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Robin Herbert

@peterrobin.bsky.social

The #WIPSnips word for November 11th is "burger"

I offer what I think is one of the best passages in my worst book

The Five Lives of Levi Morbali. Levi is starting to think that being in thrall to the vampire Azrael is not so bad until ...

#WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts

I rested and had some of our rations. Even if we ate sparsely, I didn't know how he expected me to make these rations last beyond a couple of weeks. And the water would run out sooner. I was soon to learn the answer, but I didn't like it
Azrael came back carrying the third backpack. He took it off and opened it, so that I could examine the contents. Small dead animals. I understood immediately that I was supposed to eat these. And even if I could start a fire, I knew the last thing that Azrael wanted was a tell-tale column of smoke that could be seen from kilometres away.
“I don't suppose you have a tofu burger there,” I said and a small smile appeared on Azrael's face, lingered for a short time and disappeared.
I learned two very important things from that. Firstly that Azrael understood what I said, he had never before given any indication that he did. Secondly, and perhaps more importantly, he had a sense of humour.

November 11, 2025 at 10:36 AM

Robin Herbert

@peterrobin.bsky.social

#WIPSnips

The word for November 10th is "local"

From The Writing Machine

Nick's father tells his son about when he married Nick's mother.

The father's story, by the timeline of the novel, would be in the mid 1950s

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"So I ask Ayesha if she still wants to marry and she says yes. The only condition she had is that she won't change her surname to mine and since Ayesha Calder sounded daft I was happy to agree.
"Remember back then there was even more prejudice but not my parents they took her in and treated her like a member of the family from the start. Dad moved all the rooms round so hers is the farthest possible from mine which wasn't necessary because I wasn't going to touch her before the wedding.
"And my Dad puts a notice in the local paper that Mr and Mrs Calder were pleased to announce the forthcoming marriage of their son Richard Calder to Ayesha Najjar and it caused a stir back then really did. Thought they were going to drum us out of town. But the paper ran a story something like 'Local lad to marry Eastern beauty' and people calmed down a bit when they put it like that.”

November 10, 2025 at 9:25 AM

Robin Herbert

@peterrobin.bsky.social

#WIPSnips November 9th is "picture"

From The Writing Machine

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“What are you watching, Nick? It isn’t that caterer or whatever he was from last night?”
“No, just watching some people. That old lady said she was organising a day trip to Rome today, can we go?”
Tom rolled his eyes.
“I know you’ve been there lots, but I haven’t.”
“Do you even know what there is to see in Rome?”
Nick thought for a while. “The Colosseum?”
“Do you know what that is?"
“Of course I know.”
Nick paused then.”It's a picture theatre, isn’t it?”
“When you say things like that Nick, no one knows that you are joking. It is even hard for me to tell sometimes.”
“Not a picture theatre then?”
Tom laughed and then said “OK, let’s go to Rome and see what’s playing at the Colosseum."

November 9, 2025 at 8:12 AM

Robin Herbert

@peterrobin.bsky.social

#QueerPrompts November 9: Cozy scene or snippet

From A Morris Minor on Mars

After the work of the day had been done and everyone else had gone home, Daryl slipped beside Archie on the sofa where he was engrossed in a book, and kissed him gently on the neck, then licked inside his ear and nibbled it a little.
“Don't stop reading on my account,” said Daryl.
Archie ruffled Daryl's hair and reached round to put a gentle pressure on Daryl's shoulder to bring him closer, all the time continuing to read. Daryl nestled in beside him and closed his eyes. Archie finished the chapter then closed the book.
“Tal’s your son?” he asked.
“He's Colin's son and he couldn't ask for a better dad than Colin, but yes, Tal's the,” Daryl smiled, “fruit of my loins.”
This elicited one of those smiles that Archie rationed out so carefully. “Do you get access?”
“It's not like that, but you can see we're hardly strangers.”
Daryl snuggled in closer. “Thanks for giving him the autograph. That made his day. He's space crazy.”

November 9, 2025 at 6:11 AM

Robin Herbert

@peterrobin.bsky.social

#WIPSnips November 8th "little"

From The Writing Machine

In my "penultimate" snip, Mary sends Patrick away because she's a Catholic and believes she is still married to her ex-husband. This is the following evening.

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"So where is he?" asked Patrick.
“London," said Vince.
"With someone?"
"No, I've been told he isn't."
Patrick looked up and over at Vince, "So why aren't you there?"
Vince considered. "For a start, he's Muslim now. Thinks gay sex is Haram "
"Haram?" Patrick asked.
"Yeah," said Vince. That's like the Muslim version of sinful "
Patrick began laughing loudly. Vince couldn't help joining in a little.
"I'm sorry," said Patrick, still laughing, "I know it shouldn't be funny. But it is.”
His laughter died and he said "Seems like every time we have a chance at a little happiness, religion has some fucken rule that says you can't do it."

