Here, you'll find updated details and links for my books to take you direct to where you can buy them. Read, enjoy, share.
At the foot is a table of all my work that's been published or found some degree of success in writing competitions; in some cases, both.
Authors depend on reviews to encourage new readers to their work, and I'd love more readers to enjoy my writing, so tell your friends of your experience, or warn them against it, if you feel that's the wisest choice. Please share your thoughts on Amazon, Goodreads, Smashwords and any other site where book reviews are welcomed.
With the exception of Breaking Faith and Joinings, which are available as paperbacks and ebooks, all my books are ebooks.
An anthology of erotic tales. Some are lustful love stories, some are purely erotic. There's an adult fairy story and another that straps you into the world of submission and punishment. These are tales to enjoy and experience as the hedonist you wish to be. Whether you want to be aroused, entertained, shocked a little, amused, stimulated or stirred, you'll find what you desire here.
Enjoy on your own or with that significant other you like to share your most intimate moments with.
This book is available via Smashwords.
From Amazon:
When innocent Faith places herself in the hands of local glamour photographer, Leigh, she has no idea how dangerous life is about to become for her.
wistfulskimmie - Wistfulskimmies Book Reviews Blog reviewed Breaking Faith
A book that will stay with you.........
An absorbing fable
Compelling reading
A fresh look at sexual mores with a stormy ending
Multi Level Read This is an ambiguous
exploration of actions and consequences through characters who profess truth to
each other while lying to themselves. Lost in the glamour of his glamour
photography and the willing women he exploits and who exploit him, Leighton
despises those who buy his product to satiate, or fuel, their lust. Faith
believes herself untouched by the sexual rapacity around her because she
interprets in an academic black and white, draping her frankness in the colours
of naïve honesty, yet willing, at the last, to control as she was controlled.
Alternating first person viewpoint is difficult to accomplish, but Leighton's tone and photographer's eye for the natural curves of his human subjects is as artistic as that for the rugged Dales landscape that presses in, claustrophobic while seeming benign, towards Longhouse and its inhabitants.
Read for its depth, it will leave the reader considering afresh blinkered human frailties.
Breaking Faith
Breaking Faith
Captivating read
An absorbing read
This is an anthology of gentle stories about love. Nothing erotic, nothing to offend, but everything to make you smile.
Available as an eBook in all formats from Smashwords
Kindle from
Amazon:
Review by: Penny Grubb on Jan. 27, 2011 :
This is vintage Aken. He is a master of the short story and can get inside the hearts of minds of an incredible array of characters - not always human. Each story draws you into its world and compels you to stay to the end, even if some of these worlds are not so nice. The writing style is both rich and lean. Not a word to spare but everything said.
This is vintage Aken. He is a master of the short story and can get inside the hearts of minds of an incredible array of characters - not always human. Each story draws you into its world and compels you to stay to the end, even if some of these worlds are not so nice. The writing style is both rich and lean. Not a word to spare but everything said.
Ronnie Dauber reviewed Ten Tales for Tomorrow
Reviews:
I loved it. I dare not give a thing away but for any lovers of science fiction, future fantasy and really well written tension, buy this now.
I can't believe I got if for less than a fiver!
Thank you Stuart, keep up the good work!
At the foot is a table of all my work that's been published or found some degree of success in writing competitions; in some cases, both.
Authors depend on reviews to encourage new readers to their work, and I'd love more readers to enjoy my writing, so tell your friends of your experience, or warn them against it, if you feel that's the wisest choice. Please share your thoughts on Amazon, Goodreads, Smashwords and any other site where book reviews are welcomed.
With the exception of Breaking Faith and Joinings, which are available as paperbacks and ebooks, all my books are ebooks.
No Kindle, but want to read ebooks? Download free software from Amazon to
read Kindle books on your PC, laptop, iPad, iPhone, Android phone, tablet or
Mac; use this link from the UK http://amzn.to/Uaqusr and,
for USA readers, this link http://amzn.to/UaqUiu ,
where you can also add it to your browser, Windows Phone 7, Blackberry, and
Windows 8 devices.
In spite of signs he may be wrong, Dagla Kaz goes ahead with the pilgrimage. Events expose the
When the Skyfire arrives early, Dagla Kaz sets out for the
ancient homeland to harvest a new Godwood and exchange Virgin Gifts. He must
lead his pilgrims hundreds of leagues over pirate-infested seas, across hostile
lands, and return triumphant before the seared sky dies back to normality.
To buy from your local Amazon Store, click here.
25 short, speculative fiction stories, winners in a contest run by Fantastic Books Publishing. My story was included by request of the publishers. I've read the whole book and I can recommend this for all lovers of science fiction and fantasy. Also, 10% of all profits go to a cancer charity.
Partings, A Seared Sky, book 2
In spite of signs he may be wrong, Dagla Kaz goes ahead with the pilgrimage. Events expose the
Convinced the time is ripe for his planned uprising on the island, Aklon-Dji acts, causing civil strife and a dangerous confrontation with an army vastly outnumbering his own forces. Will his concern for justice and his willingness to trust people result in danger to his paramour, Shoarhn, and in his capture and painful death?
Beset by assassins, Okkyntalah is forced into a foreign war. Wounded, he seeks the help of brave and talented women to counter fatal threats. Pursuing their dreams, he and Tumalind, face great danger, hardship, and enforced separation. Will her courage and resourcefulness allow her to remain loyal to Okkyntalah and will his tenacity rescue her from the dangers she faces?
I do suggest the books are read in the order they were written, as the story is a continuous tale starting in Joinings and ending in book 3 , Convergence.
Book 2 is currently available in digital form, but will be available as a print book before Xmas 2014.
Joinings, A Seared Sky, book 1
When the Skyfire arrives early, Dagla Kaz sets out for the
ancient homeland to harvest a new Godwood and exchange Virgin Gifts. He must
lead his pilgrims hundreds of leagues over pirate-infested seas, across hostile
lands, and return triumphant before the seared sky dies back to normality.
In his father’s absence, the renegade Aklon risks torture
and death to bring justice to the people. Mindtalk with a wise woman on the
distant mainland has opened his eyes to the evil underlying the society he
inhabits. And, whilst seeking truth, he finds a soulmate in the most unexpected
place.
Seeing his daughter Tumalind wrongly chosen as a
Virgin Gift, religious fanatic Aglydron follows the mission to right the wrong.
Okkyntalah, her betrothed, helps kidnap the rightful victim to take her over
unknown seas and lands, facing violent death at the end of their journey.To buy from your local Amazon Store, click here.
Some Reviews of the new book:
5.0 out of 5 stars Unputdownable!, 31 Mar 2014
5 stars
ONE OF THE BEST FANTASY NOVELS IN A LONG TIME!, April
20, 2014
By
This review is from: A Seared Sky - Joinings (Paperback)
Joinings by Stuart Aken is the opening book in the projected A
Seared Sky trilogy. This science fiction, romance, action and fantasy-adventure
novel of epic proportions spanning over 800 pages will delight lovers of the
genres as this is one in which they can afford to really bury their heads in.
It is also a testimony of the creativity of this British author who through
this book loudly proclaimed that he has much to write and share. The beautiful
prose, delectable style of writing and the sharpness of the story is enough to
keep one absorbed to the last page.
But what really is inside this tome of a novel? To put it simply, it is the story of Tumalind and her betrothed, Okkyntalah, and the precarious situation in which Tumalind lands when she is deceitfully chosen as a Virgin Gift instead of another with important connections. In a world ravaged by superstitious beliefs, fanaticism and hierarchal corruption of the highest order, nothing ever really stands the test of the ordinary, and nothing is what it seems. Dagla Kaz is no ordinary leader either. As the high priest, he is feared and adored, and he is determined to exchange the virgin gifts before the scorched skies returned to normal.
Stuart Aken crafted an extraordinary story populated by extraordinary characters. Aklon, a renegade and the son of Dagla Kaz, is one fascinating character who readers will root for as he walks the path of redemption. Aglydron, the father of Tumalind, is on the most important mission of his life. Aken beautifully spins a tale that is both complex and riveting, as stunning as the world the characters inhabited.
Will you be stiff bored by this mammoth novel? If you are seeking my advice, here’s my answer: Anyone on the lookout for a mesmerizing read will really enjoy this tome. Though set in a fantasy world, Aken created relatable characters with relatable teething troubles which most readers will be able to identify with.
It is a story driven by false prophecy, recklessness and the desire to right a wrong. Joinings: A Seared Sky by Stuart Aken is one of the most enjoyable fantasy novels that I have read in a long, long time. It is incredibly intriguing, gratifying, gripping and spellbinding.
But what really is inside this tome of a novel? To put it simply, it is the story of Tumalind and her betrothed, Okkyntalah, and the precarious situation in which Tumalind lands when she is deceitfully chosen as a Virgin Gift instead of another with important connections. In a world ravaged by superstitious beliefs, fanaticism and hierarchal corruption of the highest order, nothing ever really stands the test of the ordinary, and nothing is what it seems. Dagla Kaz is no ordinary leader either. As the high priest, he is feared and adored, and he is determined to exchange the virgin gifts before the scorched skies returned to normal.
Stuart Aken crafted an extraordinary story populated by extraordinary characters. Aklon, a renegade and the son of Dagla Kaz, is one fascinating character who readers will root for as he walks the path of redemption. Aglydron, the father of Tumalind, is on the most important mission of his life. Aken beautifully spins a tale that is both complex and riveting, as stunning as the world the characters inhabited.
Will you be stiff bored by this mammoth novel? If you are seeking my advice, here’s my answer: Anyone on the lookout for a mesmerizing read will really enjoy this tome. Though set in a fantasy world, Aken created relatable characters with relatable teething troubles which most readers will be able to identify with.
It is a story driven by false prophecy, recklessness and the desire to right a wrong. Joinings: A Seared Sky by Stuart Aken is one of the most enjoyable fantasy novels that I have read in a long, long time. It is incredibly intriguing, gratifying, gripping and spellbinding.
5.0 out of 5 stars Unputdownable!, 31 Mar 2014
By Dr. P. Grubb "Penny Grubb" (Yorkshire, England) (REAL NAME)
Joinings is the first book in Stuart Aken’s Seared Sky trilogy.
And that guarantee of more to come will be music to the ears of fantasy fans.
It is hard to imagine anyone getting to the end of this and not thirsting for
more. The opening scene is gripping. It hooked me in and then I was compelled
to read the rest. Aken weaves a complex tale through a meticulously constructed
fantasy world showing us fascinating glimpses of different ways of life,
different beliefs. The dangers of a society in thrall to superstition and
corrupt government are well drawn, as are the characters. There are no pantomime
baddies here, no clichéd heroines, but well-rounded characters whose destinies
we can’t help but follow. Tumalind and Okkyntalah; Dagla Kaz, Jodisa-Li, Aklon
and the rest of the cast create a very real world with real problems and
challenges. But it doesn’t get lost in big picture stuff. There are solid and
compelling human stories at the core of this excellent book. The only real
problem: it’s a big book and it’s hard to put down. But when it comes to books,
that’s just the sort of problem I love to be faced with. I’m watching out for
the next.
