An ex-spy wakes up in an inescapable 13th Century dungeon; no light, no food or water and no way out!
The Devil’s Own Dice is book 3 in the Ordo Lupus and the Blood Moon Prophecy series. Find out more.
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Today’s News from: Rip – Find the Magic Key
— Yesterday’s was the last daily update from Rip – Find the Magic Key. —
I won’t be posting more daily updates from the world of Rip here because it’s too time-
consuming. But I will continue to do so on Twitter and Instagram so if you want to keep
up, go to:
Twitter: @Lazlo_F
Instagram: @lazloferran
Rip-Find the Magic Key: 2nd longest Western novel at 1 M+ words. Subscribe bit.ly/LazloFerran | Buy Vol 1 bit.ly/ripvol1 | Understand more bit.ly/inforip
Today’s News From: Rip – Find the Magic Key
— Brina is keelhauled. —
Brina didn’t remember what keelhauling was, but she decided she didn’t want to know.
Many of the ship’s crew stared at their feet while others dragged her to the bow.
“Do you think this a good idea?” she heard Devlin say to Brindley. “Suppose she dies? She probably will!”
“Then we won’t be docking in Tasman.”
“She’s only a woman!”
“Shut up Devlin. Do it now!”
The crewmen lowered Brina over the bow by the length of rope attached to her wrists while another sailor guided the other length of rope to the stern. He worked it under the moving ship’s hull and pulled it taught.
“Ready!” he yelled from the stern.
Six men lowered Brina to the crashing bow-waves, while three others hauled on the stern rope. Her feet touched the cold water, so she began to take deep breaths, taking her last a moment before her head went under. After that, she understood little of what happened, except that the sea battered her against the barnacle-studded planks of the hull and her lungs began to scream with the agony of asphyxiation. She held on as long as she could, feeling her chest convulse with its primitive urge to breath. The last thing she saw was a patch of light in the bottle-blue water behind her thrashing legs.
“You’re a lucky bitch!” a male voice said. “The Captain wouldn’t have revived anyone else but you!”
Rip-Find the Magic Key: 2nd longest Western novel at 1 M+ words. Subscribe bit.ly/LazloFerran | Buy Vol 1 bit.ly/ripvol1 | Understand more bit.ly/inforip
Today’s News in: Rip – Find the Magic Key
— Omah needs a shave. —
“I need a shave.”
“Let me show you. Take this off first.”
She tugged on the collar of his jumpsuit.
“Oh no! You’re not getting me naked that quick.”
“Ha! You’ll see us naked before too long. Don’t be shy.”
“No!”
“Alright! Just strip to the waist then.”
Omah unfastened the sticky front tab and peeled the smooth, metallic top down to his waist, rubbed his bare chest out of embarrassment and gave Archivist a lopsided grin.
Now look in the mirror and say, “Shave!”
“Shave! Hey! What’s this! I have a white mark on my chest. Like a key!”
“Yes. I thought it was kinda cute when we were shown your body in one of our first briefings.”
“Oh god! You mean you’ve seen me naked?”
“Sure! All of it. And you’re quite a healthy man.”
Omah blushed and replied.
“But what does this mark mean? Do you have it?”
“No. You’re the only one. We don’t know what it means. You had it when you came to u- … . Oh there, now you’re jumping the gun! Or making me! Let’s do the shave.”
“But wait a minute! At least it’s something not blue! And Controller; he seems very emotionless and blank. Are you all robots?”
Archivist’s laugh sounded like the delicate titter of a teenage girl.
“It sometimes feels like it.”
“Androids then? Cyborgs?”
Rip-Find the Magic Key: 2nd longest Western novel at 1 M+ words. Subscribe bit.ly/LazloFerran | Buy Vol 1 bit.ly/ripvol1 | Understand more bit.ly/inforip
Editing Services
I am a full-time writer and English Teacher (TEFL qualified with a Distinction) and now offer the best quality editing and ghost writing services. Yes, that’s right! With me, you get the whole package! You get the first ten pages of editing FREE!
Lazlo Ferran
Background
I have been writing for ten years and my experience has taught me what makes a truly amazing novel! This experience has not been gained without pain but I can save you some of this pain.
Everything comes down to two factors; 1) a good story and 2) good presentation. If you have a good story, you are more than halfway there. Good presentation starts with good editing and, as many successful writers will tell you, a writer is not the best person to edit their own work. Writers are usually too close to their book; they miss mistakes because they know what they wanted to say and this is what they see!
