Blogs

Story and Poem of the Week

Posted by Insertponceyfrenchnamehere on Fri, 23 Aug 2024

Story and Poem of the Week chosen by Di_Hard Thank you so much for all the great writing this week, particularly the stories, which I have really enjoyed reading. Story of the Week goes to Aronovitz for the first part of a vividly told story about homelessness and the growing bond between a man and a dog. Completely involving, there are 3 chapters so far, and I am really looking forward to reading more : https://www.abctales.com/story/aronowitz/...

Ireland - a wellspring of wonderful writing

Posted by Caldwell on Mon, 19 Aug 2024

Recently everything I have picked up and been inspired by happens to have an Irish author. These are those that have got me back into literature following a long dearth where life was just too complicated to even consider picking up a book. Claire Keegan (Foster in particular, but lots of her other stuff too) Colum McCann - Apeirogon Paul Murray - The Bee Sting Donal Ryan - A slanting of the sun There are more, but these are the ones that stand...

Story and Poem of the Week and Inspiration Point

Posted by Insertponceyfrenchnamehere on Fri, 16 Aug 2024

Really, really difficult to make the choices this week. There's been humour, horror, brilliant character studies and beautiful descriptions. Thank you to everyone for some amazing stories and poems.

Reviewing My Undertakers

Posted by philwhiteland on Thu, 15 Aug 2024

Ok, here's the thing. I've got two paperback copies of my first full-length Josiah and Archibald novel, 'Bring Out Your Dead' to give away. All I ask in return is a fair review (doesn't have to be good, just fair) on Amazon and/or Goodreads and anywhere else that takes your fancy. If I get more than 2 enquiries, I'll draw names out of a hat. Offer closes midnight BST on Saturday, 17th August. If you're interested, pop a message in the comments...

PETRA JOHANA PONCAROVÁ (2024) DERICK THOMSON AND THE GAELIC REVIVAL

Posted by celticman on Wed, 14 Aug 2024

As a writer in exile, writing about a writer in exile, PETRA JOHANA PONCAROVÁ offers an authentic voice. Neither English nor Gaelic is her first languages. She was brought up speaking Czech. To paraphrase Paul Valery, Language is a thing that belongs to us; but for us it is not entirely a thing; and it belongs to us a little less than we belong to it. I’m no poet. And I do not speak Gaelic. No surprise then that I hadn’t heard of Derick Thompson...

Brene Brown (2008) I Thought It Was Just Me [But It Isn’t]

Posted by celticman on Tue, 13 Aug 2024

Brene Brown is a Licensed Master Social Worker. She gained her Ph.D working with women and researching Shame. We’ve all got our own ideas of what shame is and what is shameful. The most toxic kind is when we identify with the shameful labels others give us. Brown suggests her lightbulb moment came when was working in residential care. A clinical director said: ‘You cannot shame or belittle people into changing their behaviour’. Bree’s working...

Gordon J.Brown (2023) No More Games.

Posted by celticman on Mon, 12 Aug 2024

I take it Gordon Brown added an initial J. (middle-name) to his name, so he doesn’t get confused with the dour Raith Rover supporter and former Prime Minister (author of a 1999 Blairite victory, economic policy from Number 11 Downing Street). Gordon J. Brown’s debut novel takes the reader back to the 1974. There’s a picture of miner’s leader Joe Gormley in the Daily Record that year, facing down Tory Prime Minister, Edward Heath that epitomises...

Scotland's International Crime Writing Festival - some very exciting news!

Posted by Insertponceyfrenchnamehere on Mon, 12 Aug 2024

I'm extremely pleased to announce that our very own celticman will be appearing at Bloody Scotland, Scotland's International Crime Writing Festival! Appearing just before the world famous Irvine Welsh who wrote Trainspotting, (no pressure there!) Jack has been chosen as the Crime in Spotlight reader on September 14th in Stirling. You can buy tickets, including digital, and find out more information here: https://bloodyscotland.com/ Jack is one...

For the Love of Libraries

Posted by marandina on Sat, 10 Aug 2024

For the Love of Libraries One of my fondest memories from childhood is of my local library. It’s the one in Kingstanding, Birmingham. I fell in love with reading through the first book I tackled on my own: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl. Despite the personal flaws of the author himself, his stories transported me to another place and another time. I will forever be a fan of his work. I can still see the book shelves loaded with...

Disgusted of Doveridge!

Posted by philwhiteland on Fri, 09 Aug 2024

Just fyi, I'm more than a bit disgusted with X (Twitter as was). I know that, when you post a new story on ABCTales, you are automatically prompted to post about it on FB and 'Twitter' but I'm seriously thinking about coming off X as a platform (I only ever use it to promote my ABCTales stories), so I'm experimenting by not promoting this week's Undertakers story on there but on Blue Sky instead. We'll see if that makes any difference (although...

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