Extinction Gambit Teaser No. 4
‘In the middle of all the mayhem, Kingsley found a split-second to admire her swordplay, her aim and the quality of her taunting – her descriptions of her attackers’ physical failings and her estimations of their family origins made them even more determined to drag her from her perch....
The Realm of the Ridiculous
It’s time again for me to show my approbation for the clever, insightful and b0undlessly inventive folk over at The Realm of the Ridiculous. I applaud their efforts...
Holmes Sweet Holmes
I’m going to make a big claim here: Sherlock Holmes is the forerunner of Harry Potter. And of Katniss Everdeen. And of Percy Jackson, Edward Cullen and Alanna of Trebond. Like the other characters I’ve listed, Sherlock Holmes has leaped from the pages and become more than a fictional...
A Thousand Words
A couple of days devoted to books, reading and writing and talking about books, reading and writing can’t be a bad thing, can it? The ‘A Thousand Words Festival‘ (yes, that’s actually correct) is on this Friday and Saturday (23 and 24 September) at the Northcote Town Hall. Lots...
Occupational Hazards of Writers
It’s poorly appreciated, but writing is an occupation which has hazards. Most writers, at one time or another, will suffer from at least one of the following diseases, conditions or injuries. Most are treatable and with appropriate therapy writers can look forward to living relatively full and normal lives....
Relaxing in my library
I lie, of course. It’s the Enlightenment Room at the British Museum. But if I had a library in my home, it’d be something like this. With ladders to reach the books on the second floor. Of course....
A history of steampunk
I’ve just come across the remarkable Jay Kristoff and his entertaining look at the evolution of Steampunk. It’s as good a potted history as I’ve seen, and well worth a look....
Snappy Ad
I love this one....
Extinction Gambit Teaser No. 2
‘Self-defence? All this is for self-defence?’ She shrugged. ‘I got carried away.’...
How to Advertise Your Magicianhood
This is how you do it. A poster from 1913 where the great Norton (the name says ‘magic’ to me) is helped by a pianist and ‘assistant phenominator’ (now, there’s a job title worth having) named Bruno. And, naturally, Mrs Norton is there to lend a hand as an...