The Crow's Nest II

Henry Miller - Work Schedule 1932-33

2012-01-31T16:38:00.000Z

I love this. A writer making rules for himself that are useful to us all. I wonder if it was a New Year's Resolution. If so, curiously similar to my own...

Night Terrors II

2011-12-29T18:38:00.001Z

Here is the cover to Night Terrors II, a new collection from Blood Bound Books that contains amongst its pages my short tale 'The Boy in the Well', inspired, in part by a Robert Frost poem...

Thrilled to be included...

The Knowledge and other stories

2011-09-26T19:29:00.001Z

I've just published my first e-book. The Knowledge and other stories is a collection of six short stories that were initially published in small press magazines in the UK and the US. As with most of my short fiction these are a very different bag to my novels, focussing on dark themes and characters on the margins.

Content listing:

The Knowledge

Three boys discover the body of a suicide victim and a terrible secret.

A Covering of Leaves

A grieving railworker finds a ray of hope in an abandoned vehicle

The System

A group of men visit a casino that craves more than money

The Insane World of Henry Zellinger

A curious case of mistaken identity and a unhinged comic shop employee

Nightwalkers

A University lecturer finds himself plagued by visions that might just be real

Devil's Work

A journalist writes to save himself from an eternity of damnation

The collection is available in all digital formats.

Can you handle The Knowledge?

Night Terrors and more

2011-09-09T10:09:00.000Z

Thrilled to get stories into two forthcoming Anthologies this week.

The Boy in the Well will appear in 'Night Terrors Volume II' from Bloodbound Books.

The Grey Place will appear in 'Dreams of Duality' from Red Skies Press.

Joe Hill - 20th Century Ghosts

2011-08-29T14:35:00.002Z

I just bought this at the weekend. I've only read one story so far, 'Best New Horror', but I absolutely loved it. A very clever writer at work. I haven't been as excited about reading a collection of short stories in a long while, and what's more important, I think I've found a writer that I can learn a great deal from. Thus the bar has been raised a little higher...

Riots and all that...

2011-08-18T22:44:00.007Z

I've sat back on this one, watching things develop, trying to come up with a hypothesis. Organised gangs on the rampage? Bored teens with nothing better to do and no sense of responsibility? Disenfranchised youths with no stake in society? Chancers? Copycat behaviour? Kids just out for the crack? Variations on all of these things? Probably.

But look, each year we are churning out these kids who have no academic skills and no skills in anything else. They hang around until May/June of Year 11 and then they're released into the world and don't have a clue what to do when they get there. They've been brought up on Playstation and YouTube. They're de-sensitised to learning. It's boring.

And don't blame the teachers. These kids are beyond their teachers. The teachers have been running around for five years trying to get them to produce work worthy of entry as coursework, often treading the finest of lines between helping and writing the work themselves. These kids are beyond their teachers because we have created an educational culture that focusses on the magical C Grade. Blame Government for this. The introduction of league tables caused schools to enter into this currency. They have no choice. Failure to adhere means failing school.

So each year a percentage of kids with no hope of gaining a C grade are put through the mill in the blind hope that somehow they might get one. And then they leave school and don't come back and nobody knows where they go, except to their bedrooms and their Playstations and to street corners and if they're lucky, into manual labour.

And it's going to get worse, because our Education Secretary has decided that we need our youngsters to follow more academic pathways in schools, so we're going to see yet more disenfranchised kids who couldn't manage academia churned out of the system with nothing. And you can't blame the teachers because they know these kids should be following a more vocational based curriculum but schools can't go down that route anymore because to do so will mean failing on the league tables.

We're about to hit 1,000,000 youth unemployed. And on the radio and TV and in the newspapers they're shocked and horrified and surprised that a few of these kids decided to go and take something for themselves?

Addendum: Thinking about the riots sparked an idea for a story which I drafted in one flurry of activity last week. Happy with it to a degree but it needs depth. I'll let it breathe a while...

It's Sex and it's Murder!

2011-07-25T20:22:00.004Z

Pleased as punch to be appearing Sex and Murder Magazine with a story I wrote several years ago. What I like about this publication is that it makes no apologies. It does exactly what it says on the front cover...unashamedly. And why not?

Many thanks to the editors for accepting The Insane World of Henry Zellinger as a re-print. The story first appeared in a small magazine from the UK called Thirteen Magazine, long dead.

I don't remember much about writing the story, other than the first draft flooding out of me in just one sitting at the keyboard. One of those days where the writing took care of itself!

Goodbye to 'The Big Man'

2011-06-27T10:03:00.005Z

Oddly, and rather ashamedly, I only heard the news of the death of Clarence Clemons yesterday. How I managed to avoid this in such a media saturated world is beyond me. Needless to say, it came as a massive shock, something I'm still reeling from this morning.

There's nothing I can say that would add to the many obituaries already posted, other than to mention the transformative effect the E-Street Band's music had on me as a teenager growing up in a little Lincolnshire town once voted the most boring town in England. On the glorious evening when I first heard the Springsteen mix-tape a school mate had recorded for me I was transported to sultry New York evenings and sun drenched New Jersey boardwalks. It woke me up to a wider world and gave me purpose. I started to write my own songs and those, over many years, became stories and eventually novels...

And so I played the 'Born to Run' album in the car this morning. My four year old son and two year old daughter were soon swaying and clapping along to the music, my daughter making a serious rock musician face which was joyous really and provided some perspective. Clarence has gone but the music will remain and it will fourish wherever people hear it.

Writers and Submissions

2011-06-16T15:35:00.003Z

As a writer of two published novels and numerous short stories I often field the question ‘how do I get published?’ Juggling my time between writing and teaching Creative Writing I am constantly confronted with really promising pieces of fiction. Many of my students have aspirations to be published writers. Sadly, this aspiration does not often result in publication. Many potential writers either never send their work out (for fear of it being rejected or because the next piece is going to be better) or give up after their first rejection because the pain was too much and it confirmed all of their fears.

My advice to unpublished writers is always the same. Stick at it! Don’t take ‘no’ for an answer. If your writing is good enough it will find a home. And I firmly believe that. I have to.

I’ve been writing a lot of short fiction of late. I have aspirations. I have markets I want to crack. I’ve sent three stories to Black Static this year and received three rejections. My campaign plan is to keep on sending stuff until I write a story that the editor can’t reject. When I finish a story I select a market (duotrope.com and ralan.com are my initial starting points. If you haven’t been to these sites before, now’s the time…) and I get the work sent. I expect to receive a rejection. That way, when I receive an acceptance, it is all the more rewarding, but in most cases I get the rejection I expected. Sometimes I’ll take another look at that story, give it another draft, baulk at something I should have noticed earlier, change the opening line, but often I won’t do that because the story is fine as it is. What I do then is ‘get straight back on the bike’, send the thing out again to another potential market. I’ve had stories rejected fifteen times and then accepted. The same happened with my novels.

