Tarmac

After 10 years of waiting the mountain track we live on was finally tarmaced yesterday. YES!!!!!!

Booksandnovelstoread

The new website has passed a landmark, more than one thousand self published books have now been uploaded to the site. If you enjoy reading have a look. There are a lot of talented writers out there with many good stories to tell.

I've also started carrying out interviews with notables from the self publishing world. Alex Shaw a Thriller writer whose book Hetman was No 1 on Amazon Kindle. Alain Braux an award winning French Chef whose books are full of healthy eating recipes and a scoop for Books and Novels to Read an interview with Mark Coker CEO of Smashwords, probably the world's largest online retailer of self published books.

NEWBOOK

Hello

I've just published a new FREE eBook on smashwords:-

http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/61424

It is called "Most New Authors get a raw deal from the Traditional Publishing Industry" and is in praise of the companies that allow authors to self publish their books in print or by eBook. Have a look, it is FREE to download.

DNAdatabase

The Spanish Authorities set up a DNS database just three years ago. Since then 7,500 crimes have been solved including581 rapes, 454 murders and 51 acts of terrorism. So what is wrong with a DNA database, the only people that have anything to fear are the criminals. Every new born baby should be DNA tested at birth, every adult and child should be tested. Why are the authorities in the UK so fearful of such a scheme, could it be that they can't control with any security the databases they already have, or is it really about civil liberties. What about the civil liberties and yes the human rights of all the victims who seem to be way down the list when it comes to human rights.

Posting

If you don't want to receive an email notification when I post, just let me know and I will remove you from my mailing list.

Newwebsite

I've been working on a new website to promote and advertise the books and novels of self published authors. There are hundreds and thousands of good books out there that the public never get to see because the publishing industry wants as close as it can get to a sure thing, either established authors or so called celebrities. I'm trying to address the balance. The website is:-

www.booksandnovelstoread.com

If you will, please pass this onto all your friends, relatives and enemies, do all us self-published authors a good turn.

OsamaBinLaden

So Osama Bin Laden is dead and buried. Justice has been done.

Now I think there will be a period of in the old saying "It will get worse before it gets better."

Sandrasfirstnovel

Sandra has just published the first novel as an ebook in her Moorcroft Trilogy. It is available at:-

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/56770

It is called Moorcroft - The Possession and it is an excellent romantic ghost story. You cen evwen try before you buy. Price $4.99

TheWholeTruth

The Whole Truth by David Baldacci

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


One of the best books I have read in ages. A wonderful super rich megalomaniac as the bad guy and a rough, tough hero as his opponent with a lot of action, intrigue and mystery in between. If this is your type of story I recommend giving it a go.



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TheRunawayJury

The Runaway Jury by John Grisham

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Classic Grisham, in the court. If you like courtroom dramas you will love this.



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WhentheBoughBreaks

When The Bough Breaks by Jonathan Kellerman

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


It is a long time ago that I read this book, all I can remember about it was that I enjoyed it and intend to read more books by Jonathan Kellerman.



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AV

Did you see the broadcast for the Vote No to AV campaign the other night? What a brilliant bit of television for this type of broadcast. Hopefully it will convince 100% of the population to vote No and stop this farce of an idea. The programme showed AV to be very confusing and will cost the tax payer even more than the current first past the post system.

VOTE NO, YOU KNOW IT MAKES SENSE.

Reading

The Whole Truth by David Baldacci

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


One of the best books I have read in ages. A wonderful super rich megalomaniac as the bad guy and a rough, tough hero as his opponent with a lot of action, intrigue and mystery in between. If this is your type of story I recommend giving it a go.



View all my reviews

Blood2

So I went to the medical centre last night to give my blood, the ninth time in Spain. I was signed in, he asked me where I was from and I explained I was from the Isle of Man then lay on the bed and a guy pricked my finger as they do when the admin guy comes running out of the office. Apparantly people from the IOM like the UK cannot give blood in Spain because of CJD (mad cows disease). I have explained that all meat sold on the ION is Manx and there was no CJD on the IOM but to no avail.

I wouldn't mind but this was my ninth pint of blood (half a litre to be exact) over two years. As far as I know nobody in Spain has contracted CJD from my blood.

There you go!!!!!!!

Blood

Monday 4th April blood donation day. I give blood every three months here in Spain. I do it because I can and I think it is very worthwhile. Who knows I might contribute to saving somebody's life. I believe every adult capable of giving blood should. Same goes for organ donations, remember this when I die and if my organs are OK then the medics can take what they like, Sandra knows this.

DayofConfession

Day of Confession by Allan Folsom

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


An interesting story, well written with a difficult plot to believe in, but I enjoyed it all the same.



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Prescriptions

So on the day that prescription charges in England go up by 20p to £7.40 an item, Scotland ends all charges leaving Englsnd the only country in the UK to have prescription charges. Why does England not have a devolved assembly like every other part of the UK to look after its citizens, not that I actually agree with another expensive layer of government, but somebody needs to stand up for England.

This day April 1st, April Fools Day is well named because all of England is being taken for fools.

Libya

So we have started giving sanctuary to high ups from the Libyan regime. First the Foreign Secretary, former head of Libyan Intelligence and there are rumours that more are to follow. David Cameron pledges on television that there will be no immunity. We all know about pledges from politicians. You must wonder what dirty little deals are being made in out name.

Remember Al Magrahi the only one ever convicted for the Lockerbie bombing and the dirty little deal done there. He was supposed to be weeks away from death and released on compassionate grounds, yea right, he's still alive 18 months later. Hopefully a coalition bomd will land right on his head.

The British public are treated like idiots, it is about time we changed politics and voted for a different party other than the big three, but who else is there? You would have thought that with disaffection with the coaltion government and the country still sore with Labour that UKIP would be coming to the fore, where are they?

Website

My website www.terry-callister.com is changing everyday. I've now included a page for other writers to advertise their books, and it's free. So have a look.

LIbya

The conflict in Libya is getting messier by the day. The rebel forces advance and then have to retreat as Gaddafi forces get the upper hand. Without the coaltion air strikes the rebels I believe would have been defeated already.

The consequences for the West if Gaddafi stays in power could be disasterous. He'll happily sell his oil to the East, China, India etc and cut off supplies to Europe. WHAT PRICE PETROL THEN?

IanFleming

Thunderball by Ian Fleming

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I read this years ago and it has always stuck in my mind. One of the best James Bond novels ever written and even the film basically followed the story. The action in the books is pretty realistic, not that can be said of most of the films.I watched The Quantum of Solace last night, what a load of twaddle. Anybody who has not read Ian Fleming's James Bond doesn't know what they are msiing.



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F1

So it looks like 2011 is going to be a continuation of 2010. Vetel first in the Red Bull, Lewis Hamilton second and congratulations Vitaly Petrov in the Renault for his first podium in third. (Makes you wonder what Robert Kubitza would have done in the Renault). The two lads in the Saubers must be sick being disqualified from points scoring positions but them's the rules.

Not the most exciting race but at least Formula 1 is back. Roll on the Malaysion GP on April 10th.

Budget2

This morning the Daily Mail published a pie chart showing how the UK Government spends OUR money that we pay in taxes and National Insurance. One of the figures that struck me was the £40 billion spent on defence, drastically being reduced by the Strategic Defence Review (more on that in another post). Foreign Aid was not a specific part of the pie chart, it was included in the £77 billion under other things. The Foreign Aid budget is to rise to £32 billion a year of our money being given away to the likes of Zimbabwe, that's right Zimbabwe. Yemen, that's right Yemen and the likes of India, with their space programme and nuclear weopons. You really couldn't make it up could you.

I'd guess that if the British public were given a vote on Foreign Aid I would suspect a good majority would be against the British Government borrowing to give it away to people who don't even like us. But the British people did vote for this, it was after all in all the manifestos of the big three parties. They are as one on this (as with so many things).

Perhaps it is time to look at alternatives to Conservatives, Labour and the Lib Cons, oops sorry Dems. UKIP are an alternative and they are not a one policy party as many people think. Take the time to look at their manifesto and you will be surprised. One nugget from their manifesto, pensions to rise to £156.00 a week now wouldn't that be a good way to treat our senior citizens who've paid into the system all their working lives and are thought so little of by the big three.

TheBudget

So the UK Budget was pretty much as expected considering the circumstances, but this morning there have been very few if any comments about alcahol and tobacco, rises of 2.5% above inflation and you can bet your life the government will uses the higher RPI and not the CPI to calculate the rises, the reverse is true of any benefits or pensions.

Once again the easy targets of smokers and drinkers are helping to fund the means to get the UK out of the mess created by the bankers while they get off relatively unscathed.

Labour of course derided The Budget conveniently forgetting it was them that contributed largely to the state of the economy and if they have come up with any alternative, never mind a viable one I've not heard it.

ITV

Inspeccion Technico de Vehiclos or the Spanish equivalent to the MOT. Our ten year old Ford Focus passed it's ITV today much to my relief, no expensive repair bills for another year at least.

Article

I've just had an article published in "The Andalucian", a free English Language magazine here in inland Andalucia. The article is all about E:Books, what they are all about and how you can access them and read them. The article seems to have been well received. The magazine then interviewed me so there is a second article featuring yours truly. WOW!

War

So we are part of the force that has started sending Cruise Missiles into Libya. While I feel for the people living under the Gaddafi dictatorship I wonder if our politicians know what we are getting involved in, and how are we going to get out at some time in the future.

May all our lads and lassies in our armed forces taking part in this new conflict come home safe and sound.

Rugby

Congratulations to Scotland and Ireland in the RBS Six Nations. I was very disappointed that England lost to the Irish so emphatically. England just didn't get going, even Toby Flood and Jonny Wilkinson missed relatively easy shots at goal. But Ireland did play exceptionally well to give them their due, as did Scotland at long last.

England are still 6 Nations champions but missed out on the Grand Slam.

Roll on the Rugby World Cup later this year.

Bomber

Bomber by Len Deighton

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Without any doubt my favourite book of all time. I must have read Bomber at least ten times. It paints a vivid picture of a bombing raid over Germany during WWII. From the prejudices of RAF officers, the workings of a bomber station, to the German radar installations on the Dutch coast and the small market town of Altgarten to suffers a 750 heavy bomber raid.



An exercise in futility but so well researched and put together. A fantastic book, very highly recommended.



View all my reviews

Amessybusiness

So UK forces are preparing to help in the no fly zone in Libya. What are we getting into? David Cameron talking to Tom Bradbury on the ITV News last night could not answer the question "How do we get out, what is the end game?"

This strikes me as a disaster in the making and it's all too late. Three weeks ago Cameron asked for a no fly zone, it has taken the world and the UN all this time to reach a decision and in the meantime Gaddafi's forces have slaughtered hundreds of people and retaken most of the towns held by the rebels. Only Benghazi is left. Too little, too late and what are we doing their in the first place?

Cameron described Gaddafi as a despicable dictator, isn't that exactly what Mugabi is in Zimbabwe, what's the difference? OIL!.

KenFollett

A Dangerous Fortune by Ken Follett

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Not my usual type of book but whata thoroughly enjoyable story. No two Ken Follet books are alike, his research is excellent, a very good story.



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Firstfamily

First Family by David Baldacci

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Sean King and Michelle Maxwell at their very best. David Baldacci weaves a plot that thickens as the book progresses, brilliant.



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F1

The new grand Prix season gets underway in Australia next weekend. If the season is only half as good as last year it will be brilliant. The Red Bulls have been shining in pre-season practice, lets hope Maclaren, Ferrari and the rest can give them a good run for the money.

सिम्प्ले गेनिउस बी दविड़ Baldacci

Simple Genius by David Baldacci

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Excellent story, well thought out in an unusual setting.



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Italy v France

Wasn't it fantastic to see italy beat France 22 - 21 last Saturday in Rome in the 4th weekend of the RBS Six Nations Rugby. The atmosphere was wonderful for the long suffering Italian rugby fans but their team played with passion and flair. I was on the edge of my seat hoping the Italians didn't givve away a penalty in the last five minutes.

Congratultions Italy, I hope you beat Scotland this coming weekend and make it two wins for the first time ever and come on England, beat ireland in Dublin to get a Grand Slam and Six Nations Champions.

The annual read an E:Book Week

From tomorrow Sunday 6 March 2011 it is the annual read an E:Book week sponsored by Smashwords. To celebrate I have put a 50% discount on both my novels for the week.

This is the link for my profile page on Smashwords:-

http://smashwords.com/profile/view/HombreTel

From there you can view, sample and purchase "The Catalytic Programme" or "A Lucky Break" for half price. Both books ban be downloaded onto any E:Reader device such as Kindle or Sony or simply to your PC or laptop.

Happy Reading.