S.P. Oldham's Blog, page 9
March 8, 2023
International Women’s Day - Meet Lavender Gin
As a nod to International Women's Day, I would like to introduce you to Lavender Gin. She may start out afraid of her own shadow, but she truly evolves into someone far stronger...
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0B9KCKM9X
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B9KCKM9XI
An unlikely group of fellow survivors venture out into a changed world, the new reality one of horror and brutality. Lavender Gin, Bumper Scuffs, Rumble Strips and Mad Gasher make up a motley crew, with their strengths, weaknesses and weird monikers. But what better way to start a new life, than to leave old names behind?
The group come to the aid of Carson, a lone survivor in a very sticky situation. In return, he gives them shelter. Nothing can be taken for granted in this new world though. Pretty soon the group is faced with a shared danger; one they must overcome together.
Or die trying.
February 27, 2023
Best Standalone Book - Vote Now in the Written Undead Awards!
The poll for Best Standalone Book of the year is up on Written Undead! 'Post Mortem' is up for voting, so if you liked it, please vote for it! You must be a member of Written Undead to take part.
Not read it? It's on Amazon, Kindle now. Check my site for links or pm me and I can point you in the right direction! https://www.facebook.com/groups/WrittenUndead
February 16, 2023
A book (or two) for a roof...?I desperately need a new ro...
I desperately need a new roof and a damp course put in!
How is this for an idea?
I write books.
If you buy one of my boooks, for less than the price of a coffee in most cases, you will be contributing to my new roof and damp course.
In return, you will be getting a book which you will, hopefully, enjoy reading.
You will also get the opportunity to let others know what you think of that book.
This is your chance to flex your own writing/comedy/critical skills!
You could write a good review
a bad review
a middling review
a funny review
a helpful review
a one-line review
a review in essay form
whatever you like, as long as it is an honest, fair review.
No discriminatory language, nothing ott. Come on, we're all adults here, right?
That's fair exchange. I have been writing for a very long time. It would be wonderful to have readers, honest opinions and a new audience, so to speak.
It would also be great to have a new roof.
Thank you. Links to my books below.
P.S You can leave your reviews on Amazon, Goodreads or my website or Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/solostinwords/
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15116823.S_P_Oldham
This should be fun...
P.P.S 'Hag's Breath: A Collection of Witchcraft and Wickedness' will be out on Audiobook very soon!
P.P.P.S If money is as much a struggle for you as it is for me and many others these days, there are plenty of free reads on my site. Enjoy them on me and by the way, I would value your reviews and opinions too.
February 14, 2023
Laptop Repairs and Vicious Valentine Verses
My laptop finally got fixed so I am back to it. Here is a little something for Valentine’s Day.
January 31, 2023
Cauldron of Chaos! A Red Cape Publishing creation!
Thank you so much to Red Cape Publishing for including my short piece ‘The Night Hag’ in your upcoming edition, ‘Cauldron of Chaos.’ What a great title that is!
Peter and Leanne Blakey-Novis of Red Cape Publishing are always so supportive of indie authors and have been a source of great encouragement and support to me over the few years I have been at this. Thank you Red Cape Publishing, I appreciate you more than I can say.
Fabulous illustrations and cover image copyright of David Paul.
January 24, 2023
Hanbury Arms Haunted Hotel and Museum
Not a story title, an actual place not too far from me. Might well spend a night or at least go for a visit one of these days.
Hanbury House Haunted Hotel and Museum Pontypool, South Wales.
Please Note: I am not sponsored by or otherwise affiliated with Hanbury Arms, I just thought it looked great. Since it is a (relatively) local business I wanted to spread the word a bit. That’s all.
If you go, let me know how you got on! Photos always welcome!
Hopefully pics to follow…
January 19, 2023
Medieval Torture and Punishment
I have shared this post on a couple of social media sites so I thought I would share it here.
Often over the years I have looked to medieval forms of punishment and torture to inspire my horror writing. Some of it is truly horrific in every sense. I often end up getting so absorbed in the history and folklore that I waste hours just reading and shaking my head in amazement when I should be writing! Did you ever see Wire in the Blood, based on the books of the same name by Val McDermid? Some of those scenes were medieval or inspired by the same. An excellent series in my view. Anyway, do you ever delve into the horror of the past? True horror, that exists in the history books because it really took place? The say truth is stranger than fiction. It's often crueller than fiction, too.
