Hi
Welcome to Morcan Books & Films, the blog devoted to providing a unique perspective and intelligent commentary on books and films. It includes commentary on our own books and films – i.e. novels and screenplays co-written by the Morcans, and feature films produced by, or in development with, Morcan Motion Pictures.
Lance & James
It’s with pleasure we, my co-writer James Morcan and I, can announce that our books – fiction and nonfiction – are available now at Massachusetts’ Harvard Book Store (pictured) in Cambridge, MA. They can be viewed at https://www.harvard.com/search/site/Lance%20Morcan
Harvard Book Store is a unique and special place to shop—a locally owned, independently run Cambridge landmark since 1932. As this iconic store’s own website states: “Our bookstore is known for an extraordinary selection and thoughtful curation of new, used, and remaindered books; an award-winning author event series; wildly popular warehouse sales; and a history of innovation.”
Among our bestselling nonfiction books available at Harvard Book Store are: Debunking Holocaust Denial Theories, Vaccine Science Revisited, The Catcher in the Rye Enigma and Genius Intelligence.
Among our novels available at the store are the critically acclaimed Into the Americas, White Spirit, Silent Fear and The Ninth Orphan. My solo-authored new release historical adventure New Zealand: A Novel is also available.
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Morcan books (co-authored and solo-authored) are also available via Waterstones UK & Europe bookstores, Barnes & Noble, Amazon and via public libraries.
So, you want to write a book but don’t have the time? Here’s a tip from my book GENIUS INTELLIGENCE: Secret Techniques and Technologies to Increase IQ – one of about 35 books (fiction and nonfiction) James and I have co-authored to date. In it, speed writing is one of numerous techniques we include because we believe it may hold brain boosting potential for aspiring geniuses.
Disclaimer: to our knowledge no studies, other than our own, have been done on speed writing from the perspective of boosting the brain’s potential. This despite the fact that there are numerous books and websites devoted to writing manuscripts quickly.
Ours is simply an unusual little technique we discovered by accident and noticed it worked wonderfully on many occasions and always when we were severely time pressured. We consider this fortuitous discovery an important ingredient in our progress as published authors and feature film screenwriters.
Speed writing, like many other techniques listed in this book, relates to outrunning the conscious mind and going so fast that the superior subconscious is forced to completely take over. So, as the name suggests, you write so quickly that you don’t even know what you’re writing anymore. The goal is not to get instantly well-written text, but rather stream-of-consciousness stuff that you can revise and give clearer meaning to later.
According to our individual experiences, the resulting stream will usually have pearls within it, but a lot will need to be edited out as well.
Some of our best plot ideas or character decisions in our novels and film scripts have come using this technique. We just write super-fast and almost without thinking – maybe for five minutes or so – and more often than not what we wrote solved a major storyline issue or character problem.
It seems that certain insights can only come in this manner – or at least come more easily – as opposed to writing at regular speed. Sometimes you hit a brick wall when writing novels or screenplays. Something is missing and that something cannot be rectified with the conscious mind no matter how hard you try.
Speed writing is one way to solve the dreaded writer’s block.
Whether you use this method to add to an existing draft of a document, or whether you’re still attempting to complete a first draft, it works. We’ve proven it to our own satisfaction on numerous occasions.
Speed writing is not just for authors of course. It can be used to good effect by others – students who may be writing essays, for example, or business executives drafting reports or preparing finance proposals. It can even be used in your personal life when you’re facing a dilemma and cannot think of any solutions with your conscious mind – in this case you can speed write a list of possible options and see what your subconscious mind delivers to you.
If you want to test the method we use, try the following: put yourself under a time constraint by setting an alarm clock for 5 to 10 minutes then tell yourself you must write as much as you’d normally write in 45-60 minutes. Go! Until the alarm clock rings, don’t judge yourself or censor yourself or analyze anything – simply write as much as you can, as quickly as you can.
During the process it may feel like you’re writing utter garbage, but if our experiences are anything to go by, there will at least be some gems you can retain or use to vastly improve whatever it is you’re writing.
Our theory on why speed writing works is that you are not only forcing yourself to operate at speeds that only the subconscious mind can keep up with, but you are also not analysing, censoring or critiquing what you write as you go. (Over-analysing is another trait of the conscious mind).
The best ideas often seem ridiculous at first and this technique allows you to just get all ideas out of your head and onto paper so you can consider them later.
Exactly how does speed writing relate to genius intelligence? Well, the connection is totally unproven, but instinct and personal experience tells us that, if done correctly (trance-like and without hesitation), you’ll tap into that great reservoir of the subconscious mind where all genius abilities come from.
