Category Archives: writes

Passing Place – a review

Posted on May 31, 2023 by Mark Hayes

Originally posted on Druid Life:
(Nimue) Passing Place, by Mark Hayes is a beautiful, bonkers sort of a book. This is speculative fiction, with a story that isn’t easily explained at all without spoilers. What I can say with some…

Posted in amreading, amwriting, book reviews, books, fantasy, fiction, indie novels, indie writers, novels, opinion, reads, sci-fi, steampunk, writes, writing | Tagged amreading, reads, sciencefiction, steampunk, writer, writers, writerslife, writing | Leave a comment

The place I write from…

Posted on May 24, 2023 by Mark Hayes

I like my anger, without it I am not sure who I am
I bottle it up in tight little jars. Seal it within myself.
Turn it, mould it, hammer it and temper it.
Then, when it can not be held down any more. When it has been refined to a glowing edge. I use it, and poor it into words.
My anger becomes creation, focused it becomes a positive force Continue reading →

Posted in amwriting, big questions, depression, mental-health, opinion, writes, writing | Tagged depression, mentalhealth, samaritans, worldmentalhealthday, writer, writerslife, writing | 1 Comment

A Duckman’s Odyssey

Posted on May 22, 2023 by Mark Hayes

I have personally been far more involved with Harvey 13 than any Harvey previously. the bulk of the work is still being done by the ever wonderful Gillie Hatton of 6E publishing, but I am one of a triumvirate of submissions editors curating the collection to an extent… So I have a degree of pride wrapped up in this one and more skin in the game. It is however a great collection of stories. Continue reading →

Posted in amreading, amwriting, books, fantasy, fiction, Hannibal Smyth, Harvey Duckman, horror, indie novels, indie writers, indiewriter, Lovecraft, novels, Passing Place, pointless things of wonderfulness, reads, sci-fi, steampunk, supernatural, writes, writing | Tagged amreading, books, reads, sciencefiction, steampunk, writer, writers, writerslife, writing, writingtips | 1 Comment

Books of magic and the magic of books

Posted on May 20, 2023 by Mark Hayes

Sometimes such books are written to be just that, a joyous fun read that wiles away the passage through the clouds, or the click clack of rails. Books you can not take your time with because there is a unurgency to them that wants to be read all at once. Continue reading →

Posted in amreading, book reviews, books, fantasy, indie novels, indie writers, reads, writes | Tagged amreading, book, bookblog, reads, urban fantasy, urbanfantasy, writerslife, writing | Leave a comment

Strange drafts

Posted on May 19, 2023 by Mark Hayes

Inspired by a conversation late night in the pub, mostly centred around advice to prospective writers and how best to get started with the whole being a writer thing… Starting with the single most important piece of advice you can give any writer…

Write Continue reading →

Posted in amreading, amwriting, editing, fiction, humour, quotes, writes, writing | Tagged quotes, reads, writer, writerslife, writing, writingtips | Leave a comment

Reading Maybe…

Posted on May 17, 2023 by Mark Hayes

This blog is just to say to anyone who wants to write but is dyslexic, don’t let that stop you. Don’t let anything stop you. Continue reading →

Posted in amediting, amreading, amwriting, dyslexia, Hannibal Smyth, indie novels, indie writers, indiewriter, novels, reads, steampunk, writes, writing | Tagged amreading, books, reads, steampunk, writer, writers, writerslife, writing | Leave a comment

What is it about Alyssa?

Posted on May 13, 2023 by Mark Hayes

apparently all female main characters in Chic lit Urban Fantasy’s are called Alyssa, its a rule apparently, who knew… Continue reading →

Posted in amreading, book reviews, books, fiction, indie novels, indie writers, novels, opinion, pagan, reads, writes, writing | Tagged amreading, bookblog, bookreview, books, pagan, reads, urban fantasy, urbanfantasy, writer, writers, writerslife | 1 Comment

Getting struck by lightning

Posted on May 12, 2023 by Mark Hayes

Seeking Inspiration is like seeking being struck by lightning, occasionally one must encourage the lightning a little. Others have said this better than me… Here then are some quotes on subjects of which I am fond. * may they inspire. … Continue reading →

Posted in humour, indie writers, indiefriday, quotes, writes, writing | Tagged amreading, quotes, reads, writer, writerslife, writing | Leave a comment

What is Steampunk? A Guest post by Matt McCall

Posted on April 20, 2023 by Mark Hayes

Mat McCall, a bulldozer of joyous exuberance and invested enthusiasm who manages to drag unsuspecting people into a whirlwind of frivolity. I love this man… He has some thoughts on ‘What is Steampunk’ he is something of an expert on the matter, though he would never claim to be. Continue reading →

Posted in amreading, amwriting, books, Hannibal Smyth, indie, indie novels, indie writers, IndieApril, reads, retro book reviews, sci-fi, steampunk, Uncategorized, writes | Tagged books, guestposts, reads, sciencefiction, steampunk, writerslife, writing | 1 Comment

Writing Groups, a guest blog by Liz Tuckwell

Posted on April 19, 2023 by Mark Hayes

For Mark’s annual Indie Month, I thought I’d write something about my experience of writing groups. Writing is a solitary pursuit, but writers like to get together to discuss their craft and occasionally have a good moan about writing and publishing. Continue reading →