Thursday 28 February 2013

Back to writing.. (At last!)

After a week of social media I am so relieved to be back writing novels. don't get me wrong I enjoy some of the chats but the endless promotion work needed by us self publishers can sometimes be exhausting (mentally)
So once again I am back doing what i love best, writing about heroes and villains!

Zachania Tome Three 
Is flying along! I am really enjoying writing it and I hope it will be worth the wait,
below is a few samples from Tome three (un-edited)


There was an weary and troubled look on the brow of Grarlin; he stood hunched as he listened to the tribal leaders arguing amongst themselves, his usual assertive self was replaced with a look of exhaustion as he tried to take stock of the situation he had now found himself in.
Degrainia the capital city of Degrain was a town under siege, there was panic in the air as everyone feared the imminent onslaught of the Zachanians.
Baron Gragu the tenth Luid of the ancient Tockla tribe was shouting angrily at his men, he was enraged with what was happening in Degrain and furious at Grarlin and the Empire for their lack of assistance.
“Why does the Emperor delay? Does he want Degrain to fall?” he yelled loudly at Grarlin who just sat down amongst all the bickering.
“Of course is it not what we want, I am here to prove this and what do I find? I find a town gripped with panic and despair.”
“You confuse panic with anger Grarlin, where is the help we were promised?...over half this sacred land is now under control of the wretched Zachanians…when is this help arriving? When will you aid us, when we are all without breath and crushed into the dirt?”
Grarlin bit his lip and looked down at his feet trying to calm himself from the angry manner he had just been spoken to, a moment later after a long breath he replied to the Baron.
“We have already taken steps to save Degrainia, you must trust me on this, Degrainia will be safe.”
“How are we safe? You came alone Grarlin, where is your army?...The Zachanians are in the hills breathing the same Degrainia air as us and alone we still stand, waiting for the attack!”
“You must not worry Gragu, have trust in your Emperor, he has not abandoned you.”
“Shall I tell that to the towns of Harloom and Doofra? They too trusted the Emperor; they waited for help as the Zachanians breached their walls and murdered them in their homes. What shall we say to them?”
Grarlin suddenly jumped up from his chair, baron Gragu’s constant shouting had now stretched his patience too far.
“BE SILENT!.....ACT as a leader and remember the heritage you stem from!....I came here to help you fight!....all I have found is a group of fat Degrainians scared that they might miss their next meal. So you are under attack, so you have lost lives, well so have we, we have been fighting the Zachanians for the past year!.....enough of you winging Gragu, ready your army and prepare for battle.”
“We will fight Grarlin, we will fight them to the last man, but what do we do with the one they call Talon, he fights with the gods on his side, in his hand he carries the sword of Apollo so how do we fight such divineness’?”

............................

As Gragu sat among his lords and generals in his battle room of the castle, he sat with an angry arrogance. The room where he resided in was like a shrine to his ancestors and the battles they had fought in. everywhere around were mementoes of past glorious campaigns. Most disturbing though was a large throne and sitting on the throne was the stuffed body of his grandfather, his eyes fixed forever of the map on the wall of the Degrainian empire and fixed in his hand was the sword of Kardine, ominously he sat reminding all of what power the Degrainian empire once possessed.
When baron Gragu was joined by his favourite son Buklash, he greeted him with a firm embrace. Buklash was similar to his father, strong and iron willed. He was the sixteenth eldest of Gragu’s forty three sons, but Buklash caught his father’s eye at an early age when he killed one of his brother’s in a feud over a female Degrain. It was a strange hand of fate, one which mirrored the actions of his father when he was but a boy himself. Since that day the son was schooled personally by the baron. In ancient Degrain tradition it was frequent for the strongest son to succeed his father, it did not matter if you were not the eldest, strength was always placed higher than position among the Degrain.
For centuries families and clans had been decimated with family feuding as sons fought and killed each other trying to prove who was best to rule, but this was Degrain way, it brought pain and tears for the mothers but for the fathers it brought great pride as they witnessed their son’s battle to prove their worth.

...............................


Tuesday 26 February 2013

Zachania Tome two & The Diaries of Lord Talon


“I have not underestimated you Talon! You are mistaken I do not estimate you at all, remember this and remember my voice when doom comes crashing upon you, all of you here have led Zachania to the door of death…you will be crushed, crushed down level with the dirt!”

