Every story is an alternate reality,
a parallel universe, a world of possibilities…
every story is filled with characters
all bound by the rules of there individual realities…
every story has its own meaning to be told…
every story has its own seasons and history
that informs the present and the future
by repeating the same the echoes of the past
which never get old…
every story is different, and its own,
and yet connected to every other…
every story continues beyond that which
can be read within the pages between
the front and the back covers…
every story should be written
by those who are meant to write it,
but every story deserves to read by everybody…
every story can make a difference
to the lives of people who are drawn
to the magic and the poetry of the art
that they feel hypnotised by,
like a moth to a flame…
every story has a special place in the heart
of its creator and its author,
because no matter how many times it is read
no one but the writer of a story could ever
write the story of dedication that it took
to make a story clear and correct
after what can sometimes feel like a lifetime
of existing within a mist of mistakes…
every story has its own version of itself within it
that someone is writing simultaneously,
and every story has its own version of its author
living their life and being who they are supposed to be -
and within every story there are those
who sometimes dream that they are characters
in someone else’s story,
but they can never find the words to explain why…
every story has a beginning, an end,
as well as a conclusion -
however every story is a journey that begins
with the answer and the conclusion of another story,
because the truth is that every story is all one story
written into the words of every person,
even if they don’t realise it,
and every time anyone thinks they know
everything about every story they have been told
someone else will have their own version of the same story
and a new reality, a new universe,
and a new world is created, over and over again,
that continues to change and evolve
the way in which anyone can tell, retell,
and give new meaning to the life of a story.
books
My Poem “Upon The Pages of A Book”
“People don’t read books anymore”,
or some people have been heard to say -
and to be honest I am always taken aback
by such a statement whenever I hear it,
because books and reading are,
in my opinion, the greatest form
and the most powerful source of information
and the sharing of stories there has ever been…
I cannot believe and I could never imagine
a world without physical media -
such as words printed upon the pages of books:
a world where people cannot use their senses
to make a connection with what they are holding -
whether that is a painting, a sculpture,
the sleeve of a vinyl record,
or a collection of interconnected words within a book
which you can imbibe a great deal
just from the weight of it, not to mention the smell.
What at else can give you the same feeling of satisfaction
than reading a book from cover to cover
and then having to recover from
the literal journey that you have been on?
I personally know of nothing
that can come close to coming to the conclusion
of a good book and then immediately feeling the urge
to turn the book over and start reading it once again.
Being the author of books, whenever I hear someone say
that books are a thing of the past -
because everything is done
and is accessible electronically in this day and age -
I almost makes me want to cry,
because writing means so much to me,
and to me my fellow storytellers,
authors, and contemporaries,
are who I believe I share a connection with
that cannot be shared with anyone else
who has not had the same experience
of being touched by the power
of the eternal muse and has created something
that did not exist before it was manifested into being
and captured by its creator and author.
To think, and to hear someone say,
something akin to “books no longer matter”,
to me is like someone saying that
we no longer need air to breathe -
because words and books
have always been something magical, special,
and capable of changing the world
in ways that could never be known…
a world without libraries, bookshops,
or second-hand stores, is such a frightening reality
for me to contemplate that I never
truly believe that such a thing could ever be a possibility -
because the places of this world
where books are still cherished and sold
are where storytelling continues to thrive
and can be found for future generations to
enjoy, learn, and share with everyone
for as long as humanity walks this world.
No matter how far humanity “progresses” as a species,
and no matter how much we become reliant upon
technology to function as a society,
we should never forget that nothing
could ever, nor should ever,
try and replace the physical, the tangible, the visceral,
the unequally satisfying, the emotional, the enlightening,
and the energising experience of reading a story
in the way that it was meant to be read -
and there is no better way to lose yourself
within an immersive tale than to read its words
printed upon the pages of a book.
The Wolf and The Vampire series
This Halloween, get yourself a copy of all of the books of The Wolf and The Vampire from Amazon. Currently consisting of five interconnected books – The Wolf in Me, The Wolf in You, The Wolf in Us, Vega: The Vampire King, and The Return of The Wolf – which tell the stories of one werewolf, Olivia Hunter, and one Vampire King, Vega, and their relationship to one another, as well as their relationship with their respective worlds – the worlds of werewolves and vampires. Filled with mystery, intrigue, transformation, love, loss, supernatural experiences, and an exploration into what it means to be who and what you are and who and what you are meant to be, The Wolf and The Vampire series of books is a journey of paranormal proportions and an immersive insight into two distinct worlds bound together by two extraordinary individuals destined to be together. Get yourself a copy from Amazon now! 😊🐺🧛♂️
My Books – 2025 and Beyond
In this episode, Mark talks about the three books that he has got published in 2025 thus far – The Return of The Wolf, The Storyteller, and Scales & George – as well as his new book The Affair, due to be published October 31st, 2025. And Mark also gives a preview of what is to come in regard to the books he plans to publish in 2026, and beyond.
Scales & George – Out Now
Meet Scales – a dragon who lives inside a cave, beneath a mountain, in the Land of Mountain Shadow.
Meet George – a brave knight, defender, warrior, and hero to the people of Mountain Shadow.
One day, while resting at home, in his cave, underneath the Earth, Scales is visited by George, who tells him he wishes to slay Scales for the sake of his people. But why? How? And what happened when this dragon and this hero came face to face with one another? Well, the only way to find out is within the story of Scales & George.
I am thrilled to say that my new children’s ‘Scales & George’ is now available to buy on Amazon. This book was a long time in the making, as is the story within. The original story was first published in my short-story and poetry collection Too Close to The Sun in 2016, and then republished again in 2024; however, this new illustrated version, illustrated by me, is how the story was always meant to be enjoyed, because it was always written for a younger audience – though I believe the story can be enjoyed by those of all ages.
And not only can Scales & George be enjoyed in its new paperback form from Amazon, but it can also be listened to on Spotify, and it can also be enjoyed visually on YouTube:
It has been a joy to bring Scales & George to life in a way that I always wanted it to be when I first wrote it 10 years ago, and I hope that it can now be enjoyed as I originally intended it to be.
-Mark
Podcast Episode: After The Return… What’s Next?
In this episode, Mark talks about his book series The Wolf in Me, The Wolf in You, The Wolf in Us, and his new book The Return of The Wolf – which all centre around the main protagonist of his books, Olivia Hunter – and Mark also talks about what books he plans to publish next.
My Poem “The Write Relationship”
Being a writer is like being in a relationship -
because when a writer writes they always
find themselves creating a connection
with whatever, whomever, and wherever
they are writing about…
being a writer is like feeling as if
you want to open yourself up
to being introduced to and influenced
by people and by things that will
give you the gift of inspiration and insight
into something within you that may have been
waiting for years to be freed and shared with the world…
being a writer is like having a license
and a vehicle to express yourself in such a way
that you can use the language within you
to bring together a confluence
of the fuel of your imagination
and the natural environment of the world around you
and get to experience the immense energy
that is generated, but which is often too
intense and uncontrollable to try and contain…
being a writer is like standing in the dark
and then witnessing an explosion of light
as the sun rises over the horizon
and blesses the world with
colour, detail, beauty depth, and a perspective
that the twilight hours can only dream of
being able to show -
however at night is when a writer can feel
at their most vulnerable and their closest
to discovering the answers to
their own questions of life, the universe, people,
and why things happen the way that they do…
being a writer is like learning how to do something
that you already know how to do
but every time you do it
it feels like the first time,
and by continuing to put in the time
to expose yourself to new opportunities,
new challenges, new ideas, new ways of thinking,
as well as all the ways that have continued
to be practiced and performed to perfection
over and over again, because they feel
natural and intrinsic to the way things
are supposed to be done…
being a writer like looking in the mirror
at your own reflection -
but as well as seeing yourself
you also see and hear things, people, words,
and worlds that feel as if they need to be
seen and heard, because they feel like they are
important and meant to be
manifested in some way…
being a writer is a journey that does not end
but along the way, when you are a writer,
you might find yourself stranded -
as if you are in a boat without paddle
rushing down a river and heading towards
the drop of a waterfall;
and if you are a writer, and you think
that you have lost your sense of direction
as well as your ability to direct your course
to where you want to get to,
the key is to allow yourself to go with the flow
and dive head-first over whatever precipice
and into whatever unknown you may find yourself
upon the edge of and fly, like only you can -
because being a writer is a privilege,
because it is a blessing to be a creator, a conduit,
and a messenger of the wonderment
that can come from having a relationship
that feels effortless, meaningful, and right.
The Return of The Wolf – Out Now
I am thrilled to announce that my new book The Return of The Wolf is Out Now and available to buy on Amazon!
The sequel to my books The Wolf in Me, The Wolf in You, and The Wolf in Us, The Return of The Wolf also sees the return of my werewolf protagonist Olivia Hunter.