I always tell a writer to imagine themselves as an editor of a magazine, sifting through submissions looking for a story they want to publish. In that scenario, wouldn’t we all select different stories? That doesn’t mean that everything we’d reject is awful, just that it isn’t what we’re looking for.

A writer must be tenacious in the submissions game. Be prepared to spend long hours researching potential markets, reading publications, trawling through submissions and formatting guidelines. It’s probably true that a writer needs to spend as much time on this process as writing itself…

A writer must have the determination of a boxer to get up off the canvas and take another hit because eventually, if you do that enough times, you are going to put the other guy on the floor.

What is it that Seneca said?

‘Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.’

And what did I read the other day?

'It's no use waiting for your ship to come in if you haven't sent one out'

...or something like that!

It would be interesting to get a word from Rob Redman, editor of The Fiction Desk (who recently published one of my short stories, A Covering of Leaves) on how he approaches the submissions process, how he selects stories and why he rejects others. How much of it is down to personal taste, the other stories already selected, the types of stories he sees too often etc? What other factors might influence an editor's decision?

Openwide Magazine - 10th Anniversary Issue

2011-05-20T21:34:00.005Z

I'm delighted to have a story appearing in the 10th Anniversary Issue of Openwide Magazine, edited by James Quinton.

Openwide was one of the first publications to accept my work. Back in 2003 I took a short hiatus from teaching (it had to be short, my savings quickly expired) to focus on my writing. For about four months I dedicated myself to writing short stories and, having just bought a new PC, searching for markets on the internet. Openwide were a webzine then and in the years that have followed they've drifted back and forth between e-zine and print. What hasn't changed is their attitude to writing or their commitment to it. I feel proud to be able to say that three or four of my pieces have appeared in Openwide Magazine over the years, always keeping good company with a great selection of writing talent.

The story in this issue is called The System. I like to think it's a story very much in the Openwide style. It follows four friends into a Casino and charts their experience. Some of it is loosely based on characters I know in real life and some of it is almost true. Most of it though, is just a story about a casino...

Please try and support Openwide Magazine, a true independent if ever there was one, by purchasing a copy and spreading the word.

The Fiction Desk

2011-02-23T16:45:00.003Z

My short story A Covering of Leaves will appear alongisde a number of new and established writers in a new anthology published by The Fiction Desk in April 2011.

I wrote this story after reading an interview (with Stephen King I think...) in which he explained how after 9-11 the New York authorities continually came across vehicles owned by people who had died in the attacks. The story idea came pretty quickly after that, suggesting as some have said before, that stories exist to be discovered by writers. I did not expect to be writing a story about a car that mourns its deceased owner and a man who is already mourning the loss of his wife but that's the story that emerged. And I think it's essentially about that, about mourning and managing in the aftermath of the death of a loved one, or not managing, in seeking some sort of path back to the place where there was happiness and togetherness, however unusual the route a person might take to reach that place.

Many thanks to Rob and all involved in the creation of this new publication. Long may it run...

Further Submissions

2011-01-25T12:10:00.002Z

One short story to a horror magazine and one children's novel to a new independent publisher this week.

About six more short stories at various stages of completion. I need to get them out of my system and then perhaps its time to start looking at getting on with another novel.

A Writer's Life

2011-01-06T15:05:00.003Z

2011. A new year, a clean slate, what to write?

With the supernatural thriller I wrote last year currently doing the rounds of publishers and having no clue as to its prospects, I've started 2011 by continuing to follow the mantra of 'something every day'.

So, in the mornings before my day job, this is what I've been up to.

Monday - Edit two short fiction pieces aimed at women's fiction market

Tuesday - Ditto

Wednesday - Complete edits, write submission letter, send

Thursday - Answer e-mail from a fellow writer looking for advice regarding the submission process; arrange meeting with another fellow writer to discuss the writing life; answer e-mail from local Society of Authors group about attending the next meeting; begin outlining an idea for a novel about the internet

Friday - Meet fellow author; edit two horror stories aimed at UK/US horror market with a view to completing and sending off next week

Latest Publication

2010-12-02T16:54:00.003Z

I've been writing and (possibly more importantly) submitting, a lot of horror and dark fiction lately. Happily that effort has paid off with an acceptance. My very short horror tale, Gerlack the Mole, has been published in this anthology from Pill Hill Press in the US.

2 Days Later - Short Horror Film Competition

2010-10-27T19:32:00.003Z

This event will be taking place at the Theatre Royal in Margate on Saturday 30th October. Always a good night and absolutely FREE!

Christmas Book Fair and Mystery

2009-12-06T22:35:00.002Z

We are holding a Christmas Book Fair on Saturday December 19th at St Thomas Hall in Burgate, Canterbury 11am- 4pm.

Free Entry.

There will be about 25+ writers from East Kent there, each selling their publications and eating Mince Pies.

Come along for that last minute purchase and make a writer happy!

Talking of being happy, something strange has happened on Amazon of late where both Asboville and Soldier Boy have risen sharply in the sales rankings. I have no idea why...and that's the mystery.

Authors and Reviews

2009-07-02T11:59:00.002Z

First there was the unhappy writer on Scott Pack's Blog ('Why Do I Bother?' - Feb 25th 2009), then Alice Hoffman and now Alain de Botton publicly tweeting and twittering about negative reviews. Perhaps somebody could write a negative review about one of my novels so that I could publicly admonish them, get the press to report it and receive ungarnered publicity in the process.

I spot a gap in the market here...or have the publishing marketing teams got there before me?

Iraq Inquiry

2009-06-23T13:16:00.002Z

I have contacted our local MP, Julian Brazier, to ask him to demand a full and open public inquiry into the Iraq war.

I can think of at least this many and this many reasons why...

The Fallen - BBC Television

2009-06-14T14:58:00.004Z

I watched this unrelenting and extremely moving programme last night and would urge anybody who has read 'Soldier Boy' to catch it while they can on BBC iplayer. It was precisely the stories and experiences on here that I wanted my novel to address...

The BBC at its best, doing what it should do much more of in my opinion.

Today I was Victor Frankenstein

2009-02-02T16:43:00.004Z

So we went to make a snowman in the field up the hill, my son and I, and we made him and he was sort of interesting but I forgot my camera and couldn't record him for posterity. Off we went, back to the house (all of two minutes away) to fetch it but when we returned somebody had destroyed him. Oh, the nature of evil!!!

Anyway, to cut a long story short he was rebuilt using bits of his old self and new bits. Here is the result. We called him 'Victor' (short for Victory in this case for he stands victorious over those that would destroy him) and he looks very pleased with the end result even if I do say so myself.

Now, I need more bodyparts!

PS Our friends created this rather bemused looking chap.

PPS Meanwhile the students across the road built a snow 'person' too. Pathetic!

Book Launch

2009-01-23T10:54:00.002Z

I have now seen the cover for 'Soldier Boy' and completed the proof edits so with a release date of 31st March 2009 looming it is time to organise some sort of launch. I'm planning to finalise the details of this event today. It will be in Canterbury on Thursday 26th March. I'm off to see the proprietor of the prospective venue and then it will just be a case of getting invitations mailed out. If you're reading this and want to come along, drop me a comment!

Public Lending Right

2009-01-12T22:31:00.002Z

I just received my PLR statement for July 2007 - June 2008. It informs me that Asboville was taken out 775 times. The year before it was 665. I suppose that's promising from a library lending perspective. I love things like this, to think that 775 people made the decision to take the book out and take it home with them. Now I know that's nothing compared to the big players but it's 775 more than zero and that's the way I like to look at it!

2009

2009-01-12T22:22:00.002Z

I am not one for resolutions, not really. Life has a habit of rumbling along fairly similarly to the year before it regardless of the things we try to change. It's not easy to stop a runaway train after all. I will try to get myself a little fitter this year. I used to be able to rely on two 90 minute games of football each week and a training session mid-week too but those days are gone. All too often now I find myself watching from the bench. At 37 I suppose it's to be expected. But I hate the gym and I love to be competitve so I will be looking for a sport that satisfies. I'm starting with badminton as it's a decent enough workout when played to a certain level. It's too cold for tennis, golf isn't physically demanding enough and I'm crap at squash (I'm pretty crap at tennis and golf too...). So badminton it will be.

Beyond that 2009 promises, at this stage, to be an exciting year. It will see the publication of my second novel with Maia Press, Soldier Boy will be released in March and there are one or two other exciting things on the horizon that I'm not at liberty to mention. I wouldn't like to tempt fate either. It has a nasty habit of kicking you (me) in the teeth.

Festivals

2008-07-05T23:12:00.002Z

Having an 18 month old son makes Glastonbury a little adventurous for me so after several years I gave it a miss this year. To keep in the festival spirit we bought day tickets for Zoo8 instead, a festival on land owned by Port Lympne Wild Animal Park.

It was a bit crap really. We got there at 1030am and had to queue until 1pm. None of the stewards seemed to have any idea what was going on, they had about ten people administering wrist bands for several thousand people and each one took a good 2/3 minutes. Yesterday people queued for 5 hours and I imagine it was the same for the people 'way' back behind us. On top of that a load of bands cancelled with one act alluding to the promoter as a 'c**t'. I'd probably ask for my money back (or at least a refund for the excessive queuing) if I thought I had the slightest chance of getting it. Perhaps Glastonbury spoils a person...too much of a good thing etc. After all, Eavis gets 160,000+ people in there and I can't remember having to queue for anything except the odd clean portaloo...

We went to the animal park to cool off. It was great!

Paris, Hemingway and Shakespeare & Co

2008-05-26T19:11:00.007Z

Just back from a weekend in Paris.

Two abiding memories will be contemplating life and its meaning over a glass of red wine at Cafe Delmas in Place de la Contrescarpe, a haunt that Ernest Hemingway would have known (just around the corner from Rue de Cardinal Lemoine where he lived for a time) and visiting the famous bookshop Shakespeare & Co where many writers (including myself as of yesterday) have dreamed of living like bohemians and writing their masterpiece...

These two experiences reminded me that writing is more than just a business. It is, of course, an art form too.

Blog Tagging

2008-04-25T13:32:00.002Z

Well I was tagged by Patricia Debney (it's a thing that's going around) but I'm afraid this particular thread is going to snap here, not because I'm grumpy (well I am, but that's not the reason) but because I really do not know five people who blog that have not already been 'tagged' and it's not like we want this thing going around and around to the same people forever...

I've suddenly realised how few people I actually know. Oh, hang on, I think I knew that already and I think I kind of like it...

I was going to show I was in the spirit of things by posting five things about me but I just couldn't think of anything. Ermmm...no, nothing.

London on a Saturday

2008-04-19T20:34:00.002Z

I was back in London today, training to be an A Level Examiner. It's part of my long term plan to be able to work from home and never set foot into a place of work again. It will probably never happen and in truth I'm pretty certain I'd miss some aspects of teaching were I to give it up entirely but that doesn't mean that I wouldn't mind giving it a try to see! Anyway, I spent the day with a bunch of people from all over the country who are new to examining A Level and now I feel far less terrified at the prospect. My biggest fear? Winding up with about half of my quota to complete on the last evening or something mad like that. Now, there are checks and balances and all sorts of ways to organise yourself so that this doesn't happen...

And London on a Saturday? Much more relaxing than on a weekday. Almost calm in fact...

John Clare 1793 - 1864

2008-04-16T14:42:00.006Z

I'm teaching this guy's poetry for the first time at the moment, to A Level students. He's on the new syllabus too so I expect I'll get to know him quite well over time. I have to say I'm becoming a fan. What interests me are his more 'frustrated' poems about rural life at the beginning of the 19th Century, how he witnessed the very fabric of his existence being torn apart by the Agrarian Revolution and Enclosure.

In his poem Remembrances, Clare reflects on his childhood days:

When I used to lie and sing by old Eastwell's boiling spring
When I used to tie the willow boughs together for a 'swing'
And fish with crooked pins and thread and never catch a thing

And then on how these days are gone forever:

Then the fields were sudden bare and the sky got overcast
And boyhoods pleasing haunts like a blossom in the blast
Was shrivelled to a withered weed and trampled down and done
Till vanished was the morning spring and set that summer sun
And winter fought her battle strife and won

It got me thinking and reminiscing about the summers of my youth, cycling with rod strapped to the crossbar, yesterday's bait still on the hook, the few quiet miles to this place...

...where 'me and my mates' would spend day after day fishing and being twelve years old.

I wonder if I'll let my own son do the same when he's twelve?

The London Book Fair

2008-04-15T10:22:00.003Z

Okay, so this was my first visit. I had a meeting arranged and thought I'd pop along to see what it was all about. I spent the first half-hour wandering aimlessly around the place (it's huge) feeling slightly bemused and then realised a better strategy was required so armed with my directory I grabbed a coffee and a table and set about organising myself. I sat for about 90 minutes working my way through the directory listings, selecting companies I wanted to check out and then a further 30 minutes locating these on my map. After that I set out with a clearer head and managed to visit just about all the places I intended.

The thing about this event though is it's all business. If ever an author wanted a better understanding of the industry then I'd recommend they visit. It puts things in perspective. I think new authors would benefit the most, particularly those that have yet to realise that publishing is about making money. I met Vanessa Robertson from Fidra books and commented on how as an author in my jeans and boots I had felt a little insignificant and out of place amongst the thousands of power dressing suits and how this was ironic as without authors the industry could not operate but she set me straight with a very sobering thought, that without the industry there would really be no avenue through which authors could ever hope to make a living or truly 'get their work out there'.

London Book Fair and other stuff

2008-04-12T20:56:00.005Z

I'll be off to the LBF on Monday for the first time, courtesy of a free ticket from The Society of Authors. I have no idea what it'll be like but I hope to come back having met a few people face to face that I've been in contact with for what feels like ages by e-mail. I'll also be looking out for loads of freebies and generally mooching about. I do it in bookshops a lot, mooch about and see what's being published by whom, what the latest trends are etc. Today I bought one book and one CD.

I'm a big Del Amitri fan. For some reason they've always been considered too 'middle of the road' by many music critics. More fool them. I've never been disappointed by any of their albums and the Del Amitri gig I saw at Shepherds Bush Empire about four years ago remains one of the best live gigs I've ever been to...

This is Justin Currie's debut solo album, released last year.

I came across an extract from this novel at a recent A Level Literature Lecture. The passage I read was intriguing enough for me to want to buy the book but on recent visits to bookshops I could only find a single copy of Adam Thorpe's recent short story collection and no novels of his at all...so Amazon it is. 1921 tells the story of Joseph Monrow, a young writer holed up in the Chiltern's, trying to write the first great novel about WWI.

Waverton Good Read Award Update and more

2008-04-09T18:56:00.003Z

The short-list has been announced and Asboville is not on it. Oh well. It feels a bit like the end of an FA Cup run, sort of like getting to the quarter finals or something...which isn't at all bad really but not as good as getting to the final or even winning it. Good luck to the remaining six writers and their novels. It must be said that the Waverton Good Read was a nice award to be in the running for, not least because the books are selected and voted upon by ordinary members of the public. You can't really say fairer than that and you can't argue with it either!

Fidra Books (who are publishing my children's novel Storm Clouds next year) are in the process of producing a mass market edition of The Winter of Enchantment by Victoria Walker. The new cover can be seen here and it looks great! The cover was designed by Snowbooks.

What else? Well apart from re-working Storm Clouds and helping it 'grow up' a bit I'm beginning the process of gathering ideas for the book that will come after the book that will come after Asboville! That's the curious thing about this game. You have to be way ahead of yourself, otherwise they'll be huge gaps between projects and I don't want there to be huge gaps. So things begin with trying to find a subject or situation that inspires. It might be a song lyric or something somebody says. It might be a story I read on the web or in a newspaper. It might be a line out of a novel...

TFP Update

2008-04-03T20:08:00.003Z

So, unsurprisingly TFP will no longer be publishing 'Naomi and the Devil of Darkling Green'. How do I feel? Disappointed, naturally but this book and its characters has been living in some form since I completed the first draft way back in 2003 and it will live on. Some time later in the year, if nothing happens in the meantime, I will start touting it again. You have to have thick skin in the writing game. I've been getting rejections, for short stories, novels, poems and the rest since I started and I've been rejected by publishers, agents, magazines and websites. How many rejections? Hundreds. Easily.

This one is a little harder to take because the book had a home for a while and started to become something. Now it's got to wait again. I really do think that if a publisher were to back it correctly it has the potential to be very big indeed, not just as a novel but also as a film, collectable, interactive adventure, computer game, you name it...but then I would say that, I'm the author!

I've followed the discussions on the various blogs and I've tried to look at things with an objective eye. What I've seen, I think, are a lot of disappointed people venting their frustrations. I know nothing about these people so can hardly comment though I do wonder if some are experiencing what really amounts to a form of rejection in the publishing world for the first time. I just don't know. Of course there are other issues. I feel for those that are owed money, especially those that are owed substantial sums. I'm owed a little too and to say I could do with it is an understatement. How those that were almost at debut publication stage (one author's book was due to be published tomorrow and I have no idea if that went ahead, if he was one of the chosen few, though blog silence and gut feeling tell me he probably wasn't) must be feeling I can't imagine. My heart goes out to them. For many writers, getting a book published is so much more than a business transaction. It's often a life-long dream come true...

What I do know is that I have to get on, with other projects, with writing. I said it a couple of days ago, that I'm lucky to have these other projects in the pipeline. I need to make them as good as they can possibly be and then work as hard as I can to publicise and market them, then I have to get on with more projects, more and more and more...

Why I Love...

2008-03-31T21:08:00.004Z

...this book.

I came upon the book through the film of course. For a long time I had a grainy VHS copy that I made from the TV way back in 1994 but a few years ago I searched high and low for a DVD at a time when it was quite difficult to come by. I ended up paying £35 for an import and now it's back on sale in most places for a normal price. Oh well.

I got hold of the book in 1999 and loved it as much as the film (though interestingly it seems Djian likes neither the Americanised translation or the film!) and that takes me nicely onto this interesting little fact. None of his other novels have been translated into English. I'm not the only one feeling down about this!

Here's the opening to wet your appetite:

They were predicting storms for the end of the day but the sky stayed blue and the wind died down. I went to take a look in the kitchen - make sure things weren't getting clogged up in the bottom of the pot. Everything was just fine. I went out onto the porch armed with a cold beer and stayed there for a while, my face in the sun. It felt good. It had been a week now that I'd been spending my mornings in the sun, squinting like some happy idiot - a week now since I'd met Betty.

Happy reading...if you can find a copy!!!

The Friday Project and all that

2008-03-27T19:55:00.004Z

Waverton Good Read Award

2008-02-01T09:18:00.000Z

I was pleased to see Asboville nominated for the initial 'Book List' for this award back in November of last year. Now I'm delighted to see that it's been 'Long Listed' which means it's been selected in the final twenty books. In some strong company though so am eagerly awaiting the announcement of the 'Short List' in March!!!

Anthology Builder

2008-01-20T19:16:00.001Z

I managed to get a couple of stories accepted by this new website. I like the concept, though it remains to be seen if anybody will actually use it the way it's intended...

The stories are:

The Knowledge - First appeared in TQR Stories and currently selected as a story in their new 'Best of' Anthology.

The Insane World of Henry Zellinger - First appeared in Thirteen Magazine.

All good fun!

December

2008-01-16T23:51:00.000Z

The month of Bruce at the 02, frustrated finger tapping while awaiting news from publishers, trips to Wales and the Wirral, more finger tapping and, of course, Christmas for him!

November

2007-11-02T12:13:00.001Z

Workshops

I'm pretty sure that all my Fridays in November are booked out with school workshops. I know for a fact that I'm off to Lincolnshire on the 9th November and Great Yarmouth on the 30th November. Both of the schools I'm visiting are studying Asboville as a text so they should be fun days. It will be my second attempt to reach Great Yarmouth. I tried about a month ago but the motorway was closed due to a fire and I had to turn about and return home.

Asboville - Film

I'm still seeking out ways to get funding/backing to turn Asboville into a film. I'm going to try the UK Film Council First Feature Programme. More news on this as it happens (or doesn't!!!)

