This was a rant I wrote about 3 years ago, and decided not to publish because it was too rant-y. I’m now running low on character interviews for The Protagonist Speaks, so I decided to temper it down a little and publish. So here you are. A semi-relevant, rant-ish marketing advice from a lapsed author […]
News / Blog
Book Review: The Blood Moon Feasts on My Dreams, by Douglas Lumsden
Alex Southerland is my favourite paranormal detective (after Felix, of course), and I’m always excited to read new installments in this excellent Urban Fantasy series. What to Expect A new case for Alex, starting with a studious teenager who disappears at night without going through the front door. In a typical fashion, Alex is dragged […]
Book Review: Deathless Gods, by P. C. Hodgell
I’ve been following the Kencyrath chronicles series since it first came out 40 years ago, because it’s that good. What to Expect Another adventure for Jame, this time exploring the central lands and their various kingdoms and faiths (more or less). Things on the longer arc are happening in the background, and are nearing the […]
Writing and Polymathy
I’ve recently read Learn Like a Polymath: How to Teach Yourself Anything, Develop Multidisciplinary Expertise, and Become Irreplaceable, by Peter Hollins, and thought it had quite an interesting overlap to do with writing. It’s a short book, covering what polymathy is (and isn’t), the core idea of skill transfer, and how to break knowledge down […]
Books Review: Trapped, Hunted, and half of Besieged, by Kevin Hearne
I’ve been enjoying the Iron Druid series, more or less binge-reading it. What to Expect Trapped takes place 12 years after the previous one, Tricked. Granuaile has finished her training, and it’s time to bind her to the earth and make her a full druid. Nothing goes to plan, of course, and despite Atticus’ best […]
Creative Writing and Day-jobs
No, not quite quitting work to get back to writing (almost, but not quite 😉). I do feel I’m getting there — now that I have a study with a lock on the door — and will be restarting a writing habit soon, but that isn’t the subject of today’s post. I’ve written before about […]
Book Review: Dead Things, by Stephen Blackmoore
This came up as a ‘you might enjoy’, and it certainly intrigued me to try — urban fantasy from the point of view of the necromancer. What to Expect A dark and twisting story, with lots of plot twists and rising tensions. Eric is a fallible human mage with a knack for dead things. That […]
Roman Bones and Boners
Welcome to this month’s Ancient Rome News column, where we survey the latest unearthing of Roman bones — and boners — that get armchair archaeologists inappropriately excited 😜 Prepare yourself for a collection of old bones (sadly inanimate), large boners (hilariously decorated), and double entendres from this Roman enthusiast, who’s been known to weave all […]
Book & Shorts Review: Tricked and various shorts from the Iron Druid Chronicles, by Kevin Hearne
As I was checking the order of novels on Goodreads, I found a few short stories in the series. This review covers book #4 (Tricked) and the short up to that point. What to Expect Tricked sets Atticus up against creatures from Native American (Navajo) mythology. Coyote (who appeared in the previous novel) helps him […]
Book Review: The Fire Islands, by Gilbert M. Stack
I’m not sure where I first heard about this novel, but it drew my interest for obvious reasons — another reflection of Roman culture mixed with fantasy. What to Expect Expect a fantasy world loosely inspired by Ancient Rome. Marcus Venandus is a member of the legions of Aquila (the world’s version of Rome; ‘Eagle’ […]
FELIX THE FOX MYSTERIES 