Friday, 14 June 2013
Sunday, 3 March 2013
50% off Jay-Pea-Eyes - this week only!!!
Go to this link to obtain 50% off your mystery/whodunit book for children:
There is a voucher there for you to use to get your 50% discount - happy reading!
Feel free to contact me on http://www.johnpriest.co.uk to discuss Jay-Pea-Eyes aka Junior Private Investigators.
Remember this offer closes on 9th March prompt!
Tuesday, 15 January 2013
How to use downtime positively
Using 'downtime' positively
So you've got no computer, no internet. What can you do?
Well the first thing to do is stay positive and use all the
things you've forgotten about since you started relying on computers.
1) Get the pen/pencil out and the note pad and carry on
writing! You can always type it up afterwards. If you don't want to continue writing
your latest novel/article that's half finished on PC, then get those creative
juices going and write the plot for your next book.
2) If you have a dictaphone then use that to get down some
ideas.
3) Local libraries - are fantastic and if you can't do
without feeling that plastic keyboard beneath those fingers, then use the
library facilities. They normally have free access to computers so give it a
whirl.
4) Grab a few books while you're at the library or take a
trip to a book store. This is the opportunity to learn your craft or improve
your writing, and I don't think it hurts to read different genres in your
study.
5) Any novels/articles you're about to send out to
publishers/agents - read through and polish.
6) Any writing workshops that are advertised, phone up and
book in.
I'm sure there are more things you can be doing, but these
are a good starting point. Just remember it's not the end of the world when
your computer decides to collapse on you. In fact, it might be a refreshing
change!
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006F6360Yfor
latest book - Jay-Pea-Eyes aka Junior Private Investigators
How to restore your Apple iMac after a hard drive replacement
If you've read my other blogs or visited my site www.johnpriest.co.uk you will see that I
am the author of several children's books, the latest being Jay-Pea-Eyes aka Junior Private Investigators, a mystery whodunit for children.
Back in November 2012, I received an e-mail from Apple stating that there might be
a problem with some 1TB Seagate hard drives and it was my decision whether or
not I took it into the store for a replacement drive under the 3 year Apple
Care warranty.
When my 27 inch came back, there was still a lot of work to do regarding reinstalling software etc.
I finally have my iMac working how I want it work, and if
you want the same, just follow the instructions below or use what you think might help - but remember - everyone
has used their computer in a different way, so anything you do is your own
responsibility and I will not accept any responsibility for your actions! This is the method that worked for me and also
has my own conclusions. If in doubt, go to an Apple store!
1) IF YOUR MAC IS
WORKING - HAVE YOU MADE BACK-UPS OF YOUR WORK?
2) Get a pen and
paper and write down the steps you take, sometimes you can refer back to this
to make certain you did things correctly. Make a note of the date and time too
if you do the installation etc over a few days, it is easier to find sections
where everything went well - and sections where it went bad!
3) If your
machine is connected to the internet DISCONNECT. I found that it is too easy to
click on 'update software' and this software seemed to ruin the installation as
though it may well be too advanced for the 'older' system you try to put back
on from your CDs.
Example - say you
bought your machine with Leopard 10.6. 3 and
every piece of software works with that version.
BUT - if you now update say , Safari, BEFORE updating your OS (Operating System) you
may find it will not run it because your original OS is outdated. The main
priority is to get the ORIGINAL stuff back on your computer and then start
updates when you're happy the OS will cope with them.
4) I then turned
off my iMac and while off, inserted the INSTALL CD that came with my iMac. On
the CD itself it says to hold the 'C' key down.
So with the iMac off, I inserted the CD, held down the 'C' key and
switched back on. I held the 'C' key down until after the picture of the
grey/silver Apple logo came onto the screen and then took my finger off and the
CD loads up.
Following the CD instructions, I erased my drive first, but
it's entirely up to you. I felt it was better to clear everything and make a
fresh start.
So, from 4), a menu will ask you what language you want,
so click on one of these. To erase you now need to look at the TOP LEFT of your
screen and here you will see a Tab with UTILITIES
and click on it, then click on DISC
UTILITY.
5) Once in DISC
UTILITY - select or highlight the volume to erase, which is normally Macintosh HD
Note that this will
erase everything on that drive, so if happy with this and you have your backup, click ERASE.
6) Now you need to
QUIT the Disc Utilities so do this now by going to the top left of screen again
and clicking quit from the Disc Utilities menu.
