Author Archives: Mark Hayes

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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

Eating the Livers of my Lovers: A guest post by Nimue Brown

Posted on March 28, 2023 by Mark Hayes

The full title of this blog is ‘Eating the livers of my lovers and other poems I now have to write because Mark gave me a title’ Which was a writing prompt I gave to the ever wonderful Nimue Brown when she asked the world to do so. Having supplied this title I abdicate all responsibility thence*. The rest is all Nimue… Continue reading →

Posted in amreading, amwriting, blogging, books, druidry, fiction, IndieApril, indiewriter, pagan, reads | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Ebooks, Publishers and going full circle

Posted on March 25, 2023 by Mark Hayes

Originally posted on Druid Life:
Electronic publishing began in earnest long before social media really existed and when many people weren’t online. Twenty years ago we relied heavily on egroups – mostly Yahoo groups to find each other and share…

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Steampunk Fiction, what is it?

Posted on March 23, 2023 by Mark Hayes

Anyone who knows anything about the Steampunk subculture will generally answer the question “What is steampunk?” with words to the effect of “Whatever you want it to be..!”

This is of course an absurdly unhelpful answer. Continue reading →

Posted in amreading, amwriting, books, Canadian steampunk, fiction, Hannibal Smyth, indie, indie novels, indie writers, indiewriter, novels, opinion, reads, steampunk, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

More words to music…

Posted on March 22, 2023 by Mark Hayes

When I write, I write to music. I have in fairness mentioned this before, but these posts seem surprisingly popular for what amounts to Mark’s favourite obscure bands and musicians, so what the hell here is another little collection of … Continue reading →

Posted in amwriting, humour, indie, indiewriter, music, music, reads, writing, writing music | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Dear Edgar#3 A Tale of Jerusalem

Posted on March 13, 2023 by Mark Hayes

Roman’s, honest as the day is long, you pay them for an animal for sacrifice that’s what you get. Not a swine among them… In the basket however. Continue reading →

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Dear Edgar #2 The Duc de L’Omelette

Posted on March 7, 2023 by Mark Hayes

I find it hard to sympathise with anyone who puts a towel on their head to eat a bird that’s been force feed and drown in brandy. Continue reading →

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Writing about future war… Guest Post By CG Hatton

Posted on March 6, 2023 by Mark Hayes

To this Dr Anne Forsdyke responded ,’ Oh? You think so do you matey.’ brandished a cutlass and gutted three of them before she was restrained by a brave member of the Geology department. Continue reading →

Posted in amreading, amwriting, big questions, books, Harvey Duckman, indie novels, indie writers, indiewriter, pirateday, pirates, sci-fi, writes, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

When a chap is not a chap…

Posted on March 1, 2023 by Mark Hayes

An internet friend reminded me the other day of an important lesson we all need to take on board and remember. When I say all I am talking about 49.9% of the population though the core message applies to us … Continue reading →

Posted in amreading, amwriting, depression, Hannibal Smyth, mental-health, writes, writing | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Dear Edgar #1: Metzengerstein

Posted on February 28, 2023 by Mark Hayes

In 1832 a now former Sargent Major in the United States Army had almost reached the age he’d claimed to be on his enlistment forms four year earlier. Why he lied about his age when joining the army is a bit of a mystery as he was 18 at the time but while he was at it he also lied about his name, the recruitment papers stating it as being Edgar A Perry Continue reading →

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Dear Edgar

Posted on February 23, 2023 by Mark Hayes

About a year ago I published a book that started out as a series of blogs in which I read the complete works of HP Lovecraft. A project I started as ‘filler’ posts for the blog. I’d expected the project … Continue reading →

Posted in amreading, amwriting, book reviews, books, Dear Edgar, Goth, horror, humour, indie, mental-health, opinion, publication, quotes, rant, writes, writing | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments