This one's a little trickier:

Now I’m getting really tricksy - must be the math teacher in me. Marianna at the wonderful Happy Glastonbury bookshop created this interview of me talking in my (not so) cute British accent. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtCnq1hm5VM

Have a look at the video and answer one of these questions.
Don’t forget to leave a comment so I know you’ve visited.

Q1 What is the name of Hengist’s brother? Vortigern, Horsa, Thanet.

Q2 What type of settlers were they? Viking, Roman, Saxon.

Q3 What animal is on the flag of Kent? White Horse, White Lion, White Elephant.

Have fun - but don't laugh too loud - it was all done in one take with no script.

Cheers

Jacky

 xxx

Indie Authors Love-in

Hi Guys,
If you've come here from the Indie Author love-in looking for answers:

To win a copy of Archer, you can go to: https://www.facebook.com/HengistPeopleOfTheHorse, like it and tell me one of the ingredients of the Harmonious Mix.

Or go to
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDltCp6GobI,
leave a comment there and tell me one of the lines of text in the trailer (apart from the first one – Be Brave, Be Worthy).

Or read the post above this one - when it appears.

Have fun

Jacky ♥♥♥

Interviewing the cast

I have seen this done on various websites and thought it seemed like fun. I actually wrote this a long while ago, then it got buried in amongst a load of school work. I just found it amidst a huge clean-up of my over-stuffed bureau - it's a work in progress, but I'm 80% there now. Here's a taster - to read the full thing, go to cast interview (just after the map).

Tale-teller: So Archer, you are the favourite to win the sporting round – is it going to be easy?

Archer: Not at all. No-one can touch Finn on the back of a horse and Beorn’s a master with the sword.

Tale-teller: Your skill with the bow and arrow is known all over Oxford – I hear that Gaelic Sound even wrote a song about it.

Archer: The song was about Finn and Fletch too. All three of us went to meet the Oxford Bowman but it got dangerous when we met the Renegates.

Tale-teller: But they called it Archer, Son of Sedge. Never mind, I can see you are embarrassed by it. Can you guess who will be in the final?

Archer: Gosh that’s a hard one. There’s no one as good as Fletch in the Worthy round – except maybe Machin – he has a really show-stealing invention. Tybalt’s craft entry is going to be hard to beat and any one of the Warriors could go through – we’re all evenly matched.

Tale-teller: But only you and Finn are jousting – it’s unusual to see juniors involved in this sport.

Archer: I know, but Professor Niall said we were ready and we want to honour his decision.

Tale-teller: Thank you Archer. Fletch, who would you bet on?

Fletch: Me obviously. I can sing, dance, fight and nobody knows more about King Richard than me.

Tale-teller: I like your confidence. Who will you be facing in the final?

Fletch: Archer obviously from the Warriors. Tybalt's the strongest Magi, but he’s not so good when it comes to the sporting rules so I will best him on the knowledge round.

Happy New Year

Apparently there's all manner of superstitions about bad luck if you wish someone glad tidings for the new year after the 12th night, but seein' as how I make my own luck, it doesn't apply to me.

Well that was a festive season and a half! I drove 1800 miles picking up/dropping off my wonderful offspring and visiting friends and family for Yule and Chrismas festivities.
Some of the highlights were:

• being attuned to Reiki One (with my dear friend Sarah) by my talented auntie Lynne; 
• supping soup and ale by a roasting fire in a picturesque pub in Coniston; 
• early snowfall on the hills surrounding Castlerigg stone circle, 
• sunset on Glastonbury Tor on the eve of the winter solstice, 
• greeting the sun in Avebury sun circle on solstice morning (many thanks to the Archdruid and Crone of Avebury for making us welcome); 

• singing Christmas carols in the magnificent grounds of Warwick castle 
• and best of all sharing several fantastic feasts with my fabulous family. 

2014 had such a great start, it has a lot to live up to, but with the digit sum of 7, I'm sure it's equal to the task.

Is it really that time already?

Four girls as daft as me!

My how the year has flown. I'm just creating the annual newsletter to send out to friends/relatives - ok I realise it's more for my benefit than theirs - who really wants to hear about how well my kids are doing or how many times I climbed Cadair this year? Obviously, no-one but me, but will that stop me from inflicting the poor dears with the showing off of a proud parent? Unlikely! I might email a few more to save on printing tho' - someone seems to be eating the ink in the cartridges.

I really do it for my own benefit - I have a cracking record of all our little adventures since 1999 - except for 2002 - it seems to have gotten lost. I just read through them all - it was a wonderful trip down memory lane, reliving some of the highlights of me and mine. Exactly what you need when you're shivering waiting for the heating to come on and faced with the task of addressing a huge bunch of envelopes - could this be the year I finally do it on labels?
Hope you like the fun pictures I found from just before I left Marconi (June 2001) - even back then I liked to dress up. Our football team was called Comic Strip! and I was a winger, I insisted Olan Mills did one with my Tina Turner wig, and the final one was my leaving do - my attempt to do Cher. I know, 'nuff said.