7) Now you can
follow the instructions and INSTALL as
follows -
8) The Mac OS X Snow
Leopard Installer screen allows you to click CONTINUE.
Click AGREE to the license agreement appears.
The disk you erased. should now be highlighted with a green
arrow. Click Install.
A
status bar will appear on the bottom of the screen to show you how the
installation is progressing.
An
Additional Information screen appears, advising you that you operating system
has been installed. Click Continue.
Now that I knew the
OS was up to date I knew I could check for software updates BUT check them first! I wanted to see what the updates were and downloaded them ONE AT A TIME,
recording the version e.g. Safari 5.0.5
That's about it - the
only thing I'd say is that if it fails, just try again using the notes you've
made and adjust what you did or what you downloaded. It worked for me and it
should work for you!
http://support.apple.com
is the place to go for other queries and don 't forget there are lots of Mac
Forums where you will find helpful tips.
Wednesday, 7 November 2012
Jay -Pea-Eyes aka Junior Private Investigators
Hi everyone,
Just a quick message to let you know that my book, 'Jay-Pea-Eyes aka Junior Private Investigators' is free on eKindle, 9th - 10th November 2012.
It's a book for children aged 8-10yrs, over 230 pages and I've had some excellent feedback from children at my recent school and library visits.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006F6360Y
I hope your kids/grandkids like it!
Important Announcement:
World Children's Book Days
To celebrate the first World Children's Book Day, come and join in:
The Savoy Centre, Northfield Road, Netherton Dudley DY2 9ES and Empire Training Solutions will be holding an event to celebrate the day.
Children will be able to make their own mini-books and take away with them (parents very welcome).
The date is Friday 16th November. Times are 2pm to 6.30pm Don't be late! Any queries contact via my site here
Author John Priest will also be there to answer any questions and autograph any copies of his children's book:
Jay-Pea-Eyes aka Junior Private Investigators
Solving crime is simply child's play ...
Monday, 20 August 2012
For my regular blog I was trying to think of something really interesting or exciting that would link into my recently published book; Jay-Pea-Eyes aka Junior Private Investigators.
Having already written a few paragraphs about it previously, I wondered if I should write something totally different, something about Near Death Experiences or Ghostly Happenings (perhaps next time).
I then started thinking about my two wonderful grandsons; what will they think of my books when they get to the age where they can read them on their own?
And who actually buys a book?
Is it the child? A friend of the child? Brother, sister, uncle, aunty? The parent? The grandparent?
That started me thinking about grandparents, so here goes, my blog on ‘Grand-parenting’ ;-)
Anyone reading this will most likely have been through the excitement of the birth and growing up of their own children. As your children get older, they rely on your guiding them onto the right path to (hopefully) a successful and happily fulfilled life.
You will know that being a parent is one of the most difficult tasks anyone could ever take on, it involves patience, understanding, caring, loving, patience, empathy, nervousness when they are ill, and patience - not to mention patience, or did I already say that?
Seriously though, everything you know as a couple trying to make a start in life, everything that you think you know, goes flying pretty fast out the door. There's no longer anyone in the house like your own parent, (although some might be fortunate to have them living with them), no-one to ask or discuss things with or to make decisions with apart from your partner who is usually as new to this as you are!
Phases
My mother-in-law who I love dearly (and have called her ‘Doctor Betty’ for all the knowledge she has given me over the years), always said that things happen in ‘phases’.
These phases are what you go through in this life, first as a couple and then a family. As a couple without children for example, you purchase a second hand car or if lucky, possibly a two door soft-top. Over the coming years you might get the opportunity to have another one or two sports cars before deciding on having children.
And this is when the next phase kicks in - things start to change, the sports cars have to go, a more sensible car purchased, four doors, with child seat. Or two child seats.
You have to buy a car that your parents would have owned – and one that you would have said you would never get in, never mind buy one. An ‘old persons’ vehicle. Hah!
Then you get to the phase where, twenty or so years later, you have seen your own children leave the family home to start their own family.
Now you can get that sports car you dreamed of, or go on those nice holidays with the extra money that you have saved from no longer supporting your kids in the family home.
It's great isn't it? Well I suppose it could be, if you could still get in and out of that sports car without pulling a muscle and looking for the muscle rub or anti-inflammatory cream.
