Category Archives: Books

My brain needs a break

Posted on August 10, 2018 by

My brain needs a break. Here’s a scary picture of me in brain meltdown mode. Given the rather excessively productive year I have had so far (first drafts on two longer than usual novels, lots of editing on earlier, currently … Continue reading →

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Update on current projects

Posted on August 3, 2018 by

2018 is more than half over, so here’s a sort-of mid-term report on how the year is shaping up for me so far. Ravenseed – The first few months of the year were spent writing this Dark Ages set fantasy … Continue reading →

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Aggregator aggravation

Posted on July 27, 2018 by

I have developed a particular dislike for aggregator review sites. For example, Rotten Tomatoes for films, or Goodreads for books. The star rating system is one I have always found reductive. In expressing an opinion this way, intelligent critique and … Continue reading →

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Why I am an egomaniac

Posted on July 20, 2018 by

I am a writer, which makes me a bit of an egomaniac. I don’t think that is a bad thing, and here is why. To honestly, truthfully believe that someone would want to read whatever it is you have written, … Continue reading →

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George goes to Neptune – the version that never was

Posted on July 13, 2018 by

Whilst glancing through some old notes and files the other day, I came across an outline I’d written for George goes to Neptune, the third novel in my George Hughes trilogy. I glanced through it and was astonished. The plot … Continue reading →

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How to write a series

Posted on July 6, 2018 by

I was recently asked for tips on how to write a series of novels, because I wrote and published the George Hughes trilogy. However, the title of this blog post is deliberately misleading, because I actually have no clue how … Continue reading →

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Horror and Weepies: Two sides of the same coin?

Posted on June 29, 2018 by

Anyone who has a passion for the horror genre invariably faces questions from those who can’t understand why anyone would enjoy being scared, disturbed, grossed-out or horrified. Conversely, those who are partial to romantic tragedies, weepies or dramas containing significant … Continue reading →

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What do I find scary?

Posted on June 22, 2018 by

As someone who writes horror stories, I often ask the question, what do people find scary? Of course, scariness is very much in the eye of the beholder. For some, the prospect of being stalked by a serial killer is … Continue reading →

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In the shadow of Nineteen Eighty-Four: Writing my current novel

Posted on June 15, 2018 by

I have recently re-read George Orwell’s dystopian milestone, Nineteen Eighty-Four. As ever, I came away from it stunned by the satirical and chilling narrative, and deeply alarmed at its prophetic insights. However, I also experienced something I hadn’t expected: intimidation. … Continue reading →

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Love vs Honour – Did I fail?

Posted on June 8, 2018 by

In 2006, I wrote Love vs Honour, which I then self-published nearly ten years later, in 2015. The novel is a sideways step outside of my usual world of thrillers, horror, science fiction, fantasy and children’s adventures. Teenage romance isn’t … Continue reading →

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