Steve Gay's Blog

I wasn't sure what to expect when The Callista Alignment was released last summer. The start of a series, and my first sci-fi novel, I wasn't sure how it would be received. But in the intervening months it has been read by thousands around the world, and I am grateful to have received so many positive reviews. I certainly wasn't expecting was to receive such positive comments from America's premier book reviewers, Kirkus, let alone for Callista to be awarded their prestigious star!

So many people were captivated by Kali's story, her resilience, and courage, but they wanted to know what was going to happen next, and when the next book would be released.

Well, here it is! The Callista Ascendancy has just been released as a paperback - you can find it here on Goodreads, and the ebook will come out in November. And for a limited period I will be offering ARC copies to those who reviewed Book 1, in return for an honest review, so if you are interested, do get in touch either by DM or through Book Sirens.

I don’t read poetry it very often, and I don’t write it, but I thought that for once I would give it a go. It wouldn’t be anything meaningful, just light entertainment. I had just seen a poem that could be read start to finish and then back in the opposite direction (if I was a poet I would know what they are called). The structure fascinated me and I started playing with it like a puzzle, then tried to find a line of thought of my own that would work in both directions. There was a pot of Marmite on the table in front of me, and so…

Marmite is the most disgusting thing ever invented

So, don’t keep on, as if you could ever make me believe that

It’s full of goodness, packed with healthy stuff

Just a glance at the label will show you

It’s actually pretty foul

Even though millions of people think

It has magic properties

Cures all known diseases and

That it’s evidence of British greatness

I know the truth, I know

It’s evil, the witches brew, and nothing good can come of it

So, don’t ever expect me to spread it on my toast and declare that

Marmite is a wondrous thing



And now reading from the bottom line upwards...