Blog
New monthly mailing list – and some publicity
One of the most important tasks of the modern author is to make sure he or she is accessible to his or her readers. I have been blogging for a decade in one form or another, and have been involved with social media since before the term was invented. As
Win a signed copy of “The Only Genuine Jones!”
With only a few weeks to go until The Only Genuine Jones is launched in paperback form, readers now have the chance to win a pristine first edition copy signed by the author! The giveaway is being run by Goodreads, the popular social network for book lovers. You can enter
The Great Stink by Clare Clark: book review
The Great Stink by Clare ClarkMy rating: 3 of 5 starsThe Great Stink is one of those books that immediately grabbed my attention. It’s an historical novel set in London during the industrial surge of the 1850s, and revolves around the tragic figure of William May, a civil engineer
Running an ad on Goodreads: my experience
Goodreads is a social network I have been trying to get to grips with for some time. For those of you who have yet to delve into its wonders, it can be summarised as Facebook for book lovers. It has all the trappings of a social network (profiles, timelines, comments,
A sneak preview of Alpine Dawn, my work in progress
Regulars will be aware that I am presently working on an ambitious novel called Alpine Dawn. This book takes the reader back to the years immediately before the golden age of Alpine exploration–with my own unique fictional take on events, of course!Here is the first draft of my
Drabble #2: “Second Flight”
More 100 word fiction with a climbing theme (sequel to “First Flight“) Second Flight by Alex Roddie Something moves in the abyss. Rocks fall, echoing from one vertical plane to the next. A raven takes wing from his perch and floats on the updraught, head darting side to side, eyes
Scottish photoshoot – the author in his natural environment
In this blog post I would like to share some of the best photos from last week, taken on location in Glencoe. As readers will be aware, Glencoe is a key location for my book and the first chapter takes place on the crags of Stob Coire nan Lochan. For
OGJ paperback launch: T minus one month and counting
Crumbs! Time has flown past and it’s now only a month until I will be standing in front of a (hopefully enormous) crowd at the Clachaig Inn talking to friends and strangers alike about my book. Although I have been on holiday for the past week, I’ve been
Drabble #1: “First Flight”
A Drabble is defined as a work of fiction less than 100 words in length. Here is my first attempt: First Flight What if I let go? Below, the wall echoes and grasps at my weakening body. Gravity is undeniable. I begin to realise that my attempt to cheat it
The Beinn Fhada ridge, Glencoe
The Bidean massif is a complex mountain range. It’s a rugged landscape of secret valleys, soaring aretes, savage cliffs, hidden peaks. Since 2008 I have journeyed into this range on dozens of occasions and climbed most of the easier routes, even adding a couple of new ones to the