A final point: when speed writing, it’s immaterial whether you write with pen in hand or use a computer keyboard. That said, we find speed writing seems to flow better when handwriting text – almost as if the pen’s a natural extension of the hand, allowing thoughts and words to flow directly from the brain onto the writing pad.
Fans of historical romance novels – Georgian romance in particular – are in for a treat following the announcement that accomplished American author Kathleen Buckley’s latest Georgian romance novel will be released in March.
Titled A Murder of Convenience, it will be published on March 24, but the Kindle version can be pre-ordered via Amazon now for delivery on that date.
The story:
Ellen Cuthbert’s husband, Randolph, is now the Earl of Keswick’s heir. Their marriage is a sham, and Randolph’s mistress, Lydia, is present at the house party. When she is found murdered in a locked room, all the evidence seems to point to Ellen. And how could the murderer have escaped the locked room except by witchcraft?
Sir Hugh accompanies his cousin, a magistrate, to the scene of the murder. They investigate, appalled to find their childhood friend Ellen appears to be the chief suspect. Hugh’s lack of prospects years ago prevented their marriage. Now if he cannot find the real murderer, there may be only one final service he can perform for Ellen to spare her a slow death at the end of the hangman’s rope.
She has loved writing ever since she learned to read. After a career which included light bookkeeping, working as a paralegal, and a stint as a security officer, she began to write as a second career, rather than as a hobby. Her first historical romance was penned (well, word processed) after re-reading Georgette Heyer’s Georgian/Regency romances and realizing that Ms. Heyer would never be able to write another, having died some forty years earlier.
Buckley’s earlier Georgian romance novels include: An Unsuitable Duchess, Most Secret, Captain Easterday’s Bargain, A Masked Earl, A Duke’s Daughter, Portia and the Merchant of London, A Westminster Wedding, and A Peculiar Enchantment.
Kathleen Buckley…ever the romantic.
Buckley’s bio includes the following warning: “No bodices are ripped in her romances, which might be described as “powder & patch & peril” rather than Jane Austen drawing room. They contain no explicit sex but do contain the occasional den of vice and mild bad language, as the situations in which her characters find themselves sometimes call for an oath a little stronger than “Zounds!”
“Her novel Captain Easterday’s Bargain was an Oklahoma Romance Writers of America IDA 2019 finalist, Historical Fiction category; and Most Secret was an Oklahoma Romance Writers of America IDA 2018 finalist, Historical Fiction category, and a 2019 Next Generation Indie Book Awards finalist, Romance category.”
For our review of A Murder of Convenience…watch this space!
Silver Dagger Book Tours was founded in September 2016 from the creative mind of Maia, a book blogger extraordinaire who wanted to share her passion for books with new readers. Eight years later and Maia has done over 4,000 tours and worked with hundreds of amazing authors – many who come back for repeat tours!In the interests of full disclosure, I’m one of those authors.
Tours kick off almost every weekday with occasional tours on the weekends and EVERY tour is required to have a giveaway so readers can gain a little something and have fun while they enjoy learning about new books.
Silver Dagger Book Tours accepts all fictional genres and the occasional non-fiction book if it is interesting enough. She works with publishers big and small, indie authors, hybrids, personal assistants and of course authors directly that just want to get a promo boost for their books.
Image courtesy of book blogger extraordinaire Mary Ann Bernal@BritonandDane
Readers and bookworms, for all your historical, science fiction, adventure, short story and novella reading needs, do yourself a favor and visit Mary Ann Bernal’s fabulous online bookstore at: https://maryannbernal.blogspot.com/
“A former Bankruptcy paralegal enduring Stargardt Disease, I am now a proud Wal-Mart Associate with a passion for cheering on my Cleveland Browns (hey, there’s always next year), binge-watching Star Trek: The Next Generation and, of course, reading!
“Launched in August of 2013, Romance Novel Giveaways has been providing quality promotional blog posts for authors in the adult-romance novel genre ever since.
“Each and every blog post contains either a free eBook or a giveaway aimed at the adult-romance novel audience.”
English writer John (Jonno) Morris, best known for his Star Gazer Series of sci-fi novels, discovered publishing printed books so complicated he decided to create his own imprint and offer advice to other first-time indie publishers. Hence the welcome arrival of the imprint Charlotte Greene on the crowded book publishing landscape.
Charlotte Greene, in association with trusted freelance agents, offers authors resources and access to those same freelancers to help get their masterpiece into print and eBook formats ready for sales and marketing. The freelancers provide paid services such as creating book covers, content and copy editing.
Specifically, the services offered to authors include content editing, proof reading, advice on book formatting and layout, cover for EPUB and print, compatibility with printed books (size, bleed, definition), illustrations including maps and other internal graphics, conversion to generic EPUB format.
The imprint even supplies ISBN’s to those authors who formally publish through Charlotte Greene.
