December 2025 Update!

 

Hello Geeks!

Another month has gone past, now we're in the final month of 2025.

This year has gone way too fast.  I say it each month and year but it's true.  It's been a weird year with highs and lows.

November Review - 

Still not written anything! 

Been reading more Alien - Out of the Shadows by Tim Lebbon and almost finished.  Still taking too long as I end up doom scrolling and watching YouTube.

In November a highlight was going to see 2 Pints with Ralf and Will at Victoria Theatre in Halifax.

If anyone remembers the old sitcom 2 Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps, then it was Ralf Little and Will Mellor. They now do a live podcast show and it was very funny indeed.  Their version of the quiz show Catchphrase was hilarious.

In December -

Reading - Finish Out of the Shadows by the end of the first week of December.

Hope to also read a Christmas book - or two!

Writing - leaving the writing till 2026 now.

I have too much to do in December for Christmas and hope to visit a few Christmas Markets including Leeds and York.

I hope to visit Waterstones Leeds this Thursday the 4th December to meet some authors at their latest Christmas Shopping Evening.

Are you ready for Christmas?

Neil x

2025 - My worst Reading and Writing Year!

 

Hi Geeks!

I thought 2024 was a bad year in terms of reading and writing. 2025 has probably surpassed that.

In 2024 out of the 24 books to read in 2024, I only read 4 books.

In 2025 I'm only on book 2 of the 25 books to read in 2025.  The worst part is, Tim Lebbon's Out of the Shadows is fast paced, fun and short. I hope to finish it by the end of November as I've been reading it for over 2 months!

2025 didn't start well for me but I was hoping I'd have caught up on some hobbies.

Next year in 2026 I'm just going to read the books on this year's list and just add mood reads so there is less stress on what I'm reading and how much.

Writing wise, in 2024 I almost finished my short story - The Cubby Hole. I was hoping to complete it this year but have only written one chapter this year and made notes on other stories I want to write.

In 2026 I'm cutting down my social screen time and watching less YouTube so I can get back into writing.  Otherwise there's no point and I'll never write anything!

I also want to post more on this blog in 2026 as I've been inconsistent and there's too many gaps between posts!

Does anyone else have writing and reading slumps?

Neil x

Birthday Book Haul 25

 

Hi Nerds!

As it's my birthday tomorrow I thought I'd treat myself to some retail and book therapy!

Firstly I bought my monthly copy of Writing Magazine.  I then saw SFX Magazine which I used to buy monthly and thought I'd treat myself.

I then went to Halifax Piece Hall and to the independent book store - Book Corner.

Upon browsing I saw a novella written by a writer I used to go to Cleckheaton Writing Group with - Amanda Huggins.

With it being her new novella, plus I always try to support local, independent authors that I know, I snapped it up.

Afterwards I popped into the nearby comic and book shop Pages N Pixels.  This is great for me being a comic shop but it also has a wide selection of fantasy and Sci-fi books and Manga.

As I've been collecting the Alien/Aliens novels I saw the newest which has just come out this month!  Alien - Cult by Gavin G Smith. It's looks a fresh take on the franchise as it has a detective novel theme.

Neil x

November 2025 Update!

 

Hello Fellow Nerds!

Another quick update! Yes October went crazy fast. Now we've just under 2 months left of 2025!

October Review - 

With the Month flying by I still never got around to finish writing my ghost story! Fingers crossed I will in November!

I'm still reading Alien - Out of the Shadows by Tim Lebbon.

I took a few walks in October to enjoy the colours of Autumn and had a chilled out October.

I also felt old celebrating my daughter's 18th birthday and had a few drinks with her.

In November - 

Two weeks after my daughter's birthday it is my birthday - 49 already! Almost half a century.

In November, I want to get writing and reading and finish Tim Lebbon's Alien novel.

I'm also due to see a 2 Pints of Lager live tour in November and see Ralph Little and Will Mellor from the early 2000s sitcom.  So that should be a good laugh.

I'll probably start Christmas shopping in November too - eek.

What are you doing in November?

Neil x

Happy Halloween 2025

 

Have a howling good Halloween.

Top picture is is me a few years ago as a sci-fi grim reaper.

Bottom photo is the one and only pumpkin I've carved.  Again quite a few years ago!

I've not posted for a while but hopefully will post more rest of the year!

Neil x

Recent Book Haul

 

Hey Fellow Readers!

I haven't posted for nearly 2 weeks so thought I'd just post a photo of a recent book haul.

I got all the books from Edge-Lit 11, which was nearly a month ago.  Time flies.

Inferno is a short story collection I got for free from the event and is edited by an author I follow on Facebook - Stephanie Ellis.

I bought Juliet E McKenna's - The Green Man's Heir and Tim Lebbon's - Conan - Songs of the Slain.  They are also author's I follow  and I was privileged to meet them at last.

What new books have you got recently?

Neil x

October 2025 Update!

 

Hi Spooky Fans!

Welcome to October and my favourite month of the year.  

It never used to be, but spooky season with its multiple colours of leaves, colder nights out and warm evenings in, plus Halloween and my daughter's birthday. It obviously jumps to the top of the year.

Again it's gone so fast since last October!

September Review -

The main event for me in September was Edge-Lit 11 at the Quad in Derby.

 

Again this was great for a nerd like me.  Meeting other geeks, authors and readers.  Learning about authors and the writing industry with interviews and panels.

Plus meeting new and old friends and having a few nights out is always a bonus.

In September I finished reading my first book of the year Best Served Cold by Joe Abercrombie.  It took a while but I got there.

I started Out of the Shadows by Tim Lebbon who was a guest of honour at Edge-Lit and loving it so far.

I haven't done any writing but Edge-Lit has inspired me yet again.

In October -

I haven't much planned for October.  Mainly I'm going to enjoy Halloween and early nights in reading and writing.

I want to get out for more Autumnal walks and enjoy the colours of nature.

In the first week of October I hope to finish Out of the Shadows and move onto the next Alien book which is appropriate for Halloween as they are sci-fi horror books.

I also want to get writing and finish The Cubby Hole short story.

I will also be celebrating my daughter's 18th birthday in October.

What are your plans for spooky season?

Neil x

Edge-Lit 11 - Guests of Honour

 Hi Book Dweebs!

So a week has flown by already.  This time last week I was in Derby at Edge-Lit 11.

There were 3 guests of honour this year. Prolific author Tim Lebbon, Sci-fi legend Peter F Hamilton and TV and horror writer Matthew Holness (Garth Marenghi).

Tim Lebbon -

• Tim's favourite book is The Stand and he read it when aged 17. 
• Tim pitched a Thing Sequel to studios set 40 years later with Mcready being the Thing. 
• He does a lot of novelisations of IP properties including Firefly and Kong Island but his favourite being a Star Wars Novel set at the beginning of the Jedi.
• Tim writes a lot as it's his living and enjoys writing stories, has written a lot of apocalyptic novels.
• Tim is a panser and rarely plans his novels. He just sometimes has an idea of the endings. 
• Tim keeps fit when not sat at a desk writing by being a keen triathlon runner.

Peter F Hamilton -

I met Peter once before at Leeds Waterstones with Alastair Reynolds and Justina Robson.

• Peter started writing on type writers, then Amstrad then modern PCs - and uses Word. 
• It took over 6 years to write his first Nightdawn trilogy and now it takes about 4 years to write a trilogy.
• He now tries to shorten his novels.
• Peter is currently working on 4 books.
• He is an advisor for a sci fi board and video game and has written novels in that universe. This has set up the world building.
• Peter doesn't read much as he doesn't want his writing influenced by other stories or authors.

Matthew Holness (Garth Marenghi)

• Matthew created Garth Marenghi for an Edinburgh Festival Fringe show with Richard Ayoade.
• Garth Marenghi is a fictional horror writer and the shows he is in on television and stage have an 80s feel.
• When Matthew was small he got an autograph from Peter Cushing in a WH Smiths and Peter was concerned he was too young to watch Hammer Horror.
• His television debut was a comedy sketch show Bruiser which also starred Richard Ayoade and David Mitchell, Robert Webb and Olivia Coleman.
• Matthew has starred in many TV shows including The Office.
• He also writes and directs movies including Possum. A physiological horror.
• Matthew writes horror as himself but also as his fictional character Garth Marenghi. He doesn't see them being made into TV shows.

Hope you enjoyed.  It was more fun being at the events themselves listening to talented people talk.

Neil x