Are you all Wordle'd out yet?

Dunno about you, but I'm still in the first tingly-all-over stage with these things. So much so that I've spent at least two whole days mucking around with them. Here are a few that haven't made it to the cutting room floor yet  - any opinions/preferences?

Adult, Young Adult or both?

One of the amazing comments from the indiePENdent reviewer suggested thar Archer is a book that can be enjoyed by adults and teens alike. The stats from the Helix review certain seem to back this up. As do the following comments from a variety of readers:

Comments about Adult and Teen Readers

“Jacky loves to experience the world through the wondrous eyes of a child where anything can happen, where the fantastic mingles with an emerging reality. She cares about the characters in her book and I think she writes her books FOR the children too, like a gift to them. ... The tempo of Archer pulls me along as if I am flowing down a river upon a strong current. I couldn't jump out of my canoe in the midst of a chapter even if I wanted to.”

 “Although targeting a teen boy audience, this story felt just right for me too, and would be right up the alley for many adults who read classics. This is a well-researched slice of Medieval life and even includes a glossary! I encourage anyone with teens who are interested in Medieval times and legends to pass this on to them.”

“Archer is cool. Your fanbase is leaning more towards the Rick Riordian portion on the great bookshelf of life, but, I read him too. And am quite proud of it. A good book is a good book, no matter what the age range. I love jousting so having it in your story immediately gave you high marks in my book. You made it seem so real and I love the way Finn has a mental connection with his horse.”

“While this reader typically consumes books slowly and methodically, I was taken in by the story and could not put it down, resulting in finishing the book at one sitting. I would recommend this book to any reader who enjoys a well spun tale, with no grammatical issues. I would also recommend this book to any young adult seeking an adventure like none other, or at least like none other that I have read.”

“Archer, the title character, is an orphan with a lot on his mind. This character and many of the others around him are nicely drawn with more detail than I think is typical of books aimed at middle school and high school students. This is all the more reason they should read it. As a parent of two who are now grown and gone, I strongly recommend that parents and teens read the same books and talk about them. This is an ideal book for sharing in this fashion.”

Comments from Adults
“I've read quite a few fantasy books in my life. I've read quite a few Young Adult books as well. Sometimes, straight fantasy books are too involved and long winded. Archer by Jacky Gray, was not one of those books!!! I must have said, 'one more chapter' about 20 times!! I couldn't put it down. Archer was such a well developed character and Ms. Gray's writing style was nothing short of amazing!”

“Archer is a great read, that once I started I just had to keep going. As a medieval re-enactor myself I found Archer very close to heart with what I do as a hobby. Jacky has achieved a great sense of being in the setting of a Medieval village and the events leading up to Archer's graduation.”

“Anyone who promotes Archery in any of its forms is to be congratulated in my book and I think somewhere along the way Jacky must have got caught up in the sport judging by the passion of her writing. I thought the sword and buckler bout between Finn and Archer was incredibly well done, a very engaging piece of writing.”

“Archer is fascinating and captivating! I love the way the characters, scenes and general description of Archer's world is portrayed so eloquently. Jacky Gray not only tells a wonderful tale; she manages to capture the sounds, smells and emotional energies of his world.”

“Archer is a tale spun in the days of the knights, but takes a different twist than traditional knight’s tales. Ms. Gray brings to the reader a new world filled with authentic traditional language, giving a sense of travelling back in time. This is not a book filled with fluff and half masked characters.”

“This read perfectly, as an action adventure story should. The plot pacing moved quickly, and the excitement of tournament was written so realistically that I could hear the hush and roar of the crowds as if I was there too. I also enjoyed the main character, Archer, he was likable and very much the classic story hero.”

“I know the exact feeling Archer and Finn feel after the impact, I've done competitive contact martial arts for almost twenty years and I can tell you, I really love the detail you put here. It connected me to the characters in a visceral way.”

“Jacky has nailed the character of a medieval archer; the books are a thrilling blend of action and rich historical detail.” “I enjoyed 'Archer', an engaging story whose Pagan spirituality is gently and attractively presented. Jacky has produced a credible parallel universe, a combination of the English middle ages blended with modern-day England in realistic and well realised settings.”

Comments from Not-so-grown ups
“Archer was amazing! I couldn't put it down. It only took me two days to read it when it normally takes me a week. Archer is a unique book there is none other like it. If I met Archer I would have a lot of questions to ask him about what it is like to live in his world. I love the way the girls get to do archery and the rings and I would love to do all the drama bits. I like the way that everyone's talents are recognised, nobody tries to take the mick.” 

“My mum was planning to read the book before I did but I insisted on reading it first so she has to wait. So far your book has been one of the best I've read in years. I'm looking forward to your next book.”

“Archer takes you into his world and you can feel the atmosphere of his surroundings.”

“An exhilarating story that sucks you in so it feels like you’re actually there. Pure genius.”

“The action scenes are so exciting it’s like watching a film.”

Mmmm - now if only I can think of some way of getting this kind of feedback out to a wider audience. Any ideas, dear readers?