Why sci-fi ? Here’s why!

Self portrait on the iPad.

Great day hawking books. Lots of sales and lots of catch ups with friends new and old.

Delighted to be invited to review Cameron Mackintosh's Miss Saigon. leftlion.co.uk/features/202...

Roll of drums...tadah! Revealing the new cover for The Ravenshead Terrors, published by IFWG International. The artist really captures the book, which explores global warming, extremism and bigotry within a compelling adventure. Due out this summer. DM me for ARCs. Launch date to come.

Psyching up for another day in my study. March is a busy month what with 2 school appearances, running 2 workshops, and a book festival. All this and my grandson’s first birthday party. Lots of motorway driving. Must remember not to overtax myself and end up in a heap.

The Voyager space probe is leaving our solar system as we speak. Just another 77,000 years before it reaches our nearest star.

Okay, the translation wasn't so hot. but then my Thai is lousy anyway.

Come and join me next Saturday for a workshop on world building for fantasy and SF. Info, practice, hand outs and slides.

Going to upload some of the pix taken by Fabri, our Northern Lights guide, from my trip. He's a much better photographer.

Me, in Tromso harbour. Beautiful city. And yes, last night’s northern lights were mind blowing. Great rivers of fluorescent green flowing across the starry sky. They spawned loops and spirals and whipped from side to side.

Your best friend is a mind-control genius. An ancient assassin is out to kill you. Your psychic powers have dried up. And the head teacher hates you. Life on Mars isn't easy for Zeke Hailey. But can he stop Gravity's Eye from freeing a cosmic demon? bit.ly/43GfIo2

If you write fantasy, sci-fi or anything in-between, you might need to invent your own world. But where to begin? Ideal for anyone writing in the speculative genre. Feel free to bring along your own writing to sharpen up, or start from scratch in the session. www.eventbrite.co.uk/.../world-bu....

Sketch from 2002

I really like this illustration by Marzena Wilkes at the end of my tale, The Time Traveller’s Bus Pass, in Hammond House’s 2024 Anthology of Award Winning stories. It quite niftily depicts the ending where one character becomes one with the time flow.

Second attempt at the iPad

The worldwide society of children's book writers is showcasing The Paradox War right now. A helpful way to find out more about the book. www.scbwi.org/bookstop/boo...

Bit of a sketch

Yikes. I did it again. Thank god I decided to come off the motorway seconds before.

iPad. First attempt

Mexico City, this morning.

Stain glass window from Chapultepec castle

About a zillion people crammed into CDMX’s zocalo square for Dia de las Muertos celebrations. Phew! Somehow I made it out in one piece.

Rode on the world’s longest cable car today and saw an awful lot of Mexican rooftops.

Looking forward to delving into one of my favourite forms of fiction with my WRITING SHORT STORIES course, starting this November! www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/writing-sh... #shortstory #shortstories #fiction #writing #writers #class #classes #workshop #workshops

First ink sketch after several years gap. So the odd error crept it. Ink is a very unforgiving medium.

My latest interview dissecting the Mary Whitehouse experience. bsky.app/profile/left...

Antisemitism, Tsarist edicts and forbidden love. My review of Fiddler on the Roof now published at leftlion.co.uk/features/202...

My latest interview leftlion.co.uk/features/202...

Age and youth.

Nottingham College started a short film of The Infinity Trap. Never finished, it acquired a mystique over the years. But the book, with psychic teens V Martian demons, is available from $5.99online. At amzn.to/41aneIf #scifibooks #scifireaders #yascifireaders #fantasyadventurebooks #yabooks

Good morning Wednesday

Little something Team Zeke is working on. The Infinity Trap now from $11.99 , see below for the link

"Mr Douglas has an remarkable perception of young people, his characters are very convincing, and his imaginative detailing of life on Mars, is nothing short of brilliant." A very kind review of Electron's Blade from You-Know-Where. Only $14.99 online now. Links in comments.

Next year, we will be unleashing 'The Ravenshead Terrors'. You have been warned! ifwgpublishing.com/2025/02/07/n...

There is a "Grant for Writers in Need" fund by the @societyofauthors.bsky.social You do not need to be a member to apply. Please RT. societyofauthors.org/grants/grant... #Writers #Author

I got to wondering. Is Tom Baker the last of the great Dr Whos?

Great Wall art in Goose Gate, Nottingham . Anyone know who the artist is?

Even the Mandalorian likes The Infinity Trap.

Planning a solo trip to Mexico later in the year . Never been before. I’m mindful that some states are highly dangerous. I won’t go to them. But any dos or donts to keep me safe? Any tips or advice or recommendations even? All advice valued.

Delighted to see that topnotch Abyss & Apex Magazine "thoroughly enjoyed reading The Infinity Trap. In fact, I finished it in one sitting and would heartily recommend it to anyone from 12 to 80 years of age." And now only $5.99. See co-mments below. (Signed copies available through my DMs).

Sunflower selfie.

Selfies in a narrow dimension

30 years since we first met and still good chums.

So hot on Sichang Island you could fry eggs on my hat.

Temple art, Sam Chuk