Category Archives: books

Music and words

Posted on October 30, 2024 by Mark Hayes

Passing Place remains the book of which I am most proud. I love all my novels but this one is the one with the most blood in the ink, the most slivers of my soul between its pages. Its a tale of loss and love, of hope and grief , and of choices, the choice we all have….

Also, there really is a forest in the cellar. As well as a Dryad waiting tables when she is not in the back garden with her tree. A gunslinger with a tale of the mythology in the old west. An Inuit whose spear is dropping blood on the bar and speak of tears like diamonds. The wisest doorman in all the universe who will teach you many things, including how to drink brandy the right way. A girl in the corridor with eyes in her hands. A literal devil called Lyal. A grey man form a grey world marveling at the colour in the swirl of his mop water. A chef who understand how to may causality sandwiches. Continue reading →

Posted in amreading, amwriting, books, fantasy, fiction, indie novels, indie writers, novels, Passing Place, reads, sci-fi | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Cultist Prayer

Posted on October 17, 2024 by Mark Hayes

I was raised in The Church of England and thus I learned The lords prayer by rote, as one does when your are sent off to Sunday school every Sunday to listen to bible stories and be taught about the great beard in the sky, my prospective salvation, hell and what not…

I am sure those raised in the Cult of Cthulhu experience much the same. Continue reading →

Posted in big questions, books, cthulhu, dreamlands, horror, Lovecraft, rites | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Redux: Beguiling darkness: Tethered

Posted on October 15, 2024 by Mark Hayes

This is a fabulous ride of a novel, through a dark gritty fantasy landscape, with strong characters, betrayals, surprises, shocks, a whole world of imagination to explore and wonder at. There will I am sure be more to come, and I was delighted to go back to it and see how much what had been a good book when I read the early draft four year ago has been revise and polished into something so much more than it was. Continue reading →

Posted in amreading, book reviews, books, fiction, reads, steampunk, supernatural, writing | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

After the end…

Posted on October 4, 2024 by Mark Hayes

One in two of us will be affected by dementia in our lifetime. Families living with the condition are often left feeling exhausted, overwhelmed and alone. With your support, together we can provide vital specialist dementia nursing services, so more families can access our life-changing support and live as well as possible, for as long as possible. Please donate today and help ensure no one faces dementia alone. Continue reading →

Posted in amreading, big questions, books, dystopia, fantasy, Harvey Duckman, writes, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A Gentleman

Posted on September 24, 2024 by Mark Hayes

“It seems to me, that the use of lockpicks should fall under the remit of a gentleman’s valet, rather than the gentleman himself.” Benjamin West grumbled just after he snapped his second pick in quick succession.  Continue reading →

Posted in amreading, amwriting, books, fantasy, Harvey Duckman, indie novels, indiewriter, steampunk, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The End of the world is not the Ragnarök

Posted on September 20, 2024 by Mark Hayes

My axe is cold, frost crisscross’s the handle and the fingers that hold it, but the blade is sharp still and blood still flows in he that would wield it.
The Ragnarök is over, we are what remain Continue reading →

Posted in amreading, books, fiction, Harvey Duckman, indie, indie writers, pagan, reads, supernatural, writes, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Dear Edgar #19 The Devil in the Belfry

Posted on August 20, 2024 by Mark Hayes

Order is a wonderful thing, there is a genuine joy to waking up on a morning and knowing there will be breakfast in the cupboard, because there is always breakfast in the cupboard. There is a safety and some would … Continue reading →

Posted in books, Dear Edgar, Goth, horror, reads, retro book reviews | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

The Return of a Semblance of Hope

Posted on August 19, 2024 by Mark Hayes

Time has past… Strange epochs are upon us, the stars are finally right and the thing that was prophesied will now come to pass… Also there make be coco! Continue reading →

Posted in amwriting, books, fantasy, fiction, indie novels, pointless things of wonderfulness, sci-fi, steampunk, supernatural | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

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

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