Whilst I was halfway through writing a book of short stories (still a work in progress) about a particular character, “The Crow King” – a sort of minor bird-god – that I found out about the Tengu, and noticed a bizarre and uncanny resemblance. I thought I’d share my findings and how this serendipity occurred here.
Tag Archives: short stories
Out Now: Issue 18 of Once Upon A Crocodile
The online humour magazine I have been running, editing and doing artwork for since 2017/2018 had its 18th issue out on Christmas 2025.
Reviews from Goodreads in 2012
Digitally looking back to a less complicated time, I found the first reviews I wrote on Goodreads in 2012, when I was aged 19 to 20.
More Book Reviews from Goodreads in 2015
Delving into the archives of reviews I penned on Goodreads in 2015.
Announcing Issue 16 of Once Upon A Crocodile
issue 16 of Once Upon A Crocodile (the humorous ezine…) is available to read on its new website
Review: The Inhabitant of the Lake & Other Unwelcome Tenants by Ramsey Campbell
4 out of 5 stars One of my first thoughts, on reading “The Horror From the Bridge” (the second tale in this collection) was: who is Peabody and why is their voice drifting out of the window (on page 28)? The second story, “The Insects from Shaggai” was one of my favourites. The description ofContinue reading “Review: The Inhabitant of the Lake & Other Unwelcome Tenants by Ramsey Campbell”
Another Review: Les Femmes Grotesques by Victoria Dalpe
3.5 stars out of 5 Available from CLASH books, Amazon.co.uk, and Amazon.com This modern, feminist, short Gothic horror fiction collection will bring you out in goose-bumps. A CREAK IN THE FLOOR, A SLANT OF LIGHT – There were some quirky details that put me in mind of Holly Black’s work. The tale had a delightfully gory legend about three girlsContinue reading “Another Review: Les Femmes Grotesques by Victoria Dalpe”
Dracula’s Guests (curated by Dr. Chris McAuley)
Available from HellBound Books, Amazon.co.uk, and Amazon.com 4 out of 5 stars This collection of vampire horror tales in celebration of Dracula’s 125th birthday will sate your bloodthirst. These are the stories that stood out for me: Dracula in Recovery – Michael Zemecki: I loved this darkly humorous story featuring all the characters from the original Dracula inContinue reading “Dracula’s Guests (curated by Dr. Chris McAuley)”
Review: Bleak Midwinter: The Darkest Night
Edited by Damon Barrett Roe and Cassandra L. Thompson Available from Quill & Crow Publishing, Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com 4 out of 5 stars This collection of dark Gothic horror tales will make your skin creep off your flesh and slither under the door to hide somewhere – in a GOOD way. The Utburd, Robyn Dabney – A disgraced nature photographerContinue reading “Review: Bleak Midwinter: The Darkest Night”
The Dark Rider part 13 (excerpt) & other whatnots
He wasn’t sure how long he sat there, rigid, staring every now and then into the patient, amber eyes of his dog. There were no clocks, and he hadn’t put his watch on before going through Merlyn’s door. The temperature crept lower, enough to make the hair on his arms stand up, and the lightContinue reading “The Dark Rider part 13 (excerpt) & other whatnots”
The Dark Rider part 7 (excerpt) and some good news…
“The storm rumbled on throughout the night until it was directly over the farm, coughing and bellowing and sending vibrations through the furniture. It had pelted with rain hard enough to sound like lead pellets being shot at a tin roof and hail fell in the early hours. All the family were heavy-eyed and irritable,Continue reading “The Dark Rider part 7 (excerpt) and some good news…”
A new story begins: The Dark Rider (on Wattpad)
I have joined the community of writers and readers on Wattpad, serialising a YA fantasy novel that retells some old Arthurian myths and tales through the time-travels of a thirteen-year-old boy and his eccentric twin-lifed grandmother. An excerpt from The Dark Rider: Warren slept until the early stretches of morning. He opened his eyes, suddenlyContinue reading “A new story begins: The Dark Rider (on Wattpad)”
All About the Plentyn-Aderyn
One of the oldest and most mysterious of the tribes of wandering, outlawed mages roaming Thosea’s Northern wastes, especially in the region of Karak (or World’s End), their favourite haunt being the shimmering, nebulous Hiraeth mountains, which tend to flicker between worlds in response to loud noises. The mages take this odd existence inContinue reading “All About the Plentyn-Aderyn”
I am still alive… I think.
