Why do witches fly on brooms?

Hello readers! Have you ever wondered where our modern concept of a “witch” comes from? I’m sure we all have a similar image in our heads: one of a woman with a pointy hat and a broomstick. The woman is probably wearing a black skirt, and she might also have accessories such as a cauldron … Continue reading Why do witches fly on brooms? →

Clayton goes to Crete (Part Two)

Hello readers! In my last post, I recounted my hike down the Samaria Gorge on the island of Crete, Greece. It was an incredible experience, and certainly the highlight of the holiday – but I wanted to share a few of my other Crete adventures, too. For the most part, this wasn’t an adrenalin-fuelled, up-at-the-crack-of-dawn, … Continue reading Clayton goes to Crete (Part Two) →

The Samaria Gorge (Crete: Part One)

Hello readers! A few weeks ago, I was lucky enough to spend a week in Crete, Greece. I knew very little about the island before going, but there was one place I really wanted to visit: the Samaria Gorge. Crete has dozens of deep, narrow gorges cutting through its mountains, but the Samaria Gorge is … Continue reading The Samaria Gorge (Crete: Part One) →

Attempting to understand “romantasy”

Hello readers! Have any of you visited a bookshop lately? A few weeks ago I was browsing Amazon, and I ended up scrolling through an endless stream of “romantasy” novels. I wasn’t seeking these titles intentionally (far from it), but as soon as I entered the fantasy section, Amazon assumed that romantasy was what I … Continue reading Attempting to understand “romantasy” →

Free book weekend: 23rd-25th August

Hello readers! This bank holiday weekend, from Saturday to Monday, all my books will be FREE on Amazon! My current series, Highmoor, is traditional high fantasy, and the first three books are now out (with the final instalment in progress). These books follow the adventures of three brothers caught up in a conflict between the … Continue reading Free book weekend: 23rd-25th August →

Free book weekend: 9th-10th August

Hello readers! This weekend, all my books will be FREE on Amazon! My current series, Highmoor, is traditional high fantasy, and the first three books are now out (with the final instalment in progress). These books follow the adventures of three brothers caught up in a conflict between the nations bordering their forest home. It … Continue reading Free book weekend: 9th-10th August →

Dune (1965) is a timeless classic

Hello readers! I finally got around to reading Frank Herbert’s Dune. Not sure why it took me so long, as I’ve been curious about the book for as long as I can remember. It is so well-known, so well-loved, and so well-integrated into the public imagination that most of us have felt its influence, either … Continue reading Dune (1965) is a timeless classic →

The Last Man (1826) is a miserable read…

Hello readers! I recently finished reading The Last Man, a dystopian novel written in 1826 by Mary Shelley, the author of Frankenstein. I first learnt of this book’s existence when I was researching the origins of science fiction, as The Last Man is often listed as the earliest example of the dystopian, apocalyptic genre. The … Continue reading The Last Man (1826) is a miserable read… →

Updates and a Lego cathedral

Hello readers! Apologies for the recent lack of posts, but I have been very busy with work – not only of the “earn-money-to-stay-alive” variety, but of the “unpaid-but-career-imperative” variety. Thankfully, I’m still enjoying my somewhat quirky real-life job, but there can be no denying its erosional effect on my free time… I’m working on the … Continue reading Updates and a Lego cathedral →

An 18th century map that changed science

Hello readers! It’s time for some more historical science. This week, we’ll explore how the creation of a map in 18th century France changed the way that scientists viewed the world. The map covered the Auvergne region, which contains the Chaîne des Puys – a line of conical hills that are now known to have … Continue reading An 18th century map that changed science →