books

‘The Doorman’ – Hardback and Author’s Preferred Version – Out Now!

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The Hardback and Author’s Preferred Version of my book ‘The Doorman‘ is Out Now on Amazon. This is the first book of mine that has been published as a hardback, and since I recently returned to this book and the story of “The Doorman” in audio-form on my podcast, I decided to iron-out all the creases that may have found themselves within the original paperback and kindle version and release a polished version of it – my Author’s Preferred Version, to be precise. This new version of the book is not that dissimilar from the version I released last year, however this new, improved, and preferred version features a new cover and some minor changes here and there. But, here it is… again: the story of “The Doorman”, Simon Starling, Reader’s World (a real place, I might add), of stories within stories, and lost love. This book and this story is so me – perhaps more so than any of my stories and books that I have had published thus far.

Happy reading! 😊

Short story: “The Man in Blue” (2018) by Mark Hastings

Mark Hastings books, David Bowie, playing god, Podcast, Short-story , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
The complete short story “The Man in Blue” from Mark’s 2018 short-story collection, ‘Playing God’, about a young runaway called Jean, who has been living on the streets for over a year after running away from an abusive home life. Then, one day, Jean meets a mysterious “Man in Black” who wants to give Jean the gift of a new life; however, when the “Man in Black” is confronted by his past, in the form of his powerful father, he is forced to return home – but the “Man in Black” does not plan to stop being who he believes he was always meant to be, doing what he was always meant to do without a fight. ‘Playing God’ is a collection of “Seven stories… Seven perspectives… Seven experiences… about One Man in Black, one Man in White… Seven morality tales of one immortal Rebel, Hero, Friend, Fan, Father, Son, Playing, God”. You can read Mark’s poetry on his website http://MarkThePoet.Me, and you can purchase all of Mark’s books of poetry, short-story anthologies, and novellas on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3HjAJMC

Echoes and Reflections: “From Me to Us”

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In this episode, Mark reflects upon his literary journey from his first novel, ‘The Wolf In Me’ to one of his most recent books ‘The Wolf In You’ – essentially the beginning and the end of the main protagonist of the books of his literary world of stories: Olivia Hunter. Mark talks about and compares the experiences of writing a story that eventually becomes a book, which eventually continues into another story in another book, and how, over time, a share story universe can naturally come into being. Mark also talks about the equally valid and yet different experiences of reading a story by an author and listening to a story read by an author, and how rich and informative those experiences can be for readers, listeners, and authors also.

‘VEGA – The Vampire King’ by Mark Hastings – Chapter Eighteen: “Dedication”

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In this episode, Mark recites Chapter Eighteen of his 2021 novel, ‘VEGA – The Vampire King’: “Dedication”. ‘VEGA – The Vampire King ‘ is the prequel/sequel novel to Mark’s novels ‘The Wolf in Me’ and ‘The Wolf In You’ and gives answers to the questions: What it is like to be immortal? What it is like to have lived for centuries? What it is like to be supernatural? What it is like to be from another reality? What tales could be told by someone who has seen the end of one world and the beginning of another? One man has all the answers to those questions, and more: Vega – The Vampire King! You can read Mark’s poetry on his website http://MarkThePoet.Me, and you can purchase all of Mark’s books of poetry, short-story anthologies, and novellas on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3HjAJMC

‘VEGA – The Vampire King’ by Mark Hastings – Chapter Ten: “The Vampire Messiah”

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In this episode, Mark recites Chapter Nine of his 2021 novel, ‘VEGA – The Vampire King’: “The Vampire Messiah”. ‘VEGA – The Vampire King ‘ is the prequel/sequel novel to Mark’s novels ‘The Wolf in Me’ and ‘The Wolf In You’ and gives answers to the questions: What it is like to be immortal? What it is like to have lived for centuries? What it is like to be supernatural? What it is like to be from another reality? What tales could be told by someone who has seen the end of one world and the beginning of another? One man has all the answers to those questions, and more: Vega – The Vampire King! You can read Mark’s poetry on his website http://MarkThePoet.Me, and you can purchase all of Mark’s books of poetry, short-story anthologies, and novellas on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3HjAJMC

‘The Wolf In You’ by Mark Hastings – audiobook – Chapter Six: “Book Day”