After stepping through a doorway to another universe, to start a new life with her daughter, Melissa, and her husband, Vega – The Vampire King – Olivia Hunter returns to her own universe with the harrowing news that her daughter and her husband have been murdered by a vampire from the other universe who also refers to himself as “The Vampire King”.
Not only does Olivia Hunter find it hard to come to terms with the loss of her daughter and her husband, but she also has to face an unfathomable identity crisis in which she not only has to continue to question what it means to be a werewolf, but also how another version of herself – from another version of the universe – may be able to help her find a way to find peace, connection, as well as help her enact revenge against the one who has taken from her what she loves the most in this world.
Nothing and no one can stand in the way of Olivia Hunter and The Wolf from doing what must be done.
The Return of The Wolf is a thrilling, shocking, sometimes harrowing, but inspiring continuing story of a woman cursed not only by being a werewolf but also with an unparalleled tenacity, determination, and strength. And in this story, not only does Olivia seeks answers but she also seeks vengeance for the loses that she has to live with.
You can get your copy of The Return of The Wolf in hardback and as an ebook from Amazon now!
My Poem “Every Story Ever Told”
Every story ever told,
published within every book
ever written about the life of someone,
there are always things that people want to know,
there are always things that people want to find,
there are always secrets that people want to uncover,
there are always questions that people want answers to;
however, not everything can be known about everyone -
and, as the saying goes:
“History is written by the victors”,
and of course “to the victor go the spoils”…
every story ever told isn’t always a true
and completely accurate portrayal
of what actually happened
where, when, why, how, and to whom…
every story ever told has had its share of reinterpretation -
which is normal, and especially when you are talking about
a story concerning a person, a place,
and a time a long time ago…
every story ever told has always been
a one sided narrative of certain events and people -
because once a story has been told,
and it is ultimately retold to others,
and perhaps even translated
into a completely different language,
when it is read or heard once again
something will always be left behind -
perhaps something fundamental in deciding
the true meaning of the story in question…
every story ever told originates
from a universal source of inspiration -
however just because the source of something
may be the same that does not mean that
the end result of something that comes
as a result of the same spark as something else
will always appear similar;
in fact, that is why the likelihood
of a multiverse of infinite possibilities
all existing and playing out in parallel to one another
is so intriguing and exciting
and may be proof of such a concept
that things can turn out differently
if different choices are made
by different versions of ourselves
when faced with the same situation…
every story ever told has a hidden meaning
and a hidden story within that will only
show itself after the same story is repeatedly enjoyed
and after a period of time in between -
because time, space, and our own individual
lives and experiences are always a factor
in how a particular story impacts upon us…
every story ever told -
from one set within a world of science-fiction
to one set in the past and involving
characters who live a life of privilege,
from a love story to one that is about
people trying to make a new life in a new world -
is all about relationships and about
the vastly different ways that people
are capable of treating one another,
as well as about how the actions of people
can affect the lives and the intentions
of those around them…
every story ever told is a testament
to humanities inner-most understanding
of the importance of sharing knowledge and information
to help in the development of our relationship
with one another as well as with nature
and the rest of the universe…
every story ever told are not all to be found
if you were to physically visit a library,
or if you were search on the internet,
because some stories have literally
been burned from history
and all that is left of them now
are fragments of what they were
and who and what they were about -
which is why I believe we should all strive
to do our best to preserve the memory
of everything and everyone for future generations
in every way that we can
so that the world of tomorrow will always know
what past versions of ourselves wanted
passed down to those who followed them
so that humanity would never forget
the messages of consciousness
encoded within every word
of every story ever told.
The Return of My books
I am thrilled to be able to say that my books The Wolf in Me, The Wolf in You, and The Wolf in Us are all once again available to buy from Amazon, now in hardback form.
In 2024, The Wolf in Me, The Wolf in You, and The Wolf in Us were collected together in one book, The Wolf and The Vampire – but seeing as this year it is the 8th anniversary of the first publication of The Wolf in Me, my first novel, I thought that I would release it once again, and all the other books that tell the tale of Olivia Hunter, in anticipation of the release of my new book The Return of The Wolf on May 2nd.
You can get a copy of the collection The Wolf and The Vampire, and you can also get every one of the individual books and stories within – The Wolf in Me, The Wolf in You, and The Wolf in Us – from Amazon now!
The Wolf and The Vampire (Collection)
Mark The Poet 