David Hadley's Blog, page 35

When the Crows Laugh

We knew the story long before we young ones realised the place existed. A tale told by the old ones around the fires at night. They talked of the Old Times, and we thought they were just stories. Stories like the tales of the various long-ago gods fighting each other until they killed this world.…

The Woman with No Hashtag

She came out of the dusty distance like someone walking out of the dusty distance. Main Street was deserted in the hot noonday sun, which as Main Street was the only street in this one-unicycle town struck her as a bit odd. Then, she remembered, it was football season. That explained it. To confirm her…

Not Even Here

I gave these things names. I thought it was important at the time that this should be a named world and that the creatures I put there should also have names. I have wanted a name for so long. For all those eons, I desired not just to be, but to be someone. But there…

When the Page Thinks About Words

There are no words. At least, there are no words yet, anyway. The page lies empty waiting for something to happen. Sometimes the page thinks it would like to remain white, clean. Remain untouched by the footprints of letters turning into words as they follow the twisting paths of the sentences deep into the paragraphs.…

Excuse Me?

‘Excuse me?’ ‘Yes?’ ‘I hope you don’t mind me asking?’ ‘Well, I am a bit busy at the moment.’ ‘I can see that, but-’ ‘What?’ ‘I couldn’t help noticing… are you the protagonist in this story?’ Bill stood a little straighter, turning to face the tall, dark stranger in the long black leather coat. ‘You…

The Tears of Memory

There was a time. But then there usually is… or was. As you get older, you find that more and more the new days resemble the old days. Or, at least, I think so. Sometimes it is hard to know if I’m remembering something, or if this is another new day. Most of the time,…

What’s Going On Here?

‘What’s going on here?’ ‘I don’t know, I’ve only just got here myself.’ Jim paused. ‘Anyway, who are you?’ ‘I’m Natalie… apparently.’ She looked down at herself. ‘Natalie?’ ‘So it says up there. So you’re Jim, then?’ ‘It seems so. Do you ever wonder where he gets these names from?’ ‘I think it is often…

A World Written on it

There was nothing there. Zeka stood in the doorway, looking back at her flat. It was normal in its chaotic untidiness. Her work briefcase lay where she’d dropped it last night as she came in late, struggling to juggle it and the takeaway she’d picked up as she’d come past the shop on her way…

Get The Dirty Book Now – Only 99p

Today is the final day of The Dirty Book special introductory offer. Get The Dirty Book today for only 99p/$1.28 before it reverts to full price tomorrow. Available here: Amazon UK Amazon US Universal link When his novel becomes a surprise bestseller, author Robert Block thinks all his problems are over… but they have only…

Ingar was a Shadow

She walked only in the shadows and held the secrets of the darkness in her hands. She could take the night and wrap it around herself, becoming a deeper darkness in the deeper shadows of the night. She knew how to move so her passing was a cool night time breeze from an open window,…