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In this episode, Mark recites Chapter Six of his 2019 novel, ‘The Wolf in You’: “Book Day”. ‘The Wolf in You’ is the sequel novel to Mark’s 2017 novel, ‘The Wolf in Me’, and continues the story of Olivia Hunter – a mother, a teacher, a lover, a werewolf still trying to find a way to walk a line between two different and divergent worlds, who has to fight every day to find the strength to do what must do, and the strength to be who and what she is destined to be. When Olivia Hunter and her daughter, Melissa, begin a new life, in a new house, in a new place, new and dangerous threats reveal themselves from the shadows and push Olivia and the Wolf within her to the limit; however, along the way, Olivia finds a new love in the shape of a mysterious and enigmatic man who is not what he seems, and who himself is fighting a fight for survival. You can read Mark’s poetry on his website http://MarkThePoet.Me, and you can purchase all of Mark’s books of poetry, short-story anthologies, and novellas on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3HjAJMC

‘Playing God’ by Mark Hastings (2018) – audio book: The Man in Black – “The Gods Are Angry”

Mark Hastings books, David Bowie, playing god, Podcast , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
In this episode, Mark continues to recite the introductory story of his 2018 short-story collection, Playing God: ‘The Man in Black’ – “The Gods Are Angry”. ‘Playing God’ is a collection of “Seven stories… Seven perspectives… Seven experiences… about One Man in Black, one Man in White… Seven morality tales of one immortal Rebel, Hero, Friend, Fan, Father, Son, Playing, God”. You can read Mark’s poetry on his website http://MarkThePoet.Me, and you can purchase all of Mark’s books of poetry, short-story anthologies, and novellas on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3HjAJMC

My Poem “Return of the Poet”

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Even though, at times, I may have
ventured "Too Close To The Sun",
I will always be the "Poet of the Sphere"...
even though I have written about
"The Wolf in Me", "The Wolf in You",
"The Wolf in Us" and "Vega - The Vampire King",
I will always emanate "The Sound of Mark"...
even though I have been "Playing God",
I will always be "The Eternal Boy"...
I will always be "The Dreamer and The Dream"...
I will always love "Truly Madly Deeply"...
I will always be "The Rambler"...
I will always be the "Poet of the Multiverse"...
I will always be "The Comeback Kid";
because, even though I have stories within me
that I believe are just waiting to be told,
poetry is my life's blood...
poetry is my voice...
poetry is my epic flood...
poetry is my universe within which
I do not have a choice -
because poetry is my destiny,
it always has been
and it always will be...
poetry has brought me gifts of connection...
poetry has always been within me...
there isn't a day that goes by
when I do not open my eyes
and see the light of inspiration...
there isn't a day that goes by
when I do not listen and hear
the rhythm of life's music
in unison with my multi-layered imagination...
even when things seemed to be
coming to the end of their calling,
I always believed that whenever
the time arose when I might need
to be renewed,
the one within would climb,
like a "Rising Star",
and there would no longer be any limits -
because, like a shooting star in the night sky,
there would be no stopping
the return of the poet.

My New Book ‘The Comeback Kid’ – Out Now!

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I believe that Life is Poetry, and I believe that Poetry is Life. I believe that Change is the Music of the Universe, I believe that Light cannot be seen without Darkness. I believe that the faces, the voices, the Memories I have of those whom I have known, who have inspired me throughout my life, are more important than I could ever put into words. I believe that everything happens for a reason, and I believe that the Poetry of Everything that has happened to me is the reason why I am here.

My new poetry collection ‘The Comeback Kid‘ is filled with over a hundred poems about life, light, inspiration, loss, love, experiences, recollections, relationships, feelings, emotions, memories, the path, the journey, the trials and the tribulations that we all have to face to fulfil our destiny.

Get your copy of my seventh poetry collection ‘The Comeback Kid’ on Amazon now!

A Poem A Day #510: I Love Books

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“I Love Books” by Mark Hastings was taken from Mark’s poetry collection ‘Poet of the Multiverse’ which was published in 2022 by Zeloo Media. Check out more of Mark’s poetry online @ http://MarkThePoet.Me – all poems © Mark Hastings ● Buy Me a coffee @ https://www.buymeacoffee.com/MarkThePoet ● Check out the merch store on Redbubble: https://rdbl.co/3xWa4Rw