Grahame the Ghost

Historical fantasy author of my own version of the story of King Arthur - The Blood of the Bear, and Ghostwriter for YA, Military, Action Thriller and Romance genres (so far),

Blood of the Bear 2 is on its way, and the dragons are coming.

I can often be found hanging out in #WordWeavers, #WritersCoffeeClub, #ScribesAndMakers, and #PennedPossibilities but will occasionally throw out a poll to the wider #WritingCommunity for help or opinions.

The Blood of the Bear 'Look Inside' Preview: https://read.amazon.co.uk/kp/embed?asin=B09HNX63YW&preview=newtab&linkCode=kpe&ref_=cm_sw_r_kb_dp_NWPVA2DE164V06KC9RC7

Last Notes

2026-07-20 12:09:16 UTC

#WritersCoffeeClub Jul 20 - Talk about a friend who really drives you as a writer.
No scented markers at #ScribesAndMakers, and now no friends, I'm really doing well today. 🙂

2026-07-04 12:25:28 UTC

#ScribesAndMakers Jul 4 - Sample?
Even cold blooded killers need to take a rest break and have some snacks...
The bright lights of the rest area sat like an island in the darkness. The Raststätte was a busy truck stop with a supermarket, restaurant, and gas station, and it was constantly circulated by snakes of traffic moving in and out.
Anya selected a parking space as far away from the buildings as possible, opting for the lowest coverage from any cameras. She acted like someone who was permanently on the run. It wasn’t planning; it was instinct.
“I’ll just be a few moments,” she said, passing me a credit card. “Get me a latte macchiato to go, and something to keep my blood sugar high. The PIN is 4020 if you need it.”
I watched her walk away. She was a challenging read. I felt her confidence was a cover for something that weighed heavily on her. She took pride in her work, but I sensed that risky bets were part of her game. Collateral damage was not something that concerned her in pursuit of the final win. I realized she was ruthless, in other words.
I stocked up with two large coffees and enough unhealthy eating choices to cover a few more miles. We weren’t heading into Dresden tonight, but instead to a branch office of The Company, which was a farm, to be more precise. It was probably run as a legitimate business to cover its unofficial use. The branches were always remote and surrounded by round-the-clock security. They were the people you would never see if they were doing their job right.
Even as an operative, I would only meet with those necessary for the mission. To The Company, I was a remote worker with contracts organized through the blockchain and payment via crypto. Personal contact was limited to the minimum required. I would meet my driver at the destination. We would carry out the work, and then possibly never see each other again, unless an algorithm running in a data center decided we were a good fit for another job.
I paid for the purchases with a bank card from a company I’d never heard of. Anya was waiting outside the shop. “Did you forget anything?” she asked with more than a hint of sarcasm and a nod to the purchases I’d made.
“I don’t really know what you like. I just tried to cover all eventualities.”
She took the bag and scanned the contents. “Nine out of ten. I don’t like gummies. Let’s go.”

2026-05-07 09:50:41 UTC

#WritersCoffeeClub May 7 - Do readers need to understand a character's motivations to understand the story?
I feel the need to write the motivations for major characters. My 'reader' might just be using the book to prop up a wonky table leg. 🙂

2025-12-07 08:51:19 UTC

#ScribesAndMakers
#TTMD
@npub1ldj…f82c
I'm really intrigued about your new book set in Hamelin at the time of the legend of the Pied Piper ...it sounds like something Guillermo del Toro might turn into a movie one day. 🙂
You mention on your bio about the importance of well-researched historical characters ...and I presume setting as well.
How do you approach the research? Is it woven into the drafting process, or earlier, as part of a character development phase when planning the book.
And how important is it for you to have experienced the locations for your stories in real life?

2025-09-03 16:09:12 UTC

- reply

I'll need to get a bit more famous first. 😁

2025-09-03 09:37:59 UTC

#WritersCoffeeClub Aug 3 - Have you ever based a character on yourself? If not, would you?
If I did, I don't know how recognisable it would be. It would be my perception of me, which could be quite different from everyone else's.
For instance, I think I'm funny. 🤔
...Nah, I prefer to just carry on writing about all the characters I've met in my life ...and it's probably for the best that some don't know. 😀

2025-08-22 08:56:13 UTC

#WordWeavers Aug 22 - If money wasn’t an issue, where would you arrange a WordWeavers writing retreat?
I suppose I would need to host it in beloved Glastonbury, with personal guided tours of the local legendary sites.
Each day would begin at dawn on top of the Tor, bottling service for water from the Chalice Well, and some lovely Somerset countryside to relax in ...with a good supply of locally farm produced, if slightly dubious scrumpy.
Organised around the festival of Lughnasadh so the Druids are out for a bit of a celebration.
Writing? Oh yeah there might be some of that as well. 🙂

2025-07-25 08:23:05 UTC

#HeavyMetalHardRock
#JukeboxFridayNight
There are so many good metal covers, but this is my favourite
Chop Suey - performed by Halocene, Lauren Babic, and Violet Orlandi
https://youtu.be/vUpcCN_PWYw?si=awaBwD59YqIfcpuP

2025-06-26 16:12:42 UTC

- reply

Probably something I'm more likely to learn about as a subject for study rather than a student, but yes I have had a lot of experiences with writing where the book seems to start writing itself, and the relevant knowledge to solve an issue with the story suddenly appears from a random source.
I tend to just blame the characters themselves, but it can't just be that.

2025-06-26 15:52:53 UTC

- reply

Only in the context of general research. I maybe should read more. Although what amazes me is just how far back in time similar theories appear. I know. I should maybe have went to school and I might have known about it all much earlier. 🙂

2025-06-26 15:29:29 UTC

- reply

Which reminds me ...Carl Jung, and resonance ...What's going on? Is maybe how I should have answered the prompt. 🙂

2025-06-26 11:16:59 UTC

#ScribesAndMakers June 26 - What?
...What we achieve inwardly will change outer reality - Plutarch
I'm touching on this philosophy in my current book and it appears that it's starting to emphasise its presence in my life through #ScribesAndMakers prompts.
...spooky. 🙂

2025-06-12 11:39:24 UTC

#PennedPossibilities 697 - MC POV: What, to you, would be the worst way to die?
The worst death?
My last glimpse is of Gwenhwyfar in danger, the last thing I hear is her anguished calls of pain, and my last thoughts are filled with the certainty that it's too late for me to do anything about it as my own soul departs.
Any other death I can face, as long as it's not that, I have no fear of the stillness of Avalon.

2024-09-05 11:27:35 UTC

#WordWeavers Sep 5 - If you could collaborate with another author, who would it be?
On the history side, Professor Michael Wood, who wrote the book In Search of the Dark Ages, which was a huge inspiration to me - So if he's up for applying his extensive knowledge of history to an anarchic comedy fiction - then I'm interested.
On the comedy side, I would have to say Bob Mortimer, but if that collaboration ever happened I know I would just spend more time laughing than writing. 😀