Category Archives: books

Forgotten forests

Posted on March 28, 2024 by Mark Hayes

The nexus of my identity is not external to me. This was a hard lesson, long to be learned, over many years and to an extent still unlearned. Coming to the realisation that what makes you you, and understanding that … Continue reading →

Posted in amreading, books, reads | Tagged amreading, books, pagan, paganism, reads | 3 Comments

The Men in Dark Tweed 6

Posted on March 18, 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 amwriting, books, Hannibal Smyth, men in dark tweed, steampunk | Tagged humour, men in dark tweed, reads, steampunk | Leave a comment

Dear Edgar #18 Blackwood

Posted on March 11, 2024 by Mark Hayes

‘How to Write a Blackwood Article’ and ‘A Predicament’ are two parody’s written by Poe and published in the same edition of the magazine, American Museum. One serves as an introductory piece for the other and in effect they form … Continue reading →

Posted in amreading, books, Dear Edgar, Poe, pointless things of wonderfulness | Tagged amreading, Dear Edgar, Edgar Alan Poe, Poe, reads, sciencefiction, writing | Leave a comment

Creating books

Posted on December 12, 2023 by Mark Hayes

This is an updated article that I originally wrote in 2020 because the subject keeps coming back around, one way or another. Please bear in mind this is written with some humorous intent, but the advice contained within is meant … Continue reading →

Posted in books, editing, indie writers, indiewriter, self-publishing, writing | Tagged books, self-publishing, selfpub, writers, writerslife, writingtips | Leave a comment

Books of the year 2023 Edition

Posted on December 1, 2023 by Mark Hayes

As with last year this may be slightly early, as there is a fair chance I’ll read a couple more before the end of the year. (in fact I know I will as there are a couple I am reading … Continue reading →

Posted in amreading, book reviews, books, indie novels | Tagged amreading, books, horror, reads, sciencefiction, steampunk | 1 Comment

Hope is not eternal

Posted on November 3, 2023 by Mark Hayes

All things end, some with a whimper, some with a bang, some too early, some too late, but all things end. The default state of the universe is entropy, and no story is complete until the final line. And so … Continue reading →

Posted in amreading, book reviews, books, fantasy, fiction, horror, novels, reads | Tagged amreading, books, reads, sciencefiction, steampunk | 1 Comment

Monomania et le gothique

Posted on October 30, 2023 by Mark Hayes

If a Gothic tale needs one thing to make it a truly Gothic tale, it needs an antagonist in the grip of a profound monomania. Obsessions and obsessional manias are among of the principle building blocks of gothic literature. Be … Continue reading →

Posted in amreading, books, fantasy, Goth, horror, indie, indie novels, indie writers, novels, opinion, Poe, reads | Tagged amreading, fiction, gothic, newbook, reads, steampunk, writing | 4 Comments

Guy Forks by Will Nett

Posted on October 25, 2023 by Mark Hayes

There have been many Sir William Nettleton’s, the most infamous had his knighthood rescinded by the late queen in 1963 after the incident with the catholic call girls, the CoE bishop of Angleside and Elizabeth II cup final tickets the … Continue reading →

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Strange Influences

Posted on October 24, 2023 by Mark Hayes

Not everyone will be influenced by the same books. There are probably people in the world who don’t appreciate Wuthering Heights. There are people who fail to be drawn in to Fahrenheit 451. There may even be people in the … Continue reading →

Posted in amreading, books, reads, writing | Tagged books, reads, writer, writers, writerslife, writing | 4 Comments

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 →