Author Archives: Jacey Bedford

About Jacey Bedford

Jacey Bedford maintains this blog. She is a writer of science fiction and fantasy (www.jaceybedford.co.uk), the secretary of Milford SF Writers (www.milfordSF.co.uk), a singer (www.artisan-harmony.com) and a music agent booking UK tours and concerts for folk performers (www.jacey-bedford.com). She's also a Home Office / UK Visas and Immigration department licensed sponsor processing UK work permits (Certificates of Sponsorship).

Judith Tarr: Forgotten Suns for your reading pleasure

Posted on September 21, 2021 by Jacey Bedford

On the deserted world of Nevermore, a family of archaeologists labours to uncover ancient mysteries despite the threat of funding cuts which will lead to the United Planets stripping the planet’s resources in a legal invasion. Nevermore presents a conundrum. … Continue reading →

Posted in reading, science fiction, writing | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

At Milford 2021

Posted on September 15, 2021 by Jacey Bedford

It finally happened. After last year’s Covid cancellation, Milford 2021 is finally happening. I drove across to North Wales on Saturday morning with Georgina Kamsika. We picked up Terry Jackman on the way (at Lymm Services) and had an uneventful … Continue reading →

Posted in writing | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

The Subtle (and Unsubtle) Art of Critiquing

Posted on September 7, 2021 by Jacey Bedford

At the end of August I did a post about the run up to Milford. It starts next Saturday so I’m deep into reading and critiquing the 23 pieces submitted by the fifteen attendees. I’m obviously not going to comment … Continue reading →

Posted in fantasy, reading, science fiction, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Ian Whates: Pelquin’s Comet: The Dark Angels #1 – for your reading pleasure

Posted on September 4, 2021 by Jacey Bedford

Space opera, adventure, treasure hunting, a motley crew, aliens and some corporate intrigue are the building blocks that form this science fiction tale from Ian Whates. Pelquin is a free trader/ The Comet, his ship, and motley crew, bear some … Continue reading →

Posted in reading, science fiction | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

The run up to Milford.

Posted on August 24, 2021 by Jacey Bedford

I’m very busy with the day job this week. I’m a music booking agent for folk-type artists from a Canadian-Cowboy bluegrassy duo called Over the Moon, to a troupe of Zulu singers and dancers from KwaZulu Natal, South Africa, called … Continue reading →

Posted in fantasy, reading, science fiction, writing | Tagged , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Genevieve Cogman: The Invisible Library – For your reading pleasure

Posted on August 10, 2021 by Jacey Bedford

This is the first in an ongoing series, and a terrific starting point. As an ex librarian I have a fondness for anything library-oriented so I wanted to like this a lot – and I did. Genevieve Cogman’s debut novel … Continue reading →

Posted in fantasy, reading | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

How to Write a Speculative Fiction Book

Posted on August 3, 2021 by Jacey Bedford

I’m not going to be able to teach you how to write a book in the twelve hundred or so words in this blog post – even presuming I have the skills. Yes I’ve written books, seven published so far … Continue reading →

Posted in writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

C.E Murphy: Heart of Stone – Negotiator Trilogy/Old Races Universe #1 – For your reading pleasure

Posted on July 27, 2021 by Jacey Bedford

Loved this.Margrit Knight, a lawyer and negotiator in New York City gets involved with a world she never knew existed when she meets Alban – a gargoyle and one of the Old Races. Someone is killing women in Central Park … Continue reading →

Posted in fantasy, reading | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Space Opera

Posted on July 19, 2021 by Jacey Bedford

I write science fiction. I’m pretty sure my sub-genre is (so far) space opera. I’m happy with that definition. I grew up reading my dad’s Lensman books and the distinctive Gollancz yellow jacketed SF which (sadly) I only have a … Continue reading →

Posted in reading, science fiction, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Winston Graham: Ross Poldark: A Novel of Cornwall 1783 – 1787

Posted on July 13, 2021 by Jacey Bedford

I’m not sure why it’s taken me the best part of forty years and two TV dramatisations to read this book. Perhaps because it was written in the 1940s I assumed the prose style would be a little stodgy, but … Continue reading →

Posted in historical fiction, reading | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

What Am I Working On?

Posted on July 6, 2021 by Jacey Bedford

C-19 Lockdown hasn’t been a very productive time for me, writing wise. When self-isolating should have given me loads more time to write, for some reason I simply couldn’t get started on anything. I’m not alone in this. Talking to … Continue reading →

Posted in fantasy, reading | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Terry Pratchett: the Shepherd’s Crown – Discworld #41 – Tiffany Aching #5 – For your reading pleasure

Posted on June 29, 2021 by Jacey Bedford

Ah, the very last Terry Pratchett and a farewell not only to the author but to one of his most endearing characters, Granny Weatherwax who sets her affairs in order, cleans the house, weaves her own coffin and meets Death … Continue reading →

Posted in fantasy, reading | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Tom Pollock: The City’s Son – Skyscraper Throne #1 – For your reading pleasure

Posted on June 29, 2021 by Jacey Bedford

A gritty, smelly, enthralling original which races around a hidden version of London introducing an assortment of bizarre nonhuman characters here in a supporting role from the pavement priests (living statues entombed in marble) and the street-lamp dancers (the orange … Continue reading →

Posted in fantasy, reading | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Sorry I missed…

Posted on June 22, 2021 by Jacey Bedford

I missed last week’s blog post – mainly because I was engrossed in editing, so engrossed that Tuesday came and went without me really noticing what day it was. I’ve worked from home since 1980, so you’d think I’d have … Continue reading →

Posted in fantasy, historical fiction, music, reading, science fiction | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Ann Leckie: Ancillary Justice – For Your Reading Pleasure

Posted on June 1, 2021 by Jacey Bedford

Breq was a space ship, the Justice of Toren, equipped with enough power to destroy planets and enough ancillaries to invade and conquer ‘uncivilised’ worlds in Radch ‘annexations’, however now she’s just Breq, human (more or less) and alone despite … Continue reading →

Posted in reading, science fiction | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Back, Just, and Other Superfluous Words

Posted on May 25, 2021 by Jacey Bedford

I’ve recently finished a structural edit on a YA manuscript, involving swapping some scenes around, making changes that needed to be worked through from beginning to end. In other words a proper structural edit, not a copy edit (which will … Continue reading →

Posted in fantasy, reading, science fiction | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Terry Pratchett: Dodger – For Your Reading Pleasure

Posted on May 18, 2021 by Jacey Bedford

I’m a big fan of Pratchett’s discworld and although this book is set in London in the early years of Victoria’s reign, the feeling is very Ankh-Morporkian, or maybe that should be that Ankh Morpork is very much based on … Continue reading →

Posted in fantasy, historical fiction, reading | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Brave New Worlds

Posted on May 11, 2021 by Jacey Bedford

Brave New Worlds I’ve been invited to be an anchor author in the upcoming anthology Brave New Worlds, to be published by Zombies Need Brains Press in 2022. I’m looking forward to writing a story for it, and my first … Continue reading →

Posted in fantasy, reading | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Sherwood Smith – Rondo Allegro – For Your Reading Pleasure

Posted on May 5, 2021 by Jacey Bedford

I’ve always enjoyed reading Sherwood Smith’s fantasies, in particular the Inda sequence, and I just realised there are more books in her bibliography that I misse4d, so I can see I’m going to have to spend some time catching up. … Continue reading →

Posted in historical fiction, music, reading | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Cover Reveal: The Amber Crown

Posted on April 27, 2021 by Jacey Bedford

At last I’m allowed to show you the cover of my upcoming book, The Amber Crown. It’s not out until 11th January 2022, but that will be here before you know it. It’s available to pre-order from Amazon and other … Continue reading →

Posted in fantasy, historical fiction, reading | Tagged , , , | 10 Comments

Flashing Back

Posted on April 21, 2021 by Jacey Bedford

It’s generally easier to start writing a book at the beginning, keep on going until you reach the end, and then stop. A story has a beginning, a middle and an end. Sequential storytelling mirrors the world we experience on … Continue reading →

Posted in writing | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Cory Doctorow – Little Brother – For your reading pleasure

Posted on April 13, 2021 by Jacey Bedford

This was up for a Best Novel in the Hugo awards and if I’d been eligible to vote that year I’d certainly have voted for it. Yes, it’s aimed at YA, but what the hell, it has Important things to … Continue reading →

Posted in fantasy, reading, science fiction, writing | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Researching Historical Fantasy

Posted on April 6, 2021 by Jacey Bedford

The first scene of Winterwood came to me almost fully formed. I knew there was a young woman paying a deathbed visit to her estranged mother and finding that there was still no forgiveness between them. I knew the young … Continue reading →

Posted in fantasy, historical fiction, reading | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Brent Weeks – The Way of Shadows – The Night Angel Trilogy #1 – For your reading pleasure

Posted on March 30, 2021 by Jacey Bedford

I discovered Tanya Huff in 2003, Lois McMaster Bujold was a couple of years after that and Patricia Briggs in 2008. Brent Weeks become my discovery of the year in 2009. His Night Angel trilogy is riveting. Having bought the … Continue reading →

Posted in fantasy, reading, writing | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

What have I learned about writing?

