Aurora: Blog

deceives the eye... but not the saw blade. Yes, life is almost at a standstill after a 3 hour operation to damage sustained to my left forefinger. Yes, I'm left handed, so this is picked out very slowly with my right forefinger. So, for a little while fans will have to make do with reading my back catalogue, as they say.

But, I'll be back!

Martin

One of the problems with writing a story a chapter at a time is that readers need to go back to the beginning and read through so that everything follows on. I do it all the time to make sure that the details are right when I'm writing. But I do appreciate that some people may not understand some of the terms. Sailing terms don't matter, it is no different to the space ship pilot pressing the gooly switch to engage the atomic bogglington synthesiser and... you get the idea.

The Home Office, Mr Hatherly's employer is a government department that deals with everthing at Home. Borders, imigration, police, passports and so on. For Americans think DHS controlling the police and the rest and ensuring that anyone with a firearm is locked up (your jails are simply not big enough lol)It takes itself very seriously and the political appointee, the Home Secretary, is third or fourth to the Prime Minister. A recent one, now PM, is probably one of the most unpleasant and unChristian ones we've ever had.

Anna Smith is an enigma, but one that may be explained... or not. The story is told from Jake's point of view, and only with the knowledge that he has, so he has no idea who or what she is (a rare exception is the conversation aboard HMS Swallow which was necessary to explain why the navy turned up)

Good, hope that explains all. Anything else please ask.

Martin

Much sooner than I thought, but this seemed to flow out. Interesting that when I write action I do it at about the speed the action would take, typing as fast as I can and then editing. But I have to admit that I've already written it in my head. More characters, eat your heart out Tolstoy, Jake White is going to catch you!

When I finished off chapter 8 I wanted a cliff hanger and what better way than to bring back the man from the Home Office, you knew he'd be back to collect. When I submitted it I was feeling somewhat depressed, actually lower than a dacshunds knackers, and the idea a of writing more wasn't a happy thought - many creatives are like that - and then I had a comment from De11al and the mind went off again. He (or she) suggested that I had as many characters as yer average Russian novel - well, let's face it they have very long dark nights - and it would be difficult to maintain the level of interest in future chapters. Now, when someone tells me that something can't be done (within my areas of expertise) I invariably set out to prove them wrong, and I am often successful. So 'difficult' shouldn't be too much of a challenge, should it?
My previous stories have been about a small group of people who meet, do something and live (mainly) happily ever after, but this is more of a saga winding its way through the characters lives, with the central ones being joined by others, who then leave again as we go along, sometimes going off to do something, sometimes dying, or what ever. Just like life. So the brain cell got to work and by this morning there was the germ of an idea and after a day doing the monthly shop, I mean, how boring can it get, there is a fair bit of flesh on the bones.
The upshot is that chapter 9 has started, although it will be a week or two or three before you see it.
Martin

I have a feeling there may be a break for a while because I am very busy. This chapter has taken a while to put together and I hope those who are following Jake's adventures enjoy it.