"Ingenious and funny... magnificent."
Watchmen and V For Vendetta creator ALAN MOORE on The Last Days Of Jack Sparks |
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All about me, me, me
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Hello! I'm a British author and scriptwriter, with a background in journalism.
I'm the writer of the terrifying 2019 Orbit Books novel Ghoster. Before that, I wrote The Last Days Of Jack Sparks, the Lionsgate feature film Stormhouse, various Doctor Who things, a Friday The 13th novel and script-edited the 2012 Peter Mullan film The Man Inside. I co-authored the book Inside Black Mirror with Charlie Brooker and Annabel Jones in 2018. Check out my collection of 30 interviews I did as a rock journalist, gathered in From The Front Lines Of Rock. I run three YouTube channels about classic Doctor Who, old school metal and writing. I also run two Skool communities that help writers build confidence and help rock/metal fans find new friends. I offer services for writers, including 1-to-1 coaching and manuscript notes. See select moments from my CV below... |
2024 |
I established two communities on the platform Skool:
WRITING CONFIDENCE LOUNGE A place where we help authors and scriptwriters feel way better about themselves, so that they can finally get their stories written. 👊 Check it out here. POSSESSED BY METAL A place for seasoned metal fans to escape the noisy chaos of Facebook groups and find their new family in a drama-free online rock pub! 🤘 Check it out here. |
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2023 |
TOXIC
My short story available to read for free right here on this very site. |
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2019 |
GHOSTER
My second full-length novel for Orbit Books. UK release date: October 24, 2019 Amazon UK | Waterstones | Foyles | Blackwells US and Canada release date: October 22, 2019 Amazon US | Barnes & Noble | Target Amazon Canada | Indigo Books & Music "A helter-skelter collision of social media and the supernatural. Hugely enjoyable" - Christopher Brookmyre "A magnificently twisted and utterly unnerving tale... oddly provocative..." - Publisher's Weekly |
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RESIST: TALES FROM A FUTURE WORTH FIGHTING AGAINST
A wonderful sci-fi anthology created and edited by Gary Whitta (Rogue One), Hugh Howey (Wool) and Christie Yant. Exclusively features my story The Nothing Men, along with tales by 26 other writers including John Scalzi, Charlie Jane Anders, Kieron Gillen and C Robert Cargill. The Nothing Men has also been available to my Patreon backers for a while. [Amazon UK] [Amazon US] |
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2017 |
FROM THE FRONT LINES OF ROCK
Non-fiction collection of interviews I conducted during my time as a rock journalist on Kerrang! magazine. Included are the likes of Iron Maiden, Metallica and Guns N' Roses. [Amazon UK] [Amazon US] [Amazon Canada] THE LAST DAYS OF JACK SPARKS The US paperback edition, April 4 2017. |
2016 |
THE LAST DAYS OF JACK SPARKS
My first novel in a two-book deal with Orbit Books. Trade paperback, ebook and audiobook in March 2016 / mass-market paperback in July 2016. Check out the website of the late celebrity journalist Jack Sparks, which has now become a tribute to him. And see this very site's Jack Sparks page. AMERICAN HOARDER A short story you get for free when you sign up for my newsletter. |
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2015 |
AUTO REWIND
Dark thriller novelette - the first of my Free Books to celebrate the 2016 release of The Last Days Of Jack Sparks. Get Auto Rewind at these outlets and more: Smashwords | iBooks | Nook THE BRITISH FANTASY AWARDS 2015 Judge in the Non-Fiction category. |
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2014 |
CONSUMED
Story in the zombie comic anthology book Dead Roots. THE BRITISH FANTASY AWARDS 2014 Judge in the Non-Fiction category. |
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2013 |
THE GREATEST EVER CHRISTMAS MOVIES
Talking head on this TV production, made by Objective. THE BRITISH FANTASY AWARDS 2013 Judge in the Non-Fiction category. BEHIND THE SOFA: CELEBRITY MEMORIES OF DOCTOR WHO Wrote a segment for this Gollancz charity book in aid of Alzheimer's Research UK, which also features the likes of Jonathan Ross, Stephen Merchant, Al Murray, Neil Gaiman and Charlie Brooker. BLIND Spec TV script about disability hate crime. BRANDY IN THE BASEMENT A joint ebook-only effort with author JMR Higgs, which combines my psychological horror novella Beast In The Basement with his brilliantly indefinable short novel The Brandy Of The Damned. You can get it auto-pinged to you in three different formats. Details here. |