I am recovering — slowly — from abdominal surgery, which happened at the end of December. Having a connective tissue disorder, this caused problems with having retention and needing to be catheterised, but as I am resistant to local anaesthetics it took them over an hour to get it in and I was screaming. PrettyContinue reading “I am still alive… I think.”
Update: Reading, Reviews, and the Ethics of AI
What has been going on over the past few weeks? In my capacity as main editor (and sole editor, though it hasn’t anything to do with flatfish) of Once Upon A Crocodile e-zine, I have been reading and writing reviews of people’s books (usually anthologies, though I am open to novels / novellas too). UnlikeContinue reading “Update: Reading, Reviews, and the Ethics of AI”
WHO AND WHAT ARE THE HIGH MADRE?
These three prophetesses are the leaders and main teachers of the Kendra, a convent of egoless prophetesses who revere Saint Agrimond, along with the ancient benevolent magic that their world was created with – Foundational magic. Somewhat inspired by the Fates from Greek myth or the three witches from Macbeth, these three women are aContinue reading “WHO AND WHAT ARE THE HIGH MADRE?”
A Dark Heritage: The Documentary
Many of the characters from “A Dark Heritage: The Nighthunter” have been (ahem…) “interviewed” alongside the author (um, me) in a series of little videos. The first five are on this playlist on YouTube: Here’s one as a taster: Other than the frequent forays into social media (which can be a distraction from writing, IContinue reading “A Dark Heritage: The Documentary”
August Update
Still grinding away on social media promoting “A Dark Heritage: The Nighthunter” by reading out excerpts and doing short “character spotlights” using the Face Dance app, as well as spreading it around through word-of-mouth and flyers. What else do you do to promote your work if you have a disabling health condition and you’re aContinue reading “August Update”
Book Update
Since being published as an ebook on Amazon, “A Dark Heritage: The Nighthunter” briefly shot down to 8000 in the listings for Dark fantasy books, but in the space of a couple of days, it’s shot up to 1000. I’m choosing to think of this as a positive sign. On other writing-related topics, I’m currentlyContinue reading “Book Update”
Fletch’s Story (Excerpt)
The Soul will be discovered in two parts: one at the head, one at the heart. It is as yet unknown to me which parts are responsible for what. Perhaps one is thought and the other, feeling; perhaps one is good, and the other, the Devil’s advocate. Perhaps they are of the same function, thoughContinue reading “Fletch’s Story (Excerpt)”
Who and What is Fletch?
An old man with an even older head on his shoulders, Fletch is a social outcast and mystic living on a solitary hill just outside of Corvin village in the northern continent, Dal-Rhiatah. He is blessed — or cursed — with the gift of Far-Seeing, where his mind wanders into different periods of the futureContinue reading “Who and What is Fletch?”
Who is Anthea Blackthorn?
The oldest witch in existence. One of the main characters in the Nighthunter book four, she is the leader of an undercover coven of kindly witches in Ely, Cambridgeshire, England. She has a long and murky past, as is the case with anyone who lives long enough to need to adopt fresh identities in orderContinue reading “Who is Anthea Blackthorn?”
Book Cover Idea for Something in the System
A lot of the stories and poems in this collection appeared in online magazines years ago (from 2013 to 2016). They are all humorous (satire, parody, tongue-in-cheek, or just absurd). I am currently still querying this with different independent publishers so it is not yet available. The stories and poems have appeared in Poetic DiversityContinue reading “Book Cover Idea for Something in the System”
Nightwalks 