“Lana in Orbit”

Sometimes when you sketch you screw things up. This was meant to be a drawing of a ship called Liana, which features in an abandoned manuscript that's currently gathering dust on my hard drive. Just before finishing the sketch, I decided to print the name of the ship on those pod-like things running down the side … Continue reading “Lana in Orbit”

The Many Lives of a Writer – 7

Most people are like cats – they live not just one life, but many. Writers are no exception. Here's me as I plunge into my seventh writing life. Life 7 - Just the Facts, Ma'am My seventh writing life starts today, as I start my new role as senior staff writer at Cinefex, a leading American magazine that publishes in-depth articles about major … Continue reading The Many Lives of a Writer – 7

There’s a Dragon at Coda Falconry

Every once in a while, a tweet comes along that restores my faith in the power of social media to connect you with people you wouldn't otherwise have encountered. Like this one, which appeared on my timeline today: https://twitter.com/CodaFalconry/status/651153537930407936 In case you're wondering, "Fortune" is the name of the dragon hero of my first novel, Dragoncharm. Deeply … Continue reading There’s a Dragon at Coda Falconry

“Harbinger Down” – Film Review

For a sci-fi horror movie set on a frost-covered trawler in the middle of the icy Bering Sea, Harbinger Down positively oozes warmth. A warm respect for its genre. A warm regard for its audience. And a blazing passion for its mission: to prove that old-school practical filmmaking techniques are alive and kicking in this brave new digital world. An unashamedly nostalgic riff on … Continue reading “Harbinger Down” – Film Review

A Green and Ancient Land

In England, the ancient past is always just a footstep away. It's one of the special benefits of living in this green and ancient land. Walk out into the countryside of your favourite shire, and there's a good chance you'll be treading the same paths taken by your ancestors thousands of years ago. It may just look like a bump in … Continue reading A Green and Ancient Land

Storytelling – When Will It Ever End?

Many stories share a common structure derived from just three component parts: Premise Conflict Resolution Or, if you prefer: “Where the hell am I and what the hell’s going on?” “Aw jeez – can you make this any more difficult?” “Wow – who’d have thought we’d end up here?” Think of almost any story, and … Continue reading Storytelling – When Will It Ever End?

What is Story?

"What is story?" That’s one of the prickly questions tackled by screenwriting guru Robert McKee in his book Story: Substance, Structure, Style, and the Principles of Screenwriting, which does a remarkable job of both dissecting the craft of the storyteller, and inspiring the reader to stop shirking and get to work. At the heart of … Continue reading What is Story?

“The Push”

Today's Birotech sketch is a scene from my 1999 novel Stone & Sky. It illustrates the moment where, having survived both the eruption of Krakatoa and his unexpected relocation to a strange and inexplicably vertiginous alien world, Victorian explorer Jonah Lightfoot finds that his new companion Annie West is not all she seems. I've always enjoyed … Continue reading “The Push”

Ten Reasons to Write Fantasy

“Why don’t you write something normal for a change?” That’s what my wife says to me occasionally after she’s read a piece of fantasy I've written. It doesn’t mean she doesn’t like it (well, not always). It’s just another reminder that one man’s meat is another woman’s poison. So, why bother to write fantasy at … Continue reading Ten Reasons to Write Fantasy

Ten Reasons to Write Horror

Some people seem to think that, just because a novel is labeled as fantasy or crime, romance or historical, it should be devoid of horror. "I liked your book," they say, "except for that nasty bit in the middle. Couldn't you have left that out?" My response to any such question is: "No! And thrice no!" Why? … Continue reading Ten Reasons to Write Horror