tcook's blog

The latest issue of ABCtales Magazine is now available to buy or download from: http://stores.lulu.com/abctales Featuring work by Richard McDonough, Simon Whitworth, John Nandy, Lynn Roulstone, Brian O’Hare Green, Marion Clare, Sanna Ryan, Jade Tolley, Jordan Nelson, Russell J Turner, Paul Morgan, Jacqueline King, Alison Wassell, Jo Garwood, Jane Seaford, Clare Mason, Leo Vine-Knight, Joseph Harvey, Phil Sawyer and Nexis Pas. Plus pieces read at...

Tony Cook reviews 'Veteran', the debut novel from ABCtales member Gavin ( http://www.abctales.com/user/gavin ) and just published by Orion: First of all I should make a confession. This is probably the last book in the bookshop that I would choose to read having read the blurb on the back. Described as ‘a welcome new recruit to the black ops cadre of combat SF’ – this is clearly not my thing. But I have read it due to the fact that Gavin Smith...

Congratulations to Richard (aka aronwitz on here!) as his latest book, It's Just the Beating of My Heart, is selected as the First Capital Connect Book of the Month. Richard recently took part in an excellent q and a with members on here. There are many great tips revealed and you can read the full exchange here: http://www.abctales.com/forum/58

March 4th is the date for release of the 100 stories for Haiti. It's selling for £11.99 plus p and p and all monies made are going to the Red Cross for work in Haiti. Order your copy now: http://www.100storiesforhaiti.org/ Go on - there's lots of ABCtalers in there!

These are Tony Cook's picks and he hopes that you have enjoyed them as much as him. Story: Sikander's 'Stargazing': http://www.abctales.com/story/sikander/stargazing With honourable mentions to Annabel Wigoder for 'Adam's Hands': http://www.abctales.com/story/annabelwigoder/adams-hands and Chelsey Flood for '10 things I couldn't Say to You': http://www.abctales.com/story/chelseyflood/ten-things-i-couldn-t-say-you Poetry: Hai Anh's 'And She Is...

Many thanks to Lorraine Mace for pointing up Words With Jam to me. It's a free online publication stuffed full of interesting stuff for writers and readers. The first issue is out now and you can register for it by going to: http://www.quinnpublications.co.uk/ They need reviewers - anyone interested?

ABCtales Editor is tcookabctales on Twitter and he will be posting a recommendation for a story or poem each day on there. Do join him! You can join us on Facebook too, right there: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?v=box_3&ref=profile&id=555924672#/pa... Please also feel free to flag up your own and other peoples' stories or poems on your own Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, Bebo or whatever pages. All of these attract more users to...

ABCtales Editor Tony Cook casts his eye over Tim Clare's first major book: Let me first of all declare an interest. I know Tim Clare and I like Tim Clare. He’s a young man of enormous potential, more ideas than are good for him and, from my dealings with him, the application of a gnat. You will know him as rokkitnite on ABCtales. ‘We Can’t All Be Astronauts’ is Tim’s account of how he can’t write a novel. He sees his pals (headed by fellow...

ABCtales Editor Tony Cook reviews Mcmanaman's first major book: John ‘mcmanaman’ Osborne’s first book, Radio Head, is described as a love letter to radio – and that’s a pretty fair description. I guess I should be slating it – as it’s the first book from a mainstream publisher by an ABCtaler without a nudge and wink in our direction. I could take double umbrage as I worked in the radio business for many years and John didn’t care to pick my...

The August 2009 issue of ABCtales Magazine is now available free to download from: http://groups.google.co.uk/group/abctales-magazine featuring the best in new poetry and short fiction from abctales.com this summer, as selected by the guest editor: Ewan Lawrie. Contributors include Insertponceyfrenchnamehere, Chris Clatworthy, Clare Howdle, Chelsey Flood, Sarah Wilson, Rosie, Chuck Woww and John Wilks. Please feel free to print and distribute as...