Alan Place is here today, January 14th on COME IN ~SIT DOWN ~ TELL US ABOUT YOUR...

This blog is a meeting place for authors and others in the arts .... each week as others are directed to our door or just stumble on by, they come and leave us information about themselves so they can tell about their new books or drawing or photos or to tell us about their new blogs. ****PLEASE be sure your comments are appearing on the latest most timely blog insuring your inclusion in the sending off to google plus land at the end of the week.*****


This is a meeting place where new and old alike can hook up for their next read or just to rediscover an old love.

Here is the link to Gwen’s site: http://www.indieauthornetwork.weebly.com/index.html G.D. Steel's blog is free promoting of your arts. As I am wont to say {as does Facebook} our site is free to comment and share and always will be free.  

For the rest of the month of January and possibly into February of 2012,we will be interviewing new and seasoned authors, first at Gwen's and then over here.

Today we have Alan Place.

Hi Ladies and Gentlemen
From across the pond, I bid you welcome.
I have had a busy day with writing to Angie's diary, and doing another on line interview, got some great ideas for my work once I can get time, which is why I am cutting back on new work, the only new work in the pipeline is about my accident and the after-effects, even months after I am having reprecussions

Al

Hello from the far side of the pond

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PaulaShene said about 22 hours ago

Let us now welcome Alan Place,

Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen - to those who do not know me, my name is Alan Place, an aspiring writer of many genres, although genre has never been a factor when I write, I am a writer of story. Word smith if you like.

I got my first urge to write when I was at school, I was usually in the library. On a summers day, with the sun beating down, the lure of being a sportsman never drew me... not even at a young age; it was words that were a big attraction for me.

When I moved to a new area, the first thing I looked for was the nearest library. That is, apart from a short spell in Southampton, when we were between houses. I have been in a library, whether school or public since I was about six or seven. I used to read a lot, but with the advent of the Internet, my attentions have turned to writing more but I am trying to correct this a little.

The first book I read was a charming novel called 'The silver sword' set after WW2 in a rubble strewn Berlin, it took me 25 years to read, not that it was hard or long, I lost track of it for much of the time... and, life went on.

My reading is like my writing. It covers all genre types from military to horror, from romance to mystery, and now I am writing a couple of autobiographical items as well.

There is not a genre I have wanted to try but not felt able, but there are three I do not really want to do. One is the Barbara Cartland type romances, another Catherine Cookson, and the third is sports.

The reasons are easy to understand, Barbara Cartland is a bit too romantically sloppy for me, Catherine Cookson writes about where I was born, and how I was brought up, and other than motorcycling and occasionally baseball, I have no interest in sports. If I cannot find the spark within the story, I won’t write it as it feels dead.

I have three very good friends who I send my stories to, they are my rock. They have been there for me, since they literally forced me to put my work on line last January 2011. In October, after a long spell of criticism and being told I could not write a saleable story, it was Ruth, Hazel and Jane who kept me going. At this point, after weeks of arguing with my on line tutor, I was ready to call it a day and quit writing; he had totally ripped apart every assignment I did - to the point I had no belief in my writing, even though friends loved my stories.

Some of my characters have bits of people I know; it is hard not to do this when you write. At least that is how I feel on that subject. One of my characters, P A Canella, is based largely on myself, even though my good friend Ruth sees a lot of my hero, Mark Johnson, in me as well. I do not. Mark is sexy, brave and daring. I am definitely P A Canella, quiet, studious and want to stay out of sight, a mouse not a lion.

To anyone wishing to start, I have a few words of advice: it will be hard, you will have to contend with 'In-house' favourites - that means once an editor knows you, he looks for your work. Yet, it is enjoyable. The main things though are, write what you want to, write with feeling, do not be afraid to go against the grain. My book 'Holding Richmond' is a good example as it is a vampire story, but they are not sexy. You are putting your work for show, so be yourself.

At the end of the day, I want to be known as Alan Pace, not a copy of someone else in my style. When I go to sleep I need to feel that it is my words that have gotten you reading, not because you liked someone else and saw me as a good copy..

I am a writer of stories, I do not try to preach or moralise; I have not lived your life, your struggles, so how can I tell you what to think?

My stories have only one purpose and that is a good read. If you see something else, then that is your decision, I did not intend it, if I sold a pen it is reasonable to expect me to think you will use it to write with, however if you turn it into a weapon, I cannot be blamed.

Point in view, I had a German editor friend in Florida who said she wanted to print my work ( never did though, as far as I know), on checking her magazine, it turned out to be left wing fascist, I can see how Mark fighting demons can in her mind be seen as the little man fighting corporate business, but for me all it meant was a man beating a demon. IF you did wish for a slant, it has definite Freudian possibilities, as he is as much fighting his demons, as he is demonic entities.

I write my books as good, clean adventure stories, there is no extravagant use of sex or violence, just to fill pages. If it is in there, it is because I feel it is good for the story line.

I have been told by people who read them that they are full of tension and excitement - especially the two RAF stories of my time in Germany, when I DID stare death in the face. As Gwen knows because she has read them. My story, 'Twice I escaped' is autobiographical and so, true to life.

The main things in my stories are they are engrossing, and never straight forward, just when you think you have it worked out, I have a habit of throwing a curve ball. I want to get you thinking again, by challenging my readers. That is why all my stories get a good write-up.

~~~~~Alan, thank you so much for stopping by. I have one more question - This question was posed by a fellow author and I loved it so much I decided to throw it into the mix

~ Oh no! One of your characters has escaped. Luckily, I have caught them! I will interrogate them with the help of a lie detector. Welcome! Take a seat, make yourself comfortable. You will be returning to your book once this is over. What's your name, where are you from and what is your role in the book?

My name is Phineas Archion Canella, my role is a spiritual guide to Mark Johnson, who I met in college. I am from the lands of time - a magician knows no boundries, no lands, nor, no time. I will say no more, but come visit my stories athttp://www.bookrix.com/-alplace1956.write 

Thank you Phineas and thank you Alan. Alan Place can also be found at http://hereiamattheedge.blogspot.com/

AlanPlace said about 19 hours ago

I would like to say a BIG thank you to Gwen and Paula, both for the interview and introducing me to Angie's diary, where I have just had an article published 

Here are some links for Al:  http://whortleberrypress.com/

http://www.alongstoryshort.net/
http://www.freenewsletter-templates.com/
http://indiependents.org/index.html