Tag Archives: books

Dandelions on Mars

Posted on August 31, 2021 by Mark Hayes

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 | 7 Comments

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

Chapter titles

Posted on May 14, 2021 by Mark Hayes

I have a thing about chapter titles. I’m always a little disappointed when an author doesn’t use them, though just numbering chapters is very much the norm these days. The naming of chapters harks back to the days when many … Continue reading →

Posted in amreading, amwriting, blogging, books, fantasy, goodnews, goodreads, Hannibal Smyth, indie, indie novels, indie writers, indiefriday, indiewriter, opinion, Passing Place, pointless things of wonderfulness, pratchett, reads, sci-fi, self-publishing, steampunk, writes, writing | Tagged amwriting, amwritingscifi, bookblog, bookcovers, books, indiebooks, indiewriter, reads, steampunk, steampunk fantasy, writers, writerslife, writing, writingcommunity | Leave a comment

The price of Defying Winter

Posted on May 12, 2021 by Mark Hayes

LC grew up in a war zone. A dirty little war, on a dirty little planet in the between. He was a refugee street kid, or would have been if there was anywhere to flee to. In stead he was … Continue reading →

Posted in amreading, amwriting, books, booksale, fiction, goodreads, indie, indie novels, indie writers, reads, sci-fi, world book day, writes, writing | Tagged amreading, amreadingscifi, bookblog, bookcovers, bookreview, bookreviews, books, newbooks, newfiction, newreads, reading, reads, sciencefiction, scifi, scifiscarbrough | 2 Comments

Brief reviews of wonderfulness #1

Posted on March 2, 2021 by Mark Hayes

I have been known on occasion to promise to write a review for fellow authors. I have some fair firm rules on these promises, in that I don’t write a review unless I genuinely like what I’m reviewing. If I … Continue reading →

Posted in amreading, amwriting, book reviews, books, dreamlands, druidry, fantasy, fiction, goodreads, indie, indie novels, indie writers, indiewriter, pagan, reads, sci-fi, steampunk, supernatural, writes | Tagged amreading, bookreview, books, fantasy, goodreads, hopeless, horror, reading, reads, reviews, steampunk fantasy | 2 Comments

A Harvey Christmas to all

Posted on December 2, 2020 by Mark Hayes

Christmas is coming, the goose is looking worriedly at the chopping block, good will to all men, women, and those who define themselves as neither. the fat bloke in red with a beard you could lose reindeers in is preparing … Continue reading →

Posted in amreading, book reviews, books, dystopia, fantasy, fiction, goodreads, Harvey Duckman, horror, humour, indie, indie novels, indie writers, indiefriday, indiewriter, novels, reads, sci-fi, steampunk, writes, writing | Tagged amreading, amreadinghorror, amreadingscifi, bookblog, bookcovers, books, goodreads, greatreads, harveyduckman, indie, indie publishing, indiebooks, indienovels, indiereads, indiewriter, reading, reads, retroreads, whoisharveyduckman, writers, writerslife, writing | Leave a comment

Echoes of a Cursed Ship part 2

Posted on October 26, 2020 by Mark Hayes

Its October, the leaves are falling, the witches are abroad, and I’ve opened the blog up to guest writers again. Yes its Indie October. Throughout October some old favourites among my guests will be returning along with some new voices. … Continue reading →

Posted in amreading, amwriting, book reviews, books, fiction, goodreads, Harvey Duckman, indie, indie novels, indie writers, indieoctober, indiewriter, novels, opinion, pirateday, pirates, reads, self-publishing, writes, writing | Tagged amreading, amwriting, amwritingsteampunk, bookblog, bookcovers, books, goodreads, indie publishing, indiebooks, indienovels, indieoctober, indiereads, indiewriter, reading, reads, steampunk, steampunk fantasy, writerslife, writing, writingcommunity, writingtip | Leave a comment

Fantastic Flash Fiction

Posted on October 22, 2020 by Mark Hayes

Its October, the leaves are falling, the witches are abroad, and I’ve opened the blog up to guest writers again. Yes its Indie October. Throughout October some old favorites among my guests will be returning along with some new voices. … Continue reading →