2019-07-06 04:00
Once upon a time you could set your watch by the seasons. You knew that there would always be a Spring, Summer, Autumn and a Winter. These days the seasons seem to have merged and moved aro… Read More
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Author Tom Kane's blog. Tom's genres are Humour, Sci-Fi, Horror, Military Fiction, Travel and Dark Paranormal Erotica. You can find his books on Amazon kindle, paperback and most other eReader formats.
2019-07-02 00:07
I wrote a piece for my blog a month or so ago about the odd things you can see in the Cyprus sky. You can read Starry, Starry Night by clicking here.
Things That Go Bang In The Night
Of cou… Read More
2019-06-25 04:55
I’m writing a science fiction short called The Dog Walker and as an intro I have my dog walker, a robot named RB43, retrieve a small dog lead from a cupboard where the dog’s foo… Read More
2019-06-24 18:23
Our dog Harvey passed away on Tuesday 18th June 2019 after several illnesses. He soldiered through all that was put in his way and was of good humour right to the very end. Here’s the… Read More
2019-06-23 09:17
Fruit is something we mostly take for granted, be it an apple a day or the grapes of wrath, we tend to eat fruit (or not) and not think too much about it. But with the world’s bee pop… Read More
2019-06-22 09:05
I can understand why buying property is stressful. Add into that mix Harvey’s illness and sad death and, well, I could go on bemoaning the harshness of life but, I’m not. Life i… Read More
2019-06-21 18:21
First draft my 3rd work in progress
Ascension: Brave New Earth
One
Brett awoke to the sound of panicky, whispered and frightened voices.
“Wake your father up. Quickly.”
He felt… Read More
2019-06-21 10:03
Our dog Harvey passed away on Tuesday 18th June 2019 after several illnesses. He soldiered through all that was put in his way and was of good humour right to the very end. Here’s the… Read More
2019-06-18 09:33
Today I lost a great pal. Harvey’s nasal cancer got the better of him and at the vet’s this morning it was apparent the cancer from his nose was spreading to his eyes and brain… Read More
2019-06-18 02:29
The Good
As a writer, I’m well aware of many famous sayings to do with writing. Perhaps the most famous is never judge a book by its cover. That goes doubly so in Harvey World. Harvey… Read More
2019-06-15 03:50
When you’re having a bad day, odd day, crap day, stressed day or a day you simply want to forget, where do you go to put it all behind you? For me, it’s the garden.
Don’t… Read More
2019-06-14 18:05
What’s the difference between sales and marketing? Most people have no idea and seem to confuse the two. To put it simply, if your books are on sale on Amazon then you don’t hav… Read More
2019-06-10 04:24
It’s a calm period since Harvey was first diagnosed with nasal cancer. The turbulence has toned down somewhat, though he did have an episode of a nose bleed a fortnight ago. That was… Read More
2019-06-09 09:44
About a year or so ago I tried to buy an apartment in Peyia in Cyprus. For reasons beyond my control that purchase fell through and it’s only just now that another property has come o… Read More
2019-05-30 13:54
Figuratively speaking Jude Brubaker sat on her favourite sofa, except her whole body was stiff and though seated her legs and arms were sticking out in front of her body at odd angles, maki… Read More
2019-05-28 03:51
Hell
The stinking rat infested hell hole that was their prison had seen very little activity except when slops of food where served in buckets dropped on the straw and feaces littered floor… Read More
2019-05-28 02:41
Here’s where I get a problem with this story. Is it moving into the realms of erotic fiction, or, as intended, is the antagonist simply doing what she does and using sex to attain her… Read More
2019-05-27 15:20
Motherly Love
The darkness of the night fell abruptly at Jude Brubaker’s desert home, matching the woman’s mood. As she sat on the stone steps leading up to her front door, look… Read More
2019-05-27 14:28
Death of a Friend
Present Day.
