Category Archives: steampunk

The Talented Child Dilemma

Posted on December 29, 2021 by darrack1

I’m a little tired and world wherry when it comes to ‘talented child’ stories. This may seem a little harsh, indeed it is, but as the basis for a plot it has been around along time, particularly in fantasy, sciFi … Continue reading →

Posted in amreading, book reviews, books, fantasy, fiction, goodreads, indie, indie novels, indie writers, novels, reads, steampunk, supernatural | Tagged amreading, bookblog, books, reads, steampunk, writer, writers, writerslife, writing | 3 Comments

The Hydrogen Cigar

Posted on December 21, 2021 by darrack1

‘Helium is a bit of a sticky wicket you see. Had you requested Hydrogen that would have been easy,’ Sir Robert had been informed by his chief science officer. The scientist, whom Sir Robert suspected was a man who would … Continue reading →

Posted in books, fiction, goodreads, Hannibal Smyth, indie, indie novels, indie writers, indiewriter, novels, reads, sci-fi, steampunk, writes, writing | Tagged amwritingsteampunk, fiction, indiereads, reads, sciencefiction, steampunk | Leave a comment

Books of the year

Posted on December 7, 2021 by darrack1

It may be slightly early, as there is a fair chance I’ll read a couple more before the end of the year, but now seems as good a time as any to do my annual Passing Place Blog Books Of … Continue reading →

Posted in amreading, book reviews, books, humour, indie, indie novels, indie writers, indiefriday, indiewriter, sci-fi, steampunk, supernatural | Tagged amreading, books, goodreads, newbooks, newfiction, newreads, reads, steampunk, writer, writers, writerslife | 1 Comment

Illuminating observations of the perils of an indiscreet life…

Posted on December 5, 2021 by darrack1

For reasons, that have never been explained to me, at Pudsey (the small town between Leeds and Bradford and somewhat merged into both these days), in the large park behind the swimming pool, just up past the aviary, this is, … Continue reading →

Posted in amreading, amwriting, book reviews, books, druidry, fiction, goodreads, indie novels, indie writers, indiewriter, pirates, reads, steampunk, supernatural, writes, writing | Tagged amreading, books, childhood, druidry, druids, fantasy, reads, steampunk, steampunk fantasy, writers, writerslife, writing | 4 Comments

A touch of yellow…

Posted on November 30, 2021 by darrack1

Those who have followed my blog previously will know that aside from the odd post about writing in general, book reviews, talking about my own work, and the occasional pondering on the inner workings of the universe, mental health and … Continue reading →

Posted in amreading, amwriting, big questions, book reviews, books, cthulhu, goodreads, horror, indie, indie novels, indie writers, novels, reads, rites, sci-fi, steampunk, supernatural, Uncategorized, writes, writing | Tagged amreading, books, horror, newbooks, newfiction, newreads, reads, steampunk, supernatural, writer, writers, writerslife, writing, writingtips | 3 Comments

Five years of Passing Place

Posted on November 29, 2021 by darrack1

Five years ago my personal favourite of my novels, and the one I will grudgingly admit to being most proud of Passing Place was release. I say grudgingly because all my novels are little slithers of my soul and, excepting … Continue reading →

Posted in amreading, amwriting, big questions, book reviews, books, Esqwiths, fantasy, fiction, goodnews, goodreads, Hannibal Smyth, Harvey Duckman, horror, indie, indie novels, indie writers, indiewriter, novels, opinion, Passing Place, publication, reads, sci-fi, self-publishing, steampunk, supernatural, writes, writing | Tagged amreading, books, fantasy, newreads, novels, reads, sciencefiction, speculative fiction, steampunk, urban fantasy, writer, writers, writerslife, writing, writingtips | 1 Comment

Sailing on an Hourglass Sea

Posted on November 22, 2021 by darrack1

Not too long ago I reviewed Mat MaCall’s The Dandelion Farmer. I was I think now perhaps a little too gushing in my praise of the novel, the first of a trilogy of which the second The Hourglass Sea is … Continue reading →

Posted in amreading, book reviews, books, fiction, goodreads, indie, indie novels, indie writers, indiewriter, novels, publication, reads, sci-fi, steampunk, writes, writing | Tagged amreading, amreadingscifi, bookreview, books, reading, reads, reviews, sciencefiction, scifi, steampunk, writerslife, writing | 3 Comments

Hopeless Joys

Posted on November 17, 2021 by darrack1

One of the best things being an indie author has brought to my life is I get to meet other indie and small press authors. This is not because they are all wonderfully creative giving people, (though as a rule … Continue reading →

Posted in amreading, book reviews, books, dreamlands, druidry, indie, indie novels, indie writers, novels, reads, sci-fi, steampunk, supernatural | Tagged amreading, art, books, graphic novels, hopeless, reads, steampunk, writerslife, writing | 2 Comments

Dandelions on Mars

Posted on August 31, 2021 by darrack1

I had a moment of genuine glee while reading last night as a spaceship from the planet mars crashed into Surrey’s Horsell common in 1857… The astute and well read among you may be able to guess why, but to … Continue reading →

Posted in amreading, amwriting, book reviews, books, Canadian steampunk, errol the bookcase dragon, fantasy, fiction, goodreads, indie, indie novels, indie writers, indiewriter, novels, reads, retro book reviews, sci-fi, steampunk | Tagged amreading, bookreviews, books, fantasy, newreads, reads, steampunk, steampunk fantasy, writer, writers, writing | 5 Comments

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

Posted on August 27, 2021 by darrack1

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 →