New Posts
My 2026 writing course on Lesbos
I’m leading a writing course on the beautiful Greek island of Lesbos from 5-12 September 2026.
Who’s afraid of autocracy?
“Mr Nobody against Putin” and “The Wave” highlight the seductive danger of autocracy, and why we should never assume “it couldn’t happen here”.
Beethoven and the meaning of life: my novel “Eternal Life”
Beethoven and the meaning of life: what can my satirical speculative thriller “Eternal Life” tell us about both?
Nut-grafs & Cosmic Kickers: the perfect article or blog (2 of 3)
Nut-grafs, cosmic kickers and other obscure-sounding elements of traditional journalistic craftsmanship provide a great framework to improve your writing.
How leap seconds work – an explanation by the Science Geek
How leap seconds work. It’s one of those existential questions you never thought of, but which you can’t stop thinking about once you’ve started. I
Writing the perfect article or blog: 7 tips to speed things up (1 of 3)
Writing the perfect article or blog is easier if you follow the rules professionals use. Here are seven top writing tips to help you get started.
South-East Anatolia
South-East Anatolia is gorgeous. Yes, you want to go there. Prepare to be blown away by history and wonder.
Wealth and creativity cannot mix: my novel “Eternal Life”
Wealth and creativity are like oil and water. My speculative comedy thriller “Eternal Life” shows why artists continue to starve in garrets.
Cult movies – a hymn of praise to Zombeavers and other weird stuff
Cult movies are only for cult movie fanatics, right? Wrong. Branching out into less-known movies you can maximise your fun and light up your brain.
Hilarious short stories
Hilarious short stories. If you haven’t tried “Seven Hotel Stories” or any of the individual stories about Ms N and Tatiana, you have a treat in store.
A breakthrough in longevity: welcome to “Eternal Life”
A breakthrough in longevity: what if a massive medical advance enabled people to live forever? What would happen next? Welcome to “Eternal Life”.
How often to post blogs?
How often to post blogs? Daily, weekly, monthly? What frequency of blogging will attract maximum readership? How about social media? You can use social media
Sci-fi overtakes reality: what if your speculative novel becomes real?
Sci-fi often overtakes reality. In my books, many of my worst predictions about the future are already coming true – like chips in people. A
Funny short story ideas
Looking for funny short story ideas? The “Seven Hotel Stories” are a wonderful, novel-length volume packed with wicked black humour.
Eternal Life: what motivates terrorists?
What motivates terrorists? What are their true goals ? “Eternal Life” explains. My satirical thriller “Eternal Life“ explores what motivates terrorists. What motivates terrorists? What
Walking the Berlin Wall: how to discover Berlin’s invisible best feature
Walking the Berlin Wall is a great way to see where the city’s greatest feature used to stand. It’s a fascinating and invigorating trip. When
Hotel Story reviews: 19 reviews about Seven Hotel Stories
Hotel Story reviews are key to deciding which Hotel Stories are worth reading. Here is a collection of them, gathered from Amazon.
Why Istanbul and Barcelona are alike – in a bad way
Istanbul and Barcelona are two of the world’s great cities. Many people want to visit them. But both face a range of similar problems. I
How to choose a pseudonym: 4 rules
How to choose a pseudonym? It’s important to have something that sounds OK, and that you can live with. Four rules, and mistakes I made.
“Britches” – the first hotel story
“Britches” is the first in my series of “Hotel Stories”. It shows how blonde, naive Tatiana first met Ms N; and why trust matters.
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