The Great Chopa Chops (R) Shortage of 202X

 

New Christmas Story

Started work again on the Christmas story I had planned for last year, only got the first two Chapters written last time around, due to some other work challenges.  The title is:

Jake and the Bean-Cow.

Opening paragraph:

Once upon a time, on the day before Christmas Eve, there was an annoying lazy teenage boy named Jake. He used to lie in bed all day, listening to his headphones, or chatting with his friends on his phone. He rarely got up and when he did it was only to raid the fridge and never to help out or do any chores.

Theo and Ollie in the Moon

Just thought I would make a quick mock up of the cover I have planned for Theo and Ollie in the Moon. The Book is not yet finished as I’ve been too busy with work.  I did start on a Christmas story for 2020 but didn’t get it finished in time.  Hopefully will get this next book finished this year.

The cover is TH-30 (Theo) looking down a space elevator back to London, England, Earth.  The story is mostly going to be set on the moon, but he has to get there first.

Paperback copies have arrived

Feeling really pleased with the fantastic paperback copies of my book which arrived today. Chose a glossy cover having gone for matt previously and it looks fantastic. Great cover art from David Smith as well. Not sure if the 1.5 spacing was best or 1.15 should have been used. The latter would have reduced printing cost. Never happy am I! #proud

If anyone wants a signed copy message me direct to info@RaphaelEdwards.co.uk

The Egg is available now

Really pleased to announce that my new book The Egg, is available to order in ebook (via the Kindle or Kindle iPhone/Android app) and paperback from Amazon here.  You can download the first two chapters as a free sample.

At just under 200 pages it's a good read for children heading towards or having started high school, but should be enjoyable enough for adults too.  It follows the adventures of two 11 year old boys as they are enrolled on an unexpected hunt for The Egg by their mysterious new form tutor.  With a tense ending I hope everyone who reads it enjoys it as much as I enjoyed writing it.

If anyone would like a personalised copy, just contact me through this blog.

Cover Art for The Egg

Cover art for my new scifi book The Egg, courtesy of David Smith.  www.theartofdavidsmith.com

Coming soon...

2020 Plans

A brief update on 2020 plans.  I've been struggling to get any writing done over Christmas and the new year and am quite busy in my day job at the moment.

I do have two books in progress though:

1. The sequel to Theo and the Aliens, Theo and Ollie in the Moon, which I'm hoping to illustrate in a similar way to the Christmas Visitor.  I'm also working on a new cover for Theo and the Aliens and hoping to issue an illustrated version as well at some point.
2. I have a more hard hitting Science Fiction novel under way too, as a brief spoiler there is an in-depth road accident early on it....!  No idea when this will get finished as it is feeling like it may be lengthy.

Finally, but most importantly I have an artist working on a cover for The Egg and once this is complete I will be releasing that on Kindle, paperback and hopefully will get an Audible audiobook released too.  It's just under 200 pages long, so technically a novella, but as it is aimed at being suitable for younger high school readers, I am a firm believer in writing shorter novels so they are not so daunting.  I also have a number of spin off ideas from this too, so expect some sequels too...

Happy New Year to everyone who has read my books and thank you for your support of a new author.

Raph

A Christmas Poem

Christmas is a time of cheer

And teenage sons drinking beer

Christmas is a time for food

And little boys being rude

Christmas is a time for gifts

And sometimes causes family rifts

Christmas is a time of snow

Well it was a long long time ago

Christmas is a time for rest

Except for mum cooking turkey breast

Christmas is a time for cake

Eating until you get a tummy ache

Christmas is a time for toys

Fun for all the girls and boys

Christmas is a time for sleep

With unwrapped presents piled in a heap

Christmas is a time for peace

Goodwill to all, let conflict cease.

Copyright 2019 Raphael Edwards

Paperback Copies of A Christmas Visitor

I'm pleased to announce, that my Christmas special children's illustrated short story is also now available as paperback from amazon.  Here  The Kindle version remains available for free until Wednesday, as an early Christmas present to everyone.

