Category: Book

Catching up with T. J. Blake – latest articles and creative pieces

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Sorry that I’ve been a neglectful blogger recently, but I’ve had a busy few weeks. After bagging myself a new job (which I start on Monday – woop!), I’ve been finishing up with my then current (now former) employer, editing my next thriller DECEPTION, and of course, been preparing for Monday.

Anyway, to the point of this speedy post, I thought I would just give you the titles and links to my latest articles and creative pieces; which I’ve added to my blog T. J. Blake #Author the past few months.

So, below are my latest blog posts, articles and general writing material.

About me

Why did I choose to self-publish?

Articles

How has technology affected the relation between speech and writing?

Overuse of the exclamation mark: You’re having a laugh!!!! A little strict?!!

Creative Writing

Flash Fiction

Poem Attempts

Short Story Nightmare

Illusory Waters

 

Please have a read of my latest material. Feel free to comment with your opinion, and please do share 🙂

Six hours of writing this Sunday! 

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Since 2pm this afternoon, I have been writing my new novel DECEPTION. I was writing for 6/7 hours!

In this time, I was able to finish Chapter 28 and get started on Ch. 29.

Ch. 28 was an exhausting chapter to write – filled with twists, dark revelations and most of all, deep and emotional conversations for the two main characters involved.


Now, after today’s progress, I’m so close to completing the first draft of DECEPTION; I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

I’m extremely excited to get this book finished and published for you all to finally read. It’s been well over a year now, since I started working on DECEPTION (formerly The Dog Walk) for my Creative Writing dissertation. I’m extremely hopeful about my fourth book, and I’m really looking forward to everyone experiencing this thrilling, creepy and dark journey.

Keep an eye out over the coming months for updates on DECEPTION – I’m aiming for it to be released in the Summer of 2016. A good read for your holidays!

Why did I choose to self-publish?

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It’s been three years (on the 28th of March) since I self-published my first novel Endurance.  I remember working on it whilst at university, and I most of all remember having doubts about self-publishing Endurance – mostly because there was a niggling fear of what people would say or think about me for doing it.

I personally love the freedom of self-publishing, even though it does require some more work – who am I kidding, some? A LOT more work.

I believe new writers should try their luck with self-publishing; mainly to engage with readers, create a following and allow people to review your work and help adapt you as a writer. From my experience, encouraging people to read your stories is the key part to self-publishing; even if you give them the book for free

Covering: What are the benefits of self-publishing? & Self-Publishing on Createspace

Source: Why did I choose to self-publish?

Writing DECEPTION

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Just a quick one from me! 

Getting closer to completing the first draft of my thriller DECEPTION! Can’t wait to get into the editing to fine tune this beast of a book. I’m excited about it, I hope you will be too!   

Currently reading ‘Disclaimer’ by Renee Knight

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At the moment I’m reading an addictive book called ‘Disclaimer’ by Renee Knight – it’s great. For a long time I’ve been hungry for a book that constantly has me predicting, has me wondering (even when I’m not reading) and more importantly keeps me hooked. If this is what you desire from a book, then get your hands on a copy of Renee Knight’s Disclaimer!
If you’re dying to find out more, than below is the blurb for Disclaimer.

“Imagine if the next thriller you opened was all about you.  When an intriguing novel appears on Catherine’s bedside table, she curls up and begins to read. But as she turns the pages she is horrified to realize she is a key character, a main player. This story will reveal her darkest secret. A secret she thought no one else knew…”

With some great story telling from Knight, the book immediately hooks you in and introduces you to the main character, Catherine, and into her personal life – a lot of stress, a deep secret and of course, the mysterious book.
With so much hunger to discover Catherine’s secret and the identity of the book placer, you just find yourself wrapped up in the book; hungry for answers. I struggle to stop reading Disclaimer at the moment and I’m not far from the end. I cannot wait to finish it hopefully over the weekend!

A great part (for me personally) of reading Disclaimer is that it shares a similar theme and main plot to my own novel ‘The Author‘ – allowing me to see how Renee tells a story using a book as one of the key aspects of the plot.

Writing DECEPTION!
As a side note, I have also been working on my new thriller ‘DECEPTION’ – why am I mentioning this in a post about Disclaimer? Well, because DECEPTION is currently the same size as Disclaimer (367 pages), everyone loves a fun fact!

I’m so close to the end of writing DECEPTION, before I then begin the editing process.

The journey so far

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‘My adventure into writing began back when I was just seven years old. The set up would be in the dining room with me and my brother at the dining room table. He would be drawing wars and dinosaurs whilst I would be there writing stories.
Even though I was too young to have a plan for the future, writing was the least likely option for me – being a child that needed speech therapy and extra support with writing and spelling, I was never considered to be a child that might enjoy writing.’

You can find out more about my journey into writing and self-publishing by having a read of my new ‘About‘ page.

DECEPTION – A love of lies

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#amwriting #DECEPTION ‘A love of lies’ as a #tagline what do you think? #thriller #drama #ComingSoon 
What do you think? Feel free to comment. 

Update: Coming Soon!

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We’re coming to the New Year now, so I thought I’d update you all on my projects.

