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/3mzbircsd3c2t#Collioure, still being photogenic01 Nov 2026 19:03 +0000at://did:plc:mcvjun7a6timb4marphuk5x4/app.bsky.feed.post/3mzbircsd3c2thttps://bsky.app/profile/mark-n-drake.bsky.social/post/3mzbikmlbqs2tI think "Fackham Hall" would be my view on humanity if I spoke like a Cockney. [contains quote post or other embedded content]01 Nov 2026 18:59 +0000at://did:plc:mcvjun7a6timb4marphuk5x4/app.bsky.feed.post/3mzbikmlbqs2thttps://bsky.app/profile/mark-n-drake.bsky.social/post/3mzahc5dh2k2yAny UK readers interested in British cosmic horror? My novel "Those Under the Hill" is on a Kindle offer all November. Just 99p to download and FREE ON Kindle Unlimited. #horror www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0922YDGZV https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0922YDGZV01 Nov 2026 09:04 +0000at://did:plc:mcvjun7a6timb4marphuk5x4/app.bsky.feed.post/3mzahc5dh2k2yhttps://bsky.app/profile/mark-n-drake.bsky.social/post/3mz6fdqr2mc26Just another horrible October day in #Collioure31 Oct 2026 13:24 +0000at://did:plc:mcvjun7a6timb4marphuk5x4/app.bsky.feed.post/3mz6fdqr2mc26https://bsky.app/profile/mark-n-drake.bsky.social/post/3myzb6waj5s2iMy one ok-ish poem: I still see the place we used to meet, Away from those who knew. Does that waitress still remember me? For that matter, do you? I still taste that last ever coffee, I still feel your last ever touch, On the road to nowhere special, At the edge of nothing much. #poem #poetry29 Oct 2026 12:26 +0000at://did:plc:mcvjun7a6timb4marphuk5x4/app.bsky.feed.post/3myzb6waj5s2ihttps://bsky.app/profile/mark-n-drake.bsky.social/post/3my6mrxxqfs2hI see Bag of Bones Press (sadly not on Bluesky) have a call out for a new anthology. I'm deep in writing Darkisle Book 7 so won't be throwing my hat in the ring, but these are great guys to work with; if you're a writer of short horror stories, have a look! https://www.bagofbonespress.com/submission-calls18 Oct 2026 22:12 +0000at://did:plc:mcvjun7a6timb4marphuk5x4/app.bsky.feed.post/3my6mrxxqfs2hhttps://bsky.app/profile/mark-n-drake.bsky.social/post/3my5pmqhwn22gChateau Darkisle offers fertile ground for writing on our autumn break. But first there's some serious gardening to be done...18 Oct 2026 13:30 +0000at://did:plc:mcvjun7a6timb4marphuk5x4/app.bsky.feed.post/3my5pmqhwn22ghttps://bsky.app/profile/mark-n-drake.bsky.social/post/3my5gwxtcxc2wA tranquil evening on route to Bilbao.18 Oct 2026 10:54 +0000at://did:plc:mcvjun7a6timb4marphuk5x4/app.bsky.feed.post/3my5gwxtcxc2whttps://bsky.app/profile/mark-n-drake.bsky.social/post/3mxyp7mogfs2pOff again to France, via Spain this time as they won't be expecting that. No sign of the notorious Bay of Biscay rough seas at the moment.16 Oct 2026 13:39 +0000at://did:plc:mcvjun7a6timb4marphuk5x4/app.bsky.feed.post/3mxyp7mogfs2phttps://bsky.app/profile/mark-n-drake.bsky.social/post/3mvzl2iqzec24Last day of the the sale on "What Festers Within" as a Kindle download. 1920s noir cosmic horror for just 99c/99p! www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0B4V5TXNH https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0B4V5TXNH21 Sep 2026 11:07 +0000at://did:plc:mcvjun7a6timb4marphuk5x4/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvzl2iqzec24https://bsky.app/profile/mark-n-drake.bsky.social/post/3mvqje62wps2ePromo alert! 1920s noir cosmic horror novel "What Festers Within" is currently available on Kindle for 99 cents/99 pence until 22nd September. And free on Kindle Unlimited! #horror #HPLovecraft #cosmichorror www.amazon.com/dp/B0B4V5TXNH https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B4V5TXNH17 Sep 2026 20:42 +0000at://did:plc:mcvjun7a6timb4marphuk5x4/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvqje62wps2ehttps://bsky.app/profile/mark-n-drake.bsky.social/post/3mvplj66kis2tNice crisp autumn drive to work so I stuck The Sensual World by #KateBush on in the car. Always struck me as a very autumnal album17 Sep 2026 11:48 +0000at://did:plc:mcvjun7a6timb4marphuk5x4/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvplj66kis2thttps://bsky.app/profile/mark-n-drake.bsky.social/post/3mvo6l5z5uc2lA new thing in my Ko-Fi store. Some more Darkisle background for you. ko-fi.com/s/64f150f182 https://ko-fi.com/s/64f150f18216 Sep 2026 22:24 +0000at://did:plc:mcvjun7a6timb4marphuk5x4/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvo6l5z5uc2lhttps://bsky.app/profile/mark-n-drake.bsky.social/post/3mu7zdn764c2x1. Kate Bush 2. Elbow 3. Pink Floyd 4. Girlschool 5. Foo Fighters 6. Suzanne Vega 7. Klaxons 8. Lana Del Ray 9. Eric Clapton 10. Joe Jackson [contains quote post or other embedded content]29 Aug 2026 13:48 +0000at://did:plc:mcvjun7a6timb4marphuk5x4/app.bsky.feed.post/3mu7zdn764c2xhttps://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/3mncfbmm4g22d