Category Archives: opinion

The Quantum Pagan an Introduction

Posted on October 20, 2025 by Mark Hayes

Last week, because I don’t have enough to write, I started work on a project that has been kicking about for a few years. While it may never see the light of day, as it is in part a personal project, I have been encouraged through conversations with a few people to write a book on pagan mysticism, faith and quantum physics… Continue reading →

Posted in amwriting, big questions, druidry, opinion, pagan, quantum pagan, rites | Tagged history, pagan, paganism, paganisum, quantum pagan, reads, spirituality, writer, writing | 3 Comments

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 amreading, book-review, books, Dear Edgar, fiction, horror, Poe, reading, writer, writing | 3 Comments

Still Researching Lovecraft

Posted on June 24, 2025 by Mark Hayes

I am still engaged in a project involving a book about the worlds of H.P. Lovecraft. I originally mentioned this just over a month ago, in a post called Researching Lovecraft… This as you may have guessed is a follow on from that post, as people liked it and because I failed my sanity rolls, so had to crack on with writing the book…. Continue reading →

Posted in Nyarlathotep, opinion, reads, writes, writing | Tagged amreading, book-review, books, cosmic-horror, horror, Lovecraft, reads, writers, writerslife | Leave a comment

Dear Edgar ~31 : The Colloquy of Monos and Una

Posted on June 9, 2025 by Mark Hayes

There are (in this tale) broad themes in regards to life, death, the impermanence of existence, decay both moral and physical.

It really is a bundle of laughs…. Continue reading →

Posted in amreading, book reviews, opinion, Poe, reads, retro book reviews | Tagged books, Dear Edgar, fiction, literature, philosophy, Poe, reads, writing | Leave a comment

Occasional unattributed wisdoms

Posted on May 14, 2025 by Mark Hayes

Stare long enough into the void, and your eyes go a little squiffy. Continue reading →

Posted in amwriting, big questions, humour, opinion, reads, writes, writing | Tagged books, humour, philosophy, poetry, reads, writer, writing | Leave a comment

Dear Edgar 16 ~ The Business Man

Posted on March 26, 2025 by Mark Hayes

At home, on the shelf above my desk, just to the left of the raven black quill and owl tormented ink stand, and in front of the leather bound scroll case of dubious origin, I have a porcelain phrenology skull, … Continue reading →

Posted in amreading, Dear Edgar, humour, opinion, politics, reads | Tagged amreading, book-review, books, Dear Edgar, horror, literature, Poe, politics, reads, reviews, satire | Leave a comment

The Bookshop Dichotomy

Posted on March 25, 2025 by Mark Hayes

I love a bookshop. Be that bookshop a large Waterstones or some other major chain, or a small independent book store, a dusty little second hand books shop, or a huge second hand book shop in a disused railway station. … Continue reading →

Posted in amwriting, books, indie novels, indie writers, indiewriter, opinion, rant, writes, writing | Tagged book-review, books, bookshops, reading, reads, writer, writers, writerslife, writing | Leave a comment

Dear Edgar ~ 24 The Conversation of Eiros and Charmion

Posted on February 5, 2025 by Mark Hayes

In 1831, some 8 years before dear Edgar put pen to paper to scribe this tale, Reverend William Miller predicted the world would end with the second coming of Christ within thirteen years, and thus founded his own religious movement Millerism. As the date of what he termed ‘The Second Advent’ approached his movement grew from a small obscure movement in the early 1830’s to becomes a large national movement of up to half a million people. While Miller himself refused to nail down the actual date most became convinced its would be mid April 1844. Continue reading →

Posted in amreading, Goth, horror, opinion, Poe | Tagged #amwriting, amreading, author, books, Dear Edgar, Edgar Alan Poe, Poe, reading, reads, writerslife, writing | 1 Comment

The wages of ink and paper

Posted on January 23, 2025 by Mark Hayes

There is an oft expressed view within both independent and traditional publishing circles, whence writers are encouraged to ‘fake it till they make it’. Or at least believe it is something they should do. The argument being something along the … Continue reading →

Posted in amwriting, opinion, publication, self-publishing, writing | Tagged amazon, author, books, kindle, self-publishing, writer, writers, writerslife, writing, writingtips | Leave a comment

The fate of Eels

Posted on October 29, 2024 by Mark Hayes

When inspiration flows, it creates cycles. We might think about this as being akin to other natural cycles, like the way water moves through the world. Inspiration is supposed to flow and move, hoarding it doesn’t work. The person who jealously guards their creative energy will find they have less of it, not more. Continue reading →