Author - mostly horror. Before that: research physicist & university manager. Flits between rural Co. Durham & south of France. Check out www.markndrake.com for news/info. Free story for you at https://dl.bookfunnel.com/kn2xszai89. Please follow & say hi!https://bsky.app/profile/mark-n-drake.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/mark-n-drake.bsky.social/post/3mrhkc4dhrk22Went to a free concert in the grounds of the chateau across the road from our place in France. There was a little pop up bar there. A glass of wine was half the price of a soft drink. God I love this country.25 Jul 2026 09:24 +0000at://did:plc:mcvjun7a6timb4marphuk5x4/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrhkc4dhrk22https://bsky.app/profile/mark-n-drake.bsky.social/post/3mp2qcphqwk2xThis week has allowed me to do my hot weather thing of blasting "A Sky of Honey" by #katebush on my car CD while driving to/from work. God it's hot! But this is North East England so it will be "Cloudbusting" weather before too long, I'm sure. Then before you know it, "50 Words For Snow" time.24 Jun 2026 20:17 +0000at://did:plc:mcvjun7a6timb4marphuk5x4/app.bsky.feed.post/3mp2qcphqwk2xhttps://bsky.app/profile/mark-n-drake.bsky.social/post/3moltdftfek24For one week only, "Bogganmor" is available for 99c/99p on Amazon. A multi-layered cosmic horror noir with a big finish! Find out more at: www.amazon.com/dp/B0DVRYB9VR https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DVRYB9VR18 Jun 2026 22:01 +0000at://did:plc:mcvjun7a6timb4marphuk5x4/app.bsky.feed.post/3moltdftfek24https://bsky.app/profile/mark-n-drake.bsky.social/post/3moazzv5fnc2nLooking at the menu for our local pizzeria in France, I reckon I could make up a convincing World Cup team from what's on offer. I give you: Mario Anchois, Davida Jardiniere, Coyote Pescara and, of course, towering centre forward Roberto Kebab.14 Jun 2026 15:02 +0000at://did:plc:mcvjun7a6timb4marphuk5x4/app.bsky.feed.post/3moazzv5fnc2nhttps://bsky.app/profile/mark-n-drake.bsky.social/post/3mo6kilau6s2fStarting to question the wisdom of a Northener buying a house in the South of France. I may die. And there are still books in the Darkisle series to write!13 Jun 2026 15:19 +0000at://did:plc:mcvjun7a6timb4marphuk5x4/app.bsky.feed.post/3mo6kilau6s2fhttps://bsky.app/profile/mark-n-drake.bsky.social/post/3mnw4ghxdl22hRevisiting the setting for my last novel. A lovely evening in #collioure. No sign of eldritch beings at the moment.10 Jun 2026 06:46 +0000at://did:plc:mcvjun7a6timb4marphuk5x4/app.bsky.feed.post/3mnw4ghxdl22hhttps://bsky.app/profile/mark-n-drake.bsky.social/post/3mnrfuu3a2c2zI saw this exhibition ar Alnwick once. Easily the funniest thing I have ever seen in a museum. If you're anywhere near Mansfield, you need to see this. https://www.theguardian.com/music/2026/jun/07/exhibition-worst-album-covers-ever08 Jun 2026 09:51 +0000at://did:plc:mcvjun7a6timb4marphuk5x4/app.bsky.feed.post/3mnrfuu3a2c2zhttps://bsky.app/profile/mark-n-drake.bsky.social/post/3mncfbmm4g22dIf you've not read any Terry Pratchett... then stop messing around and get on with it! [contains quote post or other embedded content]02 Jun 2026 10:31 +0000at://did:plc:mcvjun7a6timb4marphuk5x4/app.bsky.feed.post/3mncfbmm4g22dhttps://bsky.app/profile/mark-n-drake.bsky.social/post/3mnakxllqfc2lMy latest #cyanotype effort. I name it "Quite Grassy".01 Jun 2026 17:07 +0000at://did:plc:mcvjun7a6timb4marphuk5x4/app.bsky.feed.post/3mnakxllqfc2lhttps://bsky.app/profile/mark-n-drake.bsky.social/post/3mmy67cvn6c27New Collioure Coincidence order from my shop ready to despatch. The wonderful artwork of Ellen Lucy. ko-fi.com/markndrake29 May 2026 08:57 +0000at://did:plc:mcvjun7a6timb4marphuk5x4/app.bsky.feed.post/3mmy67cvn6c27https://bsky.app/profile/mark-n-drake.bsky.social/post/3mmx3hk7b522dEvening walk around the village