“Johnny Panic and the Bible of Dreams”

Knowing what became of her it is difficult not to read Sylvia Plath through a ready-made filter. Having said that, there is enough darkness and foreboding in Johnny Panic and the Bible of Dreams to at least hint at what was to later transpire. Perhaps more than anyone else, the legend of her life is … Continue reading “Johnny Panic and the Bible of Dreams” →

A selection from August…

"when you see anything of mine that you don’t like remember that I’m sincere in doing it and that I’m working toward something." - Ernest Hemingway Here are a selection of recent posts from my Substack site. The post on gimmickry in poetry has been particularly well received; plus news on a nomination for a … Continue reading A selection from August… →

Sometimes it’s remarkable how quickly a ‘low’ can be followed by a ‘high’…

Some recent posts from my Substack site: "Writing until the light goes out" "Writing until the light goes out"

Portal to a range of new content…

Some recent posts from my Substack site: "Writing until the light goes out" "Writing until the light goes out"

“Laughable Loves”

One of the remarkable things about the stories in Milan Kundera's Laughable Loves is how he can create such an array of despicable, shallow, self-centred characters! They're so easy to despise! Perhaps that's what makes the stories funny, but I can't help but take them literally / seriously - which probably makes the characters all … Continue reading “Laughable Loves” →

“Crash” performance is tomorrow!

Clip from the Market Rasen Mail: Really excited to be performing Crash again tomorrow, plus further readings of poetry and prose an hour later! Click on the image above to be taken to the booking page, or the button below for the event website. The WordFest website

Starting stories, minutiae, and scratching an itch…

Some recent posts from my Substack site: "Writing until the light goes out" "Writing until the light goes out"

New books out this week!

And if you go to the website you'll even find a post about kissing.... "Writing until the light goes out" "Writing until the light goes out"

“Collected Stories” – Peter Carey

It has been many years since I read any Peter Carey: Oscar and Lucinda, and I remember nothing of it. Perhaps because of that I was somewhat thrown by his Collected Stories. Not in the sense of how well-written they are, but rather the strange dystopian worlds many of them seem to inhabit. There is … Continue reading “Collected Stories” – Peter Carey →