Hamish MacNeil

At the far end of the High Street, near Grove Park, sits The Black Cat, a wonderful micro-pub that serves the best ales and cider in Weston-super-Mare. Nick, the owner, is a fan of Edgar Allan Poe's short stories, and the pub's name and décor are inspired by his favourite, the gruesome tale of The Black Cat. What better place, then, for our writing group to host the first of what we hope will become a regular evening of short stories?...

Story Time at the Black Cat At the far end of the High Street, near Grove Park, sits The Black Cat, a wonderful micro-pub that serves the best ales and cider in Weston-super-Mare. Nick, the owner, is a fan of Edgar Allan Poe&…

This week, I had two amateur dramatics performances in my diary, but having dashed out after work on Thursday evening to arrive at a dark and empty village hall, it appears that I should have had that one pencilled in for next week. One day I will upgrade the diary to a secretary! Last night, however, was much more successful: an evening with Melksham Music And Drama (MMAD) and…...

They Must Be MMAD This week, I had two amateur dramatics performances in my diary, but having dashed out after work on Thursday evening to arrive at a dark and empty village hall, it appears that I should have had t…

On a panel at a literature festival a couple of years ago, I was asked whether I had ever participated in communal writing. As it happened, I had. On a retreat near the book town of Hay-on-Wye, at a pub table waiting for our lunch to be served, a friend passed me a small, pocket-sized notebook. On the first page, she had written a couple of lines about 'them' setting off towards the sun until it sank, then making camp among the dunes....

Communal Writing On a panel at a literature festival a couple of years ago, I was asked whether I had ever participated in communal writing. As it happened, I had. On a retreat near the book town of Hay-on-Wye, at …

The fifth Writers in Stone anthology is out now ❤️ link in comments.

I have a theory about Jabberwocky by Lewis Carroll. I have never made a big deal out of it, like turning it into a thesis or anything, I just used it to explain why I think it is one of the cleverest and most impressive poems ever penned. I, like many of us, encountered the poem early on in school - before exams - as something fun to learn, as nonsense poetry, even as a short play to act out in drama class with the gangly, lanky, unkempt Edward playing the Jabberwock....

Wocky-Jabbering I have a theory about Jabberwocky by Lewis Carroll. I have never made a big deal out of it, like turning it into a thesis or anything, I just used it to explain why I think it is one of the clevere…

Had a wonderful weekend at Burnham Book Festival where I won the short story competition after being shortlisted for the last (and their first) three years 🥳🏆

Burnham Book Festival 🥳

So, this coming weekend will see the third Burnham Book Festival in Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset. For the third year in a row, I have been shortlisted in the poetry and short story competitions, and once again my friends and I will be at the local authors event on Saturday. Last year I produced a limited edition booklet comprising a selection of poems from my published anthologies and a handful from the then soon-to-be-published Mosaic....

Spanning 20 Years So, this coming weekend will see the third Burnham Book Festival in Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset. For the third year in a row, I have been shortlisted in the poetry and short story competitions, and on…

New book now available on amazon in hard and paperback editions 😀

Last weekend, my writing friends and I went to (Redacted) on another writing retreat. We rented a cosy farm cottage near (Redacted) intending to devote time to our various literary projects, and, weather permitting, see some of the local sights for inspiration. We broke our outward journey in (Redacted) and had a wonderful breakfast (pictured) in a no-frills café. We then walked down to the…...

The Redacted Blog (There’s Black Pudding Under the Toast!) Last weekend, my writing friends and I went to (Redacted) on another writing retreat. We rented a cosy farm cottage near (Redacted) intending to devote time to our various literary projects, and, w…

More wonderful gift ideas this Christmas!
Available in paperback and hardback - the hardback is a thing of beauty!

The Atrocious Parrot: and Other Tales from Macaque The Atrocious Parrot: and Other Tales from Macaque

Stocking fillers? Secret Santa? Delight a loved-one (or that colleague you've secretly got your eye on) with this French Lovers Notebook:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/French-Lovers-Notebook-Blank/dp/B0CCCS9Y9Y/ref=sr_1_6?crid=FOOEAD3B0VW1&keywords=french+lovers+notebook&qid=1701257002&sprefix=french+lovers+notebook%2Caps%2C140&sr=8-6

Stocking fillers? Secret Santa? Delight a loved-one (or that colleague you've secretly got your eye on) with this French Lovers Notebook:

French Lovers Notebook: Blank Notebook Unlined notebook with French love quotes and French love poem on the cover. 150 pages. Perfect for that special someone, or for writing your own poems and thoughts. Translation of the cover reads "Far from my eyes but close to my heart, I see your face in every flower, in every song I hear your v...

Know any budding poets this Christmas? The Complacent Poet notebook is ideal for transforming those first drafts into polished masterpieces. Containing tips, ideas and exercises from poetry workshops, there is also plenty of space for writing, rewriting, editing and perfecting. Available at amazon, just follow the link below:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Complacent-Poet-Oxymoron-Notebook-Exercises/dp/1838434674/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3VSAQUULV1ORC&keywords=a+complacent+poet&qid=1701254917&sprefix=a+complacent+poet%2Caps%2C190&sr=8-1

Do you have children, grandchildren, nieces or nephews who haven't read The Strange Discoveries at Wimblestone Road? Don't be despondent, as copies are still available if you follow the link below!

A cross between Alan Garner and Arthur Ransome, the story follows four ordinary children on an otherworldly quest in mysterious Somerset.

