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Sunday 31 July 2011

Stuart's Daily Word Spot: Historic or historical?


Historic: adjective - famous or important in history; having great and lasting importance; known or established in the past; dating from or preserved from a past time or culture.

Historical: adjective - of, relating to, or having the character of history; based on history; used in the past and reproduced in historical presentations; famous in history.

As can be seen, there is a slight element of interchangeability here. However, the primary use of each of these alternatives is as follows:

If it’s historic, it’s something of note that happened in the past.
If it’s historical, it’s something based on the past.

So:

‘The Battle of Trafalgar, culminating in the defeat of the French and the untimely death of Admiral Lord Nelson, was an historic event in the Europe of the early 19th century.’

‘Jean Plaidy is a well-known writer of historical novels.’

Pic: A field of ripening barley.

Saturday 30 July 2011

Stuart's Daily Word Spot: Roman a clef


Roman a clef: This is French for ‘a novel with a key’, and describes a novel about real life, overlain with a façade of fiction. Fictitious names actually represent real people, and the ‘key’ works through the relationship between the reality and the fiction. This ‘key’ may be produced separately by the author, or deduced through the use of literary devices like epigraphs.

Examples of Roman a clef novels are:

Glenarvon (1816) by Lady Caroline Lamb: chronicles her affair with Lord Byron, who is thinly disguised as the title character.
The Carpetbaggers (1961) by Harold Robbins: fictionalized version of Hollywood exploits of Howard Hughes and actress Jean Harlow.
The Ghost (2007) by Robert Harris: the character of Adam Lang is loosely based on former Prime Minister Tony Blair. The Ghost Writer is a movie by Director Roman Polanski who turned the book into a film with Pierce Brosnan playing the character. 

Pic: Farm drive above North Dalton, East Yorkshire.

A Game of Thrones, by George R.R. Martin, Reviewed.


A Game of Thrones, fantasy in the style of swords and dragons, transcends the genre on a number of levels. Imaginative use of the conventions allows aficionados to appreciate the set pieces, whilst giving rein to a wider range of events than is commonly the case in such works. The cast of characters is extensive and the names link well with the feel of the novel: that feel is mediaeval, without being specific to any country’s history.
This is a tale of knights, jousting, battles, tourneys, sword play and courtly honour in all its variety. But the many ‘Houses’ of power and influence that drive the various story themes of intrigue, plotting, ambition and duty, are each representative of the major characteristic of their ‘heads’. So, the Starks are as much driven by duty as the Lannisters are impelled by ambition.
Behind and beneath the layers of story that pit knight against knight, King against usurper, is a greater and very much older power. As petulant youth defies wise maje, the power game proceeds, teaching lessons to those with the humility to learn.
This book is the first in a series and cleverly ends by bringing several climaxes together, whilst introducing an element that lets the reader know there is much more to come. The denouement, whilst inevitable, comes at a pace that takes away the breath. I look forward to the sequels.
I read this novel on holiday in Crete, on my Kindle. The one missing element that would have made the read more interesting and rendered the plot easier to follow, was a map of the fantasy world. I can only hope that Amazon get their act together and make the publishing and viewing of such maps easy in the near future.

Friday 29 July 2011

Stuart's Daily Word Spot: Early


Early: adjective - designating, belonging to, existing or occurring close to the beginning of a time period, e.g. morning, day, evening, etc.; belonging to, designating, or relating to the initial phase of an epoch, personal development, history of a people, or the world etc.; ancient; at the beginning in serial order; happening before it is too late; arriving or occurring before the due time; former, foremost, first in time.

‘Unable to sleep, Gloria spent the early hours watching the sun rise blood red from a field of pinks, oranges, flame and gold.’

‘Harold was so nervous about being late for his interview that he turned up an hour early and had to kill time in a local café, drinking copious amounts of coffee.’

Pic: Staithes, North Yorkshire.

Thursday 28 July 2011

Stuart's Daily Word Spot: Purple Prose

Jane AustenImage via Wikipedia
Purple prose: the use of over flowery or emotionally exaggerated language to describe events, people and feelings in a work of fiction. There are those, the ones without any romantic content to the souls, who automatically conclude that any work of romance is necessarily composed of purple prose. Such ignorance has long been demonstrated as erroneous by the brilliance of writers like Jane Austen, Rosie Thomas and D.H Lawrence.