5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating Religious Dystopia, April
3, 2014
This review is from: A Seared Sky - Joinings (Paperback)
“Joinings” is a fascinating fantasy novel that functions as an
interesting critique on brutal religious ceremony. Perhaps the best way to
describe the world of “Joinings” is as a religious dystopia. Individuals are
subjected to being “unsexed” as a punishment for unlawful coupling in a form of
punishment that has ramifications for the afterlife. The fact that both men and
women are in danger of being “unsexed” only underscores how much sexuality is
used both as a tool and a punishment.
At first I was a little overwhelmed by the richly developed world and religion of “Joinings.” Stuart Aken does a tremendous job of world-building, and the beliefs and mythologies of the world are well integrated into his characters who speak and act with references to their existing mythology. I think this is a book that might be more enjoyable on a second reading after you have familiarized yourself with the world.
The book grabbed me early on with the tale of Tumalind who was fraudulently selected as a “Virgin Gift.” I say “fraudulently” because the ceremony was rigged to avoid the selection of a different girl with connections. I truly enjoyed the fun Aken had in this scene as he underscored the inherent unfairness of such a selection. Of course when the girl Tumalind went to protest, she was berated since the word of the Gods and of the High Priests is indisputable, she must be wrong.
In the case of such fanaticism, rebellion must brew, and it doesn’t take long for characters to emerge who are willing to point out the obvious contradictions they’re being forced to accept. Among these is the high priest’s son Aklon, who spends his time communicating telepathically with a mysterious figure. His rebellion has led to a sentence of “death in the most painful way possible.”
At 825 pages, this is a mammoth of a book and a tremendous value on Kindle for $4.99. I would suggest breaking it up into at least 3 volumes for the Kindle so that the writer actually has a chance of being compensated for the effort of writing it. This is also a very professional looking work with a great cover. My only minor complaint was the use of half inch indents to start paragraphs, I would have cut those down to quarter inch in order to achieve a more standard format.
Still, Stuart Aken is a talented new voice and I’m looking forward to spending more time in the Seard Sky world.
At first I was a little overwhelmed by the richly developed world and religion of “Joinings.” Stuart Aken does a tremendous job of world-building, and the beliefs and mythologies of the world are well integrated into his characters who speak and act with references to their existing mythology. I think this is a book that might be more enjoyable on a second reading after you have familiarized yourself with the world.
The book grabbed me early on with the tale of Tumalind who was fraudulently selected as a “Virgin Gift.” I say “fraudulently” because the ceremony was rigged to avoid the selection of a different girl with connections. I truly enjoyed the fun Aken had in this scene as he underscored the inherent unfairness of such a selection. Of course when the girl Tumalind went to protest, she was berated since the word of the Gods and of the High Priests is indisputable, she must be wrong.
In the case of such fanaticism, rebellion must brew, and it doesn’t take long for characters to emerge who are willing to point out the obvious contradictions they’re being forced to accept. Among these is the high priest’s son Aklon, who spends his time communicating telepathically with a mysterious figure. His rebellion has led to a sentence of “death in the most painful way possible.”
At 825 pages, this is a mammoth of a book and a tremendous value on Kindle for $4.99. I would suggest breaking it up into at least 3 volumes for the Kindle so that the writer actually has a chance of being compensated for the effort of writing it. This is also a very professional looking work with a great cover. My only minor complaint was the use of half inch indents to start paragraphs, I would have cut those down to quarter inch in order to achieve a more standard format.
Still, Stuart Aken is a talented new voice and I’m looking forward to spending more time in the Seard Sky world.
5.0 out of 5 stars An epic
novel and a classic of an epic, 13 April 2014
By Nigel J. Robinson (England)
- (REAL NAME)
This review is from: Joinings (A
Seared Sky) (Kindle Edition)
This is an epic novel and a classic
of an epic. Those who love to immerse themselves in a fictive universe - whole,
ingenious and meticulously worked out - will find plenty here to love. It
works, and it's wholly brilliant. Perhaps its only small defect is that there
are so many named characters that the reader almost needs a database to track
them all. No matter. I've rarely read an epic novel of such power and I write
as a PhD in creative writing!
5.0 out of 5 stars Religious Dystopia v Enlightenment, 7
Sep 2014
By
Verified Purchase(What is this?)
This review is from: Joinings (A Seared Sky Book 1) (Kindle
Edition)
This is an epic novel and a classic
of an epic. Those who love to immerse themselves in a fictive universe - whole,
ingenious and meticulously worked out - will find plenty here to love. It
works, and it's wholly brilliant. Perhaps its only small defect is that there
are so many named characters that the reader almost needs a database to track
them all. No matter. I've rarely read an epic novel of such power and I write
as a PhD in creative writing!
Although this novel fits firmly into the Epic Fantasy subgenre, it
would be an underestimation to view this first book as a mere quest story to
right wrongs. It is an examination of dogma and believers of a religion, the
Followers of Ytraa, physically split into three many generations before the
opening of the trilogy. In ‘Joinings’ readers experience only two – those of
the land of Muhnilahm ruled by a priesthood, and the land of Litkala ruled by a
royal house. Yet for all their extolled differences and mutual mistrust they
are reflections of the same, societies built on sex - publicly orchestrated and
privately profligate - with emotional love, devotion and self-sacrifice
funnelled only towards the fuelling of the dogma.
It is the ‘why?’ that I found fascinating. What had occurred in the far past to bring this about? Certainly the approaching Skyfire, with its lore of burning all unbelievers, is at its root. Had a group of survivors of a natural disaster instigated a method of rapid repopulation – at all costs? Certainly there are no old, or sick, or malformed, or merely ‘ugly’. Eugenics? There is mention on Muhnilahm of ‘The Point’, a desolate area where unfortunates are banished, or escape to rather than face a tortured death in the name of the religion. Yet within the society there are hardly any children to be seen or, for all the constant euphemistically-termed ‘frowking’, no pregnant women, and the Virgin Gifts, female despite the vaunted equality of the sexes, are exalted in the creed as an exchange of blood lines.
It is the quest to exchange Virgin Gifts – and to secure the release of one fraudulently chosen – that journeys the main groups of characters through lands of unbelievers and, because of these ongoing experiences, the tenets of their own religious dogma. Hypocrisy is emphasised early on as the fanatic Aglydron attempts to ‘free’ an exploited young woman by replacing her people’s indoctrination with his own without realising what he's doing.
Into this mix are dripped the personal stories, each with its own layered secrets: Tumalind, chosen falsely as a Virgin Gift who holds a striking likeness to the daughter of the High Priest; the high priest’s son and rebel leader, Aklon, an escapee on pain of death for refusing to embrace and promote the secrets of Ytraa when its history was revealed to him; Feldrark, son of the royal house, who professes undying love to gain the high priest's daughter, Jodisa, while hiding his true reasons. Some walk with veiled intellect, others with that veil gradually being stripped away by the experiences encountered. As the groups move into Book 2, and the mind-talkers manipulate and are manipulated, this layered tale promises much. Enjoy.
It is the ‘why?’ that I found fascinating. What had occurred in the far past to bring this about? Certainly the approaching Skyfire, with its lore of burning all unbelievers, is at its root. Had a group of survivors of a natural disaster instigated a method of rapid repopulation – at all costs? Certainly there are no old, or sick, or malformed, or merely ‘ugly’. Eugenics? There is mention on Muhnilahm of ‘The Point’, a desolate area where unfortunates are banished, or escape to rather than face a tortured death in the name of the religion. Yet within the society there are hardly any children to be seen or, for all the constant euphemistically-termed ‘frowking’, no pregnant women, and the Virgin Gifts, female despite the vaunted equality of the sexes, are exalted in the creed as an exchange of blood lines.
It is the quest to exchange Virgin Gifts – and to secure the release of one fraudulently chosen – that journeys the main groups of characters through lands of unbelievers and, because of these ongoing experiences, the tenets of their own religious dogma. Hypocrisy is emphasised early on as the fanatic Aglydron attempts to ‘free’ an exploited young woman by replacing her people’s indoctrination with his own without realising what he's doing.
Into this mix are dripped the personal stories, each with its own layered secrets: Tumalind, chosen falsely as a Virgin Gift who holds a striking likeness to the daughter of the High Priest; the high priest’s son and rebel leader, Aklon, an escapee on pain of death for refusing to embrace and promote the secrets of Ytraa when its history was revealed to him; Feldrark, son of the royal house, who professes undying love to gain the high priest's daughter, Jodisa, while hiding his true reasons. Some walk with veiled intellect, others with that veil gradually being stripped away by the experiences encountered. As the groups move into Book 2, and the mind-talkers manipulate and are manipulated, this layered tale promises much. Enjoy.
Thomas
Baker is the Past-President of TESOL Chile (2010-2011). He is the Head of the
English Department at Colegio Internacional SEK in Santiago, Chile.
Format:Kindle
Edition
I was fortunate to receive a complimentary copy of this book in exchange
for a fair and unbiased review. This is a very long book. I never read books
this long. I am completely overjoyed that I made the exception for this
wonderful book. It is amazing, awesome, tremendous, stunning, breathtaking and
incredible. If I knew one word for all of these concepts, I would use it. BOOM!
Wow, this is a tremendously satisfying read, and I would not even be surprised to see this as a movie someday. First, let me quote the author, Stuart Aken. He expresses himself and his approach to writing much better than I can. I will let him speak through an imagined interview technique. The questions are mine, the answers are authentically Stuart Aken's. Let's begin:
Me: How did you create this story?
Stuart: "I set out some years ago, starting with a detailed imagined map of my world, to develop a story that could explore the theme of hypocrisy in religion. Fantasy seemed the most appropriate genre, allowing me to make analogies without specifically 'blaming' any named religion. I, of course, wanted the book to be an adventure for readers (and for me, in the writing). The inviting journey of the quest seemed a great medium for what I wanted to say."
Me: How long did it take you to complete this story?
Stuart: "I spent a good many months in research on all those topics I knew I must touch on during the story. More research on such aspects of story as 'how far can a camel travel in a day?', much delving into the world of the sailing ship, since parts of the tale involve sea voyages. In short, I researched all those subjects I felt were likely to crop up in the telling of the story."
Me: How did you make this story seem so real?
Stuart: "My map was largely derived from a part of our own world but modified. I wanted to present a realistic landscape with rivers, mountains, forests etc in the sort of places such features would appear. I drew the original on sugar paper in ink, knowing that such paper deteriorates quite quickly. It took a few years of hanging on the back of the study door before the map took on the appearance of tattered parchment; perfect for the 'period' of the story."
What about characters?
Stuart: "Whenever I write fiction, I begin the story by developing character sketches for each of the named characters. That way, my characters, who all have history, relationships, ambitions and priorities, can guide the story. I act as director of these players, keeping them on track whilst allowing them the freedom to keep in character. When I started, I didn't realise that the book would become a trilogy and the number of named players would eventually exceed 100. A spreadsheet was needed to use as a timeline so that I could keep track of all the characters and know where each individual was at any one time."
Me: Did it ever occur to you that you were investing a huge amount of your life into writing this book?
Stuart: "Writing the book has been a wonderful adventure and a labour of love for me. I've grown to love many of my people and to loathe others. Some of my creations have had to die during the story and others have changed through growth along the way."
Me: Thank you Stuart. This is the best book I have read in the past ten years. Nothing compares to what you have done here. Your work, if you allow me to repeat myself, is amazing, awesome, tremendous, stunning, breathtaking and incredible. If I could give this book 100 stars, I would. Since five stars is the max, you got it Stuart. 5 stars! I recommend this book as a Christmas present. It's the kind of book that you buy one for yourself and one for someone who you really love. Wrap it up nicely and then put it under your Christmas tree during the month of December. This one is magical!
Reviewed by Thomas Jerome Baker
Wow, this is a tremendously satisfying read, and I would not even be surprised to see this as a movie someday. First, let me quote the author, Stuart Aken. He expresses himself and his approach to writing much better than I can. I will let him speak through an imagined interview technique. The questions are mine, the answers are authentically Stuart Aken's. Let's begin:
Me: How did you create this story?
Stuart: "I set out some years ago, starting with a detailed imagined map of my world, to develop a story that could explore the theme of hypocrisy in religion. Fantasy seemed the most appropriate genre, allowing me to make analogies without specifically 'blaming' any named religion. I, of course, wanted the book to be an adventure for readers (and for me, in the writing). The inviting journey of the quest seemed a great medium for what I wanted to say."
Me: How long did it take you to complete this story?
Stuart: "I spent a good many months in research on all those topics I knew I must touch on during the story. More research on such aspects of story as 'how far can a camel travel in a day?', much delving into the world of the sailing ship, since parts of the tale involve sea voyages. In short, I researched all those subjects I felt were likely to crop up in the telling of the story."
Me: How did you make this story seem so real?
Stuart: "My map was largely derived from a part of our own world but modified. I wanted to present a realistic landscape with rivers, mountains, forests etc in the sort of places such features would appear. I drew the original on sugar paper in ink, knowing that such paper deteriorates quite quickly. It took a few years of hanging on the back of the study door before the map took on the appearance of tattered parchment; perfect for the 'period' of the story."
What about characters?
Stuart: "Whenever I write fiction, I begin the story by developing character sketches for each of the named characters. That way, my characters, who all have history, relationships, ambitions and priorities, can guide the story. I act as director of these players, keeping them on track whilst allowing them the freedom to keep in character. When I started, I didn't realise that the book would become a trilogy and the number of named players would eventually exceed 100. A spreadsheet was needed to use as a timeline so that I could keep track of all the characters and know where each individual was at any one time."
Me: Did it ever occur to you that you were investing a huge amount of your life into writing this book?
Stuart: "Writing the book has been a wonderful adventure and a labour of love for me. I've grown to love many of my people and to loathe others. Some of my creations have had to die during the story and others have changed through growth along the way."
Me: Thank you Stuart. This is the best book I have read in the past ten years. Nothing compares to what you have done here. Your work, if you allow me to repeat myself, is amazing, awesome, tremendous, stunning, breathtaking and incredible. If I could give this book 100 stars, I would. Since five stars is the max, you got it Stuart. 5 stars! I recommend this book as a Christmas present. It's the kind of book that you buy one for yourself and one for someone who you really love. Wrap it up nicely and then put it under your Christmas tree during the month of December. This one is magical!
Reviewed by Thomas Jerome Baker
25 short, speculative fiction stories, winners in a contest run by Fantastic Books Publishing. My story was included by request of the publishers. I've read the whole book and I can recommend this for all lovers of science fiction and fantasy. Also, 10% of all profits go to a cancer charity.Heir to Death's Folly
Julie is controlled by Kasim, a fiancé desperate
for her to inherit Aunt Agatha’s great wealth. Hustled into paying the old
woman a visit, she learns that the folly, a tower looming over the grounds of
the old manor house, holds a treasure chest. She and Kasim, tricked into
searching for these riches, enter the folly and soon discover there’s more to
Aunt Agatha than they could possibly have guessed. And, as darkness descends on
them, danger and death await in the shadows.
This book is available only for Kindle, via the Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing scheme, for the moment.
You can buy it as follows:
Smashwords:
Smashwords:
Sensuous Touches
Enjoy on your own or with that significant other you like to share your most intimate moments with.
This book is available via Smashwords.
From Amazon:
Breaking Faith
A romantic thriller exploring the theme of corruption in society. Some explicit erotic content might make you feel you should shield your maiden aunt and children under 15 from it.
When innocent Faith places herself in the hands of local glamour photographer, Leigh, she has no idea how dangerous life is about to become for her.
As Faith stands shivering before the gates of the notorious Longhouse, she has to ask herself why she is contemplating work with the man her father describes as the Devil’s Henchman. Everything in her past warns her that this move may be dangerous. But that is the reason she has applied for the job in the first place.
Leigh cannot believe he has invited the local village idiot to interview as his Girl Friday. Her ‘homeless’ style of dress hides any attributes she might possess and she has the reputation of a simpleton. But, on the phone, she sounds warm and intelligent. The only cause for concern is the way his printing assistant, the woman-hating Merv, might react to a woman working for him.
Paperback:
Buy from W.H Smiths
Paperback:
Buy from W.H Smiths
Reviews:
Beeshon reviewed Breaking Faith
A story that stays with you
Beeshon reviewed Breaking Faith
I have to applaud Stuart Aken for a memorable
story that inhabits your mind long after you've clicked that last page.
It starts with a `broken' Faith, a young woman abominably treated by her bully of a father, a puritanical hypocrite. When she eventually manages to flee from her hell, she is taken in by a successful photographer, Leigh, who is loved, adored and revered by women. The idolatry he receives from thousands of women is reciprocated with sex; lots and lots and lots of it, shamelessly and flagrantly.
Faith's upbringing has, remarkably and against all odds, produced an innocent, direct, honest and extraordinarily beautiful woman - inside and out - and Leigh is smitten in a way he never imagined possible. They are irresistibly drawn to each other, but Faith has ultimata and the road to their nirvana is eventful, sad, tragic, and inevitable.
It starts with a `broken' Faith, a young woman abominably treated by her bully of a father, a puritanical hypocrite. When she eventually manages to flee from her hell, she is taken in by a successful photographer, Leigh, who is loved, adored and revered by women. The idolatry he receives from thousands of women is reciprocated with sex; lots and lots and lots of it, shamelessly and flagrantly.
Faith's upbringing has, remarkably and against all odds, produced an innocent, direct, honest and extraordinarily beautiful woman - inside and out - and Leigh is smitten in a way he never imagined possible. They are irresistibly drawn to each other, but Faith has ultimata and the road to their nirvana is eventful, sad, tragic, and inevitable.
wistfulskimmie - Wistfulskimmies Book Reviews Blog reviewed Breaking Faith
You often hear about stories that stay with you
long after they have been read. Well, for me this was 'that' story. I was
bombarded by several different emotions whilst reading this book and I loved
every minute of it!
This book was a rites of passage tale. We are taken on a journey by the female lead of this story and how her life changes therein. I was amazed at how much time and emotion I invested in each of the characters - really feeling their every emotion, they were so real to me. I also like the way the author changed the narrator almost each chapter between the two main leads. It meant we could see both sides of the story as it were and was a nice touch.
It was beautifully written, in such a way as I could not put it down. Almost to the detriment of my sleep! Thank you Mr Aken for writing a story that has taken me over so completely that now I have finished it, I feel a little lost! May there be lots more from you.
This book was a rites of passage tale. We are taken on a journey by the female lead of this story and how her life changes therein. I was amazed at how much time and emotion I invested in each of the characters - really feeling their every emotion, they were so real to me. I also like the way the author changed the narrator almost each chapter between the two main leads. It meant we could see both sides of the story as it were and was a nice touch.
It was beautifully written, in such a way as I could not put it down. Almost to the detriment of my sleep! Thank you Mr Aken for writing a story that has taken me over so completely that now I have finished it, I feel a little lost! May there be lots more from you.
Janet Ulyett reviewed Breaking
Faith
Breaking Faith is a fable and, as in all fables,
some aspects strain the bounds of plausibility. The reader must accept that
Faith emerges from an isolated, deprived childhood with the articulacy of an
Oxbridge graduate, and displays a saintly lack of bitterness towards the mother
who abandoned her and the sister who betrays her. That aside, the author's
vivid prose style carries the story along and, no mean feat, allows the reader
to empathise with both the smug Faith and the libidinous Leighton as their
worlds collide. Stuart Aken has written an absorbing tale, one which holds the
reader's attention right through to the shocking events of the final pages.
D. Witham reviewed Breaking Faith
The story of Faith's journey through life: From a
naïve and deprived village girl to an awakening woman. The story is mainly set
in Yorkshire during the blistering heat wave of 1976 and is a romantic
thriller. The characters come to life and lead you through pity, despair, love
and hate. I was more intrigued with each page and eager to reach its shock
conclusion. A story well written and set in beautiful Yorkshire scenery that
comes to life for the reader. Looking forward to reading Stuart Aken's next
novel.
Tim Hewtson LE ROUX reviewed Breaking Faith
One of the great pleasures of reading indie
authors is that they are often literary Luddites, exuberantly smashing the
commercial frameworks imposed on their more industrially-produced cousins,
replacing them with a more zestful, fresh, individual and - might I say -
compelling approach to their work.
It is not that they do not recognise as well as anyone the existence of the rules and formulae drawn up to govern the structure, content and style of mainstream modern literature, it is just that they prefer to explore other creative options for the good of their, and our, souls. "Know what you should do then do as you like" was the moral guideline I was schooled in by my parents and it is the literary guideline of many indie authors too.
Let me declare straight off that Stuart Aken's pointedly joyous `Breaking Faith' is the output of such an independent and questing mind. However, if you like to slot books as automatically and systematically into standardised categories as the priapic photographer Leighton Longshaw likes to slot his .... no, no, I'll come back to that later .... then this novel may pose you something of a challenge.
At first I thought it was some form of hybrid of Stella Gibbons' `Cold Comfort Farm', of Emily Brontë's `Wuthering Heights', of the Elle McPherson film `Sirens', and of E.M. Forster's `A Room With A View' with its ringing closeted declaration that the only crime in love is for those who love each other to be forced apart, but halfway through the book I realised that it is something considerably more surprising - the unlikely revival of the Victorian high-moral literary melodrama. You might well quibble that the morals espoused by this work are not very Victorian, nor very moral, but I am sure that there was many a Victorian master of the house who retired to his study to indulge his taste for similarly stimulating reading material. It would definitely not be for the eyes of the women and the servants of the household though, and it would like as not come wrapped in deceptively bland packaging, which is how appropriately this book started out although it now sports a cover much closer to sex on legs. Indeed, if you want the briefest of summaries of the plot, that was it. Faith starts out in bland packaging and ends up as sex on legs...