If there is anyone out there, if this blog does not exist in some lonely, unique vacuum populated by lost posts and drifting authors, please leave a comment. Thanks!
January 17, 2023
Check out the ‘Not Horror’ pages to find out a little more about what I do!
While you’re there, why not enter the current competition?
January 12, 2023
Written Undead: Award Nominations
‘Written Undead’ Awards - now accepting NOMINATIONS for best zombie books of 2022.
2 Categories (each with 1st, 2nd & 3rd)
1. Best Book of the Year
2. Best New Book in a Series
Ponder these Rules and choose wisely:
1. original publication date must be in CY 2022
2. Author(s) must be current member(s) of the Written Undead FB group.
3. Authors may not nominate themselves.
4. Topics MUST include zombie characters or themes.
5. Books must be widely commercially available via at least one online sales site (Amazon, B&N, BAM, Godless, etc)
This year - awards will be cool certificates that authors can print out and frame for their “love me” wall in addition to the eternal awe of their fans, friends & family (as well as the jealous rage & vengeful thoughts of their fellow authors who were callously rejected) for being immortalized as the best of 2022!!
Post your nominations in the comments in this format:
Book Title:
Author:
Award Category:
Publication Date:
Nominations will be open through January 31, 2023.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/WrittenUndead/permalink/1336609470525893/
January 5, 2023
2023 so far…
You might find this update in total contrast to my previous hopeful, happy wishes for the new year, despite our Christmas having been a relatively stressful one (see previous blog post.) So be warned. I have decided, for once, to let the cynic in me have a say. Nobody comes here to read or comment anyhow, so I think I am safe to have a rant (there’s a small one, right there.)
So far, 2023 has been nothing but a bag of the proverbial shit. I am usually a very upbeat, positive person who manages to see the bright side in most things. I have something of a reputation for that in my family. It takes a lot to make me otherwise, but so far this year, it has come close.
Firstly, I realise how blessed we were to get mum safely out of hospital and both she and my sister much healthier and on the mend now. Since then though…
Properties on my husband’s place of work (where he manages) have been broken into three times already since New Year’s Day. Three times. Count ‘em. The most recent one was into a charity shop. Just how much of a lowlife do you have to be to steal from charity shops? Stressful for the property owners, a headache for my husband who has to deal with the fallout. This is on top of the usual pain in the neck trouble makers who have nothing to do but hang around and make life a misery for other people.
Five or six items were stolen out of my husband’s car. One of the scumbag thieves had the nerve (and the stupidity) to throw a First Aid kit and its contents over my railing. Trash he had no interest in, obviously. The bloody nerve. Never mind, he was kind enough to leave us his fingerprints. (There that cursed bright side again!)
Our elderly neighbours, friends we look in on and look after as best we can, have both been very ill. They stayed with family over Christmas. However, shortly after they came home, the man (I won’t use his name here) went out in the rain to nip to the chemist around the corner. Why he didn’t message me and ask me to go I will never know. Anyway, long story short, he slipped and fell, banging his head. A lady saw it all and called for help. Two men rushed over and carried him home, where he was later checked out by a nurse. He’s okay, but at 80 he looks like he has done a couple of rounds of MMA.
Our friend’s elderly mother fell in her home and broke her leg. She was taken into hospital, where she has since contracted Covid. She has to stay in indefinitely.
Our other friend’s brother suffered a major stroke and is now in an induced coma. Who knows how long he will be hospitalised for?
My nephew had his hand trapped in a door and broke his knuckles (grown man, not a child, but even so.)
So there you have it. That is the first week of the new year. Nothing but trouble, stress, crime, stress, illness, stress and injury. Oh, and did I mention stress?
It’s okay. I think writing that was therapeutic in a small way. I won’t dwell on misery or fall into ‘woe is me’ mode. There are a lot of good things in my life I am very thankful and grateful for.
Even so, it does you good to have a moan now and then.
Happy New Year everyone.
By the way. 2023; you can start getting better from here on out, if you like…
Got a moan or a complaint, or just want to get something off your chest? Fire away below. Just bear in mind that bullying, racism or general abuse will not be tolerated here.
