Monthly Online Book Magazine - November 2008

Food for Thought

If the GM controversy did no other good, at least it reminded us to think about the food we put in our stomachs and its effect on our long-term physical well-being. More’s the pity we don’t demonstrate an equal interest in what we put in our minds. As readers we need to be given the opportunity to choose the degree of pollution we consume passively.When an intimate act of physical and emotional union is reduced to casual sex, and marriage becomes a contractual nuisance, family life is devalued. When characters are seen to carry knives and guns, to use violence to sort out problems and settle scores, is it surprising that street crime rises?

DECIBELS AT DELL FARM by Patrick Coghlan A5 Paperback Book £7.99	STORM by Patrick Coghlan A5 Paperback Book £6.99 E-Book £1.99	ROSE COTTAGE by Patrick Coghlan A5 Paperback Book £6.99 E-Book £1.99	THE DALA TREE by Phyllis Owen E-Book £1.99
	PINK CAVES by Phillis Owen E-Book £1.99

It can be argued that violent and sexual storylines show what is going on in isolated areas, but these images are themselves reflected back into our lives enforcing and confirming the message until they are seen to be the norm not the exception. Characters shape our thoughts and those of our families and very quickly their standards of behaviour become society’s norm, and in the absence of other stronger influences they have a disproportionate effect on our lives. It is in Man’s nature to kick against moral and legalboundaries, historically laid down by religion, even if therein is found our security. To where do the majority look for guidance in determining their boundaries? Consciously or not, real or fictional characters determine the nation’s moral yardstick.

Those who prefer racy material will always find it. But those of us who like a strong story without superfluous titillation have considerably more difficulty in selecting suitable entertainment for our offspring and ourselves. The power of the pen has been recognised for millennia. Writers, editors, publishers… have the power to affect the way we think. And since the way we think decides the way we act, we at Red’n’Ritten Ltd. look seriously at our responsibility to society.

Our Publications

Red’n’Ritten Ltd. publishes books for education, and entertainment for adults and children that contain no explicit sex and no gratuitous violence, and which look at the message that will be left in the partaker’s mind. Since our publications are smut-free all our novels are suitable for a wide audience.

We support, and encourage new, older writers who wish to tell us their stories, lest these tales be lost for all time. These autobiographies give older readers a nostalgic trip back into the time of their own youth, and today’s youngsters a real feel of everyday life in the time they now study as history.

We believe short stories should be treated more seriously; it is a grossly undervalued genre. Our stories are often quintessentially British, often set back in time, giving an insight into UK culture. The diversity of story genre makes for great entertainment for all ages. Our anthologies produced in audio, with a faithful transcript in paperback make a useful educational tool for those who find reading English difficult, be the student dyslexic, say, or learning English as an extra language. Sound samples of our audio books are available on our website, and details of all our publications – www.rednritten.com.