Announcements: Big News!

Big news. Fantastic news. My second book is ready. My first book The Summer of Madness was a novella about a guy trying to win back his girlfriend. This time around it reflects my love of short story writers who challenged the format of the genre. Rather than one story, it is seven short ones, each in a style that deliberately strays from the regular format in order to go for something far more creative and imaginative. Regular readers will have already seen one of them, with my last post Punbelievable, which happily got wonderful feedback. You’ll also notice the incredible cover. My thanks to the very awesome Meg Sorick who drew it.

If you’re interested to read the other six stories, that’s great. I’d be happy to answer any questions. You can get a copy here.

US Paperback / US Kindle
UK Paperback / UK Kindle

Creative #EssenceofBeauty

Magnetic, electric, eclectic eyes,
That shine like frozen diamonds raised by sunlight,
Decorated by free-falling hair that parades and cascades
With the freedom of flight, that will best strike
Those able to see the beauty within,
that goes beyond mere skin

I’ve quoted countless of my favourite poems, but I do like to share my own work too. The last one, She Loved Me Once, was in June, so I was certainly due.

Photography: Pink Floyd Artwork

This photograph was taken in the V&A Museum at the Pink Floyd Exhibition: Their Mortal Remains. I will be writing a review soon, but wanted to give you all a taster first with this shot of the artwork associated with one of their most famous albums.

Line(s) of the Day #SomeThings

Some things aren’t meant to be forgotten.

The first memory we hold
The poignant story we were always told
The first kiss we received
The lovely fantasies we once believed
The fantastic gifts we got
The ice creams we had when hot
The first person we had a crush on
Those neighbours with whom we always got along
The first difficult obstacle we got through
The wise words we’ve always listened to.

I wrote this poem a while ago and came across it when tidying my room and looking through some old papers. Hope you like it.

Photography: Sony World Photography Awards Montages

These are a collection of my favourite photographs from an exhibition of the World Photography Awards in Somerset House, London. This is the tenth edition of the highly acclaimed competition, which includes categories like Natural World, Landscape, Still Life, Sport and Conceptual. There was also a section including the work of photographer and photojournalist Martin Parr.

Line(s) of the Day #PeterGabriel

Creativity comes from the freedom to fail. And the freedom to fail comes from experimentation.  That’s what gives something its individuality.

As said by multi-award winning musician Peter Gabriel when describing Kate Bush on BBC programme The Kate Bush Story: Running up that Hill.

Gr8at: Guinness Adverts

I’ve always been interested in advertising and marketing. How in an increasingly competitive world a product, company or person can project a controlled image and make themselves stand out. Especially those who continue to evolve their image over time. Inspired by my recent trip to the Guinness Storehouse, which included a floor dedicated to its TV advert history, here are eight of my favourites. Do any of them stand out particularly to you? The first one is the most famous, and was voted the best advert of by Channel 4 and The Sunday Times, but there is a wide selection here so would be curious what you all think.

Line(s) of the Day #EudoraWelty

A good snapshot keeps a moment from running away.

Multi-award winning Mississippi-born writer Eudora Welty (1909 – 2001)

Travel Snapshot: London

Taken when walking past a small pond in a local London park, and going for a Monet-style look

Line(s) of the Day

Photography can be a mirror and reflect life as it is, but I also think it is possible to walk like Alice, through the Looking Glass and find another world with the camera.

English photographer Tony Ray-Jones, as quoted in the photographic exhibition ‘Only in England’ at the Science Museum in London.