About Christopher Fielden

Sheena
Hi, just read your story, 'The Cat, The Bull & The Madman'. Whilst I thoroughly enjoyed it, I needed to share that I have been left mildly concerned about my own psyche. Why? Well, probably because the part I found most disturbing was the bit about the cat putting his paw, and subsequently his claw into the guys mouth...ewwwwwww. Anyway, thanks for brightening up my morning & helping my procrastinations. Sheena

Chris FieldenThanks Sheena - even more disturbingly, the cat's paw part of that story is based on real life experience. I was house sitting in Laurel Canyon, Los Angeles, and one of the cats I was looking after used to stick it's paw in my mouth to wake me up when it was hungry. It didn't talk though... 🙂 Sorry if that information has grossed you out even further!

Al C
Re: stalking. Be careful what you wish for! Thanks for all the advice, though - good website!

Chris Fielden
LOL - thanks Al 🙂

Philip S
Dear Christopher. A good Website. I like your sense of humour and story about the bees. If you think your mum is the only one to look at your website it must be safe!! Um, must admit I do enjoy a glass of wine and my eyes did look at the wrong name first. Interesting about Stokes Croft, as I was born and raised in Bristol from zero to twenty five. I'm afraid I am just a poor old retired geezer now. I don't use on-line for writing, but noticed a writing competition for postal submissions. I'll mention the source if I enter.

Chris Fielden
Thanks Philip, much appreciated 🙂

Peter K
For starters you are wearing my Batman t-shirt and you ride on my favourite HOG. If you were the right sex I'd obviously marry you but you aren't so I'll just weep into my beer and enter your Hull and back competition.

Chris Fielden
Excellent! I'll look forward to reading your story 🙂

Les C
What stops other people nicking my stories if I submit them for publishing.

I'm new to the game, never had anything published before.

Also, your website in amazingly helpful - is there a charge for using all its facilities?

Chris Fielden
Les, it's highly unlikely anyone will nick your stories - as long as they are your original work, you are the recognised copyright owner. I've been submitting stories for years and never encountered a problem. If it was a problem, I guess no one would ever submit anything anywhere!

The information on my site is provided for free - I'm glad you find it useful 🙂

Joseph K
Your journey from school to writer is impressive.

Keep up the creative spirit.

God is alive because he is writing his short stories on the wall of his creation.

We can copy, imitate, edit and recreate.

And we live.

Chris Fielden
Thanks JK 🙂

Jerry W
Hi, Chris. A drummer? A drummer? This helps explain the appeal of your website. In spite of their stepping on my best guitar and vocal solos, getting all the chicks, and causing me permanent hearing damage, some of my favourite people, aside from real musicians, are drummers. Rock on. Thanks for your site; encouraging and educating.

Chris Fielden
Jerry, we drummers do have a habit of damaging ears (our own included) stealing women (well, attempting to) and destroying instruments that are not designed to be struck with lumps of wood. But we don't do it maliciously; it's the love of rock and roll that leads us to undertake these acts.

Glad to hear you like the site 🙂

Rhiannon L
Hi Christopher. Two quick things:

- firstly, thank you for your really useful website and especially for your list of competitions which is the most useful and up to date list that I have found

- I just wanted to ask why you don't appear to list the Raymond Carver short story competition? It seems reputable, but perhaps I'm wrong? Have you had any experience of it?

By the way, your feedback on Writers' Forum was incredibly useful. You were totally right about the valuable feedback they provide for a very small fee. The magazine is interesting and winning one of the competitions (which I did after reading your advice - 1st prize, November 2016) came at a very important time, just when I was flagging and losing hope that anyone would ever want to read my stories. So thank you again!

Best wishes, Rhiannon

Chris Fielden
Hi Rhiannon. Great, I'm so pleased to hear you find the site useful 🙂

I hadn't heard of the Raymond Carver competition. Most of the comps are listed because the people that run them approach me for a listing, so I guess I haven't been approached by the administrators. I'll take a look at the contest next time I update the page.

I'm really pleased to hear you've found Writers' Forum so useful. And congratulations on winning their competition - that's great news.

Thanks for your kind words about the site and advice - it's very much appreciated 🙂

Kenn H
Hi Chris. My apologies for contacting you directly. I got your email address from your website.

I just discovered that you have written this book: "Yet another Road to Cross, Ten Generations of the Carrau Family In Wine, 1752-2012", but I am unable to order the only copy left on Amazon, because it can't be delivered to Australia. Is there any way of buying a copy? Even an electronic copy would be appreciated. I am researching my grandmother's family who's surname was Carrau. She always thought she was French, but after a DNA test, I have confirmed my suspicions that she has Spanish heritage. I thought maybe your book and research might help my research, and help me understand the family origins.

