How to deal with negative reviews of your writing (without going crazy)
A writer’s guide to handling bad reviews If you write anything that gets enough reviews, it will, sadly, be criticised. It is just the way things are. If you write … Read More
Category: Books
Book reviews.
Self-Publishing Vs. Traditional Publishing: How Technology Is Changing The Game
Is self-publishing the new slush pile? Are publishers going out of business? Writers will be all too aware of the rapidly evolving world of getting a book published. I have … Read More
I’ve been rediscovering the unique genius of Agatha Christie books
I recently started reading Agatha Christie again and had forgotten how much I love her brilliant mysteries. I’d previously read around ten of her more famous books. Some at school … Read More
Do Writers Really Work Better Drunk? Should you ‘Write Drunk, Edit Sober’?
Hemingway was actually against it… The aphorism ‘Write drunk, edit sober’ is often incorrectly attributed to Ernest Hemingway. After all, he was famous for writing and drinking, so it makes … Read More
Why Modern Novels Are Getting Longer (And Why Readers Love It)
There is a noticeable trend in modern publishing. Many of today’s most popular novels are getting longer Over the past few decades, data suggests that novels (particularly bestsellers and literary … Read More
Thailand’s most famous ghost still has a shrine in Bangkok
Bangkok is a city of glass towers, traffic jams, rooftop bars, shining malls, mad backstreets, and endless construction. I should know, as I’ve lived there for 12 years. I also … Read More
Happy Christmas! Free book: ‘Haunted Thailand: Ghosts and spirits in the Land of Smiles’
Happy whatever you celebrate this winter period – here is a free book called: “Haunted Thailand: Ghosts and spirits in the Land of Smiles”. You can get it here free … Read More
The Secret Of Secrets By Dan Brown – Fun, Preposterous, And Exciting But More Of The Same
Dan Brown’s The Secret of Secrets came out a couple of months ago, and I finally got around to reading it. I’ve read all his books and enjoy them, but … Read More
The Loose End by Dwonch and Hymel is a fun, Tarantino-esque comic caper
The Loose End graphic novel collects issues 1-4 of this new crime comic and is a lot of fun. Written by Dave Dwonch, with art by Travis Hymel, The Loose … Read More
Tree Spirits And Good Fortune: The Beautiful Ghosts Who Protect Thailand’s Forests
I wrote recently about an angry Thai ghost with a detachable head, so it is time to look at some beautfiul tree spirits that protect native trees. Thailand’s spiritual world … Read More
A detachable flying head with a disgusting diet – The Krasue
I wrote about the Krasue on Medium recently, but it is actually an excerpt from my short book about Thailand’s spooky folklore: Haunted Thailand: Ghosts and Spirits in the Land … Read More
Switching Focus To Short Stories To Make A Fortune
Or a pittance. Time will tell… The popularity of short stories has waxed and waned over the decades. They have always been around as myths and fables like the Arthurian … Read More
The Occult – Rankin, Lovecraft, And Marenghi Are Warping My Mind
I’ve always been weirdly interested in the occult. I blame rock music. (Just kidding – rock rules and hail the darkness!) I recently realised that the last three books I … Read More
From Zork to AI Dungeon: How AI is Revolutionizing Interactive Text Adventures
AI is so damned useful that I am overwhelmed and am still thinking of ways to use it. You can probably tell that I don’t use for writing by looking … Read More
Slough House Shenanigans: A Review of Slow Horses
Slow Horses is a spy thriller TV show that streams on Apple TV+. If you like tension, dark humour, backstabbing and twists, it will be right up your alley. Based … Read More
Last year I did a reading challenge – never again!
Last year, I did a reading challenge where I attempted to read a book a week. I read a lot, and it wasn’t too difficult, but I will never do … Read More
The Theory of Everything Else: A Voyage Into the World of the Weird By Dan Schreiber
I knew Dan Schreiber from his work on QI as an elf, and also the Museum of Everything, and There’s no such thing as a fish. All of which are … Read More
The Rats by James Herbert – rereading a classic
I read The Rats by James Herbert when I was about 11 or 12 and it was one of the most exciting books I had read. Obviously since then as … Read More
A Short Stay in Hell by Steven L Peck blew my mind
I finished A Short Stay in Hell by Steven L Peck a few weeks ago and can’t stop thinking about it. I hate phrases like ‘blew my mind’ as it’s … Read More
The Inimitable Jeeves by PG Wodehouse
I adore Jeeves and Wooster. I also love all the other works of PG Wodehouse, the guy was a genius, but J&W are his most famous creations. Every time I … Read More