Author Archives: Mark Hayes

Unknown's avatar

About Mark Hayes

Writer A messy, complicated sort of entity. Quantum Pagan. Occasional weregoth Knows where his spoon is, do you? #author #steampunk http://linktr.ee/mark_hayes

Here Today, Scone Tomorrow

Posted on July 29, 2024 by Mark Hayes

Folk law is full of places that don’t entirely exist. Places that slide off the map, and give cartographers a headache. Continue reading →

Posted in amreading, book reviews, books, goodreads, indie novels, indie writers, urban fantasy | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Prose poet

Posted on July 26, 2024 by Mark Hayes

I had one of those conversations the other day with another writer on the subject of poetry. The essence of which was they held the opinion all writers should write poetry, I disagreed as I don’t. Except of course when … Continue reading →

Posted in amwriting, indiewriter, writes, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Genteel light vs Grim dark

Posted on July 24, 2024 by Mark Hayes

Just to avoid any confusion I like grim dark fiction. I like heroes and heroines with shades of grey. I have no problem with a two sided coins, villains with heroic traits and heroes who are half the villain. I … Continue reading →

Posted in amreading, book reviews, books, reads, steampunk | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Authors of Folly and Madness

Posted on July 8, 2024 by Mark Hayes

In a dimly lit basement. Beneath the grim streets of a post industrial city whence dark satanic mills long since ceased to pushing dense black smoke in to the air. On a wooden operating table, complete with ancient leather straps … Continue reading →

Posted in amreading, amwriting, books, fiction, Harvey Duckman, indie writers, men in dark tweed, reads, sci-fi, steampunk, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Jessica Law

Posted on July 2, 2024 by Mark Hayes

A well thought out piece by Jessica law about her patreon, which I am sharing because I mentioned her patreon in a previous post. I mean I also liked it which is more than she did with my post, honestly, … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Patronising Miss Law

Posted on July 1, 2024 by Mark Hayes

Occasionally, I wonder if regular readers of these witterings wonder if I could just once in a while stay on topic… What when it comes down to it is this blog for. Oh sure I talk about writing a lot, … Continue reading →

Posted in big questions, music, music, opinion, reads, writing music | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Men in Dark Tweed #10

Posted on June 28, 2024 by Mark Hayes

The Men in Dark Tweed were created on a whim while I was working on my current WIP novel, a Victorian Urban Fantasy entitled ’Lucifer Mandrake and the Hanoverian Proxy’ The new, somewhat nefarious Home Secretary sets up a plain clothes … Continue reading →

Posted in books, fiction, Harvey Duckman, humour, indie writers, men in dark tweed, reads, sci-fi, steampunk, writes | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Folly and Madness

Posted on June 25, 2024 by Mark Hayes

A month ago, in the early dawn light, on the banks of the river Tees a small group of writers, readers, and bibliophiles stood shivering in the mist as it rose off the water, into the fridge air. A profound … Continue reading →

Posted in amreading, amwriting, books, fantasy, fiction, Hannibal Smyth, Harvey Duckman, indie, indie writers, men in dark tweed, steampunk | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Beguiling darkness: Tethered

Posted on June 21, 2024 by Mark Hayes

In the distant past before the lost years and the breaking of the world, in a younger less cynical time, I was sent a manuscript to read. This was about four years ( three atrocious prime ministers and one pandemic) … Continue reading →

Posted in amreading, book reviews, fantasy, indie novels, indie writers, steampunk | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

A writers solstice

Posted on June 20, 2024 by Mark Hayes

I have always been fond of the above quote. It comes form Stephen King’s memoir/guide to the craft of writing, On Writing . A book I recommend to anyone looking to progress in the craft. It is also a quote … Continue reading →

Posted in amreading, amwriting, books, indie writers, pagan, reads, writes, writing | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment