Dave Higgins's Blog, page 51

Virtual Hands Across the Ocean

As someone who works from home, and enjoys books and cats more than parties, I’m used to not seeing friends and relations all the time; however, social distancing is still grating on me so this TED talk about finding meaningful ways to interact interested me. Not all of these will work for everyone: I had … Continue reading Virtual Hands Across the Ocean

Hawthorne High by Jordan Elizabeth

Elizabeth transports the trappings of a classic ghost story to the tawdry dystopia of a US high school, amplifying the exclusion faced by those whose life includes—or publicly includes—other than the narrow list of socially acceptable things. Dylan Hatfield’s grandmother suffers from dementia. And, ever since moving to Hawthorne, Dylan has been followed by imaginary … Continue reading Hawthorne High by Jordan Elizabeth

Call for Submissions: Outsiders Within

After years of reading cosmic horror and publishing books, I’m fusing the two like some eldritch phenomena. I’m looking for tales of cosmic dread about people with embarrassing secrets, hobbies they don’t mention, and other things that make them different from what those around them believe. Full details here . If you know someone else … Continue reading Call for Submissions: Outsiders Within

Mythaxis Review Platform, Issue 1

The inaugural issue of Mythaxis Review Platform, featuring an article on changes to Amazon’s KDP Reports beta site, is now out. In addition to my thoughts on Amazon’s potential replacement for their current author-publisher reporting screens, there are other articles about indie and trad publishing, along with reviews of technology, art, and science-fiction including: ‘The … Continue reading Mythaxis Review Platform, Issue 1

Greenstar Special Features Release

Greenstar Special Features, collecting the short stories and crew diaries that Simon Cantan and I wrote to celebrate the release of each Season, is now available in ebook from major retailers. Pick up your copy today, before Pol mistakes it for a sandwich and eats it. The problem with a eco-friendly spaceship is that it … Continue reading Greenstar Special Features Release

Joe Coffin, Season Two by Ken Preston

Preston’s alternate world of vampires stalking the dodgy backstreets of modern day Birmingham continues to deliver visceral action and moral choices with no good option. This book is the second in Preston’s Joe Coffin series. The vampire behind the loss of Coffin’s family has been destroyed by Coffin’s hand. However, the Slaughterhouse Mob’s club is … Continue reading Joe Coffin, Season Two by Ken Preston

Small Pleasures

I anticipate the current Covid-19 pandemic will have left many of you feeling both slightly worried and mildly bottled up. I hope these three haiku might give you a moment of joy and space. A star in the mist A calm heart need not test the Truth to perceive it Water in tumult Scattered with … Continue reading Small Pleasures

Aliens Ate My Homework by Matthew S. Cox

Cox blends pre-teen perspectives on life, classic superhero tropes, and several varieties of humour to create a tale that appeals both as straight middle-grade action and subtle homage. This novel is the second in The Adventures of Übergirl series. Proceeding past this point might induce post-cognative visions. When Kelly Donovan was one of the people … Continue reading Aliens Ate My Homework by Matthew S. Cox

Hanging by the Wire

Parker Gayan’s “Preset” flicked its neon way across my feed and proved a pleasant thing to viddy with my morning caff-shot. “A disgraced veteran with a troubled past works as a negotiator in a futuristic post-war Korea battling with gangs, robots, and his own grip on reality.” Like many short films, it has the grungy … Continue reading Hanging by the Wire

Dark Fringe Anthology by Shaun Baines

Baines crafts tales of normal people encountering the subtle faults and fractures that exist in the shadowed corners of modern life, creating a collection that will appeal to fans of folk horror and psychological thrillers. This collection contains twelve stories spanning mysteries, thrillers, and horror. ‘To Cheshire, With Love’ At first, Carver felt joy in … Continue reading Dark Fringe Anthology by Shaun Baines