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  • Valkyrie

    Today's the Day!

    By Valkyrie

    Anthology Stories are due today! Get those final touches done on your story and send it to me by midnight, EST tonight so I can get it assigned to a Proof Team member! There are lots of burning questions... Did we break the 20 story barrier? Who participated? How many stories did they write? When will the stories go live? Which theme has more stories? Of course, I'm not going to answer any of them now   You'll have to wait and anticipate! 
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John Henry's Blogs

In The Mourning Day (Thicker Than Water Chapter 9)

When I first envisioned Jefferson as a town, the fictional city of Charming, CA from Sons of Anarchy came to mind, but certainly smaller.  Thoughts of a rustic, desert town, with pine trees and scrub brush lining the streets instead of lush foliage and bushy oaks.  The town could fit anywhere along Highway 97 from Central Washington to Central California.  The motel they stayed in based on an experience a friend of mine had at some crap, roadside place. Unless the situation calls for it, I
John Henry

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blog post

And the Truth About Political Promises.

My government has let me down, again. Am I of any value to them? They certainly don’t seem concerned about me. They made me a promise, told me to wait and wait, but never kept it and now… In July 2018 prime minister Theresa May promised to ban conversion therapy. In 2019, Boris Johnson repeated the pledge during that year’s general election campaign. Yet here we are, November 2023, and again there is no sign of the promised ban. This month’s King’s Speech, were the government outlines the l
Drew Payne

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Christmas

It's That Time Of The Year

Yep, it's that time of the year. What time? I hear you ask. It is the time when we are either thinking about or trying not to think about Christmas. It's also the time when many charitable organisations get the begging bowl out. I've already had my begging bowl out, been around the usual local companies and a few more. I've been lucky and received donations and promises of help from all that I have approached, and I am grateful for everything that has been received and promised. Now I've got the
Mancunian

Mancunian in Christmas

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John Henry's Blogs

Tears, Coffee and Foreshadowing (Thicker Than Water Chapter 8)

So, here we are in Chapter 8.  It's another transitional scene that I wanted to show more of the bonds that hold the Padilla family together. Of course we start with the aftermath of Bryan and Kenny's conflict.  Bryan is showing a rare moment of vulnerability, where his attachment issues get triggered.  I find that it's key to keep bringing this up, because everyone's motivations and activities are dictated by how they handle trauma.  Bryan doesn't grow close to most people because of the f
John Henry

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Book review

Book Review: Sex in Cyberspace (Men Who Pay For Sex) by Sarah Earle and Keith Sharp

They say prostitution is the oldest profession, therefore those men who visit prostitutes must be the oldest Customer Demographic, but what do we know about them? The majority of research done has focused on prostitutes, very little on the men who use their services. Sarah Earle and Keith Sharp make these men the focus of their research and raise some fascinating points. This book is written from a sociological study, looking specifically at men who use the internet to find sex workers. Ear
Drew Payne

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Book review

Book Review: Showtime 2020: The Collected Works of Newham Writers

This anthology is a collection from a writers workshop in East London. As such is has been designed to showcase the writing coming out of this workshop, and so is a very mixed anthology. This isn’t just a collection of short stories only, or just poetry or only essays. This collection contains many different styles of writing. There are short stories here, but also poetry, essays and even drabbles (100 word stories). The strength here is this collection’s variety. If you don’t want to read
Drew Payne

Drew Payne in Book review

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John Henry's Blogs

Bonding, Backstory and Baggage (Thicker Than Water, Chapter 7)

So, Chapter 7.... As with most of the chapters I write, I'm never certain where the story is going until it's done.  I generally have clues as what each chapter should have in it, but often, turns are taken that I wasn't prepared for, and this chapter wasn't an exception. Up to this point, Bryan hasn't really been interested in Steve as a person.  He hasn't been rude to the man, but given Bryan's issues with father figures and relationship issues, I was prepared for this to be another
John Henry

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Background of the Bad Dog

Childlike Simplicity

Nights like tonight make me miss things Stupid things Things that no one else would miss. The sound of distant traffic through open windows Sitting on old shag carpet Parents sitting on a well worn yellow couch with brown and orange lines Grandpa showing off his and grandmas new recliners at the center of the room Pictures all the way back to their childhoods on all of the old oak furniture. The high pitched whine of a CRT tv finally getting decent signal
Book review

Book Review: The Fallen Curtain by Ruth Rendell

Ruth Rendell was known for her dark psychological thrillers, but she also wrote many short stories, throughout her career. This was her first collection of them, many of which had been previously published in different magazines. At her best, she always had a feel and understanding for character, especially people caught up in events greater than themselves. Here are several short stories that showcase that ability. She captures characters both on the edge of society and those who are basti
Drew Payne

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Book review

Book Review: Rude Britannia: One Man's Journey Around the Highways and Bi-ways of British Sex By Tim Fountain

Tim Fountain set out here to explore Britain’s sexual highways and byways, to explore the fetish clubs, swingers’ clubs, dogging sites and much, much more. He didn’t want to just observe but to explore and experience the sexual underbelly of Britain, the side of Britain that isn’t celebrated in the guide books, well most of them. The result is this book, but it’s more than just a chronical through one man’s sexual adventure. What lifts this book is Fountain’s style and perspective. He doesn
Drew Payne

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Review

'A Nobleman's guide to seducing a scoundrel' by KJ Charles

A Nobleman's guide to seducing a scoundrel by KJ Charles My rating: 4 out of 5 stars One of many things to love about KJ Charles' books is how anchored they are in their particular historical period. She doesn't hit you around the head with facts, or elevate research over plot. Instead, we join A Nobleman's guide to seducing a scoundrel in the early 1820s when Gothic novels are still the rage, medievalism is becoming an academic study, the Napoleonic Wars are over, and smugglers now op
northie

