James the Third

James the Third (Unicorn, 2022) - a novel                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    February 1949 brings the shock news that the queen has given birth to a baby boy, who leapfrogs his older sister, Princess Elizabeth, in the line of succession to the British throne. Three years later, George VI dies.

How does the young king's reign affect the royal family? Who is his regent? What happens when he rebels and starts to mingle unrecognised amongst his subjects - much to the disapproval of his slightly older nephew, Prince Charles? And, in later years, after King James has been forced to marry a 'suitable' bride, what scandal is unearthed by Glaswegian investigative journalist, Rab Rainsmith?

This book offers an insight into life behind the closed doors of Buckingham Palace - perfect for fans of The Crown. A parallel tale of two sisters from London's East End (royal fans Lil and Peggy) exemplifies public reaction to unfolding events and describes the transformation of society from post-war austerity through to the last decade of the twentieth century.                                                                 

James the Third is available to order from Amazon:                                                                                    https://www.amazon.co.uk/James-Third-Maggie-Ballinger/dp/191441456X 

from Waterstones: (may be available in-store)                                                                                              https://www.waterstones.com/book/james-the-third/maggie-ballinger/9781914414565 

and from Unicorn Publishing group:                                                                                                            https://www.unicornpublishing.org/page/detail/james-the-third/?k=9781914414565    

                                                                                                 

 

Britannia's Glory - A Maritime Story

Britannia's Glory - A Maritime Story (Uniform, 2019)                                                                              Great Britain's Seafaring History Told In Verse                                                                                          

  

Since before Great Britain became an island, through the age when supremacy at sea established the largest empire the world has known, and moving right up to the present day, the nation's maritime history is told in a unique way, in this celebratory gift book - Britannia's Glory.

Written in memorable verse, with narrative side notes, quotations and a number of original drawings, it is designed to be easily digested and dipped into, (rather than swallowed whole). Offering comprehensive coverage, its topics include piracy, privateering, disappearing villages, smuggling, seaside resorts, the iniquitous slave trade and why the seas round our coast afford limitless potential for the production of renewable energy. The reader will discover elements such as wars, battles and (sometimes unconventional) naval tactics, alongside ship development, fishing, trade, ports, dockyards, lighthouses, maps and navigation.

There are tales of settlers, mutineers, heroic explorers and daring saboteurs, as well as ingenious inventors and other land-based folk earning their livings manufacturing rope or gutting herring. All contributed to a British history that looks so very different when viewed from the sea.

As a country, we may not know where we're going, but we certainly know where we've come from.

British fishermen, crusaders,                                                                                                                        Explorers, smugglers, traders,                                                                                                                      Inventors, convicts, settlers in the hold.                                                                                                        Pirates, shipwrights, whalers,                                                                                                                            And our navies' trusted sailors:                                                                                                                  Presented here, in verse, their history's told.                                                                                                       

Available to order from Amazon:                                                                                                                https://www.amazon.co.uk/Britannias-Glory-Maritime-Britains-Seafaring/dp/1912690160 

from Waterstones:                                                                                                                                      https://www.waterstones.com/book/britannias-glory-a-maritime-story/maggie-ballinger/9781912690169

and from Unicorn Publishing Group:                                                                                                        http://www.unicornpublishing.org/page/detail/britannias-Glory-A-Maritime-Story/?K=9781912690169                                                                                                                                                                       

Limerick

Greetings to Singapore,

Which visits here more and more. 

It is very good news,

This upsurge in views,

Which has now reached an all-time-best score.

My thanks to whomever is viewing in Singapore at the moment. I've had more than 7,000 visits from you in the last week - a record 'high' from one country. 

For details of my other books - Britannia's Glory and James the Third - please see the blog/post of each, both dated October 2024.

RIP Your Majesty

Her Majesty has slipped away,

And now re-joins her 'Strength and stay'.

Together for eternity.

Thank you, Ma'am, and RIP.

For details of my other books - Britannia's Glory and James the Third - please see the blog/post of each, both dated October 2024.

The English throne

We were ruled by Italians, then governed by Danes.

Next, a French Duke turned up and took over the reigns.

When the Tudor line died out, along came a Scot.

Then a Dutch Prince arrived here, believe it or not.

There followed the Germans, our future to forge:

Hanoverian kings, who were mostly named George.

After 1914, when the world went to war,

Our crown was rebranded - as British once more.

For details of my other books - Britannia's Glory and James the Third - please see the blog/post of each, both dated October 2024.

Don't spoil things now - alternative lyrics to Queen's classic "Don't stop me now"

After months of lockdown, the UK is gradually emerging and taking the first cautious steps towards a more normal existence. But this could all be ruined if people do not continue to abide by restrictions and act sensibly. 

These alternative lyrics to Queen's classic song struck me when we were driving to Sheffield Arena for our first vaccination jabs. 

They do fit the music, though a bit of practice may first be needed with a karaoke track!

Original lyrics are in italics. New lyrics are in BOLD CAPITALS.

Tonight I'm gonna have myself a real good time

FOR WEEKS, ALL OF US HAVE BEEN UNDER LOCKDOWN

I feel alive

iT'S BEEN SO GRI' I' I' IM

And the world, I turn it inside out, Yeah

AND THE WORLD, IT'S ALL TURNED INSIDE IN, YEAH

In ecsatsy

IN MISERY

So don't stop me now

SO DON'T SPOIL THINGS NOW

Don't stop me

DON'T SCREW UP

'Cause I'm having a good time, having a good time.

THOUGH YOU'RE WANTING A GOOD TIME

I'm a shooting star, leaping through the sky

WE'VE ALL STAYED AT HOME, DAYS GO SLOWLY BY

Like a tiger

ISOLATION!

Defying the laws of gravity

LONGING ONLY TO BE FREE

I'm a racing car

WE'VE BEEN PRISONERS

Passing by

STUCK IN JAIL

Like Lady Godiva

A CONSTANT FRUSTRATION

I'm gonna go, go, go

BUT TAKE IT SLOW, SLOW, SLOW

There's no stopping me

THAT'S HOW THINGS MUST BE.

I'm burning through the sky, yeah!

WE'VE MISSED OUR REAL LIFE MATES, YEAH

Two hundred degrees

WE'VE STUCK TO THE RULES

That's why they call me Mister Fahrenheit

THAT'S WHY WE MUST MAKE SURE WE GET IT RIGHT

I'm travelling at the speed of light

IN THE TUNNEL THERE'S A CHINK OF LIGHT

I wanna make a supersonic man out of you.

WE WANNA MAKE REAL SURE, THIS TIME, WE SEE IT THROUGH.

Don't stop me now

DON'T SCREW UP NOW

I'm having such a good time

IN YOUR RUSH TO HAVE A GOOD TIME

I'm having a ball.

AND LIFE'S STILL A PAIN

Don't stop me now

DON'T MESS UP NOW

If you wanna have a good time

THOUGH WE ALL MIGHT WANT A GOOD TIME

Just give me a call

AND MEET FRIENDS AGAIN

Don't stop me now ('cause I'm having a good time)

DON'T SCREW UP NOW ('CAUSE YOU'RE WANTING A GOOD TIME)

Don't stop me now (Yes I'm having a good time)

DON'T SPOIL THINGS NOW - PLEASE BE PATIENT FOR THE GOOD TIMES

I don't want to stop at all.

OR LOCKDOWN WILL HAVE BEEN IN VAIN

Yes I'm a rocket ship

WE'RE IN A FREEDOM SHIP

On my way to Mars

'NORMAL' IS IN SIGHT

On a collision course

THE GOING'S SLOW, OF COURSE

I am a satellite

BUT, OH, THE FUTURE'S BRIGHT

I'm out of control

WE'RE NEARING OUR GOAL

I am a sex machine

THERE'S A PLAN IN PLACE

Ready to reload

MAPPING OUT THE ROAD

Like an atom bomb about to 

IF WE DON'T FOLLOW IT, THE PLAN WILL

Oh oh oh oh oh explode

OH OH OH OH OH IMPLODE

I'm burning through the sky yeah!