I would appreciate any help you can give.

Chris Fielden
Hi Kenn. I’m afraid you have the wrong Christopher Fielden. I’m a short story writer and blogger, not a wine writer.

I’m afraid I don’t know how to put you in touch with the right CF – Google brings up a phone number, so you could try that?

Sorry I can’t be of more help.

Kenn H
Hi Chris. Thank you so much for your quick reply, I really appreciate it.

Kerissa A
Just a little first thing, my name - it's pronounced Kuh-rih-sah, but, like, at a normal clip that doesn't make people start trying to take sharp objects from you. I have a pretty amusing backstory for this intro, but I only have a few minutes before I have to rescue my dog from what I'm sure is the bane of her existence: nail trimming.

So I, you know, did a cursory sweep of the comments and your responses, just to be sure my Hey-Dar was on the right channel, which I'm happy to report - it could be. It all hinges on whether or not your gut response to Kenn's comment was something like, "For fuck's sake, you're a researcher and you failed to uncover the mystery that is that I am not the Wine Writer you seek? Methinks perhaps you should reconsider a path in research." The Bitchy Queen in me that I reserve only for myself and a few in the Trust Ring, would have added, "You fucken moron." Or, if I were English, maybe 'Bloody' moron? Or is that just too many pints past cliche? *sigh* Give me a break, I was born, raised, and still live on what is arguably the most isolated volcanic rock that's the most non-state of all the Un-united States, on the planet (sometimes I say, "Grew up," but then that Bitchy Queen snort-laughs at me and makes some catty remark like, "Grew up? Really? Is that what you're calling this? Whatever." That bitch. She probably knows that Demon of Doubt dude. They'd make a great arch nemesis/secret BFF team, hahaha! Hmmmm. Anyway, shit. I gotta go. She's looking at me like I left her at some - well, anywhere that does not serve Rachael Ray gourmet dog snacks. My dog, I mean. OK, um... cheers? I was gonna go with 'Ciao' but that would make the BQ foam at the mouth. HA! Aloha! K

Chris Fielden
Hi Kuh-rih-sah (I hope I pronounced that correctly)

My gut instinct on people assuming me to be the wine writer who shares my name simply makes me sigh. I receive invites to many wine launches and restaurant openings as I seem to have ended up on some PR email lists, so it happens quite a lot and I've become used to it. I suppose I could turn up and eat all the food and drink all the wine, but then my BMI would probably become similar to that of a small planet, so, for health reasons, I don't. I hope that answer meets with your satisfaction and I have a chance of being accepted into the Trust Ring.

Your Bitchy Queen sounds like better company than the Demon of Doubt. At least she has a sense of humour...

Anyway. I hope your dog isn't mentally scarred from her nail trimming experience.

Cheers (me dears, as we say in the fair city of Brizzle), Chris

Glen D
Hi Chris, several pictures of you adorned in ACDC clothing have naturally caught by eye. I say 'naturally' since being an Aussie, these guys are amongst rock royalty over here. My question to you  is - have you ever counted yourself as a KISS fan?

I saw them in concert two weeks ago in Brisbane, Australia and they did not disappoint. In fact, if I may be so bold Chris, these are my thoughts on this close-to-my-heart subject in more detail.

The concert included an eight-minute drum solo by Eric Singer. Being a former drummer myself, I was in heaven. So... any thoughts on KISS you care to share?

Chris Fielden
Hi Glen. Thanks for your message.

I think AC/DC are regarded as rock royalty all over the world, not just in Australia. And rightly so. In my humble opinion, they're the greatest rock band ever to take the stage.

I've seen Kiss in concert - Donnington, way back in 1988. They were really good live. I wouldn't regard myself as a huge fan, but I do enjoy their music. And I like their stage shows - they go all out to entertain the audience. You have to respect that.

Thanks for sharing your concert write up. Sounds like it was a great night. You said you enjoyed the drum solo. I'm not a big fan of drum solos, especially long ones. I guess that's odd coming from a drummer... but when I go to see a band, I go to see the band. Not individuals showing off. It's another reason I like AC/DC so much. I've never seen Phil Rudd do a drum solo. Thin Lizzie's Brian Downey does a good solo - short and sweet. And Roger Taylor, when he does them, keeps them short and interesting. The best drum soloist I've seen is Joe Morello. He was one of the few drummers that can get away with long solos, but it's because he is arguably the best drummer that's ever lived. His solos are interesting because he is so skilled and diverse. Anyway... I'm waffling.

All the best to you - looks like the blog is going well, which is great - keep up the good work 🙂