Neil J Hart's Blog, page 3

Terry Pratchett’s Discworld

The first series of books that really sparked my imagination was Terry Pratchett’s Discworld. Terry’s mix of comedy, incredible plot lines and social commentary, set against the backdrop of a rich fantasy universe, is an phenomenal work genius.

I was introduced the Terry’s books by a school friend in the early ’90s. Having just woken up to life altering notion of reading via Ian Livingstone’s Fighting Fantasy books, I took to the Discworld series like a vulture feasting on a fresh corpse. Sin...

The Madison Chronicles: Characters

Interest to know more about the characters in The Madison Chronicles and how I created them? I’m currently writing and editing book two of The Madison Chronicles while book one— Sadie Madison and the Boy In The Crimson Scarf— is going out to agents. While that’s going on, here’s a blog about some of the characters in my book and how I created them. Television

Strangely (or perhaps not at all) I’ve realised that most of characters come from a lifetime of watching television shows. I’ve probab...

The Last Scarecrow: Book In A Month

Write a book in 30 days, Neil. Huh? OK, then… and The Last Scarecrow was born.

Writing a book in a month is not for the faint hearted, but this was the task I gave myself at the end of July. It’s gone fairly well. ‘The Last Scarecrow‘ is 55,000 words in total so it’s a little on the short side but it’s a first draft of a book, nonetheless.

I’d been kicking around the idea of a story that had a little or no human characters in it. There is something far more magical and captiviating about anim...

FREE Extract: The Princess In The Threadbare Gown

The third and final, brand NEW short story extract from The Madison Chronicles : The Princess in the Threadbare Gown…

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The Princess in the Threadbare Gown is a story about the forbidden love of a lowly hawkshaw (a detective) and a lady from a rich, famous family; a family that will do whatever it takes to make sure their love never survives…

Download Now for FREE or read below…

PDF iBooks Kindle

Formats for Tablet, Kindle and Mobile, respectively.

If you’re viewing this page in the Facebook or...

FREE Extract: The Princess In The Threadbare Gown

The third and final, brand NEW short story extract from The Madison Chronicles : The Princess in the Threadbare Gown…

The Princess in the Threadbare Gown is a story about the forbidden love of a lowly hawkshaw (a detective) and a lady from a rich, famous family; a family that will do whatever it takes to make sure their love never survives…

Download Now for FREE or read below…

PDF iBooks Kindle

Formats for Tablet, Kindle and Mobile, respectively.

If you’re viewing this page in the Facebook or...

The Madison Chronicles: Music

Want to know what I listen to when I’m writing The Madison Chronicles?

I’m currently writing and editing book two of The Madison Chronicles while book one— Sadie Madison and the Boy In The Crimson Scarf— is going out to agents. In the meantime, here’s a blog about the music I listen when I’m writing and editing my work. Music in The Madison Chronicles

Music plays a huge role, not only writing The Madison Chronicles, but as part of the story itself. Sadie Madison is a keen pianist and, throug...

FREE Extract: The Woman Who Labelled Everything

A second, brand NEW short story extract from The Madison Chronicles : The Woman Who Labelled Everything…

The Woman Who Labelled Everything is the tale of Estelle Gautreau, an obsessive, compulsive hoarder and her enormous personal collection. Estelle has everything she desires in the world: expensive furniture, silverware, paintings, jewellery; riches and extravanganses beyond measure. But, no matter what she buys, Estelle still feels an emptiness in her heart…

Download Now for FREE or read b...

The Madison Chronicles: Inspiration

Where does my inspiration for The Madison Chronicles come from?

I’m currently writing and editing book two of The Madison Chronicles while book one— Sadie Madison and the Boy In The Crimson Scarf— is going out to agents. So, before you can get your hands on it, here’s a blog about some of the tv shows, films, books, and people that inspired me to write this series.

I’ve been inspired by thousands of different things for these books and stories. The major ones that kicked it all off are below...

FREE Extract: The Witch Tree at San Cristophe

A brand NEW short story extract from The Madison Chronicles : The Witch Tree at San Cristophe…

Download Now

PDF AZW3 MOBI

Formats for Tablet, Kindle and Mobile, respectively.

Click the links below to download an extract from Sadie Madison and the Boy In The Crimson Scarf. This extract is one of the bedtime stories that Sadie hears from her father, Michael Madison, throughout the book. The Witch Tree at San Cristophe is a disturbing tale of witchcraft, death and retribution. It deals with the...

For the Love of Monsters

I’ve always loved monsters. I even love the word Monsters. Hmmm, Monsters. What’s not to love about Monsters? Oh, right, yeah… they’re terrifying! But isn’t that’s why we love them? Yes. It is.

There are no limitations with monsters. They can be all, and anything, and everything that you want them to be; what you can imagine, what you can fear, what you can feel watching you in the dark. The long raking fingers, gnarled flesh, gaping maw, shredding teeth, hulking powerful limbs, needle sharp...