Month: November 2011

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What’s in a Name?

Everything, or so it seems! 
If your ambition is to be read by the millions of potential readers out there, your surname, or rather its first letter really matters.
Don’t believe me? Then just take a look at the rows of books lining the shelves of your nearest book shop, the next time you go in search of something to read.
Without exception the book shop owners, be they independent, or a member of a chain, all line their book shelves from left to right. If your surname begins with A, B, C or D, your books will be the closest to the door, and so by definition will be perused first, when the customers enter.
It’s no coincidence that if your name is Auel, Brown, Clarke or Dickens, you stand a far better chance of a sale than anyone named Walter, Pumpernickel, or Zen.
Given this highly sensible way of displaying books on the part of the shops – A-Z, left to right, if you want to be read, don’t use your own name if it does not start with one of the first four letters of the alphabet.
Of course these days with the growing number of highly successful internet book stores like Amazon dominating book sales, you can’t walk through a physical door and turn to your left to begin at A. But I would still encourage you to use a penname within those first four letters of the alphabet – A, B, C, and D. My own sadly starts with the fifth letter of the alphabet.
To quote one of my favourite television comic characters – Maxwell Smart, “Missed by that much!”
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The Elder Scrolls V – Skyrim

Remember way back when, before PS3’s, Xbox’s and PC’s took over the gaming world? Back then there was a game called Dungeons and Dragons which obsessed a generation? Well, its back with a vengeance in the form of The Elder Scrolls V – Skyrim.

I started playing yesterday, and before I knew it the world outside had transformed into night. It is so darned absorbing!

Talk to various characters you come across as you wander through the land of Skyrim and you find yourself heading off for another adventure. Unlike so many games these days, there are non of those highly annoying corridors you are forced down. You are totally free to wander the map in its entirety. If you can get away with it, steal the items you want. Learn crafts like blacksmithing to make your weapons, or learn magic from a wizard.

Wander across the countryside at your peril, especially at night. Trust me when I tell you, find an Inn, buy a bed for the night.

Above all, watch out for those darned dragons!

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Goblin Tales For Adults – No:29 begins

Artemus Wainpin – goblin shaman, friend of Morweth the white wizard
The days of Goblindom’s isolation are drawing to a close. Beyond the magically created barrier, humans are massing. Inside goblindom, a mountain goblin is threatening to reveal its location by his greed and stupidity.
What will happen?

More later…