Free book weekend: 28th-30th November

Hello readers! From Friday 28th until Sunday 30th, all of 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 … Continue reading Free book weekend: 28th-30th November →

Free book weekend: 8th-9th November

Hello readers! This weekend, all of 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. … Continue reading Free book weekend: 8th-9th November →

Amazon’s War of the Worlds: so bad it’s good advertising

Hello readers! I’m a bit late to the party on this one, so I suspect that many of you are already familiar with this cinematic travesty… But, for those of you who dwell outside the YouTube and Letterboxd bubbles, it is with deep regret that I must inform you about Amazon’s recent film adaptation of … Continue reading Amazon’s War of the Worlds: so bad it’s good advertising →

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… →

Free book weekend: 7th-8th June

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: 7th-8th June →

Science fiction and the future: Part Two

Hello readers! In the previous post, we explored the challenges associated with setting a speculative science fiction story in a particular future year. The writer must choose a date that feels plausible to the reader, or else their credibility will be eroded, the foundations of their fictional world will be shaken, and their otherwise carefully-crafted … Continue reading Science fiction and the future: Part Two →

Science fiction and the future: Part one

Hello readers! I’ve been pondering the science fiction genre again – specifically, science fiction stories which are set in our universe, with some connection to our world. I haven’t done a thorough survey, but I get the impression that most science fiction falls into this category, rather than being pure science fantasy. And within this … Continue reading Science fiction and the future: Part one →

Free book weekend: 21st-23rd February

Hello readers! This weekend, five of my books will be available for FREE on Amazon (find them here). Unfortunately, Kindle Store scheduling issues have meant that I can’t include Synwyr, my most recent work – but all my books should be back on Kindle Unlimited in mid-March, as explained in this recent post. And from … Continue reading Free book weekend: 21st-23rd February →

Free book weekend: 18th-19th January

Hello readers! This weekend, all my books will be FREE on Amazon (find them here). 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 … Continue reading Free book weekend: 18th-19th January →