When I moved into my new home in winter 2010 the garden had two greenhouses. One was a brand new metal frame, with automatic vents, the other, bigger one, was an ancient wooden one that needed much TLC. So I … Continue reading →
This week the Friday Flash is a ‘guest post’ from my alter-ego, Lord Plott. ~ Ulysses Plot was thinking about his book. This meant walking around in the garden and staring at plants. The sunflowers were doing well, a few … Continue reading →
I’m posting three calls for submissions on behalf of Theresa Derwin, who is temporarily indisposed. So, here is the third and last, and possibly the most exciting of them all! Call for Submissions – Killer Bees From Outer Space We … Continue reading →
I’m posting three calls for submissions on behalf of Theresa Derwin, who is temporarily indisposed. Here’s number two: Call for Submissions – Teeming Terrors Currently seeking stories for a nature-run-amok anthology! Think Hitchcock’s The Birds or Herbert’s The Rats. Think … Continue reading →
I’m posting three calls for submissions on behalf of Theresa Derwin, who is temporarily indisposed. So, here we go with the first: Call for Submissions – Chip Shop of Horrors The takeaway, the staple of British cuisine and a sign … Continue reading →
I was chatting with my son, Tom, and we got onto the pace of technological change. Long-term space flight seemed problematic to us, because once you’ve launched you’re stuck with the technology you started with. ‘Wouldn’t it be funny,’ Tom … Continue reading →
‘What’s that got to do with anything? Look at her.’ Angry, Hulce banged the cage with his mace. Angry, and frightened too. They had captured grey children before. It wasn’t easy. Scissor men and ghouls always followed close behind, the … Continue reading →
I found this in the greenhouse today. Some people might say it is the fruit case of a Physalis, or cape gooseberry. I would like to think something of such fragile intricacy might have a less mundane origin. What, I … Continue reading →
Alone in the midnight alley Rositer gave the thing in the shadows a sickly grin. ‘You’re a real vampire.’ The creature loomed darkly. ‘Indeed.’ ‘You want to bite me?’ ‘We do not want. We yearn, we crave-’ The vampire swept … Continue reading →
I’ve heard more than one agent or editor say the quality of writing in their submission stack or their slush pile is not that bad. They say there are a few terrible pieces, a few that stand out, and in … Continue reading →