The immediate future. A city near you. Julian lives alone.A quiet life. Curated news.A voice assistant named Vera who knows him better than any person ever did. Then a message appears.In an old…
Drafting ideas:
First Lines…
As we approach the launch of my fifth novel, Recommended for You, I thought it would be interesting to look back at how my books begin. Specifically, their first lines. A first line does more than start a story. It sets intent. It tells the reader, consciously or not, why they should keep going. You cannot […]
And so the future arrives…
Happy New Year! 2025 was never meant to be a year of major change in my writing career, but life doesn’t ask what we’re planning. It just happens. At the beginning of the year, A Sky Without Stars was on ice. It didn’t have a title yet. It didn’t have an ending. Somewhere in early spring, I […]
Quiet Christmas…
Christmas has a particular texture. Not just the lights or the noise, but the quieter things underneath. The pause. The cold air. The sense that the year is folding in on itself. We busy ourselves with preparations, but really, we should use the season to find quiet and bond with loved ones. It is the […]
Physical!
There’s something special about holding a book in your hands. The texture of the cover. The quiet crackle of paper. Even the faint smell of ink and glue. It’s physical, tangible. Something you can touch, lend, shelve, and return to years later. Or give to others, share. A book on a shelf. Not on a […]
The House of the Living – a short story
Dear Mr and Mrs Havel, It is with regret that I write this letter. Summer, with all its daylight and sunshine, is always difficult for us, and you seem to show little consideration for your fellow residents. In the deep dark of winter, we kept reasonably low profile as not to bother you too much. […]