Raider Publisher - BE AWARE

Independent authors....Please be aware of some self publishing companies. 

I know some of you use POD companies and one to stay away from is Raider

Publishing. 

MANY have had issues, paying Raider for their service and not getting anything in return. There has been frequent turnaround in staff, money going missing, promises not kept and most of all no royalties being paid. 

Think carefully where you are going to spend your money or be patient and I am sure you will find the right publisher who will except your book without having to pay for it. 

The company seems to rely on your payment to get your book published but it doesn't. Your money goes to them and nothing else happens. You do not receive copies of your book (as promised) and neither do you see anything else happening with it. The turnaround of staff is extraordinary and never will you have the same person assisting you with any queries or problems. When you do have a question, either they answer you after 2 months or they don't answer you at all. 

4 people in the past month have written to me to say thay have paid Raider to publish their book - 2 years ago and till this day nothing has happened; no royalties, no copies of books and no information sent to them regarding the stats of sales.

Please, do not waste your money as  I have had a number of people emailing me to complain. I also have found a number of sites on the web stating the problems others have had with them.

RAIDER PUBLISHERS ---BE AWARE

Paranormal Investigation Team Spain

PITS - An Investigation team that not only investigates things that go bump in the night but also research historical buildings to tell the story of what once existed within the old structure. 

They are historians, story tellers, ghost hunters that will show you the wonderful places around Spain, where to go, what you will find and,  hoping to make your trip memorable. 

The team also look into the many legends that are told throughout Spain -like the ghostly figure that rides his horse in Ripollè or the House of Seven Chimneys where a young girl died of a broken heart and her ghost still haunts the premises in Madrid. What about the sad tale of a village destroyed during the civil war - Belchite, (see pictures and story on this blog) where people have claimed to hear voices and strange sounds. 

So many to mention and if you are a person who is keen and interested in expanding your knowledge of and not only of these wonderful ghostly stories but also of Spain's History, email the team for more information.

Journey into the unknown and venture into a history full of insight, wonder, excitement, surprises and delight. 

pitsteam@hotmail.com

0r

paganpath04@hotmail.com

Welcome to 2012

What's in store for 2012

The long awaited 2nd part to The Book of Secrets, The 13 Tortures is in its final draft. Release date should be around April.

Voices, a supernatural thriller is also soon to be released mid 2012.

Other works in the pipeline:

The Light and the Mourning Ground a novel of government corruption and voodoo.

Kraftwork, a story of magic, ghosts and ancient holy temples.

Belchite - A village destroyed during the Spanish civil war - but something sinister remained!

Happy YULE ..... Merry Christmas

To all my wonderful friends I bid you all the brightest and happiest YULE and may 2012 bring you all that you desire (within reason - don't be greedy)

Robert Sigl

Films such as Laurin, School's Out, Hepzibah and others along with great mini series such as Ghost Hunter John Sinclair, The Investigator and LEXX - The Series to name a few, have been works that not only grabbed audience's attention but is left embedded in one's mind to talk about years later.

I remember watching LEXX and thought how wonderful and entertaining it was - (Malcolm Mcdowell being one of my favourite actors) though in honest truth never thought to credit the director for his work (sorry about that Robert) It wasn't until I saw the film School's Out did I start recognizing Mr Sigls work. I wasn't a fan just yet but once Hepzibah was released, he reeled me in and now I have been trying to get my hands on most of his achievements.

Sigl has the power to direct you into a a dark realm filled with suspense and fright without the over indulgence of blood and gore (Schools Out being an exception). He leaves you with a sense of dread and that feeling of some strange presence lurking behind you and as the final credits roll, you just sit there, mesmerized as the film you have just watched repeats in your mind. Am I over exaggerating? No, not at all. I am sure you will find others who will tell you the same thing. 

Hepzibah - Aka The Village (2010) with the lovely Eleanor Tomlinson is a film that shows Robert at his best giving the viewers a taste of mystery, thrills and scares.

