THE Original Story…

I have just come out of the most visceral cinema experience I have ever had.

I am a writer of stories. I am meant to know how stories work. I am meant to understand their structure, their rhythm and the mechanics behind them. But the film I have just seen is the original story: the story whose DNA can apparently be found in almost every story that has followed it.

I have just been to see Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, and it felt like every story I had ever seen before while somehow feeling completely fresh, completely gripping and completely wonderful. This is a story that is thousands of years old, and yet, in many ways, it contains the mechanics and the science behind how all stories work.

As an author, these are things I am meant to know. But, in some ways, I do not want to know all of it. I do not really want to know precisely what humour is, or to understand scientifically why one joke works and another does not. Equally, I do not want a complete definition or clinical breakdown of what love is. These are things I simply want to experience without fully understanding them. An element of mystery makes them more magical. It makes them more interesting. Less scientific and less artificial. Something that connects with the human spirit, the heart and the soul.

But anyway, back to the film, it is wonderful. It is a little too long and, if I am being completely honest, the use of American accents at the beginning did bother me slightly. After ten or fifteen minutes, however, I was fine with it.

It is a harsh film. Sad, wonderful and surprising, while also being incredibly familiar. It is the kind of film that should appeal to almost everyone. However, as a middle-aged man, I suspect I walked into the cinema with more of myself open and exposed than I realised. That is probably why the film affected me as deeply as it did – probably also a reflection of where I am in my own life.

Matt Damon is fantastic. He plays a grizzled veteran, a man who has suffered greatly through the trials and tribulations of war. Damon is a superb actor, and there is an haggered exhaustion and weight to the character that feels completely real. Samantha Morton almost steals the film, but not quite.

This is a film about guilt, post-traumatic stress and the rights and wrongs of the world. It is also a film that I loved. I have not cried this much during a film in a very, very long time, but I mean that in the best possible way.

I will not spoil anything. I will not provide any details. All I will say is: go and see it. It will not be for everybody, but it struck me at an incredibly deep level because this is the story. The original story. The story from which so many other stories have come.

You will watch it and think, ‘I have seen this before.’ And you have. But you also have not. It is different. It is twisted. It has a magnificent musical score that raises the tempo at precisely the right moment, adding tension, love, confusion, mystery and magic. It is wonderful. Go and see it. It might just be every story you have every heard in one great film.

On another note, I have also recently finished the very short novel “I Who Have Never Known Men” by Jacqueline Harpman. It is only a short book and takes around six hours to get through. It is a strange, scifi dystopian novel that was recommended on a podcast I listen to called “The Binge Reading Bookclub“.

It is weird and wonderful. The book takes certain liberties with the usual rule of ‘show, don’t tell’. At times, it is far more interested in telling than showing, yet somehow it works. It is mysterious, unsettling and very, very sad. A great book, and definitely worth checking out, as is the podcast that recommended it.

For the moment, I will leave you in peace.

Take care of yourselves and each other, and keep writing.

Finding the magic again…

(5 minute read)

It has been quite a while since I last wrote anything on this website, so it feels like the right time to bring things up to date. Over the past couple of years, my life has been busy and difficult. Work, family life, and the unexpected turns that inevitably come along have all demanded attention. Writing, unfortunately, has been one thing that slipped further down the list more than I would have liked.

I realised recently that I have not actually written a full book for over two and a half years. I have certainly been writing – dabbling mainly, just not finishing. At the moment, I have three different projects on the go, each with its own area of interest, each capturing my attention at different times. The problem is that I have struggled to settle on one to which I would completely commit. Instead of committing to a single story, I have drifted between them.

Life gets in the way of writing books – a fact – we cannot just produce the goods on a whim. That is not entirely an excuse, although it is partly the truth. You are never quite certain what is around the corner or what will suddenly demand your time and energy. Looking back, however, I know that I have not been completely idle. Over the last couple of years, I have co-curated two short story anthologies—The Law of Consequences and The Law of Mischief. Both were hugely enjoyable projects, and I also contributed a story to each. They reminded me how much I still enjoyed telling stories.