Lord Heikan then burst forward and drew his sword.
“Let me kill this dog Lord Talon, let us rid ourselves of this traitorous filth once and for all!” 

                                          .................................................................................

The Emperor’s son then pulled his clothes tighter together and started to trot leading his group of forty Kinjouras.
To run forty miles under the blistering midday sun was an order that would be met with dismay if it was given to any regular soldier, but the Kinjouras were no regular men. They were unique assassins
who existed only for battle and bloodshed, not one sigh, not one moan could be heard or seen,
only a look of determination in their cold blank eyes, in fact they had a look of relish, like the order
was a challenge of their abilities.
Their resolve was a compliment to Grarlin and the evil witch Bevilda whose conditioning of them was awe inspiring.They had been inbred with a will and desire to win no matter what the cost, their own lives meant nothing, and only the mission had importance to them. It was an amazing purity of mind to match their amazing fighting skills.
The Kinjouras had enhanced physical abilities and strength, crafted by Bevilda as she dabbled for decades with their bloodlines and stock and bolstered by Grarlin as he fed them on secret potions and herbs. They were experts with all the known weapons and experts in hand to hand fighting. 
All in all the Kinjouras were the most deadly fighting force on the whole island, they were faster, stronger, tougher, more resilient and more cold hearted than anyone who would stand before them.
Now they would be unleashed on Zachania.

                                        ..................................................................................

“You kill our parents, capture our women and murder our commanders…whatever anyone says about the Zachanian uprising, they can never argue that it was not just.”

Lord Talon speaking to his Imperial prisoner, General Krustov



‘Only those who have been hunted can truly value survival’
From the scrolls of Epicania

So they wait for us just across the valley.
I can smell their fires…I can hear them,
Do they realise what awaits them,
We fight for freedom and revenge.
They fight for pay and duty,
We have a lust for their blood,
What thirst do they have?
When morning comes…will their swords be as sharp as ours?
Can there spirit be as determined as ours?
This battle is won already,
Foolishly they prepare for their funeral.

Tomorrow I will make them pay,
Tomorrow I will show them a Zachanian,
My sword will be my instrument of revenge,
My mind will be its guide,
And my heart will be the oil that burns the flame.





A thought for Tuesday and tomorrow.


The path

Every now and then we come to a crossroads in our life, a time of great contemplation where we must choose a path to proceed. Do we stay on the path we know? The path that has become tiresome and predictable, or do we take the unknown path?
Do we rid ourselves from the baggage of life, the same weight that has now become almost unbearable to carry and seek out new ideas and new challenges, or stay the same?
Stay on the same familiar path that we have walked upon for most of our lives; continue into old age walking safely upon ground already trodden.
Life can play funny games with you, you may already be frightened for what lays ahead, worse you may be dreading what lies ahead, yet still we continue to walk hand in hand with familiarity, and still we repeat what we did yesterday.
Amongst all this fear time passes by, another day, another month, another year. Slowly it takes pieces away from you, as we grow old we begin to lose those who we love, we lose our parents and those who we once called close friends disappear as our paths drift apart. Our health and vitality drift away, the energy we once had slowly ebbs into decisiveness, we question if we have the time left to complete what we once dreamt of.
Every morning before our eyes we see our face another day older, our dreams another day lost.
Every day the unknown path feels more frightening, the heart says yes and the mind says no!
Personally I thrive on new challenges, I need them or I feel like I am dying.
It is the unknown that brings me to life; it fills me with youthful optimism and inspires the soul of a poet in me.
So just do it! Just go for it!
If your life has come to a standstill and you ache for new adventures, then throw off your confines and take the new path.
Whatever happens, you would have added to your experience of life and if it doesn't work out then all you have lost is endless familiarity and the race to your grave.


Monday 18 February 2013

FREE DOUBLE DOWNLOAD!


After centuries of slavery and pain the Zachanians are in revolt! Clans from across the land are flocking to swell their armies. NOW is their time..NOW is your time to discover their secret world so Immerse yourself in the fantasy world of ZACHANIA with our Free DOUBLE DOWNLOAD!!

ZACHANIA THE DIARIES & POETRY OF LORD TALON  & THE CHILDREN OF ZACHANIA ARE BOTH AVAILABLE FOR FREE DOWNLOAD THIS WEEK.

