Welcome...
Letter from Four Lanes Community Primary School
This note was handed to me by the pupils of Four Lanes, after I did the Able Writers workshop on Friday November 22nd 2013.
Dear Colin Parsons
Thank you so very much for doing this Able Writers Workshop, and replacing a regular school day, with a fun, entertaining and all round enjoyable one. It was well worth coming and we feel that you inspired us to write amazing stories. You are hilarious and we just love that you gave us this opportunity.
Best wishes
The Four Lanes Able Writers
Thank you kids. I really enjoyed the day too.
Contact from readers
I received this email from a young reader I met some time back. This is what an author lives for. So, feel free to cantact me in the same way as Rhys Bradbury if you want to keep in touch with my work.
'Hello my name is Rhys and we met a couple of years back at a book signing and you really inspired me. I am only 12.Last year I moved from Wales to Canada.You inspired me to be a writer.So I was wondering if you could make my dream come true. I recently found your two books that you wrote, The Curious world of Shelley Vendor/Katie Hinge. So please get back to me as soon as you can!'
Thank you Rhys and I look forward to hearing from other children too.
I've joined the ranks of Authors Abroad.
Being a children's author doesn't only involve writing novels, short stories and doing signings in bookshops. Writing for children, also involves doing school visits. So, I've been lucky enough to join an organisation called Authors Abroad. www.authorsabroad.com This company deals with schools on a regular basis and, I'm doing a lot of workshops with them. I also take schools on directly through my 'Schools Page,' on this website. So teachers; if you want to deal directly with me for a presentation and workshop, go to my 'Schools Page.' This is where all the information is, and on my 'Contact Page.' If you want me to do an Able Writers day at your school, pop over to Authors Abroad and they'll take your booking.
US review of Crank Tech One: DESTRUCTION
'I really enjoyed the romp thru this book...you start out in a classroom with an up-tight teacher telling the author in the book how to make his presentation better and how to write. The next thing you know you have a robot running rapid that thinks it is the robot from the author book and the author is trying to stop it before it kills too many people.
I think this is a great young adult book to even an adult book. It has a strong, fresh storyline. The only thing I didn't like was it ended rather abruptly. I would have liked a little more at the end.
I rate this book high, it has everything you want in a Sci-Fi adventure...robot gone crazy, bad guys, family, romance and a great car chase. What else do you need? A must read from a great writer.'
Melissa Bryan, Springfield, Missouri USA
4 out of 5 Stars on Amazon.com kindle
First reviews of Crank Tech One...DESTRUCTION
Here are a couple of reviews for my novel: Crank Tech One - DESTRUCTION. There are more on Amazon.co.uk.
'I really enjoyed this new book from Colin Parsons. I don't usually read science fiction, but was gripped with this story from the start. The characters are realistic and descriptions put you right at the centre of an action packed story. There are a few scarry moments, some violent and some sad, but the plot kept on moving at such a fast pace right to the final page. Great book for all from 8 to 80! I hope there is going to be another high octane adventure with Crank Tech One.'
Sarah Rees owner of 'Cover to Cover' bookshop in Mumbles Swansea UK.
'What a fab read this book is; really enjoyed from start to finish. And what is even better it caters for all ages. So, once I finished reading it I started reading it with my seven year old son, and he loves it just as much. Colin Parsons has a way of keeping the story going well and I hated putting the book down, just as he has done with all his other books; (The Wizards' Kingdom trilogy) and (The Curious World of Shelley Vendor and Katie Hinge) books. Another credit to yourself Colin 5 stars off me.'
Taz
These are what make it worth being a writer. Honest and frank reviews.
The Repository of Imagination
Crank Tech One - DESTRUCTION is now available in ebook format under the publisher 'The Repository of Imagination.' Check out my blog and link to see who this mysterious new publisher is.
Readers Comments:
Wizards' Kingdom... 'My dad is a writer, but I don't read his books. I read Wizards' Kingdom and couldn't stop reading it and I thought it was great. It has loads of adventure and loads of fighting and I thought it was brilliant!' Ryan Ellory, son of R J. Ellory (Author of 'A Quiet Belief in Angel's' and 'A Simple Act of Violence.' Published by Orion.)
I really had to think about this review before writing it. There is so much right with Crank Tech One but there is also a lot that is wrong. But overall my experience reading the book was positive. The best thing to say about Crank Tech Run is that it was a fun read. The book is quirky, the story a bit different, it had some fun twists to the story and overall I read it with a smile on my face. I’ve read a lot of “robot” stories and seen a number of “robot” movies and this story was fairly original and not a rehash of plots I had seen before.
However, the writing is very uneven. There are points where I was impressed with a well written section, and then cringing at the writing in another section. Many times the story progressed forward brilliantly – but at other points it relied on hokey contrivances. If the entire book were written up to the standards of its best segments, it would be a five star sci-fi classic. The poor parts had the effect of pulling me out of the story, which is never good.
I am going with four stars because the plot was original, and there were several shining moments in the book.L Sweet 4 stars October 12 2015