Author Archives: Mark Hayes

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

The Snail Telegraph by Jessica Law

Posted on October 20, 2023 by Mark Hayes

Introduction by Mark Regular readers will be aware I have a workaday interest in quantum theory. In particular what fascinates me are ‘spooky’ particles as they can be interpreted to explain a spiritual connection to, well, everything. Having a degree … Continue reading →

Posted in amreading, blogging, dreamlands, fantasy, humour, indie writers, indieoctober, music, writing music | Tagged books, music, quantum pagan, reads, wierdtales, writer | 1 Comment

Breaking Reality in Gloucester by Nimue Brown

Posted on October 18, 2023 by Mark Hayes

Introduction by Mark Nimue Brown is one of my favourite authors and one of my favourite people. Despite this I invariably mispronounce her name, I’m a bit useless like that, I read a word and how it sounds in my … Continue reading →

Posted in amreading, amwriting, book reviews, books, fantasy, fiction, indie novels, indie writers, indieoctober, reads | Tagged amreading, books, guestposts, reads, sciencefiction, steampunk, writer, writerslife | 1 Comment

Observations… by Roz White

Posted on October 13, 2023 by Mark Hayes

As is my want in October I have opened up the blog to guest posts, in part to encourage those shy retiring beasts writers to leave there shells and case a little light on the thoughts that pass for what … Continue reading →

Posted in amreading, fiction, indie writers, indieoctober, steampunk | Tagged fiction, guestposts, reads, steampunk, steampunk fantasy | 1 Comment

Masks

Posted on October 13, 2023 by Mark Hayes

This is a post about masks derived from an old posts about masks from 2017. In 2017 I was still writing the first Hannibal Smyth novel, COVID was yet to be a thing and I was not the same person … Continue reading →

Posted in big questions, depression, opinion | Tagged depression, mentalhealth, opinion, writerslife | 3 Comments

Are you ready for the apocalypse? by Liz Tuckwell

Posted on October 12, 2023 by Mark Hayes

Introduction by Mark : Elizabeth Tuckwell is a fellow Harvey Duckman writer and the aunt of an old friend of mine. These two things are not connected and we were unaware of the second connection till the old friend read … Continue reading →

Posted in amreading, amwriting, big questions, Harvey Duckman, indie writers, indieoctober, indiewriter, opinion, reads | Tagged amreading, amreadinghorror, enviroment, reads, sciencefiction, writers, writerslife | Leave a comment

Dear Edgar ~14: Four Beasts in One

Posted on October 7, 2023 by Mark Hayes

‘Glory of the East,’ thou art in danger of mastication! This is clearly either on of the finest sentences ever written, or a really odd typo to find in the middle of an Edgar Allen Poe story. So lets go … Continue reading →

Posted in amreading, book reviews, Dear Edgar, Poe, reads, retro book reviews | Tagged amreading, books, Edgar Alan Poe, Poe, reads, writing | 1 Comment

Short Review Friday

Posted on October 6, 2023 by Mark Hayes

In a effort to get on top of the list of books I have read, intend to review, but have not reviewed yet pile, here is a short review lacking my normal wittering preamble, you will probably not be disappointed … Continue reading →

Posted in amreading, book reviews, reads, steampunk | Tagged amreading, books, reads, steampunk | 2 Comments

Pagan feasting

Posted on October 5, 2023 by Mark Hayes

For want of a better definition I am a Quantum Pagan. Which is to say I have a workaday understanding of Quantum physics, and I believe both science and pagan spirituality to be in a quest for answers and the … Continue reading →

Posted in big questions, book reviews, books, pagan, reads | Tagged amreading, pagan, quantum pagan, reads, writerslife, writing | 3 Comments

Whispered Wisdom’s of the Wise

Posted on October 4, 2023 by Mark Hayes

According to Pliny the Elder, ‘The only certainty is that nothing is certain’ I’m not sure about that… But it is a philosophical quote of which I am somewhat fond. Here then are some more. Life is really simple, but … Continue reading →

Posted in amreading, big questions, pointless things of wonderfulness, quotes, writing | Tagged amreading, philosophy, quotes, reads | 2 Comments

The Kraken’s of Venice…

Posted on September 20, 2023 by Mark Hayes

A review of the Clockwork City by Shelley Adina

This is a delightful read, it keeps you turning pages, as it gently moves along, and then makes you turn them as things start to go badly for our two heroines. Because when things go bad, they go down hill quickly. And once that starts happening it hard to put the book down as you care about the characters, which is the real strength of the novel. It makes you care. Continue reading →