LET'S KEEP COMPLIANCE HIGH, YEAH

Two hundred degrees

WE'VE STRUGGLED THIS FAR

That's why they call me Mister Fahrenheit

THAT'S WHY WE MUST MAKE SURE WE GET IT RIGHT

I'm travelling at the speed of light

THROUGH THE TUNNEL THERE'S A CHINK OF LIGHT

I wanna make a supersonic woman (out) of you.

WE NEED TO MAKE DARN SURE WE SEE ALL THIS THROUGH

Don't stop me. Don't stop me. Don't stop me.

DON'T SPOIL THINGS. DON'T SPOiL THINGS. DON'T SPOIL THINGS

Hey hey hey

NAY NAY NAY

Don't stop me. Don't stop me

DON'T SCREW UP. DON'T SCREW UP.

Ooh ooh ooh (I like it)

NO NO NO NO

Don't stop me. Don't stop me.

DON'T SPOIL IT. DON'T FOIL IT.

Good time, good time.

PATIENCE PATIENCE

Don't stop me. Don't stop me.

DON'T SCREW UP. DON'T SCREW UP.

(Guitar interval)

Oh I'm burning through the sky, Yeah!

WE'VE DISTANCED AND WE'VE TRIED YEAH

Two hundred degrees

WE'VE ALL WORN OUR MASKS

That's why they call me Mister Fahrenheit

THAT'S WHY WE MUST MAKE SURE WE GET IT RIGHT

I'm trav'ling at the speed of light

IN THE TUNNEL THERE'S A CHINK OF LIGHT

I wanna make a supersonic man of you.

(WE) NEED TO GUARANTEE WE'LL SEE ALL THIS THROUGH.

Don't stop me now

DON'T SPOIL THINGS NOW

I'm having such a good time

DON'T RUSH TO HAVE A GOOD TIME

I'm having a ball

OR CASES WILL HIKE

Don't stop me now

DON'T SPOIL THINGS NOW

If you wanna have a good time

KEEP WAITING FOR YOUR GOOD TIME

Just give me a call

DON'T DO AS YOU LIKE

Don't stop me now

DO AS YOU'RE TOLD!

('cause I'm having a good time)

THOUGH WE ALL WANT A GOOD TIME

Don't stop me now

KEEP LIFE ON HOLD

(Yes I'm havin' a good time)

'TIL IT'S SAFE TO HAVE GOOD TIMES

I don't wanna stop at all.

WE DON'T WANT ANOTHER SPIKE!

La la la la..........................................

Copyright Maggie Ballinger 2021

For details of my other books - Britannia's Glory and James the Third - please see the blog/post of each, both dated October 2024. 

Editing a novel

I've learned about the writer's craft.

Long finished was the early draft.

It's been some months since last I read it.

The time has come to do the edit.

"Be ruthless" is the key advice.

"Prune that script and don't think twice."

I thus embark upon this chore.

The mantra must be "less is more".

The mental scissors, sharp and sturdy,

Snip away the over-wordy.

They trim out all that smacks of "tell".

The adverbs disappear as well.

The key thing is but one refrain:

"Cut, and cut, then cut again."

Those parts that don't move on the plot

Are banished, as they're needed not.

The clues...the hints...have been curtailed,

Those scattered crumbs just faintly trailed.

Irrelevancies, too, have gone.

The finished work reads "twice upon".

A review of an untitled novel *****

The first stroke of genius is surely the plain cover, which gives away nothing of what's to come. And what's to come is minimalist writing at its finest. Take the unconventionally uncapitalized word "twice". This instantly intrigues. In common with the more familiar "once", we are inexorably lured into asking "when?". In the past? In the future? Or that ever-present bridge in the time spectrum of "now"? But, more pertinently, why twice? Why not thrice or often? The preposition "upon" also intrigues. Upon what? Surely nothing as mundane as a sofa!

The succinct plot leaves everything to the imagination. Who, exactly, are the characters? Can our first impressions of them be trusted, or will they transmute? Indeed, is anything quite as it seems? The potential for twists and turns is infinite, and the denouement is everything the discerning reader could possibly ask for.

This unusual novel is sure to have you turning every one of its 376 blank pages in your desperate need to find the answers to the many fascinating conundrums it presents.

For details of my other books - Britannia's Glory and James the Third - please see the blog/post of each, both dated October 2024.