News & Reviews

High Seas

Almost forgot to report on last week’s literary jaunt.  On a night of such wind and rain as would have kept any self-respecting pirate below decks, I took myself off to Thornbury library where Adrian Tinniswood (writer, historian and fellow Tweeter) was on tour with his Pirates of Barbary.  This means I am now cognisant … Continue reading High Seas

Self-publish and be …?

Say the word ‘self-publishing’ in a room of writers and it’s a fair bet a lively skirmish will break out, if not an all-out war. Since I’m just giving technical help to a friend, I don’t have to make a  decision on the pros, cons rights and wrongs, but Nathan Bransford’s post on questions to … Continue reading Self-publish and be …?

Short(er) Cuts

For people like me whose short stories come few and far between, one of the bugbears is getting the word-count right. Now that my new baby is down to 2,750, nearly all the upcoming competitions want 2000 max. – and there’s only so much editing that can be done before the thing loses its character. … Continue reading Short(er) Cuts

Memento Mori

Today I’ve been scanning the obits of K.J. Dover who died a week ago. Dover was my professor of Greek at St. Andrews University and a commanding figure though not in the way one might have assumed. By the time I arrived in 1970, he had already put St. Andrews on the map for classics, but  … Continue reading Memento Mori