The Language of Dying by Sarah Pinborough A short but mesmerising read. The story of a woman waiting for her father to die, while her family slowly falls to pieces around her. It's a story about what happens when all hope runs out, about how precious life is and how easy it is to forget… Continue reading Recent Readings
10 Books Meme
There's a meme going around on Facebook which asks you to name 10 books that have stayed with you. One caveat is that you're not supposed to think too hard about it, but I came up with about 20 books so I had to narrow it down a bit. Here they are, in no particular… Continue reading 10 Books Meme
Horror Uncut at the Gothic Manchester Festival
As part of the Gothic Manchester Festival, Rosanne Rabinowitz, Tom Johnstone and I will be in attendance at Manchester Deansgate Waterstones, in support of Horror Uncut: Tales of Social Insecurity and Economic Unease.I will be reading from my upcoming short story 'Ptichka'. There'll also be a Q&A, and (I hope!) Horror Uncut will be available… Continue reading Horror Uncut at the Gothic Manchester Festival
Anime Review: Psycho-Pass
They say there's nothing new under the sun, and Psycho-Pass is not shy about wearing its influences on its sleeve. Unabashedly namechecking Philip K Dick and William Gibson (among other notable writers and philosophers - this show does love a good intellectual shout-out) Psycho-Pass reads like a mix of Minority Report, Brazil and Ghost in… Continue reading Anime Review: Psycho-Pass
Looking back on Loncon3
As you'll likely be aware, Loncon was my first ever con, and I really went in at the deep end - it's a big con with a huge attendance, and there I was sitting on panels with no real idea of what exactly I should be doing. But my logic can be boiled down to 'if… Continue reading Looking back on Loncon3
Where to find me at Loncon
I'll be around and about at Loncon this weekend. Apart from MCM Comic Con, this will be my first 'proper' con and I am appropriately nervous, so if you do happen to spot me in the crowd and I'm looking like a rabbit in headlights, I assure you it's perfectly safe to say hello - I… Continue reading Where to find me at Loncon
“When Charlie Sleeps” gets artwork
This fantastic image of Charlie's bathroom lair is courtesy of the splendid Iain Maynard (whose art you can find here)It's quite a spooky feeling to see something like this depicted so close to the image I had in my head - almost like someone's had a peek inside your brain and doodled what they saw.… Continue reading “When Charlie Sleeps” gets artwork
“North American Lake Monsters” by Nathan Ballingrud – Book Review
From a non-American perspective, I've always found the unique weirdness of small-town America a fascinating subject, and an excellent basis for tales of the dark, the strange and the downright freaky. 'North American Lake Monsters' by Nathan Ballingrud is a collection of nine short stories which, for the most part, feed off this small town… Continue reading “North American Lake Monsters” by Nathan Ballingrud – Book Review
on not giving up the day job
Most fiction writers will never make a living out of their writing. It's a sad fact, but for most of us, a day job of some kind is a necessity. I suppose the dream, realistically, is to find a job which leaves you with enough time and energy to write. And that's trickier than it… Continue reading on not giving up the day job
Upcoming stuff – Horror Uncut and Best British Horror 2014
The coming months are pretty exciting for me, writing-wise. First off, the release of Best British Horror 2014 is imminent - featuring stories from such luminaries of the genre as Anna Taborska, Robert Shearman, VH Leslie and Gary Fry, as well as some idiot called Laura Mauro. Early reviews have been really positive, so even from… Continue reading Upcoming stuff – Horror Uncut and Best British Horror 2014
Dispatches from the Sinister Room 