The Docks: Final Proofs

We have just received the final proofs for our next publication "The Docks" by V.H. Folland and it looks excellent. It doesn't read as a 96 page paperback, but as a full length novel that surprised and enthralled our reviewers.

To celebrate its release we will be at the launch and are looking forward to its success. The launch will be taking place at Farthing Books on 24th November with a book signing during the day and launch party in the evening.

And just to add spice to it, the sequel "Conflict of Interest" is going through its final editing and we look forward to releasing it soon.

A new start

It's been a while since this blog was updated. For some reason, it is always at the bottom of the list of things to do while running a business even though it is such a useful tool.

Not just to let people know what you are up to, but to be able to look back as a written journal of things accomplished rather than a set of accounts or statistics to be looked over.

With that in mind and with a few things that are probably worth talking about, maybe it's time to start writing about what's going on.

Easter Offer for Fire Season on Amazon Kindle

For Easter, Fire Season by VH Folland is now 99p on Kindle. (For US and German readers, it has been similarly reduced on Amazon.com and Amazon.de.)

The story of a remote airstrip in Fire Season, the novel has been well received. Following the busy paperback launch at ExCel, the Kindle edition is now following suit with this promotion which marks Ragged Angel Ltd's first venture into e-books outside their Principia Malefex game line.

"It was a wonderful book about a community in action, a great vacation book." EK Family Reviews

"...hidden twists and turns paving Folland's well-laid path of adventure all the way to a thrilling conclusion." J. McAlpine CR5 Magazine

For the duration of the offer, the reduced rate is available from Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de or Amazon.com.

More Details here Fire Season on Kindle

Fire Season on Amazon

A brief update to say that "Fire Season" by VH Folland is finally in stock at Amazon.co.uk. It has taken a while from sorting out distribution to getting it on Amazon's metaphorical shelves, but I believe it is worth it.

There are more copies on they way, so if the ones there do go there will be more available shortly.

This means anyone waiting can go and buy it now.

Fire Season Kindled

Fire Season has now been uploaded and is live on Kindle. It has now appeared on the Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk sites

We are currently amending the prices, as due to a VAT confusion, Amazon is charging more than we requested.

This detail will be correct by tomorrow.

Fire Season will Kindle 2nd April

...or to be more precise Fire Season by VH Folland will be released on Kindle on the 2nd April 2011.

It will be available directly from the Amazon website, rather than through a third party, and will be available in both the US and Europe.

The Kindle version will be cheaper than the paperback as, after all, it will not have the wraparound cover and is only available on Kindle.

The choice to release through Amazon came down to the fact that Amazon, unlike many of the other .mobi publishing services, allows you to download and preview the file. It also means that existing reviews for the paperback version can be linked to it, which always helps.

More details to follow.

2011 Update

A brief update on what has happened so far in 2011.

Fire Season by V H Folland.

The novel can be ordered through Waterstones Stores and is already available in some stores. It is also available online through Waterstones and The Book Depository, which will also ship outside the UK.

VH Folland has also written a prequel to "Fire Season" called "Arrival", which is available on Smashwords and free to download. It is well worth reading, not just for it's own sake, but also to get a taster of Fire Season itself.


Salute 2011
We will be attending Salute 2011 at the Excel Arena in London Docklands supporting Vulcan to the Sky, as we did two years ago. We will also be bringing some copies of Fire Season along as well.

Fire Season - Retailer issue & Christmas Orders

We were contacted by someone trying to buy Fire Season. This would have been fine, except that they had already ordered it from a retailer and wanted to know where it was. The retailer told them that they were waiting for delivery, but the book had now been out for a few weeks. We agreed this was odd and traced it back, placing a test order ourselves.

We were extremely disappointed to find out that the retailer had been taking orders for the book over the last months, without ever actually ordering any from the distributor. We are slightly surprised they are waiting for delivery of books they never ordered. When we did contact said retailer they were unable to explain why this was. Unfortunately as we are a small press, they did not seem particularly interested in making it right, or helping us to make it right to our customers.

Our apologies to anyone affected by this. We suggest that you cancel your order and use the link below to order directly from our Amazon store. We can't guarantee Christmas delivery but if we get the order by 10:00 on Saturday we'll give it a very good try.

• Fire Season

Fire Season Released

Fire Season, our first mainstream novel, was officially released today. (Unofficially, the snow is slowing things down but we'll overlook that.)

The story of a small airstrip caught in the middle of a forest fire, Fire Season has received good reviews from the initial copies we sent out.