It is not that they do not recognise as well as anyone the existence of the rules and formulae drawn up to govern the structure, content and style of mainstream modern literature, it is just that they prefer to explore other creative options for the good of their, and our, souls. "Know what you should do then do as you like" was the moral guideline I was schooled in by my parents and it is the literary guideline of many indie authors too.
Let me declare straight off that Stuart Aken's pointedly joyous `Breaking Faith' is the output of such an independent and questing mind. However, if you like to slot books as automatically and systematically into standardised categories as the priapic photographer Leighton Longshaw likes to slot his .... no, no, I'll come back to that later .... then this novel may pose you something of a challenge.
At first I thought it was some form of hybrid of Stella Gibbons' `Cold Comfort Farm', of Emily Brontë's `Wuthering Heights', of the Elle McPherson film `Sirens', and of E.M. Forster's `A Room With A View' with its ringing closeted declaration that the only crime in love is for those who love each other to be forced apart, but halfway through the book I realised that it is something considerably more surprising - the unlikely revival of the Victorian high-moral literary melodrama. You might well quibble that the morals espoused by this work are not very Victorian, nor very moral, but I am sure that there was many a Victorian master of the house who retired to his study to indulge his taste for similarly stimulating reading material. It would definitely not be for the eyes of the women and the servants of the household though, and it would like as not come wrapped in deceptively bland packaging, which is how appropriately this book started out although it now sports a cover much closer to sex on legs. Indeed, if you want the briefest of summaries of the plot, that was it. Faith starts out in bland packaging and ends up as sex on legs...
Linda Acaster reviewed Breaking Faith
Alternating first person viewpoint is difficult to accomplish, but Leighton's tone and photographer's eye for the natural curves of his human subjects is as artistic as that for the rugged Dales landscape that presses in, claustrophobic while seeming benign, towards Longhouse and its inhabitants.
Read for its depth, it will leave the reader considering afresh blinkered human frailties.
Michelle Mccabe reviewed Breaking Faith
I thought this was a really original story with an
intriguing hero and an even more intriguing eponymous heroine. I also felt an
intense dislike for some of the other characters meaning Stuart Aken's
characterisations were really well done and the denouement tied all of the
plots up to a surprising conclusion. Switching the first person narrative from
one to the other and looking at the same events from both sets of eyes was a
wonderful means of seeing the reasoning behind both of their actions. The story
compelled me to read and read and read (a habit that, with an eight year old
son, I confess, I have lost recently).
I would recommend it to anyone and look forward to reading Stuart's next novel!
I would recommend it to anyone and look forward to reading Stuart's next novel!
This is the story of a triumphant human spirit.
Heroine Faith's rite of passage from horrific neglect and abuse to fulfilment
and true love is an inspiring one. Stuart Aken's novel, set in the summer of
1976, simmers with heat, decadence and sexuality,all of which Faith transcends
to become her own woman. I loved the Yorkshire Dales setting, and I was rooting
for Faith all the way to her well-deserved happy ending. More power to Stuart's
pen!!
After several years of not having the time or
making time to read novels I could not believe how determined this book was to
make me read it and was suprised how quickly I read it and how much I enjoyed
reading it.
"Breaking Faith" is about a young naive, innocent girl, set in the summer of 1976, it details Faith's journey from one of isolation, deprivation and abuse where she is bullied by Heacham, acting as his skivvy and financial support and also nursemaid to her brain damaged sister, to enlightenment and self-knowledge in which she slowly falls in love with Leighton and overcomes all the obstacles that are put in her way. Writing from alternating perspectives (Faith and Leighton) adds detail, richness, interest and understanding of the characters. A shocking but captivating story that is definitely worth reading.
"Breaking Faith" is about a young naive, innocent girl, set in the summer of 1976, it details Faith's journey from one of isolation, deprivation and abuse where she is bullied by Heacham, acting as his skivvy and financial support and also nursemaid to her brain damaged sister, to enlightenment and self-knowledge in which she slowly falls in love with Leighton and overcomes all the obstacles that are put in her way. Writing from alternating perspectives (Faith and Leighton) adds detail, richness, interest and understanding of the characters. A shocking but captivating story that is definitely worth reading.
"Breaking Faith" is the story of Faith,
ignorant, naive and completely overshadowed by the sadistic bully Heacham.
Faith struggles to nurse her brain-damaged younger sister, skivvy for Heacham
and be the family's total financial support.
Awakening comes as she gets a job with Leighton, the local glamour photographer and she falls in love with him, despite the terrifying threats from Leighton's assistant, the disgusting Mervyn.
I read this book in one sitting, unwilling to put it down, immersed in the Yorkshire of the sweltering summer of 1976 and Faith's journey from darkness to self-knowledge. Her sometimes frightening honesty wash all hypocrisy away, for she is a girl who sees things as they are and tells it the way it is. The book is written from the alternating perspective of Faith and Leighton, giving the reader a greater understanding of their interactions with each other and those around them. The characters are drawn with a fine brush, especially Faith's mother and father. The denouement is sudden, violent and completely satisfying.
Awakening comes as she gets a job with Leighton, the local glamour photographer and she falls in love with him, despite the terrifying threats from Leighton's assistant, the disgusting Mervyn.
I read this book in one sitting, unwilling to put it down, immersed in the Yorkshire of the sweltering summer of 1976 and Faith's journey from darkness to self-knowledge. Her sometimes frightening honesty wash all hypocrisy away, for she is a girl who sees things as they are and tells it the way it is. The book is written from the alternating perspective of Faith and Leighton, giving the reader a greater understanding of their interactions with each other and those around them. The characters are drawn with a fine brush, especially Faith's mother and father. The denouement is sudden, violent and completely satisfying.
