Me and Steve about to go on a walk exactly 30 minutes before a very disappointing writing session.
Gah! Season 2 is becoming tricky. I think a lot of us writers talk a lot about the highs and highs of writing, but don’t often take a moment to announce ‘hey, this isn’t going well.’
But maybe we should, because this is good therapy. Procrastination, yes, but therapy all the same.
There’s just this one chapter that isn’t falling into place for me. I need to make it more coherent, more logical, which is funny, because the last chapter (which should have been more difficult) was a breeze. But ah, I was younger then. Innocent to the woes that were ahead of me.
It will come. I’m sure it will. But it’s being a tough nut. A super tough nut. So if anyone has a nutcracker, do send one over.
In the meantime, please enjoy some pics of Christmassy Edinburgh. It’s nearly Christmas, don’t ya know.
#writingwoes #writing #writingislife #writingabook #writingcommunityofinstagram #authorlife #indieauthor #indiehorrorbooks #indiehorror
I have to say, it’s quite hard writing The Book Of The Summer: Season 2 in the middle of November surrounded by Christmas decorations. But hey, every book is a challenge!
It’s still a little early for me, but I did enjoy walking around last night and taking it all in. It even made me feel a tinsy bit Christmassy…
But no. NO! It’s not November. It’s August. 2005. A roasting summer. All I have to do is turn the heating on, close the blinds, and boom, I’m there. Who needs to go outside anyway?
#christmaslights #edinburgh #christmasmagic #christmasdecor #christmasdecorations #edinburghchristmasmarket #christmassy
Ahhh, my book box… Whenever I pass this red telephone box on the Royal Mile, I’m brought back to those days during Fringe 2024.
That was such an awesome time. It felt like, after years and years and years, I was finally standing in front of people and saying, ‘Hey! I write things! Wanna read it?’
And people did! I can’t wait to get out there again next year for The Book Of The Summer. But for now, this simple red telephone box brings me back to that first moment.
It’s a big moment for any writer. When you step out of your own box, having worked so hard, slaved over all those words to get them right, and then finally decide to hand them over!
#books #booksbooksbooks #debutbook #debutauthor #authorlife #indieauthor #indiebooks #horrorbooks #horrorauthor #indiehorrorbooks #scarybooks #booksta
Black book stack! Had some nighttime-y pictures in my gallery, so thought I’d couple them with some of the black books in my collection. Was I vain enough to include my own book in this stack? Yes. Yes I was. The spine is black, people!
#blackbookstack #darkbooks #beautifulbooks #nighttime #nightwalks #blackandwhitebooks #bookstack
For anyone who missed my video, The Book Of The Summer is going to be THREE BOOKS!
Season One and Two out next year, Season Three out in 2027! I am so excited to announce this and even more excited for you all to read it.
Each season will revolve around four young friends and three of their summers. 2004, 2005, and 2006. As for the synopsis for Season One, that will come soon enough, as well as the cover and a whole lot of other news!
PS, I didn’t know what music to add to this post, so I’ve used a song that has a lot of significance for Season Two, which I’m very nearly finished with.
Anyway, back to work!
#newbooks #bookannouncement #books #booksbooksbooks #horrorbooksta #horrorbooks #summerbooks #booksta #indiebooks #indiehorrorbooks
The Book Of The Summer is coming. Just not in the way you thought. I’m so excited to announce this! It’s gonna be a ride, let me tell ya! 🐯⚡️🏚️
#bookannouncement #horrorbook #horrorbookstagram #newbooks #booktrilogy #horrortrilogy #indiehorrorbooks #bookstagrammer
Welcome to the worst Halloween costume ever. I’m sensing a theme here, are you?
Had a great time seeing The Exorcist Director’s Cut at Cameo in Edinburgh. What a film. What a cinema. What a beverage Camden Pale Ale is. It all combined nicely to create a smashing evening.
Oh, and if you’re wondering why I look so scared in that last photo, it’s because this bar was ridiculously high off the ground. Fear of heights was tested, but again, the Camden ale helped with that.
#theexorcist #halloween #spooktober #theexorcist1973 #edinburghnightlife #spookymovies #edinburgh #horror
Welcome to the worst Halloween post you’ve ever seen in your life.
I was meant to take some more pictures. I was meant to reveal something about Book 3. But here we are, and I’m digging up the unused dregs of my photo gallery.
But I’ve been busy, I swear! There’s a thing I can’t tell you about Book 3 that I was SUPPOSED to tell you about, only I’m still so BUSY with the thing that I CAN’T tell you about the thing.
Phew. It’s all very confusing, but I swear news will come soon. In the meantime, have these random pics that aren’t spooky at all, other than the one with the scarecrow in it.
Nothing scary about the scarecrow, of course, more so the weird bloke standing in front of it.
Happy Halloween everyone! Hope you had a great night whatever you got up to!
#halloween #halloweenpics #horrorbooks #scarybooks #indieauthor #edinburgh #edinburghwalks #scenicphotography
It’s Halloween week, so I’ve gotta do a Stephen King post. Inspiration, icon, blah blah. You’ve heard it all before.
But I love to reiterate it, because if I didn’t pick up one of his books when I was a teenager, I’m not sure I’d be doing what I love right now.
His books are spooky, perfect for Halloween, but the best thing about him as a writer (I think, anyway) is that he doesn’t just have the writing bug, he shares it. To so many people. Seriously, bugs crawling all over the place.
I’ve got mine on my shoulder, and it’s not going away. It’s my little buddy, and it gives me life. So thanks Kingy old boy. This Halloween’s for you.
#stephenking #stephenkingbooks #horrorbooks #horrorbookstagram #stephenkingsit #stephenkingfan #horrorwriter #halloweenbooks
Four days to go until the dead rise and the vampires stalk this town. A monster stalks a town in this book too, although it’s very inconsiderate and doesn’t wait for Halloween night to do it.
It’s weird to think this time last year I was still writing Cuckoo. For those who don’t know, there was a different second book before this one. I finished the whole thing, put it in a drawer, and never picked it up again. It wasn’t right. It wasn’t good!
But then Cuckoo came along, and I fell in love with the idea. The happy town with darkness underneath it, the characters, the hideous way they were being picked off one by one. It was a blast to write, and hopefully, it’s a blast to read. Like Seeing Dead, it’s not bad for a cold, rainy Halloween night. Wink wink, nudge nudge.
#horrorbooks #scarybooks #halloweenbooks #halloween #indiehorror #horrorbookstagram #horrorbookstagrammer #indiehorrorbooks
Under a week before Halloween! Has anyone got any plans? My plans involve a viewing of The Exorcist in the Cameo Picturehouse and a horror show at the Banshee (this cool bar in Edinburgh that is basically heaven for horror enthusiasts).
I would say that I’m gonna stay in and read this book, but I’ve read it plenty of times during the editing process, it’s pretty much plastered into my head by now.
Not to mention, I wouldn’t really refer to it as a horror book. Don’t get me wrong, there’s plenty of scares. It’s a ghost story, which makes it perfect for Halloween. But when I think of Seeing Dead, I think more about the ‘story’ than the ‘ghost’. The darkness inside that story, sure, but more so the warmth and light at the other end.
Gah, you’d have to read it to know what I mean. So if you haven’t done so, maybe give it a try. Especially if you want a quiet night in this Halloween!
#horrorbooks #booksta #indiehorrorbooks #halloween #halloweenbooks #scarybooks #indieauthor #halloweencountdown
Some moody pics from my nighttime city walk. Nothing to do with anything, other than the fact that I love walking around Edinburgh at night, during Halloween, when you have no idea what might be lurking around the corners… 👻💀
#latenightwalks #hauntededinburgh #edinburgh #horrorbookstagram #scarybooks #nighttimewonders #haunted
Two weeks left to go of October. I’ve got my spooky hat on (which is actually just a pumpkin) and I’m telling you, DEMANDING you, if you haven’t picked up either Seeing Dead or Cuckoo yet, do it now. The time is right, the nights are growing darker, and your bones are ripe for a chilling. So give em’ a read and be chilled.
#horrorbooks #spooktober #halloweenbooks #scarybooks #horrorbookstagram #indiehorrorbooks #indieauthorsofinstagram
Really cool to see a big sales boost for both Seeing Dead and Cuckoo over the last week.
At first, I was like ‘wait what?’ And then I remembered we’re drawing close to Halloween. This is their time to shine!
More news on The Book Of The Summer coming soon! But for now, feeling grateful. And spooky, of course. But more grateful.
#horrorbooks #booksta #horrorbookstagram #halloweenbooks #spookybooks #scarybooks #spooktober
Everyone ready for a rant? I genuinely think AI is the biggest threat to creativity, including books, music, films, all of it. It’s not ‘just another tool’, it’s something that completely robs art of its authenticity, originality, and meaning. Sometimes, art is pain, and that’s okay.
#booksta #noai #humanmade #humanart #creativityforlife #authorofinstagram #writersofinstagram #writingislife
Love discovering new places in Edinburgh. Went for a walk around Arthur’s Seat and came across this loch, along with a creepy graveyard and even a tucked away little pub (which I didn’t take pictures of, as I was too busy sampling their products.) All in a day’s work. Lovely jubbly.
#edinburgh #edinburghcity #arthursseat #graveyards #graveyardpics #oldchurch #loch #scottishloch #wildlifepics
Just had my parents down for a weekend in the city. The one thing my mum said when visiting was ‘I want to see your book in a bookstore’.
And despite the fact she’s read this book, has her own copy, and was a big help during the proofreading phase, she went to the nearest bookstore and bought it. Cheers mum. Bless her!
#bookstore #edinburghbookshop #edinburghbookshop #bookish #bookshop #beautifulbookshops #horrorbooks #horrorbookstagram #booksbooksbooks
I’ve been getting up super early recently to go on rainy, autumnal canal walks with ducks. Look at me! Being all active!
Mind you, I do need at least five coffees to get me through the rest of the day. As for what I’m doing during the day, it’s really bugging me that I can’t say. I wanna reveal all!
So I think I will do. Soon. It is spooky month, after all, it makes sense. Keep your eyes peeled 👀🐯⚡️
#horrorbooks #booksta #scottishwalks #edinburgh #indieauthor #scotlandlife #edinburghlife #edinburghphotography #scottish #booksbooksbooks
Never mind me, just chilling with a couple of books. For everyone who didn’t see the vid yesterday, the free giveaway is now over. It’s done. It’s out the door. If you took advantage, nice one! I hope you enjoy!
Note: I didn’t buy myself this mug (that honour goes to @em.hunterr.) I’m not that egotistical. But I do drink from it every day. Make of that what you will. 👀🤷♂️
#horrorbooks #booksta #indiebooks #indiehorrorbooks #bookpics #beautifulbooks #bluebooks #purplebooks #bookgiveaway #booksbooksbooks
My my, doesn’t time fly.
I’m a poet and I didn’t know it. But anyway, that’s it! The free book giveaway is over. For anyone who downloaded, I really hope you enjoy. Oh, and sorry Jack again for what happens at the end of this video. Took a knock to the head, bless him.
#horrorbooks #spooktober #spooktoberbookstagram #octoberreads #halloweenbooks #horrornovels #bookgiveaway