November 8, 2025 at 9:04 AM

Robin Herbert

@peterrobin.bsky.social

Ikea instructions including knitting needles and wool

November 8, 2025 at 3:58 AM

Robin Herbert

@peterrobin.bsky.social

#WIPSnips November 7th "movement"

From
A Morris Minor on Mars

The back story again. Casey, inspired by Daryl's Mars film, displays the talent for which she will one day be famous.

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Casey’s film was called, “Whistle and I'll Come” and was based on a short story by her favourite author, MR James. It's about a boy who steals a whistle from an antique shop and when he blows the whistle he starts being stalked by something.
On the one hand it had all the amateurish charm of a film made by ten year olds, but, like her Halloween decorations, it was disturbing and, in the final scene, genuinely scary. The stalker, always seen in the distance behind Daryl, is a weird figure that flits around in an inhuman capering movement and always disappears or collapses into a pile of rags when Daryl looks around. It was an elaborate rod puppet devised by Casey and operated by her and Melissa, Daryl's girlfriend who had been pressed into helping out.

November 7, 2025 at 1:24 PM

Robin Herbert

@peterrobin.bsky.social

I'm working on a song. I kind of like it. Maybe I'll have time to record it and make a video.

The Mike Johnson song

The Mike Johnson Song
To the tune of “Busy doing nothin'”

Im busy seeing nothing
Working the whole day through
Trying to find lots of things not to know
I'm busy looking nowhere
Ignoring all of our crimes
I'd like to be informative but….
I never do have the time

Don't ask me about Epstein
He wasn't in my lane
I don't know what he did and
I've never heard of Ghislaine

I know nothing about any ICE men
I don't know where they're at
And whoever Donald Trump pardons,
Even he can't tell you that

Repeat chorus

November 7, 2025 at 9:31 AM

Robin Herbert

@peterrobin.bsky.social

#Bookvember Day 6

I will have to go back to Whirlaway for this, our family read this book to pieces and we loved the illustrations. I showed one of the colour plates earlier. This is one of the drawings.

Drawing of an archeoptetyx with the text;

"Oh, look what I have found!" cried Helen.

Turning round, Whirlaway saw her stoop and pick up a feather.

"It belongs to Archaeopteryx," he told her as he examined it, and, seeing her puzzled look, he added, "His name means ancient winged creature. He is one of the first birds, and I think he deserves a song." So he began to lilt:

"In naming him they took a risk, For was he Bird or Basilisk? The scientists were in a fix, So they called him ARCHAEOPTERYX.

A pinch of THIS with THAT they mix Since every trade must have its tricks. They give a name and then it sticks, So he's an ARCHAEOPTERYX.

"Chorus, Helen!"

With an R and a Key and a couple of clicks, Oh, he's an ARCHAEOPTERYX. An ARCHAE-ARCHAE-OPTERYX.

"I should like to see one," said Helen.

"Mm, I should think there are many of them not far away. Keep a sharp look out for them in the trees."

"There is one," she cried.

Perched on a tree was an Archaeopteryx.

Sure enough, perched on a tree near by, were some odd-looking bird-like creatures about the size of crows. They had no beaks, and in their jaws, which were covered with skin, were sharp teeth.

"Fancy a bird with teeth!" cried Helen. "If you only saw its

November 6, 2025 at 11:31 AM

Robin Herbert

@peterrobin.bsky.social

#Bookvember Day 5!

Not difficult. But how did I discover it? I don't know. It was always there. From when I was very young.

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An old hardback edition of "When we were very young" by AA Milne

November 6, 2025 at 11:16 AM

Robin Herbert

@peterrobin.bsky.social

#WIPSnips November 6th is "penultimate" (second last)

From The Writing Machine.

One of the secondary romances has hit a snag.

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On the morning of their second last night together Mary woke Patrick and said "I've come to a decision. You must go home at the end of your holiday. Just as planned."
Patrick took a while to wake and process this information. "I thought that I'd stay. I thought that was understood."
"I've turned a blind eye to the fact that we've been sinning. I've been a Catholic all my life. I can't live in sin."
Patrick said gently "But Mary, we can get married. Then it won't be a sin."
"I'm married already, in case you forgot. When Arthur left I tried every way I could, to get the marriage to be annulled. It can't be done."
Patrick lay back and then, in a resigned tone "Then I'll stay and be your friend. I'll take a separate room. But we can go on as before. We can work the farm together. Be friends."
"And a constant temptation. Which we'd finally give in to." Mary's voice became barely audible, "I love you Patrick. This has been the best time of my life. It's better you go."

