I’m a special needs teacher living and working in Devon in the U.K. Apart from writing I enjoy reading, Chess, sailing and playing strategy games. I keep very quiet about it but I’m also a Harry Potter fan.
I’m married with two step sons and a grown up foster son.
A True Wizard is my first attempt at writing a book. I’ve always enjoyed fantasy fiction and had lots of my own ideas for a story. Being dyslexic I’ve always been reluctant to have a go writing any of these down until an author friend of mine encouraged me to do so. After hitting 30k words I started believing I might actually finish the book so I started this blog just in case I ever publish it. I have now finished the first draft all 90k words of it!
I have got the blog bug and I want to write about other things not just my book! I’m working on the theory the more I write the better I will get at it. Of course there is a flaw in my thinking otherwise the late Barbara Cartland would be the greatest writer ever. Despite this, welcome to my blog, please leave a comment.
Thanks for reading.
Kudos to you Eric for being a Special Needs Teacher…Awesome work! I should take inspiration from you and get back to writing the manual I started on years ago!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I get paid for it! What’s your manual about?
LikeLike
My Life Story! The diversity, passions, hungers, and desires of growing up part African, Cherokee, and Irish American! Struggles and Excitements! Understanding the complexities of being a triune personality: loves and dislikes, wants and desires, and pains and sorrows! Ah, me so complicated! lol smile
LikeLiked by 1 person
You should finish it I would definitely read that if sounds fascinating
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ok, I will!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ok, I will!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for following my blog Eric. I wish you success with your book and look forward to reading some of it on your blog. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
thanks, the snippets I have posted are out of date, I must post and edited version
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Eric, nice to meet you. Thanks so much for following our blog. I hope you enjoy the stories of our journey. And don’t be a stranger – come on over and join the conversation.
Cheers
Alison
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks I will, thank you for following my blog
LikeLiked by 1 person
Keep going bro! It’s gonna be worth it in the end!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks I might old and grey when I finish
LikeLike
Hey Eric congrats on you 100 likes and keep writing and if you are old and grey does it matter? I was old and grey when I started and am even greyer now 🙂 So better late than never 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks
LikeLike
Congratulations on reaching 100! That is awesome. I think I need to take note from you and aspire to 100. Thanks!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Just keep posting but also reading and commenting on other blogs
LikeLike
It might be because I’m on my phone but I can’t get to your blog. Maybe check your profile that you have the correct address
LikeLike
Hi Eric! Well, I had no choice but to follow your blog…. you are from the UK (same), you are a writer (same) and… you are a special needs teacher – I am parent to a special needs child. So, it was kind of destined! Great to meet you and congratulations on your 100 followers! I recently started a new blog (I used to blog under my pen name) so I am slowly building up my following. Every milestone, no matter how big or small, is an achievement. I am looking forward to following your ongoing journey. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for your kind words I look forward to reading yours
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hey you’ve got a wonderful blog, Good luck with the book ! I’m sure it’s gonna be awesome just like your blog 🙂
I really enjoyed my visit here. Will come around for more. I hope to see you more often from now.
Have a good week ahead,
Zee ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks – I’ll check out yours too
LikeLike
You are always welcome to 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Eric! I wanted to reach out to you since we’ve recently connected, to invite you to my ‘connect with me’ series on sunday’s. I would be happy to have you check it out whenever you have the chance to do so.
http://befree2love.com/2015/09/06/connect-with-memix-and-mingle/
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ll look now
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for giving my blog a follow, after taking a look at yours I am interested and look forward to more of your posts.
LikeLiked by 1 person
thanks I hope you find something of interent
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hey Eric, thanks for following my blog. I certainly will read yours! Hope your day is a good one! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
thanks
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for following my blog!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hello! I’ve nominated you for the One Lovely Blogger Award, I’m not sure whether or not you’ve done it, but I definitely think you deserve to! 😀 I hope you find time to do it, and have fun doing it! 😀 Thanks, Matt.
https://mattandhiscats.wordpress.com/2015/09/27/one-lovely-blog-award-2/
LikeLike
Best wishes on finishing your book! It took me 10 years to write my first one–but now I have two and am working on the third, so it can be done. ^_- Just keep writing!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks hopefully it will not take me that long!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Eric, Thanks for the follow and liking my “The C Word” post. I enjoyed the Five Things I Hate post and am thankful you didn’t continue with the “yeah” part. >ToLife<
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m glad you like it
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Eric, my 3D world has taken a whirl. Sorry for the delay in responding. Thanks again for your article. >ToLife<
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nice to meet you via blogging…I look forward to reading more of your posts!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I look forward to reading more of your posts as well.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Eric – Thanks for dropping by and leaving a couple of comments – it’s what keeps us all alive out here. I too, am a special needs teacher at the secondary level – such a privilege – although, currently, I am on disability. Devon is one of the places on my bucket list, having travelled most of the rest of the UK, I have not ventured there yet. My husband and I were scheduled to visit three years ago, when illness struck – oh well, another time. Maybe for now I will just facetiously live it through you.
Oh, and Eric – I’ve found that the compulsion to edit, edit, then edit again can be a hindrance to writing (I too am writing a novel, and am stuck on the first part for this reason). Reading your blog, I know realize that I may have to let this go if I am to move forward. Thanks for the insight, lol.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for the comment. Editing is tricky too much and you lose your love for writing but not enough and it ends up less than it could be. I am not working to a deadline so I’m trying to write the best book I can. Having said that I wish I could get to the end of the re-writes and start part 2!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Best of luck both with your book and with your job!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Eric, Thanks for the follow. I wish you all the best for your writing. I’ll be back for a visit. Cheers,
Jo
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks. Sorry about the late reply I’ve been poorly.
LikeLike
No worries, hope you’re feeling better 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks I’m better than I was but colds take forever to go.
LikeLike
Nice site I’ll explore a bit. Thanks for following me! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
No problem I will take a proper look at yours at the weekend
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for all the likes on my blog Eric, I appreciate it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
No problem I enjoyed reading your posts.
LikeLiked by 1 person
A pleasure to meet you Eric. Thanks for visiting and following my blog…I certainly enjoy reading your posts. Blogging is a great way to improve writing skills…gets one into the habit of writing daily.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It has mad a huge difference to me. Thanks for following my blog.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I can settle for that this year. Thanks
LikeLike
Thanks for coming in to see me at Steve Says…come again, stay a while – have a drink even! Happy blogging and don’t forget to follow my music blog talkaboutpopmusic.net. Cheers, Steve…
LikeLike
Ohh a drink sounds good
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Eric,
I was taking a look through your blog, and I’d love to contribute to your blog as another aspiring writer? Maybe in an interview, or something?
LikeLiked by 1 person
That would be great let me have your e-mail address
LikeLike
terrystories@gmail.com 🙂
P.S. You can read the first chapter of my novel here: https://octotea.wordpress.com/love-fantasy-read-the-moon-king/
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nice meeting you, Eric! I wanted to say hi and thank you for following my blog. I’m looking forward to seeing what you write after reading your post on goals -it made me smile.
thanks again!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m glad you liked it. Thanks for the follow. I will check yours soon
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Eric!
I’ve been follow you for quite some time now and I’m trying to take tips from your blogging by blogging more myself. I just wrote a post yesterday and I’m wondering if you’d like to check it out and give me some tips?
LikeLiked by 1 person
You have inspired me for a new blog post. Before that I’ll give some quick tips but I don’t claim to be an expert.
1. write for yourself don’t just produce content you think others will like.
2. Mix it up a bit, if you are comfortable to do so ocassionaly write about your life as well as writing. You followers will be interested with you as a person.
3. Use tags and hashtags, once I worked this out I got more followers.
4. Engage with other bloggers, like you are now.
5. Post regularly, I post three times a week. Saturday, Monday and Wednesday. Don’t let in run your life thou, do what works for you.
6. Carry on. I had a quick look at your blog, wil have a proper look when I have more time, but look very good to me. It has content I would read, I should say will read. It takes time to build up a following, but it will come.
Hope that helps, I will re-blog something of yours soon that might get you a few more followers.
LikeLike
Hey Eric,
You are a super star. I was not expecting this much great advice! I’m taking it all to heart and definitely going to try to implement some of it (I don’t have the time currently to write 3X a week). Thanks so much, perhaps we can carry on the conversation through email? terrystories [at] gmail.com 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
You don’t need to post three times a week just pick what you can do
LikeLike
hello, I’m glad I can read you, it is very interesting, sincerely. Have a nice day 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you I hope you had a nice day too
LikeLike
HI Eric, I was just wondering if we will be seeing you at the Bloggers Bash in London on June 11th? Would be great to meet you! If you are coming can you send us an email to annualbloggersbash(at)yahoo(dot)com by Wed 18th May. Thanks! Hope to see you there, Ali
LikeLiked by 1 person
I was hoping to but we have had to many disasters costing money so I can’t really justify spending £200 on a night out. I hope to make it next year. I hope you have a great night with it.
LikeLike
Oh no! I’m sorry to hear that. Well I’m sure the BB will be back next year. Hopefully see you then. 😊
LikeLike
It is sad but I would have to break in to the holiday savings, which wouldn’t be fair on the kids. I look forward to seeing the photos.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m sure there’ll be plenty of those doing the rounds! 😁
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Eric, thanks for following Starship Gypsies.
I’m also in Devon and I’ve had plenty of experience parenting a special needs child, so kudos to you for the job you do.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks. Your co-author asked me to take a look at it and give some advice.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh really? Ok.
LikeLike
Only if you want me too
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m easy, it’s only a bit of fun really, but all feedback is welcome.
LikeLiked by 1 person
…oh, and you followed my personal blog, too, cheers!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hello Eric! I have been reading so much from your blog lately and now that I got to know you are a special needs teacher, I look forward to the book you are trying to write since i am sure you would include your lovely experiences with your students in it too.
But before that I took the liberty of tagging you in the three day, three quote, three tagged challenge here: https://dementiasdiariesdd.wordpress.com/2018/05/02/three-days-three-quotes-three-tagged-challenge-3d3q3t-day-3/
I hope you would go the extra mile and participate with full enthusiasm 🙂
Thanks,
M.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi, I will pop over and take a look at the 3 day quote thing, might have to wait to the weekend thou.
My book is a fiction and I wouldn’t be allowed to write directly about my students it would be a breach of their privacy and I would probably be banned from teaching. Having said that I’m sure all my experiences feed in to my writing or at least I hope they do. I do use personality traits, names and sometimes physical features of people I know so my student will be mixed in there somewhere.
It’s really lovely when someone shows an interest in my book, thank you so much it’s very encouraging.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I understand the confidentiality that is required of your profession Eric.
“I do use personality traits, names and sometimes physical features of people I know so my student will be mixed in there somewhere.” – This is precisely what I look forward to reading because art lies not in imitating life but recreating it 🙂
My best wishes for your book – now and always
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi, I am July, nice meeting you here 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s nice to meet you too. I look forward to reading your blog.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ll try my best 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person