Category: News

I Hit 100 Reedsy Short Stories!

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I’ve been a huge fan of the Reedsy Writing Competition for years. In fact, I’ve been a member of their site since they began hosting the contest. I’ve won it on three separate occasions, and several other stories got shortlisted. (Not bragging or anything. Okay, so I’m totally bragging.)

Well, today, I hit 100 short stories submitted to Reedsy! It was a piece written for both this month’s Camp NaNo and for the Reedsy prompt, “Write about a community that worships Mother Nature.” The title of the piece is Daughters of the Earth (but it will be a chapter within my upcoming book, This Place Is Dead). You can read it over on Reedsy’s site.

If you don’t know the site, I can thoroughly recommend it. Not only is it a great resource with lots of other professionals. It’s a superb motivator to get you writing on a weekly basis. Come and join us!

So, here’s to 100 stories, Reedsy! Here’s to 100 more.

Check out this review for ‘Under Blankets, Under Stars’!

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I always appreciate it when people take the time to read my work. It’s also lovely when they leave a review, as well! Reviews are like pockets of air for us indie authors, as we dive down into the abyss.

Laura McToal, who has a book review blog and a popular Instagram page, has reviewed my newest collection, Under Blankets, Under Stars. Here’s my favourite excerpt:

“…I was left wondering why this is only a short story and not a full length novel!”

Laura McToal

You can check out Laura’s full review over on her blog — TheMagicFarawayTree.

‘Under Blankets, Under Stars’ is out this Valentine’s Day!

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I am pleased to announce that my second collection of short stories will be available this Valentine’s Day! ‘Under Blankets, Under Stars’ is the light to the darkness of ‘A Chance of Rain’.


Over 20 upbeat sci-fi and fantasy stories, ‘Under Blankets, Under Stars’ will be available as an e-book on the 14th. A paperback version will be in print once printers are back up and running following lockdown. 🙂


Available for pre-order soon!

Happy New Year!

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Happy New Year, everyone! I hope you all had a pleasant holiday, despite all the social-distancing. I also hope that you’re all well — your loved ones, too. Been a difficult year, hasn’t it? And it doesn’t look like the first half of 2021 will be any different.

But on to some good news — the second edition of A Chance of Rain is out now! I’ve fixed the odd typo or grammar error, here and there. I’ve also gone and gotten myself a fancy new cover, which I’m in love with.

So, if the January blues have got you glum, why not inject some quirky horror into your life? A book: the best friend during a lockdown!

Paperback: https://amzn.to/2JMVB4m

Kindle: https://amzn.to/3940aQx

I Won the Reedsy Contest for the Third Time!

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I’m so happy! I’ve done it — a hat-trick! Finally won Reedsy for the third time. The story that won it was Bridgemoss Guardians! I would like to say a massive ‘thank you’ to all the team over at Reedsy — these weekly contests are wonderful. I’ve really become a better writer because of them.

If you’d like to read Bridgemoss Guardians, you can do so here on WordPress or over on the Reedsy website, where it’s been featured!

The other two winners are The Things That Do Not Float and Astro Naught.

Now, let’s try and get a fourth… 😉 (Unlikely, I know — but no harm in dreaming, eh?)

‘Montis Absentia’: A narrative experiment

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Well, hello there! How are we all doing this fine Saturday? Keeping well? Social distancing? Grand.

You might’ve noticed I’ve not reported on my Reedsy stories in a while, and the reason for that is I’ve started a bit of an experiment! I’m aware that, as a writer, I’ve got more than enough short stories to my name, but no complete novel. I thought to myself, as I’m in the throes of wrangling a full-length manuscript (more info on this once it’s closer to completion), yet write one Reedsy story a week, I could try to weave my Reedsy pieces into material for a full-length.

So, that’s what I’ve been doing for the past four weeks. This experiment is still ongoing (and I imagine it’ll take a year or so to complete). The experiment is this: I’ve got a vague idea for a story, so, when each Reedsy prompt comes out, I use that prompt as inspiration for the next chapter. I have no idea how this story is going to end, or where each chapter will go every week. As I said, this is an experiment! I may end up realising that it just doesn’t work. But, for the meanwhile, I quite like this idea and I’m going to give it a go!

Well, that’s enough blathering on about the initial idea, Joshua, tell them about the story. The title of the story is Montis Absentia, and Pt. I was written for the contest Introductions. I chose the prompt, “Write a story about two people meeting during unusual circumstances and becoming fast friends.” You should know the drill by now. You can read the story here on WordPress, or over on my Reedsy profile!

The two sets of headlights intersected each other in the midnight’s blackness, shades of yellow and orange sliced through the inky gloom.

Continue Reading

I’ll be uploading each part on a weekly basis. So, I hope you think this idea is as cool as I do (and, really, that I feel excited is the most important thing). I guess we’ll see how it goes, eh?

Until next time, guys!