Tag Archives: opinion

Larceny of Countenance

Posted on December 29, 2023 by Mark Hayes

I felt the sting of remorse. This face I had stollen for my own, now looked haunted and here I was to pay witness to its end. An end I had brought him to. Oh, I could rationalise it all … Continue reading →

Posted in amwriting, indie writers, rant, Uncategorized, writes, writing | Tagged opinion, writer, writers, writerslife, writing, writingtips | 1 Comment

Masks

Posted on October 13, 2023 by Mark Hayes

This is a post about masks derived from an old posts about masks from 2017. In 2017 I was still writing the first Hannibal Smyth novel, COVID was yet to be a thing and I was not the same person … Continue reading →

Posted in big questions, depression, opinion | Tagged depression, mentalhealth, opinion, writerslife | 3 Comments

Is Steampunk Elitist? A guest Post by Mat McCall

Posted on October 1, 2022 by Mark Hayes

“Why do Steampunks always dress up as wealthy Neo-Victorians? What about the workers and the poor, why don’t Steamers dress up like them?” Continue reading →

Posted in amreading, books, fiction, Harvey Duckman, indie, indie novels, opinion, quotes, rant, reads, sci-fi, steampunk, writes, writing | Tagged amreading, guestposts, opinion, reads, sciencefiction, steampunk, writer, writerslife, writing | Leave a comment

I’m not good, but who is.

Posted on September 28, 2022 by Mark Hayes

When I was a kid at Pudsey park on the outskirts of Leeds, just across from the abandoned Traction Engine steam roller, in the main play ground there was a Helter-Skelter. It was a proper Helter-Skelter, a huge wooden construction. … Continue reading →

Posted in big questions, depression, dystopia, insomnia, mental-health, opinion | Tagged depression, mentalhealth, opinion | 1 Comment

‘Celebrity’ Fucking Authors

Posted on October 15, 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, books, humour, indie, indie novels, indie writers, indieoctober, indiewriter, opinion, publication, rant, reads, writes, writing | Tagged amreading, celebrity culture, culture, indie publishing, indiebooks, indieoctober, indiereads, indiewriter, opinion, rants, reading, reads, writer, writerslife, writing, writingcommunity | 2 Comments

Steampunk issues

Posted on June 9, 2020 by Mark Hayes

Given current events I feel, rightly or wrongly, the need to have a conversation I have meant to have for a while. A conversation about Steampunk, a genre, subculture and in some cases lifestyle choice with which I have a … Continue reading →

Posted in amreading, amwriting, books, Canadian steampunk, fiction, Hannibal Smyth, humanrights, indie, indie novels, indie writers, indiewriter, novels, opinion, politics, rant, reads, rights, steampunk, writes, writing | Tagged humanity, indiewriter, opinion, politics, reads, steampunk, steampunk fantasy, writer, writers, writerslife, writing, writingcommunity | 1 Comment

Writing around COVID

Posted on April 22, 2020 by Mark Hayes

The escapism of fiction is essential in our world right now, but for many authors COVID-19 has caused something of a headache. I’m not talking about the closure of bookshops and the postponement of events where we were intending to … Continue reading →

Posted in amreading, amwriting, fiction, Harvey Duckman, indie, indie novels, indie writers, IndieApril, indiewriter, novels, opinion, reads, sci-fi, writes, writing | Tagged harveyduckman, humanity, indie, indie publishing, IndieApril, indiebooks, indienovels, indiewriter, opinion, politics, writer, writers, writerslife, writing, writingcommunity, writingtip, writingtips | 2 Comments

Why Your Day Job could be Good for Your Creativity

Posted on April 13, 2020 by Mark Hayes

We’re all familiar with the dilemma. “I’ve just had this great idea and I want to write it down immediately, but I’m stuck at work right now.” If you’re anything like me, when you think about your day job in … Continue reading →

Posted in amediting, amreading, amwriting, fantasy, Harvey Duckman, indie, indie novels, indie writers, IndieApril, indiewriter, opinion, reads, sci-fi, writes, writing | Tagged #amwriting, amreading, amwritingscifi, authors, indie publishing, IndieApril, indiewriter, nanowrimo, opinion, writer, writers, writerslife, writing, writingcommunity, writingtip, writingtips | 2 Comments

What is Modern Druidry?

Posted on April 2, 2020 by Mark Hayes

It’s the question I started asking when I first came to Druidry about eighteen years ago. I’m still asking it. My blog (www.druidlife.wordpress.com) is mostly me asking, day by day ‘what does this even mean?’ We don’t know much about … Continue reading →

Posted in amreading, amwriting, druidry, humanrights, indie, indie writers, IndieApril, mental-health, opinion, pagan, reads, rites, writes, writing | Tagged druidry, humanity, IndieApril, mentalhealth, opinion, pagan, reads, spirituality, the world, thoughts, writer, writerslife, writing | 1 Comment

Quotes for 2020 #34

Posted on February 10, 2020 by Mark Hayes

An on going series of a quote a day from those most worthy of individuals, writers… Disclaimer not all quotes are meant to inspire… Not all comments I make upon them are entirely honest either, occasionally Hannibal writes them… Today’s … Continue reading →