Take the plunge and follow the link;

CHILDREN OF ZACHANIA  (Free to download 18th until 22nd)
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009EHQOO6

THE DIARIES & POETRY OF LORD TALON  (Free to download 19th until 20th)
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BBFR5WY

Please show you care and share among your friends if you find them enjoyable.


http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009EHQOO6
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BBFR5WY




Saturday 16 February 2013

Nearly there.........

Hey Guys
If some of you could spare a moment of your time and help me out I would really appreciate it and return a similar favour.
I need another five likes on my Facebook page so I can access their Analysis page, please click on the link below if you are on facebook and help a hard working self publisher!
Thanking you in advance and if any of you wish a 'like' in return then please do not hesitate to send me a message.
JH

http://www.facebook.com/Zachania


Thursday 14 February 2013

Little poem about our boys in blue in the UK


THE  LAW

The laws of this once great land were written quiet in vain
For there are certain individuals who fail to follow the grain.
The pitfall is punishment if captured committing a crime
The burglar, the blagger there gonna get some time.
But if a copper does a crime and is unlucky he is caught
Then why are there no charges on him, are ever brought.
Scotland yards a joke  ............  They’re rotten to the core
A haven for bent coppers well above the law.
How many more times are we gonna hear a case 
Coppers telling lies, corruption on their face.
We all know of there reluctance to bring their own up on a charge
Just internal reprimanding, bent copper still at large.
So if you wish to be a villain you should become a copper
For they’re the bastards with a license to do it good and proper.













Sorry guys but I am in a mischievous mood today!!!!!

Friday 8 February 2013

** Free Download**

The Diaries & Poetry of Lord Talon is now on sale and will be free to download for 48 hours on the 9th of February



The Diaries & poetry of Lord Talon will be available for free download for 48hrs starting on the 9th of February.
Grab a free copy now, you never know it may change your life!


http://www.amazon.com/Zachania-Diaries-Poetry-Talon-ebook/dp/B00BBFR5WY/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1360331088&sr=1-1&keywords=the+diaries+%26+poetry+of+lord+talon

Battle!
I can hear the drums on the horizon,
I can feel the men’s anticipation,
I can taste their apprehension,
I see their shadows in their eyes,
Today will be a victorious day,
Even for those who fall,
Today we crush our foe once and for all,
Today we free ourselves,
Today we celebrate a nation,
Today we win!
Today will be remembered forever…Long live Zachania!

..................................................................................................

At the Battle of Shardom where five thousand of Lord Heikan's Fifth army were massacred.
On the morning after the battle when Lord Talon walked amongst the fallen bodies, fighting back the tears he spoke these words.

There are no words to describe this….
No words can come close to the bravery of their gallant actions.
No words can express their sacrifice,
No words can explain their pain,
Only tears…just tears for our fallen brothers.
Tears for their loved ones,
Tears for our nation.
They gave everything so we can live,
Let us always remember their courage,
Let us shout their names with pride,
Let the Fifth be remembered throughout the passages of time,
Let us embrace their sacrifice and know their name with honour,
For they are heroes and examples for all of us,
They are heroes....... for all mankind.
LONG LIVE THE FIFTH!

Lord Talon

Life through a blindfold!


I little bit of poetry for my friends....

I've seen men who should be patient acting in haste
I've seen a man stick a blade down another man's face
Sometimes I wonder on our crazy race
I've seen lots of rip off's experienced the cons 
Wondered of the winners and what they have won
I've tried to decipher what life's all about
But always my conclusion is an anger to shout
It seems we are living a life full of lies
One that doesn't care if our brother dies
One, which is stained by the filthy hand of wealth
One where we joke at another’s ill health
It seems now we all know too much for our own good
Once upon a time men knew where they stood
Now we all want which have only the few
An idiom  in  life  which  is  hardly  new
But  once  we  were  destined  from  our  place  of  birth
With  our  family  and  friends  we  all  knew  our  worth
We  accepted  our  lives  and  got  on  with  living
We  all  helped  our  own  and  lived  our  lives  giving
But  now  born  a  man  filled  with  anger  in  his  breed
Caring  for  himself  is  his  only  need
The  tools  he  embraces  are  jealousy  and  pain
He  is  ruthless,  cunning,  greedy  and  vain
He  wants  to  succeed  in  a  world  of  success
He  will  tread  upon  anyone  as  he  strives  to  be  best
What  is  a  man  when  he  stands  alone
Arrogantly  sitting  on  his  blood  stained  throne
So  insecure  in  his  make  believe  life
Boosting  his  ego  giving  other  men  strife
Choking  on  the  fumes  of  the  power  he  needs
Ruining  lives  as  his  pocket  he  feeds
Wearing  his  crown  pretending  that  he's  king
Constantly  dreaming  of  what  more  wealth  will  bring
Live  all  your  life  hurting  your  brothers
Paying  no  regard  to  the  feelings  of  others
You  think  your  superior  because  you  have  money
But  to  those  who  can  see,  your  wit  is  not  funny
But  one  day  like  us  your  going  to  die
Then  you'll  answer  to  god  for  living  your  lie
But  then  its  to  late,  there  is  no  return
The  price  of  your  wealth  is  a  destiny  to  burn !

