Writing is only the beginning. This collection explores the realities of authorship—craft, publishing pathways, and the uneasy balance between art and visibility. From shaping narrative to navigating markets, these posts examine what it means to be an author in a landscape where storytelling and self-promotion increasingly collide.
Why choose an adult cat over a kitten? For me, personality matters more than cuteness. Sharkey and Levi arrived as shelter cats, became family, and quietly accompanied the writing of SEETHINGS—sleeping on my desk, squeezing behind me on my chair, and softening the darker places explored in my fiction.
Choosing Aged Cats Over Kittens Read More »
Stephen King’s Fairy Tale delivers familiar darkness, hidden worlds and ordinary people confronting extraordinary evil. But is it King at his best? This review explores the novel’s strongest elements, what major critics said, and why readers drawn to monsters hiding inside human beings may also enjoy SEETHINGS.
Was This King at His Best? Read More »
I’m afraid of heights, so when my yacht’s masthead light failed, I sent my boastful mate Graham up instead—at least in fiction. Climbing a mast takes skill, nerve and trust, especially when every movement below becomes a sweeping arc above. That’s why yachties should never underestimate the risk involved.
I Sent My Friend To The Top of My Yacht’s Mast Because I’m Scared of Heights Read More »
Back to the renovation dust, tools, timber and half-finished kitchen plans. After a brief break, the house project resumes with wiring, wall removal, ceiling work, sink hunting and a visit from Alex, whose wooden sword briefly steals attention from the chaos of rebuilding a home one messy stage at a time.
Back To Work After A Brief Break Read More »
RSS can hide more readers than a website owner realises. This piece looks at anonymous subscribers, unseen downloads, stripped-back feeds, and the strange discovery that people may be reading your work regularly without appearing in your usual stats, comments, emails, or subscriber lists.
How Many Anonymous Fans Are Taking In Your Content Via RSS? Read More »
Story endings matter. They don’t need to be neat, happy, or comforting, but they should feel earned. This piece looks at why some endings fail, why readers search for closure, and how a final page can satisfy, unsettle, or deliberately leave one last question behind.
Finding Ways to End the Stories We Start Read More »
The Smashwords Summer/Winter Sale has begun! Thousands of discounted ebooks across every genre are waiting to be discovered—including my SEETHINGS trilogy. If psychological suspense, hidden motives, betrayal, and sinister twists are your kind of fiction, July is the perfect time to dive into a dark new read.
Thousands of Great Reads. Three Very Dark Ones On Sale Now. Read More »
The Smashwords July Summer/Winter Sale is almost here. Throughout July, all three of my SEETHINGS novels will be available as discounted ebooks. If dark psychological fiction filled with manipulation, betrayal, and sinister twists is your kind of reading, now is the perfect time to discover the trilogy.
Smashwords Summer/Winter Sale 2026 Read More »
Is karma the universe balancing the scales, or simply our way of making sense of life’s twists and turns? After watching someone I once knew place unwavering faith in karma for more than forty years, I found myself wondering whether our greatest rewards and punishments come from fate, divine intervention, or the consequences of our own choices.
Luck or God’s Will? Read More »
Why do some people feel compelled to censor images they could simply ignore? After receiving complaints about artistic photography on Pinterest, I found myself thinking less about photography and more about human behaviour. The reactions reveal something fascinating about society, personal values, and the way we interpret art.