Warwick and Warwick Castle!

 

Hi Folks!

At the weekend had an enjoyable old time on a coach trip to Wigan Castle and overnight stay at a Holiday Inn in Leamington Spa with my daughter.

The next day we had a few hours around the birth place of William Shakespeare, in Stratford Upon Avon.  I even visited the Waterstones there, but I'll post Stratford Upon Avon photos in the next post.

We loved the castle at Warwick.  It was huge and as you can see from the photos is in great shape still.

The outside was equally fantastic with a fun Horrible Histories Maze where we almost got lost.  There was also the Peacock gardens.

For the final hour of our trip to the Castle, we visited Warwick itself for a look around.  A quaint old town with plenty of history and old buildings.

Afterwards our friendly and lively coach driver, Mandie drove us to our overnight location.  A quite new Holiday Inn at Leamington Spa where we enjoyed a three course meal served by the manager Nick.

We then had a walk around to a local shopping outlet and a Sainsbury's where we saw loads of bunny rabbits running about.

I'll post the Stratford Upon Avon photos soon.

Neil x

Book Haul - Supporting Author Friends.

 

Hola Nerds!

Just a quick update.

I've recently acquired two new books from fellow writers and friends.  Hopefully once I've been published they will return the favour.

At the end of April I went to see my mate Rob who had a small event at Brighouse Library.  There, he was selling poems and story collections.  Plus laminated poems and drawings.  Included was an old school Superman drawing which was really good.

Last weekend I went to Halifax Industrial Museum to a Steampunk event which had some great goth stalls.

There my writing and Edge lit buddy Nick from Twisted Fate Publishing had a stall.  So bought the second book in his Hybrid series, which I'm looking forward to reading.

What new books are you reading?

Neil x

May 2025 Update!

 

Hi Geeks.

A very brief update for you.  Although a more positive one than the last couple of months.  I think the sun and hot weather helps.

April Review - 

I still didn't return to work as my head was in the wrong place for it with the death of my girlfriend.  Plus I'm thinking about my career options.  Ideally would like a remote job working at home.

I actually read a big chunk of Best Served Cold although still to finish it.

I've also started writing again in April and written down some new story ideas.

I enjoyed making my Book Shelves Tour in this blog and hope you did too.

In May - 

Will be returning to work. 

Will try and finish Best Served Cold over the bank holiday.

Will also finish The Cubby Hole and make further notes for the stories I have thought up.

Will again look at Open University courses, although I'm sure new courses start in May.

Enjoy the weather folks!

Neil x

2025 Book Shelves Tour - Part 4

 

Book Case 4

Welcome Book Lovers!

This is the last book case I have (for now).  I'm running out of space in my flat for any more book cases and all 4 book cases are filling up fast!  Maybe I should read some books before buying more?  

I've had this book case for about 2 years and it has the least amount of books.

Shelf 1

This shelf holds my Anna Smith Spark books and Empire of the Vampire novels, with space for the third in the trilogy.  It also holds my Nicolas Eames and signed Joanne Harris.

Shelf 2 

Shelf 2 holds my horror novels which includes King, Sarah Pinborough and horror collection edited by Mark Morris.  Both books are from Edge-lit. It also holds a Stephen Graham Jones trilogy and 2 standalone novels.

Shelf 3 

Shelf 3 holds my small publisher and self published books.  Mostly from writers I've met and friends with, mainly from Edge-lit and Cleckheaton Writing Group.

These include Nick Stead, Duncan Bradshaw, Paula Readman, Simon Fairbanks, Robin Trigg, Ian C Douglas and Karen Naylor.

Shelf 4

Shelf 4 is mainly sci-fi with Transformers novels and a couple of Star Wars, plus some standalones. It also has CJ Tudor and one of the first books I've ever bought - The Crystal Shard - which I bought 30 years ago (still to read - eek).

Shelf 5

Shelf 5 holds my Terry Pratchett trilogy's which I bought years ago from Fantasy and Sci-fi book club.  It also has a few self published books and a free romance book which I'll probably unhaul.

Hopefully you enjoyed all 4 parts of my 2025 book tour.

Happy reading!

Neil x

2025 Book Shelves Tour - Part 3

 

Book Case 3

Welcome Nerds!

This is the third book case I own.  I bought it as the first two book cases were getting full and I've had it about 4 or 5 years now.  It's a smaller book case and the shelves aren't deep so this book case filled quickly.

Top of Book Case

On top holds my Alexa and my Optimus Prime and Megatron.

Shelf 1

Shelf 1 holds my Witcher collection I've still to read and Sci-fi novels including many Titan books Aliens and Predator novels and short stories. It also holds some classic HG Wells and signed Justina Robson.

Shelf 2

Shelf 2 is a mix bag but holds my Bernard Cornwall Arthur series, Scott Lynch books with some sci-fi included. Plus it holds my Andy Remic books who I met at my first Edge-lit and wanted to review them before he passed away.

Shelf 3

Shelf 3 is another mix from a DC superhero collection to Andy Mcnab, Adrian Tchaikovsky and a Mistborn collection.  All still to read.

Hope you enjoyed looking at book case number 3.  The sad thing is I've not read one book on this case so need to increase my reading.

Neil x