#####
Ten Love Tales
This is an anthology of gentle stories about love. Nothing erotic, nothing to offend, but everything to make you smile.
Available as an eBook in all formats from Smashwords
Kindle from
Amazon:
#####
Ten Tales for Tomorrow
Dark speculative fiction for those who like
their stories to say something.
The stories were written to entertain first and then
leave the reader thinking about the themes raised. Mostly dark science fiction
and fantasy, there are nevertheless moments of lightness and humour.
Reviews:
Review by: Catrina
Barton on March 11, 2012 :
Stuart Aken is a true master of the craft. This collection was very engaging
and the over all writing is clean and crisp. Thanks for sharing it with us. :)Review by: Penny Grubb on Jan. 27, 2011 :
This is vintage Aken. He is a master of the short story and can get inside the hearts of minds of an incredible array of characters - not always human. Each story draws you into its world and compels you to stay to the end, even if some of these worlds are not so nice. The writing style is both rich and lean. Not a word to spare but everything said.
This is vintage Aken. He is a master of the short story and can get inside the hearts of minds of an incredible array of characters - not always human. Each story draws you into its world and compels you to stay to the end, even if some of these worlds are not so nice. The writing style is both rich and lean. Not a word to spare but everything said.
Ronnie Dauber reviewed Ten Tales for Tomorrow
"Ten Tales for Tomorrow" is a collection of ten fiction - and slightly on the dark side - stories written by Stuart Aken. I enjoyed this book because although many of the stories have a mystical setting and left me in sudden awe at the end, each story is very different from the others, which made this book an exciting read. Stuart has a talent for drawing the reader right into the heart of story and then leaving them with an anxious feeling of wanting to return. He's a skilled author and perhaps a bit more loose in his character descriptions than some readers are comfortable with, but on the other hand, this is likely one of the qualities that keeps readers coming back for more.
A disquieting glimpse of tomorrow
If you are expecting Space Opera, think again.
This is our own time extrapolated, or perhaps the thinking of our time, the
actions of those supposedly in office to serve us, the alienation of humans as
individuals, the corporate ID taken to extremes. It is the dystopian view
without the apocalyptic event to blame it on, to hide behind.
The longer stories pack a punch of revulsion, especially 'Adrianne Zultan - An Official Enquiry' for its portrayal of inhumanity, yet haven't we all sat through news items covering reports where "lessons will be learned"? Both the short 'A Land Despoiled' and the longer 'Phobia' carry their messages, and their warnings, beneath the surface for the reader to identify. But there is playfulness among the mix. 'Penultimate Upgrade' made me smile, and 'A Gastronomic Treat At The Edge Of The Galaxy' pokes fun at po-faced restaurant guides. I'll never read another in the same light.
The longer stories pack a punch of revulsion, especially 'Adrianne Zultan - An Official Enquiry' for its portrayal of inhumanity, yet haven't we all sat through news items covering reports where "lessons will be learned"? Both the short 'A Land Despoiled' and the longer 'Phobia' carry their messages, and their warnings, beneath the surface for the reader to identify. But there is playfulness among the mix. 'Penultimate Upgrade' made me smile, and 'A Gastronomic Treat At The Edge Of The Galaxy' pokes fun at po-faced restaurant guides. I'll never read another in the same light.
#####
The Methuselah Strain
Finding a suitable partner from the remnants of
mankind isn’t easy for Lucy, especially when she discovers that automation
tempts them more than flesh.
As the Prime Renegade plans the disabling of
automatic systems that support the dwindling human population, she seeks a man
to love and to father her child. The usual route of artificial insemination
appeals to her about as much as the materialistic and hedonistic philosophy
that now drives most people. And, secretly, forces designed to serve mankind develop
a sense of superiority that might threaten human survival.
Kindle from Amazon:
Reviews:
gabi reviewed The
Methuselah Strain
The new Asimov has arrived!
I've just finished this and wow. The twists, the turns,
the aching irony.I loved it. I dare not give a thing away but for any lovers of science fiction, future fantasy and really well written tension, buy this now.
I can't believe I got if for less than a fiver!
Thank you Stuart, keep up the good work!
####
But, Baby, It's Cold Outside
A short story, 3,000 words: free.
A seasonal short story to bring some cheer into
the cold, grey winter.
I'm seeing in the New Year, with my chosen lover, in
front of the fire. Wonderful. Until, that is, an unidentified rural noise makes
the townie nervous and something must be done to restore the magic.
Review Quotes:
Linda Acaster, ' I loved the
narrator’s arch tone, as icy as the path investigated in sockless boots and
very little else.'
Avril Field-Taylor, ' I
always find with SA's work that you can never take it on face value. Here we
have, superficially at least, a story about sexual equality. But is it as
simple as that?'
A Sackful of Shorts
Quality short fiction from the talented pens of my writing
group.
A collection of disparate tales, in various genres and from
different points of view. You'll find humour, horror, wonder and love amongst
the offerings. All written by published authors; some prize-winning stories. There is one of my stories in this anthology, which I edited and designed.
2 comments:
I have enjoyed reading quite a few of your articles therefore I am pleased that I found this page because now I can read more.
You are such a talented gentleman, not just a wonderful writer. The more I read about you or read things by you, the more I want to know more. You are much appreciated. :)
Thank you, Linda. Your comment and kind remarks are also much appreciated. I hope you enjoy what you read of mine.
Post a Comment