She's only posted two pieces on ABCTales but they've both been spectacularly good. T_az's story of loss, distance and family ties is powerful and an all-round excellent read, which is why it's our Story of the Week. Hats off also to Philip Sidney for giving us this week's Poem of the Week - Huldufolk - a slip sideways into the otherness of Icelandic legend - inspired into existence by January's Poetry Monthly theme.(Look out next week for...

I’ve been staring at this page and wondering... Why do I feel this overwhelming need to write? Every day pieces of stories roll around in my thoughts like colored marbles until I can catch them…set them on paper…and string them into cohesive plot lines. Maybe the reason I need to write is to connect to who I am – find out what I believe in- Understand what am I searching for…find the part of me hidden from me. What I seek may sound strange but...

A great piece of prose this week from Ama-G. Very evocative and with a fine moral embedded within it: http://www.abctales.com/story/amag/mangos-memoir The poetry is sublime too. Esmerelda-O deserves a big cheer for this one: http://www.abctales.com/story/esmerelda-o/failures-last-stand And the Inspiration Point is a little different. Here's hoping it scratches those little grey cells: http://www.abctales.com/inspiration-point-ip Cheers, Tony

I know it’s the last series of Downton Abbey. It sells big in America where people like former vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin things we live in stately homes. Lots of people here watch it. It’s won sacksful of awards for best drama. I’ve never seen more than a clip of an episode, yet Downton Avenue has me reaching for my Kalashnikov. There’s nothing down town about Downton Abbey. It’s a showcase of beautifully dressed people with...

Warning, I’m going to try and sell you something. It’s billed as ‘the best new writing from ABCtales’. Who decides what’s best? That’s a question that is often difficult to answer. Certainly, Stephen Thom, who wrote story of the year is here. And Alex Graves who wins poems of the year, every year, is included. My work is also in, but I’d guess that’s because I’ll have a book out later this year in which ABCtales act as my agent and get a fee. I’...

Actually this is for the past two weeks, as we were quite rightly showcasing our wonderful Picks of the Year last Friday. Anyway, 2016 has got off to a flying start on ABCTales. I think perhaps the start of really cold weather must have done something to the poets in particular because there was so much to choose from. I'm giving this week's poetry honours to Philip Sidney for parts one and two of her as yet unfinished Triptych (do hurry up with...

Robots are pattern-recognition machines who have grown arms, legs and visual awareness. Each time we take a step, for example, we are continually falling. Robots face the same problem, but they have not had tens of millions of years of evolution to solve it. Moore’s Law comes into effect here. Computing power which provides the software for computer hardware; robot’s arms and legs and eyes (these are anthropomorphic attributes) doubles every...

http://www.channel4.com/programmes/derren-brown-pushed-to-the-edge Derren Brown is a genius, an illusionist, a magician that does no magic, a man that uses reason like other folk wield hand guns. In one of his earlier shows he got a man to shoot him. But he’s still alive and still at it. Making his own shows, his own productions and selling the product to Channel 4. If the premise of his show can’t be described in one sentence it’s usually a dud...

Not everything will make sense when we want it to, it's the affliction of life. The frustration is, we have no control over it and comprehending even that is still disheartening. So our sense of feeling in control is to be alone. We delude ourselves with that invincibility factor, I can't be touched, so I won't get hurt, so I'd rather be alone.But that is a false truth. We come to realise that the next time we feel strange.What was that? Sadly...

Happy New Year, don’t let it be a blank page. The visual poetry last month was wonderful - experimental and diverse, you all got to grips with strong poems making patterns on the page. Here are three gems: Canonette was back with tongue in cheek Christmas critique and a fir tree: http://www.abctales.com/story/canonette/christmas-special-poetry-monthly Silver Spun Sand brought dance to her vibrant words: http://www.abctales.com/story/silver-spun-...