November 6, 2025 at 9:08 AM

Robin Herbert

@peterrobin.bsky.social

#QueerPrompts November 5:
At the age of twenty, Archie was put in charge of a highly technical multi-billion dollar project by a man who stands to profit more from his failure than his success. He discovers that the project has been cheated out of $40M by a porn star who denies knowledge of it.

November 6, 2025 at 6:54 AM

Robin Herbert

@peterrobin.bsky.social

#QueerPrompts November 6: On a scale of 1 to 10, how hopeful is your story?

Again ...

November 6, 2025 at 6:31 AM

Robin Herbert

@peterrobin.bsky.social

The #WIPSnips November 5th "trail"

From A Morris Minor on Mars

#WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts

“You know the drag act?” said Lady Marchand. Archie nodded. “The tall one is that guy who stars in that show where they, um, you know, the one that just started streaming on, you know that platform owned by that guy, who does all that stuff.”
“I haven't got round to watching it yet,” said Archie. “They say it's good.”
“I thought the Cilla Black impersonator was quite good,” said Lady Marchand. “I was expecting him to mime, but that was his voice.”
“I suppose,” said Frye with little enthusiasm.
“I noticed you weren't applauding.”
“No.”
“I think he took a shine to you. It seemed to me he was singing the song to you.”
“I expect they pick someone and sing to them.”
“The only thing you didn't applaud all evening was the one directed at you. Come on Archie, Miss Marple is on your trail.”

November 5, 2025 at 9:28 AM

Robin Herbert

@peterrobin.bsky.social

I know. What kind of bizarre algorithm decides that when I type "saint" correctly, I really meant to type "football"? It sometimes even replaces a correctly spelled word with a misspelling.

Auto-correct, changing "saint" to"football"

November 5, 2025 at 3:29 AM

Robin Herbert

@peterrobin.bsky.social

#Bookvember Day 4!

Whirlaway HCF Morant

I loved dinosaurs so I loved this book.

It's not purely non-fiction because the narrative device is a time travelling young girl and her pet koala, but it is intended as an instructional book.

#BookSky #WriteSky #Books #Authors #WritingCommunity

November 4, 2025 at 12:03 PM

Robin Herbert

@peterrobin.bsky.social

The #WIPSnips word for November 4th is "steel"

From A Morris Minor on Mars

#WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts

Daryl drove out to an industrial estate and parked in front of one of a row of identical steel buildings. On the door there was a sign that read “Universal Exports”. That was Trevor's joke. He unlocked the door and went inside. There was a small reception desk and behind it a sign “Daryl Hutton Productions” There was a light on in the studio and there were some noises. Daryl put his head around the door. Chrissie was picking up camera equipment and putting it in a holdall.
“Oh. Hi,” she said. “Sorry for skipping out on you. I couldn't help it. Trevor grabbed my wheelchair and ran out the back way with me.”
“Are you quitting too?” asked Daryl, "Because that's my equipment.”
Chrissie laughed. “Three weeks, top. I got an assignment. You don't mind, do you?”
“Of course not. But come back. I have something special planned. You'll like it. Casey too.”

November 4, 2025 at 8:59 AM

Robin Herbert

@peterrobin.bsky.social

#WIPSnips November 3

"nice"

I literally just finished writing this before I saw the list. So it's still a bit unpolished.

From A Morris Minor on Mars. Some back story.

Even at nine, Daryl is distrusted for what really is just an innocent childhood romance.

Melissa's mother had never actually wished her daughter dead. Not, at least, without immediately guiltily quashing the thought. But she did think quite a bit about what life would have been without a daughter, or with a nice daughter. She did, however, have enough motherly concern to be very worried when her precocious nine year-old brat started to call the little Hutton boy her boyfriend. Daryl was the same age as her daughter, but reports about him were not good. She knew what boys were and how they could manipulate a girl who thought she was more grown up than she was. When she worked up the nerve to ask her daughter, she didn't get the fight she was dreading.
“He's not like that. He'd never do anything like that. He's nice. Don't worry.”
She didn't know what she found less believable, that her daughter would have anything to do with a nice boy or vice versa, or that her daughter cared if she worried. Still, she'd noticed small changes in her daughter's behaviour. The shouting matches had been replaced with sullen defiance. She no longer sighed and rolled her eyes at her father’s jokes. Rather she smiled and rolled her eyes. As her father's jokes deserved.

November 3, 2025 at 9:48 AM

Robin Herbert

@peterrobin.bsky.social

#WIPSnips November 2

"cobweb"

From the WIP, A Morris Minor on Mars. It's a bit long today, but I had to fit in the pay-off and the keyword.