As you may know, I haven’t self-published any books during this year – simply because I was too busy with my final year of University and I unexpectedly landed myself a Copywriting role at a Digital Marketing Company. However, I was planning to completely reduce the amount of writing I did during the year of 2015, but that didn’t really happen.

I have been writing – not as regularly as normal, but more than I anticipated. If you’ve been keeping up to date with this blog or my Twitter (@TJBlake93) or Facebook pages, then you’ll know that I have been working on my new thriller Deception, which I am hoping to self-publish some time next year. I have also done some work to Endurance 3, which could also be out next year, more likely 2017 though – but I will push for it to be out 2016, just for you!

Anyhow, thought I’d let you know that I am still alive (because I haven’t posted in a while) and working hard to get Deception written and self-published (or published!?) for you to all enjoy.
I have a good feeling about this, unlike Obi-Wan… That’s right, I’m VERY excited to see Star Wars: The Force Awakens!

COMING SOON

Deception (2016) (Thriller)

Endurance 3 (2016/17) (Mystery, Horror, Suspense, Dystopia, Science Fiction)

Back Friday (Sunday) Weekend – Last day for free downloads

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As you probably know my three books Endurace, Endurance: Apocalypse and The Author have been free to download onto your Kindle this weekend as part of the Black Friday Weekend. You can still download them just by clicking the book titles above or the links below.
Here’s some information about the books.

Below are universal links to my books and their synopsis.

Download Endurance – Horror, Mystery and Suspense

‘London is silent. Severed bodies lie amongst the rubble. What once was a lively city is a now a murderous grave, enclosed in smoke and ash. The cause of the destruction is unknown. Left haunted and terrified, survivor Tom Williams confronts the brutal, mutilated streets as he fights to uncover the truth. Could he be the last hope to restore normality?’

Download Endurance: Apocalypse – Horror, Mystery and Suspense

‘London is intolerable; the infected dominate the ravaged streets. Miller has gained full control and takes advantage of his authority, experimenting with the virus in an attempt to form a new superhuman army.’

“Danni entered the station, the breeze was the only sound, eerily howling through the underground; the station was deserted. She ran up the escalators and stood at the top of Waterloo station. Staring along the station she saw corpses scattered across the ground. Splattered and smudged blood decorated Waterloo.”

Download The Author – Thriller, Mystery and Suspense

‘Four years after his wife and children disappeared, Ryan Milligan decides it’s time to let go of the past and move to a new home on Mulberry Lane. Ryan hoped his new house and peaceful neighbourhood would help him to cope better with the pain of losing his family and to continue his search. Whilst settling in and writing his new novel, ‘Killing for your love’, he realises things are not what they seem…’

“My new house is only a mile away from the home I used to live in with Tan and the kids, but now I feel like I’m in a different world. I can’t help but feel like I’ve been here before and done this before. There’s a presence here, I can feel it. There are things happening in this house that aren’t normal. I’m threatened by the lack of control I have over them.

There’s one room where I feel it most, and as I stare at the door leading down into the basement, it begins to creak open.”

See all my books by heading to my Amazon Author Page

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Black Friday Weekend

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Are you enjoying your Black Friday Weekend? 

Everyone loves a good deal and a bargain, so here’s a bargain for you – my three books Endurace, Endurance: Apocalypse and The Author will be free to download this Black Friday Weekend (28th & 29th) on Amazon. 

Below are universal links to my books and their synopsis. The links will take you to their Amazon product page where you can download them onto your kindle without paying a single penny, and begin reading them within seconds. 

Download Endurance – Horror, Mystery and Suspense

‘London is silent. Severed bodies lie amongst the rubble. What once was a lively city is a now a murderous grave, enclosed in smoke and ash. The cause of the destruction is unknown. Left haunted and terrified, survivor Tom Williams confronts the brutal, mutilated streets as he fights to uncover the truth. Could he be the last hope to restore normality?’

Download Endurance: Apocalypse – Horror, Mystery and Suspense

‘London is intolerable; the infected dominate the ravaged streets. Miller has gained full control and takes advantage of his authority, experimenting with the virus in an attempt to form a new superhuman army.’

“Danni entered the station, the breeze was the only sound, eerily howling through the underground; the station was deserted. She ran up the escalators and stood at the top of Waterloo station. Staring along the station she saw corpses scattered across the ground. Splattered and smudged blood decorated Waterloo.”

Download The Author – Thriller, Mystery and Suspense

‘Four years after his wife and children disappeared, Ryan Milligan decides it’s time to let go of the past and move to a new home on Mulberry Lane. Ryan hoped his new house and peaceful neighbourhood would help him to cope better with the pain of losing his family and to continue his search. Whilst settling in and writing his new novel, ‘Killing for your love’, he realises things are not what they seem…’

“My new house is only a mile away from the home I used to live in with Tan and the kids, but now I feel like I’m in a different world. I can’t help but feel like I’ve been here before and done this before. There’s a presence here, I can feel it. There are things happening in this house that aren’t normal. I’m threatened by the lack of control I have over them.

There’s one room where I feel it most, and as I stare at the door leading down into the basement, it begins to creak open.”

See all my books by heading to my Amazon Author Page