Category Archives: reads

Still Researching Lovecraft

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 , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Maybe Tuesday

In another universe, where a man in a small lab in China didn’t drop a non-descript vail on the floor (allegedly) on a Tuesday in late 2019, the release of my 2020 novel ‘Maybe’ might have gone differently. It must have been a Tuesday when he dropped the vial, these things always happen on a Tuesday. No one ever accidently changed the course of history on a Monday. Continue reading

Posted in fantasy, goodreads, indiewriter, reads, sci-fi, steampunk, writes, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Dear Edgar – 32 : Never Bet the Devil Your Head

Toby’s mother was sinister handed and used to flog him with her left hand. Apparently, this is considered to be most improper. This unfortunate parenting has driven Dammit to become overly fond of making spurious bets and the expression “I’ll bet the devil my head”. Continue reading

Posted in amreading, Poe, reads, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Dear Edgar ~31 : The Colloquy of Monos and Una

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 , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Occasional unattributed wisdoms

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 , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Quiddling for Quizzels

(This is originally something I wrote for Hopeless Vendetta, in November last year. It is something of an autumn story, so entirely out of place mid spring… But I republish here because I want to, and readers of my blog … Continue reading

Posted in amreading, amwriting, fantasy, fiction, humour, reads | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Justice for Pluto

There are in fact seven dwarf planets (though three are listed as ‘possible dwarf planets’) among the many other Trans-Neptunian Objects that have been identified. Two of them even have moons. The main reason Pluto is recognized as a planet is because it was discovered first. Eris, Haumea, Makemake, Quaoar, Orcus, Sedna, and Gonggong all could lay equal claim to planethood.

The most plausible reason why the other TNO Dwarf-planets are not recognized as planets is I suspect because learning all nine planets in order is already too much for some people before you add another seven dwarf’s. Given Disney’s recent issues with that number of dwarfs this may prove wise… Continue reading

Posted in amreading, amwriting, books, Harvey Duckman, indie novels, indie writers, indiewriter, reads, sci-fi, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Tales from the notepads

“And todays date is?”

Grunted laughter… “it matters not.”

“It matters not? We are in the third decade of third millennium, yet you speak of observing a battle in the first. By my reconning some fourteen hundred years ago.”

“it is still no dream.”

“What is it then, if not a dream?”

“A memory…” Continue reading

Posted in amreading, amwriting, fantasy, fiction, reads, writes, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Research and the novel

Research is one of the most important aspects of the fiction writers toolbox, I am aware this may seem counterintuitive, after all its fiction. We just make it up don’t we? Well yes. But when ‘just making things up’ research is often far more important than you might imagine. Continue reading

Posted in amediting, amwriting, books, fantasy, indie novels, indie writers, indiewriter, novels, reads, sci-fi, steampunk, supernatural, urban fantasy, writes, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Retail Theory, the downs, and why she hates everything…

Retail is a strange place. I am aware I speak as a man who is less than fond of shopping, and who has never worked in a shop, but I have long been aware for those who do, retail is a strange place. Just how strange… Well that’s where Maggie Weber’s book comes in. Continue reading

Posted in book reviews, books, humour, indie writers, indiewriter, reads | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment