The Ultimate Dreamer (Heartlander publishes novel)

[stufarq]

I've finally got around to leaving a review on Amazon. Hope it doesn't go to your head Stu

A rip-roaring adventure, but that's not all...

As well, it's a philosophical musing on the subject of belief and what happens where magic, science and religion meet. Fiction about the nature of fiction if you will.

I think comparisons with Pratchett are doing Farquhar a disservice; while there is a superficial similarity in that they're both "Fantasy", "The Ultimate Dreamer" is less satirical and more thoughtful than the Discworld.

Cheers Fiendy. Pretty cool review. Gone straight to my head, of course.

[stufarq]

If anyone's looking for some holiday reading (or knows anyone who's looking for some holiday reading), there's another free giveaway on 25th & 26th June. The Ultimate Dreamer will be free to download from Amazon on those two days.

[Kutan]

First: I read it. I loved it.

Second: I thought it is appropriate to step forward and write the first German review on Amazon.de. This is a rough translation of what I wrote:

Some have compared this to Terry Pratchett. This is not completely wrong, as it contains many bizarre elements and is often incredibly funny, but then there are passages, which are that sinister and grim to let your blood run cold.

The author's interspersed excursions remind of Yarnspinner's Digressions in the books of Walter Moers. The difference here is that they add to the understanding of the plot in the end.

This book is fun to read and flows over with ideas and odd characters which even make you think of Mervyn Peake. This is "fantasy" in its most literal and best form. I do not want to tell anything of the plot and recommend this book simply to everyone loving phantastic literature. There's a dragon in it, after all.

BTW: stufarq, if you're ever considering to publish a German translation, this is my application to do it. I'd love to.

[stufarq]

First: I read it. I loved it.

Second: I thought it is appropriate to step forward and write the first German review on Amazon.de. This is a rough translation of what I wrote:

Some have compared this to Terry Pratchett. This is not completely wrong, as it contains many bizarre elements and is often incredibly funny, but then there are passages, which are that sinister and grim to let your blood run cold.

The author's interspersed excursions remind of Yarnspinner's Digressions in the books of Walter Moers. The difference here is that they add to the understanding of the plot in the end.

This book is fun to read and flows over with ideas and odd characters which even make you think of Mervyn Peake. This is "fantasy" in its most literal and best form. I do not want to tell anything of the plot and recommend this book simply to everyone loving phantastic literature. There's a dragon in it, after all.

BTW: stufarq, if you're ever considering to publish a German translation, this is my application to do it. I'd love to.

Fantastic - thanks for reading and for the great review.

As for a translation - I'd be delighted. There's already a small market in Germany so a German translation could increase that. I'm not in a position to pay anyone for professional translations but if you want to have a go I could arrange a thank you present. And, of course, a credit. My one condition would be that, as my German is pretty basic (and other languages more or less non-existent) I'd ask that any translator has someone else look over it when they're finished to see if they agree that it's an accurate translation that conveys a good sense of the book.

Many thanks for the offer.

[markfiend]

Spot on with the Mervyn Peake comparison BTW Kutan.

[stufarq]

Spot on with the Mervyn Peake comparison BTW Kutan.

Really? I haven't ready any Mervyn Peake so I don't know although I remember enjoying the BBC adaptation of Gormenghast many years ago. Entertainingly odd.

I'm not at all familiar with Water Moers I'm afraid.

[markfiend]

"Entertainingly odd" is just the thing.

[Kutan]

Exactly. And the wizard convention in "The Ultimate Dreamer" reminded me very much of the professors of Titus in Gormenghast. The BBC series is good, but the books are awesome (at least the first two). Mervyn Peake is almost completely unknown in Germany, very different to the UK, where he is a modern classic.

Regarding Walter Moers, "The City of Dreaming Books" is hereby recommended. The protagonist is a hypochondriac dinosaur

As for the translation: I've done 8 pages already and will send you a PM, Stu.

[stufarq]

Exactly. And the wizard convention in "The Ultimate Dreamer" reminded me very much of the professors of Titus in Gormenghast.

Oh, okay. They were largely based on the impression I get of Oxford and Cambridge professors from writers like Douglas Adams and Colin Dexter (who were actually there). Maybe Mervyn peake had similar experiences?

The protagonist is a hypochondriac dinosaur

I don't even know how to react to that! He must at least be due some sort of award for originality.

A

s for the translation: I've done 8 pages already and will send you a PM, Stu.

Reply sent.

[stufarq]

Free giveaway should be starting any time now. Kindle version free to download today and tomorrow (Tuesday 25th and Wednesday 26th). Grab it while you can.

Things going well with Kutan's German translation too.

[stufarq]

The giveaway was a huge success. Almost as many downloads as last time but in one day fewer. Made #24 in the US free Kindle humour chart, #17 in UK, #4 in Germany and #1 in Japan! Still can't quite take that in.

As a thankyou present to all who took part, I'll be putting an exclusive work-in-progress preview of the sequel on my website over the weekend. I'll post the link once it's up.

[Salome]

Wow, wonderful news! Congrats!!!

[stufarq]

Thanks Salome.

The preview is now on the website. Homepage address below. Either navigate to The Library > Free preview or you can go to Evolving News for the report on the giveaway and the announcement of the German translation first. The giveaway report has a direct link to the preview.

http://www.stuartfarquhar.co.uk/

[stufarq]

For those who don't follow me on Twitter or Facebook, I've been working on a second novel and have finally come up with a possible title for it. However, I've got a few variations on the same idea and have been canvassing opinions to help me settle on one. I'd appreciate input from anyone who's interested. The variations are:

A Light at the Bottom of the Ocean

The Light at the Bottom of the Ocean

A Light in the Depths of the Ocean

The Light in the Depths of the Ocean

A Light at the Bottom of the Sea

The Light at the Bottom of the Sea

A Light in the Depths of the Sea

The Light in the Depths of the Sea

Let me know any that you like or hate.

There's also been a suggestion that maybe it should be something shorter like:

A Light in the Ocean

or something similar.

Any thoughts? Thanks.

[iesus]

Is there an options for even shorter?
For example
Ocean Light(s)

A Light in the Depths (without saying actually the nature of the Depths with a clue of sea-ocean in the cover of the book)

Also the choice of using "A" or "The" for the Light has to do with the perspective of the storytelling. I would choose the opposite of the viewpoint

[stufarq]

Is there an options for even shorter?
For example
Ocean Light(s)

A Light in the Depths (without saying actually the nature of the Depths with a clue of sea-ocean in the cover of the book)

Also the choice of using "A" or "The" for the Light has to do with the perspective of the storytelling. I would choose the opposite of the viewpoint

Yes, I'm open to other variations, shorter or not.

There will be sea on the cover so A Light in the Depths might work.

"A" or "The" would both work in terms of story perspective so it's really more about what sounds or feels better.

[Pista]

Ocean's a good word to keep, but I'd step away from "bottom" (giggity).

Light On The Ocean Floor perhaps?

[million voices]

"Ocean Light" - or does that sound like a highly refreshing although low calorie lager

[iesus]

Light On The Ocean Floor perhaps?

as we say FloorShow -> FloorLight

[stufarq]

Ocean's a good word to keep, but I'd step away from "bottom" (giggity).

Light On The Ocean Floor perhaps?

Yes, I think I'm pulling out of bottom. And I like "ocean" too (despite the odd debate on another forum about the strict accuracy of ocean vs sea). But Light on the Ocean Floor makes me think of A Life on the Ocean wave.

"Ocean Light" - or does that sound like a highly refreshing although low calorie lager

I'd be prepared to do a sponsorship deal.


A few people have independently suggested 'A Light in the Deep'. I'm still not sure about it but there's growing support for that one.

[stufarq]

Thanks to everyone (here and elsewhere) who joined in the great title debate. It's helped me greatly and after a face to face discussion with my editor Phil Scary tonight, I've finally made a decision.

The title of my second novel will be (unless I change my mind at a later date):

The Light Beneath the Waves

[stufarq]

I'm looking for some photo-editing advice to help me with the cover of the play I'll be publishing in the New Year. I need to cut an image out of its background to leave an outline, a bit like a stencil. I then need to place another image inside that outline so that it fills it - kind of like you're looking through the outline and seeing something completely different through it.

I've managed to create the stencil but can't place the second image inside it, only around it, which isn't what I want.

I'm using GIMP but am willing to try other software if need be (if it's opensource - not really in a position to buy something new just now). Anyone able to advise me?

[Being645]

You have to work with layers and layer masks ... gimp can do that, no need for a different software ... ...

[Pista]

Have you tried switching the layers?
If you lay the stencil image on top of the "reveal" image, you should be able to move the "reveal" into position & tweak the size if you need to.

[iesus]

I think you can blend the images with GIMP you need the effect that uses in this tutorial but in different area in your canvas as you describe. Have a look at this video.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_2R-OQddyM

hope it helps