Few flowers brighten a garden quite the same way as the fuchsia. The beautiful pendants come in a range of colours, though my favourites are the deep, dark pink variety. While I’ve often focused on toxic flowers such as foxgloves or daffodils, this humble plant comes with a few of its own folktales. Some believe […]
Do you need to buy your own author domain name?
For many writers, having an author domain name is a nice idea, but not essential. Like owning a brand new Mac so you can use Vellum. Or talking about your books on The Graham Norton Show. And in the early days of your career, you want to bootstrap things as much as possible. But. You’re in this for […]
#FridayFlash – The Unsaid Warning
The young man shuffles into the workroom wearing the familiar despondent look. He looks at the floor and fiddles with the cuffs of his frock coat. Delta looks him up and down while his attention is fixed on the rug. His fine clothes and tidy hair give him away as a visitor to the Underground […]
What Is the Celtic Zodiac and How Do You Know Your Sign?
Most people are pretty familiar with the concept of astrology, even if they think it’s hogwash. And many know about the Chinese Zodiac. But what of other forms of astrology, like the Celtic Zodiac? Last week, I posted about seahorses in folklore. Turns out the seahorse represents a birth month in the Celtic Zodiac. Over […]
Free Horror Read – ‘Calling All Skeletons’
Patrick Callaghan stood on the stage, soaking up the adulation. He flashed his expensive smile at the assembled social climbers. Judging by their couture cocktail dresses and tuxedos, they could afford to donate to his campaign. With their dollars in his coffers, he could really take the fight to McCarney. His gaze swept the hall […]
What are the links between seahorses, folklore and Newcastle upon Tyne?
Seahorses are elusive creatures, almost like a mythological animal made flesh. They appear in Roman and Greek mythology, pulling either Neptune or Poseidon’s chariot. Either Poseidon was very small, or he had extra large seahorses, but it’s a cool image all the same. Others believe Poseidon actually rode a seahorse, which is even cooler. Their […]
