When Stars Will Shine Compiled by Emma Mitchell, this short story collection delivers festive-themed tales with a twist. Featuring Louise Jensen, Graham Smith, Malcolm Hollingdrake, Lucy Cameron, Val Portelli, Alex Kane and many others, the proceeds will be donated to supporting our troops. As with all short story anthologies, this is a mixed bag, with…
Category: Writing
‘On Writing Horror’ by Mort Castle
On Writing Horror Revised edition of the handbook with contributions from Stephen King, Harlan Ellison, Joyce Carol Oates and many others. Exploring everything from what horror is, to how to avoid falling into the trap of rehashing old tropes, there’s something here for everyone. I originally bought the paperback version of this, but due to…
‘The Hellbound Heart’ by Clive Barker
The Hellbound Heart Clive Barker’s superlative novella tells a gruesome tale of greed, love and desire, as the hedonistic Frank determines to explore the intricacies of a strange and magical box. Given that the book prompted a great movie series (Hellraiser et al) which Barker also directed, I’m puzzled that it’s taken me this long…
‘Couples who Kill: Elytte and Miranda Barbour’ by Kathryn McMaster
Couples who Kill: Elytte and Miranda Barbour Personal ads on Craigslist cover a whole range of subjects, but for Troy LaFerrara who enjoys casual sex, the young couple who answer his advert are seeking more than a bit of adult fun. After agreeing to meet Elytte and Miranda Barbour, LaFerrara is found in a dark…
‘The Haunting of Hill House’ by Shirley Jackson
The Haunting of Hill House Unhappy with the way her life is going, Eleanor jumps at the chance of helping out when Dr Montague invites her and two others to stay at the mysterious Hill House. Along with Theodora and Luke, she soon discovers the initial cheerful atmosphere in the house becoming oppressive. Famously inspirational…
The Secret Novel-Writing Formula (Maybe)…
Writing a book series can feel as if you’re recreating the same thing over and over. And if the series is successful, maybe that’s exactly what’s going on – that, to some extent, the author dips into a kind of magic formula as a basis for each new volume. If that’s true, is it a…
‘The Card’ by Arnold Bennett
The Card (Audiobook) In this comic tale by Arnold Bennett, Edward Henry (Denry) Machin, gravitates from lowly clerk to the exalted position of Mayor of Bursley, via a series of surprising events. Cleverly adding his name to the guest list at an exclusive ball, Denry succeeds in being the first man to dance with the…
‘On Writing’ by Stephen King
On Writing (Audiobook) While out for a walk In June 1999, Stephen King was hit by a van. It was only after several major operations that he was able to start writing again. ‘On Writing’ is the story of how King picked himself up from this near tragedy, as well as recalling the many steps…
‘Go! Go! Go!’ by Rusty Firmin and Will Pearson
Go! Go! Go! The Definitive Inside Story of the Iranian Embassy Siege by Rusty Firmin and Will Pearson (Audiobook) This comprehensive book recounts one of Britain’s most unforgettable news stories of the 1980s. Told by journalist Will Pearson and former SAS member Rusty Firman, ‘Go! Go! Go! The Definitive Inside Story of the Iranian Embassy…
‘Business for Authors’ by Joanna Penn
Business for Authors Like many indie authors, I soon discovered Joanna Penn. Her podcasts, books, videos and courses are packed with useful advice and tips and this book is no different. Using her own experiences of good and not-so-good choices on the path to author success, Ms Penn not only has a lot of essential…
Colin Garrow 