May Brubaker settled to her knees and crouched down below the wall’s top line of bricks. The walled entrance to the new upmarket condo was hot from bein… Read More
2019-05-27 13:48
This is a novel I wrote some four years ago. I’m publishing the first few chapters here just to see if it’s worth publishing as an eBook. Problem is, I have no real idea w… Read More
2019-05-27 11:42
Every day is different, if it wasn’t we would all be bored to death. But when you have a sickly dog, you sometimes wish every day could be the same.
Harvey’s cancer has been pre… Read More
2019-05-19 04:17
Harvey’s cancer, let’s call it out for what it is, isn’t going to get any better, in fact it will progressively get worse until we come to the point of no return. We… Read More
2019-05-05 03:40
There’s nothing better to lift someone’s spirits than a few blooms coming out in the spring. With all the woes we’re experiencing with Harvey’s health it’s nice… Read More
2019-05-05 01:26
Holly and Harvey
Friday was a bad day at black rock for me, full of doom and gloom with no light at the end of the tunnel. Saturday dawned and with it came a little glimmer of light. I had f… Read More
2019-05-03 18:09
I knew today would be slow and painful in many ways. It takes time to remove the top of a dog’s nose and it takes time to determine what you find there. Cancer has no respect for dign… Read More
2019-05-03 01:08
It’s pretty difficult to reconcile a sick dog that has cancer with Harvey who is so full of beans he’s almost behaving like a ten year old springer, not a fifteen year old. In h… Read More
2019-04-28 09:07
The decision’s made. Harvey’s going for his operation on his nose cancer on Friday 3rd May.
He’s doing okay, at the moment. He sleeps fine when he gets comfortable, but th… Read More
2019-04-24 04:27
My current work in progress is ‘The Brittle Sea’ and this is set at the time of the sinking of the Titanic. I’ve created my own cover as those of you who have read th… Read More
2019-04-24 03:04
Well, we have the results of an fna aspiration the vet did a few days ago and it’s not good. Harvey has Adenocarcinoma which is nose cancer. You can read about it here.
Esse… Read More
2019-04-22 02:40
Poor old Harvey has certainly been through the wars and now his latest problem has become something huge.
As mentioned previously, read here, Harvey has a problem in his nose and is sneezin… Read More
2019-04-17 03:56
When your dog has been ill, life for that dog can not only be life changing, it may even be life ending. I have two English Springer Spaniels, Holly and Harvey. Holly is the liver and white… Read More
2019-04-13 03:49
With Book One almost finished, I’ve had to start Book Two in order to know how to end Book One. I know, sounds a bit mad but trust me… I hope I know what I’m doing. Here… Read More
2019-04-10 04:19
It looked like an alien invasion and it was the space crop that was their target. Okay, perhaps alien was taking it too far. Snails more like, but what a size they were and I have never had… Read More
2019-04-05 04:59
Aircraft Safety
Aircraft safety is the number one concern for anyone wanting to fly, and no, I’m not suggesting there’s a risk a giant African Giraffe can pull aircraft out of t… Read More
2019-04-03 11:24
Treasonist: Someone who betrays his country by committing treason.
Throughout history there have been many instances of men and women commit acts of treason against the country of their bir… Read More
2019-03-22 03:57
I’ve never been a fan of margarine, either in cooking or on bread when making a sandwich. Something that’s been invented as an alternative to butter, that tastes nothing like bu… Read More
2019-03-19 04:46
There have been more votes in the British Parliament to do with Brexit than any of us can keep up with, and yet we are still uncertain as to what exactly, if anything, will happen on 29th M… Read More
2019-03-19 04:02
The Brittle Sea will be published in three parts, Book One, Two and Three and these will constitute the completion of The Brittle Sea. Once these three parts are published and if there is e… Read More
2019-03-18 04:31
The stars in the night sky in Cyprus are something to behold. If you’re on holiday in Cyprus in the spring or summer (or any time if you can stand cold nights) then put your glass dow… Read More
2019-03-12 04:33
Sweet alyssum?
I consider myself to be a writer first, t-shirt designer second, computer programmer third and a complete amateur at gardening. But I’m learning, especially about writin… Read More
2019-03-06 04:10
Today is the 6th of March 2019. Today there are only 23 days before Britain leaves the EU. Today the British government is still trying to arrange a divorce agreement between Britain and th… Read More
2019-03-06 02:59
Aristotle is said to have made this remark. “One swallow does not a summer make, nor one fine day; similarly one day or brief time of happiness does not make a person entirely happy… Read More
2019-03-04 03:30
Like a lot of people who live in Cyprus, I love to eat a good Greek salad in the summer. What most visitors to Cyprus, who tuck into those tasty salads, will probably never know is that the… Read More
2019-03-01 03:28
Anyone who has read any of my posts on gardening, probably realise that though I’m all for nice and neat rows of flowers that make a great display and attract butterflies and bees, I… Read More
2019-02-27 04:27
No, I’m not referring to a property number on an address like Rockefeller Plaza or an asteroid in the Oort Cloud or any place else for that matter. I’m referring to a little sto… Read More
2019-02-26 03:03
When I was a kid, Painting by Numbers was all the rage for a couple of years and although I was a bit messy, it did teach me the value of using numbers… if not how to paint. Numbers… Read More
2019-02-19 04:02
With a new garden to work on that has actual borders with actual soil to plant into, I’ve been accumalating seeds for this as well as for my numerous pots. But, I have an issue with s… Read More
2019-02-13 01:23
Ever been in the process of creating something you think is pretty unique and then realise it’s all been done before? Well, that’s what I’m in the process of re-inventing… Read More
2019-02-11 04:20
Why a Serialisation?
I have been asked about my decision to publish The Brittle Sea in three parts, and what exactly a serialised novel is.
A serial novel is a work of fiction published as… Read More
2019-02-05 13:35
The Titanic disaster is the catalyst that sparks a bloody feud between two families in early 20th century America.
Captain Richard Blackmore, the master of The Lady Jane, rescues an unseen… Read More
2019-02-05 01:37
Book Two
Darkness
She woke with a start and gulped for air. She lay on her back, her mind a blank. Tears welled in her eyes as she opened them to an ebony darkness. Panic plucked at her hea… Read More
2019-02-04 06:26
Lost at Sea
Long distance communications became a reality in the early 19th century with the invention of the Telegraph. It worked by transmitting electrical signals over a wire laid betwee… Read More
2019-02-03 12:50
Kidnap
Matthew Ballantine, as always, believed he oversaw his own destiny, he felt his fate in life was not a pre-determined thing, but something he forged for himself. As always, he was wr… Read More
2019-01-30 03:00
Every once in a while, plans we make don’t quite come to fruition and our planned day goes out the window to be replaced from something more akin to the synopsis for a madcap movie. S… Read More
2019-01-27 10:31
image from the Nazi death camp in auschwitz birkenau
Today is my 64th birthday and it’s also a day of remembrance. Today we remember the murder of an estimated 6 million people at the… Read More
2019-01-23 03:56
For holidays in Cyprus I admit it, I’m biased, because I live in Cyprus. But that also means I know some of the best places to stay.
Taking a holiday in Cyprus has to be one of the… Read More
2019-01-22 06:44
It was today 140 years ago today, on 22nd January 1879, that Lieutenant John Chard was writing a letter home when he was disturbed by two men riding into his camp at the Rorke’s Drift… Read More
2019-01-21 02:04
It’s mid-January and the weather has been atrocious for the last few weeks. It has rained almost constantly since Christmas and everywhere is dripping wet. Couple that with the cold an… Read More
2019-01-19 02:51
Lady Jane Under Fire
The Lady Jane’s map room was a scene of frantic searching. David James had searched high and low for a map or simply any information on shallows and rock formatio… Read More
2019-01-16 03:21
Last night, on the 15th January 2019, history was made.