Posted on March 23, 2021 by Jacey Bedford

Writing is a funny old business. Writers probably learn most by reading. You are what you read. Reading develops your ear for tight prose and snappy dialogue. Without even thinking about it, you learn about character and plot. The difficulty … Continue reading →

Posted in fantasy, historical fiction, reading, science fiction | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Kari Sperring: Living With Ghosts – For your reading pleasure

Posted on March 16, 2021 by Jacey Bedford

This is a gorgeous multi-layered work with a cast of characters which includes the city of Merafi – as much a part of this as are Gracielis, failed Tarnaroqui assassin-priest now courtesan and spy; Thiercelin, husband of one of the … Continue reading →

Posted in fantasy, reading, writing | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Elizabeth Chadwick: Shadows and Strongholds – For your reading pleasure

Posted on March 9, 2021 by Jacey Bedford

The story of Fulke (known as Brunin) FitzWarin and Hawise de Dinan from the time Brunin is taken into the de Dinan household (Ludlow Castle) as a ten year old squire, at the request of his father who wants the … Continue reading →

Posted in historical fiction, reading, writing | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Sea Shanties, and Elizabeth Ann Scarborough’s Songkiller Saga

Posted on March 2, 2021 by Jacey Bedford

As a long-time folkie I watched with great amusement as the Good Morning America TV show interviewed Nathan Evans – the twenty-six year old Scottish postman whose Tiktok renditions of sea shanties seem to have sparked off their discovery by … Continue reading →

Posted in fantasy, music, reading, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Building a Universe – Law and Order in The Psi-Tech Novels

Posted on February 23, 2021 by Jacey Bedford

More about the universe in which the Psi-Tech books are set. The Monitors – Galactic PolicingFormed in 2391, the Monitors are an interstellar policing force largely concerned with providing law in the space-lanes and for those newly established colonies that … Continue reading →

Posted in fantasy, reading, science fiction, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Patricia Briggs: Steal the Dragon – For your reading pleasure

Posted on February 16, 2021 by Jacey Bedford

There are no dragons in this book – well there is one, but not a significant one and it only appears on the page once, in a dream.  So having got that out of the way, this is early Briggs … Continue reading →

Posted in fantasy, reading, writing | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Building a Universe – Folding Space – The Psi-Tech Novels.

Posted on February 9, 2021 by Jacey Bedford

Early Space ExplorationHumans established several stations on the moon, and a joint scientific facility on Mars by 2050. At the same time commerical expeditions to mine the Kuiper Belt proved successful, and, following a twenty year scientific study, shipyards were … Continue reading →

Posted in fantasy, reading, science fiction, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Lois McMaster Bujold: Legacy – Sharing Knife # 2 – For your reading pleasure

Posted on February 2, 2021 by Jacey Bedford

The continuing adventures of Lakewalker, Dag Redwing Hickory and his ‘farmer’ wife Fawn Bluefeld, following on directly from the events in ‘Beguilement’ which ended with Dag and Fawn’s wedding at the Bluefeld farm, having more or less overcome her family’s … Continue reading →

Posted in fantasy, reading | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Building a Universe – The Psi-Techs

Posted on January 26, 2021 by Jacey Bedford

My Psi-Tech Universe has implant-enhanced humans who have telepathy to a greater or lesser extent, combined with other psi talents. My main characters, Cara and Ben are psi-techs. Cara is a top class telepath with a side order of empathy, … Continue reading →

Posted in fantasy, reading, science fiction, writing | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Lois McMaster Bujold: Beguilement – The Sharing Knife #1 – For your reading pleasure

Posted on January 22, 2021 by Jacey Bedford

All the reviews said: ‘Good, but not as good as Curse of Chalion,’ so I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. On the whole I would agree, but to my mind it will be a very exceptional book that is … Continue reading →

Posted in fantasy, reading | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Building a Universe – Power Structures and Personal Stories.

Posted on January 12, 2021 by Jacey Bedford

When I started to write Empire of Dust I didn’t really know much about my setting. I didn’t build my universe first and then people is and dream up stories. The people came first, and along with them a predicament. … Continue reading →

Posted in fantasy, reading, science fiction | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Charles Stross: The Bloodline Feud – for your reading pleasure

Posted on January 5, 2021 by Jacey Bedford

Charles Stross: The Family Trade – Merchant Princes #1 Two books, one story. I bought them as individual books, but they are now available in the omnibus The Bloodline Feud. Damn you, Charlie Stross! I was just getting into this … Continue reading →

Posted in fantasy, reading, science fiction, writing | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

My 2020 Reading

Posted on December 31, 2020 by Jacey Bedford

In picture form – newest first.