"the ending had me, literally, sitting on the edge of my seat!" Ruth, Goodreads

"Thought provoking, emotional and compassionate, this is a book I could read again. A recommended read."Clover Hill Book Reviews

Why not try it yourself? Fire Season is available to order (thanks snow!) from all good booksellers, or online from Waterstones, Amazon or more.

• Fire Season (on Amazon.co.uk)

Featured Game - Lost in Blue 2

Title: Lost in Blue 2
Format: Nintendo DS

Lost in Blue 2 follows a similar story to the first game, Lost in Blue. Two teenagers are stranded on an island and need to survive and escape. It is certainly different to its predecessor, but not always better.

There are more things to do: a wider range of mini-games and more resources and items to make. It is possible to set up several bases and traverse the world, which is much larger. The island itself has slopes and odd angles, no longer the squared off edges of Keith and Skye's marooning, and the graphics and sound have improved.

The characters, however, are far less likeable. You can play as either, but your companion will be of limited intelligence and resents being asked to contribute to their own survival unless bribed. While Skye's helplessness is excusable - she's effectively blind - it's less forgiveable in an able-bodied adult.

Once again however, multiple endings and a lot of mini-games make this one fun to play and the additional of dangerous animals and natural disasters give it a whole new angle.

Featured Game - The ABC murders (DS)

Title: Agatha Christie: The ABC Murders (Nintendo DS)
Format: Nintendo DS

This is one of the few games that I am lukewarm about, but will highlight anyway because it may be good for its target audience.

Based on Agatha Christie's The ABC murders, the idea of solving the case as Poirot is delightful. Unfortunately this game does not live up to that promise, as the game is extremely linear. Rather than gathering clues and deducing information, the game is simply a series of interviews, with puzzles which have been worked in rather artifically. Nearly every witness asked you to work out a math or logic problem before they'll co-operate. The other issue is the touchpad which makes putting the right answer in trickier than working it out.

I have to admit I abandoned this when I got bored hlafway through. However for a younger age group or inexperienced gamers, this could be fun. The problems are of the level of standard school maths ("If two trains leave x at y o'clock at b speed, which train gets there first?") and the story is gripping.

If you can get past the touchpad issue, this might be one to keep younger kids amused for a while - just keep pad and paper handy for your workings!

(For adult gamers, the Adventure Company's Agatha Christie Series on PC and console give a beter experience.)

Featured Game - God of War: Chains of Olympus (PSP

Title: God of War: Chains of Olympus (PSP)
Format: Sony PSP

Kratos came to the PSP with nearly the full God of War experience on Sony's handheld. Set between the first two games, it sees Kratos being sent to prevent Morpheus God of Dreams from taking over the land.

The game manages to pack in the brutal combat, superb graphics and excellent story we expect of this game line, and is well worth buying for any fan of the series. As you can probably tell, I loved this game.

Featured Game - Loco Roco 2 (PSP)

Title: LocoRoco 2 (PSP)
Format: Sony PSP

Loco Roco 2 is the sequel to the innovative Loco Roco, and continues where the first game ended. With the same bright characters and simple control system, this is an easy game to pick up and play.

Once again, the main task is simple to get all the coloured blobs - Loco Rocos - from one end of the area to the other, by tilting their world and letting them roll. As always there are dangers along the way, and you need to find as many of your fellow Loco Rocos as possible.

Although the main task remains the same, the scope of the game is wider, with more minigames and hidden extras. If you liked the first game, or are a fan of puzzle games in general, this game is for you.

This game, and its forerunner, were so popular that several versions have been released, including Platinum and Essentials editions.

Featured Game - Patapon (PSP)

Title: Patapon (PSP)
Format: Sony PSP

A simple rhythm game with basic graphics and addictive gameplay. You control a small group of Patapon warriors, who you move around the screen by beating out a rhythm on the drum they carry. Different rhythms mean they move, defend, attack or summon greater power.

It is a fun game but does require a sense of rhythm which, unfortunately, this reviewer does not possess. Despite that inor problem it is still extremely enjoyable and easy to get hooked.

Overall this is a simple yet extremely addictive game, and one you will find yourself tapping along to, hoping that the little creatures you control can make it to the end of the level without missing a beat.

It also has a sequel, Patapon 2, for gamers who couldn;t get enough the first time round.

• Patapon 2

Featured Game - Warhammer 40,000: Squad Command (PSP)

Title: Warhammer 40,000: Squad Command (PSP)
Format: Sony PSP

Playing as the hardened Ultramarines, your goal is to defeat the encroaching forces of chaos in this turn-based strategy.

