The Rifles Are Calling, and I Must Go is the title provided for this month’s Fiction in Fifty Words #Fi50. This exciting 50 word microfiction is managed by Rebecca Douglass on her blog, and you can join in. Actually, this
Back to editing Corsair, plus an excerpt
Editing Corsair. Yes, I’ve complained about it before, and I’ll complain about it again, but I’m back to the editing board with Curved Space to Corsair. My wonderful new editor has turned the first slash of the red pen around
Book Review | The Mystery of Three Quarters
The Mystery of Three Quarters is a new Hercule Poirot Mystery from Sophie Hannah, published on 23rd August. I’m very grateful to the publishers HarperCollins (HarperFiction) and to Net-Galley for a pre-release review copy. As you know I’ve already read
WEP – August #flashfiction | Change of Heart
Change of Heart is the prompt for this, my first entry into the linked up WEP+IWSG short story event. WEP is Write…Edit…Publish, and IWSG is the Insecure Writers Support Group, as you know from myriad first Wednesday of the month
Why my blog name dooms me to failure | Technical tips
My blog name dooms me to failure. Well, relative failure. Of course, ‘relative’ depends on what success you hope to make of your blog. Among the many excellent features reblogged by The Story Reading Ape each day, one from Just Publishing
Classic Book Review | Ringworld by Larry Niven
Ringworld was a chosen book for July for the Space Opera Goodreads group. I feel I should be reading and reviewing more science fiction, but I have to be careful it doesn’t mess with my own writing ideas. This copy
Join me at Sally’s End of Summer Party 25/26 August
Sally Cronin’s End of Summer Party is in two weekend’s time, 25th and 26th August. I’ll be there for Brunch on Saturday… you could come too, and even be at one of the other meals too! All the details are
Swallowtail moth – Random act of wildness #StayWild
The swallowtail moth is not nearly as rare as swallowtail butterflies, in the UK at any rate. I suppose I see one most years, since moths inevitably fly in through my open windows if I forget to close them after
Danielle English, Kanizo Art
Danielle English is a talented artist and illustrator who uses the brand Kanizo Art to promote and sell her work. You’ve seen her work here, often. If you haven’t noticed it, I have problems. Dani does all my Princelings covers!
Book Review | Wildcatter by Dave Duncan
This weekend only: Willoughby the Narrator is on sale at 99 c everywhere, thanks to Patty’s SF/F Promos! Check out all the books in this promo on Patty’s link here… And now for Wildcatter, a book of the month for
Friday Flash Fiction is moving to Wednesdays
I’ve not done any Friday Flash Fiction for a few months now. You may (or may not) have noticed. I started doing a regular flash fiction on Fridays way back… I have 301 posts tagged as ‘short stories’, the first
August #IWSG Day – Pitfalls and publication
The Insecure Writers Support Group #IWSG posts every first Wednesday of the month. Today’s question: What pitfalls would you warn other writers to avoid on their publication journey? I’d like to thank our Co-Hosts today: Erika Beebe, Sandra Hoover, Susan Gourley, and Lee Lowery! Please
Back to the Future? Memories and technicalities
Technicalities were my first thought for today’s post, but then I realised that memories were involved too. Technicalities with blog posts, Twitter and Facebook Two irritating changes are happening around now, well, irritating to blogging authors who are supposed to
Book Review | The Survival Game by Nicky Singer
The Survival Game came into my life via an email from Net-Galley. I am very grateful to the publishers for letting me read an ARC (a very well formatted ARC, too). This completely lived up to my expectations. In fact,
Postcard from Camp 4 | All done! #campnanowinner2018 #flashbackfriday
Well, I’m all done for another year! I’ve ‘won’ Camp NanoWriMo by completing my goal of editing Curved Space to Corsair, in over 80,000 words (88,000 approximately). And I have the badge to prove it! I’ve also started work on
Fiction in Fifty #Fi50 | On The Road
On the Road is this month’s fiction in fifty words prompt. Fi50, or fiction in fifty words, is the ultimate in flash fiction. Get the whole story into fifty words, and make sure your reader’s imagination fills in all the rest.
Book Review | Behind the Beautiful Forevers
Behind the Beautiful Forevers is my bookclub book for July. I’m not sure I’m going to complete it before Monday’s meeting, as I have another book to get feedback ready before the month end. But I am three-quarters through as
Postcard from Camp week 3: My Darlings #campnanowrimo
I’m still at Camp NaNoWriMo, and I’m still editing Curved Space to Corsair. Even better news, my illustrator has got to the window of opportunity she had to do the cover device for it! My Darlings Darlings are those things
Book Review | The Secret Horses of Briar Hill
The Secret Horses of Briar Hill was the June Book of the Month for the GMGR Goodreads Group. I’d set the theme of ‘horses’ and there was a good set of nominations, from Black Beauty right the way through to
Postcard from Camp | Week 2: Restructure #campnanowrimo
Restructure: that’s the subject for my second postcard from camp this year. As you know, I’m editing Curved Space to Corsair so that I can send it to be properly edited. At last. This is the second in the Viridian
Random Act of Wildness – my first Wild Wednesday #StayWild
My First Wild Wednesday: I promised to do these posts monthly (or maybe more often) after my #30DaysWild challenge last month. I also let the 30 Days Wild team know, and they suggested using the hashtag #StayWild to keep involved
Reading Challenge Update – six months in
My Reading Challenge list should be halfway through its targets, since it’s halfway through the year. Let’s find out if we’re on track. Goodreads Reading Challenge Target: 52 for the year, read 34. 8 ahead of schedule. This is where
Book Review | A Brief History of Time
A Brief History of Time is widely cited as the most bought but unread book in the world. I suspect that’s an exaggeration. However, I can announce that the number who have it unopened on their shelves has decreased by
Postcard from Camp 2018 – week 1: Points of View
Week 1: Camp NaNoWriMo 2018. I’m editing Curved Space to Corsair. I also have Curved Space to Corsair on pre-order at iTunes, Nook and Kobo, and listed at Smashwords. This must be why, in among my better-than-usual sales stats for
Book Titles vs Character Names #IWSG
Book titles or character names, which gives you more difficulty? The question for the June Insecure Writers Support Group completely slipped my mind, I was so intent on my 30 Days Wild challenge. So I’m doing it for the Fourth