Roald Dahl's Hundred Birthday

This year is the hundredth birthday of the children's book author, Roald Dahl.

Born on the 13th of September 1916, to Norwegian parents in Cardiff, Roald Dahl's early life did have some downs (such as the deaths of his older sister and father in 1920) and ups (such as the playing a trick on a shopkeeper by planting a mouse in a gobstopper jar).  In 1939, the Second World War broke out and Roald Dahl joined the RAF, fighting over Greece in early 1941.  After the War, Roald Dahl married Patricia Neal in 1953 an together had five children before their divorce in 1983.

But it is his writings that has made him more famous.  Books such as James and the Giant Peach, Fantiastic Mr Fox, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The BFG and Matilda have been a success and have been adapted into films (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory twice, the first with the late Gene Wilder and the second with Johnny Depp as Willy Wonka, and Disney has released Steven Spielberg's adaption of The BFG earlier this year) and stage plays.  Matilda the Musical won many Olivier awards when it first performed in 2010 including Best New Musical, Best Actor and Best Actress (one for each of the four girls who performed Matilda).

One short story I read involved a driver who picks up a hitchhiker on his way to the horse races, who encourages the driver to speed along the road on a dare when the driver (who narrates the story) tells of how fast the car can go, before being stopped by a policeman who takes notes, gives a ticket and lets them go.  The hitchhiker reveals that he's a "fingersmith" (another way of saying pocket-picker) and that he's got the policeman's notebook and the story ends with the hitchhiker suggesting that the amazed driver stops so they can get rid of the notebook.

Roald Dahl wrote film scripts for many films, such as Ian Fleming's Chitty Chitty Bang Bang in 1967 and You Only Live Twice in 1968.

Roald Dahl sadly passed away on the 23rd of November 1990.

Roald Dahl will always be remembered for his children's books, all of whom filled with colourful character, (such as Willy Wonka, Charlie Bucket, Grandpa Joe, Matilda, Miss Trunchball, The BFG, Sophie and Mr Fox) funny plots and the many words Dahl made up.  I hope that his books will continue to entertain children around the world.

15th Writing Blog - Some of my ongoing projects

Hi all, I thought you might like to know what I've been doing. 


In one of my previous blogs, I managed a project that was personal to me - it is nearly completed (on my last chapter, then there will be the need to correct mistakes).  This story was inspired by my friendship with a good friend with an interest in trains.  I have set this story into a Christmas setting with a couple of Scrooges.  I hope to expand my work on the story. 


For the Battle of Svalbard, I'm hoping to expand the world a bit more and explore some the world's history with a few more characters, and try to fill in some of the history between them. 


For the Runcorn Organisation piece, I'm hoping to expand that too with a new team for Jaguar (who is called Kelly Jones), who will be renamed Lion, and I might bring a mysterious lady into the storyline who follows the team and has, for some reason, Jones's full trust. 


I hope to bring some pieces I've worked on so you can read it as soon as possible. 

Arkwrights and TDP

I'm hoping to start a new project someday soon which is set in space and involves a couple of characters by the name of Arkwright and another character known as TDP. 


The characters called Arkwright will be a human characters who travels through space, helping and saving all that is good in the galaxy on a spaceship called the Red Kite.  TDP will be an unknown character who's name and deeds is unknown, but I hope to slowly reveal more about the mysterious TDP and the relationship with the Arkwrights. 


I drew my inspiration of TDP from the final scene in the finale of the seventh series of Doctor Who. 


I hope to whip something up for you to have a read soon. 


Happy readings. 

New Update on The Battle of Svalbard

I know that it's been a while since my last blog, but I have been busy with this story and other projects (one of them had personal reasons and connections). 


So far, I have rebooted the start of the story and have past the point when HMS Steel is sunk in battle.  I have done some further research into the era the story is based on and have started keeping my notes closer together in hope that I might expand the story, and hint of future stories featuring Captain Theodore Nelson. 


I hope to update you as the story comes along and get the story finished before long.  I even hope to continue my writing blog with other pieces as best I can. 

