C.G.Ayling

Category: Acknowledgements

Acknowledgements to those that assisted me in completing Malmaxa.

  • Little absences.

    My twitter followers may have noticed I’ve been gone for a couple of days. The reason is that I needed to clean up an infection on my website by a nasty little rascal called the “Pharma Hack”. What this misguided piece of malware does, is inject hidden information into pages and posts that contain links back to websites selling various drugs – thus the name “Pharma”.

    The information is hidden from website visitors and serves the nefarious purpose of “Search Engine Optimization”. In the past, search engines such as Google ranked websites higher the more sites that linked to them. Therefore, by embedding links into pages these cheaters are attempting to increase the ranking of disreputable websites. Reputable search engines are well aware of this “trick” and now either disregard hidden links, or penalize websites for including them or being linked by them.

    As I have no desire for people in desperate need of {how to put this delicately…} “hardening” drugs visiting my site, I don’t mind being penalized. You know the variety I mean, those alchemical marvels that transform certain body parts into hardened steel {if the transmutation lasts longer than four hours, call your doctor…}!

    And now, to the title of the post. I discovered my site had been “hacked” thanks only to the efforts of an amazing person that many on Twitter know as @TwitCleaner – a now defunct product written by a real life human being named Si Dawson. Si responded to a tweet I made offering him free copies of my works, as I’m financially unable to make cash donations {if you’re able to, please visit his website – there’s a “contribute” button over on the right}. In taking me up on my offer, Si visited [Reviewers] to get my email address – he noticed the infection, and took time to inform and assist me in identifying it. Thank you again Si, A.K.A @TwitCleaner – your actions helped me, and did a lot to restore my ever-dwindling faith in the goodness of individuals.

    Anyway, to cut a long story short, cleaning up the infection took a ton of time I really don’t have, and the only pot from which I could pull the time, was Twitter…

    {P.S. if you’re a book reviewer or blogger please visit the link above – I’d love to hear from you.}

  • Very Inspiring Blog Award.

    veryinspiringblogaward

    A wonderful person I know only as Ursula nominated my blog for this award – more on her below.

    The Rules.

    1. Display the logo on your blog.
    2. Link back to the person who nominated you.
    3. State 7 things about yourself.
    4. Nominate 15 other bloggers for the award.
    5. Notify your nominees.
    {I’ll follow these, though the rebel within demands I re-sequence them.}

    The Link-Back.

    My nominator, is Ursula, from the blog An Upturned Soul.  Why Ursula decided to nominate me, she states upon her blog with her usual eloquence. I’m included in the list of people who inspire her, but I must wonder why… Only two reasons spring to mind. The first, that my tweets might inspire her, as hers inspire me.  The second, that she is reading Malmaxa, and sees reflected within its hidden depths, another world which touches her.

    Regardless of Ursula’s reason, her nomination means an enormous amount to me.  Her choice places me deeper in her debt – unlike matters monetary, this is a debt I am pleased to possess, and still more pleased to repay.  Ursula, you’ve granted me yet another memory I shall treasure, quite literally, forever.  Thank you.

    The Fifteen Nominees.

    Unlike Ursula, I had no difficulty in selecting fifteen bloggers.  Each of the following, in deliberately random order, inspires me in some way. For my reason why, hover your mouse over the link to their blog – it will reveal their twitter handle, and a hint.  I’ll comply with notification rule five, by tweeting each of them through Twitter – a continual stream of inspiration, least for me.

    Be warned, a click below will whisk you away, to another blog, at play,

    1. S L James Writing
    2. A Thought Grows
    3. Tuigen’s Wall
    4. Damaged & Dangerous
    5. faeries faeries faeries faeries
    6. Stephie Smith
    7. The Grumbling Gargoyle
    8. Sandra Gore Nielsen
    9. W.M.Morrell’s Musings From Down Under
    10. Iambic Utterances and Other Wayward Words
    11. Write Like A Wizard
    12. Write Now
    13. Amused By Books
    14. Rhyme Me A Smile
    xx. Daytime Insomniac
    15. sarah monagle, pondering it all

    Seven things, of me.

    Very well – each is true, yet cast within words which some might question.

    • I hail, from a land of five names, yet it is only called by one.
    • I am not as tall, as I used to be.
    • Though my brothers number four, there are only two.
    • Both of my twinned sisters bear the name, Elizabeth.
    • My name, is my own, yet borrowed from an honorable man.
    • Though I reside in Dublin, my soul remains bound to Africa.
    • My wisdom must be great, for I shed those teeth four times.

     

  • © 2011 by C.G.Ayling

    Malmaxa  I – Beltamar’s War

    Malmaxa Series: Book 1

     Copyright © 2011 by C. G. Ayling

    All rights reserved.

     http://malmaxa.com

    -or-

    http://www.cgayling.com/malmaxa

     Cover Art and Design: the Author.

     Cover model: Dannielle

    Cover Photo: John Kiss of Captive Images Photography

    http://captiveimagesohio.com

     This is a work of fiction.  All characters and events portrayed within this novel are either fictitious or are used fictitiously.

    All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book, or portions thereof, in any form electronic, paper, or other.

  • Acknowledgements

    Acknowledgments

    I would like to give special thanks to all those who assisted me in the creation of this work.  Letting the words flow from one’s mind is the easiest part of writing.  The difficulty is in tweaking it so you can stomach the thought of others, intolerant of your faults, reading the tale.   Since I have a way to go before I reach that stage, if indeed it ever comes, I beg the reader’s indulgence.

    Many people offered their assistance and their encouragement, of those two bear special mention:-

    Rosina Elizabeth.  My mother, stubborn, supportive, and tireless in all things.

    Charles Banks.  My father-in-law, sadly recently deceased.  Your encouragement lent me resolve to continue the tale.  I am truly sorry I could not complete the story before your demise, I think you would have enjoyed it.

    And now… to name some names of the helpful people who aided me, in no particular order.

    Rose, Charles, Amy, Gareth, Shannon, Dannielle, Emily, Jan, Sarah, Lynette, John, Tamryn, Selene, Nicholas, Patricia, Julia, and…

    Suzanne.

  • Dedication

    Dedication

    In everyone’s life, outside of immediate family, there are special people.

    This tale is dedicated to two such, in mine.

    My Godfather, long since lost, but never forgotten.

    Charles Gilbert Ayling assumed the role of my deceased father.  In all the time I was blessed to know him the only harsh words ever passing his lips were during attempts to defeat tobacco’s foul hold.  Sadly, he never succeeded.  That demon eventually vanquished him in 1990, taking him from this world and leaving all who knew him forever poorer.

    Aunt Fran, to whom I owe a debt of gratitude I can never repay.

    Your true name withheld, at your request.  My beloved mother’s sister.  Would that I could wear your mark alongside hers… sadly decorum denies this.  But know this, your symbol is scribed in my heart – where nothing can diminish its radiance.