Writer of Dark and Light Fiction. Fact, fiction, poetry, short stories, articles and novels. Cross-genre, slipstream, non-traditional romance, gothic, horror, fantasy and more... Visit this diverse writer's site.

Into 2024

I don’t believe resolutions really work, but I have plans after a pretty disastrous 2023 health-wise with a wrist/hand out of typing action for 6 months. I’ve got to get the decorations down and house tidy, plus I have appointments this week. I also need to tidy up the mess of files on my laptop. Then I ‘plan’ (not resolve), to begin exercising again — nothing new, just returning to what I used to do — and to start writing. Hoping all your plans go well.

Reads Nov 2023

Only two books this month, though they were long and made for slow reading.

The Fisherman, John Langan
This took me a long time to get through, not because of the book but because of a holiday and other things going on although I will admit I’m not a huge fan of first person, which can make some books sound more tell than show. That’s the case here, though I’m unsure if third person would have worked. The story is told in three parts, first and last by Abe, the book’s main character, and the Middle by someone Abe and his fishing buddy meet, when we learn the legend surrounding Dutchman’s Creek. This structure removes one from the story a little in that I found myself far more interested in past characters and events than those of the present ones. I also found the sex scene towards the end gratuitous. Fans of Lovecraft type literary tales should love this book. For others who don’t like the gothic slow burn they may not appreciate it so well. The world the author creates, he brought to life, and the narrative invoked all the right imagery. It’s an excellent book — fantastical, imaginative, dark, visceral in places, subtle in others, mythological, epic — and the right reader will love it. The end was satisfying, though left me questioning the fate of the world, and the possibility of one the horrors presented ever bleeding to a greater degree into our reality.

1610 A Sundial in a Grave, Mary Gentle
This is quite a blend of historical fiction with touches of fantasy and eroticism with some scenes that may shock some readers; a love story with duels and plenty of political intrigue and conspiracies. You’ll be forgiven for thinking you’re reading a gay romance to begin with, but then the book takes a turn. That’s not to say it’s an easy read. Often I get through 100 pages a day, even when it’s a complex plot, but found I needed to take my time with this. This mostly gripped me, but there was a sense of wondering whether I’d ever finish, although it’s hard to say why. I’ve read books more involved than this, but some scenes felt needlessly long. I can’t help feeling I’m doing the book a disservice by saying some pages flashed by, others were a slow amble, and the tone of the book changed throughout, which also threw me. The author is meticulous, maybe overly so, but I found sticking with this worthwhile. A story that begins in France with the arrangement of an assassination moves on across the world.

Update Oct 2023

Hi Everyone!

AT HOME:
We had an extremely wet holiday staying beside (almost in) the Beaulieu River in the New Forest. Fortunately, we were in a stilted house, so weren’t too worried even at high tide, when the water overflowed the bank. Was strange to think had we gone a week earlier we would have enjoyed spring if not summer weather, but our week was like monsoon season, especially in the morning, so we often made a late start to the day. Despite the rain, we managed a couple of pleasant walks, visited some towns, and took a boat up the river. And of course, there were the ponies, though I was a little disappointed to only spot one donkey. The wild ponies are in fact owned by people called commoners, who have the right to graze their stock wild in the forest, so we also saw cows and pigs. Beaulieu village, though tiny, is lovely to visit with some nice places to eat, and we had the most amazing pie from the deli. So amazing we had to buy a second one. Well, they were small, but worth it.

The house refresh restarted upon our return because we’d decided as we’d done so much other work inside, we might as well redo the dining room. The key problem was that meant emptying and moving a lot of furniture, and putting it all back again. We also had a tremendous problem choosing a wallpaper, but think we made an excellent decision, although it wasn’t the easiest to work with, and as I’m the one who wallpapers, I was far from happy.

FILM/TV:
We’re still working our way through Supernatural. Anyone who hasn’t watched Only Murders in the Building should try it; we sped through it. The patter song Steve Martin performs in season three is what would get stars an ovation. That and The Bear are probably the best series we’ve watched on Disney this year, though with it apparently doubling in cost (we were lucky to just get in on the old price this time), we likely only have another few months to enjoy it as while open to an increase next year, we don’t think it’s worth twice the amount. We’re now watching season three of The Watcher, though with Henry Cavill leaving, it’s questionable whether we’ll carry on with another series.

WRITING:
I’ve decided to take a break for the rest of the year, planning to write again in 2024, though I may sort out some files and do a little editing.
Stay happy and healthy!
Sharon x

Reads October 2023

The Hollowing, Robert Holdstock
One of a series, unfortunately, I have read none of the previous books. This presented no problem as I quickly got the hang of what was happening in the mysterious Ryhope Wood, and the strange Mythagos that live there created from memory. This is a tough book to rate. Based on an imagined world and the style of the author’s world-building I’d have to give this 4.5 out of 5, but on enjoyment I only liked the book, not loved it — maybe a 3.5, as I found it somewhat wandering. Still, I cannot fault this imaginative work, the creation of a magical world blended with mythology and anthropology. I may check out Mythago Wood in time, as that is the first novel, and seems more highly rated.

Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death (audio), M.C.Beaton, read by Penelope Keith
I’ve always wanted to dip into the world of Agatha Raisin, but never had the time. When I saw Penelope Keith narrates most of the series, I opted to listen to them. Not the best writing, but these are purely entertainment and the performance was perfect. Easy reading, dated in parts regarding social views (but that’s fine and the author wrote the first book in 70s). Although predictable, there’s something about Agatha’s sharp personality that’s difficult not to love. Possibly, those who love the books would like to be her, if only occasionally.

Ordinary Horror, David Searcy
Oddly, although I read this in October, I plucked it out of a mountain of books at random and understood it was literary, not horror, despite the title. On one level, this story is excellent and for the first few chapters I was engrossed by the strange plant Mr Delabano puts in the ground, but by the halfway point I felt bombarded by a sense of isolation. No doubt this is may be what the author intended, as the book is about the isolation of suburban life, but the style weighs heavily and didn’t seem to follow any path. The pace varies, plodding, sometimes enjoyable. If you’re looking for riveting and exciting, this may not be the book for you. It’s more one of social commentary. The writing likely deserves a 4/5 even though the author goes too much in to the minutiae of Mr Delabano’s life, but my personal enjoyment lingers around a mere 2. As for the grand payoff I’d heard about, I was disappointed. At one point, I wondered if the old man would end up killing his often unwelcome neighbours, but this didn’t happen. A lot is obscure. I’m sure there are many passages that will speak to some but bore and confuse others. You’ll never really know if the strange plant influences Mr Delabano’s neighbourhood, or if he is simply going mad under the weight of loneliness.

The Scarecrows, Robert Westall
Reading this acclaimed YA novel as an adult, without being told Simon’s age, I would have found it difficult to pinpoint. At times, he seems older; other times younger than his 13 years. This is a book about coming to terms with loss. Simon cannot accept his mother has moved on. The ghosts of the story are many but of the psychological kind. Simon’s hate haunts the book as do the characters. Simon idolises the memory of his father, and moments when his inner demons get the best of him both torment him. Whether the ghosts of the ruined water-mill are real is another matter, but they’re real to Simon. The book’s full of tension and misery. Alas, I found it hard to like Simon and hence care about him because of his early attitude in the book where he doesn’t care what happens to his hamsters, even though he cares far more about a stray cat and her kittens later on. It’s a slight point, but one that may annoy some modern readers. Still, the book is compelling and I can see why it’s award-winning, mostly owing to the writing and the atmosphere the author creates.

Fear, L.Ron Hubbard
I can imagine when this first appeared it caused a few chills if not scares, but the book really relies on a shock ending, one that’s maybe not so shocking now and one I guessed at shortly before it occurred. It definitely reads like an old classic, so anyone who likes M.R.James may well like this. The events leading to the end are seriously strange. At times, it feels as though the world is melting around the central character and all because of four missing hours and a lost hat. I enjoyed the story, but was not at all fearful.

The Keep, Jennifer Egan
Taken at random from my ageing to be read mountain, this book wasn’t what I was expecting. There’s no gothic atmosphere about it, and some of the narrative jolts you out of the book until you realise the narrator is not who the third person opening leads you to believe. Once I understood that, I quickly got the hang of it. There are three main characters — Danny, a New Yorker visiting his cousin Howie in a castle ruin Howie wants to turn into an exclusive hotel; Ray, a convict undertaking a writing class; and Holly, a once drug addict, now teacher of creative writing. The book is an interesting idea, though the story didn’t offer all that it promised. There are too many interesting threads that lead nowhere and I failed to find the end satisfying because the Holly’s decisions make little sense, especially as she has children. I enjoyed this book, but I didn’t love it. I’ve seen some say the author perfected her style in later books, which sounds interesting, though I may or may not try one.

20th Century Ghosts, Joe Hill
I took some time over this book, not because I wasn’t hooked, but because I dip in and out of books of short stories. If you’re expecting to get Stephen King type stories (Joe Hill being his son), think again. There’s an element of that — after all, Hill has read his father’s stories for years, but these are undoubtedly from his own imagination. Hill is not a replica of his father. This collection shows what writers can achieve when they truly think outside the box without fear of having readers wonder what the hell they just read. And yes, I wondered. There’s horror here, but that’s not all. Sometimes the most disturbing moments are the most ordinary. Abraham’s Boys sticks in the mind, as does Voluntary Committal, which makes a nice novella to end the collection. The Black Phone film took the best from the short story found in this book, and built on it — a slight disappointment here for me because I saw the film first. My Father’s Mask has to be the most open to interpretation and I’m unsure I liked it. You Will Hear the Locust Sing is truly strange, as is Pop Art, yet the latter stays with you. In the introduction, Christopher Golden calls it transcendent. I’m not sure I’d go that far, but it has a peculiar haunting quality and it’s not horror or a ghost story. This is a difficult collection to recommend, as enjoyment will depend on the open-mindedness of the reader to accept extraordinary stories.

Reads September 2023

False Memory, Dean Koontz
This was a re-read for me, and I’d forgotten how suspenseful this book is. Still, I must admit I enjoyed the first two-thirds more than the last. The overall arc is a thriller with a not-so-subtle subtext of dysfunctional and functional families. Enjoyable characters, though like many books, the bad guy became almost comically accentuated (though truly repellant enough to love to hate), as did the terrible mother and father(s) of the plot line. The basic idea is frightening when taken seriously (and I dread to think one day possible if it isn’t already), but the final third to quarter of the book often left me chuckling, though by that time I just went along for the ride when a surprising new patient turns up. It’s difficult to explain further without spoilers and I hate when reviewers do that, so I won’t. Some parts of the book feel overwritten, going on too long, though some of these made the characters’ despair resonate deeply, while those toward the end of the book made me want to skip through a few pages. This well plotted and exceptionally executed book has all the right emotions embedded, but would benefit from some tightening. One warning: it may be triggering for those who’ve suffered abuse.

The Satsuma Complex, Bob Mortimer
Not as out loud funny as I imagined, but a fun, quirky, entertaining thriller that’s highly amusing. I loved the characters, especially Grace and her dog, Lassoo.

Scratchman, Tom Baker
Reading this made me feel like Alice falling down the rabbit hole. Bizarre. Surreal. Far more wild and wacky than I was expecting, but who can fault the wild and wonderful imagination of Tom Baker? His sense of humour shines through? The theme of the book is fear, and this resonates by the end. I’m tempted to get the audio, just to hear this brought to life by the author/Doctor.

Update September 2023

Hi Everyone!
AT HOME:
We had a lovely holiday staying just outside Carbis Bay. Managed lots of walking. Went into St Ives twice, once walking along the coast path, once via a short train op from St Erth. The weather was lovely, even too hot (for me), so I didn’t mind when the weather broke mid-week, giving us a couple of cooler days. Not been to the bottom of Cornwall for many years and won’t be going that way again until the work on the A30 concludes. Although not as bad as we feared, roadworks still caused a 50 minute delay in the journey.

The house refresh goes on, although we’ve finally moved on to the upstairs hallway. Next it’ll be the bannisters and, finally, the downstairs hall. I have to say the colour Poetry in the Crafted range by Crown proved to be the perfect colour. The only way I can describe it is like a soft but strong pistachio green.

FILM/TV:
We’re still working our way through Supernatural, now on Season Six. I finally get why the series had such a fan base. Once the series got over the basic Sam and Dean just hunts a new monster every week and became more personal, it took off. That’s the basis for all good writing. Create characters your audience can care about and then throw as much and increasing conflict at them as possible.

We’ve got way more to watch than we have time for right now, so I’m behind most people starting new seasons, but I’ve been a fan of Black Mirror and was happy to see series six appear, which we’ve just started. Joan is Awful, episode one of season six may be my favourite episode to date. It is funny even as it’s thought provoking, questioning the use of A.I. and our rights along with so many relatable issues in a world using so much technology.

Also saw Good Omens 2, which I loved, but then it’s difficult for me not to love anything by Terry Pratchett, Neil Gaiman (yes, Terry has gone but he and Neil worked on the book and kicked around ideas for a sequel), or staring David Tennant, or Martin Sheen, so this was always going to be a treat. I can’t say I loved season 2 as much as season 1, but as Neil has explained, this season acts as a bridge between 1 and 3. He has promised we will get the third instalment ‘in some format’. Let’s hope the third series gets made, although I’d also love the trilogy in print. Some hated season 2 because of the ending, but have they not heard of a cliffhanger? That end is not the where the story finishes. In Good Omens, angels and demons are genderless and asexual and, I confess, I’ve never considered Good Omens as a love story, but I’m happy to accept it either way. It’s simply great story-telling.

WRITING:
Two announcements this month. Wildest Dreams re-released at JMS Books, and Night to Dawn #44 magazine, featuring my short story Brain Dead, is now available.

Detective Inspectors Frederick Dick and Riley Silcox have more important things to concern them than their names being a source of amusement. While Riley embraces his homosexuality, Frederick’s attraction to Riley brings him nothing but torment. Although Riley suspects Fred might be gay, if true, he’s certain the man isn’t happy about it, and Riley doesn’t intrude where he’s not wanted. Despite being on assignment, Riley has no reason not to pursue other relationships, especially with the attractive Scotsman, Calhoun. If only he knew how much Fred wants him, it could be a different story.

They endeavour to uncover a new and exclusive drug with strange side effects and recuperative powers, but become victims when they find the supplier. Does Frederick only hallucinate running wild in the woods? Or, like Riley, will he choose to run naked, baring not only his body but also his soul, revealing the reason for his celibacy, and why having Riley around means that isn’t working out for him, at all.

Stay happy and healthy!
Sharon x