If anyone here is going to World Fantasy Con in Brighton, hope to see you there.

Not To Noble Books are making my latest (!) publication available for the magnificent price of absolutely nothing for the period of 28th October to 1st November (inclusive) Don't blink. Don't miss the opportunity to read the true (well, to me at least) story of the Border Romeo and Juliet, a Northumbrian ghost story, revenge over the centuries ( Read more... )

I know I don't post as often as I did, but just in case anyone is interested, you can now acquire my novel, Gallasill, as an ebook from Not So Noble Books via the dread lords at Amazon. It is a ghost story set in a country town that is where I live disguised with an ineffectual pair of cheap sunglasses. A family's secrets from way back come home ( Read more... )

Those fine people at Not So Noble Books are now in receipt of a signed contract. In turn this means that Gallasill will be appearing as an ebook for your reading pleasure and delectation in due course. Feeling good about this.

There are many writers whose work I admire and enjoy. There are very few whose work screams at me - 'this is the benchmark to which you must aspire, you dullard.' Of my 'contemporaries' there were four, but Rob Holdstock has gone and now Iain Banks has joined Sir Terry on the not long for this world list. I like his 'mainstream' work more than I ( Read more... )

As Graham Parker once sang, what's so funny 'bout peace, love and understanding? Today, tomorrow and every other day. We can do it if we try.

My first (published) novel 'Monkey See' has been issued by Wild Wolf, and is now available on Amazon (at least the UK version) I shall not tell how how wonderful it is because that would be crass. Besides, judgement is and always should be the reader's. It is a supernatural thriller set on Tyneside and, while one of the main characters is ( Read more... )

... I used to like The Mamas and the Papas. Why? Well, there was John Phillips' rather cool way with words and a melody. Then there were Denny Doherty and Cass Elliott, two of the finest voices of my lifetime of listening to popular music. Of course, the fact that my girl friend was a dead ringer for Michelle Phillips had nothing at all to do ( Read more... )

Something happened today that hasn't happened - to me - for a long, long time. I went all Ian Rankin. I was reading the BBC News website - as I do, a boy needs a bit more than he gets on the weather report, you know - when I came across a story from Iran. As I read it a novel appeared in my brain - who, what, why, how. And it is better than any ( Read more... )

Years ago, we got satellite tv for the first time. One of the channels was CMT - Country Music Television - and I watched a lot (I was having one of my periodic bouts of depression, caring for my totally mother in law - Meatloaf singing 'Objects in the rear view mirror' reduced me to tears, that was a sign) Most of it was crap, just like any ( Read more... )