by Jacky Gray
making fun of
TES ice skating (technical element score)
each element scored according to complexity & execution
to twig
to guess/figure out
A Note about the UK School System
To convert between year/grade, subtract 1 e.g. year 11 is grade 10.
Junior schools: students aged 8-11 in years 4-6 (US grades 3-5).
High schools: students aged 11-18 in years 7-13 (US grades 6-12).
Sixth form in UK contains years 12 & 13 (grades 11 & 12 in US), which can be in a separate college, resulting in A-levels in 3-4 subjects.
GCSE is a two year course with a certificated exam at age 16. Around 6 to 9 of these are taken in individual subjects (Maths, English, ICT etc.).
Registration: A register is taken (at least) once a day by the tutor, in that teacher’s subject classroom – similar to the US homeroom. The tutor is responsible for pastoral care/education.
Breaks: High schools have two breaks every day, a short one mid-morning (10-20 mins) and a longer one at lunch (40-60 mins).
Inter-school sports meetings: These involve various athletic and/or gymnastic events held throughout the year.
Acknowledgements
Thank you to everyone who has helped me to believe in myself – without you, my stories would never have lived outside of my imagination and my computer’s hard drive.
This one has proved to be more technically challenging than most, so a huge thanks goes to Chris, Richard and all the awesome staff at Planet Ice, Coventry, and Margaret at Ashleigh House for their advice and technical expertise. Any remaining errors are my own.
Special thanks to the following – you know the part you played and words cannot express my gratitude: Hannah, Icy, Alice, Ace, Sho, JD, Paula and Heather. Even when you think it’s good, there’s always room for improvement – grateful thanks for your excellent wisdom and advice to my lovely Beta readers, Margo, Lisa, Sheila, Donna, Jax, Kim, Lynn, and Mandy. And a huge thanks to the lovely World Wise Writers and 10K Angels for their constant support and encouragement.
But the biggest thanks have to go to you, dear reader – I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. If you did, I would really appreciate if you could leave a comment on your chosen platform to allow other readers to decide if it’s their kind of story.
More in the Bryant Rockwell Series
#1 – New Kid In Town
Liv, Jude and Kat are greater than the sum of their parts. Separately they are Brainy, Sporty and Arty. Together they are invincible. Until Drop-Dead-Gorgeous Ray wheels up.
Compelling characters, stunning story and perfect pacing.
“Snappy, well-pitched and edgy. An enjoyable read which will appeal to anyone who has a sense of humour and an ear for the ironic.” – Book Viral, Review site
“Clever, witty, snarky dialogue. This story (and the ones to come) have an interesting group of friends at its core. These teens have a wide range of talents. Their lives are not dull. Very enjoyable read.” - Bernadette Cinkoske, Amazon reader
#2 – The Show Must Go On
Liv’s a snarky chocoholic, Luke’s an angry thug. Who better to take Dirty Diana down a peg or two? She totally has it coming.
Engaging teen read: Feel all the drama without the angst.
“Whether you're going through the jealous, self-conscious, unsure or arrogant ways of teenhood or an adult remembering how it was, this book is sure to please!” - Hannah Sullivan, Author of the Thunder series
“This story really is like being a teenager again! I love the interplay, the true understanding of changing feelings, and the awful uncertainties of knowing where your heart really stands.” - Corine Barnes, Amazon reader
#3 – Leader of The Pack
Why are boys like buses? None for years, then three turn up at once. Like a game show contestant, Liv has to choose between them. The prize? Her sanity, her memory and her heart.
Edgy, intriguing tale with complex, witty characters.
"Blisteringly smart, edgy and full of heart, this follows Liv’s turmoil of finding the right guy. Full of twists, turns and a shocker of a climax.” - Alice Bell, Author of Dark Enchantment Series
“The characters are warm, sassy and likable. Ms. Gray deals with the topics which teens struggle with, with finesse and style. Her characters remind me so much of the characters I grew up with in my high school days.” - SRichards, Amazon reader
Coming in 2018
#5 – Music was my First Love
Kat’s dream since she was small was to sing on stage. Her “cousin” Liam makes that possible and the Teen Idol competition could get her even closer to her dream. Both of these come with a price, but is she willing to pay either?
All the feels: Funny, intense, and endearing.
#6 – Stand by Me
Ray’s big secret takes everyone by surprise, but he’s not impressed when Luke and Jude steal his thunder. His friends start to notice how his new-found mobility is making him crazy but a tumble down the stairs puts him back in hospital. Did he fall, or was he pushed?
The right balance of lust, love, and friendship.
What people are saying about the Bryant Rockwell series:
“A convincing depiction of mercurial teenage relationships”
“Snappy, eclectic and intriguing.”
“Drama you can't look away from.”
“A cleverly-written clean read with believable characters.”
Also by Jacky Gray – Hengist: People of the Horse
Here are the tag lines:
Archer: Mmm. Shoot an apple off his friend’s head or lose his food, horse and clothes? Some decisions require little thought.
Rory: Stick his neck out to save the so-called friends who betrayed him? Would you?
Reagan: Decode the mysteries of white horses, crop circles and ley lines to save his people? No pressure, then.
Slater: Knowledge is dangerous. What Slater knows about the altar stone could prove fatal.
Geraint: Purest Evil threatens Renegates and Townies alike. Can Geraint unite these warring factions in time to save Oxford?
This is what professionals are saying:
"Enchanting to the last page, Archer has the feel of an epic saga in the making and is sure to find an enthusiastic following. Definitely deserving of a place on your bookshelf, it is highly recommended." -- Book Viral, Review Site
“A series that’s hard to fault, with an original and rich story world that’s easy to fall in love with.” -- SJ Myers, Author, The Prayer
"Jacky has nailed the character of a medieval archer and the books are a thrilling blend of action and rich historical detail." -- Kevin Hicks, Historical Re-enactor and Professional Archer
"Jacky has produced a credible parallel universe, a combination of the English middle ages blended with modern-day England in realistic and well realised settings. I especially enjoyed travelling across Alternative Oxfordshire."-- Ronald Hutton, Professor of History at Bristol University
“Gray certainly knows how to spin a saga, more importantly she knows how to pitch the tone of speculative fiction. The plot is compelling, the characters superb and the writing excellent. It’s the kind of alchemy that, on the rare occasions it comes together, is hard to replicate.” -- Book Viral
"I thought the sword and buckler bout between Finn and Archer was incredibly well done, a very engaging piece of writing. Archer's time with Bowman in general was a highlight, especially the making of the two bows." -- JJ, Archer and Historian
Get to know the characters at www.hengistarcher.co.uk
http://hengistpeoplehorse.blogspot.co.uk/p/archer.html
Read a preview at: http://hengistpeoplehorse.blogspot.co.uk/p/five-pages-workshop.html
Find out more (including the latest deals) at:
http://www.facebook.com/HengistPeopleOfTheHorse
https://twitter.com/jacky_gray
WorldWiseWriters
This g
roup of talented women is committed to engaging stories filled with charismatic characters and exciting adventures. First class writing, edited within an inch of its life, and fronted by breathtaking artwork. Looking for a good book to read? Check out:
Andrea Domanski: Omega Series, Fortune Falls Cozy Mysteries
Once a normal teenage girl, now an Amazon warrior. Add in a bunch of kick-ass preternaturals and one maniacal demi-god and what have you got? The worst birthday ever!
Website: http://www.andreadomanski.com/
Hannah Sullivan: Thunder: The Shadows are Stirring, Five Weeks
A rift between the layers of the world. A talking horse. Evil sliders. What’s a girl to do when she is the only one who can save it all?
Website: http://www.thunderstories.com/
Jacky Gray: Hengist Series, Bryant Rockwell Series
Mmm. Shoot an apple off his friend’s head or lose his food, horse and clothes? Some decisions require little thought.
Website: http://www.hengistarcher.co.uk/index.php/archer.html
J.D. Faulkner: Mirrored Time
New jobs aren't supposed to be this hard. Crazy half-gods, time travelers and ex-gladiator thieves? Unemployment never looked so good. Website: http://www.timearchivistnovels.com/
Rowanna Green: Death Wishes, Triple Jeopardy, Don’t Stop Believing, Young Men Gone West, Hostage Series.
When Jo Green dies, all Hell lets loose in Heaven; she must live ’til her bucket list is fulfilled. Who better to help than a rookie guardian angel? Think Coke Break guy with wings. Yummy!
Website: http://rockslikea.blogspot.com/
S.M. Freedman: The Faithful, Impact Winter
According to I Fidele, non-psychics are cockroaches. And the extermination is about to begin.
Website: http://www.smfreedman.com/