Anyone who reads The Worth of Scars will very quickly notice that I wear my inspirations on my metaphorical sleeve, so to speak, with nods to my favourite novels and other media dotted throughout. From calling squads of magic users 'coteries' to the use of a certain writer's favourite archaic expression 'mayhaps', the novel is filled with so many references I've likely forgotten I used many of them (and some, no doubt, are even unconscious!). I know some readers dislike this,

It's been a while! Over the last month or so I have been busy with the (almost) final proofreads for The Worth of Scars. As a result, I haven't had much time for anything, let alone social media or website updates, something I hope you can forgive. I'm sure I'll more than make up for it over the next few months as I spam your feeds with more and more promos during the build up to release and beyond. Apologies in advance! For it is exactly six weeks to go until publication, a

Two months?? Two whole bloody months until publication?? I can't wait that long to read The Worth of Scars! I want it now! Ever find yourself thinking along these lines? Desperate to read the debut of an unknown author with dubious credentials as soon as possible? Or, do you like to get in early? To be in the know? To be the cool kid who gets their hands on something the filthy shitmunchers out there in the rest of the world won't for ages? Chances are you probably don't. Any

It's been an exciting few weeks. Last Friday I announced the release date for The Worth of Scars, pre-orders went live and I also revealed the incredible cover you see above. It took a little while to get here - I have been seriously considering what to do with the cover for my debut novel since January, starting by drawing up briefs and mood boards and ending by pedantically picking out the minute details I wanted changed in the final proposals. In February, I approached a n

This is an odd blog post, I'll admit. Less of an update, and more of a 'lots of updates are coming soon, I promise.' Also, the Alan Partridge nod is hardly a hot-of-the-press bit of cultural referencing, even if I enjoyed it. Behind the scenes, though, things are happening with The Worth of Scars that are really exciting, and I'm anticipating a flurry of news some time in the next month or so. Think cover reveals, publication dates, pre-order news, ARC offers, free chapter sa

If you're one of the two, maybe three people that regularly read this blog and have been paying attention to the marketing and promotion for The Worth of Scars (which should be about to significantly ramp up - watch this space!), you may have noticed that the novel is prominently advertised as 'Book One of The Scarred Saga'. What is The Scarred Saga you (probably don't) wonder? How many books will it be? Will I need to read the rest if I decide to do Gabe a favour and slog my

I recently got back notes and edits on 'The Worth of Scars' from my wonderful copyeditor Marie. Whilst I haven't got through all of her amendments to the manuscript yet, I can say with some certainty that she has done an excellent job, and would highly recommend her to anyone looking for an editor (find her at https://reedsy.com/freelancers/o-marie). As I make my way through her notes and suggestions this month, though, alongside doing yet another of my own editing passes, I'

Anyone who knows me likely knows of my love for George R.R. Martin's 'A Song of Ice and Fire', upon which 'Game of Thrones' was based. Martin's main series is amazing, but I also have just as much regard for his other work set in the same universe, the set of novellas collectively known as 'Tales of Dunk and Egg' or 'A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms'. 'The Mystery Knight', the third and final entry in the trilogy (for now!), was special enough to me and my wife that we included

So I mentioned in my 2025 end of year round-up that I would be beginning my self-publishing journey in the new year, with 'The Worth of Scars' being released in the second half of 2026. That journey has indeed begun, starting with a quick re-vamp of my website, a return to social media (or, in the case of Instagram and Bluesky, starting up there) and an announcement of sorts on all those platforms. If, somehow, you have not come from one of those sites, or only follow me on o

Whilst I know that very few people will be interested in any ramblings about my year, it's possible that, if all goes according to plan, in future there may be one or two poor, misguided souls who might feel differently. As such, and as part of the plans I'll talk about below, I'm making an early start on those commitments and beginning what I am determined will become an annual tradition: a review of my year's writing, reading, and anything else I think people might be remot

In the beginning of 2022, I found myself at a low creative ebb. Writing grounded dramas involving arguments over kitchen tables is all...