Blogs

I am sitting in the front row of The Allan Park Church Hall in Stirling, Scotland. It is nearly 11am. Its nearly showtime. Beside me sit my fellow pitchers for Perfect Pitch 2019; Suzie, Libby, David, Anne, Dave, Elissa and Cheralyn. Selected from seventy submissions earlier this year, we have made it here on a wet Sunday morning from all over the UK and Ireland. We all sent 100 word pitches only, no details, nothing to indicate who we were...

I once heard that there is no greater failure as a writer of not letting go of a story that you cannot tell if you never experienced it as a mirror from your own life. I'm sure some of you have heard about my story concept from long ago about 'Schism' and that I would dedicate myself completely to finishing it to whatever end. I never realized all that time ago I was dealing with a newborn who had not experienced life enough to put forth a story...

It’s a Sunday evening, I sat through the last Sunday football match: Chelsea vs Liverpool, I’m a Chelsea fan, don’t ask me about the final score, google it, and my night with Nancy Drew was my treat to forget. That, and popcorn, chocolate flavoured popcorn. My inspiration: recreating the scene in the President’s Daughter when Katie Holmes character goes on a movie date and mixes my two-favourite junk— excuse me— empty calories together:...

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m0008ncz/darren-mcgarveys-scotland-series-1-3-west-dunbartonshire-worst-place-to-be-a-woman I live in Clydebank. That’s in West Dunbartonshire. The place where women in Scotland are most likely to be beaten up. Poverty is not gender blind. Women, for example, are 60% more likely to be carers than men. Women (and men) living in poverty are far more likely than their more affluent neighbours, such as those...

This is a tale of three penalties. Two of which were give. One for Rennes, in the first-half, and two for Celtic in the second-half. Celtic started well. That’s always a bit worrying, usually, after a bright start, they usually concede, especially when playing away from home. Rennes had beaten PSG in the French Cup final last year and in the league this year. They sit second to PSG in the French league. In other words, they are no mugs. The...

Hey, it's me, wanna do brunch? Stephen. Ten Things Running Through My Mind About That Brunch: Dress. Red's too loud for the day so go with the yellow strapless dress you keep putting off. It's not skin tight and you do plan to eat, so comfort is everything. Shoes. Go black, six-inch, wedge. There's nothing better than a polished sun kissed look. Jacket. Go bare! Show off your shoulders, you've got a nice glow, let it be seen. And besides, all...

Project Icarus and Other Stories, FREE THIS WEEKEND. Fantasy, science fiction, multi-genre, dark satire and dark humor. https://amzn.to/31kZG3q available worldwide (search your country's Amazon)

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m00084tb/rise-of-the-nazis-series-1-1-politics https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m0008c79/rise-of-the-nazis-series-1-2-the-first-six-months-in-power I wasn’t sure about the three-part series Rise of the Nazis . Documentary-dramas rarely rise above mediocrity. I was brought up on the gold standard, World at War series, shown on BBC. Then, of course, we’ve got Bruno Ganz’s portrayal of Hitler, cut and...

There's a whiff on autumn in the air - a time to reflect and drink the golden dregs of summer. I'm back to school - and as much as I enjoy it can relate to Jane Hyphen's chilly take on September - our misty poem of the week! https://www.abctales.com/story/jane-hyphen/september-chills Don't you wish you had airyfairy as a neighbour? I do, with her yellow blinds, cat and friendly assistance - not to mention her up-coming tattoo. My grandaughter...