Amy Johnson and “Seafarer” at Pendine Sands, 1933

Buried treasure. You can find it anywhere. A forgotten corner of a dusty cupboard. A waterlogged ditch in a muddy field. Or the pages of an century-old family photo album. I inherited the album in question some years ago. It languished on a shelf with its companions until, one day, I began the monumental task … Continue reading Amy Johnson and “Seafarer” at Pendine Sands, 1933

New Article on Virtual Production for Producers Guild of America

In my non-fiction life as a journalist covering film and television production, I recently had the honour of writing an article for Produced By, the official magazine of the Producers Guild of America. Into the Virtual World explores some of the ways in which live-action film and television producers can make the transition into animation and … Continue reading New Article on Virtual Production for Producers Guild of America

The Hoveringham Lancasters

In the winter of 1945, two Avro Lancaster III heavy bombers crashed in Nottinghamshire. The two events occurred a little over two weeks apart, on the same stretch of open land at Hoveringham, just north of the River Trent. Both aircraft were from the No.5 Lancaster Finishing School based at nearby RAF Syerston, where they … Continue reading The Hoveringham Lancasters

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?

Construction Kit Junkie

When I was eight years old, I became a shipbuilder. The ship I built was the RMS Mauretania. It wasn't the actual ocean liner, you understand, but a 1:600 scale plastic kit made by UK model manufacturer Airfix. The kit had been a gift from a kindly relative and, despite having no particular interest in … Continue reading Construction Kit Junkie

Where Do Writers Get Their Ideas?

Where do you get your ideas from? It's the cliché question every fiction writer gets asked. Over and over again. It bugs the hell out of some people, but I rather like trying to come up with answers, because the creative process fascinates me. I say "answers" in the plural, because I believe the muses … Continue reading Where Do Writers Get Their Ideas?

Neolithic Houses of Skara Brae

My Neolithic detective novel Talus and the Frozen King is set largely on the remote island of Creyak, in an icebound and unnamed land that bears a suspicious resemblance to the north-west coast of Scotland. The model for Creyak is the Neolithic village of Skara Brae, which was inhabited between 3,200 BC and 2,200 BC. My tale … Continue reading Neolithic Houses of Skara Brae