Tag Archives: writers

Extra-dimensional conjurer…

Posted on May 28, 2025 by Mark Hayes

An interesting on fellow Harvey writer Ben Sawyers blog in which he accuses me of being an extra-dimensional conjurer… I’ve been called worse ( and I may add that to my BlueSky handle…)

Posted in indiewriter, supernatural | Tagged books, harveyduckman, reads, urban fantasy, writers | Leave a comment

(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 fantasy, reads, steampunk, writers | Leave a comment

Dialogues: What is beyond

Posted on April 24, 2025 by Mark Hayes

I wrote a dialogue between two, well lets call them people, one of them certainly is. The other, well at this point I am not entirely sure what they are myself. Its the kind of random dialogue that ends up … Continue reading →

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Justice for Pluto

Posted on April 10, 2025 by Mark Hayes

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 amreading, book-review, books, fiction, newbooks, poetry, reading, reads, sciencefiction, scifi, writers, writing | Leave a comment

Research and the novel

Posted on April 5, 2025 by Mark Hayes

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 →

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The Bookshop Dichotomy

Posted on March 25, 2025 by Mark Hayes

I love a bookshop. Be that bookshop a large Waterstones or some other major chain, or a small independent book store, a dusty little second hand books shop, or a huge second hand book shop in a disused railway station. … Continue reading →

Posted in amwriting, books, indie novels, indie writers, indiewriter, opinion, rant, writes, writing | Tagged book-review, books, bookshops, reading, reads, writer, writers, writerslife, writing | Leave a comment

Cocktails in the Cosmos

Posted on March 3, 2025 by Mark Hayes

I am to blame, at least in a small way, for something delightful. This has been known to happen before… Occasionally I think people just need someone to blame and I am convenient as I have an occasionally loud personality, … Continue reading →

Posted in amreading, book reviews, books, fiction, indie, indie novels, sci-fi, writing | Tagged amreading, book reviews, book-review, books, reading, sciencefiction, steampunk, writers, writerslife, writing | Leave a comment

Post-Newtonian Magic

Posted on February 14, 2025 by Mark Hayes

When writing fantasy, be it high, low, grim dark, romantic, steampunk, urban or whatever, a writer can’t just throw words at a page and see what sticks. Well, that is not entirely true, that is in fact quite often the … Continue reading →

Posted in #amwriting, amreading, amwriting, books, fantasy, Harvey Duckman, indie, indie novels, indie writers, indiefriday, indiewriter, reads, steampunk, supernatural, urban fantasy, writes, writing | Tagged amreading, books, magic, reads, steampunk, supernatural, urbanfantasy, writer, writers, writerslife, writing | Leave a comment

The wages of ink and paper

Posted on January 23, 2025 by Mark Hayes

There is an oft expressed view within both independent and traditional publishing circles, whence writers are encouraged to ‘fake it till they make it’. Or at least believe it is something they should do. The argument being something along the … Continue reading →

Posted in amwriting, opinion, publication, self-publishing, writing | Tagged amazon, author, books, kindle, self-publishing, writer, writers, writerslife, writing, writingtips | Leave a comment

A semblance of Truth

Posted on December 9, 2024 by Mark Hayes

I am a bit of a fan boy when it comes to the work of Nimue and the esoteric creation Hopeless Maine (and Nimue’s writing in general). So when I was given the chance to read a early copy of Semblance of Truth I jumped at the chance. Continue reading →