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Writing books and the writer

I have a confession. I’m kinda addicted to writing books. You know the type -books about the craft of writing. I’ve just finished a classic in the genre – Of Worlds Beyond A “Symposium” on the writing craft including such luminaries as EE Doc Smith, Robert Heinlein, and John W Campbell Jr It has that essay by HeinleinContinue reading “Writing books and the writer”

Arrival of Missives – A Review

Arrival of Missives Aliya Whitely Unsung Stories As usual with Unsung this is a gorgeously produced novella and one that has been written with care. I read Whitely’s The Beauty as an ARC a couple of years ago and fell in love with it. Therefore I’ve both looked forward to this second book and put offContinue reading “Arrival of Missives – A Review”

The Memoirist – A review

The Memoirist Neil Williamson Newcon Press Why are so many powerful people determined to wipe a poignant gig by a faded rock star from the annals of history? What are they so afraid of? Near future SF set when surveillance culture has become ubiquitous via small flying drones that look like bees (hence the cover).Continue reading “The Memoirist – A review”

Guest Post – MD Presley

Photo credits: thinkgeek.com MD Presley is a screenwriter, blogger and occasional fantasy novelist… which basically means he’s a layabout. But feel free to check out all his incoherent ramblings at mdpresley.com, or on the facebook at http://www.facebook.com/solsharvest And grab his first novel The Woven Ring for free Feb 20-24th while you can! Mr Presley andContinue reading “Guest Post – MD Presley”

The view from the cheap seats*

I’m impressed with Neil Gaiman’s powers of recall. The introductions in this book have him remember where he was, what age and who he was with when he first encountered writers or first read their work. I don’t remember how I came across Neil Gaiman’s work but I’m going to say that it was Good Omens,Continue reading “The view from the cheap seats*”

Did JG Ballard predict Donald Trump?

I’ve read a triptych of books in the past week that all throw light on our particular situation. The first was Suffragette: My Own Story by Emmeline Pankhurst The second was It Can’t Happen Here by Sinclair Lewis And the third is Kingdom Come by J G Ballard Suffragette was an eye-opener. Of course weContinue reading “Did JG Ballard predict Donald Trump?”

Into the Mist Review

Into the Mist by Lee Murray I picked this up as it was on the Stoker preliminary ballot and I’m not disappointed. Reading like a mix of Congo, Predator and Valley of the Gawnji set in New Zealand, Murray provides a white-knuckle ride from page one. Throw in a hefty mix of Maori mysticism andContinue reading “Into the Mist Review”

Bram Stoker Award Preliminary ballot

Surprised and happy that A Tiding of Magpies is on the preliminary ballot for the Bram Stoker award To celebrate my publisher has put it on Price drop for a few days and you can get it for 99p for a limited period at Amazon

Metronome by Oliver Langmead

First of all – what a beautiful cover! And it really does set the scene of the book. This is a gorgeously produced book and you just know that care and attention has been lavished on it. And the writing needs to be special to deserve that attention doesn’t it? Luckily Langmead’s second novelContinue reading “Metronome by Oliver Langmead”

Discoverability Challenge

Last year I attempted the Discoverability Challenge as prompted by fellow Bristol writer Jo Hall I failed. Miserably. I read 15 books by women last year, but most of them weren’t new to me. And as a percent of total books read it was a miserable 16% So this year I’ve decided to repeat the challenge,Continue reading “Discoverability Challenge”