British law makers in the UK Parliament broke the back of Prime Minister Theresa May’s Brexit deal with the EU last night. In a… Read More
2019-01-15 00:49
There’s a classic 1950s Science Fiction movie called When Worlds Collide, which tells the story of a rogue planet entering our solar system on a collision course with Earth.
The resu… Read More
2019-01-07 03:32
Deal, or no deal? Sounds like a game show, I know, but it’s a phrase we are likely to hear muttered more and more towards the deadline for Britain leaving the EU. And not just muttere… Read More
2019-01-07 02:04
The Sunday morning lie-in took a slight twist this week as our electric supply went off at around seven in the morning and didn’t come back on until almost noon. It’s been raini… Read More
2019-01-04 09:34
It’s been about three months since I wrote and published the latest chapter in The Brittle Sea and this isn’t due to writer’s block or running out of ideas. This is purely… Read More
2019-01-03 19:22
When most people think of Cyprus they think of a warm and sunny beach, an ideal place for a summer holiday. We do attract a lot of tourists and they come here during the winter too, but not… Read More
2018-12-24 18:53
It’s Christmas time once more. I would like to take the opportunity to wish all the followers of my blog, my Tweets, postings on Facebook and all my readers, a very Merry Christm… Read More
2018-12-18 05:36
The national health service in Cyprus is great in terms of actual health care. Admittedly there are differences between the UK and Cyprus. Food in a Cypriot hospital is only going to cater… Read More
2018-12-17 00:31
In December 1917 the Great War had been raging since 1914 and many lives had been lost in combat on both sides. In the period coming up to Christmas that year, French soldiers were travelli… Read More
2018-12-14 05:01
Technology in the early part of the 20th Century was a new and wondrous experience for many people. But the infancy of any technological expansion will inevitably lead to human error, often… Read More
2018-12-10 03:07
Halloumi Cheese Salad
According to a Cyprus government spokesperson, Cyprus is losing the halloumi trademark in the UK after failing to act on time was ‘an act of suicide’ for th… Read More
2018-12-05 04:50
The ‘H’ Team
Swimming comes naturally to dogs and my two English Springer Spaniels are no exception. As you can see from the picture above, Holly (the liver and white) and Harvey… Read More
2018-12-04 05:17
What started out as a dire warning yesterday of a major storm about to hit Cyprus, turned out to be quite a spectacular light show. Nevertheless, it became a night with very little sleep.
I… Read More
2018-12-01 05:04
Protaras Golden Coast
Okay, it’s actually cold and wet and damp here in Cyprus as I write this on the last day of November 2018. But it’s about this time of year many people, in… Read More
2018-11-26 05:00
Moving house isn’t too hard when it’s only next door. All you do is pack up your stuff, carry it all next door and unpack it. That’s the easy bit. The hard bit is getting… Read More
2018-11-24 03:16
Moving home is considered to be one of the most stressful things you can do. I’ve never had a problem with moving, in fact it’s usually been pretty easy. I’ve worked in ma… Read More
2018-11-21 05:33
Sir Winston Churchill once said, “England and America are two countries divided by a common language.” Being half British and half American, Churchill knew better than most the… Read More
2018-11-19 03:18
If you have followed Harvey’s illness you will know he’s been very anxious since we brought him home from the vets a few weeks ago. So much so he was constantly barking if I was… Read More
2018-11-13 04:04
“Change is inevitable. Change is constant.”British Statesman, Benjamin Disraeli
It was the fabulous David Bowie who sang, “Turn and face the change, ch-ch changes.”… Read More
2018-11-12 04:50
Ever had the feeling you’re going round in circles and never getting anywhere? I get that a lot with trying to figure out why a book sells or a free book is downloaded. I have t… Read More
2018-11-05 08:54
In English there is a saying, ‘time is a great healer’. I’ve no idea who said that, but nonetheless it’s true. Equally true and pertinent is Sigá Sig&aac&helli…Read More
2018-11-05 01:16
An extract from Diary of a Debt Collector.
