Category: Paul Trembling

Writer Wednesday: Androidism by Paul Trembling

I like to pat myself on the back occasionally. I don’t know if you remember the webzine that I used to publish – “Welcome to Wherever” was the name of it – but I like to think that in the two years that I managed to keep it up and running (hard to do when it’s just you doing everything!) I may have inspired a writer or two, or set one of them off on the road to success…

Anyhoo… one of those writers is Paul Trembling. He’s been pretty prolific for a while now and I thought I’d highlight one of the stories on his website.

It’s a short, but sweet tale and I think you’ll like it!

So click through this link and once you’ve read Androidism , explore the rest of his site, there’s some pretty interesting stuff there!

The end of a dry spell?

Over Christmas 2014, I was feeling quite down; partially because of the weather and partially because it didn’t look like anyone liked my writing anymore. It set off a case of “Writer’s Doldrums” and in keeping with tradition,  I self medicated with chocolate, wine and duvet days.

Pulp-O-Mizer_Cover_Image (2)

Yes, I know it says Nanobug, but I changed it to Nanobot…

Then came January 2015 and I resolved to try and pull meself out of the doldrums and get on with the business of writing. Before Christmas, I’d put “The Necklace of Harmony“*  permafree on Smashwords and 99c on Amazon (because unless you’re in their special club, you can’t do free…) so after I sobered up, I went and checked the stats…

Smashwords sales Jan 2015

This was on Smashwords…

I was pleasantly surprised by what I found on Smashwords, even more so because my Amazon sales had flat-lined.

The thought that people were actually, willingly, downloading my little collection of stories, made me feel a lot better. So I started an attempt to finish “Night of The Nanobot”** , my on/off science fiction fantasy story.
Pulp-O-Mizer_Cover_Image (2)
I posted each chapter up on wattpad as I went and posted about it on Facebook, Twitter etc… and I started getting reads! I even had a couple of votes, which while it didn’t catapult me into Watty Fame, did feel rather nice. It was encouraging.

So I ploughed on and eventually on the 4th of February I typed the final full stop. That one is going to be passed into the gentle hands of my alpha-readers and I’ll get on with something else.

I popped in on my published books recently on Amazon and came across this on “The Heir of The Dragon.” – 

 

5.0 out of 5 stars A Darkness in Te Ling, 24 Oct. 2014
By
Te Ling is a city like no other. Certainly it has all the usual sights and sounds of a modern metropolis – the crowds, the tourists, the businesses, the hustle and bustle. But the real life of the city is hidden, and the real rulers of the city lurk in the shadows. Under the Treaty of Te Ling, Vampires, Werewolves and Humans live in an wary but beneficial alliance.Until two outsiders arrive. They are hunters, and their prey is The Black Dragon – Vampire Lord of Te Ling.Against this rich and exotic background, the author weaves a fast paced and absorbing tale of love, blood and intrigue. More than just another ‘Vampire / Werewolf’ story, this has serious depth, a lot of action, and a brilliant twist in the ending!

I couldn’t believe that I’d missed this one. Heir is one of those stories that doesn’t get a lot of press and lo, someone had actually written a review of it! I had a mad case of warm fuzzies, I can tell you!

I was trying to decide what to do next. I can’t do anything to “The Tower and The Eye” until my editor has read them and given me a list of what needs changing. I thought about sorting out “The Dragon’s Pendant” but my beta-reader is currently in the throes of sorting her own writing out for publication, so I doubt I’ll be doing that any time soon.

I went back to my work-in-progress folder and took a wander through the fantasy section (a change is as good as a rest, as my Nan used to say) and came across the Japanese based world of “Yumi’s Story” and “The Ballad of Pigsnout the Wanderer”  from the Quargard Realm. Both of these stories draw me, but in the end, Pigsnout won the toss and that’s what I am now working on!

This post might sound like I am rambling and boasting, but it actually has a point. At Christmas I had reached the point of Writing Suicide – that of stepping away from the keyboard and never doing it again. Then I was talked round by my partner who said, quite wisely for him, that I should give it another year and if it still didn’t pick up, then I could give up.
The encouragement I had got from the sales on Smashwords, the reads / votes on Wattpad and the review that I had obviously missed; coupled with several rather nice private messages from a new reader, pulled me the rest of the way out of the Doldrums and into the feeling of “yes, I can carry on with this…”

Reviews are important to Indie Writers; even the 1 stars, which can at first glance see nasty and vindictive. They tell us that people value our work. That we have been noticed for whatever reason and that we are affecting those who read our work in whatever way.

Of course, increasing sales are good as well, because… this might seem a little mercenary of me… we need money to be able to pay the bills and continue to do the thing that we love best – create and write stories for readers to read.

In my case, the money from my books is going straight into my moving fund to get my family into a safe, secure house with a roof and enough space for my Aspies to feel happy and calm in… but that’s a totally different story really.

Right then, I’m off to do more wordsmithery and World Creation…

Peace and health to all who pass through!

M

*This book is still permafree by the way, so if you fancy a read, feel free to boost my ego a little more and download it!

** If you decide to follow this link and read what is up on wattpad, be warned – I stopped posting before I got to the end of the book. Also, the wattpad version will only be up until the end of february.

Winner of the Welcome to Wherever Spring Writing Contest, Paul Trembling!

Announcer: For the first time in over a year, the World of the Tiger Princess has returned! So put your hands together to welcome the wonderful lady herself, The Tiger Princess!

Audience gives a standing ovation as the Tiger Princess appears onstage, accompanied by a large white tigress and a handsome dark haired man.

 

Tiger Princess: Thank you so much everyone! I’ve been so busy that I’ve not had much time to interview anyone so it is fitting that I return with a writer who is almost as busy as I am!

Audience: Ooooo….

Tiger Princess: He’s written a crime novel based on personal experience and has dipped his toe into the fantasy waters with a series of stories which explore the role of women in fantasy as well as being an excellent example of why dragons can be really nasty…

Audience: Ahhh…

Put your hands together to welcome Paul Trembling to the World of The Tiger Princess!

Holding out for a Hero by Bonnie Tyler plays as the tigress and man leave the stage and return with Paul.

Tiger Princess: Welcome to the show, Paul.

Paul Trembling: It’s lovely to be here.

They sit down and the man and tigress go back stage.

Tiger Princess: Where do you live, were you born and bred there?

Paul Trembling: I currently live in Brownhills, which is near Walsall in the West Midlands. I was born inGuildford, inSurrey – and I still have a bit of the accent to prove it!

Tiger Princess: Do you have kids? Please tell us a little about them?

Paul Trembling: We’ve got three boys. The oldest one, Tom, is just completing his course at University, where he’s been doing something very clever and technical to do with computer animation. He’s a wiz at things like Photoshop – the cover for my crime novel ‘Can of Worms’ is his work. (Please excuse the little plug!)

Matt is the second lad, just turned 15. Like me, he’s very creative (we’ve collaborated on some writing) and he’s also been involved in some drama. Unlike me, he’s very talented musically – plays guitar and keyboard, writes his own songs, etc.

The youngest is Andy – 12 years old and, like Matt, has inherited some music gifts from his Mum! He plays piano / keyboard. Also regularly beats me at anything we play together on the X-box (but they all do that).

Tiger Princess: Do you have another job apart from writing? For how many hours? How do you feel about the ‘other’ job?

Paul Trembling: I’m a full time Crime Scene Investigator. Which (as I say every day) is nothing like CSI on TV! Still, not a bad job as jobs go, and on some days can be really good! But I can’t deny that there’s many times when I’d rather be writing instead.

Tiger Princess: Which character trait do you like best about yourself and why? Which trait would you rather do without?

Paul Trembling: Tough one! To change the question slightly, I like myself best when I’ve managed to be unselfish, and put someone else first. And obviously, when I get that back to front is when I least like myself!

Tiger Princess: How did you start writing?

Paul Trembling: I started story telling before I could write. Some of my earliest memories are of laying in bed at night making up stories. At school, of course, ‘Write a short story’ was one of my favourite classes – though I had trouble sticking to the ‘short’ format. What was supposed to be a one lesson exercise frequently turned out to be an epic that took several lessons to complete – though that did include the illustrations! I feel sorry for my teachers.

Tiger Princess: How do you structure your writing day?

Paul Trembling: Structure?

I wish I could manage such a thing! I write when I have the time, and the space, and when the need to write drives me to it – which is quite often! Mornings are often a good time, but when an idea really takes over it can be anytime. If I’m not actually writing, I’m probably thinking about writing. Most of what I put down on (virtual) paper has already been written several times in my head.

Someday – when I’m not working (or at least not working shifts) and I can take control of my life, I might be able to actual put some structure in place. Dream on!

Tiger Princess: If you could meet any writer, living or dead, who would it be and why?

Paul Trembling: I remember answering this one before somewhere. I think I said C.S. Lewis – and he would still be my first choice. For his creativity and imagination and honesty and clarity and depth of thought. Particularly for the way he tackles questions of Christian apologetics – which still seem to me to be fresh and original, even after all these years.

Another candidate might have been the Christian writer and speaker Adrian Plass, for many of the same reasons. Plus his brilliant sense of humour. However, I have actually met him – albeit briefly – so I can tick him off the list.

Tiger Princess: What is your favourite music to write to and does it inspire your work?

Paul Trembling: I don’t listen to music while I’m writing. The quieter the better, for me. Music is something I have on while I’m doing something else, like driving. I can’t think of anything I’ve written that was directly inspired by music.

Tiger Princess: Are you a Paper and Ink or a Computer and Keyboard writer?

Paul Trembling: Keyboard, always. My handwriting is abysmal!

Tiger Princess: What is your pet hate in books that you buy for yourself?

Paul Trembling: I try and be forgiving of all faults, because I may be guilty of them myself! Clumsy sentence structures, obvious anachronisms – they all break the flow of a story and detract from the readers experience, but even with extensive editing, things like that can sneak in.

I do find it irritating when characters or circumstances are juggled around to fit the plot. It feels very contrived, but even some top selling writers have done it! (Or at least, I thought they had!)

Tiger Princess: What books do you like to read?

Paul Trembling: Mostly Fantasy and Science Fiction. Some historical fiction and history, a bit of crime, a few thrillers. I’ll have a go at almost anything.

Tiger Princess: And Finally – if you won the Booker Prize, how would you celebrate?

Paul Trembling: I’ve no idea! Such dizzy heights are way beyond my aspirations. I have quite a few competition entries in the pipeline for this year, and if I win any of those I’ll be stunned!

Tiger Princess: I’m certain that you’ll do well and we’ll all will you onward! Thank you for being so patient and answering my questions.

Paul Trembling: Thank you, you’re welcome!

Tiger Princess: (To audience) Tune in again soon and we’ll bring another wonderful writer or artist to you!