A passage of purple prose, especially for you:
‘Jason, tanned and taught muscles staining at the fine silk of his designer shirt, poured honeyed words of love and appreciation over Laticia’s panting form as he stroked her pulsating flesh with the tender tips of his exploring fingers. Heavenly choirs chorused enchanting melodies in tones of ecstasy as his roseate lips lingered on hers, raising her desire to levels never before experienced. And the heat of a thousand flaming brands of passion seared through her heaving loins as his strong but gentle hands slipped beneath the…’

That’s enough of that. It’s difficult to write this stuff unless it comes to you naturally. But you get the picture?

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Wednesday 27 July 2011

Author Interview with Lynda Hilburn


Tell us about the first book in your Kismet Knight, Vampire Psychologist series, THE VAMPIRE SHRINK.

Here’s a brief blurb:

Kismet Knight is a young psychologist with a growing clinical practice, and she's always looking for something to give her the edge in her chosen career. When her new client turns out to be a Goth teenager who desperately wants to become a vampire, Kismet is inspired to become the vampire shrink, offering her services to people who believe they are undead. Kismet herself, as a scientist, knows it's hokum, but she's looking at it in a purely psychoanalytic light, already imagining the papers she's going to write on this strange subculture. That's until she meets the leader of a vampire coven, a sexy, mysterious man who claims to be a powerful 800-year-old vampire, and she is pulled into a whirlwind of inexplicable events that start her questioning everything she once believed about the paranormal.

How long have you been writing?

I’ve been writing nonfiction for 30 years: newspaper and magazine articles, newspaper columns, research materials, training materials, journals, etc. Of course, some of my journal entries fell into the category of wishful thinking, which provided great preparation for what was to come. It wasn’t until 2002 that I seriously began exploring fiction.

How did you pick the genre you write in?

My genre is generally paranormal, which includes urban fantasy, paranormal mystery, paranormal romance, erotic paranormal, dark paranormal, psychological paranormal, paranormal thriller, paranormal humor/satire, even paranormal with horror elements! My love of all things dark and spooky made it impossible for me to write anything else. And, no matter how hard I try, I can’t help but add extra elements. I’m always fascinated by the underlying layers of things (can’t take the psychotherapist out of the writer).

Do you plot or do you write by the seat of your pants?

Sometimes I really wish I could plot. Plotting seems so organized. So efficient. Plotters seem to get so much more done. But, I’m a pantser. I never know what’s coming in the story until I see it on the screen in front of me. I buy books about plotting and they gather dust. I am toying with the notion of being a “pantser with plotting tendencies.” We’ll see how that goes! As long as I give myself room to completely change everything anytime I wish, I think that should work.

What drew you to the subject of The Vampire Shrink?

The book is about a Denver psychologist who gets pulled into a vampire underworld, and winds up working with an unusual clientele. I’ve always been a vampire fan. There’s just something about the various dark archetypes for these compelling and frightening creatures. The actual idea for the book came from a client session. I’d listened to a young woman talk about a non-human group she wanted to become part of and I began to notice that her words reminded me of some of the popular vampire books I’d read. She described this group (not vampires, but I do have other clients who live the Goth/vampire-wannabe lifestyle, including drinking blood) as if they were bloodsuckers. After the session, as I sat writing up case notes, I daydreamed about what might happen if I walked out to my waiting room and found a gorgeous vampire sitting there. I went home that night and started writing. It was the most fun I’ve ever had writing.
Tell us about your psychologist heroine Kismet Knight. Since you both share the same profession, do you think of her as your alter ego?
I’m nodding. Kismet is definitely an idealized version of me: she’s thinner, younger, prettier and has a much more exciting love life than I do! I’m probably in the minority here, but I believe all characters reflect some aspect of the author’s psyche. Either our characters represent aspects we like in ourselves, or perhaps elements we’re unconscious of. Or they’re parts of ourselves we’re afraid we are, or wish we were, or general archetypes available to (and parts of) everyone. I always smile when an author tells me her characters are separate from her.

What do you know now that you are published that you wish you’d known sooner?

