Tag Archives: writerslife

Harvey’s not dead/Men in Dark Tweed

Posted on April 9, 2024 by Mark Hayes

Over the last several years I have been involved in the Harvey Duckman Anthologies project. First as a writer, occasionally a mentor and then latterly as part of the editorial staff . I have spoken of it here more than … Continue reading →

Posted in #amwriting, amreading, amwriting, fiction, Hannibal Smyth, Harvey Duckman, indiewriter, men in dark tweed, steampunk | Tagged amreading, book reviews, books, fiction, reads, steampunk, writer, writers, writerslife, writing, writingtips | 1 Comment

Our Lady of the Peat Bog

Posted on March 25, 2024 by Mark Hayes

Our Lady of the Peat Bog* *A short piece inspired by Jessica Law The lady of the Bog does not give out swords, that her sisters job, the one who hangs about in lakes. The lady of the Bog hands … Continue reading →

Posted in amreading | Tagged amreading, childrens books, nature, reads, writers, writerslife | 3 Comments

Marrakesh Musings by Will Nett

Posted on February 23, 2024 by Mark Hayes

North Africa. This is not the Africa of Sir William Nettleton III infamously lost explorer and drinker of gin. This is another Africa. The Africa of endless desert dunes and the epicentre of French colonialism. You would be mistaken however … Continue reading →

Posted in amreading, Europe, humour, indie writers | Tagged reads, travel, writer, writerslife | Leave a comment

The Maggot of Salamanca

Posted on January 29, 2024 by Mark Hayes

Occasionally while happily writing away, you write yourself into unexpected corners. For example, in my current main work in progress ‘Lucifer Mandrake and the Hanoverian Proxy’, the plot requires a hole in the arcane wards protecting Queen Victoria’s court. As … Continue reading →

Posted in reads, Uncategorized, writes, writing | Tagged books, reads, steampunk, writerslife, writing | 4 Comments

Voices…

Posted on January 22, 2024 by Mark Hayes

“Did I? How exciting… I look forward to hearing it. I wonder if I already have?” A female, exuberantly excited if slightly panicked voice in my head Every character I write, be they a main character, supporting case, or the … Continue reading →

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Dear Edgar #17 Ligeia

Posted on January 15, 2024 by Mark Hayes

And the will therein lieth, which dieth not. Who knoweth the mysteries of the will, with its vigor? For God is but a great will pervading all things by nature of its intentness. Man doth not yield himself to the … Continue reading →

Posted in amreading, Dear Edgar | Tagged books, Dear Edgar, Edgar Alan Poe, edgar-allan-poe, gothic, horror, Poe, reads, writerslife, writing | 2 Comments

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

A Brush with the Law A Guest post by Will Nett

Posted on December 14, 2023 by Mark Hayes

To the Black Maisonette the Childe Nettleton came This line is of course from the infamous fragment of the lost narrative poem by Bob Brown, found written on the back of a fag packet in 1992. Many have since claimed … Continue reading →

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Creating books

Posted on December 12, 2023 by Mark Hayes

This is an updated article that I originally wrote in 2020 because the subject keeps coming back around, one way or another. Please bear in mind this is written with some humorous intent, but the advice contained within is meant … Continue reading →

Posted in books, editing, indie writers, indiewriter, self-publishing, writing | Tagged books, self-publishing, selfpub, writers, writerslife, writingtips | Leave a comment

Monkeys! a guest post by Will Nett

Posted on November 29, 2023 by Mark Hayes

Sir William Nettleton IV, once married a monkey called Kevin. He was drunk at the time (Kevin, not Sir William) which was the only reason he agreed to the marriage, which it is believed was never consummated. At least, as … Continue reading →