Monday, January 28, 2013

The Next Big Thing

The last time I played Tag I was about 12 years old that was when I discovered another game called ' Postman's Knock'.  For those of you too young to know it goes something like this, ' Postman Postman don't be slow be like Elvis, go man go. For more information ask the older generation.
Imagine my surprise recently when I found myself being tagged by none other than Frank Murphy of the Meath Writers' Circle. He tagged me in an online blogging chain called ' The Next Big Thing'  At first I was a wee bit suspicious but then my military training kicked in. I covered crawled and observed. Let me explain you're walking across hostile territory a shot rings out what do you do?. You immediately take cover, fall to the ground, crawl away from where you fell and observe, try to see where the shot came from, that is, if you're not already dead. After susting it out I thought! what the heck might as well be got for a sheep as a lamb. So here goes.

My Next Big Thing

Is a collection of short stories and poems.


What is the working title of your book?

' Sheriff Writes Again '

What genre does your book fall under?

Short Stories and Poems

Which actors would you choose to play your charactors in a movie rendition?

Mrs Brownes Boys and girls!!

What is the one sentence synopsis of your book?

Simple straight forward down to earth.

How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?

About a year.

What other book would you compare this book to within your genre?

Hidden Depths

A collection of poetry and prose from members of  ' The Small Impact Writers' Group ' who are based in Navan.

Who or what inspired you to write this book?

 People, place, events. For example here's one of my poems.


TRY TALKING

Second of February 2002 I saw you.
A young girl no more than twelve I'd say
Happily dancing in snow.
The first snow of winter they said.
I wanted to reach out and join in your happiness
But couldn't.
You were after all thousands of miles away
In the land of Mohammed.
Afghanistan
Graveyard of empires.
And yet there you were in my sitting room
Via the television.
For weeks I had been watching the news.
The unrelenting bombing of Tora Bora.
Operation Enduring Freedom
They called it.
I watched in awe at this beautiful scene
Of a young girl dancing in snow.
A brilliant white the sign of peace
Falling from high Heaven.
What a contrast from B52s belching out
Their cargo of death.
In the sure knowledge that their enemies
Have nothing to reach them.
They say love can move mountains.
I say bombs will only distort them
And strengthen the peoples resolve.
History can and does repeat itself.
Might is not always right.
Try talking.

By Michael ' The Sheriff ' Sheils

What else about your book might pique the readers interest?

That's a tricky one- the title perhaps?.

When and how will it be published?

Hopefully this year. Not sure whether to self publish. Looking at other options.


Tagging, James Linnane

James Linnane was born in Galway, Ireland, in 1962.  He has lived in various parts of Ireland, he has had many jobs with a career spanning barwork, security, construction and engineering work. James spent some time in New York in the 1980's where he published his first book a collection of poetry and prose, titled ' Never take an Irishman seriously unless he's armed ' in 1988.
When James returned home from New York he worked for a number of years as a security guard on building sites throughout Dublin. In 2011 he published his first novel ' The Life And Times Of A ' GOTCHA '. The book is based on actual events and is now available on e-book. The word Gotcha is a slang word for security guard. He is a member of both the Meath Writers'Circle and the Boyne Writers. He has had poems published in Boyne Berries and Revolve ( A local magazine in Meath ) and two poems on the recent CD published by the Scurloughstown Olympiad in Trim as well as two on the previous years CD. James was on the winning team in the Battle of the Books in 2011 and again in 2012 when they lost to the Meath Writers' Circle. James is also a commedian and Karaoke star in his spare time he has also adjudicated at many a pub row in Trim where he takes no nonsence. He now lives in Ballivor, County Meath, with his wife and two daughters.

Here's looking at you baby.