There Is No Planet B, by Mike Berners-Lee: #BookReview.

Here is the statement from the back cover of this amazing book: ‘We still have a chance to live better than ever on Planet Earth. But, as humans become ever more powerful, how can we avoid blundering into disaster?’And this book does its level best to answer that question with positive ideas, suggestions, and examples.Anyone …

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Short Story: The Last Early Rising

This story was first published in the Autumn edition of 2005 of Scribble, a small print magazine published by Park Publications. I also posted this to Medium The Last Early Rising ‘What are you thinking about?’ Kerry stroked his abdomen. ‘How to kill our idiot neighbour without being caught.’ Her fingers migrated. ‘That’d certainly stop …

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The Invisible Doctrine, by George Monbiot & Peter Hutchinson #BookReview.

Subtitled ‘The Secret History of Neoliberalism (& How It Came to Control Your Life)', and providing 57 pages of bibliography indicating the sources of research, this small book may be counted as one of the most important pieces of work to arise in the current situation.It’s clear most people remain unaware of the threat posed …

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Sale of eBooks in July

Hi, Readers, my eBook, Breaking Faith, is available as part of a promotion on Smashwords for the month of July in their Annual Summer/Winter Sale! This is a chance to get my books at 50% discount so you can get right to reading, or download them to your device for enjoying later. As a taster, …

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#ShortStory: A Gastronomic Treat at the Edge of the Galaxy.

This story was first published in my anthology, Ten Tales for Tomorrow, a sci-fi collection, on 1st January 2011. The eBook, running to around 30,000 words, is one of half a dozen in a promotion run by the publishing organisation, Smashwords. You can buy it here. Caution: some readers may find some of the content …

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No One is Too Small to Make a Difference, by Greta Thunberg #BookReview.

The mere mention of Greta’s name here may prevent the climate deniers and nay-sayers reading further. Such is the nature of the closed mind. The shame is that these are precisely the people who need to hear the message.The book is small and short, 106 pages of accessible text. These are the speeches Greta made …

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Short Story: Lost and Found.

The short story posted below was first published in my anthology ‘Ten Love Tales’ in 2011.The book is available as an ebook on Smashwords, discounted to half price for the month of July.Lost and Found Cathy, my two brothers and I, had all left home when Mum and Dad moved out of their town house, …

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Zen in the Art of Writing, by Ray Bradbury: #Book Review.

Ray Bradbury was one of my earliest writer heroes. I read a lot of his work when I was a teenager and young man. Along with Asimov, Clarke, Aldiss, Heinlein and Wyndham he was one of the authors who created my love of science fiction.This is my second reading of this book. It has been …

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Sale of Digital Books in July

Hello, Readers, my eBooks, Breaking Faith; But, Baby, It’s Cold Outside; Heir to Death’s Folly; M.E. and me; Ten Love Tales; and Ten Tales for Tomorrow, are available as part of a promotion on Smashwords for the month of July as part of their Annual Summer/Winter Sale! This is a chance to get my books …

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The Scorpion God, by William Golding #BookReview.

I’ve enjoyed most of the books by William Golding I’ve read, despite one being a text for my ‘A’ level English Lit GCE.This one, however was tough to enjoy. It was difficult to engage with most of the characters, and the need for a personal familiarity with the times portrayed rather diminished the enjoyment that …

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Sale of Digital Books in July

Hello, Readers!I’m excited to announce that my books, Breaking Faith: But, Baby, It’s Cold Outside: Heir to Death’sFolly: M.E. and me: Ten Love Tales: and Ten Tales for Tomorrow, will all be available as part of apromotion on Smashwords for the month of July as part of their Annual Summer/Winter Sale! This is a chance to …

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At Home, by Bill Bryson: #BookReview.

At a little over 600 pages of fascinating text, this book by Bill Bryson kept me turning those leaves. That there are, in addition, 32 pages of bibliography, suggests the author has done his research, and done it thoroughly.The Book is subtitled ‘A Short History of Private Life’ and takes the form of an inspiring …

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A Short Story For You.

The Gate A short story, first published as a prize-winner in Northern Short Stories Vol 5. in 1994. This was when I published under my given name, before I discovered, via Google, that there were umpteen writers using that name. I created my pen name a little later.But enough about that. Here's the short story …

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How Goes the WIP, 14th May?

To update you, I last posted about the WIP on 29th April. The word count was then 77,854. Subsequently, the Lawn Bowls season began. I don’t play, but my darling wife’s a keen team member of her local club and, as she doesn’t drive, I’m her taxi for the games. It can be a little …

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How Goes the WIP, 29th April?

Just to update you, I last posted about the WIP on 7th April. At that time, the word count was at 62,531, it has now reached 77,854, following a short break away from home and the computer. In the meantime, I’ve also produced a few short pieces on Oddities Observed and on places visited on …

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