The biggest lessons I’ve learned have been about the business side of being an author. I had been used to working for myself for most of my adult life. That meant I was comfortable charting my own course and calling the shots. Well, traditional publishing has its own rules and most authors (all?) have little chance of calling any shots. Especially in the beginning. I made lots of mistakes, mostly because I just didn’t know any better. I kept assuming the people I worked with had my best interests at heart and they would give me good advice. It took a while before I understood the challenging nature of the publishing world. I had heard all the talk from author friends about the need to grow a tough skin and making sure I had lots of outside support. But until I held my nose and jumped into the deep end of the pool, I had no idea what they meant. So, I experienced a steep and frustrating learning curve. I know much more about all aspects now than I did then. It’s true. A writer has to cultivate both her creative side and her business instincts. Both are equally important.
How long did it take you to write each of your two books, starting from when the idea came into your thoughts?
From the moment I sat down to write, it took 14 months to complete The Vampire Shrink. It probably wouldn’t have taken so long if I hadn’t thrown my chapters away every time a particular crit partner said I was “doing it wrong.” Turns out these dear friends (all romance writers) were trying to help me learn to write romance correctly, and that wasn’t my focus. Once I figured out I was crossing genres, things moved much faster. I trusted my intuition more. I had an actual deadline for the second book, formerly called Dark Harvest, so that one took me about a year, and it was much more difficult to write! My new publisher (Jo Fletcher Books/Quercus Books) asked me to write a new book #2 (the former book #2 will now be a later book). I have just a few months to come up with an entire book. Yikes. I’ve got my fingers crossed I’m up to the challenge!

Describe your workspace.

I live in a small townhouse (smaller than my heroine’s) and my office is in the loft area. My computer sits on a huge table, surrounded by files, books, magazines, office equipment and various papers. There are vampire posters on the walls around me. I keep the TV on in the background for noise. I can’t play music while I write because I’m a singer and music distracts me.

Best and worst part of being a writer?

Best part is typing the words, “the end.” LOL. Worst is forcing myself to sit in the chair long enough to get the words out.

Advice for other writers?

It really is true that you should never give up. Read stories about other writers and how many dark times they had to overcome before achieving whatever they consider success. Just when you think it’s all over, it begins again. Be persistent, tenacious and stubborn. Keep writing. Keep laughing. Of course, now with all the indie publishing, it’s a brave new world!

What are you writing now?

I’m working on a new second book (tentatively called Blood Therapy) in my Kismet Knight, Vampire Psychologist series (and I have ideas for the book after that, which might push the previous book #2 back to being book #4). I also have lots of other ideas I’d like to write about. It would be great to win the lottery and be able to write full time!

How can people buy your books?

The UK version of The Vampire Shrink will be out in hardcover and trade paperback – and hopefully ebook – September, 2011. The books can be pre-ordered at Amazon.com. The North American version should arrive early 2012. My books should be available everywhere.

How can readers learn more about you and your books?

Website: http://www.lyndahilburnauthor.com
Blog: http://www.paranormalityuniverse.blogspot.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/lyndahilburn
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/lyndahilburn

Stuart's Daily Word Spot: Leach or leech?

Hirudo medicinalis. Leeches for bloodletting                   Image via Wikipedia
Leach or leech?
Leach: verb – to dissolve by percolation; subject soil, etc, to the action of percolating water, which takes out soluble constituents; slowly deprive.
Leech: verb – to apply leeches to a patient in the cause of medical treatment; to drain of energy, resources; attach oneself like a leech, be parasitic.
A leech (noun) is a parasitic worm that sucks blood from its host.

‘The continuous rains had leached the soil of all goodness, so that it would no longer support a crop of any worth.’

‘Doctor Death decided that the only cure for his patient’s hysteria was to leech her on a daily basis, slowly draining her of what he considered was her bad blood.’

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Tuesday 26 July 2011

Stuart's Daily Word Spot: Decorum


Decorum: noun - literary or dramatic propriety, fitness; propriety, good taste in conduct or appearance; orderliness; polite behaviour.

‘Johnson, who had a propensity for loutish behaviour when he’d had too much to drink, was asked to show a little more decorum at his father’s wedding to the ambassador’s daughter.’ 

Picture: sometimes Zemanta doesn't come up with a suitable image. This one's of Pasture Dale, East Yorkshire.

Monday 25 July 2011

Stuart's Daily Word Spot: i.e. or e.g?

