Jace: “Writing has been my passion since I was 16.”

The advantages of self-publishing are numerous says author of the I Am Alive series Cameron Jace.

Amanda Hocking has sold over a million copies of her paranormal books through Amazon.

The American has written and published twelve books including The Grimm Diaries which is a young adult adventure that looks at the links between fairy tales and real life history.

Jace said: “There is a magic in the self-publishing world where authors can upload their books”

“You can then learn, study and rewrite the information you receive from reviewers which is priceless.”

Book one of the I Am Alive series has proved to be very popular with the novel reaching 30^th in the bestselling list online.

I Am Alive was originally released unedited which Jace confesses was an “unprofessional mistake,” but that despite the errors that people liked the story.

Jace admits “this was an important moment.” He said: “The success of the book lead to me having an audience demanding more of my work.”

Many reviewers have praised the book for being humorous and packed full of action.

The book is set in a world called Faya that is trapped under the rule of a brutal dictator called Hannibal Xitler. Every year teenagers are ranked on the scale of 1-10 to decide their place in society.

Jace said: “The ranking system is perhaps a reflection of modern civilization where people are judged on superficial details.”

If a person is ranked lower than the number five they become a social outcast a monster that is forced to fight for survival in a live televised show.

There are rumours amongst the contestants that they can escape the battlefield through an escape route called the Rabbit Hole. Many characters dismiss this idea as pure nonsense.

“The Rabbit Hole was right in front of Decca’s and the reader’s eyes, I can’t say much but one of the characters says something that explains where the Rabbit hole is.” Said Jace.

This is where the audience meet 16 year old Decca who has chosen to become a monster to search for her friend Woo.

In battle the teenager is caught between her feelings for Woo and rebellious heartthrob Leo.

“Leo is a famous teen prodigy who is ranked a 9 and has it all at a very young age” said Jace.

“His character will grow later in the series, but he is essential in showing contrast to the society of Faya.”

Woo is a “mystery.” Jace said. He adds: “He is an Anti-Hero which will surprise some of the readers.”

Decca’s feelings for Leo and Woo will be explored further in books two and three Jace promises.

History is often written by the victors and Xitler in his efforts to control the populace has changed the names of the digital age big hitters YouTube and Twitter.

Jace explains: “The use of the letter Z is illogical and allows Xitler to plant the wrong ideas into the people’s heads.”

Writing has been a passion for Jace since he was 16 years old, but he has a day job running a small online business.

“I’m just a regular guy that thinks of writing as a fun exciting world that I hope to break into soon.” He said.

 

(Copyright belongs to Cameron Jace)

 “Cameron Jace writes Romance, Science Fiction and young adult novels.”

We Are Open for Business!

Local representatives and distinguished guests witnessed the opening of a new Indian restaurant called The Silsila.

The restaurant is located in Rugeley on Horsefair which used to be known as the Old Ganges.

The Silsila is a non-licensed establishment which means customers will be able to bring their own alcohol.

Consumers who live within three miles of The Silsila will be able to have their food delivered for free.

Attendees were very impressed with the layout out of the restaurant and the friendly nature of the staff.

Rugeley Rugby club representative Martin Deridder said: “The restaurant was decorated really nicely and the atmosphere made the evening perfect.”

Guests received a three course meal starting with a baked cheese tomato salad with beef. The main course consisted of a chicken curry, as well as beef curry with a side portion of vegetables and for desert cake.

Pat Hancock a member of the Rugeley Traders described the evening as “wonderful.”

Hancock said: “I am sure we as Traders will look to help The Silsila in any way we can”

“I personally will be recommending this restaurant to my customers.”

Young artist Carrie Reynolds exhibited her own abstract pieces which provided added colour to the décor.

 Reynolds said it was a privilege to display her work at The Silsila and received good feedback from the guests.

Councillor Diane Todd who opened the restaurant said that the owner and staff had done a fantastic job in getting the restaurant ready.

She said: “The Silsila will become a huge asset to Rugeley and I hope many people will dine here for years to come.”

VIP guest Dan Statham said: “I will definitely be coming again the staff were friendly, the food was varied and plentiful.”

The staff were highly praised by the guests as being very friendly and helpful.

Staff member Shev Rahman described the opening of The Silsila as an “exciting new adventure.”

He said:  “The employees were on edge to begin with because we wanted to ensure everything was perfect”

“We have received excellent feedback from the guests and fingers crossed The Silsila will become a huge success.”

General Manager Zubair Ahamed said the evening was a great success and that everyone who attended had enjoyed themselves.

After the event Ahamed explained that the high standard of food and service should be a great incentive for attracting customers.

Members of the public who follow  @SilsilaRugeley via Twitter or like The Silsila on Facebook; http://www.facebook.com/SilsilaRestaurantRugeley will have the opportunity to receive discounted offers.

 

 

(Picture taken by Carrie Reynolds)

“The Silsila is officially declared open by Cannock Chase Councillor Diane Todd to the delight of guests and representatives.”

 

 

Let’s Celebrate!

Restaurant owner Mish Rahman is delighted to announce that he will be hosting an opening ceremony and party to signify the launch of The Silsila.

Over 70 distinguished guests and local representatives are expected to attend the invitation only event being held on Horsefair Rugeley.

He said: “This is very exciting as we have been planning this for quite a few months.”

The Silsila will be holding three competitions on its Twitter feed- the lucky winners will have the chance to open the restaurant, to win a table at the party, and to cut the cake.

The Silsila is located in Rugeley on Horsefair which used to be known as the old Ganges.

For customers looking to find the restaurant the postcode is WS152EJ and it should be easily locatable via a satnav or Google maps.

For more information about the grand opening of the restaurant please follow @SilsilaRugeley via Twitter or like The Silsila on Facebook; http://www.facebook.com/SilsilaRestaurantRugeley.

Young artist Carrie Reynolds will be showcasing her art in her first solo exhibition.

Reynolds admits she is “Apprehensive”- but that her work will interest the guests and public.

She said: “The art I intend to display is abstract pieces; my work is colourful and inspired by my emotions.”

The price of Reynolds work varies depending on the size and time she puts in to each piece.

On average for a mid-range piece that would cost approximately £60.

Rahman believes the event will be a success and that his restaurant will become a tradition for the people of Rugeley.

The Final Countdown!

Restaurant owner Mish Rahman is “excited” that his restaurant The Silsila will open to the general public on September 12^th.

He said: “We’ve been in the industry for over 40 years, and we have had a few successes along the way.”

Silsila means tradition and Rahman will clearly be hoping that his Indian cuisine will become tradition to the people of Rugeley.

The restaurant will seek to offer customers a variety of deals each week such as an Early Bird Special.

The Silsila is located in Rugeley on Horsefair which used to be known as the old Ganges.

For customers looking to find the restaurant the postcode is WS152EJ and it should be easily locatable via a satnav or Google maps.

For more information about the grand opening of the restaurant please follow @SilsilaRugeley via Twitter or like Silsila Rugeley on Facebook; http://www.facebook.com/SilsilaRestaurantRugeley.

Customers can expect “a warm welcome” says Rahman when they enter the restaurant.

He said: “It is my understanding that we will be the first non-licensed Indian Restaurant in Rugeley”

“This means customers can just focus on the food and not worry about paying over the top prices for alcohol!”

The Silsila will also offer customers a free delivery service for those who live within three miles of the restaurant.

On weekdays and weekends The Silsila will be open from 5:30pm until late in the evening.

Rahman is confident that his business can thrive and provide customers with a fantastic place to eat.

The Staffords Must Go

Cannock Chase MP Aidan Burley opposes the MoD's recent decision to scrap the name “The Staffords”.

He said: I understand that the decision by the MOD on which battalions to cut was made among other things on their recruitment record”

“This is quite surprising as unlike several army battalions in Scotland that are to be retained. The Staffords have had no history of poor recruitment.”

The Army is set to lose 17 major units as it cuts 20,000 soldiers by 2020.

Soldiers from both Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent for the past 300 years have fought together as one under the regiment name The Staffords.

The Staffords history dates back to Lichfield in 1705 where at the Kings Head Pub Colonel Luke Lillingston formed the 1^st Staffordshire regiment.

This includes service in countries such as Martinique, South Africa, Flanders, Gallipoli, Anzio and Arnhem. The Staffords have also fought in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Chair of the Staffordshire regimental Association and ex Stafford Dave Lovell has started an online petition to save the Staffords name.

He said: “Were going to fight to ensure the name of the Staffords is kept going and the Army continues to carry the Staffordshire knot.”

Defence Secretary Phillip Hammond when making the announcement to MP’s said changes are needed to fill the £38 billion black hole left by the previous Labour government.

Over 5000 soldiers have signed an online petition opposing the decision to scrap the former name of their regiment.

The Sentinel newspaper has combined its petition to keep the name of The Staffords with the Staffordshire Regimental Association.

Assistant Editor Martin Tideswell said it is pure “nonsense” to get rid of the name. 

Staffordshire MPs including Aidan Burley have written to the Prime Minister expressing their concerns this decision will have upon the soldiers and their families.