If English is not your native language, I can help you with an entrée to the English-speaking market at no extra cost, something not many editors will provide. Two of my previous clients did not speak English as their native language and both were very happy with the results. Even dyslexia is not a barrier, if you can write a good story.
I am an avid reader of all types of fiction and historical books and would love to help you develop your own work. I work fast and insist on reading your book and getting to know it properly before starting. If you would like help with whatever you are writing, contact me with details of your book. I need to know the word count, subject (genre) and intended publishing format (eBook/paperback or both).
Your first ten pages are FREE!
What you Get
I will proofread and copy edit the first ten pages of your book free of charge. There is no hurry! Take it away and think about it.
Below, you will find pricing options for the services that I can offer you. These are provided simply as a guide. If I edit your whole book, we can create a customized payment plan to fit your budget. I work very quickly and if I provide all three types of editing service to you at the same time so the results can be achieved more quickly. I provide all three editing services for a 60,000-100,000 word novel for £899, much less than separately (typically this would be £1100 for a 60,000 word novel). Be sure to ask about my special rates on series. I will always put in that extra little bit of effort to make sure your book is as good as it can be.
Books are my passion so I will always put your book first!
Contact me
Contact me with questions or to discuss pricing options at lazloferran@gmail.com
Thank you.
My specialities are:
- European High Medieval history (12th Century and 15th Century), especially settings in France and England.
- World War two, particularly in reference to aviation.
- Aviation history from 1936 to the present day.
- Science fiction, particularly high tech.
- Central Asian culture.
- The music business, especially the busking and the London rock scene in the ’80s and ’90s.
- Vampire history.
- Werewolf history.
Lowest Prices and Best Value:
Editing
- Proofreading = £5/hr – I will check for and marking up typographic mistakes for you. This is roughly £0.0075 per word. The rate is lower if I provide you with 2 and 3 as well.
- Copy editing = £6/hr – Offering suggestions for improved grammar. ( I am also a specialist in Medieval English language and Medieval history in general, WWII and Physics/science). The rate is lower if I provide you with 1 and 3 as well.
- Development and substantive editing = £8/hr – Make use of my ability to structure your novel for greatest impact. I offer advice on ‘deep edits’ to your work to make the most of plot, character development and pace changes. Expect major changes and some work on your end but this will lift your writing to a new level. It will always save you time and money, if you engage the development editor at the earliest opportunity, even before you start writing.
- Total Editing Package = All three types of editing for a 60,000 -100,000 word novel typically about £899 inclusive.
Which type of editing do you need? Take a look here to get an idea.
Ghost Writing
- Service = £6/hr
Contact me: lazloferran@gmail.com
My biography can be found here or in the menu above. Below is a list of books I have edited.
Follow this blog to read informative posts about my editing experiences. Check out the first article here!
Portfolio
The Journals of Raymond Brooks.
Amit Bobrov is a great writer from Israel. His first fantasy novel is the first volume of a sweeping epic.
Testimonial from Amit Bobrov:
“Lazlo’s the best editor I’ve worked with, and I’ve worked with a few. He took an already successful novel and found every imaginable flaw, corrected dialogues, fixed my grammar and altered key scenes to make them more exiting. He’s a fountain of creativity and knowledge. When I showed my Publisher his version of my novel they were speechless and this was a novel that three previous editor worked on.”
Only available in kindle, this is from a new writer Lami Kamikaze. Its very funny and takes an unusual view of the conflicts shaping the modern world.
Testimonial from Lami Kamikaze:
“Around three years ago, I wanted to write a novel. However, I was very afraid to write because English is not my first language. I was very lucky that Lazlo Ferran agreed to edit my book for free and encouraged me to keep writing. I wouldn’t be writing my first full novel today if he had demanded a fortune to edit my book. I would be happy to pay Lazlo Ferran for my full novel as he showed he is passionate about his work by correcting my story for free. He did not demand a fortune unlike other editors, whose work and integrity I sometimes doubt.”
Today’s News in: Rip – Find the Magic Key
— Omah learns about nano-generators, commonly called n-gens. —
“Ship!” he said out loud, not being able to remember the correct name of the intelligent machine. “Can you hear me? R19 or whatever you’re called. Ah, it had something to do with water. Now I remember. R1902, do you hear me?”
