Category Archives: Uncategorized

            ‘We won’t be renewing your contract.’             I strained to smile, and nodded understanding as the HR manager delivered this news. It wasn’t unexpected. I wasn’t been happy in my job. My supervisor and I clashed every day. This was the push out the door I needed. –*–             ‘Mum’s in hospital.’             IContinue reading “Death”

I am sitting or here at Newark Airport, beer in hand, reflecting on my four days in New York. I saw amazing sights; the type of places that seem so familiar because you’ve seen them on TV and in the movies all your life. I’m talking Times Square, Central Park, Broadway, Washington Square Park, BrooklynContinue reading “What a strange place that was …”

My first day in New York. What a great day! After having my haircut in Washington Heights, I walked from Soho (stopping at a cafe to write, and replenish my caffeine levels – they were dropping dangerously low at that time), through Little Italy, to Chinatown. I crossed over the Brooklyn Bridge, then caught aContinue reading “I never knew motivation like this!”

I’ve begun my 6-month writing project (as outlined in my last post And now for my next trick …) and I’m slowly putting together the elements I gleaned from the four novels I’m using to create a narrative structure. Orlando gave me the gift of time – how it can be manipulated, stretched, reflected, represented,Continue reading “Ready, set, go!”

In 2021 I achieved something I had been wanting to achieve for years. I wrote a novel. Then I rewrote it. Then I had it beta read. I had it edited. I had it evaluated. Then I rewrote it. And again. … you know how it is. That novel is now doing the rounds ofContinue reading “And now for my next trick …”

In 2021, my friend Jerry Aguilar Jr and I were among a number of writers and artists contracted by Eagle Leather Melbourne to write articles for their blog. Jerry and I were paid to write four articles: Out with the old (family), in with the new: The Importance of the Leather Bar To Beat orContinue reading “Eagle Leather blog article #1”

‘We won’t be renewing your contract.’ I strained to smile, and nodded understanding as my supervisor and the HR manager gave me this news. It wasn’t unexpected. I hadn’t been happy in my job for a long time. My supervisor and I collided on a daily basis. It was definitely time to go, and thisContinue reading “A death each day keeps emotions away”

Being an adoptee meant contorting myself into family spaces. First, there was my adopted family. Then, there were my biological families — once I tracked them down. And finally, there was my found family. In each case I was an outsider, invited to join other, functioning human beings as part of a family. In eachContinue reading “Taking space, giving space”

The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune My rating: 5 of 5 stars T.J. Klune has done it again! I fell in love with the characters, as they were falling in love with each other. Klune has the amazing gift of taking you inside the main character’s psyche, enveloping you in their thoughtsContinue reading “The House In The Cerulean Sea – a review”

Infestation by William Meikle My rating: 4 of 5 stars Infestation by William Melkle follows the tradition of character driven action novels along the lines of Alistair MacLean and Matthew Reilly, but with a twist. The story jumps right into the action, and death and mayhem ensue. The main character, Captain John Banks, is competentContinue reading “Infestation – a review”

Sons of Brutality #1 by Daniel Jeudy My rating: 5 of 5 stars Daniel Jeudy has created a cruel world in this crime novel. Everything is harsh – the thoughts of the main characters, the crime scenes, the criminal actions, even the climate and environment seems harsh. This is all in keeping with the typeContinue reading “Sons of Brutality – a review”

Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson My rating: 4 of 5 stars What an original and entertaining story! Kevin Wilson gives a straight-faced telling of a bizarre family circumstance. The fire-children (twins Bessie and Roland) are intriguing, although most of the attention is given to Bessie and her developing relationship with their reluctant care-taker,Continue reading “Nothing to see here – a review”

The Shield Road: A Collection of Fantasy Short Stories by Dewi Hargreaves My rating: 5 of 5 stars The Shield Road is an enchanting collection of intertwined stories, with characters that climb into your heart and pull at your emotions. The Bladekin was my favourite character, and his chapters were central to the overall story.DewiContinue reading “The Shield Road – a review”

Not Quite Out by Louise Willingham My rating: 5 of 5 stars Not quite what I expected. I thought this would be a light, comical escapade of romantic near misses and innuendo. How wrong could I have been. Not Quite Out is a serious tale of self-acceptance, romance, abusive relationships, tested friendships, bi-phobia, and foundContinue reading “Not Quite Out – a review”

Date Me, Bryson Keller by Kevin van Whye My rating: 5 of 5 stars Wow! I read this book and immediately wanted to travel back to my teen years and date Bryson Keller myself. While he is the titular character, and well worth the investment, it is the main character Kai Sheridan, who is theContinue reading “Date Me, Bryson Keller – a review”

Flesh Wounds by Richard Glover My rating: 5 of 5 stars Richard Glover gives an amusing and engaging recitation of his life growing up in an odd-ball family. His mother is a striking concoction of fantasy, lies and wishes. His father, a lost soul consumed by loneliness and alcohol. In the midst of their chaos,Continue reading “Flesh Wounds – a review”

Honeybee by Craig Silvey My rating: 5 of 5 stars The themes in this story seem too many, and too deep, to be dealt with in one book. But they are. Starting with suicide, proceeding through dysfunctional family dynamics, drug abuse, family violence, homophobia, transphobia, assault, death, friendship, found family, self-discovery, and ending with theContinue reading “Honeybee – a review”

Served Cold by Alan Baxter My rating: 5 of 5 stars Another exciting, and at times unsettling, read from Alan Baxter!This collection of short stories had something for each emotion. There’s the hauntingly sad Her Grief In My halls; the unnerving The Goodbye Message; the creepy They All Come Through London In The End; andContinue reading “Served Cold – a review”

Lesser Known Monsters by Rory Michaelson My rating: 5 of 5 stars Bloody hell! What a ride!As a long time lover of horror and monster lit, it was exhilarating to see this combined with queer lit in this exciting story.Rory Michaelson has created an interesting ‘other’ world, where monsters exist in secret alongside humans.The veilContinue reading “Lesser Known Monsters – a review”

They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera My rating: 5 of 5 stars The enjoyment I received from this book was a complete surprise!The story is set in an alternative reality, where an early-hours phone from a mysterious organisation called Death Cast informs people they will die that day. The two main characters,Continue reading “They Both Die At The End – a review”

Surrender Your Sons by Adam Sass My rating: 5 of 5 stars This was a thoroughly enjoyable queer YA story. Sass expertly explores the ‘negative’ of being queer in society – from religious judgement and family rejection, to teen pregnancy and first love, to suicide and conversion therapy. Adam Sass uses humour and adventure toContinue reading “Surrender Your Sons – a review”

Another great read on Medium! https://davidmckwrites.medium.com/5-challenges-i-faced-to-become-a-writer-59c6f3c852a6

I just published this story on Medium – check it out! https://davidmckwrites.medium.com/should-a-gay-writer-be-a-gay-writer-afba6cbb14eb

Now available to read via Medium – https://davidmckwrites.medium.com/im-learning-to-write-part-one-b41131f356f0

S.P.I.D.A.R. by Bryan Alaspa My rating: 4 of 5 stars The idea behind this story had me sucked in. As a life-long arachnophobia I have a morbid curiosity for spider stories, especially horror. It’s like I can’t look away. I covered my eyes and read the book through my fingers as I squirmed – andContinue reading “S.P.I.D.A.R. – a review”

Arcadia Falls by Ken Stark My rating: 5 of 5 stars This is a thoroughly enjoyable YA sci-fi/fantasy/thriller mash-up. The high-schoolers at the center of the story are relatable, facing the everyday struggles of all high-schoolers across the world. Except, of course, for the monsters trying to kill them!Stephen King-esque that no-one else can seeContinue reading “Arcadia Falls – a review”

I never liked the term new year’s resolution. It always seemed so final, so unwavering. After all, a resolution is a firm decision, a determination to do something or not do something. Either you achieve it, or you fail. I admire people that can make a commitment at the start of the year and stickContinue reading “Castles in the air”

What a glorious time of year! Trees swathed with tinsel. Carols playing on and on and on. people rushing about buying things, giving things, getting things. Families coming together to pretend everything they really like each other. Excuse my sarcasm. Christmas has been a challenging time of year for me. I don’t begrudge others theirContinue reading “Merry Christmas & thanks for all the trauma”

Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas My rating: 5 of 5 stars Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas is a unique YA fantasy novel, delving into the world of Latinx trans and queer kids, alongside mystical arts.I was enthralled with the main characters from the start: trans-teenager Yadriel, his cousin Maritza, and the spirit Julien. They wereContinue reading “Cemetery Boys – a review”

A Threat From The Past by Paul Cude My rating: 4 of 5 stars A Threat From The Past is book one in The White Dragon Saga.Paul Cude sets the scene here, building a world in which dragons co-exist secretly with humans. Dragons influence human development and policy, guiding humankind to make better choices forContinue reading “A Threat From The Past – a review”