with daughter's dog and it suddenly stuck me that I really like where I live.28 May 2026 22:36 +0000at://did:plc:mcvjun7a6timb4marphuk5x4/app.bsky.feed.post/3mmx3hk7b522dhttps://bsky.app/profile/mark-n-drake.bsky.social/post/3mmhgrjt2ys2fI'll state now that there will be ZERO 'Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy' fans able to hear of Spacex's proposed billionaire spaceship to Mars without thinking of the Golgafrincham Ark Fleet, Ship B. #HHGTTG22 May 2026 17:16 +0000at://did:plc:mcvjun7a6timb4marphuk5x4/app.bsky.feed.post/3mmhgrjt2ys2fhttps://bsky.app/profile/mark-n-drake.bsky.social/post/3mloutxxo7c2vI would like to think that part of our pub quiz team's triumph tonight was down to me knowing who played Sergeant Howie in 'The Wicker Man' #horror12 May 2026 22:51 +0000at://did:plc:mcvjun7a6timb4marphuk5x4/app.bsky.feed.post/3mloutxxo7c2vhttps://bsky.app/profile/mark-n-drake.bsky.social/post/3mlc4r4u4k22gA very nice review of 'The Collioure Coincidence' on Goodreads! #booksky #horror07 May 2026 21:08 +0000at://did:plc:mcvjun7a6timb4marphuk5x4/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlc4r4u4k22ghttps://bsky.app/profile/mark-n-drake.bsky.social/post/3mkq5sahfes2dI finally got the multiple exposure time thing to work to give an impression of depth. Exposure time of 4 mins for the central sprig, with the other 2 sprigs removed on the 3 min 30 second mark. Quite pleased! #cyanotype30 Apr 2026 17:38 +0000at://did:plc:mcvjun7a6timb4marphuk5x4/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkq5sahfes2dhttps://bsky.app/profile/mark-n-drake.bsky.social/post/3mjhmays5s226Free map of my fictional island of Darkisle is now available from my Ko-Fi shop. ko-fi.com/s/7b6e0066a8 https://ko-fi.com/s/7b6e0066a814 Apr 2026 14:38 +0000at://did:plc:mcvjun7a6timb4marphuk5x4/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjhmays5s226https://bsky.app/profile/mark-n-drake.bsky.social/post/3mizc5rx6nk2cAnother nice review of 'The Collioure Coincidence'! I love that people appreciate the Lovecraft-noir vibe! https://www.thefaeriereview.com/2026/03/review-the-collioure-coincidence/08 Apr 2026 22:00 +0000at://did:plc:mcvjun7a6timb4marphuk5x4/app.bsky.feed.post/3mizc5rx6nk2chttps://bsky.app/profile/mark-n-drake.bsky.social/post/3miz3ikqzgk2p [contains quote post or other embedded content]08 Apr 2026 20:01 +0000at://did:plc:mcvjun7a6timb4marphuk5x4/app.bsky.feed.post/3miz3ikqzgk2phttps://bsky.app/profile/mark-n-drake.bsky.social/post/3miub3dp6fc2dMy cyanotypes always come out better at the house in France! Must be that Mediterranean sun. #cyanotypes06 Apr 2026 21:58 +0000at://did:plc:mcvjun7a6timb4marphuk5x4/app.bsky.feed.post/3miub3dp6fc2dhttps://bsky.app/profile/mark-n-drake.bsky.social/post/3miqhwhtqh22aThe library at our French house is coming along. But I think I'll need and extra 'B' shelf... #booksky #ianbanks #iainmbanks05 Apr 2026 09:49 +0000at://did:plc:mcvjun7a6timb4marphuk5x4/app.bsky.feed.post/3miqhwhtqh22ahttps://bsky.app/profile/mark-n-drake.bsky.social/post/3miml5gs2cc2eAdded a fun bit of Darkisle background material to my Ko-Fi shop. A 1920s-style gun club newsletter that discusses some of the guns featured in the Darkisle novels. Only a quid. https://ko-fi.com/C0C71N49XP/shop03 Apr 2026 20:36 +0000at://did:plc:mcvjun7a6timb4marphuk5x4/app.bsky.feed.post/3miml5gs2cc2ehttps://bsky.app/profile/mark-n-drake.bsky.social/post/3milmry3oys23A reminder that my short horror story 'No Crime in That' is available for FREE as a PDF/EPUB download. Yes, I'll ask you for an email address but the story is worth it and my newsletters are fun, honest! And you can unsubscribe at the press of a button. #booksky #horror dl.bookfunnel.com/kn2xszai89 https://dl.bookfunnel.com/kn2xszai8903 Apr 2026 11:33 +0000at://did:plc:mcvjun7a6timb4marphuk5x4/app.bsky.feed.post/3milmry3oys23