Elle Macpherson at the Women's World Award 200...Image via Wikipedia
i.e. or e.g?
A bit of Latin:
i.e. or, id est, means ‘that is’. i.e. is another way of expressing ‘in other words’ and its purpose is to make something clearer by providing a more common definition.

‘The leading civil servant promised to ‘elucidate matters employing terminology comprehensively coherent to those deficient in the field of education and enlightenment on all prospective eventualities’. i.e. he would speak more clearly in future.

e.g. is an abbreviation of another Latin phrase; exempli gratia means ‘for example’. e.g. is used to present specific examples supporting an assertion.

‘The fact of the matter is that some women look better in a bikini than others; e.g. Kelly Brook, Elle Macpherson, Holly Weber and Anne Widdicombe.

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Sunday 24 July 2011

Stuart's Daily Word Spot: Picaresque

Cover of "Moll Flanders"         Cover of Moll Flanders
Picaresque: adjective - relating to rascals and rogues; suggesting fiction dealing with the episodic adventures of a roguish protagonist.
Good examples are Moll Flanders, by Daniel Defoe and Tom Jones, by Henry Fielding. Modern readers, and filmgoers, will probably be more familiar with the genre as demonstrated by the Pirates of the Caribbean series.

‘Stuart’s novel, relating the adventures of an unqualified hospital doctor, was described by reviewers as a picaresque romp.’

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Saturday 23 July 2011

Stuart's Daily Word Spot: Cabinet

Kitchen cabinets are sold as integrated sets w...Image via Wikipedia
Cabinet: noun - case or cupboard usually with doors and shelves; collection of biological or numismatic specimens; a chamber with temperature and humidity controls, used for incubating biological samples; small room providing seclusion; small exhibition room in a museum; private room used as council chamber of chief councillors of a sovereign; the consultations and actions of these councillors; body of advisers of a head of state; advisory council of a governor of a state or a mayor; a meeting of a Cabinet.

‘Harold emptied out the shopping bags and filled the kitchen cabinet with the groceries he’d bought at the supermarket.’

‘Calling the Cabinet to order, Shirley rose to her feet, at the head of the table, and announced her intention to become an absolute dictator and have all the members present shot as an example to any who might oppose her plans for world domination.’

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Friday 22 July 2011

Stuart's Daily Word Spot: Epidemic, endemic or pandemic?

1918 flu epidemic: the Oakland Municipal Audit...Image via Wikipedia
Epidemic, endemic or pandemic?
An epidemic occurs when an outbreak of disease is widespread but confined to a limited place and time.
An endemic disease is one which recurs in a particular place or population.
A pandemic is an outbreak of a specific pathogen over a wide geographical area.

So, an epidemic might afflict a specific hospital, or even a town or region of a country.
Malaria is endemic in many African countries.
The notorious 1918 outbreak of Spanish Flu was a pandemic that caused multiple deaths in many regions of the world.

22 July 1991 – PM John Major launched The Citizen’s Charter. Is Cameron’s Big Society a development of this idea? 

Zemanta has returned to Blogger. Hooray!

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Thursday 21 July 2011

Author Interview with Susan Moody


Please tell us little about you, Susan.

I've been writing (and being published) for 30 years or so, mainly crime and suspense.  In my time, I've been Chairman of the Crime Writers Association of Great Britain, and World President of the International Association of Crime Writers.  To be a writer was an ambition from my very earliest years and I constantly thank whatever gods there are for having been able to achieve this.  I have so enjoyed all the activities associated with the job – because it is a job, and a hard one, too – especially the opportunities to travel.  Some years back I was invited to be a Writer-in-Residence at the University of Tasmania, in Australia, where I met my Australian/Scottish husband John.  Of necessity, we lead a nomadic life: between us we have children in Australia, Iceland, California and Denmark, and homes in England, Australia and France.

Give us some insight into LOSING NICOLA in a few sentences

It's a book about childhood and the loss of innocence, and though the murderous events described in it never actually happened to me, I'd like to think it captures the essence of a place and time – the 1950s – which has gone forever, and the kind of slightly odd family I grew up in.

How did you come to write this particular book?