A Christmas Visitor launched Free for five days.

Finished my latest creation, A Christmas Visitor.  The Kindle book is free for five days from 30/11/19 to 4/12/19.  Get it now!  Paperback to follow.  Complete with colourful illustrations, it should get you in the Christmas spirit.  Get it HERE

Toby is waiting for Father Christmas to arrive, but will his visitor be quite what he expected. An illustrated short story with a twist, aimed at children (of all ages).

A Christmas Visitor Cover Art

I've finsihed writing my Christmas present to the world.  A Christmas Visitor is a short story about a boy waiting for Christmas to arrive.  Cover art done.  Considering whether to put in some illustrations.

Image Copyright 2019 Raphael Edwards

Book Status Updates

I’m quite busy on a number of projects, as well as my day job. Here is the current status:

Theo and the Aliens - asked a few people about potentially illustrating this and possibly a new cover. Theo won’t be happy if I change it so not sure on this.

The Egg - complete, proof read and edited. Currently working on finding a cover artist before publishing.  I’m planning on putting a chapter or two on here as a teaser.

Pioneer - a new idea I had for a dark near-future story. Don’t know if it will be a short story or novel. May even release it for free here. Early days on this but have a general plot.

Theo and Ollie in the Moon - Written the first chapter of this today. It’s going to fun writing it and sharing it with my younger boys.

Busy busy. :-)

Business startup support in Wales

Just a brief post to make people aware that if you live in Wales, UK there is a raft of free support to help you start up your business. Everything from general setup, to finance, tax, marketing and a wide variety of additional free courses and peer support. More at the link below.

https://businesswales.gov.wales/

The Egg Cover Mockup

Very quick draft of the layout for the planned cover for The Egg.

A poem about Aliens

Creatures from outer space aren’t scary

Even when they’re giant and hairy

When they have twenty feet and fifty toes

Or their eyeballs protrude from the end of their nose.

Microscopic organisms are sometimes frightening

Especially when they you feel your throat is tightening

As your glands in your neck become swollen

Or the lurgies take over and infect your colon.

People who are different from us are surprising

When you first meet them, and they aren’t standard sizing

Or they have missing arms or extra ears

Or they spend every day crying lots of tears.

We are all aliens really so no one’s to be feared

There is no normal person we are all a bit weird

And every creature has a right to a life

Without it being full of intolerant strife.

Copyright Raphael Edwards 2019

Ending choices

The Egg is progressing nicely 1/3 drafted. I have the option though of putting in multiple endings. It would be good to know people’s thoughts on including multiple endings in a novel. Not quite choose-your-own-adventure.  Thanks in advance.

My next project is The Egg, a science fiction adventure where a pair of school kids are trying to save a dying race from extinction, or are they?  Aimed at 10-14 age group.  Plot is done, and I’m about 25% of the way drafted.  Hoping to have completed in time for Christmas, but we will see.  Work demands.  Will post first chapter on here at some point.

Also thinking about a sequel to Theo and The Aliens. It may be called Theo and Ollie in the Moon.

Would welcome thoughts on covers.  Could get human Theo to do the Theo cover again.

Theo and the Aliens paperbacks have arrived

Recieved some copies of Theo and the Aliens for friends and family today.  Really pleased, nice matt finish, text sixe looks right for young readers.  Anoyingly spotted a typo.  Doesn't matter how many times you read and have it proof read, something always slips through.

Still working on getting an illustrated version a some point.

Available on Amazon Here

Theo and the Aliens has been published and is available on Amazon

Theo and the Aliens is my first story and is aimed at younger readers around the 6-10 age group, but can probably be enjoyed by anyone.  Around 10,000 words it makes a good week of bed time storytime.  The cover is drawn by my Theo, for whom the story was written.

From the back cover:

Theo and the Aliens, an android schoolboy has the adventure of a lifetime.  Starting on a school trip but travelling through the solar system will he get home again, and who will he meet on the way?

I hope you enjoy the adventure, and watch where you tread...

Buy Kindle version HERE
Buy Paperback version HERE