Posted in writing | Leave a comment

Looking Both Ways – 2020 and 2021

Posted on December 29, 2020 by Jacey Bedford

As a year, 2020 sucked bigtime. It was not fit for purpose. If I’d paid good money for it I’d want a refund. Sure, it wasn’t too bad in January and February. The weather was miserable so I mostly stayed … Continue reading →

Posted in fantasy, reading, science fiction, writing | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Ann Aguirre: Grimspace – for your reading pleasure

Posted on December 22, 2020 by Jacey Bedford

I really liked this one. Telepathy, space travel, adventure, a damaged heroine and tormented telepathic hero. What’s not to like? Sirantha Jax carries the J-gene that enables her to jump ships across space. It’s a talent that’s likely to kill … Continue reading →

Posted in reading, science fiction, writing | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

In My Other Life

Posted on December 15, 2020 by Jacey Bedford

I have two blogs, this one and a book blog at https://jacey.dreamwidth.org/ where I blog every book I read and every movie I see in the cinema – that one’s a bit thin on movies this year, but rich on … Continue reading →

Posted in reading, writing | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Lisa Shearin’s Raine Benares books – for your reading pleasure.

Posted on December 8, 2020 by Jacey Bedford

I’ll be perfectly honest, though I liked the first Raine Benares book, Magic Lost, Trouble Found I wasn’t 100% in love with it. Luckily I liked it enough to get the second book, Armed and Magical, which picks up just … Continue reading →

Posted in fantasy, reading, writing | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Scene 1 of Winterwood – author analysis

Posted on December 1, 2020 by Jacey Bedford

This was first written for Tiffani Angus’ blog. Tiff teaches creative writing and publishing. Story interspersed with my comments in bold italic. This first scene pretty much sprang into my mind fully formed. When I started to write I didn’t … Continue reading →

Posted in fantasy, historical fiction, reading, writing | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Anne Lyle: Night’s Masque Trilogy – for your reading pleasure

Posted on November 24, 2020 by Jacey Bedford

Published by Angry Robot, The Alchemist of Souls, Merchant of Dreams, and The Prince of Lies are the three books in Anne Lyle’s Night’s Mask Trilogy, set in Elizabethan London with (kind of) aliens. Queen Elizabeth has married, produced heirs … Continue reading →

Posted in fantasy, historical fiction, reading, writing | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Books etc. for Christmas

Posted on November 17, 2020 by Jacey Bedford

2020 has not been the year it was supposed to be. (Not fit for purpose. Can I get a refund?) I didn’t get anywhere as much writing done as I could have, but I read, and re-read an awful lot. … Continue reading →

Posted in fantasy, historical fiction, science fiction, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Scott Lynch: The Lies of Locke Lamora – for your reading pleasure

Posted on November 10, 2020 by Jacey Bedford

Thoroughly absorbing, interesting characters who are changed by events that happen to them, great backstory, twisty plot in the front-story leading to nail-biting tension. Highly recommended. Trying not to give away too many spoilers we get to see the formation … Continue reading →

Posted in fantasy, reading, science fiction, writing | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

What I learned about Tallinn that I couldn’t have found out from a guidebook.

Posted on November 3, 2020 by Jacey Bedford

I was supposed to be going to the World Science Fiction Convention in New Zealand this year, a country I’ve never been to, even though I visited Ausralia in 2000. Australia and NZ look conveniently close when viewed on a … Continue reading →

Posted in fantasy, historical fiction, reading, writing | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

The Road to Publication – a guest blog by Tony Ballantyne

Posted on November 3, 2020 by Jacey Bedford

Short story collections don’t sell. Everyone in publishing will tell you that. Every writer who has a few short stories under their belt loves the idea of having them collected into a slim volume.  Unfortunately, very few people are interested … Continue reading →

Posted in fantasy, science fiction, writing | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Liz Williams: The Snake Agent – for your reading pleasure

Posted on October 27, 2020 by Jacey Bedford

Any book which opens with the main protagonist swinging by his heels in Hell has got my attention from page one. This grabbed me and never let me go. Det. Insp. Chen is the cop whose responsibilities include the underworld … Continue reading →

Posted in fantasy, reading, science fiction, writing | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Domestication in a time of Coronavirus

Posted on October 20, 2020 by Jacey Bedford

I’m currently reading/listening to Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari who says that early farmers did not domesticate wheat, wheat domesticated them. By the process of gradually farming it rather than gathering wild grains, early farmers (previously nomadic) began to stay … Continue reading →

Posted in writing | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Georgette Heyer: The Toll Gate for your reading pleasure

Posted on October 13, 2020 by Jacey Bedford

Everyone has their favourite Heyer. This is one of mine. When Crazy Jack Staple, lately of Wellington’s army returns to civilian life after the defeat of Napoleon, he finds that there’s not much to satisfy the adrenaline junkie he’s become, … Continue reading →

Posted in historical fiction, reading, writing | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment