Blogs

Isn't Forgiveness Just an Excuse to Sin?

Is forgiveness an excuse for sin? If we continue to sin deliberately after coming to a knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sin is left but only a terrifying fire that will devour the enemies of God. We are insulting the sacrifice that Christ made for us on the cross and insulting the Spirit of God. The Bible warns strongly against this. It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of God. Hebrews 10:26-31. Forgiveness requires a...

Damian Le Bas (2018) The Stopping Places. A Journey Through Gypsy Britain.

Damian Le Bas was born and bred a gypsy. We’ve all got ideas what that means. My middle name is Damain. I had to check if it’s spelled with an ‘a’ or ‘e’. I don’t use it much, but it’s there, lurking. Le Bas dedicates his book to his dad who died in 2017. His gypsy dad is my age, or would have been, if he hadn’t died. I’m pretty sure I’ve read this book before. Most books become mush in my head and I can usually pick out highlights that resonate...

Claire Mitchell and Zoe Venidtozzi (2025) How to Kill a Witch: A Guide for the Patriarchyy.

Claire Mitchell and Zoe Venidtozzi (2025) How to Kill a Witch: A Guide for the patriarchy. ‘This book is dedicated to the people, mostly women, who were accused, tortured and executed as witches, and those who still face these unfounded accusations today.’ Claire Mitchell and Zoe Venidtozzi write about their ‘journey’ which began around 2020. What they wanted was a public apology and a memorial for those involved in these ‘historical outrages’...

Respectable People by Bridget Gardiner. Review by Tony Cook

ABCTales' very own Tony Cook has asked me to share this recommendation for a book by his friend and wife of long-time partner of ABCTales Steven Gardiner. There's a link to buy at the end. Respectable People by Bridget Gardiner London 1928. Twenty-two-year-old Irene Savidge, a factory worker, dreams of going on the stage. She meets a member of the Establishment who promises he will introduce her to influential people. The couple's arrest for...

Phishing

I don't know if it's just me (although I'm sure it isn't), but is anyone else's inbox stuffed full of emails like this? Hello Dear Author, After careful evaluation this month, your book has been identified as a strong candidate for our 2026 Book of the Week program. We would be pleased to highlight your title across our platform, positioning it directly in front of our engaged readership and industry audience. Our website welcomes up to 1.7...

Story and Poem of the Month

Our Story and Poem of the Month for February, very kindly chosen by Marandina:

Another Challenge: Teeth Tales!

ScoZen has very generously offered to sponsor another writing challenge! Here's what he says: Anything toothy, from teething, tugging your own molars out etc. Four awards on offer. Gold, Silver, Bronze and runner up. Posts please from Sunday March 1st till…Monday 16th March. Or from whenever you next visit your dentist. £32 pounds so far pledged in advance of entries. All smile for the camera please…altogether now…say… Regards. scoZen Please put...

Another fund raising challenge for you. 32. Teeth Tales.

Another fund raising challenge for you. 32. Teeth Tales. Anything toothy, from teething, tugging your own molars out etc. Prose, poetry, any style that you can think of Four awards on offer. Gold, Silver, Bronze and runner up. Posts please from Sunday March 1st till…Monday 16th March. Or from whenever you next visit your dentist. £32 pounds so far pledged in advance of entries. All smile for the camera please…altogether now…say…abc…louder… ABC...

What's the 'real' colour of Snow White's apple?

“Real” ... What is “real”? How do you understand “real” in your headspace? Is it different to your heart-space? Is it influenced at all by a soul-space, or faith-space? In a meal-time conversation I was involved in a few weeks back, I was shocked to hear a gent say that: "everything we see is real". Something irked me deeply. I think that my Journalism and Theatrical background, which all involve the manipulation of presenting a story, have...

Story and Poem of the Week and Inspiration Point

Posted by onemorething It's been very lovely to be properly back this week reading all the wonderful writing on the site. What an abundance of excellent prose too from a number of reliably talented writers. Read your way through all the cherried pieces! Nevertheless, our Story of the Week is the intelligent, moving and brilliantly written, The Mythic Embassy by Lille Dante. We've been treated to a few pieces from this writer in the last week...

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