October 2026 Update!

Happy Autumn Nerds! 

As usual another month has flown by and now we're into my favourite season of the year - Autumn.  

October is fast growing into my favourite month.  The colours of nature are at their best - all yellows, browns and oranges.  There's a chill to the air but not too cold. Although cold enough to get cosy with a good horror book or film.

I think Halloween is my favourite holiday nowadays.  Even more than Christmas!

September Review - I didn't write anything in September but I did continue reading White Wolf by David Gemmell.

I also started reading some short stories by CJ Tudor in her collection A Slither of Darkness.

Sadly I didn't make Edge-Lit this year but hope to make up for that in 2027. Fingers crossed it's on!

I did see CJ Tudor in person in Leeds Waterstones in September which was a great time.

I also started a subscription to the Dungeon and Dragons books. I also had a book Haul of some Stephen King!

In October -  I will continue to read both White Wolf by David Gemmell and A Sliver of Darkness by CJ Tudor.  That is perfect for October.

I also hope to exercise and walk more in October.  It is perfect walking weather.

I will be writing in October as I have joined the Writing group Write Magic's October challenge.

So I'm in Miss Honey's class of '26. I have set a goal of 8,000 words.  I hope to continue Urban X-Gore!

What are your plans for October?

Neil x

Book Haul and No Edge-Lit!

 

Hey Nerds!

Sadly this year I left it too late to save up for Edge-Lit in Derby.  It's the first one I've missed since 2018!

Hopefully I'll be going next year and will pay straight away when it's announced.

To compensate I bought myself some books!

Firstly a 4 book set of Stephen King from Amazon to grow my collection.  Although I'm annoyed because now his books are coming out with new covers.

I also subscribed to the Dungeons and Dragons collection by Hachette so will be getting those every month.

The only problem is shelve space and room space for my book shelves.  I'm also not sure if the floor will hold in this first floor flat!

What new books have you purchased so far this month?

Neil x

An Evening with CJ Tudor at Leeds Waterstones

 

Greetings Readers and Nerds!

I went to my first Author Event since last years Edge-Lit in Derby and met horror/crime author C J Tudor.

She was there to discuss her new novel, Serenity Falls. A creepy mystery, where people are trapped in a US town.  There is something darker lurking under white picket fences, mowed lawns and big houses.

CJ even visited the town it is based on. Celebration in Florida, to do the research. The town was made by Disney although sold in the 2000s.

I have to admit I'm only just getting into horror novels and only read my first Stephen King this year. 

I've just started her short story collection A Sliver of Darkness.

I've been drawn to her mystery and horror novels since she first was published with The Chalk Man.  Plus I went to the event for my Mum as I've been buying all C J Tudor's books for her, for birthdays and Christmas, whenever a new book is out.  So now I can read them too.

I also love an author event.  Although when I met her my nerves got the better of me and I ended up mumbling crap. I must be out of practice.

C. J Tudor was both delightful, friendly and gorgeous. Plus very talented as well.

She told the crowd she used to be a journalist and even had a stint on a 1990s TV show called Movie Watch with Johnny Vaughn.  She started out as a guest but became an interviewer for a season. She was whisked away and taken to movie interviews.  Including interviewing Robert Downey Jr. who flashed his chest at her.

CJ also had a dog walking business and it was around this time when getting a new agent, she hit the big time with The Chalk Man.  

She has been writing for years. Novels and short stories and had an agent for years who advised blending the two genres of mystery and horror didn't work.  So she got rid of that agent and got the new one which she described as risky as she ended up on slush piles again.

CJ admitted her writing style is - make it up as you go along and does little planning.  Although she has an idea of what will happen.  She also writes in bursts to get the story out and goes back to edit after.

Her new book Serenity Falls took two years to write which she thought was too long.  She tries to write a book a year and short stories in between.  CJ is hoping to do a second short story collection one day too.

CJ also told us a bit about the novel she is working on now which is a sci-fi horror mystery.  She likes to push the boundaries of genre blending.

She also mentioned her experience taking her daughter to the set of The Burning Girls when it was filmed and was pleased with the adaptation. 

After meeting CJ who signed a book for my Mum, I was very impressed and have become a fan.  I'm enjoying her short stories already.

Neil x

Lancaster Waterstones

 Hi Book Nerds!

As you saw from my last blog post, I went to Lancaster last weekend.

As you should also know I'm trying to visit and score every Waterstones there is.

It's been a while since I visited a new one but lady luck shone on me last week and I took the opportunity.

Lancaster Waterstones was quite hard to find tucked in an arcade but worth a visit.

