A New Life? - I Hope...

Today is the first day of the rest of my life. (Ooooops - does that sound like a cliché or what?)

You see, normally at this time on a Sunday I would be almost back in Cambridge, ready to grab a few hours kip before starting the working week. This week it's different, today I just finished getting my American camper ready for a start tomorrow on two months of travelling.

Xmas will see us in the depths of Somerset, where we will explore the coastline, Cheddar George and Glastonbury. After that it will be wherever fancy takes us.

Don't get me wrong, this is not early retirement, it's not a wealthy flight of fancy.

For the last few years I've worked very hard to establish a reputation of quality and reliability with my clients. At the same time I've worked very hard to develop my writing skills. The time has come to give the writing some time and effort.

If I fail - well, that's life.

Wish me luck...

ffox

Words of Wisdom

Here's a link to a blog site that may do more than a little good. This guy's the man who offers Critter's Bar to the world. http.crittersbar.com

For those who don't know, Critter's Bar is a writing workshop, and a very good one at that. It is a members only site but you only have to ask and you'll probably gain entry.

The quality of work there is high, yet the new, the young, the inexperienced are made very welcome. Bob's tenet is 'Learn to write', I heard him say it when I first encountered him on line. He says it frequently. He is a guys who will ask WTF, when another makes a statement that is insupportable, or even just shaky.

Alternatively, visit Bob's blog. http://bobjacobs.co.uk . Well worth the effort.

Fantastic Art from Cover Van

I met this guy on line through his wife, M E Ellis. He does the most stupendous art (see above).

Visit his blog and say hallo, the images are great.

Literary Sass Award for The Cost of Loyalty

It has arrived - Here it is taking pride of place in my eTrophy Cabinet.

I tried filling with Tequila but it just ran all over the computer keyboard.

The Cost of Loyalty is available from Freya's Bower

Literary Sass - The Dreaded Tequila Worm Awards

Gee Whizzz - I got a mention.

LitWit named The cost of Loyalty as her fav for the Worm Awards.

Literary Sass



Got knocked down the list by my friend M.E Ellis with her Pervalism. Ho Hum, still no shame in that is there?

You can run the race but when the real athelets are out you ain't gonna win. You just do your best.

ffox

Moments of Clarity/Moments of Confusion

Okay, so I don't Blog every day. This is not a true diary. I come here only when I have a significant day.

Let me explain. After working last weekend and with the prospect of working next weekend (I do IT and telecoms support for a Global Corporation) I took six days off. Monday thru Friday were to belong to Carol and me.

My client had some serious issues with telecoms and I was asked to throw in the weight of my 'experience' on a remote support basis. The result? I lost some time that I had thought belonged to me. Carol, thankfully, was 'understanding'. I was pleased to be of sufficient importance to my client to be asked, and to be of use. Ego? Yeah it is - so what?

At the same time, my very good friend and fellow author M.E.Ellis (I follow in her writing footsteps) published on her Blog http://meellis.blogspot.com/ a thread on Deja Vu.

She asked of me if I had knowledge of current scientific thinking on the concept of 'conscience'. I quoted a part of the entry in Wikipedia and said "Me? I just go with the flow."

Taking my quote as a point of reference she went off searching the web for material and came back to post lots of interesting comment. Her conclusion though was to examine how the life work of genius related back to her own existence.

I read her thoughts in awe. This lady is relatively young in years in comparison to her 'life experience' but I suppose I should have expected no less from her. The crux is that, any fool can go seek knowledge. The Internet is indeed a wonderful resource. Only the wise will apply that accumulated knowledge in a balanced way to their own reality.

We are all, to some degree, neurotic and neurosis cam be attributed to many things. Sigmund Freud concluded that most human behaviour was related to childhood learning. I respectfully choose to disagree. A huge amount of human behaviour is related to genetic learning. Neurosis, such as fear of snakes, fear of insects and the like comes from so far back in our genetic history that they can never be rationalised out of existence.

That being the case, the best solution is - go with the flow. My opinion only you understand but one I hold dearly.

ffox

The Nightmare - A Horror Short

The Nightmare is published in the September issue of Wild Child eMagazine.

Read it Here

The Cost of Loyalty - Literary Sass Review

LitWit Wrote - I went into this story expecting a romance. I didn't get one. I got historical fiction with some sex. And it was some good shit. I liked this one. The writing was awesome, lush and detailed for such a short work.

Literary Sass Wrote - Despite the fact they were short, the subject matter and setting (the Vietnam War) had me tense from the first page. Chris Ffox conveys the fear and determination of these soldiers.

Full crit HERE

Happening Stuff

Fairly big week on the writing front.


12th September - The Cost of Loyalty is up for review on Literary Sass. Sign in and watch me burn!!!

This week I also start the editing process of The Gateway with Karen Frontaine of Wild Child Publishing.

15th September - I have a horror short - The Nightmare - in the Wild Child Publishing eMagazine.

Last but by no means least. My very good friend M.E.Ellis has launched a trailer for her book Quits.




Watch the trailer it is very good. Then get the book from Wild Child Publishing - what this writer does with characters is... well, read it and you be the judge.

M.E.Ellis donates all her book royalties to charity. So you can indulge yourself and get that righteous feeling at the same time.

ffox

ffox Writing

Welcome to the writing blog of ffox.

The ffox is wild and free. He obeys only the rules that fit his own standards.

Why not hunt the ffox and enjoy the rewards of running him to earth.

Start here www.ffox.biz/Writing/Index.html and here www.freyasbower.com


Now in - M E Ellis Author and Editor does a personal review of The Cost of Loyalty

What passions would make a GI go AWOL in Vietnam?

Already at mortal risk in the life and death theatre of a deadly war Johnny has to make a break and desert his post. Why? – Only one human emotion could possibly drive a man to make that step…

“Johnny. Please, even if you get away with avoiding the commies, the army could shoot you…”

“I’m going. I have to know. Rob, do yourself a favor and forget you’ve seen me.”


**

Under threat of Court Martial Rob needs to know what happen to Johnny. He is the only one who can discover the truth…

The American shook his head. “Just Johnny. That’s all I want, just Johnny.”

She had to get control. Slowly she approached him and took his sleeve. She would do whatever was necessary. There would be no qualms. The thought of it excited her a little…

… read the full story in The Cost of Loyalty by ffox. A Freya’s Bower exclusive.

Play with the pack... other Freya's Bower and Wild Child authors here.

Talk with Freya's Bower Authors. Next live chat August 11th 2006.

Other Blogs worth a visit...
EBook City
M E Ellis Author and Editor
M E Ellis Reviews