Every author needs a day job, if only to remind them why they write.

In my case, I work for a company that publishes a series of regional B2B print magazines based in Manchester, UK.

So that's my trade, a journalist, but by inclination I'm a creative writer, and have been for almost as long as I can remember.

My work tends to spread itself around the science fiction, horror and fantasy genres, but it does like to venture into the satirical and the political every now and again.

Short stories have found their way into a number of small press journals over the years, along with a couple of anthologies, but novels remain the main focus of my writing.

More personally, I was born and bred in Bradford, West Yorkshire, but these days I live in Stoke-on-Trent and commute up to Manchester for the day job.

Website: http://www.markcantrell.co.uk
Twitter: Man0Words

Facebook: Facebook profile
LinkedIn: http://uk.linkedin.com/pub/mark-cantrell/27/297/a32
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/citizenzero-novel
Blog: http://www.markcantrell.co.uk/apps/blog/

• ARTICLE: Dealing With Bradford's Disease
• REVIEW: Landscapes of the Metropolis of Death
• BLOG: Is Your Boss A Cultist Or A Commissar?
• CITIZEN ZERO: Living The Prequel
• POEM: Among The Outcasts Dream Literati

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Ian Woodhead
Latest book: Very Dead Dolls. Published on July 18, 2011.

Terry C. Simpson
Latest book: Etchings of Power (Aegis of The Gods Bk1). Published on October 31, 2011. (5.00 from 1 review)
Visit their website.
View their blog. Latest post: "Aegis of the Gods Book 3, Intro to Celina"

• Time Standing Still on May 20, 2011
  
  A small selection of short stories it may be, but they are all finely written depictions of lives in motion. The stories don't depict grandiose themes, or great adventure, but those small moments that might seem fleeting but are of great import. Here, in these little slivers of living, is where human life is really defined, and these stories are engaging, moving, and filled with human warmth, even where the story touches upon the darker aspects of human nature. Time Standing Still makes for a worthy introduction to Farrell's work. It will not disapoint.
  
• Spore on June 04, 2011
  
  The mistake I made about Spore was to envisage it as a full-length novel when in fact it is a short story released as a standalone title, so in that respect we might consider it as a digital pamphlet. Well, it’s all part of the cultural learning curve from established print publishing norms (an industry that, historically speaking, cut its teeth on the pamphlet and serialised forms), and an observation that has no direct bearing on this review except insofar of the ending. No, no spoilers – if you want to know what happens, read it for yourself – but because I had perceived it as a novel it no doubt goes some way to explain why I felt it ended so abruptly. By the time I had gorged myself on its succulent two chapters it was over and I hadn’t had my fill by a long way. That doesn’t mean the ending was poor fare – it wasn’t – but that there is so much more potential to this story. Said ending is pregnant with possibility, it leaves the reader wondering what happened next, which is often the sign of a good end. There is no sense of indifference, no sigh of relief, but a desperate cry for more! It speaks of a story that has gripped the reader right from the start, just as Spore does: it pulls you in and keeps you thoroughly entertained. Woodhead has presented a finely-crafted horror story here, threaded with suitably dark humour that nevertheless refrains from ruining the macabre by over-stepping into comic territory. You’ll be horrified at Spore – for all the right reasons.
  
• Lumps on June 04, 2011
  
  A quick review this one, but once again I find myself filled with words of praise for Ian Woodhead's work. This short story was a cracking read, thoroughly original, with some nicely depicted characters -- and I really wasn't expecting that ending. Great stuff!
  
• Thug on June 04, 2011
  
  This is a short but far from sweet story. That's not a comment on the writinng, but on the relationship the writing depicts. Howells pulls no punches, much like the thug of the title, who brutally betrays his girlfriend's trust and affection by, well... read the story and you'll see. Written to raise the issue of domestic violence, it leaves no doubt (as if there ever could be any) of the cowardly brutality of those 'men' who hide their inadequacies behind their fists.