It was a decent sized Waterstones with a big selection of Fantasy and Sci-Fi on the first floor. Sadly no David Gemmell novels.

The ground floor was quite large and bigger than some Waterstones I've visited.  Sadly there was no cafe.

So a decent Waterstones with a good selection of books, no cafe but worth a visit.

Score -  7/10

Neil x

September 2026 Update!

 

Hey Nerds!

Well it's been a while since I last posted.  Almost a full month!  I only posted twice in August.

Sadly August was a quiet month and again went too quickly.

August Review - I still haven't written or started exercising in August.

Nor did I read much and still reading the excellent White Wolf by David Gemmell.

What I did do in August - on the last weekend - was to go on a coach trip with my daughter.

Caledonian Travel took us to Lancaster for a canal ride and a look around Lancaster City.  I didn't realise there was a Castle there.

I even ticked another Waterstones off my list.  A review will be posted soon.

On the following day we rode on a steam train and went to Windermere.

I may do another post with more details soon.

In September -  I mentioned over the last couple of months I want to get into my writing and exercising again.  In September I mean to start both!

On the 8th of September I'm off to Leeds Waterstones for an author talk with CJ Tudor so will post that once I've been.

I still haven't paid anything yet but on 19th September I hope to go to Derby for the annual Edge-Lit.  It would feel weird if I missed this one after going to so many previous ones.

I also want to finish reading White Wolf by David Gemmell in September.

What are your plans for September?

Neil x

Spiderman - Brand New Day - Film Review

 

Welcome Film Nerds!

Went to see the new Spiderman film today with my daughter.  It doesn't feel like 5 years since the last Spiderman film was out - No Way Home.

But as my monthly updates confirm - time goes past too fast!

Set a few years after No Way Home - Peter Parker has come to the fact, New York needs Spiderman (Tom Holland) more than him.

His old friends Ned (Jacob Batalon) and MJ (Zendaya) still have no memory of Peter but slightly obsessed with Spiderman as they remember him rescuing them many times.

A mystery force is taking over people's minds and trying to break into the Department of Damage Controls prison.  With the help of The Punisher - Frank Castle (Jon Berthnal) they unearth who is behind the madness.

As well as this, Peter is changing and his arachnid side is taking over his body and powers.  He has to control this in order to find and defeat the enemy.

Overall - Spoilers - the film style of this Spiderman film is very different to the other Tom Holland films directed by Jon Watts.  I prefer this film - now directed by Destin Daniel Cretton.  It has better cinematography with more actual physical effects.  Plus it has some great POVs from Spiderman swinging and in action.  Similar to the Andrew Garfield Spiderman films.

The fight scenes and stunts have improved too.  Tom Holland has grown in the role effortlessly.  His Spiderman evolving and getting organic webs like Tobey Maguires Spiderman is a good choice too.

The Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) cameo is great. Especially as he returns to his Savage Hulk. Unfortunately he isn't in long enough.

The villain Jean Grey (Sadie Sink) is well developed.  But is she really the villain. Especially as she ends up in the X-Men.

Although Sadie Sink seems type cast from Stranger Things as she ends up in people's minds again like in that show.

I really enjoyed going in blind.  There was more action and story than the last two Tom Holland films and I hope the next Spiderman film is as good.

Bels Score -  8.5/10

My Score  -  10/10

August 2026 Update!

 

Hi Gents and Ladies!

Another month gone past, another monthly update.

So, we are now over the half way mark for 2026 and into August.  Moving fast into Autumn.

July Review - As you can tell from the main photo I took my daughter to see Tom Grennan, live at the Piece Hall.  He was fantastic live and also sang great.  He had a good voice and had the crowd moving with his excellent songs.  I got the tickets for my daughter for last Christmas and well worth the wait.  I hadn't even heard of him about a year ago! I must be getting old.

Again didn't do any writing in July.  I was mostly reading Salem's Lot and actually finished it.  Such a great novel and can't wait to read more King.  You can check my review of it on my last blog post.

Sadly I didn't get into any exercises in July either!

In August - Only on the second of August and it's been eventful.

Went to the Piece Hall again where my photographer and film friend Christan was showing part of his Yorkshire film.  It had great shots and photography and gave brief historical facts of Yorkshire.  This included the Piece Hall and much of Halifax too.

After Salem's Lot I went back to my favourite author David Gemmell.  I'm ashamed to say I haven't read White Wolf before but enjoying it a lot and whizzing through. I hope to finish it in August too.

I intend to do some writing in August even if it is only notes.

I also want to start and do some exercise in August too and trim my belly down by the end of the month.  I'm going to the Lake District at the end of August so want to enjoy that.

What are your plans for August?

Neil x