Blogs

To best understand what's going on in my head listen to Fast Train, Solomon Burke, explains it better than I could ever write it.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Our_Friend A feel-good movie where everybody knows the star is going to die isn’t a good premise for a movie unless it involves Jesus Christ. In the Saviour’s case, there’s always a chance of a follow up with Resurrection 2. Based on a true story, but where everybody is pretty and glittery as a disco ball. Actress, Nicole Teague (Dakota Johnson) has terminal cancer in 2013. She lives in Fairhope Alabama. She tells...

I once asked my cousin, Wullie, how they managed at tea time. He said they ate in shifts. Big ones and wee ones. Six and six. Another cousin, Paul, said when he was growing up (one of the youngest) he believed his mum, my Auntie Cathie, never slept. She was there when he got up and also there when he went to bed. Their dad died when they were young. Mum plugged the gap as typical Catholic working-class mothers did in the baby boom years after...

Matt Rowland Hill (2022) Original Sins: A Memoir. I failed to appreciate the cover of the book. That’s no sin and not much of a joke either. I pay more attention to book covers than most. Being in the writing game with millions of other writers trying to sell books covers is the best chance of grabbing what we crave—readers’ attention. The book cover has an apple with a bit taken out of it, obscuring the words in gold lettering: Holy Bible. Matt...

Once upon a time I could resist anything but temptation and there were plenty of temptations around so I learned to avoid near occasions of temptation. Today, temptation is avoiding me so there's that. Craving however is another matter altogether. Temptation is external, craving is internal and more intense, influenced by psychology, biology and environement. I'm eleven hours into the New Year and I haven't succumbed to any of my cravings yet...

Wishing you all a very happy & peaceful new year. Now that the dishes & champagne flutes are washed & stowed away. Now that the fireworks finale is lying around the garden, I'd like to let you kind readers know that my 10th (yes, hard to believe TENTH) novel - MALIGN INTENT is available for pre order now... The back page blurb "Tag, bag and bury the bastard, Crowe…” An August bank holiday should be about relaxation, taking time out...

Paddling With Percey and Penny Percey and Penny were two platypusses who gathered often in the same group of platypi known as a paddle. The particular paddle in which they met was a proud and exclusive group known as the Platters. Every morning as the sun peeked over the eucalyptus trees and the river glistened, the Platters would meet and converse about the joy of being platican. Sometimes the paddle would split off into male and female groups...

The festive season is nearly over, which will be a matter of regret for some and considerable relief for others! I've always enjoyed what I gather we now call Twixmas - the decorations are still up but the pressure is over. And as ever, ABC writers have considerably enhanced my week. Story of the Week is Simon Barget's complex, entertaining and thought-provoking 'Lenny'. I can't go better than one commenter who described it as 'remarkable...

I've made a few changes to my process including font, font size and method of paragraphing. I like it so far.