Update on The Battle of Svalbard story

I have decided that I will write the story The Battle of Svalbard over a period of time, but hopefully not too long.  I had already started writing, but I fell behind with the times and I have sort of reboot my writing of it.  The story's plot and main characters will be the same, but there will be a few changes to some things here and there, but hopefully not too many. 


The main plot is set in a timeframe similar to ours from the Napoleonic Wars to our present day, but with the countries similar to as they were pre-First World War, the League of Nations (our fore-runner of the United Nations) will be in place in this story's world.  The story will begin at the end of a nine year war against the Scandinavian Pirates and will tell how the wars ends. 


Link to a description of the hero's ship, the HMS Triumph: http://chriswriting2014.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/the-hms-triumph.html


Link to the first battle of The Battle of Svalbard: http://chriswriting2014.blogspot.co.uk/2015/01/battle-of-svalbard-death-of-hms-steel.html


Hope that you will enjoy the story once I have finished it. 

Runcorn Organisation's Task Team - Jaguar's Beginning

I hope to expand this piece into a series of a team tasked with commando-espionage in the story.  This story is set just before the team I’m hoping to write is formed. 

 

The flying craft was high in the clouds, silent as a tiger hunting in the moonlight. 

“Approaching the drop-zone.”  The Chief Pilot reported on the COM.  “ETA: five minutes.”

“Thanks Chief.”  Lion, the leader of the team, a man of about early thirties, replied.  “Give us the right spot and I may buy a bottle of red wine for your fiancée.” 

“A bottle? She’ll want a case!” The pilot reacted with a both men laughing their joke. 

“OK, everyone listen up!” Lion ordered his team, who were all wearing black commando uniforms.  “The vessel is called Upturn.  She is a passenger ship taken by Somali pirates just five hours ago.” 

“How many hostages?” Tiger, the team’s second in command, a lady of about mid-twenties, asked. 

“As far as we know, about fifteen hostages.”  Lion answered. 

“How many pirates?” Jaguar, a young man of about early twenties member of the team asked. 

“At least twenty,” Lion answered.  “According to a member of the hostages who escaped custody of the pirates, the captain is in the bridge with two of his best men, seven are in the engine room, five watching the hostages, and the rest are patrolling the ship.” 

“I take it that we won’t have time for sightseeing round the ship.”  Jaguar commented. 

“Afraid not,” Lion replied, “The pirates have issued a ransom for two million pounds to be delivered, with their captured drug lord.  The deadline ends in two hours.” 

“Let’s get going.”  Leopold, a man of about late twenties, piped. 

All of the team got up and started to collect their equipment and weapons. 

“Any plans for tonight?” Tiger asked Jaguar. 

“Apart from my uncle’s birthday, no.”  Jaguar smiled. 

“Wish him the best for us.”

“Will do.” 

The side door of the craft was opened.  “Final approach to the drop-zone Lion.”  The Chief Pilot reported. 

“OK everyone,” Lion spoke as his team finished fastening their parachutes on, “Let’s go.”  And with that, one by one, the team followed Lion out of the craft and into the windy night air with only the lights of the target vessel to guide their decent. 

 

The team glided with their parachutes towards the stern deck of the Upturn.  Jaguar, having the sharpest eyes, took his sniper rifle and picked off the pirates on guard on the deck.  All of the seven team members landed without a sound to their feet. 

Once on the deck, the team took off their parachutes and stuffed them back into the bags and tossed them into the shadows, Jaguar being the team patrol, watching out for pirates coming. 

Lion issued his orders: “Jaguar, secure the deck, then get your sights on the pirate captain.”  Jaguar quickly moved along the deck, checking every shadow possible the length of the ship. 

“Cheetah, find the hostages and let me know when you.” 

“On it Lion.”  Cheetah, the quickest lady of about mid-twenties member of the team, took off. 

“Leopard, Cougar, secure the engine room.” 

Leopard and Cougar disappeared into the depths of the ship. 

