Blog entries from Christian Ainley

Bluffer's Guide to December 21, 2012

Christian Ainley — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 17:06:02 +0100

Since making the link in my book – The Enchanted Amulet – with the speculated Apocalypse date of December 21 2012, I have been inundated with questions. Frankly, I have no idea if anything will happen, and urge people not to get hysterical, remembering that the many supposed Apocalypse dates of the past all turned out to be wrong. Even Nostradamus, who has been proved correct in so many of his predictions, mistakenly believed the End to come in 1999. However, the December 21&Read More...

Writing Competition

Christian Ainley — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 14:40:53 +0100

If you live in the Croydon area and are looking for something constructive to do over the summer holidays, here's an idea. Write a original short story, no longer than 2000 words, on the theme: 'Out of this World', and you could win a prize! Entries can be handwritten/typed, then submitted to any Croydon Library or emailed to: children@croydon.gov.uk. For an entry form, please click on the poster link below, or visit: www.croydon.gov.uk. There will be two age categories - 10-13 years and 14-Read More...

Writing Workshops

Christian Ainley — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 13:52:58 +0100

Interested in writing a book? Come along to one of thirteen free writing workshops, currently being held in libraries in the Croydon area. Please click on the poster link below for library details:

Clocktower talk

Christian Ainley — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 23:35:10 +0100

Just a quick reminder about my forthcoming talk on Monday 8th February 2010, at the Croydon Clocktower on Katharine Street. The event will be hosted by the 'Croydon Writers Circle', and will be in 'Workshop 1', from 8-9pm. The audience will be primarily adults, but is open to anyone. Tickets cost £4 at the door, and are £2 for members. The proceeds will go towards covering the cost of the venue.

I shall be doing a couple of talks, sharing information on how to go about writing a book. I'll be assisted by members of the Riddlesdown Collegiate 'Book Club', who'll be on hand to provide some fun and exciting activities. Details of the two events are as follows:

1) Sanderstead Library talk (Saturday 23rd January 2010, 2pm-4pm): For the 'Teenage Reading Group', and anyone who wishes to come along. Free tickets can be booked thRead More...

Movie Stills

Christian Ainley — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 19:47:20 +0100

Alex Franieczek is starting to produce some really good stills. Here's Brantex:

Olympic Logo

Christian Ainley — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 18:14:26 +0100

I’ve recently had a lot of very interesting emails, some of which have touched upon the same points, which I would now like to deal with openly. In The Enchanted Amulet, I describe a paradisiacal land, with a practical and enlightened system of governance. I’m not a Zionist, per se, but it is true to say that Peralucia is a sort of Promised Land, New Jerusalem or Zion. Now, I’ve also said that there is a connection between Malkazore and Bolon Yokte K’uh – the MayRead More...

2012

Christian Ainley — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 19:54:48 +0100

Quite a few people have asked if Malkazore is based on Bolon Yokte K'uh - the Mayan Lord of the Underworld. As you may know, there has been quite a lot of hype surrounding the date: 21st December 2012. This is when the Mayan calander, which can be read from the carvings on the 500-year-old Aztec Sun Stone, predicts the end of a major cycle, brought about by the aforementioned demon. As many people now know, this date also happens to co-incide with some major astrologRead More...

The Enchanted Amulet: The Movie

Christian Ainley — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 00:24:43 +0100

Am looking into taking the book to the next stage, and possibly turning it into a movie. Lots of people have shown interest: especially Terry Hall, an internationally renowned scriptwriter from Film Ink., Alex Franieczek, a graphic artist from RedBedlam, and actor Luke Flanagan. Anyone else who wants to get on board, please drop me a line.

Book pricing

Christian Ainley — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 16:53:24 +0100

Some people have commented that The Enchanted Amulet is quite expensive in some bookstores. Although you can now pick it up for about £5 online, it's true that in some shops it's as much as £12! I'm not happy with this and I'm trying to get the price down, however there are many legitimate reasons why it is so high. Firstly, most young adult novels are between 20,000-40,000 words in length. My book is approximately 70,000. Most paperbacks are printed on inexpensive paper, which wiRead More...

More to Life

Christian Ainley — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 23:42:38 +0100

Wrote an article for More to Life magazine. Will hopefully appear in the winter edition...

Spread the Word

Christian Ainley — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 23:12:17 +0100

Interested in doing some writing? Check out "Spread the Word" at: www.spreadtheword.org.uk. Really good scheme designed to help nurture budding writers. From the Croydon Guardian (04/09/2009, p.12): "Spread the Word will train emerging writers in a nine-month programme of creative and practical training, mentoring and hands-on experience in five boroughs including Croydon".