David Phillips's Blog
March 31, 2023
The books of my life
My earliest reading memory…
It’s so hard to think back to a specific memory. I remember reading a book on holiday when I must have been about 8 years old. I don’t remember the title or the author but, it involved ghosts, and a hospital, and child with cancer. I do remember the story totally absorbed me.
My favourite book growing up…
Okay, so I can’t narrow it down to one, so I will have to go with a couple that took me through my early teens:
First Blood by David Morrell It’s just about the most tightly and expertly crafted action book ever written in my opinion. I recall I’d seen the film, and, in those days, it was an easy way for me to relive it. Morrell is a great writer in my opinion. Testament is a similar story of survival and equally as tense. Definitely worth tracking down to read.
Salem’s Lot by Stephen King Another one where I’d seen the film (the cutdown tv movie version) and I was a bit of a horror obsessive (and still am). King books go one of two ways for me, I either love them, or just don’t get it. Salem’s Lot was absolutely epic, and terrifying. A cracking read.
The book that changed me as a teenager…
No One Here Gets Out Alive by Jerry Hopkin Wow! Where to begin?! I still remember the day a school friend played me a couple of Doors’ tracks and that was it! I’d found my favourite band of all time. I devoured everything written about Jim Morrison and The Doors that I could get my hands on, and Jerry Hopkin’s book was seminal. I get that there’s a bit of artistic license is biographies and autobiographies but, I still love that book, and I still love The Doors.
The writer who changed my mind…
Catch-22 by Joseph Heller I studied this book as part of my English A-Level, and it totally blew my mind. It’s madcap funny but, heart-wrenching and emotional. At the time I figured that most writers probably just sit down and write a story, which is probably why I started and failed so many times. Catch-22 is so well constructed and the huge of cast of characters are managed and developed brilliantly. For me, it’s the Sergeant Pepper of books – a concept album. I really connected to this book and I’m intending to reread again soon.
The book that made me want to be a writer…
Jack’s Return Home by Ted Lewis AKA Get Carter, this book (again linked to a film I absolutely adore) showed me how Chandler, Hammett, et al would have written had they lived in Northern England. Ted Lewis really gets under Carter’s skin and the prose is as poetic and direct as anything the American hard-boiled writers produced. I loved how Lewis gave Carter a dark sense of humour and a cadence of speech (effortlessly syncopated by Caine in the film), and how gritty and seedy the whole plot, locations, and other characters were. It was a real wade through the gutter. I loved it! It's something I have paid homage to in some of my stories.
The book or author I come back to…
I could continue banging on about Ted Lewis here but, I’ll bring in another author whose work I love.
Newton Thornburg – probably best known for Cutter and Bone (turned into the film Cutter’s Way) but, I first read To Die in California and that got me into reading his other books (I’ve still got a couple left to read). He just has a way of bringing characters to life and the characters often find themselves in extreme situations, often of their own making. Always gripping and always a thrill to read. You might be able to guess where I got the name from in my novella Thornburg’s Wake which is part of my Derecho Rising collection.
The book I reread…
I’m not a big one for rereading. Catch-22, Jack’s Return Home, First Blood, and No One Here Gets Out Alive have all been read multiple times. To keep things fresh, I will bring another one into the mix, again the source novel for an excellent film (I guess you can see a pattern emerging?):
Falling Angel by William Hjortsberg – the film being Angel Heart. I mean, what’s not to love about this book? It’s a hard-boiled detective novel with elements of horror, all done to the highest standard. There is so much inspiration I have taken from this book. I wouldn’t say I reread every few months or anything but, it is a book I have returned to several times and, now writing about it, I might just reread again soon!
The book I could never read again…
There are a few books I’ve not enjoyed but, the one I am going to mention here is one I feel very disappointed and sad about:
Live and Let Die by Ian Fleming – I read this very recently. The racist language, tone and characterisations are disgusting. For a guy who lived in Jamaica, it gave a great insight into what he really thought of the Jamaicans there, and black people, in general. Ironically, as I finished it and wrote a Goodreads review saying I felt the book should be rewritten, the whole Roald Dahl thing exploded. I’ll keep my view specifically to Live and Let Die: there are authors queuing up to write new Bond books, so why not get one of them to rewrite Live and Let Die and keep the plot but remove the racism. And, if by chance there’s anyone who prefers the original, they can feel free to buy it in previous prints or digitally. I think there’s room for both, and I don’t feel precious about the original material. It’s not like it’s lost forever…I’m stepping off my soapbox.