Casting about for a new book to write, I remembered a short story I'd written a long time ago, and thought that it had all the ingredients for turning into a much longer piece of fiction.   It was also a huge pleasure to write about parts of my childhood, something I'd not done before.  So although it is in no way autobiographical, it does contain a lot of my past.                                                          

If you have a favourite character in your novel, why that particular one? 
    
Orlando, because he is based on and celebrates my much-loved brother, Barnaby, who died much too young.
                  
Where can people buy your books?

I've written 28 books and nearly all of them have been published in the UK, as well as in many other countries (including the US.)  Most of them are available on Amazon.  (SA – see the full list at the foot of this interview).
        
What qualities does a writer need to be successful?

Perseverance, self-belief, ruthlessness and probably – though I hate to admit it because like most writers I'd prefer to believe that my work is good enough on its own! – a little bit of luck.  Women writers especially have a hard time keeping to a writing schedule and at the same time fulfilling their traditional role of mother, wife, chef, cleaner and bottlewasher. 
  
What is your working method? 

At this point in my life, rather more haphazard than I'd like it to be.  When I still had a child at school, it was easy: as soon as he had gone off for the day, I was at my desk and worked until he returned.  Now, with a retired husband needing attention, it's a great deal harder.  But basically I like to work creatively for about four hours, as early in the morning as possible, and the rest of the day, revise, answer emails, read, research, meet people, prepare talks etc etc. The difficult thing about a writer's life is finding solitary time, and at the same time realizing that unless you interact with others, you aren't engaging with the people and in the life that you're writing about.

What’s the single biggest mistake made by beginner writers?

a)   Opening a book with a funeral or a dream.
b)  Cramming too much information into the first chapter
c)   Not differentiating between characters
But b) is the most usual

To what extent are grammar and spelling important to a writer?

Absolutely vital.  They are the main tools of communication and if they are ignored, the reader is lost.  There is nothing worse for the reader than being pulled up short, wondering what the writer is trying to say and no writer should ever ignore her potential readers.

How much do you revise your MS before you send it off?

Revising a manuscript is not the same as redrafting or rewriting.  These days, most publishers no longer use copy-editors, so a mss has to be as perfect as it can be before it is delivered  I work hard at this but even then it's all too easy for things to slip past me.
For a book which is to appear next February, I've been asked to lose about 9,000 words.  For a writer, this is like leaking blood, but it's such a good lesson: it's all too easy to fill a paragraph with wonderful but extraneous stuff.

As a writer, to what extent do you think genre is useful in the publishing world?

Very useful: apart from anything else, it's helpful for readers to be directed to the area they enjoy.  It also helps to identify the writer, both to the reader and to herself.  I very much enjoy being labelled 'Crime Writer', and belonging to associated groups such as the Crime Writers' Association, the Detection Club and the International Association of Crime Writers.

Marketing is often considered a chore by authors. What's your opinion on this issue and how do you deal with it?

In today's market, we're all scrabbling for attention and should be grateful for any chance to raise the profile of our books. The vast majority of writers can't afford to be finicky or up themselves about it.   I'm always delighted to be asked to 'market' my books in terms of signings, library visits, talks.  Besides it's a great morale-booster to know that there are actually fans out there.

What sort of displacement activities keep you from writing?

Just about anything, from thinking about domestic chores to reading to the card games which came already installed on my most recent computer.  Like many writers, I'm reluctant to take the plunge each day into that abyss of creativity which constitutes the imaginary world you are conjuring up, and it's fatally easy to find an excuse not to do so.

What support do you have from family and friends, or a writing group?

Family and friends are always supportive.  I don't belong to a writing group but it's such a good idea and many of my colleagues do.  Though eagerly encouraging and loyal, it took my husband John quite a while to come to terms with A Writer's Life as lived by me, especially the tantrums and temperamental door-slammings caused by the inevitable frustrations of authorship.
           
How long does it normally take you to write a novel?

That entirely depends on the book.  I wrote one in 5 months last time I was in Australia; I used to write a Penny Wanawake in 3 months, but my bigger one-off novels take a year or more.

Who or what inspires you?

Nothing in particular.  It's a sudden realization that there's an idea waiting, a story waiting to be told, a story that no-one can tell as well as I can.  It's like hearing a long-awaited bus about to come round the corner and stop for you to climb aboard
         
If there’s a single aspect to writing that really frustrates you, what is it?

Not getting paid enough!.

