Novel – Page 76

Europe - featuring Sweden (green section at top centre) — Europe – featuring Sweden (green section at top centre)

I feel that this is an area that might be interesting to readers and writers.

Prior to the April A to Z Challenge 2014, I set up a menu to build a list of resource materials.

In my menu I listed several books that I use myself as handy resource tools. Online resources are a separate idea in my opinion, so I’ll leave them until after I’ve written a few posts on that wonderful idea; the book.

What do I use?

I use the Philips Navigator Britain, which is excellent whether being used for journeys or as a writing resource. I have a good map of Northern Ireland and a separate map of Eire aka; the Irish Republic, or Southern Ireland. To handle international issues, I also have the AA Road Atlas Europe and The Times World Atlas, which is much more than a book full of maps.

What do I get from my ‘Navigator Britain’ atlas?

1. Route planners, which enable me to decide which way characters might choose to get from A to B.

2. Town and city names which apart from anything else sometimes provide ideas for character names.

3. Motorways, major roads, minor roads, bridle paths, rivers, lakes and railways are clear.

4. Densely populated areas and remote areas which can help with a plot.

5. Places of interest like: castles, golf courses, museums, historical sites and much more.

Why not use Google or another search engine?

My atlas is physically there with no searching, opening various windows, setting parameters.

If I find something that has an appeal, I then follow up with a search engine for up to date details.

What do I get from the World Atlas?

1. My geographical knowledge is reasonable, but it provides so much confidence to double-check things like borders, flags, populations, average temperature, the currency, languages spoken and more.

2. I’ve been to many cities in Europe but it’s nice to relate to a route by road number and see how a city can be approached from a variety of directions, including from other cities.

3. Distances between places and the terrain are all there by taking a closer look, not be going screen to screen, zooming in and out and so on.

4. If I find something that appeals, I can as said before, use a search engine for up to date information.

5. Time zones, latitude and longitude are all inter-related and help when characters are travelling or communicating with somebody across the world.

I have a good selection of city maps and individual country maps to supplement these two main books, so for me, these things are so much more than mere books full of maps.

Are you a map person, or a search engine person, whether a reader or a writer?

My next blog patrol starts today so if you’re on my list – see you soon.

In my next post I’ll look at the Zodiac Signs book, but for now, thank you for stopping by.

What is the Liebster award?

At first glance, it reminded me of an electronic chain letter, but without the associated pressures – it’s an e-social idea, it’s fun and does a marketing job for all who participate.

It’s an award given in the blogging community, to celebrate new blogs, or blogs with a follower count of less than 200. I found out today that the ‘follower’ figure is meant to be 1,000 – but that includes Twitter.

It’s also to encourage new people to blog and join in the blogging community as a whole. Our social blogging world, which is colloquially known as the ‘blogosphere’.

The word Liebster is a German word that doesn’t translate literally, but more or less means: kindest, nicest, lovely, dearest, sweetest, pleasant, valued, cute, endearing and welcome. I’ve listed the connotations that were passed on to me, and I’m delighted to have been nominated.

The rules, should you choose to accept the award from the person that nominated you:

1. Link back to the blog that nominated you. In my case Princess of Dragons, and with that link go my thanks.

2. Answer questions that your nominator has set their nominees.

3. Share 11 random facts about yourself.

4. Nominate 5-11 blogs that have less than 200 followers to receive this award.

5. Create 11 questions for your nominees to answer.

6. Contact your nominees and let them know you have nominated them!

My questions from Princess of Dragons, with my answers of course.

1. What is your preferred cheese?

Cheddar.

2. If you could own an animal, what would it be?

An eagle, because I could set it free without worrying about it’s survival.

3. Mention one thing that’s on your bucket list?

I’d like to see a cure for cancer.

4. What colour do you think your soul is?

Transparent, so I can disguise my innermost feelings from the devils of the world.

5. If you could do any job for a day, what would it be, and why?

A farmer, so that I could enjoy a really long, tiring day and feel that I’d given something back.

6. Name one good thing that has happened to you lately?

I woke up – again.

7. What’s your Myer’s Briggs profile?

Dominant, Introvert, Sensing.

8. Quick, pick your weapon of choice?

Browning 9mm pistol.

9. When was the last time you cried?

The day after burying my dad.

10. What would you call the novel about your life?

A Life of Choice

Okay guys, if you’re still with the programme, here are 11 random facts about me:

1. I took up smoking in 1971 at the age of 19 – and stopped in 1977 at age 25.

2. When I was 17, it took me 6 mins 15 secs to run a mile. When I was 40, it took me 5 mins 15 secs to run a mile.

3. I taught my son to drive when he was 17.

4. Between the ages of 20 – 60, I had owned 20 cars.

5. I’ve driven (fast) around the old (long circuit) of the Nurburgring in three different cars … at different times.

6. I’ve had lunch with HRH Princess Anne, The Princess Royal.

7. I took up writing poetry in December 2007, and between then and 2010 I wrote 730 poems.

8. I type at an average 40 wpm.

9. I appeared in a national newspaper as a teenager, interviewed on radio in my mid-20’s, and interviewed on TV when 40.

10. I’ve had the same email address since 1994.

11. I produce my own A4 year planner every year.

My nominations (in alphabetical order) are:

Lynne: http://lynnelives.wordpress.com/

Phil: http://seventhself.wordpress.com/

Stephen: http://stephenthom.wordpress.com/

Veronica: http://veronicahaidar.wordpress.com/

Kathy: http://wktucker.com/

I’ll apologise here just in case any of them have more than the required followers.

Are you still awake? Here’s your questions guys:

1. If you could change your first name, what would you have instead?

2. If you could speak a second language fluently, which one would you choose?

3. If you could live in another country, where would you live?

4. If you could reincarnate as an animal, which would you return as?

5. If you had to lose one of your senses, which one would you lose?

6. Do you say, ‘the glass is half-full’, or ‘the glass is half-empty’?

7. If given the choice to turn back time, which year would you choose to be born?

8. Would you publish a 100% truthful autobiography?

9. Who is your hero or heroine, and why?

10. Stranded alone on a tropical island, which object from the modern world would you choose to have with you?

11. Give three words that best describe how you’d like to be remembered?

Well, now I’ve got that out of my system, I hope you all enjoyed it. Take it forward with the blessings of all who have gone before.

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Category: Novel