Category Archives: books

Monsters in the to-read pile

Posted on October 2, 2025 by Mark Hayes

I have little doubt one day the police will break in my house after i have been ‘missing’ for several weeks to discover my body, under this pile of books.
There are worse ways to go. Continue reading →

Posted in amreading, book reviews, books, Harvey Duckman, horror, indie novels, indie writers, reads, supernatural, urban fantasy | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Turning Widdershins

Posted on September 29, 2025 by Mark Hayes

Three turns windleshin’s

Around the Lochfa’ston

Three turns windleshin’s

an’ call the other’s names Continue reading →

Posted in amreading, amwriting, books, fiction, Harvey Duckman, indie writers, pagan, reads, sci-fi, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The spirit of 76

Posted on September 19, 2025 by Mark Hayes

This book is a window on an era, a moment in musical history, a moment of social change and upheaval. The beginning of the end of post war establishment Britain. Punk had arrived… Continue reading →

Posted in books, Goth, music, reads | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

A Hint of Scarlet

Posted on September 8, 2025 by Mark Hayes

Then last night, or rather this morning while I was trying to make it back into last night, I had something of a break through. Scarlet started speaking to me, as she has previously only whispered. So perhaps, just perhaps, it is time. Continue reading →

Posted in #amwriting, amwriting, big questions, books, pagan, Passing Place, reads, writes, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Dear Edgar 41 ~ The Gold Bug

Posted on August 25, 2025 by Mark Hayes

To an extent then, this Poe story shorted the second world war and saved the lives of many allied soldiers… Which is almost enough to forgive its flaws… And certainly more than the DeVince code ever managed to do. Continue reading →

Posted in amreading, books, Dear Edgar, opinion, Poe, reads, retro book reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

The post-con collapse

Posted on July 8, 2025 by Mark Hayes

Working a convention is exhausting. I am not alone in this. Almost every author I know has much the same story. Conventions are draining, much I suspect because writers tend not to be the kind of people who are naturally … Continue reading →

Posted in amreading, books, cthulhu, Dear Edgar, humour, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Researching Lovecraft

Posted on May 12, 2025 by Mark Hayes

So here me, back up to my neck with old tentacle hugger, getting annoyed at him. Just like old times… thus here are a few ‘notables’ which will probably find the cutting room floor in the end but have amused me for one reason or another in the meantime. Continue reading →

Posted in books, cthulhu, fantasy, horror, Lovecraft, sci-fi, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Justice for Pluto

Posted on April 10, 2025 by Mark Hayes

There are in fact seven dwarf planets (though three are listed as ‘possible dwarf planets’) among the many other Trans-Neptunian Objects that have been identified. Two of them even have moons. The main reason Pluto is recognized as a planet is because it was discovered first. Eris, Haumea, Makemake, Quaoar, Orcus, Sedna, and Gonggong all could lay equal claim to planethood.

The most plausible reason why the other TNO Dwarf-planets are not recognized as planets is I suspect because learning all nine planets in order is already too much for some people before you add another seven dwarf’s. Given Disney’s recent issues with that number of dwarfs this may prove wise… Continue reading →

Posted in amreading, amwriting, books, Harvey Duckman, indie novels, indie writers, indiewriter, reads, sci-fi, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Research and the novel

Posted on April 5, 2025 by Mark Hayes

Research is one of the most important aspects of the fiction writers toolbox, I am aware this may seem counterintuitive, after all its fiction. We just make it up don’t we? Well yes. But when ‘just making things up’ research is often far more important than you might imagine. Continue reading →

Posted in amediting, amwriting, books, fantasy, indie novels, indie writers, indiewriter, novels, reads, sci-fi, steampunk, supernatural, urban fantasy, writes, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Retail Theory, the downs, and why she hates everything…

Posted on April 4, 2025 by Mark Hayes

Retail is a strange place. I am aware I speak as a man who is less than fond of shopping, and who has never worked in a shop, but I have long been aware for those who do, retail is a strange place. Just how strange… Well that’s where Maggie Weber’s book comes in. Continue reading →

Posted in book reviews, books, humour, indie writers, indiewriter, reads | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment