Category Archives: fiction

The Read Through…(or the narative atom)…

Posted on March 23, 2018 by Mark Hayes

The read-through is a task I always approach with a certain ambivalence. I both love and hate doing it, but I also recognise just how essential they are, both as a writer in general and when you’re working on an edit. It’s … Continue reading →

Posted in books, cider lane, fiction, nanowrimo, novels, Passing Place, publication, quotes, rant, self-publishing, writes, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Birthday Book Sale…

Posted on March 18, 2018 by Mark Hayes

While it is no more than an excuse to do so, as it was my birthday a few days ago Both my in print novels are available on Kindle this week on a special sale price of 99c / 99p … Continue reading →

Posted in amreading, cider lane, fiction, kindlesale, novels, Passing Place, publication, reads, retro book reviews, sci-fi, self-publishing, world book day | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

The Festival: The Complete Lovecraft #40

Posted on March 5, 2018 by Mark Hayes

“Efficiunt Daemones, ut quae non sunt, sic tamen quasi sint, conspicienda hominibus exhibeant.” —Lactantius. (Devils so work, that things which are not, appear to men as if they were real.) The mildly ominous quote above preludes a Lovecraft tale that … Continue reading →

Posted in am, fiction, goodreads, horror, Lovecraft, mythos, opinion, reads, retro book reviews, rites, sci-fi | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

As its world book day…

Posted on March 1, 2018 by Mark Hayes

As its #worldbookday it would be remiss of me not to mention my novels, as well as a few by other indie writers… But first, my own novels Passing Place and Cider Lane… You can read about them in the links above, … Continue reading →

Posted in amreading, book reviews, books, cider lane, fiction, goodnews, nanowrimo, novels, opinion, Passing Place, publication, reads, world book day | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Unnameable: The Complete Lovecraft #39

Posted on January 3, 2018 by Mark Hayes

What is it about Randolph Carter and sitting around in graveyards, it never turns out well for him, you would think he would learn… At least this time he is in the pastoral surroundings of New England rather than the middle of … Continue reading →

Posted in fiction, goodreads, horror, Lovecraft, movies, reads, retro book reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The Rats In the Walls: The Complete Lovecraft #38

Posted on November 22, 2017 by Mark Hayes

The first Lovecraft story I ever read was ‘The Rats In The Walls’. I always have, and will always, looked upon it fondly, for all its flaws. It remains the tale I am most likely to recommend as a starting … Continue reading →

Posted in fiction, horror, Lovecraft, music, mythos, opinion, pointless things of wonderfulness, reads, retro book reviews, sci-fi | Tagged , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

30 Days of NaNoWriMo: Day 7

Posted on November 7, 2017 by Mark Hayes

Day 7:  The unfortunate truth from today’s calendar… Nobody said it had to be good, now write… Target for the day, get to 11667 words Current word count 5824 words While that particular truth may seem disheartening my advice is don’t worry … Continue reading →

Posted in fiction, humour, nanowrimo, opinion, pointless things of wonderfulness, quotes, writes, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

30 Days of NaNoWriMo: Day 3

Posted on November 3, 2017 by Mark Hayes

Day 3:  and today’s cheerleading comment in the calendar Sack your inner editor today Target for the day, get to 5000 words Current word count 2219 words So, on the plus side after the Goldfrapp incident, I have been able … Continue reading →

Posted in fiction, goodnews, nanowrimo, opinion, quotes, writes, writing | Tagged , , , , , , | 5 Comments

The Hound: The Complete Lovecraft #36

Posted on October 30, 2017 by Mark Hayes

From one of the crumbling gravestones–dated 1747–I chipped a small piece to carry away. It lies before me as I write–and ought to suggest some sort of horror story. I must place it beneath my pillow as I sleep… Just … Continue reading →

Posted in fiction, Goth, horror, Lovecraft, mythos, reads, rites, sci-fi | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Harlem’s Hellfighters…

Posted on August 16, 2017 by Mark Hayes

‘The Ballard of Pvt Burbanks’ a pivotal chapter in ‘Passing Place’ tells what you could call the ‘origin’ story of  Sonny Burbanks, the doorman at the very strange bar of the title. ‘Very strange’ is perhaps an understatement when describing the Esqwiths … Continue reading →

Posted in amreading, amwriting, fiction, humanrights, indie, indie novels, indiewriter, opinion, Passing Place, politics, rights, writes, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments