Writing and reviews with an environmental, science fiction, and fantasy touch
Book blurbs in haiku form is maybe not the most obvious way of summarising one’s output. The idea came from Librarything. I joined Librarything several years ago, and used to post my reviews there, until I came up against a
Updating my biography was a topic I promised when it came to J for Jemima. But Tuesdays used to be when I did haikus and I promised some during the A to Z Theme Reveal. I like doing haiku, although
Ornithology is the study of birds; I’ve taken an interest in it all my life. I suppose we just used to notice garden birds, but if we went for walks, or had seaside holidays, my parents would name birds without it being anything
Environment haiku Safe in green spaces; Oceans devoid of plastic; Dreams are not enough. My environment haiku plea today for everyone to safeguard our world, and the habitats every creature depends on, for our safety, for our food security
I wanted to finish a book in order to review it inside the author’s launch timescale, but I got to the first page on the train and felt the need to rest… well, I had already finished two on that journey,
Whether sun or snow Bedecks your halls, I send you Seasons Greetings all! Have a very happy holiday season, check out the Deja Vu Friday post, come back for the Midwinter’s Eve Giveaway Hop on Sunday, and enjoy your Christmas
It’s the last Tuesday Haiku – for a while, at any rate. I enjoy them, but I thought I’d take a break. The Tuesday Haiku I hope you enjoyed each one Since May of last year. As it happens, there’s
The sleeper awakes: The full moon hangs low in the sky, And shines in her face. The full moon is indeed hanging low in the northern sky at present – it is at its lowest (from the northern hemisphere) part
So many spiders Catching flies in my garden. Get out of my hair! Yes, it’s that time of year when I can’t go out in the garden without breaking up the happy homes of many different types of garden spider.
Readathon round-up: I tackled six great sequels And loved ev’ry one! Technically I didn’t succeed with my Readathon challenge, since by midnight on Sunday I had only completed 60% of my sixth book. I claim two barriers – my kindle
I went to Noirwich A crime writing festival. Thrills, spills and bodies! Noirwich was indeed an excellent festival, organised by UEA, Writers Centre Norwich, and Waterstones, with some wonderful sponsors as well. I enjoyed the readings by newer writers at
Giveaways abound. “Enter to win cash or books.” Have you had enough? I like to run a giveaway about once a month, but of course there are also giveaways attached to book promotions. As I negotiated my way round them
Season of ripe fruit; Gather berries from hedgerows And make tasty jam! Yes, it’s blackberrying time of year. I noticed the sloes were ready last weekend, and some of the wild brambles have ripe fruit – escaped cultivars are big
A sight before dawn: Venus, Jupiter and Moon All close together! After what is called a conjunction of Venus and Jupiter in mid August – when objects appear to be very close together in the sky even though they are
Cumulonimbus, Altostratus or Mare’s tails – There’s a lot about! We’ve had some very interesting clouds lately – I suspect what is called “Ex-hurricane Bertha” by our weather forecasters has something to do with it. We’ve also had very changeable,
The Glorious Twelfth! Start of the shooting season. Keep your heads down, chaps. If you’re a grouse, or other game bird, 12th August is a very bad day. I don’t notice it much, but around my village it’s the 15th
Hot days of August: Everyone’s on holiday. Except you and me! I guess your kids may be on holiday, but parents never really have holidays while the kids are young, do they? I live in a county that attracts tourism,
Big Pete and the Swede – Stolen from their loves to find The Perihelix! I’m not sure that the female protagonists of the story should really be classed as their loves, but what do I know, they may surprise me
July’s troubled skies: Hailstorms, sun, heat and showers End in thunderstorms! We’ve just about had it all this month and we’re only three parts through. I had a few golf competitions over a five day period and went from being
Four days of torture: Seventy-two holes of golf. It’s just The Open! The Open Golf Championship is the big event of the year for UK golfers, and of course, since the sport started here, it’s the only Open Championship that
Wimbledon’s over; Green lawns and strawberries gone – Djokovic the champ! I was spoiled for choice on my haiku subjects in the last few weeks. The UK tennis highlight is over, and a new champ crowned to fit my haiku.
On Midsummer’s Day, Druids greet the Stonehenge dawn. Let’s all celebrate! Actually, I apologise: the druids do their stuff on the longest day – June 21st – and not Midsummer. I’ve never known a satisfactory explanation for Midsummer not being
Many kinds of grief: From raw, ripped desolation To empty snuggles. An observation rather than a reflection of my current state. I didn’t want to post this one last week because of the free days for Bravo Victor. But I
It’s a sad release; Victor crossed the Rainbow Bridge. He’s well again now. I don’t generally mention the guinea pigs on my blog, but of course Victor’s book is Bravo Victor and I never thought he’d live to see its
May is nearly done – Young birds fill lush trees and grass. Nearly flaming June. I was doing something near the fat balls I hang out for the birds when a young Great Tit (like a chickadee) hopped up and