The Strange Discoveries at Wimblestone Road: A fantasy novel for children When three young boys and their baby brother move from London to rural Somerset, they spend their time exploring the countryside around their new home. They make friends with Poppy, a lonely misfit, who shows them the old railway line and the abandoned quarry. They start to discover some strange ...

With Christmas approaching, here are some splendid ideas for presents: The Haiku Notebook will delight readers and writers of poetry being both a collection of modern and traditional haiku and a lined notebook with plenty of space for making notes or writing masterpieces. Available on amazon.

Haiku Notebook: Being a Notebook with Poems A 150 page lined notebook by the poet Macaque, featuring 72 haiku to delight and inspire. The best of both worlds for poetry lovers - a collection of beautiful, intimate and philosophical haiku, plus plenty of blank space for your own poems. The perfect gift for writers who might need a little in...

The theme of last month's 50 word story competition run by The Scottish Book Trust was 'a black cat'. I tried desperately to recount a terrifying experience I had as a child, watching a huge beast stalk along the crest of a hill, perhaps three hundred yards from where I stood in panic, silhouetted against an opaque night sky. I had heard news bulletins of escaped zoo or circus animals, tales of The Beast of Bodmin Moor, and I felt certain that this was indeed a panther on the prowl, quite capable of devouring me for supper....

Cats Summed Up The theme of last month’s 50 word story competition run by The Scottish Book Trust was ‘a black cat’. I tried desperately to recount a terrifying experience I had as a child, watc…

Calling all poetry lovers, come to the Berkeley Square Hotel in Bristol on Tuesday 21st November. It promises to be a great night of poetry and music...and there is a bar!

I have a dating app. It's next to useless, but it gives me a faint sense of hope. You can select parameters such as a reasonable distance, age range, and whether or not they have tattoos, but it still likes to suggest people in Cornwall and Scotland, and others who ought to be touring with P.T. Barnum. One profile that I saw recently had the tag-line "Ebay for humans" which I rather liked, but sadly it is more complicated than that....

Chenin-igans I have a dating app. It’s next to useless, but it gives me a faint sense of hope. You can select parameters such as a reasonable distance, age range, and whether or not they have tattoos, but…

Jazz can be many things: good jazz is like Jackson Po***ck for the visually impaired; this was like listening to a learner driver trying to find the right gear. In an old Morris Minor. With a broken clutch. While somebody else rode in circles on a two-stroke moped. Eventually, it was over, and I crossed my fingers that it would have been worth it....

Luke Wright and all that Jazz Jazz can be many things: good jazz is like Jackson Po***ck for the visually impaired; this was like listening to a learner driver trying to find the right gear. In an old Morris Minor. With a broke…

Have you ever thought about an old flame or a childhood sweetheart? Have you ever loved someone in another country, lived with the ghost of someone, loved a person who married somebody else? Have you ever experienced in yun, shared your bed with a Korean, parted before the end, been on different pages but still wanted to finish the book?...

Past Lives – Peeling the In Yun Have you ever thought about an old flame or a childhood sweetheart? Have you ever loved someone in another country, lived with the ghost of someone, loved a person who married somebody else? Have y…

"I'm going to kill you!" The room fell silent as the old lady stalked towards me, arm raised, finger pointing. "I've been reading your book," she said, "I live in Sandford Station, and when the characters in your story cycle past, one of them says 'that's where the old fogeys live.' I'm not an old fogey!" Now, as death threats over artistic content go, it was fairly mild, I admit, but if you have read any of 'The Thursday Murder Club' series by Richard Osman, you will know not to underestimate women who live in retirement villages, fogeys or not....

Lennon, Rushdie, Mac “I’m going to kill you!” The room fell silent as the old lady stalked towards me, arm raised, finger pointing. “I’ve been reading your book,” she said, “I …

As a poet, I am passionate about poetry and creative writing, and really want to encourage others in any creative endeavour. Creative self expression is a vital part of life and community, and ultimately is what separates us from animals. For this reason, I do love to attend readings, workshops, and open mic events, but to be honest, these can be a double edged sword....

Bugbear Repellent As a poet, I am passionate about poetry and creative writing, and really want to encourage others in any creative endeavour. Creative self expression is a vital part of life and community, and ulti…

Last month's Scottish Book Trust 50 word competition was on the theme of 'Rucksack' (or 'Backpack', I can't quite remember). It is such a fun and quick competition that the wait for the results and the next topic seems interminable. Here is what I submitted for the Haversack theme: It looked new and unattended. Trespass. Fitting. As the bus pulled up, doors opening, the young man adjusted his cap, picked up the rucksack, and alighted nonchalantly, walking quickly but casually away, then running down an alley....

50 Words About a Rucksack Last month’s Scottish Book Trust 50 word competition was on the theme of ‘Rucksack’ (or ‘Backpack’, I can’t quite remember). It is such a fun and quick competiti…

"Jesus Christ!" I exclaimed, pushing myself back in my seat reflexively. "I thought you'd say that," laughed my friend. "Most people do." My writing group met yesterday in Clarence Park for a delectable al fresco sharing of our work. In addition to our writings on the monthly topic, we also began a new project (something four of us had done before, but a new venture for the larger group)....

The Tower “Jesus Christ!” I exclaimed, pushing myself back in my seat reflexively. “I thought you’d say that,” laughed my friend. “Most people do.” My writing group …