Author: MKW Publishing

Doing it yourself…

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This may end up being just a list of tasks along the self publishing route but I have new respect for the procedure and the people that make that happen. Having undertaken all the aspects myself it’s not an easy or quick task.

I find writing the novel or stories is only a small part of it. It’s the finalising your story, editing, formatting, cover design and marketing. Making it ready for public consumption. Everyone who makes this happen, I salute you.

It’s a different kind of tiring when completed, quite draining but ultimately rewarding. However well the book does in the long run, it’s what I’ve always wanted to do.

(c) K Wicks photographer

Why do you want to scare people?…

~ MKW Publishing ~ 5 Comments

It’s an odd thing for me, horror. I have defended it, been scared by it, wanted to read it, watch it and write it, and by extension, share it.

Now I give more thought to why I feel the need. I would say my childhood was both molded and traumatised by horror films and books (mostly films), yet I cannot leave it alone. They have partly made me who I am, shaped my phobias and fears and set me upon this path.

But I wonder, should people like me share the story in it’s full unbridled horror, or should we filter it? For those who don’t have an imagination themselves or are limited with it, are we just putting unnecessary concepts and ideas forward? Ones that shouldn’t have ever got out? And after we have written it, it can take on a new form where the horror or idea no longer belongs to us, is no longer down to the imagination. Film and its brutal visual imagery assault can be both impressive and terrifying. But lets be clear, it is an assault on the senses. Just one we choose. But why?

All stories can evoke feeling and emotion, so why do we choose to put ourselves through heartbreak, love, horror, fear, intrigue and laughter, for something that is not happening to us or anyone we know. Is it because it is safe? Because it isn’t happening to us and we can just pause, identify from afar or turn it off? Unlike real life.

I am in two minds about whether we should, just because we can…

Ched caves skulls 1

(c) K L Wicks

 

Neolithic Adventures – West Kennet Avenue

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Really this could be an add on to my piece about Avebury given it’s proximity, but I think this deserves it’s own piece. West Kennet Avenue is an avenue of stones through an entire field leading in the direction of the West Kennet Barrow. I had no idea this was just round the corner from Avebury stone circle.

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Two very long rows of stones, some of them huge, some of them worn away by people, time and weather. There are a few posts marking out the ones that didn’t make it. On the drive down the road, there are also a couple of random monoliths, seemingly on their own and out of place. They help to still mark the old boundary line of the avenue.

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From here if you walk to the top of the hill, you can actually see West Kennet long barrow, and Silbury Hill further down. It’s hard not to see a rather large neolithic community at work here. And this is all we have left after 5,500 years, then who knows what was here to start with…

(c) K Wicks

 

Neolithic Adventures – Wayland’s Smithy

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One the more well known long barrows in England, Wayland’s Smithy. This is a stunning location and quite a site to behold when you get to the enclosure. Although situated on the ancient Ridgeway, it’s quite a walk from our known paths and roads so feels like quite a remote location. Only a mile apparently from the Uffington White Horse in Oxfordshire.

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This one has also been reconstructed and only the front is exposed and accessible.

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It’s very impressive when you see the size of the stones and walk around the site. Human remains have been found at this site during excavations, but from an earlier structure that this barrow was built on top of, without further bodies or burials being mentioned.

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It’s amazing what is just lying around above and below ground, literally just under your feet and you might not even know it…

 

(c) K Wicks

 

 

 

Neolithic Adventures – Belas Knap Long Barrow

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A site we have also been to before, but always worth a visit. Belas Knap long barrow is quite a jaunt up a steep hill and through a wooded walk, it’s quite off the beaten track as with the others. Although I realise that is how it appears now to my eyes and the modern arrangement of the landscape. Agriculture and building works have greatly changed what was once here. This one is on the Cotswold Way, so actually not to far off the beaten track at all.

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This structure has been excavated a number of times and was restored in the 1930’s to it’s present condition. What you see above is the apparent ‘false entrance’, and there are a number of side chambers and under the false entrance – although skeletal remains have been found during the chamber excavations, some of these have been dated to the bronze age, so in my mind cannot be attributed to it’s building.

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These two chambers are on opposite sides of the barrow.

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Just another in the long line of ancient mysteries left standing today. The adventure continues…

(c) K Wicks