What has been missing is the discipline and focus to commit to a full novel. I feel a slight sense of guilt about that, if I am honest. I know I can do it. After all, I have written five books and well over half a million words. Yet somehow the sixth book has become the most difficult challenge of them all.

The strange thing is that I have not been short of preparation. I have plotted, outlined, designed covers, and built endless PowerPoints full of characters with motivations, secrets, and surprises. All part of my usual limbering up and a process that has served me well previously. In many ways, I have done everything except write the actual book.

Part of the reason, I think, is that the first five books were tied closely to the stages of my life at the time I wrote them. The Souls’ Abyss trilogy explored themes of responsibility and fatherhood—what it means to carry the burden of raising others. Imagine the Fire was a passion project, asking how far a father might go into darker moral territory in order to protect his family. Illusions and Dragons wrestled with a different question altogether: what happens when something in life simply is not working, and the struggle to decide whether it can be fixed.

The next book is different. In many ways, it is more about self-discovery. Family life is settled and happy, and as my children have grown older, the demands of their early years have eased and changed. My responsibilities are different now. Strangely, that shift has left me feeling a little uncertain about my identity. When your children are small, you know exactly what your role is – or I certainly did. As they become more independent, your role in their life changes and lessens, and the next role is harder to fill as it is not so obvious.

It also involves less – less of them relying on you, less of them needing you, less of you showing them the way, and more of them having to discover it for themselves. I’ve found it hard to step away, but I know I must, and in doing so, found there was an unexpected gap. Which you suddenly realise you have to fill and in doing so have to ask yourself different questions. Who am I now? What do I stand for? What do I do for myself?

Those questions, combined with other events over the past couple of years, have slowed my writing more than I expected.

But now that I have chosen it, the sixth book has finally taken shape. It has taken far longer than I would have liked, and you would be amazed at the ways a writer can procrastinate. At one point, I discovered that the title I had chosen for the book had already been used, with another novel of the same name due for release before mine. I spent weeks discussing alternatives with fellow authors before eventually settling on a new title.

The itch that I had ignored has returned, and book six is very real again. I have the title: ‘The Queen Yet to Come’. I have the cover. What I do not yet have is the finished book. Ten thousand words have been written, and many more remain untyped.

The next six months will probably determine whether I continue writing novels. That may sound dramatic, but it is an honest reflection of how important this moment feels. If I cannot get past the hurdle of the difficult sixth book, I worry I might never write another book.

But there is always hope.

I know I can do this. I have done it before. And I will do it again.

Interestingly, the six book – The Queen Yet to Come – is about someone discovering their way, while being raw and suspicious of many around them, it is about them finding their place in a new world and deciding what kind of person they want to be: something I think I can relate to.

I heard a fabulous quote I have fallen in love with and have adopted as my approach to everything in life now: “The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.” Good, isn’t it?

After many false starts, I know what I have been avoiding: the work.So, the journey and the work begins again, and with a bit of luck—and a bit of discipline—my next book, The Queen Yet to Come, will arrive in the summer of 2026 and if I’m right the discovery of new magic along with it.

Until then, thank you for reading, and take care.

P.S. I am going to commit to writing a 250-word book review each month, so watch out for that! First to be reviewed is King Sorrow by Joe Hill.

Must all good things come to an end?

And so, we find ourselves at the end of the current Witches of Woodville series by Mark Stay which brings to mind the old saying, ‘all good things must come to an end’. This statement contains two apparent facts; the good thing and the end, so does this apply to The Corn Bride?

It is sometimes the case that an author hints at elements in their own life when writing a book, it has certainly been the case within my own work. The author’s own life leaks into their work either overtly or covertly, and I think that is the case with many of the books in The Witches of Woodville series. The subject matters of a daughter growing up, a son leaving the home to undertake new challenges and now seemingly the impact of an evil presence in Woodville itself – commercialism perhaps?

We find ourselves in England, May 1941, and our heroine Faye Bright reaching a crossroads in her life relating to her magical powers and her forthcoming marriage to the love of her life, the loyal and plucky Bertie.

