standalone. There are also lines which can easily be explored with their own story. Perhaps Ms. Bidwell has a treat for us yet again?