And let’s face it, we are obsessed. Our media are laden with the dystopic. Some of our most popular stories are based on horrific cultures,… Continue ReadingDystopic stories – why are we obsessed? The post Dystopic stories – why are we obsessed? appeared first on mark a rayner.
Continue readingAuthor: Mark A. Rayner
mark a rayner: An apology to the Autistic Community (and a thanks)
Ten years ago I wrote a novel called The Fridgularity. As I often do, I prefaced it with some quotations I thought applicable to the… Continue ReadingAn apology to the Autistic Community (and a thanks) The post An apology to the Autistic Community (and a thanks) appeared first on mark
Continue readingmark a rayner: It Came from Plan B
A few years ago I had an epiphany about one of my life choices. I was a guest on my buddy Keith’s excellent podcast about… Continue ReadingIt Came from Plan B The post It Came from Plan B appeared first on mark a rayner.
Continue readingmark a rayner: The Monkey’s Tail, as Told by Marcel Duchamp the Day After Charles Lindbergh Landed at Le Bourget Field
I had this friend who was obsessed with having a monkey tail grafted to his ass. Actually, to call him a friend is stretching the… Continue ReadingThe Monkey’s Tail, as Told by Marcel Duchamp the Day After Charles Lindbergh Landed at Le Bourget Field The post The Monkey’s Tail, as
Continue readingmark a rayner: Review: The Serpent of Venice
The Serpent of Venice is a mash-up extraordinaire of The Merchant of Venice, Othello, and The Cask of Amontillado, starring Pocket, the lead from Moore’s… Continue ReadingReview: The Serpent of Venice The post Review: The Serpent of Venice appeared first on mark a rayner.
Continue readingmark a rayner: Twain edits
Full quote: I notice that you use plain, simple language, short words and brief sentences. That is the way to write English – it is… Continue ReadingTwain edits The post Twain edits appeared first on mark a rayner.
Continue readingmark a rayner: An Open Letter to Boris Johnson’s Hair
Dear Boris Johnson’s Hair, It’s really not going very well, is it? But it’s not your fault. It really isn’t. In the history of British… Continue ReadingAn Open Letter to Boris Johnson’s Hair The post An Open Letter to Boris Johnson’s Hair appeared first on mark a rayner.
Continue readingmark a rayner: Writing as Therapy
“Writers get a nice break in one way, at least: They can treat their mental illnesses every day.” ~Kurt Vonnegut Photo by Ruslan Alekso from Pexels The post Writing as Therapy appeared first on mark a rayner.
Continue readingmark a rayner: Clown Apocalypse – the first flash fiction
Years later, the survivors discovered the Bozo Virus got its start at Escola de Clown de Girona, near the end of semester. The “Esclowna” was… Continue ReadingClown Apocalypse – the first flash fiction
Continue readingmark a rayner: Wormageddon
In a playground war of worm-whipping debauchery, a boy must decide if he’s a bully or a Romeo. Continue ReadingWormageddon
Continue readingmark a rayner: Listicle: Ernest Hemingway’s 5 Surprisingly Easy Rules for Writing
Kill adjectivesMurder your darlingsSlaughter long sentencesExterminate repetitionWhiskey, but only after slaking your bloodlust writing
Continue readingmark a rayner: More plaudits for The Fatness
NEW YORK, NY – On June 3rd, New York Times bestselling author CJ Lyons announced The Fatness won in the humor category of the annual IndieReader Discovery Awards (IRDAs). The announcement was made at BookExpo America (BEA), a major publishing trade show. This is the second literary award the satirical novel has
Continue readingmark a rayner: Silver IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award for The Fatness!
Hey, hey, The Fatness won a Silver in the humor category of the 30th annual IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award™ These awards aren’t well-known generally, but they’re quite prestigious and valuable indicators of quality. The Independent Book Publishing Association (IBPA) has more than 3,000 members, and is the largest publishing trade
Continue readingmark a rayner: Review: My Hands Were Clean
Tom Bradley is one of those writers who sends me running to the dictionary. That is praise and damnation at the same time, but more of the former. Because like John Fowles, who also does this to me, I’m always impressed by the precision and rightness of the word in
Continue readingmark a rayner: Review: The Cache and Other Stories
I thoroughly enjoyed this new collection of short stories and poems, by Sherry D. Ramsey. As always, her fiction is rooted in authentic human emotions, problems and foibles, even when we’re reading about aliens or fairies. In particular, I really enjoyed “B.R.AN.E., Inc.”, which read like the beginning of a
Continue readingmark a rayner: Roundup of more great reviews of The Fatness
Reviews continue to get posted about my new book. If you haven’t already checked out Joe Mahoney’s funny video review of The Fatness, you definitely should. There’s also a new review up on IndieReader.com: IR VERDICT: Easy to devour in one sitting, this tongue-and-cheek account of a BMI-obsessed society is both
Continue readingmark a rayner: Assorted Nonsense Reviews The Fatness
My buddy and fellow-writer, Joe Mahoney, has done a charming and funny video reviewing The Fatness. In addition to having wonderful taste, Joe writes fiction himself. You can check out his debut novel, A Time and a Place, here on Goodreads. Oh, and I’m sure he’d appreciate it if you
Continue readingmark a rayner: IndiePicks Magazine Loves The Fatness
Great review in the January 2018 edition of IndiePicks Magazine! Keelan Cavanaugh has been sentenced to a very different kind of prison. Uncomfortably installed at the Calorie Reduction Centre (CRC) — also known as the Fatness, or the Girth Gulag — he will lose weight, whether he wants to or
Continue readingmark a rayner: London media cover The Fatness
I was really pleased to see how the local media stepped up to cover my new release, The Fatness. On New Year’s Day, the London Free Press published an article titled: “Satirist takes a bite out of obesity epidemic” My thanks to Dan Brown for a truly enjoyable interview and
Continue readingmark a rayner: Long guest post on Booklikes
I have a long guest post up on the Booklikes blog today, in which I describe the process of writing The Fatness. There’s also a giveaway of the book there. Check it out here.
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