I will refrain from any spoilers, but trouble is afoot. We find our lovingly created characters in dire straits indeed. One of the most endearing and appealing qualities of Mark Stay’s writing is the delightful mish mash of the dark, the creepy and the downright hilarious that has been a hallmark of all the books in the Woodville series, and ‘The Corn Bride’ is no different. Containing several laugh out loud moments and a contender for the best name for a prog-rock band ever – “Bertie and the Witches”.

The one thing that lingers heavily through out the book is a growing suspense which brings with it a gut feeling that everyone is in peril and that anyone could die. Mark Stay has been quite open about the fact he intends to put his readers through the mill, and he does just that. I found myself fearing the worst for which I must say to the author – very well done, you utter bastard. By the end, my nerves were shot.

This book feels like the most personal of all the books in the series, and I am of the opinion this is no bad thing. I for one, like the darker and riskier themes and subject matters which have emerged in the latter books of the series. They feel tactile, real, and make for great reading. The subject of the face of evil, the possibility of things being more than they are, of people secretly inciting harm and division when outwardly proclaiming  the opposite – all fascinating subjects and very relevant to today.

I swore out loud towards the very end – I will not say why – in shock and surprise. It is therefore something of a shame that as the Witches of Woodville books begin reaching into the darker and more menacing elements of World War 2 (we are only in 1941 after all) that the current series ends like it does. This is not the author’s fault at all – far from it – just the end of the current book deal.

The Corn Bride is a thoroughly excellent book – funny, poignant, heartfelt, fear inducing and a worthy end to the current series. I would dearly love to see what Mr Stay could do next. There is plenty of latitude and scope for more books, and I for one hope that he is given this opportunity, he has certainly earned it in my view. So, for the moment, the saying IS true, all good things must come to an end, but hopefully not for too long…

DO, meet your heroes

The adage “Never meet your heroes, for if you do, it will always disappoint” has been ingrained into us over many years. Yet, I find myself in strong disagreement with this time-worn wisdom. Let me share my experiences with two of my writing heroes, Joe Abercrombie and Mark Stay, who have not only inspired me but also proved that meeting your heroes can be an immensely rewarding experience.

In the realm of literature, heroes can take many forms. For me, my writing heroes have been a source of inspiration, guiding lights in my journey as an author. While some of my literary idols have already left us, such as David Eddings and David Gemmell, Joe Abercrombie and Mark Stay have emerged as contemporary writing heroes who continue to shape my path as a writer.

I had the privilege of meeting Joe Abercrombie on one unforgettable occasion. Prior to our meeting, I had followed his interviews and engaged with his insights through podcasts like The Bestseller Experiment. These interactions had given me a glimpse into his creative mind, making me feel like I got him.

When I first cracked open Joe’s debut novel, “The First Law,” I admit that the initial five pages left me somewhat unconvinced. However, by the time I reached page ten, I was undeniably hooked. Joe’s storytelling prowess, characterized by its ability to twist, dissect, and explore the intricacies of morality and ethics within his characters, was nothing short of masterful. I found myself returning to his works time and again, each reading revealing new layers of his narrative craftsmanship. In my opinion, there’s no one better than Joe Abercrombie in the realm of fantasy fiction.

My opportunity to meet him in person came when he visited Waterstones in Liverpool just before the onset of Covid. Not only did I get a book signed by him, but he also answered a question I posed. It’s remarkable how a few simple words can have such a profound impact on one’s life. During our brief exchange, I mentioned that I was in the process of writing a book, an activity – I suspect – shared by many in the queue that day. Joe’s response was succinct yet incredibly motivating: “Excellent. Keep going.” Those three words served as a constant source of inspiration, propelling me to persevere, resulting in nearly 600,000 words and the completion of five books. Joe Abercrombie undoubtedly stands as one of my writing heroes, I just wish he’d write more!

My second writing hero is the venerable author Mark Stay, whose writing talent and extensive experience in the book industry sets him apart. I discovered Mark as the co-presenter of the Bestseller Experiment alongside Mark Desvaux nearly six years ago, and I’ve been an avid listener ever since.

