Fiction allows reality to be reshaped—distorted, intensified, or stripped back to its essentials. These posts explore storytelling in its crafted form, where characters, conflict, and perspective combine to reveal truths that aren’t always accessible through fact alone.
The darkest, most sinister novel you’ll ever read! Chapter Two of SEETHINGS III shifts dramatically from the covert horror of the opening chapter to a domestic minefield of lies, misdirection, and slow-building revelations. Told through phone conversations and private reflections, the chapter exposes the widening fracture between Samantha and her closest friend, Anneke. Sam offers
Short Read – SEETHINGS III (ch2) Read More »
Authors know what I’m talking about. Experimenting with our stories exposes rabbit holes — for our characters, in our plots, our creativity, us. One character finds utopia while another goes to hell. Both are places few authors have visited, so both will require authors to take a leap into unknown worlds. Think of the sighted
Writers Must Fall Into Their Rabbit Holes. Completely. Utterly. Absolutely. Read More »
They exist. Woman narcs are real. Ask anyone. Everyone knows at least one special bitch who is as bad (if not worse) as any male narcissist. Ugly. Inside and out. That’s Maxine. There was a particular pleasure felt when writing such a repulsive character into my book. It was absolutely exquisite because I knew her
Maxine Sewell Is a Female Narcissist Read More »
Apply the word ‘photographer’ to writing fiction, and many listeners think of ‘war’ right away. If you’re over sixty, you’ll have more than a ninety per cent chance of thinking war correspondent. I say this because my first test readers assumed the same. They were surprised (or disappointed) to find out that my story had
Stories About Photographers: Is ‘War Correspondent’ The Only Option? Read More »
Chapter 12 juxtaposes the public discovery of Sandra’s body with Mitchell’s cold detachment and the private escalation of his marriage with Samantha toward its darkest turn. The opening scene sets the contrast starkly: the news of Sandra’s corpse on Scarborough beach plays out as domestic background noise. Mitchell, unfazed, butters toast with Vegemite while Samantha
Between Glass and Keel – Ch12 Read More »
This chapter represents a brutal climax in Sandra’s arc, blending seduction, spectacle, and violence in Mitchell’s meticulously orchestrated world. Sandra appears at the yacht club transformed, her red hair styled into glamorous waves, her outfit evoking a vintage pin-up star. This performance of confidence masks fragility, but Mitchell instantly seizes on it, directing the dynamics
The Glamorous Arrival – Ch11 Read More »
Sam and Mitchell visit the opulent Snow residence, contrasting their modest lives with Felicity and Hayden’s extravagance. The evening reveals simmering marital tensions as Felicity’s allure captivates Mitchell, highlighting Sam’s insecurities. The chapter culminates with Felicity inviting Mitchell onto her yacht, hinting at betrayal and destabilizing their relationships.
Seduction and Insecurity at a Luxurious Dinner Party – Ch4 Read More »
Mitchell and Sam prepare dinner while debating the value of consulting Dr Snow about their fertility. Their domestic tension exposes deeper cracks in their marriage. Later, Mitchell confides in Tony, revealing disturbing stories of sexual manipulation, necro-erotic encounters, and resentment toward Sam. The chapter intertwines banality with escalating psychological darkness. The chapter begins in the
Pizza and Power Plays – Ch3 Read More »
Chapter 2 examines the contrast between two couples: the affectionate marriage of Anneke and David, and the strained relationship of Sam and Mitchell. Through dialogue, it reveals Sam’s deception about her asexuality and Mitchell’s fabricated infertility, highlighting the destructive effects of unspoken truths and the contrast between openness and silence in relationships.
Secrets and Lies: The Contrast of Two Marriages – Ch2 Read More »
We like to think of ourselves as civilised beings. We dress well, shake hands, drive cars in orderly lanes, and follow the rules that make society tick. But beneath the pressed shirts and polite smiles lies something older—instinct. It waits, crouched in the shadows of our minds, reminding us that civilisation is not a natural
Instinct vs. Civility: The Thin Line That Breaks Us (or makes us) Read More »