A question I get every so often
A question I am asked once in an equinox is if I ever have plans on foraying into sci-fi. The answer is always the same: YES. I mean, I’ve written horror. I am also currently entrenched in a gritty fantasy world, so it would only be fitting to complete my speculative fiction resume […]
This is why I do what I do
Over the last couple of days, I’ve been having fun with a rather vocal critic of The Divided Region. By “fun,” I mean turning her digs into free sales for two days straight. But I won’t be milking her barbed comments for a third time. No, no. Instead, I’m going to share a testimonial I […]
Disgruntled reader strikes back
Ladies and gentlemen, lords and ladies, the Drifter strikes again. Yesterday, I mentioned how I received a seven-word dig by a then-listener of Exiled. This particular incident took place in Chapter 3 and revolved around some comments from Darius' POV that clearly were way too triggering for this individual. Her un-scathing remark? Lost me at […]
Lost her at “a woman’s cycle”
There’s never a dull day here at Watson HQ. If it isn’t Master Liam forcing his way through the office door like a cave troll, it’s Master Nathan filling his nappies at a rate that exceeds an incontinent guinea pig. But the fun doesn’t stop there. Oh no. It also extends to this fiction gig […]
GUILTY: 3 writer rules I violate
Sometimes, gladly, too. And no, this isn’t some cringy attempt at being “edgy,” nor am I trying to cement my status as a rebel. The fact is: We’re all adhering to rules whether we like it or not. Some are good (like laws that keep societies from breaking down into barbarism), and others are not […]
Lady Laura freaks out at me
The other night after finishing up an email, Laura and I swapped parental duties so she could proofread it before it was broadcast to the Legion. It’s a luxury I am not always afforded, but one I try to take advantage of when she’s got free hands. Anyway. A few minutes into the swap, Laura […]
The first ever (real) ghost story I heard
I couldn’t have been more than nine or ten years old when I heard my first ever ghost story. Crazier still, it came from my dad. He’s your typical, old-school, go-to-work-and-don’t-make-a-fuss type. Not “let’s huddle around a campfire and tell stories over toasted marshmallows.” Far from it. That doesn’t mean he hasn’t got any hobbies, […]
Warning: There’s bacteria in my writing
Whilst sifting through reader comments for worthy email fodder (look, I’m tired — navigating two babies at night isn’t easy), I happened across a reply I almost forgot to share with you. It was a sincere criticism, and one I actually agree with. Quite the feat indeed — especially as… I am rarely ever wrong. […]
Is Darius just a low-level gangbanger?
One of the joys of putting your work out into the world is that, sooner or later, you’re going to catch some criticism. Unlike some creatives with marshmallows for hearts and noodles for nerves… I welcome my critics. I enjoy reading differing views and seeing how some people can absolutely love something while another loathes […]
I encountered a demon… again (real)
It happened again. About a week or so ago — just a few days before Master Nathan took his first breath — I had yet another disturbing experience. First, some context: For years, I’ve endured something called sleep paralysis, and for those of weary minds who haven’t got the foggiest clue what their Overlord & […]
Ronald Reagan was right
I can't remember where I watched it, but many years ago, I saw a clip of Ronald Reagan during the height of the Cold War with Russia. He said something like (paraphrased): "I occasionally think how quickly our differences worldwide would vanish if we were facing an alien threat from outside this world." Oh, how […]
Reader threatens to leave a scathing review
I got a comment the other day that… Let’s just say it's perhaps one of the most hostile testimonies I’ve ever received. I’ll admit, it had me smiling from ear to ear. Take a look: I swear if Janga and Alere perish in the series I will leave a scathing, five-star roast that’ll burn your […]
My #1 foe
Most of you loveable rogues regrettably found me through social media. You might have clicked one of my ads… Watched one of my many ridiculous (and occasionally provocative) reels… Tweets… Or YouTube videos. Whatever the case, social media — as much as I deplore it for reasons I won’t get into — has been an […]
The greatest lesson Sauron taught me
If you're worth sharing a pint with, you’ll know who the Dark Lord Sauron is. Usually, the name conjures images of black-clad armour with spikes jutting from it, or the ever-watching Eye of Mordor burning its gaze across the ashen landscape. He is those things, but he is also something of a hero to me. […]
Winter, food shortages, and The Divided Region
For most of us in the northern hemisphere, we’re winding down summer and saying hello to autumn and winter. Long-time Legionnaires will know that I’ve never been a fan of the colder months beyond the spoils of excessive festive eating. Sure, nobody likes being hot and sticky all year round either, but there’s absolutely no […]
Reader tastes my banhammer
I woke up groggily this morning with a dull ache in my right ear. Like the hardened leader I am, I chugged down two painkillers, burned some incense candles, and took a deep breath before switching my phone on. There, I waited for a chorus of pings to light up the screen, and sure enough, […]
TDR reignites this reader’s love for stories
One of the joys of making stuff up for a living isn’t that I get a free pass for my Google search history, nor is it that I get to stay in a state of deep psychosis. Rather, it’s reading testimonies like the one below: I used to read all the time and absolutely loved […]
They were smoking crack, I’m telling you
We’re a few days back in the proverbial trenches of babyhood, and so far it’s been… Surprisingly smooth. Yes, Master Liam can’t help but terrorise Nathan (and the world at large), and I do concede that spinning an extra plate does present its challenges even for an immortal like me, but for the most part, […]
The real reason for my absence this weekend
It feels like an aeon since I last sent an email, even though it was only Friday. Seasoned disciples will know this is deeply uncharacteristic of me. Some might even consider it gross misconduct, considering there is only ONE Overlord & Saviour of the Legion. So what gives? Why the absence? I mean, it was […]
Goodbye, Father
The assassin studied the contract under the flickering candlelight. The name—there was something about it that gnawed at the back of his memory. He studied the ink some more, willing for a face to lurch forth, an encounter to tumble from the haze. Nothing. It promised a rich purse. Enough to vanish forever, to buy […]