Billy Moore, a working-class Liverpudlian, was born into poverty in 1973. He doted on his mum and hated his drunken dad for beating his mum, when he was a child. He too was bullied, but learned to use his fists, gave out some beatings. Joined the group of schoolboy bullies. Matriculated in theft and drug taking and graduated to Liverpool’s Young Offenders, were ironically, he ended up a lifetime later. There are lots of books out there about...

Writers are told, never start with the weather. Paul Lynch starts with the weather in his debut novel, Red Sky in the Morning. Prophet Song, Lynch’s latest award-winning novel, starts with the night weather and a knocking on the door. ‘The night has come and she has not heard the knocking, standing at the window, looking out at the garden. How the dark gathers without sound the cherry trees. It gathers the last of the leaves and the leaves do...

If you haven't been following Turlough's wonderful account of his travels through Iran, you have been missing something really special. This series has been vivid, funny, thoughtful and, quite simply, a wonderful read. The final part, 'Cherries and Dahlia Petals, is our Story of the Week: Cherries and Dahlia Petals | ABCtales Poem of the Week was really tricky. There's been some beautiful and hopeful pieces about the coming of spring, and some...

Yellowface wowed me and as a reader (and sometimes writer) I’m not easily wowed. It offers both an insider and outsider account of the publishing industry masquerading as satire. Everyone that had hoped to have something published by the big four publishing companies, get an agent, or somehow get something published online or in print, should read Yellowface. The setup is simple. Imagine Jesus was hanging about Galilee. Judas comes visiting and...

Morning Reconciled When the light of a new day opens wide her inexhaustible daybreak, flings wide your curtains as her reflection pierces off multi-colored windows, and pulls up those dancing vertical blinds. This early morning announces the encounter. Listens as birds out on a limb, creating melodies. As the dew rises with a fresh mesmerizing sensation and calm aroma, and watches as the flowers grow. In this, mindfulness becomes the strength of...

Tomorrow (2nd Feb) sees the 53rd episode of the Bring Out Your Dead series, and this is the one you've all been waiting for! 'Sir Lewisham's' funeral finally comes to pass after a year of build-up to it and it's just as explosive as you expect it to be Don't forget that today (1st Feb) sees the publication of the collection of stories that lead up to the Bring Out Your Dead series - ' A Subsequent Engagement ' - and you can grab yourself a copy...

The International Welsh Poetry Competition is open for entries until 30th June. Poetry collections invited and A) You don't have to be Welsh. B) Poetry does not have to be about Wales. C) It is a genuinely open competition. Last time I entered, I was short-listed and I'm nobody. Welsh Poet Cathy Miles is the judge Find out more here

MALIGIN INTENT @Amazon @ Kobo Well, after three years, one fried 8-year-old HP laptop, (replaced with a wonderful, repurposed ASUS Chromebook), one scrapped 95000 word draft reduced to a handful of key scenes rebuilt over 10 full rewrites, MALIGN INTENT was launched yesterday. Blasted across my social media, my eyes were square by 5pm yesterday! Its my 10th novel. A landmark in itself, but also a crossroads. MALIGN INTENT was by far the hardest...

A free booklet to download if you are interested

https://www.channel4.com/programmes/the-little-stranger/on-demand/48945-001 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Little_Stranger_(film) I’ve read a few of Sarah Walter’s books, but, as usual, with holes in my memories, I can’t remember much about them. Her other books and translation to screen include Tipping the Velvet (1998), Affinity (1999), and Fingersmith (2002). I haven’t read Affinity . Waters is celebrated for her ability to weave intricate...