The book I discovered later in life…
I feel like I am discovering new (to me) and newly published authors all the time. Of the newly published, Eli Cranor’s Don’t Know Tough is masterful, and I think if S.A. Cosby wrote a shopping list, I’d want to read it.
But I’m going to go with 3 book series that I have only recently got into and have me hooked:
Quarry by Max Allan Collins Just about the most fun you can have with a contract killer (the tv series was great too).
Travis McGee by John D. MacDonald Lots of detective novel writers call out McGee as inspiration and I finally got round to reading and can see why, although I have barely scratched the surface in the series.
Lew Archer by Ross Macdonald Another one that is held in high esteem, and I totally get it. I loved the two Paul Newman “Harper” films before I realised this series was out there.
The book I am currently reading…
Because the Night (Lloyd Hopkins #2) by James Ellroy I love Ellroy’s writing. It’s astoundingly good. It carries the rhythm of Chandler, Hammett, and Spillane but, Ellroy brings a complexity to the characters that can make it hard to follow. I’d previously read his Underworld USA trilogy and found it totally engrossing. The Lloyds Hopkins trilogy (so far) doesn’t hit those heights but, the previous Lloyd Hopkins Blood on the Moon was still a cracking read. I will take on the L.A. Quartet at some point!
It’s so hard to think back to a specific memory. I remember reading a book on holiday when I must have been about 8 years old. I don’t remember the title or the author but, it involved ghosts, and a hospital, and child with cancer. I do remember the story totally absorbed me.
My favourite book growing up…
Okay, so I can’t narrow it down to one, so I will have to go with a couple that took me through my early teens:
First Blood by David Morrell It’s just about the most tightly and expertly crafted action book ever written in my opinion. I recall I’d seen the film, and, in those days, it was an easy way for me to relive it. Morrell is a great writer in my opinion. Testament is a similar story of survival and equally as tense. Definitely worth tracking down to read.
Salem’s Lot by Stephen King Another one where I’d seen the film (the cutdown tv movie version) and I was a bit of a horror obsessive (and still am). King books go one of two ways for me, I either love them, or just don’t get it. Salem’s Lot was absolutely epic, and terrifying. A cracking read.
The book that changed me as a teenager…
No One Here Gets Out Alive by Jerry Hopkin Wow! Where to begin?! I still remember the day a school friend played me a couple of Doors’ tracks and that was it! I’d found my favourite band of all time. I devoured everything written about Jim Morrison and The Doors that I could get my hands on, and Jerry Hopkin’s book was seminal. I get that there’s a bit of artistic license is biographies and autobiographies but, I still love that book, and I still love The Doors.
The writer who changed my mind…
Catch-22 by Joseph Heller I studied this book as part of my English A-Level, and it totally blew my mind. It’s madcap funny but, heart-wrenching and emotional. At the time I figured that most writers probably just sit down and write a story, which is probably why I started and failed so many times. Catch-22 is so well constructed and the huge of cast of characters are managed and developed brilliantly. For me, it’s the Sergeant Pepper of books – a concept album. I really connected to this book and I’m intending to reread again soon.
The book that made me want to be a writer…
Jack’s Return Home by Ted Lewis AKA Get Carter, this book (again linked to a film I absolutely adore) showed me how Chandler, Hammett, et al would have written had they lived in Northern England. Ted Lewis really gets under Carter’s skin and the prose is as poetic and direct as anything the American hard-boiled writers produced. I loved how Lewis gave Carter a dark sense of humour and a cadence of speech (effortlessly syncopated by Caine in the film), and how gritty and seedy the whole plot, locations, and other characters were. It was a real wade through the gutter. I loved it! It's something I have paid homage to in some of my stories.
The book or author I come back to…
I could continue banging on about Ted Lewis here but, I’ll bring in another author whose work I love.
Newton Thornburg – probably best known for Cutter and Bone (turned into the film Cutter’s Way) but, I first read To Die in California and that got me into reading his other books (I’ve still got a couple left to read). He just has a way of bringing characters to life and the characters often find themselves in extreme situations, often of their own making. Always gripping and always a thrill to read. You might be able to guess where I got the name from in my novella Thornburg’s Wake which is part of my Derecho Rising collection.
The book I reread…
I’m not a big one for rereading. Catch-22, Jack’s Return Home, First Blood, and No One Here Gets Out Alive have all been read multiple times. To keep things fresh, I will bring another one into the mix, again the source novel for an excellent film (I guess you can see a pattern emerging?):
Falling Angel by William Hjortsberg – the film being Angel Heart. I mean, what’s not to love about this book? It’s a hard-boiled detective novel with elements of horror, all done to the highest standard. There is so much inspiration I have taken from this book. I wouldn’t say I reread every few months or anything but, it is a book I have returned to several times and, now writing about it, I might just reread again soon!
The book I could never read again…
There are a few books I’ve not enjoyed but, the one I am going to mention here is one I feel very disappointed and sad about:
Live and Let Die by Ian Fleming – I read this very recently. The racist language, tone and characterisations are disgusting. For a guy who lived in Jamaica, it gave a great insight into what he really thought of the Jamaicans there, and black people, in general. Ironically, as I finished it and wrote a Goodreads review saying I felt the book should be rewritten, the whole Roald Dahl thing exploded. I’ll keep my view specifically to Live and Let Die: there are authors queuing up to write new Bond books, so why not get one of them to rewrite Live and Let Die and keep the plot but remove the racism. And, if by chance there’s anyone who prefers the original, they can feel free to buy it in previous prints or digitally. I think there’s room for both, and I don’t feel precious about the original material. It’s not like it’s lost forever…I’m stepping off my soapbox.
The book I discovered later in life…
I feel like I am discovering new (to me) and newly published authors all the time. Of the newly published, Eli Cranor’s Don’t Know Tough is masterful, and I think if S.A. Cosby wrote a shopping list, I’d want to read it.
But I’m going to go with 3 book series that I have only recently got into and have me hooked:
Quarry by Max Allan Collins Just about the most fun you can have with a contract killer (the tv series was great too).
Travis McGee by John D. MacDonald Lots of detective novel writers call out McGee as inspiration and I finally got round to reading and can see why, although I have barely scratched the surface in the series.
Lew Archer by Ross Macdonald Another one that is held in high esteem, and I totally get it. I loved the two Paul Newman “Harper” films before I realised this series was out there.
The book I am currently reading…
Because the Night (Lloyd Hopkins #2) by James Ellroy I love Ellroy’s writing. It’s astoundingly good. It carries the rhythm of Chandler, Hammett, and Spillane but, Ellroy brings a complexity to the characters that can make it hard to follow. I’d previously read his Underworld USA trilogy and found it totally engrossing. The Lloyds Hopkins trilogy (so far) doesn’t hit those heights but, the previous Lloyd Hopkins Blood on the Moon was still a cracking read. I will take on the L.A. Quartet at some point!
August 5, 2022
August: Flash Fiction of the Month
Hey everyone,
This month's Flash Fiction is a story that links nicely to my interest in spiritualism. I can’t say I’m a believer but, for me, it lies in a sweet spot where it’s just not quite fully investigated and known. My imagination likes to play around in that corridor of uncertainty. It’s certainly a place where fear dwells.
It’s a short one, so let’s cut to the chase…
Writing Wrongs
Derecho Rising: A Short Story Collection
This month's Flash Fiction is a story that links nicely to my interest in spiritualism. I can’t say I’m a believer but, for me, it lies in a sweet spot where it’s just not quite fully investigated and known. My imagination likes to play around in that corridor of uncertainty. It’s certainly a place where fear dwells.
It’s a short one, so let’s cut to the chase…
Writing Wrongs
Derecho Rising: A Short Story Collection
July 8, 2022
July: Flash Fiction of the Month
Hey everyone,
This month's Flash Fiction comes straight out of my recent reading & watching inspiration.
As long as I can remember, I've been a fan of westerns movies and tv shows: Alias Smith & Jones was a favourite of mine and the Western movies I remember being profoundly affected by when I was very young were the terrifying Apache Drums and the horrifying torture of Dennis Weaver in Duel at Diablo. And, as I grew older I came to appreciate Spaghetti Westerns, revisionist Westerns, etc, etc.
