Hunting for Fairies

Today was 'one of those days...' 
....not bad, but unbelievably brilliant! 

BBC Radio Wales has a new programme, 'The Unbelievers,' and for one episode I was asked to lead a fairy hunt.   
Yes, really.  

I suggested a quiet spot, but time was against that, so it was decided that Castell Dinas Bran would be a great place to look for fairies - even though it's bristling with walkers. 
When I told the team that actively looking for fairies meant they were unlikely to let themselves be found, faces fell, but presenters, (John and Mike), and crew, (Rhys and Nathan),persisted, so eventually the hunt got under way and the delightful lunacy began.

I should explain that John is also known as Eggsy from Welsh rappers Goldie Lookin' Chain and Mike is a stand-up comedian, (tonight he's onstage with Jack Dee in Hay on Wye), so this was never going to be a scientifically serious expedition... even though they ended the day vowing to find a scientist who could explain the multi-dimensional universe to them... good luck with that one, Mr.Scientist!

A few hours in the company of Mike and John, BBC Radio Wales' answer to Mulder and Scully saw us scampering, (well, in Mike's case, hobbling because of his poorly knee), up to Castell Dinas Bran in search of fairies.

The pair of them took opposing views. John believes in fairies, Mike is a sceptic and I spent the afternoon trying not to laugh as they squabbled like naughty little kids. John's varying descriptions of Dinas Bran, from 'stone erection' to '... a grey skull...like Castle Greyskull which would eat me if it had a mouth...' had us all in fits, even Mike. 

Thanks guys for today's utterly splendid bit of craziness!

The first programme will be broadcast here on Saturday 30th. May:
 http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b05xbxb0

No Such Thing As Coincidence...

A couple of days ago, Mo a friend and fan of The Last Changeling asked me if I'd been in Leominster recently.
I hadn't, but she had seen my double and more magical yet, this doppelganger was talking to a group of people about a book launch!
On Friday I was visiting a friend who appears under the guise of archaeologist Claire Melin in The Last Changeling.  I'm writing book two, and the Titanic appears as part of a subplot.
I told Claire I wasn't sure about this section.
I wondered if I should take Titanic out?
On Saturday this old bottle opener came into my life.  Made in Chicago, it's quite rare as they were never on sale to the general public, such bottle openers were given to staff only.
Here it is:

I found the inscription inspiring - Cunard & White Star.  I'm sure anyone reading this already understands the significance, but in case you don't, Titanic was  a ship of the White Star line.

I've taken it as a sign.

The Titanic stays in!

Oh, I do like to be beside the Seaside...

          'For as long as I can remember, I have had dreams about the sea.  
         On stormy nights when the winds roared through the oaks and the rain lashed the windows of the old house, I dreamt I was aboard a stately galleon.  Those were the times when the shadows of the storm tossed boughs upon the walls of my bedroom, became the very waves beneath my keel.  Invariably, in every dream, I would fall into that roaring surf, to twirl and turn, like a helpless leaf in the gale, until I surrendered to the calm benthos of a deeper sleep.

Even now I cannot remember a single night without sea dreams.  Which is remarkable given that I was born about as far inland as it is possible to get and that my father had the strongest aversion to merely visiting anywhere near the coast.

Perhaps my inquisitive nature was piqued by his attitude?  I now recognise he had what modern psychologists would call a phobia, but as a child, all I saw was his unreasonable and unbending attitude to my enduring fascination and interest in all things marine.  I soon learnt to stop expressing this facet of my young mind under the heavy hand and dark looks of his disapproval.  An innocent request for a jolly trip to the seaside brought me a beating.  I could not see the harm in it, but I learnt to still my tongue and not speak of it.  I hid my childish paintings of ships in emerald seas and pirates and treasure islands beneath my bed, I smuggled books about marine life into my room - all the time aware I was going against Pater’s wishes.  