Is there an aspect of writing that you really enjoy?

Writing a novel is an organic process and there is absolutely nothing more wonderful than feeling the thing starting to gel, or your characters proving to be so well-realized that you know exactly who they are and where they are headed, so that writing about them is almost like taking dictation.

Do you think writing is a natural gift or an acquired skill?

I don't think you can learn to be a writer, but you can certainly acquire the skills to be a better writer.  That said, I also believe that writers are born, not made.

What are you writing now?

A book called DANCING IN THE DARK, due out in February.  It's a romantic suspense novel about a young woman coming to terms with the fact that she was apparently abandoned at the age of 11.

Given unlimited resources, what would be your ideal writing environment?

More or less what I have at the moment.

Where do you actually write?

In my house in France, I have a very small red-tiled stone outhouse called Chez Susanne, which has room for a table, a book-case, an armchair and a plug for an electric kettle so I can make endless cups of tea.  
Bliss.

SA: Here is a list of Susan’s books; UK readers will find a buying link to most of them here.  And US and the rest of the world can try this link.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Penny Black   Macmillan, 1984
Penny Dreadful   Macmillan, 1984
Penny Post   Macmillan, 1985
Penny Royal   Macmillan, 1986
Penny Wise   Michael Joseph, 1988
Penny Pinching   Michael Joseph, 1989
Penny Saving   Michael Joseph, 1990
Playing With Fire   Macdonald, 1990
The Hatchards Crime Companion   (editor)   Hatchards, 1990
Hush-a-bye   Macdonald, 1991
House of Moons   Hodder & Stoughton, 1993
Love Over Gold   (writing as Susannah James)   Corgi, 1993
Takeout Double   Headline, 1993
Grand Slam   Headline, 1994
The Italian Garden   Hodder & Stoughton, 1994
King of Hearts   Headline, 1995
Misselthwaite   Hodder & Stoughton, 1995
Doubled in Spades   Headline, 1996
Sacrifice Bid   Headline, 1997
Dummy Hand   Headline, 1998
Falling Angel   Hodder & Stoughton, 1998
The Colour of Hope   (writing as Susan Madison)   Bantam, 2000
The Hour of Separation   (writing as Susan Madison)   Bantam, 2002
Touching the Sky   (writing as Susan Madison)   Bantam, 2003
Losing Nicola   Severn House, 2011

Stuart's Daily Word Spot: Meiosis


Meiosis: noun - presenting a thing with underemphasis, especially with the aim of achieving a greater effect, understatement. For those who are interested, it’s also a form of cell division, but that’s not what this spot is about.
British satirical works often use understatement to hilarious effect.

An example of the meiosis in use: ‘They say Bill Gates, Donald Trump and J.K. Rowling are all worth a few bob.’

Picture: the parish church of Driffield, seen from just off Spellowgate.

Tuesday 19 July 2011

Stuart's Daily Word Spot: Bacchanalia


Bacchanalia: noun - named from the Roman god of wine, Bacchus; a Roman festival celebrated with dancing, song, and revelry; orgy.

‘After they left Glastonbury, one group of festival goers bought large quantities of cheap wine and took it to a local field where grass still grew. There, abandoning clothes along with cares, their spontaneous party quickly developed into a Bacchanalia, with obvious consequences for all involved.’

Picture: Flowers in Palm Court, Sissi, Crete. Far from Bacchanalian.

Monday 18 July 2011

Stuart's Daily Word Spot: Ensure, insure or assure?


Ensure, insure or assure?
Ensure: verb - to make sure, safe, or certain; guarantee
Insure: verb - to obtain or provide insurance on or for; to make certain by taking necessary measures and precautions; to contract to give or take insurance, ensure
Assure: verb - to make safe from risks or against overthrow; insure; to give confidence to; to make sure or certain; convince; to inform positively; to make certain the coming or attainment of; guarantee; ensure
It is probably pedantic to be too concerned about the sometimes subtle difference between these three words that are often interchangeable. As is so often the case, it comes down to context. It would be unusual to use ‘assure’ in a financial context (though the industry often does this). And ‘ensure’ isn’t used in the financial context at all.
Probably, the best way to think of the general use of these terms is to think of ‘ensure’ in terms of a guarantee, ‘insure’ in the sense of ‘indemnify’, and ‘assure’ as a synonym of ‘comfort’ or ‘convince’.
So, we all ‘ensure’ the safety of our children, ‘insure’ our houses and cars against disasters and accidents, and ‘assure’ our friends and loved ones of our loyalty and love. Hope this helps.

