‘The Devil’s Backbone,’ directed by Guillermo del Toro Movie, 2001 Gothic fantasy horror set against the backdrop of the Spanish Civil War. Right from the off, and the sequence showing the bombing raid, this is a film of objects, symbols and supernature. The close focus on action on an orphanage…

‘Yellowface,’ by R.F. Kuang Novel, 2023 Engrossing, engaging, if slightly depressing book, with a compelling plot looking at the issues of race and appropriation in publishing, through the eyes of someone bringing out a book about Chinese in the First World War. Something, here, to give anyone a…

Wednesday Writer; tales from the #bookshop. Am delighted to advise I’ve been appointed as bookseller at Brown Books, in #Luton. Not quite ready for full opening yet; here’s how things have been getting on. #WritingCommunity

Small Publishers Fair returns to London's Conway Hall next month, with 66 UK & international publishers, a special exhibition, and readings & talks. More details soon. Fri 24 & Sat 25 October (11am-7pm) FREE, all welcome Conway Hall, Red Lion Square, London WC1R 4RL smallpublishersfair.co.uk

‘Nope,’ directed by Jordan Peele Movie, 2022 Bit of an overbearing genre mash, with what feel like some great ideas and sequences – particularly the old ‘80s sitcom – but which never really pull everything together. This is a horror sci-fi contemporary Western, with overlong sequences, a load of…

‘American Movie,’ directed by Chris Smith Movie, 1999 Documentary, following film-maker Mark Borchardt’s efforts to start his lifelong project feature film, while trying to finish a horror short in order to fund it. This, really, feels like a film about ambition, despair and the hopeless, grisly,…

Weds Writer reflection on the highs and lows of small publisher press fairs. #WritingCommunity

‘Scattered All Over the Earth,’ by Yoko Tawada Novel, 2022 The story of a group of characters, who coalesce around a linguistics student, and give chase to new languages, dying languages and odd or unusual languages. This is a book about languages. An interesting premise and some beguiling…

Wednesday Writer embracing Autumn. Events pending - fairs in #London and #spokenword in #Luton... #writingcommunity

September is a busy month for UK book fairs. Find events in New Town in Wales, London (3), Reading, Bournemouth and Manchester in Book Fair Calendar smallpublishersfair.co.uk/book-fair-ca...

‘Jeeves and the Feudal Spirit,’ by PG Wodehouse Novel, 1954 Country house frolics, this time involving pearl necklaces (one real, one costume), a weekly magazine up for sale and moustaches. All the usual goonish behaviour, slapstick, ridiculous romance and characters dashing and blundering into…

Wednesday Writer attempts to be clever about reading vs viewing fiction. Or biog...

‘Lost in the Garden,’ by Adam S. Leslie... Great read. Folk horror, romance & thriller; a road story & science-fiction.

Compassion shines through absurdity and comes over, neither as sick or gloopy.

‘More Work for the Undertaker,’ by Margery Allingham Novel, 1948 A London based mystery, and while amateur sleuth Campion is more present here than in other books, and while the plot is still unwinding itself away in the background with some lovely details and deviations, there is a familiar feel…

Clod Magazine; 40 editions in 38 years (and counting) A very short blog this week, as I've been spending much of my time and efforts in: tending the veg patch (which appears to be the only place I've ever encountered where cats don't bury their brown mess); cycling - after a summer in which I've…

My thoughts on a 1960s novel of manners, I suppose you'd say. It's pretty good... wednesdaywriter221052756.wordpress.com/2025/08/17/t...

Wednesday Writer has some non and sometime ill-advised dietary suggestions for the modern writer. Any thoughts? #writingcommunity #Food wednesdaywriter221052756.wordpress.com/2025/08/15/w...

A quick question for #writingcommunity. Any suggestions of music best suited to writing? For me, there are two answers. One is "some jazz and/or classical with no vocals." The other is "none..."

Wednesday writer looking at the fundamentals of ploting, with the help of radio drama. wednesdaywriter221052756.wordpress.com/2025/08/08/p...

Wednesday Writer tries, and fails, to get on with a 'self-help' book. The identity of which needs to be closely guarded and kept secret. wednesdaywriter221052756.wordpress.com/2025/07/30/s...

Wednesday Writer. Low energy week. Grinding through the gears. #writing wednesdaywriter221052756.wordpress.com/2025/07/23/o...

Wednesday Writer reports back on some books people DON'T like. Warning; this post contains Hardys, Lessings, Martels and Yanagiharas. wednesdaywriter221052756.wordpress.com/2025/07/16/h...

Weds writer. A look at the opening of a 60s film & how it works in relation to writing. Also, let me know books you hate. What have you started but didn't finish? Where has been over hype? Or which books have you just hated? wednesdaywriter221052756.wordpress.com/2025/07/10/s... #reading #writing

Wednesday writer goes down a rabbit hole and hits a Puddingstone. Local history and geology is grabbing hold of my brains. Please send help. wednesdaywriter221052756.wordpress.com/2025/07/02/a...

Wednesday Writer reflects on recent and forthcoming escapades from Clod Magazine. So, another slow writing week. wednesdaywriter221052756.wordpress.com/2025/06/25/c...

Wednesday Writer talks to fellow writer Kate Packman, about the independent Protea Press she helped to set up. wednesdaywriter221052756.wordpress.com/2025/06/21/p...

Weds Writer. My list of holiday reading. Not sure why I started this a few yrs ago & why people might find it interesting. But I did; they seemed to. So here it is again. Warning - contains bunions. wednesdaywriter221052756.wordpress.com/2025/05/29/t...

A Weds Writer ramble this wk. Leaning into news of a new Pynchon novel, & trying to work out why I find him inspiring. The pressure of a weekly blog... Happy reading. wednesdaywriter221052756.wordpress.com/2025/05/17/c...

Wednesday Writer, happy to have spent time w/David Cain, to talk about his excellent new collection, 'To Wake Up in the Promised Land.' A reminder, for disconsolate #LTFC fans, of the more important things in life. wednesdaywriter221052756.wordpress.com/2025/05/07/d...

Wednesday Writer. On a Sunday AGAIN. Sorry. But here it is, reflecting on writing progress and poetry in pubs. wednesdaywriter221052756.wordpress.com/2025/05/04/w...

Morning. Wednesday Writer diary piece, including a bit of a plug for Pig Hill magazine - it's Women in Music feature is excellent. wednesdaywriter221052756.wordpress.com/2025/04/02/w...

Wednesday Writer, having pondered Imposter Syndrome last week, now reflecting on turning up old treasure... wednesdaywriter221052756.wordpress.com/2025/03/16/g...

Wednesday writer writing about Imposter Syndrome. Not really my place and I'm in no way qualified to do this. wednesdaywriter221052756.wordpress.com/2025/03/09/i...

Wednesday Writer on a few recent inspirations... wednesdaywriter221052756.wordpress.com/2025/03/02/r...

Wednesday writer struggling with technology, and cursing its impact on writing progress, or a lack thereof. wednesdaywriter221052756.wordpress.com/2025/02/23/w...

Wednesday writer ponders, again, on half decent spots in 'town' (in this example, Luton) to get some writing and editing done. Deserted arts centre? Public library? Members-only library? wednesdaywriter221052756.wordpress.com/2025/02/14/w...

Hello. My 1st BS post I didn't get abuse on Twitter, but don't like it much. I am a writer. I blog. I try & add to it every week. This week, a view on editing. Looking forward to connecting w'people I'm already connected with elsewhere. wednesdaywriter221052756.wordpress.com/2025/02/10/g...