It is only recently that I have read Western books though. I started with the Lonesome Dove series. And, I chose to follow McCrae and Call in chronological order (not publishing): beginning with Dead Man's Walk and, TBH, it was excellent. I soon followed it with Comanche Moon and, again, I thought it was superb. I look fwd to getting into Lonesome Dove when it reaches the top of my TBR pile. As a side note, I also read Blood Meridian and was absolutely blown away by it - Cormac McCarthy is a superbly talented writer.
I'd written Western genre flash fiction before - it features in my collection: Derecho Rising. And, for this month's story, I was revisiting the genre with fresh ideas of prose and plot based upon my recent reading and watching.
I also have a longer form story that I hope to progress soon which is very much a Spaghetti Western tale.
Anyway, this month's story is called Black Cloud. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it!
Black Cloud
Derecho Rising: A Short Story Collection
This month's Flash Fiction comes straight out of my recent reading & watching inspiration.
As long as I can remember, I've been a fan of westerns movies and tv shows: Alias Smith & Jones was a favourite of mine and the Western movies I remember being profoundly affected by when I was very young were the terrifying Apache Drums and the horrifying torture of Dennis Weaver in Duel at Diablo. And, as I grew older I came to appreciate Spaghetti Westerns, revisionist Westerns, etc, etc.
It is only recently that I have read Western books though. I started with the Lonesome Dove series. And, I chose to follow McCrae and Call in chronological order (not publishing): beginning with Dead Man's Walk and, TBH, it was excellent. I soon followed it with Comanche Moon and, again, I thought it was superb. I look fwd to getting into Lonesome Dove when it reaches the top of my TBR pile. As a side note, I also read Blood Meridian and was absolutely blown away by it - Cormac McCarthy is a superbly talented writer.
I'd written Western genre flash fiction before - it features in my collection: Derecho Rising. And, for this month's story, I was revisiting the genre with fresh ideas of prose and plot based upon my recent reading and watching.
I also have a longer form story that I hope to progress soon which is very much a Spaghetti Western tale.
Anyway, this month's story is called Black Cloud. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it!
Black Cloud
Derecho Rising: A Short Story Collection
June 6, 2022
June: Flash Fiction of the Month
Hi everyone,
This month's Flash Fiction was inspired by a single image. It was a photo that appeared on my FB timeline. It is a photo of an Irish bar/restaurant in NYC and it immediately got me thinking of who might be in there.
Reunion brought me into a, sort of, fan fiction with a question of "what if..?"
I won't give away what fandom I was in the realm of but, I think, by the end, you will know...
Enjoy,
Dave
Reunion
This month's Flash Fiction was inspired by a single image. It was a photo that appeared on my FB timeline. It is a photo of an Irish bar/restaurant in NYC and it immediately got me thinking of who might be in there.
Reunion brought me into a, sort of, fan fiction with a question of "what if..?"
I won't give away what fandom I was in the realm of but, I think, by the end, you will know...
Enjoy,
Dave
Reunion
May 17, 2022
May: Flash Fiction of the Month
Hi everyone,
Not much I can say about this one without spoiling it...enjoy...
Fabric
https://writeronthestorm.wordpress.co...
Not much I can say about this one without spoiling it...enjoy...
Fabric
https://writeronthestorm.wordpress.co...
April 4, 2022
April: Flash Fiction of the Month
Hi everyone,
This month's story is about how even the most cataclysmic events have to start somewhere and, sometimes, in the most mundane of circumstances.
It is called Apocalypse Now?
https://writeronthestorm.wordpress.co...
The "end of the world as we know it" is a subject that fascinates me, so my imagination does visit the subject from time to time.
I hope you enjoy it!
Dave
This month's story is about how even the most cataclysmic events have to start somewhere and, sometimes, in the most mundane of circumstances.
It is called Apocalypse Now?
https://writeronthestorm.wordpress.co...
The "end of the world as we know it" is a subject that fascinates me, so my imagination does visit the subject from time to time.
I hope you enjoy it!
Dave
March 17, 2022
March: Flash Fiction of the Month
Hi everyone,
This month's story is a tale of a socially awkward and lonely guy, seeking to improve his social skills with some other-worldly assistance.
It is called The Gathering
https://writeronthestorm.wordpress.co...
Supposed spiritual rituals, incantations and grimoires fascinate me and they rarely fail to provide a scare because, we just don't know if there is a world beyond our own and that element of doubt manifests itself brilliantly if you've ever tried anything like this yourself, e.g, a Ouija board.
There's a great book on this subject that covers many of these, including the one referenced in this story. It's called Dangerous Games to Play in the Dark by Lucia Peters.
Here's a link: Dangerous Games to Play in the Dark
This month's story is a tale of a socially awkward and lonely guy, seeking to improve his social skills with some other-worldly assistance.
It is called The Gathering
https://writeronthestorm.wordpress.co...
Supposed spiritual rituals, incantations and grimoires fascinate me and they rarely fail to provide a scare because, we just don't know if there is a world beyond our own and that element of doubt manifests itself brilliantly if you've ever tried anything like this yourself, e.g, a Ouija board.
There's a great book on this subject that covers many of these, including the one referenced in this story. It's called Dangerous Games to Play in the Dark by Lucia Peters.
Here's a link: Dangerous Games to Play in the Dark
February 17, 2022
February: Flash Fiction of the Month
Hi everyone,
This month, I have switched to crime...for a story genre, not a lifestyle change...
I often switch between horror and crime and sometimes even combine the two. They're the genres I probably read the most so, I guess it's natural that I lean that way when writing.
I got the idea for this whilst watching tv. The show I was watching was in this ballpark and it got me thinking of a new scenario and how that might play out.
It's called The Garland Case
and can be read here:
https://writeronthestorm.wordpress.co...
I hope you enjoy it,
David Phillips
This month, I have switched to crime...for a story genre, not a lifestyle change...
I often switch between horror and crime and sometimes even combine the two. They're the genres I probably read the most so, I guess it's natural that I lean that way when writing.
I got the idea for this whilst watching tv. The show I was watching was in this ballpark and it got me thinking of a new scenario and how that might play out.
It's called The Garland Case
and can be read here:
https://writeronthestorm.wordpress.co...
I hope you enjoy it,
David Phillips
January: Flash Fiction of the Month
A bit late to post this but, here's a link to my January Flash Fiction of the Month:
Personal Growth
I can't quite recall where the inspiration for this horror story came from. The location and the accident came first and the consequences eventually evolved from that initial idea.
It takes a pretty dark twist after a fairly light beginning.
I hope you enjoy it:
https://writeronthestorm.wordpress.co...
Have a Great Day,
David Phillips
Personal Growth
I can't quite recall where the inspiration for this horror story came from. The location and the accident came first and the consequences eventually evolved from that initial idea.
It takes a pretty dark twist after a fairly light beginning.
I hope you enjoy it:
https://writeronthestorm.wordpress.co...
Have a Great Day,
David Phillips
January 11, 2022
A New Year
Happy New Year!
So, 2021 was a great year for my writing because I published 2 we received collections of my flash fiction and short stories.
2022 brings a different, and much scarier, challenge. My aim for 2022 is to complete my first novel. I have been thinking and planning this for a long time and it's only when I sat down to write the synopsis that I realised how many gaps there are in the plot and how much more development it needs. I'm aiming to become more disciplined with my time dedicated to it.
My reading is also aimed at supporting my writing, in that I will be reading similar genres, themes and subject matter for research and inspiration.
My other challenge is to keep writing, which may sound a bit dumb but, planning and plotting isn't exactly writing for me. I'm going to continue with the short stories and flash fiction. My main goal is to publish one piece on my blog (https://www.writeronthestorm.wordpres...) each month and I have snappily titled it "Flash Fiction of the Month". I may write more but, one each month is my basic aim.
I hope you also have reading and writing goals for the year!
So, 2021 was a great year for my writing because I published 2 we received collections of my flash fiction and short stories.
2022 brings a different, and much scarier, challenge. My aim for 2022 is to complete my first novel. I have been thinking and planning this for a long time and it's only when I sat down to write the synopsis that I realised how many gaps there are in the plot and how much more development it needs. I'm aiming to become more disciplined with my time dedicated to it.
My reading is also aimed at supporting my writing, in that I will be reading similar genres, themes and subject matter for research and inspiration.
My other challenge is to keep writing, which may sound a bit dumb but, planning and plotting isn't exactly writing for me. I'm going to continue with the short stories and flash fiction. My main goal is to publish one piece on my blog (https://www.writeronthestorm.wordpres...) each month and I have snappily titled it "Flash Fiction of the Month". I may write more but, one each month is my basic aim.
I hope you also have reading and writing goals for the year!
