[One of many responses to the How To Issue] How To Guide: World Domination Some people use the holidays to give gifts, bond with families and eat too much. These people will never control the globe. Lots of people have a good string of days off this time of year when they are free of…
Category: humor
Jam, Jute and Journalism
Hello from sunny Dundee, land of jute, jam and journalism: well, it is at the moment. Sort of. Oodles to catch up on, so I will avoid rehashing the harrowing journey and just give you a couple of news items. It wasn’t that harrowing after all. I am beyond grateful for the help from Maura…
Tuesday’s Overlooked A/V: Down with Love
I always want this to be a better movie than it is. A loving tribute to the Doris Day/Rock Hudson films of the 50s but with the latitude of a modern film. Down with Love *should* work, yet it doesn’t quite. Nonetheless, it’s a fun frothy little romp and for once, Renée Zellweger doesn’t annoy…
Unquiet Dreams & other things
I am so happy to announce that I just signed a contract with Tirgearr Publishing for a collection of short fiction to be called Unquiet Dreams. Stories old and new will be gathered up in this dark bouquet. I’m so excited! Some of these stories have not been available for a long time and people…
Writer Wednesday: News
The pressing news is that ACTION: Pulse Pounding Tales Vol. 1 can be obtained for FREE today and tomorrow. This slamming collection offers jam-packed thrills from me, Mr B, editor Matt Hilton, Absolutely Kate, Col Bury, Richard Godwin, Graham Smith, David Barber and many many more. Highly recommended! Not just because I’m in it (though…
Six Sentence Sunday: Biscuits
A little treat for this round of Six Sentence Sunday, the weekly banquet of words to help you sample new writers or savour old favourites. Here’s the beginning of my postcard-sized story “Biscuits” which you can read in its entirety over at Postcard Fiction. “You should have been nicer to me,” Carlotta said as she…
Tuesday’s Overlooked A/V: A Gun for George
A Gun for George offers the new Walter Mitty for a 21st century. Terry Finch is a frustrated pulp fiction author and eternal loner looking for brutal revenge on the mean streets of East Kent. This short film offers a fascinating (and funny!) look at a few tropes that are instantly recognisable to any film…
Six Sentence Sunday: Grotesque
Another Sunday has rolled around, giving you the opportunity to spot new writers you might like with the Six Sentence Sunday crew. A great, simple concept that seems to be very effective. My six this week come from a short that’s been under submission for a bit now; I’ve become so good at the “submit…
Friday’s Forgotten Books: Complete Nonsense
Tomorrow is the 200th anniversary of Edward Lear’s birth. There’s a terrific blog that keeps track of all the events and and another that prints pages from Lear’s diary. In a wonderful piece in the Independent David Quantick wrote winningly about Lear and the appeal of nonsense. I have to say, I was convinced before…
Now in Print: Drunk on the Moon
Yes, it’s true: Drunk on the Moon is now available in print, too. Those of you who’ve been putting off getting it because you don’t read them fancy ebook whatchamajiggers can now retire to your boudoirs with a good ol’ paperback of Mr B and the pack. Here’s a silly thing I wrote back in…