Perhaps if he had not been so stern upon the subject, it would never have held such a grip over me?  But I say again, where was the harm?  After all, two of my young playmates from school had been to the seaside in the holidays and the way they spoke of the churning green-grey water thrilled me!     

You must understand, this was back in 1918 and I was but five years old then, and completely without any understanding of tides or the moon’s influence, so it struck me as particularly magical that there could be places upon this earth where the order of the well-ploughed field gave way to a seemingly unending chaos of wind-swept water.  I could not imagine it, but, even without sight of it, somehow my mind created such scenes for me, night after night in those strangely prophetic dreams.

Thought I knew not from whence it came, somehow the sea was in my blood.

Thus begins my new horror novella 'Seaside.' Out next month, it's the third in the Horror in a Hurry Series.  My homage to H.P.Lovecraft's 'The Shadow Over Innsmouth,' it also nods towards The Wicker Man...'

Gethsemane Gardens

For the second novella in my new Horror in a Hurry series, I've chosen the classic setting of the decrepit old house.  It's the perfect, chilling backdrop for an urban tale of terror but this time the twist is the inhabitants willingly lock themselves in.  In fact they barricade the world out, unaware of just what they have trapped inside the house with them...

Gethsemane Gardens... read it if you dare!  Out later today on Amazon...

The Salem Strategy

I am a fan of horror stories.  I grew up on H.P.Lovecraft - I discovered him when I was eight (!)
Later, I progressed on to reading Stephen King.  The first story I read of his was 'Pet Sematary' and I was amazed and thrilled to find that the characters stayed with me.  It started rather spookily, when I spotted a little boy who looked just the way I had imagined 'Gage,' and it continued as I saw 'familiar' faces in crowds for days afterwards.
I have just completed my own small contribution to the horror genre, a novella called The Salem Strategy.
It's just 60 odd pages and is part of a new series I'm calling 'Horror In A Hurry.'  The idea is that you can read it in just one or two sittings.  Further titles will be added throughout 2015.
The Salem Strategy explores what happens when the military attempt using paranormal tactics and the inadvisability of 'winning at all costs.'
So, if you fancy being terrified on the train or bewitched on the bus, The Salem Strategy been published today on Kindle for $0.99 (77p. in the UK).
Let me know what you think, eh?  Thanks :)
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Salem-Strategy-Horror-Hurry-Book-ebook/dp/B00RHW14AY 

There and back again....

I've been away for a short break, having been visiting the hauntingly beautiful town of Whitby.  I can see why people rave about it, but my heart was stirred even more by some of the little fishing villages along that part of the British coast.  I'm finding it hard to settle back in at 'home', (well, where I live), but in a good kind of a way.  I'm looking at things in a slightly different way and, as a writer, anything that makes you do that is welcome - if unsettling...

In Whitby, I was show the hotel where Bram Stoker wrote Dracula, and now I'm home with a few more ideas for my new horror novella series - but not a single vampire will appear!

Just as I start thinking about horror themes, along comes something sweet to divert me.  

Next Saturday, the 29th of November, Llangollen is holding a Christmas Parade through its streets and I've been asked to decorate a faery themed float for the event. 

I have a backdrop to paint, but I won't be able to assemble everything on the trailer until the morning of the parade...  Fingers crossed, hopefully I'll have some pictures for the next post.

Spreading the happiness!

I am so pleased to tell you that the new website is here: www.thelastchangeling.com and to celebrate, I'm offering the eBook at a massively discounted price!

Simply go to Smashwords - the link to the book is here: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/436906
Enter this code: MJ77D at the checkout, and get your ebook copy of The Last Changeling for 70% off the full retail price.   In the US that's something like a dollar and a dime, in the UK it's just 63p!

Smashwords offer versions for lots of devices including Kindle, Nook, Kobo, iphones and many more.
This offer expires on the 20th of October 2014 and only works for The Last Changeling by F.R.Maher.  Happy reading!