Larressingle, Pont d'Artigue, Santiago

Just back from a week of much-needed 30+ degrees of sunshine in south -west France.  Great food, wine and company, as well as a fig tree under which to sit, read and write.  My ongoing short story, The Dragonboy of Regnaville, is nearing completion.  Quite by chance, I came across some interesting places I must incorporate.  The Castle of Larressingle, begun in the 13th century, oozes atmosphere and not far from there, the Pont d'Artigue, on Le chemin de Saint-Jacques de Compostelle (or the Camino de Santiago de Compostela) is the perfect place for a dramatic event in Julian the dragonboy's life.
Coming soon.

France - holiday

Now I'm retired, I should have more time to attend to my blog.  First things first, however.  I'll be on holiday in France until the beginning of August, so no new posts until then.  I'll take a bunch of notebooks and pencils with me.  I know there is a shady fig tree waiting, a deck chair, a bottle or two of red wine and great company.  I hope to finish The Dragonboy of Regnaville by then, but you never know.  A bientot.

Two Free Books Today

Just a reminder, because I don't want you to miss out, that both The Dragonscale Blade and its shorter sidekick, The Bullying of Harald Ruffsnape, are both free today on Amazon.  If you don't download them today, if you keep returning to this blog or, better still, subscribe to email notifications (it's free, despite the word subscribe) then you'll be updated whenever I publish a new post, including free offers.
Happy reading.  Do let me have your feedback.

Young Adult Books Free on Saturday 21st July

Young Adult fantasy The Dragonscale Blade  and its companion short story The Bullying of Harald Ruffsnape  are both free on Saturday.  I enjoyed writing the short story.  It gave me the opportunity to delve a bit deeper into Harald's background.  As you might expect, with all bullies, there are personal and sociological reasons why he is the way he is.  Of course, when he faces Vinny in The Dragonscale Blade, he isn't offered therapy.

The Dragonboy of Regnaville

Thanks to all of you who downloaded The Bullying of Harald Ruffsnape at the weekend.  It's a quick and easy read.  I hope you found it entertaining.  Upstairs on the bus home today, I started work on the next of my series of short backstories about the characters in The Dragonscale Blade.  It's about the life of a boy who, with his parents, is forced to go on the road as an entertainer to disguise the special, disturbing abilities that he is developing.  His life begins happily enough in the small Austrian town of Duernstein and ends up in northern France.  Duernstein is a place I visited a few years ago, never suspecting that it would turn up in one of my stories.  What a surprise!  I'll let you know when The Dragonboy of Regnaville is finished.  Quite soon I hope.

Nicknamed: Harald the Merciless

My short story of Harald Ruffsnape, nicknamed The Merciless by those who suffered from his skills at kicking backsides and the use of the cowpat, is free on Sunday.  It provides a useful source of background information to The Dragonscale Blade, set in the 21st and 13th centuries.  Comments and reviews are always appreciated, whether they are critical or kind.  They all drive the storymaking process forward.

Mistaken Identity

Why is Astryd of Baalfire so willing to believe that Vinny Balfour, from the 21st century is her missing son, Vincent?  They may have a striking resemblance to each other, a family connection passing across hundreds of years, genes handed down from one generation to the next.  But a mother knows her son.  Reasons are hinted at in the short story (free this weekend) The Bullying of Harald Ruffsnape.  Of course, there's more evidence to be found in The Dragonscale Blade.  Perhaps she knows more than she is prepared to believe.  If she were to face up to the facts of her son's disappearance, life might be unbearable.

USA-Saturday, UK-Sunday Free Short Story

Just realised, if you're hoping to download the free short story - The Bullying of Harald Ruffsnape - it will depend where you are in the world.  So you may need to check both Saturday and Sunday just to make sure you do get it free.  If you live in the USA, you can get it here.  And if you're in the UK, it's available here.  Of course, if you live somewhere else, just get in touch and I'll sort something out.

Free Short Story

The Bullying of Harald Ruffsnape, available here will be free for the next few Saturdays.  It is the first of a number of short backstories covering further insights and exploits of some of the characters out of The Dragonscale Blade.  I think you'll find The Bullying entertaining in itself, but you may want to find out more; particularly how such an odd character as Harald - nicknamed The Merciless - plays a part in the ongoing series of Reptile Wars stories.

If you keep an eye on Harry's Word, you'll find information about forthcoming free short stories.  Alternatively, use the email box to have your name added to my list and I'll let you know personally. 

Always happy to hear your thoughts and comments and read your reviews.