I had never been to Turkey before but my wife had been several times. We were on our way to Dalaman airport and then I was assured it was a short… Read More
2018-11-01 01:03
Harvey and Holly’s visit to the vet was positive. Holly has probably got a cyst and a course of anti-biotics will, we hope, cure the lump. But if it doesn’t do so in ten days th… Read More
2018-10-31 11:45
Today Harvey, the black & white springer on the right above, goes back to see the vet, a week after we picked him up. He has come on in leaps and bounds, literally almost, and can now w… Read More
2018-10-29 05:18
Harvey’s neurological problem, his Ataxia, meant that when we brought him home from the vets his backs legs were not working. There are three reasons for this. The Ataxia, the operati… Read More
2018-10-26 13:34
After over three weeks of playing a very difficult waiting game with Harvey’s illness, he has finally been given the all clear to come home by the vet. Yesterday we collected him in t… Read More
2018-10-20 04:41
Have you ever had the feeling you’re swimming in molasses, against the tide, with your hands tied behind your back? That’s the feeling I and I’m certain a few other expats… Read More
2018-10-18 01:30
It’s been a roller coaster week since I last posted about Harvey. His initial problem with his spine, Ataxia, was due to be operated on a week last Tuesday. But an ultra-scan showed a… Read More
2018-10-11 13:52
What started out as a series I was posting to my blog about dogs in general and how they are treated in Cyprus, has become much more personal.
Our eldest English Springer Spaniel, Harvey, h… Read More
2018-10-11 04:28
Playing the waiting game is one thing, but yesterday was a very long day waiting for news on Harvey’s operation. His Ataxia problem, quite common in dogs his age and his type, was goi… Read More
2018-10-10 03:27
This is a first draft, so please forgive spelling & grammatical errors. Context and characters may change between now and the final publication date.
When published as an eBook and pape… Read More
2018-10-10 02:37
Harvey and Holly Swimming
When a serious illness strikes it’s obviously a bad experience for the stricken party, those around the patient have only to await the outcome of tests before… Read More
2018-10-09 04:13
When a family member becomes ill, your first emotional response is concern. When it becomes obvious your family member is very poorly, you naturally think of what it will take to cure them… Read More
2018-10-08 03:52
Ataxia may sound like a baddie in a Sci-Fi movie or Doctor Who episode, but it isn’t, it’s actually far more of a villain than you may think. I had never heard of Ataxia until o… Read More
2018-10-05 10:47
Here in Cyprus there’s a definite two tier set of values in place when it comes to dogs. Some have dogs as pets, some for hunting and some as guard dogs. In general their owners treat… Read More
2018-10-02 02:29
This is a first draft, so please forgive spelling & grammatical errors. Context and characters may change between now and the final publication date.
When published as an eBook and pape… Read More
2018-09-29 02:12
I’ve mentioned Kalamies Beach before, but never said much about the area because at first there only appears to be a beach here, but there are a few hidden gems. Kalamies is close to… Read More
2018-09-24 01:07
Ever been on holiday or on a trip to somewhere you’ve never been, and you’re so taken with the place you vow to return? I have, in August 2003 I visited Cyprus for the first tim… Read More
2018-09-20 11:11
If you’re a plane spotter and like nothing better than topping your tan up on a sun-bed, then McKenzie Beach in Larnaca is the place for you. The aircraft come in pretty low over… Read More
2018-09-19 03:34
We’ve heard a lot about AI (Artificial Intelligence) in recent years and how it will change our lives. There are some who feel AI could lead to the destruction of the human race, like… Read More
2018-09-13 08:21
This is a first draft, so please forgive spelling & grammatical errors. Context and characters may change between now and the final publication date.
When published as an eBook and pape… Read More
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