My admiration for Mark extended to supporting his Kickstarter project for the fantasy novel “The End of Magic.” Few things bring me more joy than contributing to an author’s journey to bring their vision to life. My good fortune culminated in a face-to-face encounter with Mark Stay at the Romantic Novelist Association conference last year. Although I generally carry myself confidently in social settings, I must confess to feeling a touch star-struck upon his arrival. For most of the day, I kept my distance for reasons I couldn’t quite fathom.

However, when Mark messaged me about joining him and his wife Claire for a drink after one of the author panels, I couldn’t resist the opportunity. This was a marked departure from my meeting with Joe Abercrombie; it was an invitation to a genuine conversation. The nerves were palpable, but I recalled a saying Joe himself had shared: “It is better to do it than live with the fear of it.” With that mantra in mind, I approached Mark Stay, and to my delight, he was not only gracious but genuinely kind and interested.

Our conversation flowed effortlessly, and I was struck by Mark’s warmth, candour, and enthusiasm for all things related to writers and their craft. I even had the honour of gifting him a signed copy of my book, “Imagine the Fire,” dedicated to him. This heartwarming encounter was repeated at FantasyCon, where I presented Mark with a copy of “Delusions and Dragons,” in which he possibly makes a cameo alongside Mark Desvaux, albeit in fictional form for legal reasons.

Mark Stay’s unwavering support and willingness to engage with aspiring authors demonstrate his status as one of the “good guys” of the literary world. His dedication to writers of all backgrounds has left an indelible mark on me, and I am immensely grateful for his influence on my writing journey.

In conclusion, my encounters with writing heroes Joe Abercrombie and Mark Stay have only solidified my belief that meeting one’s heroes is not a recipe for disappointment, but rather a chance for inspiration and personal growth. Without a doubt, these encounters have played a pivotal role in my journey as an author, reminding me that heroes, when met, can indeed exceed our expectations. So, in defiance of the old adage, I encourage you to seek out your heroes; you may just find that they inspire you to reach new heights of which you never thought yourself capable.

The Holly King by Mark Stay: a review

I’ve just completed the fourth Witches of Woodville book – The Holly King – by Mark Stay and it is absolutely fantastic. The series has grown over the past couple of years to be one of my favourite fantasy series. If you’re unfamiliar with it , think Dad’s Army written by Terry Pratchett. It tells the tale of a young girl – Faye Bright – set against the backdrop of World War Two, a young girl who lives in a small English village who discovers that her mother was a witch. The previous books have grown this world introducing new characters and their backstories, in particular two other witches who live within the same village: Miss Charlotte and Mrs Teach, and Faye’s love interest, the plucky and adorable Bertie.

I have enjoyed every single one of them, but book four, for me, suggests a change of gear. A step change in relation to Mark Stay’s writing. The Holly King is far darker, far deeper, far more interesting and more captivating than the previous three books. This is not to say that the first three books are bad – they are not, they are very good. But the Holly King is the best of the series by quite some distance.

Mark Stay delves deeper in this book, much deeper, far further into darker corners of the mind, and the corners of morality which some authors may have avoided going to for fear of displeasing their audience. But I would suggest that this is exactly where future books need to go. The backdrop of World War Two is epic, terrible and curious, all at the same time, and Mark Stay seems to be taking great delight in putting all of his characters through very difficult times, both morally, ethically and from the point of view of loyalty.

I enjoyed this book tremendously. Who doesn’t love a book filled with evil fairies, witches with Japanese swords and drunk one man bands? His books can be easily consumed, the writing excellent, making the reading effortless, but with a confidence of an author who you feel you can trust, go with, and who knows exactly what they are doing.

He leaves the book on a huge cliffhanger. And it’s a huge cliffhanger which, in many ways, is the right direction to take future books in and also offers a huge number of opportunities to expand the universe of the Witches of Woodville. I really hope that Mark Stay continues to be brave and remain on this path. Because if The Holly King is anything to judge by, the Witches of Woodville stands out as one of the finest British fantasy series of recent years, and stands on the edge of moving even higher.

