Indie Collaboration Publishes Eighth Book

The Indie Collaboration Publishes Eighth Book In International Anthology Market

 

The Indie Collaboration released the eighth entry into their unique anthology series in February 2015. This anthology, Kiss and Tales 2: A Romantic Collection is a collection of free original romantic tales brought to you by a group of independent authors who call themselves collectively, The Indie Collaboration. In the last year and a half, The Indie Collaboration has entered into the international market for anthology style print and ebooks with a unique spin on supporting and marketing works for independent authors. Last Valentine’s day, the group offered a sister book, Kiss and Tales: A Romantic Collection which rocketed up to #1 on Amazon best-seller free book lists and showed well in downloads throughout the Valentine’s season on Smashwords.

The founding member of The Indie Collaboration, UK-based author Peter John says, “The Indie Collaboration grew out of a group of like-minded independent authors. Together, we decided to show the world how great works of fiction can be created without the involvement of any large publishing companies.” 

The first seven entries in the collaboration’s collection are: Tales from Dark Places: The Halloween Collection, Yuletide Tales: A Festive Collective, Kiss and Tales: A Romantic Collection, Snips, Snails and Puppy Dog Tales: A Children’s Collection, Summer Shorts, Spectacular Tales: A Science Fiction Collection and Tales from Darker Places: A Chilling Horror Anthology.

The list of contributors for each collection changes depending on each individual contributor’s interests and area of writing specialty. Clearly from the offerings so far, the collaboration’s authors have a wide variety of literary interests and their offerings should appeal to a wide audience.

Contributing author, Alan Hardy says, “The idea of a group of authors who have come together to offer up books to the reading public is an exciting way ahead for indie writers. I think this is important, writers coming together and taking control of their literary destinies.” 

Contributing author Kristina Jacobs says, “Reading anthologies is a great way to tap into a wealth of mostly undiscovered, yet very talented writers. We are truly a diverse group of writers and we have members from all over the world. It shows in the unique stories and collections that we are able to create.”

The next installment to be released by The Indie Collaboration will be published in Summer 2015.

You can learn more about The Indie Collaboration, the group of contributing authors and their mission online at: http://theindiecollaboration.webs.com/.

 

Kiss and Tales Two

Kiss and Tales: A Romantic Collection by the Indie Collective (Pub: 09/02/2015). Available in various formats at Smashwords. Also in paperback and on Kindle at Amazon.

 

FREE GIVE AWAY Via GOODREADS

 

http://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/123328-the-atomic-monster-from-out-of-space?utm_medium=email&utm_source=giveaway_approved

Start Writing Fiction II

I'm enrolled on a free Open University Course, Start Writing Fiction. I am using this post so my fellow students can read the assignment we are working on - Portraying Your Character. Here is the basic character description I am meant to portray in a number of different ways:

Physical/biological: Samet Dapes is a 35 year old Law Enforcement Agent for House Lien Rocha of Alpha Centari IV. Characteristic of a native Lien Rochian, Sam wears dark formal clothing and can often be found drawing on a nictostick and wearing a wide brimmed fedora style hat. He is a tall man of average build, though he is often hunched, trying to make himself smaller than he is. Trained and fit, he is stronger and more physically adept than he looks. Mischievous, dark deep-set eyes and thin blond hair. Not particularly attractive. Soft nasal voice and long rat like features – often underestimated. Often mistrusted because of his job and appearance. Prone to the sniffles – sniffs, hankie, cold remedies. Prone to laughs inappropriately when under stress and when his guard is down.

Psychological: Sam is confident, though he plays on his appearance to appear low status, cowardly and immoral. He is a skilled professional detective who obsessively and methodically seeks the truth. He cannot resist a joke and likes to sketch a bit. He is principled in a world without principles, but his own survival often means he has to hide this fact.

Interpersonal/cultural: Sam was born on Lien Rocha, the fourth planet orbiting Alpha Centari, and he has a small flat in the capital, close to his family. No partner of his own, he lives alone and is often off world due to his work. When home he is close to his parents and an older sister and a younger brother. He had an older brother who died in the line of duty as a Houseguard when Samet was still a child. Sam is often compared unfavourably by people who knew his brother. Sam is also close to an old school friend and an old flame. Lives on fast food mostly, likes fine dining when he is able. Very unfussy. Food is fuel.

Personal history: Old flame back home, a few others along the way. Not a major obsession or motivation. No personal life off world. Keeps both spheres of his life separate. Was recruited into The Houseguard on the back of his brother’s renown and transferred into law enforcement and finally special assignments (secret police).He hates his job, but none of this was by his own design as he fears his superiors – and so he should.

