Blog Posts

  • Cherry Blossom in the Moonlight

    Years ago I read a passage in a book about an ancient Japanese party. During the day the snow had fallen amongst the cherry trees.…

  • Leave it to the Experts

    You may have noticed that I’ve separated the blog from this website. As I maintain two static content websites (this one and my tech site:…

  • Introduction to Poetry by Billy Collins

    Something to read on a Sunday morning… http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/176056 I often think about this poem when people ask me about a novel I’ve written. Usually people…

  • It’s Time to Think Big Again: How to Develop as an Artist

    There’s a tendency nowadays to view simple as good, to regard the stripped down as authentic. In music we’re still seeing a reaction to the…

  • What, exactly, is the Waters of Meribah About?

    I was contacted by a college SF class, asking me about my short story The Waters of Meribah. In particular, they wanted to know, what…

  • Six Ways that Being Published Won’t Change Your Life

    It won’t make you rich.* Your non-writing friends won’t think any differently of you. Nor will your writing friends The urge to write will not…

  • The Waters of Meribah

    I was contacted by a college SF class, asking me about my short story The Waters of Meribah. In particular, they wanted to know, what…

  • Dream London Hospital

    Dream London Hospital

    My story Dream London Hospital appears in the anthology Fearsome Magics, edited by Jonathan Strahan

  • The Myth of Digital Natives

    There’s a myth that children are digital natives, at ease with IT, whilst adults are digital immigrants, at sea in a world of new developments.…

  • Change

    I’ve just changed the hosting for my websites. I’ve been meaning to do it for a couple of years now, but there are always other…

  • Change

    I’ve just changed the hosting for my websites. I’ve been meaning to do it for a couple of years now, but there are always other…

  • How to Read a Short Story

    Put aside some time. A short story is not a novel, it should be read in one sitting. Turn off the TV and the radio.…