Picture: Oxlands Dale, near Huggate, East Yorkshire.

Stuart's Daily Word Spot: Malapropism


Malapropism: noun -  taken from the surname of Mrs. Malaprop, a character in R. B. Sheridan's comedy ‘The Rivals’ (1775) noted for her misuse of words: unintentionally humorous misuse or distortion of a word or phrase; use of a word sounding like the one intended (homophones) but ludicrously wrong in the context.
Used well, the deliberate replacing of words with different ones can really make a humorous scene.

‘If it’s true that Jesus sent them gabardine swine into the sea to drown, it’s not very Christian, is it?’ (Gadarene).

‘Them women was jus’ sayin’ that there fellah’s fallacy ain’t nowhere near as huge as ‘e says it is.’ (phallus)

Picture: Overlooking the Yorkshire Dales.

Sunday 17 July 2011

Stuart's Daily Word Spot: Abdicate


Abdicate: verb - cast off, discard; relinquish sovereign power formally; renounce a throne, high office, or function.

‘When Edward VII decided to abdicate, in order to marry Wallis Simpson, he caused a constitutional crisis in Britain and was never fully forgiven by the rest of the royal family.’

Picture: the picturesque village of Staithes, on the North Yorkshire coast.

Saturday 16 July 2011

Stuart's Daily Word Spot: Elemental or elementary?


Elemental or elementary?
Elemental: adjective - being an element; specifically - existing in the form of an uncombined chemical element; the basic or essential constituent of something; fundamental, simple, uncomplicated; dealing with the rudiments of something; of, relating to, or resembling a great force of nature.
Elementary: adjective - dealing with the simplest elements or principles of something; relating to an elementary school.
So, something elemental is essential or integral to nature, whereas something elementary is fundamental.

‘The raging tempest that cast great waves on the shore, tearing up the coastal trees and upending the fishing boats, was elemental.’

‘I don’t see how you can pretend to be a writer, my friend, when you fail to understand the most elementary rules of grammar.’

Friday 15 July 2011

Stuart's Daily Word Spot: Magic realism


Magic realism: blending fantastic or mythical elements in a matter-of-fact way into seemingly realistic fiction. The term magic realism is relatively recent, being first applied by Cuban novelist Alejo Carpentier, in the 1940s, when he recognized this style in much Latin-American literature. Among the Latin-American magic realists are Gabriel García Márquez, Jorge Amado, Jorge Luis Borges and Isabel Allende.
Magic realism is also described as an aesthetic style of fiction, which mixes magical elements with the real world. The narrative explains such magical elements as real occurrences, presenting them in a straightforward manner that places reality and the fantastical in the same stream of thought.
Salman Rushdie famously uses the technique in The Satanic Verses to great effect.

Thursday 14 July 2011

90 Author Interviews Revisited


Listed below are the names of the authors I have interviewed on this blog during the past year. If you click on the author’s name, you will arrive at the interview on the blog. They’re listed in order of appearance and one or two may be listed twice, because they’ve come back for more. There's no significance to the colours; just an attempt to separate the names out a bit.

Avril Field-Taylor      Penny Grubb      J.F Jenkins      Linda Acaster    
 Richard Jay Parker      Sasha Petrova      Steven Jensen    Stacey Danson     
 Catherine Chisnall      John Pearson      Sharon Dwyer      Jake Webber 
 Sibel Hodge   Nick Quantrill      Sarah Barnard     Lila Munro     
SueAnn Jackson      J.E. Taylor      K.J. Rigby       Victoria Roder  
Jesse S. Greever       Catherine Condie      Paul Rudd     Lakisha Spletzer      
Joanne Kerzmann     Alan Nayes     Charlene Wilson     Alan Naylor      

Last week, 7 July, I interviewed myself here (an odd concept, but the reasons will be clear if you visit it) – the link isn’t available as I write this, because I’ve scheduled this before the interview is due to appear. But it can be found in the archive now, if you’re interested.
Next week, the interview will be with Susan Moody; I think you’ll find it worthwhile returning for that one.

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