#MABLE: Author Interview with Walt Pilcher.

Walt Pilcher All of you are invited to join in the fun of the Massive Autumn Book Launch Event (#MABLE) organised by my publisher, Fantastic Books Publishing. All the books in the event are hugely discounted, so a great opportunity to try some new and exciting fiction. It began on 17th September and runs to …

Continue reading #MABLE: Author Interview with Walt Pilcher.

The Photograph as Contemporary Art, by Charlotte Cotton: #BookReview.

248 pages Photography Criticism & Essays/Photography Reference/Digital Art. This is an examination of photography employed as a contemporary art medium as things stood approaching 2009 (there’s an updated version from Aug 2020). There has been an ongoing discussion about the validity of photography as a means of such self-expression. Hopefully, that argument has long been …

Continue reading The Photograph as Contemporary Art, by Charlotte Cotton: #BookReview.

A Lullaby in the Desert, by Mojgan Azar: #BookReview.

296 PagesDiscrimination & Racism/Women’s Biographies/Adventure Stories & Action This is effectively an autobiographical novel, an exceptionally candid and affecting one, as the author followed the same dangers, cruelties and life choices as the fictional narrative subject, Susan. It is not an easy read. But it is a book everyone who can read should.It tells the …

Continue reading A Lullaby in the Desert, by Mojgan Azar: #BookReview.

The Beauty of the #Book Review

Sometimes a reader truly ‘gets’ our work. Even less rarely, that reader takes the trouble to express their admiration and understanding of the piece by posting a review. This common situation is even more true of authors, like me, who tackle controversial themes in their books. Since April of this year, I’ve been posting daily …

Continue reading The Beauty of the #Book Review

National Cake Day in Ruritania, by Mark P. Henderson: #BookReview.

362 pagesSatire Fiction/General Humorous Fiction/Humour Humour is so personal. What makes one person laugh can make another frown or fail to respond at all. I’ve no wish to put readers off, but this book, included in the ‘humour’ genre, didn’t tickle my laughter muscles, I’m afraid. That doesn’t mean it will fail to stimulate yours. …

Continue reading National Cake Day in Ruritania, by Mark P. Henderson: #BookReview.

Grenade Rain Dance, by Calibna J. Kerr (Junk Talk Poet): #BookReview.

Poetry is such a varied medium that a reader approaches any work with cautious curiosity. What will this piece say, will it be formal, contemporary, or simply chopped prose? The very fact that Calibna prefers his Junk Talk Poet handle may well put off a number of potential readers due to the propensity to pre-judge. …

Continue reading Grenade Rain Dance, by Calibna J. Kerr (Junk Talk Poet): #BookReview.

A Short Story for You.

This short story is from the collection in my anthology, Ten Tales for Tomorrow. I present it here for your enjoyment. (If it inspires you to read the rest of the collection, you’ll find links to that at the foot of this post. Enjoy!) Smoke A thin curl of greenish smoke rose from sand ahead, …

Continue reading A Short Story for You.

Revenge of the Elders of Zion, by Dan Zofer: #BookReview.

312 pages Dark comedy-thriller. This book is listed as a dark comedy thriller. I agree with the darkness and thriller aspects, but the comedy escaped me. I was, however, engaged by the characters, the romance, and the story, regardless of its plot holes and occasional slips into the ludicrous. Perhaps it was that part that …

Continue reading Revenge of the Elders of Zion, by Dan Zofer: #BookReview.

The Star Protocol, by the Marett Brothers: #BookReview.

318 pages Science Fiction Adventure/Military Science Fiction As flagged by the sub-genres in which this book is listed, it’s a science fiction tale full of action, much of which is military in tone. But it’s also a lot more than that. The story combines ancient history, via an archaeologist and his daughter, with the idea …

Continue reading The Star Protocol, by the Marett Brothers: #BookReview.

#Readers, #BookReviews, #Bookbloggers.

Do you read? Love books? I love readers; you’re my raison d’etre as a writer, the reason I write stories. So, I want more. One of the best ways of helping other readers is through reviews. So, here’s the deal: I’ll send you a copy of any of my books in exchange for an honest …

Continue reading #Readers, #BookReviews, #Bookbloggers.

A Place Called Schugara, by Joe English: #BookReview.

Every serious work of fiction should carry at least one underlying message. Some manage this with such subtlety it barely makes a conscious impression, others let it blare out loudly, covering their story with a condescending layer of preaching. Most lie somewhere in between; a reasonable balance of theme and story. In this extraordinary tale …

Continue reading A Place Called Schugara, by Joe English: #BookReview.