The Fifth Ascendant, by Joshua Grant: #BookReview.

777 pages Children’s Steampunk/Fantasy and Magic for Children As this is a children’s book, I read it to find out how the author dealt with such a readership, having read other works of his written for adults. This is definitely written for a younger readership. There are elements some adults will find difficult to follow; …

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The #Write #Words? Post 13

Looking at Onomatopoeia and Metaphor, Simile, Collective Nouns, andmy Delusional Dictionary. For definitions of those, click here to read the introductory post to the series. This week’s words: Itch, Innocent, Implausibility, Imam. Onomatopoeia: Itch Whether ‘itch’ is onomatopoeic is probably a matter of opinion. I’m including it here as it has the power, through association, …

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Creative #Writing #Contests Table Updated

The time has come around once more! Sorry I’m a day late, but I had more urgent matters to deal with. Anyway, here’s your monthly reminder to let you know the creative writing contest table has been updated. It lives on the ‘Resources’ page, here. For new visitors: Many contests are free to enter and …

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The #Write #Words? Post 12

Examining Onomatopoeia and Metaphor, Simile, Collective Nouns, and adding to my Delusional Dictionary. For definitions of those, click here to read the introductory post to the series. This week’s words: Hoot, Hot, Horde, House. Onomatopoeia: Hoot ‘Hoot’ is word we associate with owls as a rule. But it can also describe laughter of a certain type. …

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The #Write #Words? Post 11

Looking at Onomatopoeia and Metaphor, Simile, Collective Nouns, andmy Delusional Dictionary. For definitions of those, click here to read the introductory post to the series. This week’s words: Grumbling, Good, Gang, Gardener. Onomatopoeia: Grumbling ‘Some folk spend their lives grumbling, usually about matters they can’t control. In fact, some people are said never to be …

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By the Feet of Men, by Grant Price: #BookReview.

344 pages Science Fiction/Dystopian/Post-Apocalyptic This book was hard to put down, despite pressing calls on my time. Yes, it’s science fiction (which some readers disparage from ignorance). Yes, it’s dystopian and post-apocalyptic, which brings it into line with the current belated surge of interest in climate change, now recognised as an emergency. The story revolves …

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The #Write #Words? Post 11

Looking at Onomatopoeia and Metaphor, Simile, Collective Nouns, and my Delusional Dictionary. For definitions of those, click here to read the introductory post to the series. This week’s words: Fizzle, Free, Fleet, Fuck. Onomatopoeia: Fizzle ‘Young Jimmy looked on with growing disappointment as his favourite whizz-bang firework, dampened by constant rain, sputtered and fizzled out …

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Fundamental #ClimateEmergency Action

This post will raise many concerns, objections and even outrage in some readers. Be warned. Most of the world is now, at last, aware of the dangers we face from climate change. Some refuse to accept we, the human race, are the major contributor to the looming disaster. Some doubters, like Donald Trump, are in …

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The #Write #Words? Post 10

Looking at Onomatopoeia and Metaphor, Simile, Collective Nouns, and my Delusional Dictionary. For definitions of those, click here to read the introductory post to the series. This week’s words: Eek, Easy as, Exaltation, Energy. Onomatopoeia: Eek I’ve always found ‘eek’ a little, shall we say, timid? But, that, of course, may be its beauty. Not …

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The Corona Book of Science Fiction, edited by Max Bantleman: #BookReview.

202 pages Science Fiction Anthologies This is a collection of 16 short stories by some very talented writers. I enjoyed every one of these varied tales. There’s humour, horror, dystopia, AI, time travel, romance, aliens, corruption, robotics, love, and the greed inspired by empire here. None of these stories disappointed me. There are variations in style, …

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The #Write #Words? Post 9

Word cloud created through wordart.com Looking at Onomatopoeia and Metaphor, Simile, Collective Nouns, and my Delusional Dictionary. For definitions of those, click here to read the introductory post to the series. This week’s words: Ding-dong, Dead, Drove, Deputy. Onomatopoeia: Ding-dong: The sound of bells, which can also be described onomatopoeically as a tinkle, clang, chime, …

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Creative #Writing #Contests Table Updated

Florence Reflected The time has come, again! Here’s your monthly reminder about the creative writing contest table, to tell you it’s been updated. It lives on the ‘Resources’ page, here. For new visitors: Many contests are free to enter and offer great cash prizes (best prize is £16,000.00; you could buy a LOT of books …

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The #Write #Words? Post 8

Word Cloud created with wordart.com Looking at Onomatopoeia and Metaphor, Simile, Collective Nouns, and my Delusional Dictionary. For definitions of those, click here to read the introductory post to the series. This week’s words: Pitter-patter, as poor as, Pod, Psychiatrist. Onomatopoeia: Pitter-patter: We’re probably all familiar with the ‘pitter-patter’ of tiny feet; a reference to …

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Traveller Inceptio, by Rob Shackleford: #BookReview.

432 pages Science Fiction and Fantasy/Time Travel I read the sample offered by Amazon, as I often do before deciding whether to read a book. In this case, it seemed promising, so I went ahead, having been offered a review copy by the author. Unfortunately, although the premise sounds fascinating and the first couple of …

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The #Write #Words? Post 7

Word cloud created through wordart.com Looking at Onomatopoeia and Metaphor, Simile, Collective Nouns, and my Delusional Dictionary. For definitions of those, click here to read the introductory post to the series. This week’s words: Clap, Like ice, Covey, Conservative. Onomatopoeia: Clap – the sound made by palms brought together quickly, usually as a way of …

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