Tuesday 5 February 2013

Freedom...

A passage from
The Diaries & Poetry of Lord Talon the Zararhakzar

If we are to be free then we will have to fight for it!
We will have to lay our lives on the line and battle with every breath,
But be assured once we start the fighting, the air we breathe will fill our lungs with pride.

Lord Talon



The Diaries and poetry of Lord Talon (coming soon)

Zachanian shame

It is carried on the shoulders of all Zachanian men.
They despise themselves for allowing the Empire to imprison them in their own land.
But it is deeper than that; they feel ashamed that they have not lived up to their ancestors.
Those once legendary fearless Zachanian warriors!
The warriors who struck fear into the hearts of everyone they faced.
Ancestors who died in their thousands rather than surrender.
Ancestors who would chose death rather than live under bondage and tyranny.
It is a weight they carry daily; you can see it in their eyes and etched upon their faces. Everywhere around you can feel the past, it haunts them but they strangely embrace it. Some parts of Zachra have not been changed for centuries…..the Zachanians cannot let go of the past, it injures them yet it inspires them.
Can these men be warriors again?
Can they use their Zachanian shame to feed their hunger for revenge?
Or will it destroy them?
They walk on dangerous ground, they hold their ancestors in such high regard, almost godlike!
How can they live up to them?
How will they react when the battle goes against them?
Will it make them more determined to succeed in the next battle?
Or will their admiration for their ancestors turn them into empty men ravaged with self-pity and feelings of failure.
These people are strong! They ache for retribution and revenge, but they are brittle!
They walk on a knife edge, success could make them so great, but defeat could just as easily make them implode.
I must find a way to rid them of this Zachanian shame.



Lord Talon



Sunday 3 February 2013

The Diaries & poems of Lord Talon (Coming soon)

What a toll this life takes from me,
What of my soul?
 What toll will my children have to bear for my actions?
 Doubt, I hate it, I detest it, what games my nature plays with me, I kill like no other man has killed before, then my soul rips me apart.

Lord Talon


Battle....


Battle!
I can hear the drums on the horizon,
I can feel the men’s anticipation,
I can taste their apprehension,
I see their shadows in their eyes,
Today will be a victorious day,
Even for those who fall,
Today we crush our foe once and for all,
Today we free ourselves,
Today we celebrate a nation,
Today we win!
Today will be remembered forever…Long live Zachania!

A passage from 'The Diaries and Poems of Lord Talon the Zararhakzar'
Coming soon.


Friday 1 February 2013


Do we ever really survive the battle?
The people I have killed are gone,
But I have to live with my actions forever,
Their faces curse me every day.

Lord Talon

The battle of Shardom

At the Battle of Shardom where five thousand of Lord Heikan's Fifth army were massacred.
On the morning after the battle when Lord Talon walked amongst the fallen bodies, fighting back the tears he spoke these words.


There are no words to describe this….
No words can come close to the bravery of their gallant actions.
No words can express their sacrifice,
No words can explain their pain,
Only tears…just tears for our fallen brothers.
Tears for their loved ones,
Tears for our nation.
They gave everything so we can live,
Let us always remember their courage,
Let us shout their names with pride,
Let the Fifth be remembered throughout  the passages of time,
Let us embrace their sacrifice and know their name with honour,
For they are heroes and examples for all of us,
They are heroes....... for all mankind.
LONG LIVE THE FIFTH!

Lord Talon