2014-01-26 by Karen

10 Statements – J. David Clarke

I was first published in the literary journal at Tarrant County Junior College. I went on to earn a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre from Southwest Texas State University. I spent a lot of years lost in the gap between where I wanted to be and where life had taken me. Did too many things that took me farther away from the life I wanted to live. Finally, I’ve gotten back to doing what I always wanted to do, tell stories, and I’m home again. I hope you’ll let me share some with you.

You can connect with me at:

Facebook: facebook.com/clarketacular

“Clarketacular Tales” Blog: clarketacular.wordpress.com

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6915543.J_David_Clarke

(I’m on nearly every social network as “Clarketacular”)

My personal motto:

Whatever it is you dream of doing, do it. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. Do it.

10 statements

A typical work day begins with… breakfast (usually cereal and orange juice), and sitting down to do my daily social networking and forum posting.
I lose track of time… when I am really lost in writing, “in the zone” as it were.
I have always… loved to bring stories to life, whether through writing, acting, or other creative endeavor.
I have never… been in love with someone who was also in love with me.
Home means to me… safety, security, the ability to let down your walls and be your unfettered self.
I am inspired by… people who refuse to let fear hold them back.
I would like to meet… great historical and literary figures long since gone.
My worst character trait… I’m very emotional, can lose my temper at times and have a tendency to assume the worst.
My best character trait… I don’t judge people, I treat everyone the same no matter what walk of life they are from.
The best advice I was given… to never “let things pass” which you know to be wrong. Don’t sit down and be quiet. Rock the boat. Take a stand and give your objection a voice. Things don’t change unless you make them.

Related articles

Missing Time (313 series, 1 of 3) by J. David Clarke (mytrainofthoughtson.wordpress.com)

Time Spent (313 series, 2 of 3) by J. David Clarke (mytrainofthoughtson.wordpress.com)

2013-12-27 by Karen

Time Spent (313 series, 2 of 3) by J. David Clarke

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Plot
(by Goodreads)

“If you leave me here, you won’t like what happens next!” The mystery of MISSING TIME is over. Now, the passengers of school bus 313 must deal with an even greater threat, as dangerously powerful foes are unleashed in their world. Even worse, they are plagued by memories of an event they don’t fully understand. They must piece together the threads of what happened: the rooftop, the cracks in the sky, and a strange otherworldly being. Is the bus driver’s prophecy coming true? The end is closer than you think.

My Opinion

“You don’t forget the end of the world.” It is amazing how this first statement gets to you. Certainly not when reading it at the beginning of the prologue. The importance and/or meaning becomes crystal clear as the story proceeds. This statement is equally impressive as “You were on the bus with me.” from Missing Time which has “Call me Ishmael.” quality.

You need to have read Missing Time before starting Time Spent. Otherwise you won’t stand a chance to understand. Again you find yourself in a fast paced story. Lots of information is exchanged between the protagonists and the reader. Be ready to stay on board as the knowledge about what has happened is revealed a little more. Just a few pages into the story you realise that this is not a simple task. The story evolves by hopping back and forth between the lives before, during and after the accident, and interaction which are newly revealed. This is a very distinctive style, a style that does not make it an easy read, yet attracts the reader to continue. Meet the protagonists again and let them tell you what has happened because I will not tell you more. This would spoil the fun of reading this book yourself.

With this second volume of a series, J. David Clarke proves that it is not required to give never-ending descriptions or have to keep a flow. You can clearly imagine what the protagonists have to go through. Time Spent perhaps seems to be a complicated read at first – however, you get used to it pretty fast.

I am now looking forward to reading the third book in the 313 series: Time Lost. 🙂

J. David Clarke is a native Texan who was published in the literary journal of Tarrant County Junior College before moving on to become a Fine Arts graduate of Southwest Texas State University. He is an author, occasional blogger, and lover of all things nerd: comics, science fiction, fantasy, roleplaying, and gaming.

https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/clarketacular

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6915543.J_David_Clarke

http://clarketaculartales.wordpress.com

A must read for all readers who enjoy adventures with twists and turns in an everyday environment.

I am looking forward to reading more of J. David Clarke’s books. I am currently reading The Wizard In My Window, please stay tuned for the upcoming review.

Please take a look at my statement on reading in My train of thoughts on …reading. Now I am asking you. 🙂

My questions for you bibliophiles:
What about you? What did you think about Time Spent? Or – if you did not yet read Time Spent – are you now interested in reading it yourself?

I am looking forward to reading your comments. 🙂

Missing Time (313 series, 1 of 3) by J. David Clarke (mytrainofthoughtson.wordpress.com)

2013-12-26 by Karen

Missing Time (313 series, 1 of 3) by J. David Clarke

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Plot
(by Goodreads)

Eight students. A lonely bridge on a dark night. When their school bus careens off the bridge and crashes into the river, they are lucky just to survive. But soon, they discover they possess strange powers, like the power to read minds, to fly, or to resurrect the dead. And that’s just the beginning. None of them knows exactly what happened, and each remembers something different. Now, they are being hunted down one by one, and to survive they must piece together their memories and solve the mystery of the missing time.

My Opinion

“You were on the bus with me.” It is amazing how this first statement gets to you. Certainly not when reading it at the beginning of the prologue. The importance and/or meaning becomes crystal clear as the story proceeds. “You were on the bus with me.” has “Call me Ishmael.” quality.

After the prologue, you meet the students chapter-wise. Right after the first paragraphs I realised that I was already trying to get a grip on what happened to them. Just a few pages into the story you realise that this is not a simple task. The story evolves by presenting each protagonist hopping back and forth between their lives before, during and after the accident. This is a very distinctive style, a style that does not make it an easy read, yet attracts the reader to continue. Meet Kevin, Brandon, Simon, Heather, Mia, Becca, Zachary, Tyler, Max, and Carl because I will not tell you more. This would spoil the fun of reading this book yourself.

With this first volume of a series, J. David Clarke proves that it is not required to give never-ending descriptions or have to keep a flow. You can clearly imagine what the protagonists have to go through. Missing Time perhaps seems to be a complicated read at first – however, you get used to it pretty fast.

As I have already finished Time Spent (“313” series, 2 of 3) I am now looking forward to reading the third book in the 313 series: Time Lost. 🙂