When she was a child, Casey was always in charge of Halloween decorations. At first, her decorations were much like those on other houses, but at the age of nine she tired of skulls, spiders and cobwebs. She retained the pumpkin lamps but the faces she carved in them were increasingly disturbing. Her main piece was a full sized woman in Victorian mourning weeds, her face covered by a black veil. She had sewn the dress herself, put it on a shop dummy and posed it in the shadows in the garden under a tree. The nine year-old Casey’s dressmaking skills were primitive, but the effect was terrifying. Casey learned early to allow people's imagination to fill in the details. Little children would not go into the garden. Parents complained and children were advised to pass the house on the other side of the road. The most intrepid children went all the way to the front door where Casey rewarded them richly with lollies. As they left, Casey pulled a string which made the figure raise its arm and point. The children ran out, screaming and laughing.
Casey knew from an early age that her vocation was scaring people.

November 2, 2025 at 8:51 AM

Robin Herbert

@peterrobin.bsky.social

#QueerPrompts November 1

Hi, I'm Robin Herbert, author of 8 books, working on my 9th, A Morris Minor on Mars.

It's a love story between Daryl and Archie, two guys that seem opposites in every way.

November 1, 2025 at 10:09 AM

Robin Herbert

@peterrobin.bsky.social

#WIPSnips November 1

"ancestor"

From The Rame Head Deck

Harlan tried and failed. “I guess I'm not a wizard,” he said sadly.
“Did you ask, or tell the winds to do it.”
Harlan looked uncomprehending.
“Magic uses us, we don't use magic. You have to ask nicely.”
Harlan asked nicely and a gust blew up and delivered a faceful of water to the girl. She looked angry and dangerous, but this passed away quickly and she laughed loudly and delivered a drenching wave of water to him. They ran about splashing water on each other and shrieking with laughter. Then she created a great whirlwind of sand and it took the shape of a great knight in armour with a giant broadsword raised threateningly and he turned and said, smiling, "I surrender, Cutty.”
She let the sand fall and said. “For a start, don't call me Cutty. My name is Elisabeth Halyard, from the great and ancient Halyard family who have ruled these shores for millenia.”

November 1, 2025 at 8:18 AM

Robin Herbert

@peterrobin.bsky.social

Incidentally, I'm eternally grateful to Android auto-correct for realising that when I said they were campaigning to have him made a saint, I really meant they were campaigning to have him made a football. Silly me.

Android auto-correct that changed "saint", spelled correctly, into "football"

October 31, 2025 at 8:07 AM

Robin Herbert

@peterrobin.bsky.social

#WIPSnips October 31

From The Portland Deck

The Advent Chapel, a sect of the Catholic Church are campaigning for there late founder to be made a saint. His miracles are impressive. A woman in the final stage of cancer is completely cured.

They may have had some non-divine intervention.

But one day she just stood up and walked outside by herself.
Subsequent tests showed that not only did she not have cancer any more, there was no indication she had ever had cancer.
Long investigations took place to see if records had been misplaced, they even sequenced the DNA of the biopsies. No mistake. No possible physical explanation. The physically impossible had happened. If the Vatican did not recognise this as a miracle they would have to strike down every other miracle they had recognised.
I smelled a rat and asked Lara if it might have been magic.
“Magic can't cure cancer. It can't even cure the common cold. We're not monsters, do you think we'd let people suffer from cancer if we could cure it with magic?
It was only much later that I found an important caveat. Magic couldn't cure cancer. Unless magic had been used to cause the cancer in the first place.

October 31, 2025 at 8:02 AM

Robin Herbert

@peterrobin.bsky.social

#QueerPrompts October 31

I'm still hovering around 40,000 words on a book that wasn't supposed to be more than 30,000

I'm currently revamping the plotting so that I can finish. I'm also making more progress with the cover.

From first sketch to near completion:

October 31, 2025 at 5:24 AM

Robin Herbert

@peterrobin.bsky.social

#WIPSnips October 30

"spell"

From The Deadman Deck

Teenage mages, Michelle and Gary, are the toast of the magic community for solving and breaking most of the protection spells set by the dark witch, Mary.

Mary tells the embarrassing truth about those spells.

“What about the enchantments on the tabus?” I asked. Mary let out a peal of laughter.
“When I came here last year I had no idea of a war. I just wanted a place to hide out and relax and finish school. I didn't want to spoil the place with dark magic so I set up my little tabus. If it looked like I was protected then people would try to dismantle the protection before tackling me. I thought they would work out the joke after the first couple, maybe have a laugh and look more kindly on me. I didn't think it would take all of them.”
“So they're not really difficult?” I asked.
She laughed. “When I was five, Gran used to set up little magical treasure hunts for me, with little puzzles to solve. I used those.”
“And the enchantments on the tabus?”
“You work it out. What enchantments do children usually expect at the end of a treasure hunt?”
I told Cait and we returned to the first tabu Michelle and Gary had found. I lifted it up and underneath, a chocolate bar.

October 30, 2025 at 8:04 AM

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