A trip to the pictures today to see this adaptation of Stephen King’s short story. Arriving ahead of Rdgar Wright’s new take on another tale from The Bachman Books, The Running Man (with Glen Powell), this has had much less fanfare. I read the story nearly thirty years ago and remembered the premise, but I […]
Read more "Tonight’s Viewing – The Long Walk (2025)"Hi everyone, Great news. An extract from The Ardenna Crossing has been selected for the BBC Upload program. You can hear me reading a section of the book on 31st July and 2nd August between 6pm and 8pm (BST). The show is BBC Upload on Thursday and Saturday – 6-8pm on 95.3 FM, 104.5 FM, […]
Read more "Catch ‘The Ardenna Crossing’ on the BBC"Hi everyone, Episode 21 – Zulu but with Vikings (Part 1) Join Cian, Ivy, Polly, Haydon and I as we conjure a tale from the mists of the North; a tale of Sven the Slaughterer and his marauding Viking band as they come up against retired Roman general, Marcus Maxidius III, in Hull! Who will […]
Read more "Shott Stories – Episode 21 Available Now"Hi everyone, I didn’t know anything about this film until about a week ago. I found it on Disney+ last night and decided to give it a go. Here is my review. If you’re a fan of the franchise, this animated anthology film is pretty special. It’s cinematic and has some really memorable, well-drawn characters, […]
Read more "Tonight’s Viewing – Predator: Killer of Killers"Hello everyone, With Book 2 nearly ready, I did some planning for the next two books in The Ardenna Crossing series. So, while you wait for Book 2 to be released later this year, I can reveal the working titles for Books 3 and 4. Book 3 – The Ardenna Crossing: Like The Flapping of […]
Read more "The Ardenna Crossing: Title Announcement"Hi there, One last poem I had forgotten about from my trip to the Tate Britain. This one is based on Mona Hatoum’s installation made up of wood and wire coops with light bulbs flaring and switching on and off. The electrical hum put me in mind of David Lynch, as did the varying contrast […]
Read more "Current Disturbance- a poem"Hi there, Another day, another poem. This one is based on JMW Turner’s beautiful picture, The Field of Waterloo (1818). I’d never noticed this picture before I saw it last weekend. Lovely. The Field of Waterloo Minister to them,The fallen; intermingled colours,Joined in death as an endless host,Indistinguishable,Red favours adorn them all, Kindled light of […]
Read more "The Field of Waterloo- a poem"Hi there, Another poem with a very different subject from the Tate. This is based on Northumbrian artist, John Martin’s painting from 1851-3. I hadn’t seen any of his work for ages. I think I saw his Sodom and Gomorrah piece years and years ago. he has a knack for big landscapes. I couldn’t come […]
Read more "The Great Day of His Wrath- a poem"Hi everyone, Episode 20 – The Forest of Silent Screams (Part 2) 20 episodes. Can you believe it? Haydon, Ivy, Polly, Cian and I finish off the tale of Jamie Stevens. He’s hiked into the woods to find a special fungus to cure his father. What he finds with it is terror and confusion. There […]
Read more "Shott Stories – Episode 20 Available Now"Hi there, Another poem with a very different subject from the Tate. This is based on James Tissot’s painting from 1876, Summer (Portrait). Miss Lloyd Stay, You cannot come,It cannot be,I dress for another,Promenade for anotherStay your declarations,Your protestations,Your talk of love,Feelings are useless to me,Useless as the shade I carry,That cannot halt the punishing […]
Read more "Miss Lloyd- a poem"A Web Serial
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The Ardenna Crossing 