You control a squad of six marines, each of which has selectable weaponry. The game is turn-based, with each side's movements and actions limited by their action points. Each scenario has a simple goal, which is usually to wipe out the enemy. The control system and options are not complicated but the camera is held in a (semi-)fixed position making it difficult to rotate the map to line up enemies.

If you enjoy Warhammer 40K, or are a fan of turn based strategy, this is one you should look at.

Featured Game - Dragon Quest Swords: The Masked Queen and the Tower of Mirrors (Wii)

Title: Dragon Quest Swords: The Masked Queen and the Tower of Mirrors (Wii)
Format: Nintendo Wii Console

Dragon Quest Swords is an odd game and one that lost out in part due to misplaced audience expectations. The look and feel of the game is pure Dragon Quest and a lot of familiar enemies and NPCs show up. Unfortunately this is misleading as it isn't an RPG. This game isn't a sprawling epic RPG, it's a first person hack'n'slash. This is definitely more Time-Crisis-with-a-sword than Final Fantasy.

The sidequests and exploration of the RPGs are missing. Instead you fight your way through waves if enemies while traversing levels where you can only move forward or back. The action sequences are on rails, and the plot is similarly linear. You can replay early levels for items and experience, but the gameplay itself is very basic, using the Wiimote as a sword to perform attacks and special abilities while your party member occassionally pops up to heal you or cast a spell.

Despite this, it is a fun game. Best played on a large screen TV with a bunch of friends who can mock mercilessly, it can be an entertaining way to pass the evening. Just don't expect a standard RPG.

Featured Game - Loco Roco (PSP)

Title: Loco Roco
Format: Sony PSP

This is one of the weirdest, simplest and most fun games for the PSP. You control a little yellow blob (a loco roco) which has to travel the level looking for other yellow blobs, while avoiding a host of strange creatures along the way. When you find them you can join up to form a larger blob, or try to move a swarm of smaller blobs to the level end.

The controls are as simple as they get: by using the controls you tilt the world and the Loco Roco rolls and falls around it as gravity dictates. With its bright colours and catchy tunes this is a game for all ages.

The game spawned a sequel, LocoRoco 2, with more creatures, areas to explore, and minigames.

The game was so popular that several versions have been released, including Platinum and Essentials editions.

Featured Game - Lost in Blue (DS)

Title: Lost in Blue (Nintendo DS)
Format: Nintendo DS (all versions)

Lost in Blue is the story of two teenagers stranded on an island after their boat sinks in a storm. As the only survivors, they have to find shelter, food and resources and eventually if they can, a way off the island. To make matters worse, Skye, the girl is functionally blind.

It's a simple concept and well-realised. Foraging, hunting and fishing are all covered by the game, as well as exploration of the island in an attempt to stay alive while waiting for rescue. Playing through as Keith unlocks a second mode as Skye, although this is decidedly more limited.

With multiple endings, and a second playthrough mode as Sky, the game has high replay value. Even better, it is suitable for almost all ages, although the very young may find it too challenging.

Featured Game - Ace Attorney: Apollo Justice

Name: Ace Attorney Apollo Justice (Nintendo DS)
Format: Nintendo DS

The last game in the Ace Attorney series, Apollo Justice introduces an entirely new cast. Cameos from existing characters tie the games together, but the focus is very much on Apollo as he tries to find his feet in the court system and win his first cases.

The prosecutor, a rock star called Klavier Gavin, is an unlikely someime-ally along with Trucy, an apprentice magician who proves to be tied closely with one of his cases. Apollo has his own ability to fall back on however: an uncanny knack of telling when people are lying.

Set years after the Ace Attorney games, Apollo Justice gives a new twist on the old format - even if in some cases it asks more questions than it answers. Definitely worth playing for any fans of the Ace Attorney games.

Featured Game - Beyond Good and Evil (PS2)

Title: Beyond Good and Evil (PS2)
Format:Sony PlayStation 2 Console

Beyond Good and Evil was a much hyped game when it game out, and it deserved the plaudits. A mixture of action, and RPG, you play Jade a young photographer caught on a planet that is being invaded.

Caught between the invading Domz and the Alpha section, Jade joins the resistance to find out the truth about what is going on. This involves sneaking into heavily guarded bases to catch events on film as they happen. These photos are then integrated with underground broadcasts to win over the people.

It's a simple concept, and despite the sci-fi overtones the world of Beyond Good and Evil feels real. The script is sharp, the characters beliveable, and the game a great deal of fun for gamers of most ages (the very young may find it difficult).

Although I played the PS2 version, this game is also available on Xbox and GC. The Gamecube version will play on the Wii.

• Beyond Good & Evil (Xbox)
• Beyond Good & Evil (GameCube) - also plays on Wii