In 1987 came the film Laurin, a haunting movie about a mysterious little girl whose life is filled with strange and dark secrets. Filmed in Hungary, Laurin was awarded the Bavarian Award for best direction of a newcomer to the film industry - an award to be proud of at the age of 25!!!

Not only are there elements of surprise and dread, Sigl takes the audience a step further in the field of fright but it is not just the scare tactics he uses to make the scenes compellingly frightening but the suggestions that cause controversy is his form of drawing people in. We all know the saying,"Curiosity killed the cat" and as humans, we are drawn to curiosity and want to know more before we step away and begin criticizing what we had just witnessed.  (This I know as my book had that effect with some people.)

The Spider, Malcolm Mcdowell as the main character has already caused some controversy, and the film is still in production! The movie takes you to Istanbul where a student and his family have relocated. A series of horrific events take place  and an ancient tomb is unearthed. Possession, murder, reincarnation, sex, it's all there including elements which may cause that "controversy" to shine out into the media. Well, that's ideal if it does come to that, just proves the impact the film has made on the public, and the publicity - good or bad is always a positive thing. 

The way I see it, whether you are a writer, director, producer actor etc, one can not make the whole world happy. 

There is always going to be some type of negativity come your way, but a person who is not afraid to show what he is all about: gutsy, adventurous, open minded, you are sure to get a few surprises and shocks and that makes entertainment. Unfortunately there are people who read too much in what they see and can't spend an hour and a half to melt into a world of fiction and enjoy creativity, escape from the mundane and be part of a world where people are giving you a chance to share their artistry.

"The 13th Disciple" is another that will bring gasps of shock. Jesus's evil twin brother! How tasteful is that? And I really mean tasteful! Wow, never would I have thought of such an idea for a film. Just love it! It's a fantasy adventure filmed in India compromising of Indian actors where 2 German archaeologists look for evidence that Jesus visited India . They uncover that Jesus had an evil twin brother who has reincarnated as a head of a religious sect.

Robert Sigl, an underground film maker, a Hollywood blockbuster or a general entertainer, who brings to you gothic scares, science fiction humour, shocking and disturbing plots, however you look at him, he has a genre of his own and I for one give his work much credit. There is passion in what he does and for a man who enjoys sharing his talent should be respected and I am sure he is respected by most people.




I have been entertained and always walk away satisfied. I look forward to more of his work. 

All photos that appear on this blog are presented here under the

authorization of Robert Sigl. 

Visit Roberts blog at:

 http://www.robert-sigl.com

Superstitions - The Origins

BLACK  CATS

Black cats are considered bad luck especially when one crosses your path. The old days, a woman possessing a black cat was considered to be a witch. Christians who wanted others to convert told stories about black cats and how they were demons searching for souls. A black cat crossing your path is an omen of bad signs to come, an enemy casting a curse on you. Again, this was a witch's doing. Another tale regarding a black cat crossing your path meant it had created a wall to prevent you from entering heaven.

THE NUMBER 13

has many beliefs: Good and bad luck. Some hotels don't have a room 13, office blocks never went further than 12 floors and there are some where the 13th floor just doesn't exist; you went directly from 12 to the 14th floor.

Judas was considered to be the 13th guest at the last supper and was not one of the disciples. A witches coven contained 13 members. Originally there were 13 months in a year. These opened up gates to bad omens and people started believing that by having the number 13 would see them a bleak future. Another interesting find is that the clock - as we now know it has 12 numbers. When daylight savings arrives we turn the clock an hour forward. Sundials were used to show the time and due to the day being longer, people couldn't understand why there was this change and then started to believe that the Gods had granted them an extra hour of daylight - therefore a thirteen hour clock.

LADIES FIRST

This doesn't come under superstition but wanted to add it because I find it quite interesting. As men, we are in a habit of being respectful to women - opening doors for them, letting them go first and so on. Well, sad to say that the origin of "Ladies First" is not how we perceive it today. In fact men these days are being rude to let ladies go first!

Throughout history, men always entered houses first or were the ones to shield a woman from any trouble. To let a woman go first signalled that if any sort of danger was ahead, she would be the one to confront it first, therefore when we open the door for a woman, whatever is behind that door, she would be hit with it first. So in respect, as men we are not being rude to walk out of the elevator first, enter a restaurant first etc. We are protecting our women against anything strange that may be lurking around the corner.

FRIDAY 13th

The dreaded day the comes every now and then. Why are people so superstitious about this day? Well, it is said that Jesus was crucified on a Friday and on the day of the last supper (as stated above) there were 13 people. The Knights Templar were "assassinated" took place on Friday 13.
It is said that Eve tempted Adam on a Friday and the great flood happened on a Friday though there is no mention of it being Friday 13 but many people assume this. Gathering together as a group of 13 on a Friday will result in the death of one of the guests.

WALKING UNDER AN LADDER

Why do we avoid walking under a ladder? Because it's bad luck! This superstition came about in the times when witches were being hung. It is said that once a witch is hung, her curse lingers near the body and anyone close to it's proximity would be cursed. Not too sure what the ladder signified but other tales state that as it formed a triangle, the soul was caught between the ladder and the gallows therefore to be in contact or under the ladder (in the triangle) would cause the witch's soul to pass the curse. In later times, the story of the ladder creating a triangle (by it resting on a wall). The triangle represents the Holy Trinity and by stepping underneath it, you are interfering with its power which would bring bad luck.

CEMETERIES


People hold their breath when passing a cemetery because a recently departed soul may be inhaled. As living souls, we have and create energy which spirits need to manifest or grow strong. They can sense us when we pass a cemetery and so many would love to get a chance to taste life again. So, take a deep breath when passing the dead, you wouldn't want to take home a departed soul, would you?


There are so many superstitious beliefs which can be found on the internet. These are only a few and there are so many interpretations as to the meaning, of these "old wives tales"

HAVE A SAFE AND FUN FILLED HALLOWEEN 

Book Of Secrets - paperback

Purchase a copy of the book of secrets through this blog

14.95 (including Postage) 

The book will be signed along with post cards and flyers included

Email: carlojvella@yahoo.com for  your copy

or purchase a copy from Amazon or skobebooks

I started writing the novel 6 years ago, all the while researching the information and writing anything that I found suitable for the book on scraps of paper and note pads.

You hear many stories regarding the apocalypse or religious figures appearing before mankind and other tales (if that is what they are) which people truly believe in. The Book of Secrets is just that! A tale to believe or to enjoy as a fictitious novel. 

The war in Heaven, I remember as a child was told to me at Sunday school and have to admit how scared I was. We were even told that the fallen ones (angels) did not go to hell but were sent here on earth.

I think of these stories and how frightened I became and growing up, my thoughts turned to how the catholic church frightened people to make us believe. I was a confused child not knowing which was the truth and whether the truth was being told by someone who honestly believed in what they were telling us.

The Book of Secrets takes you through a journey back in time when the book was found and how the Knights Templars found the tome and tried to keep it away from prying eyes.

As you read, you are taken to an historical period when suddenly, you are back into the 21st century and slowly find that history is repeating itself.

Told inmain character and also hear the other side of how the tale took place. first and third person narrative, I want the reader to understand and feel the pain and joy of the 

The book does have a gay feel to it but the story is not intended to be about homosexuality. I wrote it in this way to show that gay people are as human as any other. Yes, there are some scenes in the book which people may find distasteful and I am not talking about explicit sex but discussions of homosexuality within religious orders.

To close - the book is based on some facts though I have classed it as fiction, a supernatural tale of the occult, a story of ones self being and what one must do to make themselves believe that other forms of life - apart from humans do exist.