Tag Archives: author

The Limerick Snake Hawk

Extract from Animals Evolution Avoided Legend has it that St Patrick removed all the snakes from Ireland. This theory has no real basis in fact. What’s more likely is that snakes were hunted to extinction by the highly efficient raptor called the Limerick Snake Hawk, the last of which died in Dublin Zoo in 1926Continue reading “The Limerick Snake Hawk”

The Maple Reindeer

Extract from Animals Evolution Avoided 50,000 years ago when the land bridge between what is now Russia and what is now Canada was still in existence, large numbers of Kamchatka Reindeer came across to North America and split in two different directions. Some reindeer, who preferred a West-coast lifestyle, migrated almost due south and swamContinue reading “The Maple Reindeer”

The Mambutterfly

Extract from Animals Evolution Avoided The Mambutterfly is the name given to large elephant-size creatures found in the Siberian permafrost, which had multi-coloured coats as opposed to the single-colour coats of their cousins the Mammoth. The Mambutterflies fed on mosses, lichens, and other vegetation that contained powerful colouring agents, which changed the colour of theirContinue reading “The Mambutterfly”

The Poodle Shark

Extract from “Animals Evolution Avoided” The Poodle Shark is so called because of the round knobs of cartilage that were found at the top and bottom of its tail, on the top of its dorsal fin, and on the ends of its pectoral fins. These round protuberances hindered the shark’s passage through the water, slowingContinue reading “The Poodle Shark”

Seven-legged racing from Exeter – Part 1

The festival of seven-legged racing takes place around the cathedral in Exeter on the third Thursday after the second full moon after Ash Wednesday. The seven-legged race comprises teams of six people who race around the cathedral close in an anti-clockwise direction. The prize is won by the first team to cross the finishing lineContinue reading “Seven-legged racing from Exeter – Part 1”

Slipknot’s Corey Taylor: no aliens would interact with a culture this stupid

Corey Taylor is the frontman of Slipknot and Stone Sour – but he is also a writer. His third book, You’re Making Me Hate You, a cantankerous critique of pop culture, is out this month, and here is an excerpt [Warning: includes strong language]

40 Humourous British Traditions – Cat Chasing

This is an extract from my book 40 Humourous British Traditions Barton-in-the-Beans is a village in the county of Leicestershire in the heart of England. In the Middle Ages it was believed that there were more cats in the village than in any other village or town in the country. This could only mean oneContinue reading “40 Humourous British Traditions – Cat Chasing”

Goat Parva Murders – Another extract

This is another extract from my book The Goat Parva Murders: An Inspector Knowles Mystery. Suddenly Bingo barked and ran off into the undergrowth with his tail wagging vigorously. Mrs Hills turned around and shouted. “He’s found something I just know it – I wonder who it will be this time.” Linda Smythe walked overContinue reading “Goat Parva Murders – Another extract”

The Goat Parva Murders – An Inspector Knowles Mystery – Beginning of Chapter 2

Knowles decided that he and Barnes should arrive at Mrs Hills’ house in his Land Rover but that Mrs Danica Baker-Clements would be more impressed by Barnes’ Morgan. They drove to Scoresby station, dropped off the Morgan and then chugged over to the Hills’ house imaginatively called The Cottage. After they knocked on the doorContinue reading “The Goat Parva Murders – An Inspector Knowles Mystery – Beginning of Chapter 2”