“When you meet my bosses, you’ll soon realise that everyone else is a doddle.”

Chris P. Raven: Spectacular Tales

Chris P. Raven: Spectacular Tales: The Indie Collaboration Presents     Spectacular Tales A thrilling anthology of short stories by some of the rising stars in i...

Launch into 2015 with your own copy of Spectacular Tales

Chris P. Raven: Yuletide Tales: A FestiveCollective by theIndie Co...

It was a week before Christmas
And all through the house
Not a creature was stirring...

To busy reading Yuletide Tales!

Chris P. Raven: Yuletide Tales: A FestiveCollective by theIndie Co...: Yuletide Tales: A Festive Collective by the Indie Collective (Pub: 01/12/2013). Available at Goodreads , Smashwords.com , & Amazon...

Start Writing Fiction

I'm enrolled on a free Open University Course, Start Writing Fiction. I am using this post so my fellow students can read the assignment we are working on - Editing a short story. Here is the final version after that stage of the course:

The Amateur
by Chris Raven

The idiot seems anxious as he fidgets uncomfortably on the bus shelter's slanted half-seat. A strange man in a light blue puffer coat, that stupid long red scarf and the ludicrous black trilby. Surely he can't be from the Agency, he’s too obvious, clumsy even. It isn't even cold today so that coat's only drawing attention to him. He must be sweltering, the stupid cretin.

**********

There he is, my quarry, the man I am going to kill. My disguise is perfect; I can’t be missed, obvious in this bright puffy coat. The hat and red scarf just draws more attention to me. I stand out, in this heat, dressed like a social misfit. And the master stroke, an afterthought, those large clunky glasses. They say look at me, I’m in disguise. And that is my disguise.

I can see him look at me, stealing sideways glances. If he studied me straight on, even for a few seconds, he would recognise me, the man who taught him all he knows, about spy craft anyway. Maybe I taught him something else, about life, to the young angry court-martial soldier otherwise headed to military prison. We thought we could harness his aggression, mould him into an efficient weapon. Huh! I even thought I could reach out to him, adopt him even. Arrogant of me, that I thought I had gotten somewhere with him. Stupid. I convinced myself there was trust between us. First rule broken – never trust a dog bred for fighting.

**********

I will sit on this bench and watch him from the corner of my eye. I can see him make furtive glances in my direction, from behind that newspaper. He sees me see him, but he continues to hop back and forth on his bench like a deranged pigeon. He looks like a mental patient, this middle aged man in horn rimmed glasses. I can see the sweat glistening off his forehead, he’s nervous, afraid even. He should be if he intends to take me on.

**********

I know now that I was just projecting my feelings. For a son I would have had if he had survived to that age. That was why it hurt when my quarry defected. I am aware that this is personal now, he betrayed my trust, wasted my time, exposed my incompetence, but most of all, he made me care about him.

I know now that this was all false. He wanted to avoid military prison, he wanted to learn how to kill more efficiently, he wanted to earn the big money as a freelancer and he knowingly played on my loss to win my trust. I am so angry at him for that, so training take over while I channel that anger into focus and purpose.

**********

Who is this idiot? Clearly not a professional. A relative of some prior contract? Unlikely. Either way I cannot continue my journey with this useless amateur following me.

I'll jump on this bus and hope he joins me.

**********

I instructed him too well; he was a natural, the best I had ever taught, far surpassing me in surveillance and combat skills, and he has the edge of youth. A traditional approach would be pointless, he would spot me in no time, he knows my techniques as well as I know his – they are the same. My only hope is to hide in plain sight. That is how I hide. I pretend anxiety and I am clumsy and obvious in my exaggerated attempts to sneak clandestine looks at him. I can almost smell is curiosity. They say it takes an accomplished pianist to convincingly play the piano badly.

**********

He's taken the bait, following me upstairs like the fool he obviously is. We now sit and I can see his reflection from my window, staring at me with dark piercing eyes. He clearly hates me. One more passenger to leave the top deck, then I'll find out why he is here.

**********

Yes I have him; he is on my hook, and now to reel him in. Trying to lead me upstairs onto an almost deserted double-decker bus? So confident considering the time of day, I’m almost proud of him.

I follow, sit across from him. I watch him watch me through the reflection of a window. He will hesitate. He will want to know who I am, this harmless eccentric amateur. He could never resist a puzzle. One more passenger to leave and then we will be alone.

He will hesitate.

I will not.

The End (Copyright Chris Raven 2015).