Category Archives: novels

It’s just not Cricket… and other matters of research

Posted on August 27, 2021 by Mark Hayes

Research is an important aspect of the fiction writers tool box. That may seem counterintuitive, after all its fiction, we just make it up don’t we? But actually when ‘just making things up’ research can become more important than you … Continue reading →

Posted in amreading, amwriting, books, editing, fantasy, fiction, goodreads, Harvey Duckman, humour, indie novels, indie writers, indiewriter, novels, reads, steampunk, supernatural, writes, writing | Tagged amreading, books, newbooks, newfiction, newreads, reads, steampunk, writer, writers, writerslife, writing, writingtips | 4 Comments

From small acorns…

Posted on August 26, 2021 by Mark Hayes

The English language in its never ending colonial expansionism co-opted many years ago. A word that was originally Turkish, though it had deeper roots in Persian and Arabic. Like so many words of other languages who’s vowels my mother tongue … Continue reading →

Posted in amreading, amwriting, big questions, book reviews, books, booksale, cthulhu, fantasy, fiction, goodreads, Hannibal Smyth, Harvey Duckman, horror, humour, indie, indie novels, indie writers, indiewriter, Lovecraft, novels, opinion, Passing Place, pirateday, pirates, publication, reads, rites, sci-fi, steampunk, supernatural, writes, writing | Tagged amreading, amwritingscifi, anthologies, books, harveyduckman, horror, reads, sciencefiction, scifi, scifiscarbrough, shortstories, steampunk, writer, writers, writerslife, writing | 2 Comments

It’s been a while…

Posted on July 29, 2021 by Mark Hayes

Hi, its been a while… Of cause, you may not of noticed, but the Passing Place has been on something of a hiatus. Real life has been throwing curve balls and writing blog posts has been thrown somewhere down the … Continue reading →

Posted in amreading, amwriting, blogging, editing, fantasy, fiction, goodnews, goodreads, Hannibal Smyth, Harvey Duckman, horror, humour, indie, indie novels, indie writers, indiefriday, indiewriter, novels, reads, sci-fi, self-publishing, the elf kings thingy, writes, writing | Tagged #steampunk, amreading, amwritingsteampunk, authors, books, reads, steampunk, steampunk fantasy, writer, writers, writerslife, writing, writingtips | Leave a comment

Talking About Inspiration

Posted on April 25, 2021 by Mark Hayes

Where do you find your inspiration? Its a question every writer gets asked, that I get asked, so often its something of a cliché. Its a shade away from that other question, ‘where do you get your ideas from?‘ that … Continue reading →

Posted in amreading, amwriting, big questions, books, fantasy, fiction, goodnews, goodreads, Harvey Duckman, horror, indie, indie novels, indie writers, IndieApril, indiewriter, novels, sci-fi, steampunk, writes, writing | Tagged amwriting, amwritingscifi, amwritingsteampunk, harveyduckman, writer, writers, writerslife, writing, writingcommunity, writingtip, writingtips | Leave a comment

The Elf King’s Thingy Part 8

Posted on March 26, 2021 by Mark Hayes

The Elf King’s Thingy Part VIII ‘There are probably worse fates in the world than double geography’… Anna mused to herself while failing to pay any attention to the lines of strata been drawn on the white board by Mr … Continue reading →

Posted in #amwriting, amreading, amwriting, books, fantasy, fiction, humour, indie, indie novels, indie writers, indiefriday, novels, reads, sci-fi, steampunk, supernatural, the elf kings thingy, writes, writing | Tagged amreadingscifi, fantasy, goodreads, indiereads, newreads, reading, reads, sciencefiction, scifi, steampunk fantasy, the elf kings thingy, urbanfantasy | Leave a comment

The Elf King’s Thingy part 7

Posted on March 19, 2021 by Mark Hayes

The Elf King’s Thingy Part VII The atmosphere of The Great Vault was one of brooding gloom, despite the glow worm lamps doing their best to shed light around its grim interior. ‘Candles would be better.’ Mr. Spleen thought to … Continue reading →

Posted in amreading, amwriting, books, fantasy, fiction, goodreads, horror, humour, indie, indie novels, indie writers, indiewriter, mythos, novels, reads, supernatural, the elf kings thingy, writes, writing | Tagged amreading, amreadingscifi, fantasy, goodreads, greatreads, indiereads, newreads, reading, reads, sciencefiction, the elf kings thingy, urbanfantasy | Leave a comment

The Friday round up of fabulous stuff

Posted on March 12, 2021 by Mark Hayes

I’ve not done one of these for a while, but sometimes it just nice to kick back and talk about some great things in the world. We don’t do that enough. First up, while last weekend was difficult for personal … Continue reading →

Posted in amreading, amwriting, big questions, book reviews, errol the bookcase dragon, Esqwiths, fantasy, fiction, goodreads, Hannibal Smyth, Harvey Duckman, indie, indie novels, indie writers, indiewriter, novels, Passing Place, pointless things of wonderfulness, reads, sci-fi, writes, writing | Tagged amreading, amreadingscifi, amwritingscifi, indiereads, indiewriter, reading, sciencefiction, steampunk, writer, writerslife, writing, writingtips | 1 Comment

The Elf King’s Thingy part 4

Posted on March 4, 2021 by Mark Hayes

The Elf King’s Thingy Part IV Back where we started deManfess was listening to one side of the conversation being held over the ancient Bakelite phone… “What?” “I see, and you wish us to investigate, this… occurrence?” “Yes…” “A what? … Continue reading →

Posted in amreading, amwriting, books, fantasy, fiction, goodreads, Goth, horror, humour, indie, indie novels, indie writers, indiewriter, novels, reads, rites, sci-fi, steampunk, supernatural, the elf kings thingy, writes, writing | Tagged amreading, elfking, fantasy, horror, indiereads, magic, newreads, reading, reads, sciencefiction, steampunk, steampunk fantasy, the elf kings thingy, urbanfantasy, writer, writerslife, writing | Leave a comment

Harvey hits 50

Posted on February 28, 2021 by Mark Hayes

With its latest release the Harvey Duckman series has reached a landmark of over fifty new and established indie writers spread across nine books, with more to come. It is a project I was lucky enough to be involved in … Continue reading →

Posted in amreading, amwriting, book reviews, books, Esqwiths, goodreads, Hannibal Smyth, Harvey Duckman, humour, indie, indie novels, indie writers, indieoctober, indiewriter, novels, Passing Place, reads, sci-fi, steampunk, supernatural, writes, writing | Tagged amreading, amreadingscifi, fantasy, goodreads, Harvey Duckman, harveyduckman, horror, indiereads, newbooks, newreads, reading, reads, sciencefiction, steampunk, steampunk fantasy | 1 Comment

The Elf king’s Thingy: Part 2

Posted on February 25, 2021 by Mark Hayes

The Elf King’s Thingy: Part II Elsewhere, and earlier. Assil, King of the Fae bellowed with drunken anger and hurled his tankard across the throne room. His aim was off, which spoke much of how drunk he was, for the … Continue reading →