The Last Berserker (Fire Born 1): what exactly is a berserker anyway?
Over the Christmas break, when I was talking to lots of people about what I do for a living and…
Merry Christmas everybody – I’m done with 2022
It’s been a helluva year in the news: the world coming out of Covid, Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, the threat…
The over-enthusiastic etymologist, #3: Fulsome, Rum and Hooker
I’ve always loved words and, as a schoolboy, I desperately wanted to become an etymologist. I had a collection of…
The Saxon Wolf is just 99p – for a limited time
For the next few days, The Saxon Wolf (Fire Born 2), is on sale on Amazon for just 99p. That’s…
Pantser division: two ways to set about writing a historical fiction novel
Someone asked the other day how I set about writing a novel, and since I have written a fair number…
Have yourself a very Viking Christmas
What’s that emerging from Santa’s sack? Is it a huge, hairy, axe-wielding, 8th-century maniac? No? Would you like it to…
The Loki Sword is just 99p – for a couple of days
If you have already read my third outing in the Fire Born series, ignore this. But Amazon have dropped the…
The meaning of the sword in Dark Age cultures
“The pen is mightier than the sword,” said the comedian Marty Feldman. “And considerably easier to write with.” He was…
The over-enthusiastic etymologist, #2: Berserk, Gay, Money
I’ve always loved words and as a schoolboy I wanted to become an etymologist. I had a collection of a…
What I’m writing about this week, #13: fjords
Some of the action in my next Fire Born novel (No.4), the continuing adventures of Bjarki and Tor, takes place…