We are older (and hopefully wiser) and have more freedom; house paid for which gives us more money to spend on things we can still do. We might have investments and perhaps freedom from financial worries.
This is the time when we have that 'hallelujah' moment and realise we can stretch (yes, we should be doing lots of this) our thoughts to the purchase of another sports car; perhaps a motor home or even a tent if you can find somewhere to plug in the electric blanket.
And …this is the time when your children give you fantastic news - they are having their own children.
Having grandchildren is different to having your own children, how or why this feels like this I don't know, but it is easier. Maybe it’s because we have more time to spend with them, maybe it’s more enjoyable because you are not struggling to make ends meet. Who knows? All I can say is that this is the next phase; it’s back to forgetting the sports cars and getting a reliable family (yawn) car with plenty of seats and one or two child safety seats.
Children, grand-children, parents, grand-parents. They’re all phases, and you can’t beat ‘em!
I then started thinking about my two wonderful grandsons; what will they think of my books when they get to the age where they can read them on their own?
And who actually buys a book?
Is it the child? A friend of the child? Brother, sister, uncle, aunty? The parent? The grandparent?
That started me thinking about grandparents, so here goes, my blog on ‘Grand-parenting’ ;-)
Anyone reading this will most likely have been through the excitement of the birth and growing up of their own children. As your children get older, they rely on your guiding them onto the right path to (hopefully) a successful and happily fulfilled life.
You will know that being a parent is one of the most difficult tasks anyone could ever take on, it involves patience, understanding, caring, loving, patience, empathy, nervousness when they are ill, and patience - not to mention patience, or did I already say that?
Seriously though, everything you know as a couple trying to make a start in life, everything that you think you know, goes flying pretty fast out the door. There's no longer anyone in the house like your own parent, (although some might be fortunate to have them living with them), no-one to ask or discuss things with or to make decisions with apart from your partner who is usually as new to this as you are!
Phases
My mother-in-law who I love dearly (and have called her ‘Doctor Betty’ for all the knowledge she has given me over the years), always said that things happen in ‘phases’.
These phases are what you go through in this life, first as a couple and then a family. As a couple without children for example, you purchase a second hand car or if lucky, possibly a two door soft-top. Over the coming years you might get the opportunity to have another one or two sports cars before deciding on having children.
And this is when the next phase kicks in - things start to change, the sports cars have to go, a more sensible car purchased, four doors, with child seat. Or two child seats.
You have to buy a car that your parents would have owned – and one that you would have said you would never get in, never mind buy one. An ‘old persons’ vehicle. Hah!
Then you get to the phase where, twenty or so years later, you have seen your own children leave the family home to start their own family.
Now you can get that sports car you dreamed of, or go on those nice holidays with the extra money that you have saved from no longer supporting your kids in the family home.
It's great isn't it? Well I suppose it could be, if you could still get in and out of that sports car without pulling a muscle and looking for the muscle rub or anti-inflammatory cream.
We are older (and hopefully wiser) and have more freedom; house paid for which gives us more money to spend on things we can still do. We might have investments and perhaps freedom from financial worries.
This is the time when we have that 'hallelujah' moment and realise we can stretch (yes, we should be doing lots of this) our thoughts to the purchase of another sports car; perhaps a motor home or even a tent if you can find somewhere to plug in the electric blanket.
And …this is the time when your children give you fantastic news - they are having their own children.
Having grandchildren is different to having your own children, how or why this feels like this I don't know, but it is easier. Maybe it’s because we have more time to spend with them, maybe it’s more enjoyable because you are not struggling to make ends meet. Who knows? All I can say is that this is the next phase; it’s back to forgetting the sports cars and getting a reliable family (yawn) car with plenty of seats and one or two child safety seats.
Children, grand-children, parents, grand-parents. They’re all phases, and you can’t beat ‘em!
Tuesday, 31 July 2012
Nick's Writing Blog: Amazon Tagging: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
Nick's Writing Blog: Amazon Tagging: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
Thanks for the information Nick. Anyone who wants to look at Nick's post, feel free.
I'm still trying to get my head around this so if anyone wants to comment, feel free. As you can see, I'm still finding my way around 'blog land'
Thanks for the information Nick. Anyone who wants to look at Nick's post, feel free.
I'm still trying to get my head around this so if anyone wants to comment, feel free. As you can see, I'm still finding my way around 'blog land'
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