“Cheetah finds the hostages, we’ll take out the rest of the pirates.”  Lion order Tiger and Snow Leopard as Lion checked his pistol. 

 

Jaguar was at the bow of the ship within seven minutes and five kills.  He kept to the shadows as he spied the pirate captain through his sniper rifle’s scope.  “I’ve got the pirate captain in my sight Lion.”  He reported over the team radio. 

“Wait for my word.”  Lion replied back. 

“Copy that.”  Jaguar responded. 

 

Leopard and Cougar entered the engine room without the slightest sound.  Leopard was the first to dare a look inside.  He could see three of the seven reported pirates.  He nodded to Cougar. 

“Lion, we’re at the side door for the engine room.”  Cougar radioed his report. 

“Copy that, wait for my command.” 

“Roger that.” 

Leopard and Cougar tightened their grips on their assault rifles. 

 

Cheetah walked down the maze of corridors in the ship.  She has already found two pirates on his way, both of whom she took out without a sound.  She slowly opened a door into the great hall of the ship and looked in. 

“Lion,” she radioed, “I’ve found the hostages, no more than ten pirates in there.” 

“Can you take them out?” Lion asked over the radio. 

“Easy.”  Cheetah snorted. 

“OK everyone,” Lion called on the radio, “Ready.”  Everyone held their breaths, “NOW!”

 

Jaguar has never missed a shot in the nearly five years in serving the Runcorn Organisation.  His shot made its mark between the pirate captain’s eyes.  The captain’s best men were quick to follow by Jaguar’s shots.

Leopard and Cougar swiped through the engine room with their firepower and their infamous flying knifes, leaving seven of the pirates dead within two minutes. 

Cheetah entered the great hall from one door while Lion, Tiger and Snow Leopard burst from another and within ten shots, the hostages were no longer hostages.  And within the next fifteen minutes, the ship was free. 

“How can we thank you?” The ship’s true captain asked Lion as the flying craft had its final approach beside the ship. 

“You don’t need to thank us.”  Lion answered.  “Just avoid this part of the world in future.” 

“Will do.”  The captain shook Lion’s hand before Lion lead his team back onto the craft. 

“Well done everyone.”  Lion said to his team has the craft flew homewards. Lion checked his watch, “Looks like we have completed our last mission with a new record, by one minute.”  Lion looked at Jaguar as he placed his rifle back in its place. 

“I hear that you are staying an agent.”  Lion spoke to Jaguar. 

“Yes, sir,” Jaguar answered, “I feel better doing the fieldwork than being an office worker.” 

“Well then,” Lion held out his gloved hand, “On behalf of this good team, I wish you the very best of luck with your new team.” 

Jaguar took and shook Lion’s hand.  “Thank you, Lion.” 

 

I hope that you will find this piece interesting to read. 

10th Writing Blog - Description of Davidina

I'm hoping to include this piece in the story Louisa Todd and the Lost Gems. 


I would like the reader to note that the characters are animals, just like with the description of Captain Martin Nelson.  Mind that this piece might be rewritten. 


     Lady Todd entered the room and saw her.  The vixen Davidina was sitting beside a table in the office, playing an Irish fiddle.  The tune was sadly mournful, but what took, Todd's breath away as the fact that Davidina showed the looks of an experienced violinist, despite looking of about ten years. 
     "How long she been like this?" Louisa asked Officer Chang. 
     "Ever since we brought her here."  The mouse answered the vixen lady.  "After she saw her father's body, she just took her violin and started playing."  He and Louisa looked at the player, "And I must say, she is good." 
     Louisa watched as the violinist went from mournful tune to ceilidh tune (the song Granuaile's Dance Louisa was sure), her right foot tapping the floor for a moment before she got up and started dancing around the room, waving her long black wild hair in her wake.  The sight took Louisa's breath away again as she watched Davidina play till the end of the song, turned to face her audience and bowed. 
     "Unbelievable."  Louisa said under her breath. 


I hope that you like this piece and hear what you think of it.