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Even painful memories usually contain the messages which can heal their symptoms. If we can come out of what we were supposed to learn from the experience (which is usually what a powerful person needs us to believe in order that they can remain unchallenged in their privilege) and instead – through contemplation – gain a more expansive view, the emperor’s new clothes can suddenly vaporise before our eyes. Then, without the distraction of all the emperor’s gold braid, we might suddenly...

In ‘Green Twining’ a ‘mysterious stranger’ sends Joe, the farmer’s son, a letter of introduction. And – for reasons probably not even known by the letter writer himself – it contains a strange story the letter’s author was told by their father. It is a story which Joe finds deeply disturbing and which makes him question who exactly it is he is about to welcome to Green Twining Farm as part of the impromptu folk trio his old school friend, Tim, is bringing together to perform later that summer...

In ‘Green Twining’ a mysterious guest was expected by Joe Coffin at Green Twining Farm. By means of introduction, this mysterious young man sent Joe a letter. However, in this letter he shared a rather disturbing story, which was both homoerotic and homophobic at the same time. The letter and the soon-to-arrive guest both felt a little dangerous to hold, so Joe slipped the letter between the books on his bookcase. But, although this guest felt somewhat dangerous to know, he was also the...

In the novel ‘Green Twining’ Joe Coffin lives in a big old semi-derelict farmhouse out on the Lincolnshire Marsh with his parents. When he was a young child several of the rooms were disused or derelict, and even as a young adult there were still strange, corridor-like spaces connecting the different parts of the long, rambling building.

At the end of one of these corridor-like spaces hung a big and ancient framed photograph of Joe’s paternal Great Grandparents. The photo was in a part of the...

The novel, ‘Green Twining’ is set on the Lincolnshire Marsh in 1985. The central character, Joe, was born in 1966 and went to the Primary school in the Village of Midwells-by-the-Marsh, not far from his home at Green Twining Farm.

Primary schools could be quite brutal places in 1971, out on the Marsh, with constant scrapping in the playground and with some support staff having the idea that the way to look after more vulnerable children was to tell them, ‘If he hit you, hit him back!’

And some...

One of the themes of ‘Green Twining’ is how – as part of Nature and the Earth itself – when we come together, in friendship or in romance, our unity reflects and actualises the unity of reality.

Romance can have a deep spiritual quality! It can be a real awakening, especially within the Queerness of Nature!

As a young, gay man, living out on the Lincolnshire Marsh at Green Twining Farm, Joe Coffin feels particularly isolated and alone.

But, if you open to it, there is always the potential in...

In the novel ‘Green Twining’ Joe Coffin lives in a big and ancient crumbling farmhouse out on the Lincolnshire Marsh.

The farm is blighted by ghosts and memories of the family’s ancestral past.

As a young, gay man in an isolated rural community, Joe feels lonely and it is easy for others to take advantage of his vulnerability, then leave…

And then Joe feels even more isolated than if they had never crossed the threshold of Green Twining Farm.

Buy the book here, and enjoy the story of gradually...

I was recently in Marseille. I went partly because I mentioned the city in "Harry and Xavier" and wanted to have a look at the place first hand. But before I went I read a good number of books set in Marseille or written by Marseille authors.

From an LGBTQ+ perspective, I really enjoyed 'Romance in Marseille' by Claude McKay. I also read 5 novels by Jean-Claude Izzo. And through the works of Izzo I discovered the poetry of Louis Brauquier.

While in Marseille, I finished translating one of...

I have a couple of my books available now through the Indie Author Bookstore, "Green Twining" and "Harry and Xavier".

Both stories are set on the Lincolnshire Marsh in the 80s and centre on mm romances.

In "Green Twining" the three members of an impromptu folk band, each representing a different shade of Queer, are looking for love.

In "Harry and Xavier" two friends from very different backgrounds and with different challenges in life find unexpected qualities in each other which could lead to...

I wanted to share the beautiful cover of my new novel, "Harry and Xavier" which Harrold-Vincent Villanueva made for me.

The novel is set in Lincolnshire and Paris between the years 1980 and 1985.

Here is the cover blurb:

"Teenager Harry Dixon is feeling ill, desperate and lonely as the last summer term at his dreadful high school grinds on – until his quirky Parisian friend Xavier comes to visit. Mischievous, amiable, distracting… and attractive, Xavier might be just the medicine Harry needs......

I'm working hard on the finishing touches of a new novel right now. It's a French-English themed mm queer romance. I chose the image for this blog because the view from this café in Brum reminds me of being in Paris - the art nouveau touches, and - if you could see them - the retro interior of the café itself with its old staircase winding up through the building. Everything was going well until the project manager of the launch had to pull out following a personal life challenges, at least...

Arcana Anthology

I missed going to the book launch for the new 'Arcana' Anthology. But I managed to pick up my copy at the writers' group last week.

I have a piece in the anthology called 'Rabindranath Bodhisattva'. I'm enjoying dipping in and savouring the different pieces, each one inspired by a different Tarot card.

Its available from Amazon: ...

I felt that there wasn't enough romance in my blurb, so I've added some! Here it is with added romance:

19-year-old Joe Coffin lives with his parents at Green Twining Farm, a place of bad memories and angry ghosts, which block Joe’s every move. His workmate at Scawthorpe Town Hall, David, to whom Joe feels romantically drawn, has a past which isn't what it seems, but if it became known to the wrong people could destroy what little standing in the town he still has.

When an unpredictably odd...

Here is my alternative new blurb for Green Twining:

When an unpredictably odd friend of a friend comes to stay at the farm, bringing with him his own...

I've been writing the new novel for about a year now. It started out as a fairly simple romance but the more I 'discovered' about the characters, the more complex the narrative became. I suppose that's what happens when you have characters living with neurodivergence. You have to work out what comes from where and how characters with different divergencies interact and fail to interact.

I'm having a break from it now, and letting it all sink in. Meanwhile, I'm reading about trauma, and Queer...