Make yourself at home
Welcome to journalist and SFF author Mark Cantrell's writing den
WELCOME to the Tome of an Obscure Scribbler.
That would be me, then.
My name is Mark Cantrell. By trade, I'm a journalist. By inclination, I write fiction. And here's where I share my scribblings.
Tome of an Obscure Scribbler serves as my main author blogging platform and newsletter, through which I'll try to keep you entertained and informed.
Broadly speaking, I write science fiction, fantasy, and horror; some of it with a distinctly dystopian flavour. That said, I tend to write to the story and worry about the genre (or genres) later.
So far, I have two published novels to my name. These are CITIZEN ZERO and SILAS MORLOCK. Each one haunts dystopian ground, but aside from their dark tone they remain very different beasts. So, do check them out.
For want of comparison, in the former novel, The Matrix meets V for Vendetta with a touch of I, Daniel Blake. The latter, a macabre melding of Fahrenheit 451 and Nosferatu, may well be dark in spirit, but represents something of a love letter to literature.
Both are published by the indie small press, Inspired Quill in digital and paperback editions.
Scribbler is where I talk about my fiction work, share some of my stories, wax rhetorical about the writing life, and otherwise pass comment on the topics that rattle my cage.
As a journalist, I've always been drawn to the social commentary genre, so I beg your indulgence there. News and features, though, form what you might call Scribbler's backbone.
Like a lot of authors, I balance creative writing with the demands of a day job, so it can be a struggle to focus on these 'extra-curricular' endeavours, all while sweating out my latest work of fiction.
That's where the more journalistic posts come in. They do keep the momentum going, I find; a structure I can add to as the more author-related works reach fruition. Plus, I enjoy them. Hopefully, you will too; some, if not all.
My interests are pretty broad, so expect an enthralling variety of stories. Scroll down for links to navigate the site, and to explore the typical themes covered by these regular articles.
The aim is to inform and entertain – and maybe challenge perceptions – but at its heart Tome of an Obscure Scribbler is an author's domain. It's founded in my more creative pursuits and – dare I say – the sheer love of words.
Thanks for reading.
For the book is the life
Visit my official author website for details about my published novels Citizen Zero and Silas Morlock. Both titles can be ordered through good bookshops or direct from the publisher, Inspired Quill.
Site Navigation
A simple guide – or index – to finding your way around the site...
Writers Life
Where I share my thoughts on writing, life, and other quasi-philosophical musings.
Explore My Worlds
Blogs and essays exploring my novels and the themes therein, along with any news updates about the novels. These are...
Forever Mercy | Citizen Zero | Silas Morlock
Fiction
Short stories, novel extracts, deleted scenes, published quarterly for as long as there is the material to share.
Essays & Comment
Thoughts, opinions, and general musings on life, politics, and current affairs.
News & Features
As mentioned, news and features from the backbone to the site, so here's a list of links to the main topic themes they come under...
Arts & Culture | Books & Literature | History & Heritage | Nature & Environment | Politics & Society | Science & Technology | Interviews
A little bit about me
LIKE I said, I'm a writer and a journalist; been at it for years.
As a 'jobbing hack', I've mostly worked for B2B publications both in print and online. For the most part, I write – and have written – about England's social housing industry.
Let me tell you, it's a pretty dystopian topic, though that hasn't influenced the tone of my fictional tales (at least I don't think it has).
As a writer, well, I just write; whatever takes my fancy, or perhaps I should say what fires me up enough to bleed out the words.
Mostly that's fiction and novels, but I have dabbled in poetry, and written plenty of essays and comment pieces. My non-fictional work leans heavily on the social commentary side of things, so I guess you could say I am something of a professional gobshite.
Over the years, I've had short stories published in a range of small press magazines and online journals. Mostly, these are works of science fiction, fantasy, horror, but not exclusively. Currently, I am working on my latest novel, Forever Mercy.
In a way, I got an odd start. At least, it's always struck me as odd, but perhaps not so much in this day and age where gaming has become a mature industry, taking in its share of wordsmiths and visual artists.
Back in the day, my first foray into creative writing began with text adventure games for the ZX Spectrum 48K/128K home computers, back at the tail-end of the 8-bit gaming era. After crafting four such games – one of which won an award – I gravitated to prose writing and journalism. Well, it required less coding.
As for me, I'm a Yorkshireman, born and bred in Bradford, but these days I live in Staffordshire, so I guess that makes me an 'ex-pat' Tyke. Whatever, I remain a proud Northerner at heart.
Consider a subscription
TOME of an Obscure Scribbler is a reader-supported publication, so by taking out a subscription (it's free) you're not only showing your support for my work, but also ensuring you never miss a post.
Simply put, why visit the site to check for new material, when the site can come to you – with the latest offerings dropped into your inbox? Of course, by hopping over for a visit, you can browse the 'back catalogue' of stories and posts, so don't be a stranger.
The site aims for a weekly schedule of posts, with a piece of fiction published every three months, and a quarterly newsletter. The latter provides a digest of stories posted here, and on my 'official' author website, among others, along with any fresh news and updates.
Buy me a coffee
Scribbler is free to subscribe, so if you'd care to make a further show of support and appreciation for the work of an independent author and journalist, you can always visit my KoFi page and make a small donation.
A few coins in the 'tip jar' are much appreciated. Much obliged!
Additional links
Visit my 'official' author website – Mark Cantrell, Author – for information about my published works.
Visit my publisher, Inspired Quill.
Support local indie bookstores online through Book Shop UK, visit my page there.
Visit my: Amazon Author Page | Smashwords Author Page
View my author profile on Goodreads and consider adding my books to your shelves.
Social media
BlueSky | Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn
See my link tree for more sites and profiles.
Join the crew
Be part of a community of people who share your interests. To find out more about the company that provides the tech for this newsletter, visit Substack.com.
