Biographical, Learning, life lessons, Wonderings

Old Dogs

I’m not a doggy person, so I’m not sure if the adage ‘you can’t teach an old dog new tricks’ is true for the canine race, but it is most often used when referring to humans. Whilst there may be numerous examples demonstrating the truth of the saying, I believe in a lot of cases… Continue reading Old Dogs

Blogging, Life, the universe and everything, Wonderings, Words, writing

Waiting is…

Everybody’s busy. Everyone I meet says they are. With so much to do in our Western, post-industrial lives, it is easy to resent being made to wait. It can seem like a waste of time, during which we are prevented from engaging in the many activities that fill the rest of our existence. Overstimulated, short… Continue reading Waiting is…

Author, Biographical, books, Wonderings, writing

Works in Progress

“The road to hell is paved with works-in-progress.” ― Philip Roth Often I have too many ideas about what to write and don’t know what to do with them. Scribbled thoughts abound in multiple notebooks, of which I have at least one per jacket or coat plus some spares to make sure there’s always one… Continue reading Works in Progress

Author, Blogging, books, Poetry, spoken word, emotions,, Wonderings, Words, writing

Creative in Crom-Arty

In 1830, at the northeastern tip of the Black Isle in the Scottish Highlands, on the shore of the picturesque village of Cromarty, Hugh Miller discovered imprints of life sandwiched between layers of rock 400 million years old. Last week, embraced by walls fashioned from the same sandstone, thirteen undergraduates gathered to marinate in time… Continue reading Creative in Crom-Arty

Author, Poetry, spoken word, emotions,, Wonderings, writing

Alter Egos

I’m generally quite a calm, thoughtful, reticent kind of guy, not given to emotional outbursts or ranting. To a certain extent, this is due to my upbringing by parents who were children during World War Two, the “mustn’t grumble” generation. They faced food shortages and other hardships that could not be overcome or lessened by… Continue reading Alter Egos

Book Festival

My First Book Festival

It’s hard to believe that despite being an avid reader for most of my life and a writer for sixteen years, I had never been to a book festival until last week. When I ask myself why, I’m pleased to reply that it’s not only because of my prejudices and assumptions, though I confess they… Continue reading My First Book Festival

Blogging, Interviews, Work Experience, writing

The Blog of Blogs

UPDATE: Sadly, Scififantasynetwork.com has been discontinued, so those links will not work. The reason there has been no post for a while is because I have been doing work experience with the marvellous Luna Press Publishing print science fiction, fantasy and speculative fiction and non-fiction, and who manage http://www.scififantasynetwork.com/ This included: An interview with author… Continue reading The Blog of Blogs

Biographical, writing

In For the Long Haul

If I say that writing a novel takes a long time, I doubt any of you would be surprised. Some however, if they did the maths, might question just how long the process takes. Of course, the amount of time available in life should be taken into consideration, but it would not be unreasonable to… Continue reading In For the Long Haul

Biographical, Wonderings

Resistance is Fertile.

I don’t like being told what to do. Who does? I am a quiet revolutionary, a passive resister, a peaceful rebel. At school, my Spanish teacher once called me a dark horse (with a degree of admiration I like to believe) on becoming aware of my subversive tendencies (she and the art teacher had just… Continue reading Resistance is Fertile.