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Book review

Book Review: How to Talk to Girls at Parties by Neil Gaiman

It’s the suburbs in the 1970s, and two teenage lads, Enn and Vic, go to a teenage party to meet girls. Vic is the charming and handsome boy, who is always successful with the girls, while Enn is tongue-tied and awkward around them. At this party Vic pushes Enn to talk to them, to finally have some success with the opposite sex, but the girls at this party are amazing and so easy to talk to. This short story is a showcase for Neil Gaiman’s storytelling skills and his otherworldly imagination
Drew Payne

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Writing

It’s Showtime, Again

My short story, Even a Monkey Can Fall from a Tree, can be read in this, new anthology, Showtime 2023, but there’s more to it than just that. Every year, Newham Writers Workshop publishes an anthology of its members work, and I’m member of them and this is the fourth anthology I’ve had work published in. But I’m also now part of the editorial team that published it. I had the easy job. My fellow writers, Belgin and Paula, had the hardest task. They proofread and edited all the submissi
Drew Payne

Drew Payne in Writing

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Life and Writing

Indecision. And puppies.

I can’t believe how long it’s been since I've done this. Just another indication of how my job has eaten my life. I’ve always found blogging therapeutic, though, so I will make time this morning.  Life: One of my kids is a scientist. Like an honest-to-God, in the lab, with the white coat, type of scientist. I love him more than life itself, but when he starts talking about work, I absorb maybe one word in three, though I do my best to remain engaged and make the appropriate positive no
Libby Drew

Libby Drew in Life and Writing

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writing tips

Part 5: The (sexual?) tension between author and reader

What would you say if I told you that writing is a lot like BDSM? You might tell me that you are not into that—but aren’t you? No, no, that wasn’t an invitation for sex. I wasn’t talking literally but literarily. Okay, let’s clear that up: It’s what we can do emotionally with writing. Usually described as an “emotional roller coaster”. You might say that kind of cruelty only exists in splatter and gore. But it might just be that you’re getting BDSM wrong. When practicing BDSM, you wouldn’t go ar
Zuri

Zuri in writing tips

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John Henry's Blogs

Punishments and Consequences (Thicker Than Water Chapters 5)

When I was a kid, spanking was still a normal practice that nobody thought twice about.  Sure, there were parents who felt it was an outdate and barbaric practice, but they were in the minority and looked at as crazy people.  By the time I reached high school, my generation saw spanking as unnecessary and cruel.  As time has passed, those "pro-spankers" have moved into the minority.  I should mention, for those who might not have figure it out, I'm an American.  I grew up in a relatively liberal
John Henry

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Background of the Bad Dog

Hungry

I must have been 6 when my mom asked me to knock on the door across the hall. Two marines answered. I dutifully repeated what my mom told me, that if they could spare a few bucks she would give them a home-cooked meal. I didn't understand the weight of what I said. I didn't understand then how life-changing their saying yes was. I didn't go to bed hungry again for 5 years. I was 15 when my school's football coach and SRO found drugs in my PE locker. You could tell it was my locker as one of
Kelevra

Kelevra in Background of the Bad Dog

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John Henry's Blogs

Style And Substance: My Writing Process (Thicker Than Water Adjacent)

Thus far, I haven't really gotten into my writing process.  I mean, I've touched on it, but I haven't gone over how I write a story from start to finish.  It's something that I do think about it, especially in the context of this blog, but then, I hastily dismiss it and move on to other things.  Like a lot of writers, I hold the superstition that if you talk about an unfinished work, you'll lose that spark of inspiration and never finish the story.  That's one of the reasons I'm a bit dismissive
John Henry

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Book review

Book Review: Tales Of The City by Armistead Maupin

It is 1976 and Mary Ann Singleton changes her visit to San Francisco into a permanent move. Naïve from her sheltered live in Cleveland, she wants a new life in The City. She finds an apartment at 28 Barbary Lane, and gets drawn into the found family her landlady, Mrs Madrigal, has created from the other tenants there. There is bohemian Mona Ramsey, gay Michael "Mouse" Tolliver and womanising Brian Hawkins. Though we are introduced into this by Mary Ann, this isn’t her story alone. Soon we are fo
Drew Payne

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John Henry's Blogs

...Aaaaand We're Back!

What a bloody nightmare! I don't know where to begin!  How about my stupidity for failing to remember passwords?  No, I think I'll be railing on that for too long, so how about giving credit where credit is due: Cia.  They have been amazing throughout this whole process.  They've been very patient, understanding and helpful in ways have made this transition possible. The second I realized that I only had access via my phone, I contacted them with the problem.  Not only did I forget the
John Henry

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John Henry's Blogs

Difficulties in Life (Personal Update)

I lost almost everything. My computer crashed, wiping almost everything to the point, I lost my old email address, which I can't access because I don't remember the password and never established a backup account. I feel stupid and it's triggering a lot of emotions. Luckily, I have most things save to external drives, but it's the lack of access to accounts that's a problem, as I am not good at remembering passwords. As such, I will be trying to switch accounts on here, but that c
John Henry

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Book review

Book Review: The Part-Time Job by PD James

This is a slim volume, just one short story, The Part-Time Job, and an essay, Murder Most Fowl, but it’s a perfect quick read as an eBook. The Part-Time Job is a story about revenge and murder. The unnamed narrator was bullied at school by Keith Manston-Green and at twelve vowed to kill him. The rest of the story is how he achieves this. As a motive for murder this might seem petty and trivial but to anyone whose school days were blighted by bullying will identify with this narrator’s actio
Drew Payne

Drew Payne in Book review

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