If you haven’t read it, where have you been? The good thing is that you’ve got plenty of time to catch up. Start with book one – The Crow Folk – and you won’t be sorry, I promise.

Welcome to the Jungle

New Year, New Year’s resolutions – it’s also very exciting. My chief aim this year is to write far more books than I have done. The last six months of 2022 proved to be a disaster, I hardly wrote a thing, messed about with various projects but didn’t actually finish anything.

2023 provides an opportunity for a fresh start. My plans for this year are straight forward – write two and a half books. The only thing is I’m cheating on one project. The cheating being that I’m writing it with another author. It’s a project that’s been floating around in both of our heads for several years now, a combination of their influences and mine, a meeting of two great writing minds.

What would you get if you combined Romancing The Stone with Indiana Jones, and sprinkle in a touch of Jumanji, all in a fantasy world? That’s exactly what we intend to find out. We’ve plotted out 90% of the book and have even decided on an ending, now we just got to write the blooming thing. The interesting thing is I’m writing the main female character – Natasha – while my co writer creates the male voice for our reluctant hero Gary.

We are aiming to have the first draught of the book completed by the end of February, which will then give us three months to edit the book before submitting it into two different competitions. Already the ideas within the book have changed and  twisted, the feeling I get is that it has improved it. I’ve compromised on some ideas and my co-author with theirs.

I think the hardest thing we will have to agree on is the style of the front cover. We will use GetCovers again, but the look in my head is far more serious than it is in theirs, but we will have to see what happens and, of course, I will share with you the end product.

Whatever you’re doing, I hope you doing well and if you’re writing, getting words on the page. Until next time happy writing.

P.S We may already have a contender for the winner of best book title of the year. Mark Hood is due to release his next book in February entitled ‘The Fairies Want Me Dead’. How awesome does that sound?

Off we go…

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Off we go…

A new writing adventure began this morning at 7amWritingClub . A standalone project to be shared quietly with the publishing world. 1333 words of book five.

Next day typically for me. I start writing and the next day I conceive a huge change in creative direction. It’s going to be longer, darker and much more fun. I’ve also decided to cast Ian McShane as a main character, and how can that be a bad thing?

Awoke early next day and I put the time to good use walking the dog and finished plotting the script for my current WIP. Also mocked up a cover as part of the process to help get creative juices to flow. I can’t show you what is going to happen but here they are.

Off we go…

Three Reasons Why I Thank @SarahPinborough

I met Sarah Pinborough back in August 2016 – before her massive success with “Behind Her Eyes” – at the Dublin Ghost Story festival, and I owe her thanks for three different things.

The event was one of my first literary events and was something of a learning experience. She was both interviewer and interviewee on a few panels, and was hugely engaging and entertaining in both roles. This combined with the cosy atmosphere of the Freemason Hall – the venue for the weekend – and easy access to other authors such as John Connelly, Adam Nevill, AK Benedict and many others, made the whole weekend hugely enjoyable. She answered my questions with grace and good humour and even agreed to have her photo taken with me. That is the first thing I thank Sarah for.

Following the event, I began following her on Twitter – @sarahpinborough – and have done so ever since. She tweeted that she had been interviewed by the Bestseller Experiment and I duly checked out the interview. It was as I’d expected; funny, insightful and helped me with my writing. Partly because Sarah announced that the need to write everyday was “bollocks” – phew – and also because I found the podcast that would ultimately change my writing life. Without it I would have written nothing, or at least taken another 25 years to get anything down on paper. That is the second thing I thank her for.

The final thing I thank Sarah for is her book “Behind Her Eyes”. Which was my favourite book of 2017. It was launched to much fanfare, and a marketing campaign based of WTF That Ending. I demolished it in a single weekend. I was certain that I had worked out the ending, even two pages before the end I thought I had it – alas, Miss Pinborough blindsided me and produced an ending completely worthy of the WTF That Ending tag.

I shall reveal nothing about the book – no spoilers here – other than it is brilliant. The new Netflix show is released today and even though I know what is coming, I will be watching every minute gripped and smiling at wonderful storytelling.  

Bravo and thank you, Sarah Pinborough.