Burley said: “I hold out the hope at the very least the name and traditions of The Staffords can be kept alive”

“As part of the Mercian Regiment through a merger with the 1^st or 2^nd Battalions.”

Dark Knight Rises – Review

On a sunny afternoon in Cannock picture house I watched the finale instalment of the Batman trilogy.

Beforehand I had seen numerous trailers of the movie, which had made me by Sunday desperate to see Batman rise.

I have to say the film surpassed my expectations and the ending should satisfy the majority of fans.

Bruce Wayne is the focus of this film as we see him struggle to move on from the death of his best friend Rachel and his parents.

He's grief has led him to lock himself away from the outside world for over eight years.

After taking the blame for Harvey Dent's murders it becomes obvious that Gotham no longer needed Batman-which has left Wayne a broken man.

It is only when Selina Kyle appears that we begin to see Bruce Wayne reconnect with the outside world.

The villain of the film is a man called Bane who is brilliantly acted by Tom Hardy.

Sadly Hardy was let down by the editorial production team as the sound quality for his character is Poor. At times I had to strain just to hear him which is a shame because his voice when heard can strike fear into the audience.

Bane is probably the most successful super villain of Nolan's franchise as his terrorist plot plunges Gotham into chaos. His physical stature is matched by a glaring intellect.

He is truly a menace the likes of which Batman has never encountered before.

This provides for a brilliant battle between Batman aided by the police against Bane’s Army.

The action sequences of the film are beautifully shot and the Bat vehicle should leave many children asking their mothers to buy them one.

However, I was disappointed by the orphan motif that is used to connect PC Blake and Bruce Wayne together. The cop knows more about the billionaire than he should and it is preposterous that his information is based on the fact that Wayne is also an orphan.

Equally there is a young boy who also knows that Batman is a symbol for good which again makes no sense because the kid is possibly only eight and for eight years Batman has been known as a murderer.

But putting these negatives aside the film is just as good if not better than the previous two. 

The performances by Gary Oldman, Sir Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman highlight the acting quality which Nolan has had since the first film in 2005.

Without Wayne the film would not function this movie is not just about Batman’s rise it also signifies the rise of Bruce Wayne as he tries to rise above he's personal pain.

Nolan has also brilliantly connected the events of the previous two films as Batman's actions return to haunt him.

The film also contains a variety of plot twists that should surprise the audience, but they have always been there throughout the earlier films.

Cat woman is spectacular and she should gain plenty of male admirers from this film.

 Isn’t there just something ultra-erotic about a woman who can drop kick the bad guys?

Finally I would urge you reader if you go see the movie keep a close eye on PC Blake- He is very important.

Throughout it is hinted who he really is see if you can guess who he really is in the Gotham Universe.

The ending is very final and would make a sequel very difficult. It depends squarely on if Warner Brothers can convince Nolan to make another film.

There is always a possibility as Gotham will always need Batman.

                                       Rise for the final time for Batman.

Council backs a British tradition

Cannock Chase Council is delighted to announce that a new Indian restaurant is to be opened in Rugeley.

The Silsila will open its doors to customers on the 12^th of September.

Owner Mish Rahman said: “We have a good pedigree we have been in the Indian Cuisine business for over 40 years now.”

The restaurant will seek to offer customers a variety of offers each week such an Early Bird Special.

Councillor Diane Todd said: “I am extremely happy when a new business opens up in Cannock Chase.

“The Council will be doing all it can to support new businesses in our towns.”

The Indian industry is worth £2.5 billion a year to the British economy and over 2 million meals are served every week.

The UK is currently in recession and with consumer confidence at an all-time low- businesses must provide customers with a bargain.

Rahman said: “Our menu will be a recession buster.”

The restaurant will be operating unlicensed which will allow customers to bring their own alcohol.

Cannock Chase has seen the number of empty units in its town centres increase from 18 to 42 in just three years.

Todd said: “It is never good to see empty shops or units in Cannock Chase.”

However Rahman believes there is a clear opportunity for his business to flourish.

He said: “Customers will enjoy the food, the experience, the atmosphere and the service.”

District Councillor Andy Lovell agrees he said: “Any new business created in Rugeley is great news.

“It gives the people somewhere nice to go for a meal.”

Britain's love affair with Curry began 200 years ago when an Indian migrant opened the first curry house.

Former Foreign Secretary Robin Cook described Chicken Tikka Masala as a “British tradition.”

Silsila means tradition let’s hope this new restaurant will become tradition for the people of Cannock Chase.

“Sizzling Silsila why don’t you come and taste their curry?”