October

2007-10-20T09:23:00.000Z

Quite a lot to report this month.

Chester Literature Festival

On the 19th I had a full day at the Chester Literature Festival. In the morning I completed a workshop at the Bishop Hever School. The students were engaged in the 'Writing from Experience' task and though we had a few tears (we always do with this activity) there was some brilliant work produced. It never ceases to amaze me just what some kids have been through in their lives and how open they are to writing about it. Thanks to Richard Sayle (Head of English) for inviting me in.

After lunch I visited the University itself to give two talks, the first to English students who are studying Asboville as part of their 'Contemporary Literature' unit (I'm very grateful for this) and the second to PGCE students where I delivered a presentation on my concerns about how young people today are portrayed by the media etc and the challenges we face as teachers in forming positive working relationships with our students

The talk with the English cohort was a pleasure. It was a unique experience for me to be faced with 40 students who had all read my novel!

The presentation to the PGCE students was not without its controversies. This comes as no surprise as there is much polarisation within the teaching profession when it comes to where our role as a teacher begins and ends. Quoting many findings from the 'Institute for Public Policy Research - Freedom's Orphans Publication' and attempting to open up debate on key issues it soon became clear that there are many entrenched opinions on both side of the argument.

What I wanted to do was demonstrate what it might feel like to be a teenager today, faced with negativity and labelled as disrespectful in thier lives beyond school, under pressure to be an academic success within school. I looked at how the future of teaching may change to encompass far more wide reaching learning than at present, how schools may become centres for youth activities during evenings and weekends, how the practice of teaching may alter accordingly with teacher working hours becoming more flexible and subjects widening to embrace talented/dissafected students in any number of ways. The response was mixed.

I also brought up one of my biggest concerns regarding the current 'culture of fear' that exists between adults and children and looked at some of the ways that we as teachers can help bridge that gap. I suggested that in the age of technology, where many of our students live lives in the word of cyberspace, there might be a time where we as teachers put our fears behind us and enter into that world ourselves, exchanging e-mails with our students for instance as a way of delivering/receiving information, communicating through MSN and other chat environments. Naturally there was a mixed response with many teachers feeling this was a step too far.

The only thing that really upsets me about this response is that often the reasons behind it are centered on a fear teachers have of putting themselves in a vulnerable position, open to all types of suspicions and accusations. While these worries are valid it is very depressing to me that we have reached the stage where young people and adults cannot engage in any type of relationship beyond the classroom without a cloud of fear looming over them. Are we not in danger of losing the sunlight altogether?

September

2007-09-07T08:48:00.000Z

Perhaps if I try a blog post a month I'll manage to keep up. We'll see!

September marks a new beginning for me as I'm now doing just a four day week in my 'day job' thus allowing me to dedicate Friday to all things writing. So a quick update...

The new novel is complete and has gone out to two trusted readers for one final critical bashing before it's submitted. I'm happy with it. I'd say it acheives 80%-90% what I intended when I started it and I'm learning that this is quite a good average. Searching for the last few percent can take forever and in my experience you just never truly get there, perhaps because you're always developing as a writer. I'd be interested to hear what others think on this subject.

I'm now working on something completely different for the next few weeks, something light hearted and quirky before I get back to the heavy stuff.

Canterbury

2007-08-08T09:29:00.000Z

I've said it before and I'll say it again, this city is special. It's without doubt the most cosmopolitan, 'European' city in England (London, excepted...).

When the sun is shining, the cafe culture and tourists all combine to transport the mind across the Channel even though the body remains firmly on English soil.

Amazon and other things

2007-08-04T18:17:00.000Z

I have to admit that I still check Amazon from time to time to see how Asboville is doing. Yesterday I was down in the dumps when it was in 309,000 place or something ridiculous like that. Today it's at 17,000 which is much more respectable me thinks. Of course this probably means they sold one copy. Tomorrow it may well be languishing again.

Writing can be a frustrating business, mostly because of the waiting. Currently my new novel is with my agent where I'm hoping it's receiving a good grilling so I can make it better. Another work is at the contract stage and plodding on slowly, yet another sitting on an editor's desk awaiting acceptance/rejection. Meanwhile life goes on.

I've sent out a load of unpublished short stories to various magazines (fingers crossed) and have one or two articles and reports to write but the passion at present is in the three novels currently lying dormant and without them I feel a little lost. I suppose it's about wanting to put some closure on those things before I move on to the next project, of which I have three possibilites to choose from. We'll see what happens...

Blogging and Editing

2007-07-19T21:43:00.000Z

It's an art form in itself actually. I have tremendous respect for you people who manage to think of something to write about each and every day. Perhaps I need to be more random. This blog has so far been more of a newsreel. Changes are necessary.

I'm trapped in a never ending cycle of editing the new novel. It's so very nearly complete. I seem to remember this happened last time. I need to let go and let somebody else take a look at it. Stephen King says "write with the door closed then re-write with the door open". I think I need to open the door...

Workshops Update

2007-07-08T20:52:00.000Z

Workshops are coming thick and fast at the moment with recent trips to Manchester, Glossop, Colchester and Broadstairs and trips in the next week to Islington, Grantham and Birmingham.

I'm having a wide range of experiences, meeting some great students from a wide spectrum of backgrounds. On Friday 6th I had the pleasure of a trip to the Heath School in Stanway, Colchester. The lads there are all difficult cases who haven't found mainstream schooling easy (for many reasons) but they were keen to talk about their lives and seemed to think things were getting better for them. We were shown around the accommodation wing, the lads only too proud to show off their huge communal TV, their bedrooms and kitchen. One 13 year old explained that he'd be cooking there later. The staff at the Heath School are a dedicated bunch. There was a real family feel to the place, something I'm sure these lads get a lot from. I wish them all the best.

My visits to Glossopdale and Dane Court, Broadstairs gave me a real chance to work with some talented young writers. I'll be posting some of their work on my website over the summer.

I had to stay in a hotel on Tuesday night, such was the timetable. The room was okay, if not a little soulless, but a combination of thin walls, heating system humming, unfamiliar surroundings and my own tiredness led to a night of broken sleep. I had to pay extra for breakfast too! Not glamorous at all really...

Rushing to the door...

2007-06-27T20:02:00.000Z

I was at a conference today, running workshops and promoting Asboville. Yep, still promoting it!

There were two guest speakers at the event, both writers of different sorts, both fascinating to listen to and both 'over there somewhere' in a different world that mere mortals cannot enter. Within a minute (quite literally a minute) of the second speaker finishing, the two of them were out of the place, to the taxi that was waiting to rush them to the station. No chance to say "hello", no chance to see if they were really human after all.