Charlotte Greene’s services don’t end there. They also include marketing and promotion. These cover inclusion in its biennial trade catalogue targeting both the UK and USA, advice, or presentation to retail and distribution channels in UK, USA, Europe and the English-speaking world as well as opening the route to self-publishing authors listing their books with Waterstones UK and Ingram USA.
Jonno operates his business from his base in China. The 70-year-old has lived in Foshan, Canton, which is near Hong Kong, since what was meant to be “a visit” some 22 years ago. His modus operandi, while successful, could be described as different, even unconventional.
Jonno Morris…founder of Charlotte Greene.
“In essence, Charlotte Greene is a small version of Elance, dedicated solely to helping self-publishing authors bring their work to the marketplace,” he says. “We differ from conventional publishers who offer a small royalty in return for publishing a manuscript.”
Jonno stresses that contracted authors remain in control of their books.
“Essentially, the imprint helps authors achieve their goals independently and on their own. If publication of a book results in, or leads to, a book deal with a major publisher, clients are welcome to take it up.”
The benefits of dealing with Charlotte Greene don’t end there. The imprint opens doors closed to most self-publishing authors, offering listings with Waterstones, Blackwells, and Apple iBookstore to name but three major retail outlets. Clients’ books are also listed in its Trade Catalogue, which is published biennially, and is aimed at trade distributors and wholesalers on both sides of the Atlantic.
Charlotte Green is heavily into fiction and is especially interested in the following: science fiction, science fantasy, urban fiction / YA, action & Adventure, mystery thrillers, who-done-it and historical fiction.
“We have no hard and fast rule on what we will and will not look at,” says Jonno. “An original and interesting plot goes a long way with us. Electronic submissions of complete manuscripts are accepted, if requested by us, after initial review.”
Imagine our modern contemporary world. A world where giants, elves, dwarfs, ogres and trolls share an Earth we think only we inhabit. That’s the premise behind prolific English author John Morris’s intriguing STAR GAZER series of sci-fi novels.
The series includes two trilogies. The first one, titled Star Gazer First Trilogy, is mainly science fantasy and comprises The Gatekeeper and The Guardian, The Twelve Tribes and The Wrath of Gaia.
The first trilogy will especially appeal to those who share a desire for underground knowledge as it contains references to ancient technologies far more advanced than any currently in existence – technologies which may or may not have existed. That’s for the reader to decide.
The work is deeply researched and offers plausible answers based upon both known fact and folklore.
About the author
John Morris (68) is a self-published author whose life, he reveals, “crashed” about 20 years ago.
“I lost everything,” he says. “It took me a few months to come around, signing up for a BSc in computers to keep my mind active and find a new direction in life.”
Morris says he was fortunate to secure a position in Foshan, Canton, an hour or so from Hong Kong. He liked the place and the Cantonese people so much he decided to stay a while.
“Twenty years later and I’m still here! What a roller coaster. I became an entrepreneur involved with exporting containers of furniture to England and Australia. That ended with the crash of 2008 when everything imploded. Just my luck!
“I began writing a very badly-punctuated blog about my experiences, and got a lot better at writing with interest and humour. Fortunately, I secured the services of a very good content editor who taught me a great deal. So now I have seven books self-published, with five more in various stages of completion.”
Those five books include novels in the Star Gazer Second Trilogy.
Morris now manages his fiction book Imprint: Charlotte Greene, and although officially retired says he is now busier than ever.
In his Star Gazer series, he questions the origin of humankind, advising readers we have no direct palaeontological link with the great apes, and asking where we came from.
“Were we created by an alien race way back in prehistory? And what of myth and legend, of elves and dwarfs? Are they imaginary creatures, or vague remembrances of other lines of homo sapiens?”
For more about John Morris and his STAR GAZER novels go to the following links:
Critically-acclaimed American author Kathleen Buckley’s fans will be delighted to know her eighth historical romance novel, A Peculiar Enchantment, has been released this week – in time for Christmas book sales.
Published by The Wild Rose Press, Inc., the novel is available now via Amazon as a paperback and Kindle ebook and is sure to appeal to lovers of Georgian romances.
Ms. Buckley’s eighth Georgian romance out now!
Blurb for A Peculiar Enchantment:
What can you look forward to when your only relatives call you ugly, unbalanced, and a scandal? What would you do if your only friend was threatened? Dependent on her half-brother, the Earl of Lamburne, Adelaide knows. She wants to escape.
Gervase Ducane, invited to Lamburne’s home to court his daughter, is torn. He needs to marry well and soon but not this spiteful chit. Should he buy a commission instead? Seek a wealthy merchant’s daughter? As a marquess’s brother, he has at least a noble connection to offer an heiress apart from his good manners. And why is he only now meeting the earl’s delightful half-sister?
