Guy Portman's Blog, page 6
December 11, 2020
Winter Wonderland & Encroaching Christmas
We are approaching Christmas and the end of what has been a wretched year for mankind. For us Brits we have the prospect of a no-deal Brexit to look forward to. So much for Johnson and Goves bravado. It appears to have been mere bluster. Things are looking bleak, in the short term at any rate.
As for me, I must confess that I have had a particularly unproductive week. It has consisted of online Christmas shopping, a trip to the clay pigeon school and a lot of day dreaming.
There is something...
December 4, 2020
Sunsets, Sunrises & Prizes To Be Won.
The moon made an appearance a little after 15:30 the other day. Its that time of year.
[image error]This was a spectacular sunrise to wake up to on Wednesday morning.
[image error]Are you interested in winning a bundle of crime fiction and a new Ereader? If you are a member of BookBub, you are eligible to enter. The books include one of mine. Here is the link:
Win a Bundle of Crime Fiction & Thrillers!
[image error]2020 might be the second hottest year ever on record, but its pretty chilly here at the moment. Perfect weather to...
November 27, 2020
5 Transgressive Fiction Reading Recommendations
It is back to books this week. Of late I have been immersed in Transgressive Fiction. Here are five transgressive books that I have read recently. Click on the links to read my reviews.
The Devil All The Time
This gothicesque novel is replete with reprehensible rednecks, depraved content and frequent shifts in points of view.
My Review: Willard’s wife has cancer, so he turns to God for help. As her condition worsens, his invocations become increasingly extreme. There are …(more)
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November 20, 2020
Food, Feasting, Fire & Free Fiction.
We are in the midst of Lockdown #2 here in the UK and fun is in short supply. It’s wet, miserable and gets dark really early. Fortunately, there is still pleasure to be found. It had been a long time since I had scampi and chips.
Here is a Tesco-originating, Italian-themed antipasto I assembled earlier.
News of the birdfeeder has spread like wildfire. There are often multiple tits on the feeder at any given time with more waiting in the wings.
I’ll probably only fill it once...
November 13, 2020
Writing, Lockdown, Stuff Breaking & A Surprise Visitor.
We’re just over a week into Lockdown here in the UK. Everything is uncertain at the moment.
‘When did the future shift from being a promise to a threat’ – Chuck Palahniuk
As for me, I have penned an initial draft of a dark fiction book similar in format to my latest release, The Gazebo. We’ll see what the beta readers have to say about it, but regardless it (name pending) won’t be released for quite some time yet.
The bicycle is out of action until new parts arrive.
So the dog ...
November 6, 2020
Fauna, Fireworks, Fiction & Flu.
I finally got around to getting a bird-feeder. Its first visitor was this blue tit.
Everyone likes a free lunch. News has spread quickly and the feeder is now being frequented by coal tits and great tits, in addition to an abundance of blue tits. Photos to follow. I will relish the additional company during Lockdown. The flu’s back and our once great nation is in Lockdown for four weeks.
After a period of ghastly weather, Lockdown has coincided with some sunshine.
A ray of lig...
October 30, 2020
Topiary, Tidbits & A Treasure Trove
Let’s start with the topiary. This bonsaiesque tree resides outside my front door. It has been looking magnificent this autumn.
The rain has been incessant of late and the garden is saturated. This photo was taken during a brief respite.
Yesterday I got really close to deer. If they knew how much I liked venison, they would probably keep their distance.
The dog isn’t allowed to chase them, much to his chagrin. Here he is enjoying a siesta.
The French might be haples...
October 23, 2020
A Scary Fun Book Bonanza
Before I get into the details of the book bonanza, here is a photograph taken in my home office stroke summerhouse. I finally moved in on Monday. So far it is proving to be a new lease of life. The only problem, or benefit, depending on how you look at it, is that there is presently no internet.
Now for the book bonanza. I have teamed up with twenty of my fellow humour authors for a promotion. Scary Fun Books runs from Oct. 19th-31st. The books encompass a number of genres and all tastes ...
October 16, 2020
Postponing, Feasting & Netflixing
It’s that time of year again. Few things are as pleasurable as a fire.
Here are some more deer that I saw on my morning walk the other day. There is an abundance of roe here at the moment and a fair few muntjac about too.
Few combinations are better than tea and Maltesers.
Another day; another snack.
Don’t know about you, but I’ve been doing a lot of postponing of late. While I’ve been writing a lot, I have put off a load of other things.
The last week or so has e...
October 9, 2020
5 Satires Worth Reading
It’s back to books this week. Here are five satires worth reading. They are presented in chronological order. Click on the links to read my reviews
Candide by Voltaire (1759)
Candide is an eighteenth-century satirical classic that evaluates optimism; the prevailing philosophical ideology of The Enlightenment.
My Review: Brought up in the household of a German baron, cheerful protagonist Candide has been instilled with the philosophy of Leibniz, notably – That all is for the best in...