It got me thinking as I drove home, because the same thing happened with another writer last year, that whenever this happens it only adds further weight to the arguments of those who wish to write and see the publishing world as a closed shop. These people get paid to speak, for sure and of course they have places to get to and things to do, but is a little time too much to ask for, to sign the book for the person who just wants to say "hello", to answer a question from the shy person in the audience who doesn't like to ask in front of others, to speak to the would be writer who's looking for a little bit of advice or dare I say it, encouragement?

Your experiences please...

Is somebody trying to tell me something?

2007-06-24T11:58:00.000Z

Today on Amazon, Asboville's 'perfect partner' book is A Can of Madness: An Autobiography on Manic Depression by Jason Pegler...

FOPP Signing cancelled/postponed

2007-06-23T10:39:00.000Z

To anybody who was thinking of attending (there must be one or two of you out there...) I'm afraid the signing has been cancelled/postponed. I'm not really in a position to say why. I imagine all will come to light in the weeks to come. Sincerest apologies.

FOPP Signing

2007-06-19T17:42:00.000Z

Four years ago I quit my job in teaching. I had a plan to move to Spain, get a part time job to cover basic living expenses and write. It didn't quite work out as planned for all sorts of reasons but those few months of having no job, when I had to write each and every day to justify what I was doing to myself, were the turning point. For years I'd daydreamed about being a writer and done next to nothing about it. Now I had a quota to reach each day and time to dedicate myself to what I wanted to do.

I split my time equally between two activities:

1. Writing

2. Looking for places to publish my works

I stumbled across a BBC Get Writing Competition, entered it and was a finalist. I discovered Openwide Magazine (who published my first short story), the Orphan Leaf Review and Ralan's Market List, places I visit regularly still. I had to go back into teaching but I was a different person. I had a belief that I could do it if I tried. So I tried some more.

I sent off stories and got rejections. I sent off children's novels and got rejections. But every now and then a small magazine said "yes" to a story and every now and then a publisher/agent sent back a letter that said more than simply "no thanks". I discovered TQR Stories in the USA and Thriller UK Magazine and Litro and they all said "yes".

I learned how to take the knockbacks (by writing more stories and working on novels harder) and I learned how to approach publishers. My girlfriend was crucial at this point, forcing me to approach publishers with belief and subtle persuasiveness. I developed a writing CV. I spent time working on submission letters, biographies, synopses and pitches. In short, I became more professional.

On Saturday 23rd June I get to give a talk and sign copies of Asboville in the FOPP store in Canterbury. It's at 1pm in the afternoon, their busiest time of the week. It's the biggest and most important event I've done since I started this whole thing.

I'm deeply grateful to everyone at FOPP for arranging this. Hopefully it's the start of a beautiful relationship!!!!!

Workshops

2007-06-10T19:15:00.001Z

So since Christmas I've been shooting up and down and across the country carrying out creative writing workshops in schools. It's been an experience, a different type of teaching to my day job in my own school, thoroughly enjoyable and occasionally stressful!

It's been great to go into schools as a published author, to field questions from youngsters who want to write themselves, to offer them support and tell them it can be done. I've even managed to sell a few class sets to schools along the way.

I've always loved travelling by train, so workshops in Bath or Leeds for instance by train have been a real pleasure, combining the love of two things. I've even managed to get some writing done on the way and on the way back.

Friday 8th June however was a tough day. I only had to go to Bethnal Green so decided to drive. It was only 60 miles. I gave myself over 2 hours to get there...but arrived 45 minutes late. The poor teachers who had to look after the kids that were waiting for me must have been tearing their hair out. I met the head of the school in the corridor and he told me one of his staff lived close to me and made the journey every day. He/she gives himself/herself a 3 hour window each morning, leaving Whitstable in Kent at 5.45am. I told him I'd never have thought of leaving that early, but there we are, we live and learn.

I sent them some free books in a bid to redeem myself. I hope they forgive me just a little bit.

June, July and Beyond

2007-06-06T19:47:00.001Z

A busy time this month and next with school workshops in London, Stanway, Manchester, Glossopdale, Birmingham and Bath as well as a few locally.

The final draft of the new novel is almost complete and will be heading to my agent very soon.

Plans are afoot for a children's book too (well it's a sort of children's book...) but I have to keep that to myself for a little while longer. I'll be working on this heavily during the summer.

I've organised a summer session of short story workshops at the Horsebridge Centre in Whitstable. Dates are:

Thursday 26th July
Thursday 2nd August
Thursday 9th August
Thursday 16th August

Sessions (7pm - 9pm) are designed to help new writers make inroads towards their first short story publication. These are not going to be 'how to write' workshops...more what to do with something when it's finished which is the thing I struggled with for years! I really didn't have a clue. More details on my website.

Ypres and Brugges II

2007-04-02T21:08:00.000Z

Well, we're back and what a fantastic trip! We stayed at Varlet Farm just a few km from Ypres. Our host Charlotte was wonderful, very friendly and a real WW I enthusiast. She knows her stuff too and gave an excellent lecture to our group on the Thursday morning. The farm is on a WWI battlefield and they're still digging up artefacts on a regular basis, including live ammunition that the bomb disposal people have to come and deal with when they get a chance! The accommodation and breakfasts were brilliant. In fact I think we were spoiled!

We visited various museums and cemeteries. Tyne Cot Commonwealth Cemetery and Langemark German Cemetery gave us all something to think about, especially Langemark which caused quite a lot of the students to question their perceptions...

Ypres and Brugges

2007-03-27T19:19:00.000Z

Off to Ypres and Brugges for three days with the school. We're heading out to the WWI battlefields and cemeteries, preparing our sixth form for their final A Level module. I guess we're hoping they get something out of it. I'm sure they will. The trip has been a bugger to organise, what with all the red tape that goes with school excursions these days but now it's here I'm looking forward to it. The new novel started its life in Brugges during a holiday some eighteen months ago. Now it's well on the way to completion and with the Easter holidays coming I have no excuse not to do exactly that!!!

Is 'Asboville' Teen Fiction?

2007-02-21T20:13:00.000Z

A genuine question this and one that I'm hoping might generate a few comments...

It's a teenage love story with teenage characters doing the things teenagers do, but does that mean it's a teen novel? It's been spotted in the teen section of some bookshops and in the general fiction section of others. It was promoted by Waterstones as a Paperback of the Year and as general fiction. On their website it is listed under fiction. It has been reviewed as teenage fiction in some places but reviewers have commented that it isn't teenage fiction at all.

I've been in schools who have used it with year 7 classes, year 8 classes, year 9 classes and year 10 classes. It has been promoted by some as a great book for boys but girls seem to like it. The cover has been criticised for trying to be teen trendy and celebrated for being original.

So what is it? And does it matter? I'm just asking.

Richmond Fontaine & The Endrick Brothers

2007-02-15T23:15:00.000Z

Up in London on Tuesday evening for a great gig at Dingwalls in Camden. Richmond Fontaine are busy touring their latest album 'Thirteen Cities' and vocalist/guitarist Willy Vlautin's debut novel 'The Motel Life'. I managed to catch up with Willy at the end of the show for the briefest of chats. I wanted to swap him a copy of his novel for mine but naturally being a disorganised idiot I was late leaving home and forgot to take a copy with me. He probably thought I was a crazed stalker when I asked him for his address so I can send him a copy but he gave it to me all the same (well it is in Portland, Oregon and a PO BOX number so I'd have to be some stalker). He's on tour until early March so with a bit of luck there'll be a copy of 'Asboville' waiting for him the next time he checks his mail!!!

Just a word on The Endrick Brothers who are supporting RF on this tour. They're damn good and their new album 'Attraction Versus Love' is one of the best British 'Americana' albums I've heard since Lowgold. For those who like their comparisons, think early REM (Life's Rich Pageant territory) mixed with Teenage Fanclub...

Snow Day

2007-02-08T13:21:00.000Z

I got as far as reversing my car out of the driveway this morning before it got stuck on the hill and I decided to call in. There were at least fifteen other staff off when I called and the school manager said loads of kids were off too so I'm spending the day at home. Not even 'glorified' baby sitting is the order of the day in most schools when the snow comes, with kids heading off home at random moments after begging their parents to save them from the ordeal of being in school when all their friends are off enjoying themselves, no lessons, random classes of frustrated teens that were forced to attend and anxious teachers worrying about getting home themselves.

Got 1000 words written on new book, did some marking and took some photographs. The snow is already on the way out and by the time tomorrow comes around it'll be a memory. The pic is of our resident squirrel. I had a fright the other day. There was a terrible fracas in the trees and a sparrowhawk (or something larger) appeared with a pile of fluff in its claws. It flew off towards the cemetery, sounding a victory cry as it went! It may have had a squirrel, but I think it was a dove...or just my imagination! Whatever, there's a squirrel in the garden today...

Modern Day Living

2007-02-04T15:54:00.000Z

This is a one off.

Did anybody watch the brilliant Jack Dee series 'Lead Balloon' that was on before Christmas? I loved it for the 'everything is rubbish these days' grumpiness of Dee's character, a slightly less surreal take on modern life than 'One Foot in the Grave' and Victor Meldrew...

I had a moment today. We stopped off at the local supermarket for a few bits and decided to grab tea/coffee and cake from the attached coffee house. The plan was to take these to the woods and 'escape' for twenty minutes. But they didn't have any English Breakfast Tea, only Earl Grey and Darjeeling and they didn't have any brown sugar sasheys for the coffee either. They were waiting for a delivery. I tried pointing out to the undergraduates behind the counter that there was a supermarket next door. Couldn't they buy some tea bags? Nobody would notice. Nobody would care. But of course, they couldn't because they were not associated with the supermarket and did not have the power to make a decision like going to buy some tea bags until the delivery came. Instead they had repeat over and over that there was no English Breakfast Tea and no brown sugar sachets...

...this is the same coffee company (same city, different location) that ALWAYS runs out of mugs on Saturday mornings and is forced to serve their 'sit-in' customers with 'take-away' cups. Once again the place is manned by undergraduates who have no authority to do anything about the situation other than apologise. I can see the embarrassment written all over their faces. I don't go to that one anymore.

...and isn't this the point about globalistation? That nobody is allowed to think for themselves any longer. That there are procedures for everything. That common sense is dangerous.

On my drive to work there are now roadworks by a major roundabout. They're widening the road there, which has catered for two squeezed lanes of traffic for several years. Only in widening the road they've started by placing cones for three hundred yards, thus narrowing it for the duration of the works. And NOBODY IS EVER THERE DOING ANYTHING! They started a month ago and still NOBODY IS THERE! Occasionally there's a man, or two or even three men in yellow jackets sat in a van reading newspapers, and they have dug a little bit of the ground, but this has been going on three weeks! It could have been done in a day or two. It could all be over. Instead everybody is trying every alternative byway and lane to avoid the line of traffic that builds each and every morning and of course in the end nobody gets anywhere...

I could go on and on and on and on and on...but I won't.

Workshops and Website

2007-01-20T21:48:00.000Z

Completed the first of several workshops for the Bath Literature Festival yesterday. Met some great people and students, loved the train journey, can't wait to do the rest. All info available on the website...

...which now has a new look as I start to work in earnest towards completing the next book. Some clues as to the subject matter are in the pics and quotations. I'm 35k words in and hoping for 50k - 60k so some hard writing and editing is coming my way. Love it.

Writing

2007-01-04T19:09:00.000Z

Susan Hill made some interesting observations about writing angst on her blog the other day and I've been thinking about what she said. Effectively she was encouraging writers to enjoy what they do and to not put pressure on themselves to reach quotas etc (I won't repeat what she had to say, you can read it yourselves...)

She's right, of course. There's no argument to the contrary really...but it got me thinking about why I sometimes feel frustrated about the whole process and I thought I'd share my thoughts.

For me, the frustration comes in two distinct guises. The first is at my situation. I'm certain I share this with most writers who have had just a little success and many writers who have had no success (I'm talking financially here...not aesthectically...that's another thing altogether) at all. It's about making time to write. I'll always make the time (because I love it so much and because I have ambitions) but there is the day job to do (I'm a teacher) and the family committments, so there are times when I'm at work wishing I was at home sat at the computer working on my writing. The desire to write full-time is my driving force and so it goes on. Yes, I love the act of writing, so much that sometimes I hate being kept away from doing it!

The second frustration is at myself when the time is there to write and I find myself wasting it. I don't think I'll ever change there though. If I get 300 words done in a session I can't help thinking 'why didn't I manage a 1000?' Perhaps age will mellow me...not that I'm suggesting Susan is old...

Pretty good year

2007-01-01T14:32:00.000Z

Not the best way to start a year but looking back, 2006 was a good one with the birth of a son and the birth of a novel...

I forgot to mention my 'Read of the Year'. It was 'What I'm going to do, I think' by L. Wiowode. It was first published in 1969. I think I discovered it in a second-hand book shop somewhere. It tells the story of a young couple who are learning to love. Time Magazine described it as 'the best three way confrontation between a young man, life and the Michigan woods since Hemingway's Nick Adam's stories'. If you can find it, I recommend it!

Bring on 2007!

Have an Asboville Christmas

2006-12-21T13:51:00.000Z

Received this from a friend. Thought I'd share it. Says it all really! Happy Christmas to one and all!

Album of the Year

2006-12-20T20:26:00.000Z

For the record my album of the year has to be Midlake's The Trials of Van Occupanther.

It's expansive musically and lyrically. It's narrative seems to relay the story of the character Van Occupanther and his wilderness existence in late 19th Century America. It's probably metaphorical (and I may be well off the mark) but I like to imagine myself there with him. It makes me think of Henry David Thoreau's Walden. It speaks across time too; human trials and tribulations being what they are...