Ordered to stay away from the house party, Adelaide rebels. She will make her unwelcome, embarrassing presence known to avenge herself and her pet.
Sometimes when you least expect it, magic happens.
Readers resonate withA Peculiar Enchantment
The first reviews are in for Ms. Buckley’s latest novel – and, no surprises, they’re excellent!
Here’s a sample of Amazon reviewers’ comments:
★★★★★ “I really enjoyed reading this book since Kathleen Buckley put many of my favorite elements in it!… It is a story that I recommend happily and will probably read again.” –Karen M Hernandez
★★★★★ “I enjoyed this novel set in 1741 London…I thought the characters were outstanding (and) found the book to be a wonderful romance.” –Kindle Customer DVH
★★★★★ “This is an engaging, clean, historical romance occurring during an unexpected situation. After learning about the primary characters, their families, and supporting cast, the skillfful plot takes off with fervor.” -JustJeri
About the author:
Kathleen Buckley has loved writing ever since she learned to read. After a career which included light bookkeeping, working as a paralegal, and a fascinating stint as a security officer, she began to write as a second career rather than as a hobby. Her first historical romance was penned – “Or word processed at least!” – after re-reading Georgette Heyer’s Georgian/Regency romances and realizing Ms. Heyer would never be able to write another, having died some forty years earlier.
Ms. Buckley is now the author of eight Georgian romances: An Unsuitable Duchess, Most Secret, Captain Easterday’s Bargain, A Masked Earl, A Duke’s Daughter, Portia and the Merchant of London, A Westminster Wedding and A Peculiar Enchantment.
Captain Easterday’s Bargain was an Oklahoma Romance Writers of America IDA 2019 finalist, Historical Fiction category, and Most Secret was an Oklahoma Romance Writers of America IDA 2018 finalist, Historical Fiction category, and a 2019 Next Generation Indie Book Awards finalist, Romance category.
While her ninth novel, entitled By Sword and Fan, is in production, this prolific author is already writing her tenth!
Ms. Buckley warns readers that no bodices are ripped in her romance novels.
“They might be described as “powder & patch & peril” rather than Jane Austen drawing room as they contain no explicit sex. However, they do contain the occasional den of vice and mild bad language, as the situations in which my characters find themselves sometimes call for an oath a little stronger than ‘Zounds!’”
When she began writing A Peculiar Enchantment, she says she knew it was going to be different from her first seven novels.
“The usual ingredients were there, but so was a little more humor, the magic of first love, the mystery of things that are not what they seem, and a cat. And love is the most peculiar enchantment. I think it’s on track to be my most popular book yet.”
As for her future plans, Kathleen Buckley says, “I’ll continue to turn tropes on their heads whenever possible, avoid ballrooms and include characters who are not aristocratic, rich, handsome or beautiful.”
Hi all, I have been working on this book-film creative project ever since lockdowns began in early 2020…This has been my attempt to make sense of, or mentally process, our strangely altered reality…
And I’m feelin’ blessed to be working with New York actor/rapper Andre Doc Williams who starred in and wrote the music for this promo of our film Anno 2020…
La Rivers, Shaun Huff, Dilia Corujo, Adryanna Elmendorf and Sharod Giles also star in the Rochester, NY plot.
This Rochester section is one of half a dozen plots set all over the world in this beast of a production I’m directing – and which is based on my recently published novel. As the title suggests, Anno 2020 is set during last year’s global meltdown and explores intense relationships in this chaotic and uncertain period of time.
I’m also very grateful to have other award-winning actors including Australian cast members Erin Connor (Occupation, Dino King 3D), Greg Poppleton (Narnia, Moulin Rouge), Brett Partridge (Water Rats) and Audrey Nitschke (who I highly recommend if anyone needs a child actor). Plus Americans Kevin Scott Allen, Sheila Ball and Jessica Castello, Israeli Lital Luzon and Italian Adriana Moccia.
The entire cast has been pushed to their absolute limit as the rare performance style we are employing is emotionally raw, semi-improvisational and mostly shot via close-ups…And each actor is also bravely infusing their own real-life experiences that evolve their characters into something very genuine, almost like a docu-drama.
Simon Carter is our director of photography – and inspires me every day with his ideas and enthusiasm for the story.
And my long-time Sydney-based collaborator Gil Ben-Moshe, of MoneyShot Productions, is lead producer and is also one of our main actors. And I must say it’s wonderful to work with an actor/producer who is very respectful of all involved and trusts a director’s storytelling process – so thanks for your faith in me, Gil!
We are 80% thru shooting Anno 2020 and will soon be in post. Our whole team appreciates your support!
Morcan Books & Films 