“I hear you Omah. But my correct name is R19020.”
“Sorry.”
“It’s okay.”
The ship’s voice was low, soft and soothing. But Omah couldn’t tell if it was male or female.
“Can you put the light on please? I’m not sleepy.”
The light came up to a comfortable day-time level.
“Thanks! Also, I need something to eat. I’m starving!”
“Your last century was the late 13th of the 6th Age. Do you recall it?”
“Some of it.”
“Do you recall microwave ovens?”
“Yes.”
“Now we have nano-generators. Some call them n-gens. They create almost anything, up to the size capacity of the generator, from a block of white plasma. To the right of your desk, above the bookcase, you will see its door. You may tell it what you want yourself by speaking clearly. But now I will do it for you.”
“I see it.”
“What would you like to eat?”
“Roast chicken with bread sauce, mushrooms, carrots, sprouts and gravy. Followed by hot apple pie and cream.”
“Coming right up!”
“You sound like one of those vid chefs!”
“When you see a red, flashing light, you can safely open the door.”
Rip-Find the Magic Key: 2nd longest Western novel at 1 M+ words. Subscribe bit.ly/LazloFerran | Buy Vol 1 bit.ly/ripvol1 | Understand more bit.ly/inforip
Today’s News in: Rip – Find the Magic Key
— Omah isn’t disappointed when he finds out Archivist wasn’t inviting him to have sex. —
“You didn’t sound very certain back there,” Archivist told him as soon as they had left the Ward Room.
“I’m certain of nothing right now!”
“I meant your choice … . The tour?”
“Oh.”
“It wasn’t an invitation for sex,” she added. He felt the buggy’s pace quicken slightly, keeping pace with her.
“I didn’t think it was. It just felt nice to hear somebody talking in a homely fashion. I guess it relaxed me.”
“Homely?”
Omah caught a glimpse of Archivist in a wall’s polished surface. He decided he preferred her dark brown hair to Soother’s black. He had to jolt himself out of comparing them both.
“Yes. My mother used to say, “Bed for you,” as if it were a state of being, rather than a place. Just like you did.”
“Oh. I don’t remember my parents. At least I don’t think so.”
“Now you don’t sound so sure.”
“No. You don’t understand … . Oh, it doesn’t matter.”
“Sorry.”
“It’s okay. They left most of your memory intact.”
A picture in his mind gave Omah another jolt.
“I think I just remembered my partner!” he cried out. “Her face!”
“Was she beautiful?”
“I guess. But I really miss her already. And it seems like only yesterday.”
“I’m jealous.”
“Sorry.”
Rip-Find the Magic Key: 2nd longest Western novel at 1 M+ words. Subscribe bit.ly/LazloFerran | Buy Vol 1 bit.ly/ripvol1 | Understand more bit.ly/inforip
Today’s News in: Rip – Find the Magic Key
— Omah wakes up after an unknown period of cryo-sleep. He’s not sure where he is or why the woman looks the way she does. —
The blue woman began to unfasten Omah’s sleep corset with practiced skill.
“My name’s Soother.”
Omah wasn’t a tall man and always felt inadequate until he knew whether a woman stood taller than him or not, and when he felt inadequate, he tended to be aggressively sarcastic:
“Soother? Is that your boyfriend’s pet name for you?”
“You can cut the jokes. I don’t have a boyfriend. Such concepts died long ago.”
“They did? Nobody told me.”
“How do you feel?”
“Hm. A bit angry. I think I argued with somebody last night. My partner?”
“If you did, she’s long gone. You should forget the argument.”
“What? What year is this? I think I feel sick.”
“Never mind the year. It’s a long time after your last memories. You’re a survivor.”
“Well that makes me feel a little bit better.”
“Do you feel like walking? It’s good to walk if you can manage it. It will help you to recover quicker.”
“Well, I don’t think I can walk. My legs feel like jelly. But I would like to take a look around … . If you don’t mind?”
“Not at all. I’ll get a buggy.”
Omah noticed the second disconcerting thing. It had been on his periphery for some time, but he had managed to ignore it. Now he no longer could. His arms were blue too.
Rip-Find the Magic Key: 2nd longest Western novel at 1 M+ words. Subscribe bit.ly/LazloFerran | Buy Vol 1 bit.ly/ripvol1 | Understand more bit.ly/inforip
