tcook's blog

ABCtales Critiquing Service - good reports!

Over the years many of you have asked for a critiquing service and it has taken a long time to find (a) someone good enough to do it well and (b) someone who will charge what we regard as a reasonable fee. Finally, we've done it! Lorraine Mace is a freelance writer, columnist and tutor for the Writers Bureau. Winner of the Petra Kenney International Poetry Competition (comic verse category), Lorraine's fiction, features and humour have appeared...

Gibbous House - A review by Tony Cook

This is a seriously good book, make no mistake about it. I’ve followed the gestation of Gibbous House on ABCtales and read it in various incarnations over the past three years but this final, published version is another step on. It’s a triumph and I highly recommend it to you. This is a modern gothic novel. It is steeped in the 19 th century tradition and draws heavily on the works of Poe, the Brontes, Thackeray et al but be assured that you do...

The ABC tales handover - where we are!

Just to keep you all up to date. We are in the process of the great handover to our wonderful bunch of members who will be running this site in the future. Getting all the bank and legal stuff sorted out takes a bit of time but hopefully it will be completed by the end of January. Then they will need your support - financial and otherwise - but for the moment, fear not, we are carrying on as normal! Cheers to you all, Tony

Story, Poem and Inspiration Point of the Week

Congrats this week go to Ewan and Brighton_Ro. The IP is sort of festive! https://www.abctales.com/story/ewan/kiss https://www.abctales.com/story/brightonro/thirteenth-floor https://www.abctales.com/inspiration-point-ip Merry Christmas to you all.

Story, Poem and Inspiration Point of the Week

Congrats go to Catherine Poarch and Noo this week. Two excellent pieces - and the IP should be lots of fun: https://www.abctales.com/story/catherine-poarch/fernundaling https://www.abctales.com/story/noo/pebbles-beach-sissy-23rd-february-2000 https://www.abctales.com/inspiration-point-ip

Another ABC book gets published - if you help!

Simon Miller's Ebolowa is 87% funded on Unbound but needs your help to get over the line! The book has been on ABCtales and Simon is more than grateful for the really helpful feedback he's received from members. Now is the time to support him and pledge towards the book. You can do so here: https://unbound.com/books/ebolowa Let's get one more in the published ABC family! Ewan Laurie's Gibbous House is out on January 12th so make sure you have a...

ABCtales is saved!

I am delighted to be able to announce that ABCtales is to carry on. A group of members including rjnewlyn, insertponceyfrenchnamehere, philip sydney, airyfairy and seashore have agreed to take on the responsibility for running the site. There are structural changes behind the scenes - it will be a pure Charity for now on, for example - but the day to day stuff will remain much the same. This means that you, the members, will have a far greater...

Story, Poem and Inspiration Point of the Week

Congrats go to well wisher and Rosa Cruz this week and the IP looks across the water. Do with it what you will! https://www.abctales.com/story/well-wisher/martians https://www.abctales.com/story/rosa-cruz/surfacing https://www.abctales.com/inspiration-point-ip A darn fine effort all round this week - keep it up!

Story, Poem and Inspiration Point of the Week

An excellent poem and little paen to the bat - plus an Inspiration Point that should really set you thinking: https://www.abctales.com/story/johnshade/extra-time https://www.abctales.com/story/markle/bat-time https://www.abctales.com/inspiration-point-ip Cheers, Tony

ABCtales - Good news!

A group of members are forming in order to keep ABCtales going after December 31st - and it's looking good. They are determined to keep the ethos of the site - that it's available to anyone regardless of financial or cultural circumstances, is friendly and supportive and will encourage improvement as much as excellence. I am very hopeful that ABCtales will continue under their guidance for many years to come. More news soon! All the best, Tony...

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