There can’t be many things more welcoming than a roaring fire in the middle of winter. Snow lay heaped in piles outside, but we warmed ourselves in front of the small parlour’s hearth. A grandfather clock in the corner ticked away the minutes, and dull chatter floated through from the main bar of the saloon […]
Books
The Beauty of the Barter
I’ve often lamented that I find it somewhat difficult to patronise actual bricks-and-mortar bookshops, something I’d dearly love to do if only it were possible. Newcastle City Centre boasts only two bookshops nowadays, both of which belong to chains and neither of which stock the books I require for my PhD, so I have little […]
Why I Suck At Marketing
I’ve been posting regularly to my blog for a while now, and after much thought, I’ve decided I don’t want my blog to be nothing but flash fiction or posts about writing. I’d like to start sharing more about my experiences as a writer – you never know, maybe you’ll be feeling the same way […]
[Book Review] The Adventures of Cash Laramie and Gideon Miles
If you see a book on Amazon with 50 5* reviews, you’re expecting a good read. Thankfully, Edward A Grainger knows how to deliver. The first volume of the Adventures of Cash Laramie and Gideon Miles is described as “western noir”, and features seven short stories about two deputy U.S. Marshals working in 1880s Wyoming […]
[Review] Shadow of a Dead Star
I first encountered Michael Shean on Twitter, and after several jolly conversations, decided that I’d check out his blog. I did so, to discover he had a book for sale (this is why you should engage me in conversation – it makes me much more interested in what you’re actually working on). Shadow of a […]
[Review] Beginnings, Middles and Ends
At first glance, writing a book specifically about beginnings, middles and ends might seem a bit odd. After all, a story contains all three, so surely that’s just a book about, well, books? Well yes, and no. Despite the fact I was familiar with the three act structure from my academic work in film studies, […]