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2012 |
A SINCERE WARNING ABOUT THE ENTITY IN YOUR HOME
A terrifying ghost story set in YOUR home. It can be bought either as an ebook or a personalised, physical letter which is mailed to your address. Official web page: ScaryLetter.com BEAST IN THE BASEMENT Suspenseful horror-thriller novella, about an author losing his mind in a big country house. Published by Retribution Books in September. The official web page is here. THE MAN INSIDE Script editor on this British urban drama feature, starring Peter Mullan, Michelle Ryan and David Harewood. Set for UK cinema release this year. EVIL EYE Spec feature script. Horror. FORGIVENESS Spec feature script. Horror. ST MURDER Spec TV pilot script. DOCTOR WHO: UNIT DOMINION Four-hour mini series at Big Finish Productions, co-written with Nicholas Briggs. Stars Sylvester McCoy, Alex MacQueen, Tracey Childs, Beth Chalmers. Released October 2012. |
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2011 |
STORMHOUSE
Scriptwriter and executive producer on this horror feature, which premiered at the Edinburgh International Film Festival, played the London FrightFest and sold to territories including the US (Amazon) and UK (Amazon). THE BRILLIANT BOOK OF DOCTOR WHO 2012 Prose fiction for this BBC annual hardback. Amazon UK DOCTOR WHO: THE GEMINI CONTAGION Writer on this BBC audiobook, starring Matt Smith's Doctor. Amazon UK DOCTOR WHO: ARMY OF DEATH Writer on this full-cast, licensed audio play at Big Finish Productions, starring Paul McGann, David Harewood, Eva Pope and Carolyn Pickles. Amazon UK DOCTOR WHO: THE LIONS OF TRAFALGAR Short story for audio anthology Doctor Who: Short Trips IV at Big Finish Productions. Amazon UK DOCTOR WHO: EARWORM Writer of comic strip story for BBC-licensed magazine Doctor Who Adventures. Read it here. THE SCREAMS NEXT DOOR Short story for the ebook anthology Voices From The Past, with proceeds going to the Great Ormond Street Hospital. Amazon UK Kindle LONDON SCREENWRITERS' FESTIVAL Speaker |
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2010 |
THE BRILLIANT BOOK OF DOCTOR WHO 2011
Prose fiction for this BBC annual hardback. Amazon UK DOCTOR WHO: THE DEMONS OF RED LODGE & OTHER STORIES Writer of the title-story of this licensed, full-cast audio play anthology at Big Finish Productions, starring Peter Davison. Amazon UK THE SARAH JANE ADVENTURES: DEADLY DOWNLOAD Writer of this BBC audiobook, read by Elisabeth Sladen. Amazon UK BERNICE SUMMERFIELD: THE WAR OF ART Short story for the short story collection, Bernice Summerfield: Present Danger. Amazon UK UNDYING Spec TV pilot script. NEWCASTLE STORY ENGINE FESTIVAL Speaker NATIONAL STUDENT FILM ASSOCIATION, SCRIPT COMPETITION Judge |
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2009 |
GHOST WRITER
24-minute TV-style one-off drama, commissioned and produced by the TAPS organisation. Directed by Guy Slater. The whole film can be watched here. TEMPTING FATES Scriptwriter and storyliner on this teen web series, commissioned and produced by Eye Film & TV. RECORDED FOR TRAINING PURPOSES Writer on the team of this Radio 4 comedy show for two series. LAURENCE & GUS: HEARTS & MINDS Sketch writer for this Radio 4 comedy show. SPLENDID Team writer on Magician Pictures' comedy sketch show pilot. CHELTENHAM SCREENWRITERS' FESTIVAL Speaker |
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2008 |
LOOK AT ME
Scriptwriter on short film made by Magician Pictures. BIG MISTAKE Script editor on short film made by Magician Pictures. DOCTOR WHO: CHRISTMAS EVERY DAY Short story for Big Finish's Doctor Who short story collection, Short Trips: Christmas Around The World. Amazon UK |
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2007 |
BERNICE SUMMERFIELD: PRIME FIVE
Short story for the collection Bernice Summerfield: The Missing Adventures. Amazon UK |
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2006 |
PANIK
Spec feature script, optioned by Hollywood indie production company Polaris Productions. |
2005 |
FRIDAY THE 13TH: HATE-KILL-REPEAT
Writer of this official spin-off novel for New Line Cinema. Amazon UK |
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2001 |
SLIPKNOT: INSIDE THE SICKNESS, BEHIND THE MASKS
Biography, published by Ebury Press. Features introduction by Ozzy Osbourne and an afterword by Kiss legend Gene Simmons. Amazon UK |
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2000 |
KERRANG! DEPUTY & ACTING EDITOR
Between 2000 and 2002. See Kerrang! page. |
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1999 |
1997 |
HOME
Short story for Cherry TCK's softback horror collection, Deadly Strangers. |
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1993 |
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