When you read about Meshuggah on online forums and fan groups, a question that always comes up is: Is Meshuggah the best metal band in the world? That’s a question I don’t see asked about too many other bands. None, actually. It should tell you a lot about the kind of respect and admiration a…
I don’t really write that many short stories, preferring the longer novel form, but this is one I wrote a while back. It’s urban fantasy, but with a big Lovecraftian horror element to it… When Sasha Benedict first saw the portal, she was trying not to scream in pain as the man who was supposed…
From its humble beginnings in the 1980s, urban fantasy has emerged as a riveting, ever-evolving genre that has captured the hearts and imaginations of countless readers. While it may not yet rival the commercial success of titans like romance or mystery, urban fantasy continues to flourish and expand its reach, offering boundless possibilities for both…
For as long as I can remember, urban fantasy movies have held a special place in my heart, long before the term was even coined. Enthralling audiences with their magical blend of contemporary settings and fantastical elements, these films have shaped the genre and paved the way for the urban fantasy stories we know and…
As someone who has come to develop a deep interest in esotericism and what might be called “ancient wisdom”—things of a higher nature, aspects of spirituality that have been forgotten and suppressed in this so-called modern age—I found myself a while ago inevitably taking an interest in the Tarot. What Is The Tarot About? If…
“I have seen the future of horror…and it is named Clive Barker.” So says Stephen King in a very famous quote that graced the cover of just about every Clive Barker book in the eighties and nineties. At that time, Barker was highly celebrated as one of the best horror novelists of his generation. Today,…
Urban fantasy with a male lead–or tough guy urban fantasy as it is sometimes known–has seen something of a resurgence in the last few years. Once upon a time, the urban fantasy genre was dominated mostly by books featuring female protagonists from authors such as Kim Harrison, Laurel K Hamilton and Patricia Briggs to name…
One of the biggest lessons I have learned since I first started to take writing seriously about five years ago is that to do good work—to do any work at all—you need the ability to get out of your own way. Every single day of a writer’s life brings fresh doubt and uncertainty. Some days…
Before we begin, let me point out that this article is not intended to be some sort of blueprint for “How To Write A Bestselling Urban Fantasy Series”. The article merely outlines the research I did before I started writing the male urban fantasy series that I’m still hard at work on. As well as…