'Let me not be consumed with this world
Sometimes I want to go home
And stay out of sight
For a long time'

I know how that feels.

Cultural Confessions...

2006-12-18T18:05:00.000Z

In the spirit of Scott Pack's excellent idea...

My five confessions are:

1. I've never seen any of the 'Godfather' films or 'The Deer Hunter'

If, like me, you know lots of people who live for film, who talk about film on a daily basis and reference films in all that they do, then you'll understand why this is very careless of me.

2. I've never read any novels by any of the Brontes, Austen or Hardy

I'm ashamed of the last on the list because I love Hardy's poetry. I just find the novels such hard work...but I'm determined to get there one day. No consolation but I've see plenty of TV adaptations!

3. I own no albums by Tom Waits...

...which for a man with quite a large album collection is embarrassing. Staying with musical confessionals...

4. ...I do not own 'Born in the USA' by Bruce Springsteen

I'm a huge fan of Springsteen. I own everything else and more besides and I've seen him on every tour since 1987. I just don't like the album.

5. Hmmmm. How about loving Hemingway but never reading 'A Farewell to Arms' or 'The Old Man and the Sea' (but really liking 'Across the River and into the Trees' which every critic hates) or calling myself a Stephen King fan without ever reading 'The Stand' (a crime amongst Stephen King fans apparently) or how about the fact that I've never been to the opera?

Okay. I'm pushing it! Actually I did see the opera at Glastonbury. In all honesty it was pretty awful. I did try. I was disappointed actually because whenever I see snippets on TV I always fancy it. Puccini is the one. I'll have to go see.

That's it. Surprisingly I found it quite hard to list five. It just doesn't tally wth the number of times I've felt cringingly embarrassed and culturally inept. No doubt I'll recall a few more.

Babies and Book Reviews...

2006-11-09T12:52:00.000Z

...is the story of the week, or at least there is one baby, Morgan, born Saturday afternoon and looking good so far! Thanks for all the kind messages!

By my reckoning Asboville has been reviewed about seven times in recent weeks, enough to get an overall picture of its reception. Here is the upshot of all that:

The Guardian - Rhodes dramatises their (the youths) sense of exclusion with freshness and insight.

The Observer - This is really a teen novel and despite Rhodes' sure sense of pace and keen evocation of life in a seaside town, grown readers are likely to tire of Sal's intense dairy excerpts and JB's wise words.

The Independent Online - While its teen protagonists are believeable, the adults never really come into focus and its ideal audience is probably around JB's age.

The New Statesman - Rhodes asks important questions about social justice, but also tells a compellingly human story. An impressive debut.

The First Post - Rhodes has come up with a powerful coming-of-age story with a difference.

The London Paper - This is Rhodes' first novel, and his relatively unmannered voice alongside his deft combination of social issues and teen angst suggests that there may be even better to come from him.

The Book Bag - This is a great debut novel, utterly unpretentious, very sympathetic and also very honest. Do read it.

The Independent - Loach-like bleakness... JB, with his great but baffled expectations, shakes hands across time with Dickens' Pip. Let's have a sequel soonish.

It's not my business to critique the critics and overall I'm pleased just to get the reviews. Most of them are pretty good and those that point out that the book is suited to teenagers are perhaps right because I was trying to write for both audiences (and particularly teenage boys). My only frustration is the Independent Online review which suggests the book would have been more interesting if JB had been a real anti-hero. Forgive me, but wouldn't that mean writing a completely different book altogether?

Halloween - Changing of the seasons - Creative Writing students - Babies

2006-11-02T17:37:00.000Z

I have a thing about Halloween. It was wild down here on Tuesday evening. The wind was kicking up the leaves in swirls, sending tiny branches flying against the windscreen. Like ghosts dancing. I carried out my ritual of watching John Carpenter's Halloween and was frightened to turn the lights out in the office for fear of seeing a white mask at the window...or not quite seeing...or thinking I might be seeing...which is the magic of the movie of course...

It was cold too, and has been ever since. The season has turned and it feels like winter. I kind of like it. There's something about being hunkered down indoors when it's cold out. I sometimes wish we all went into hibernation, just from say November to the end of February. Just stay in, drink tea, eat cake, sleep and write a lot. Naturally I'd miss my football but that aside...

And I like wearing a wooly hat and gloves...

Yesterday I met a literary agent (very interesting) and then shot up to the local University to talk to their creative writing group about trying to get published and some of the routes they might wish to follow. It was an enjoyable evening, feedback was positive and I hope to do it again some time. If you're part of a creative writing group or a reading group please do get in touch...

The baby is due tomorrow. It's not going to come yet though. It just isn't.

The Drama Room

2006-10-31T09:58:00.000Z

Off to Folkestone this afternoon to have a meeting with Screen South about the film we made at school over the course of the last year.

'The Drama Room' tells the story of two year nine students and how their friendship is threatened by tragedy. A stage production of John Steinbeck's 'Of Mice and Men' is used as a backdrop to events going on in their real lives.

Local filmaker Bruce Partleton directed the project and the film won Best Drama and Best Actor (Adam Newman) at the Kent Amateur Film Festival 2006. This was some achievement as Adam (one of our year nine students) had never acted before! Many students were involved in the production of the film, either acting, operating sound equipment, lighting equipment or the cameras. It was a real group effort! There's a selection of screenshots on my website.

The film runs for just over an hour, is prduced to a very high standard, and is a great teaching aid for anybody who is studying 'Of Mice and Men' with their students. We're currently arranging for the film to be packaged professionally and when it's ready we'll be making it available for free to all schools that might be interested. Let me know if you're interested in receiving a copy. There's even a cameo role from a very special actress to look out for, but I'm not saying who!

Anyway, Bruce and I will be meeting Screen South this afternoon in order to kick start the arduous process of applying for funding. Bruce wants to do a similar project in another local school. We have a great new story. We just need the green light.

The week that was...

2006-10-23T15:08:00.000Z

It's a funny thing this writing business. For a while after completing 'Asboville', back in the long days of summer, I was often finding myself at a loss. The book was written, it was going to be published, just a matter of counting down the days. Then the book was printed and eventually it started appearing in stores here and there. Not much else happened...

But the last week has been manic. It started on Sunday when I found myself in the Scotland on Sunday newspaper and continued with a recorded interview with local radio station Invicta FM last Tuesday. Wednesday I was up early to be interviewed live on BBC Radio Kent. I was more nervous for that one but it turned out okay. Then, Wednesday break I got a call from BBC South East. Could they come in Thursday and do a piece? Naturally the answer was 'yes' but then there was the matter of arranging it. I had to pick a bunch of students (I chose my low ability English group and then invited a few sixth formers along too just in case I was met with a wall of silence) and arranged clearance/permission forms to be signed allowing them to be shown on TV etc. Cue much excitement from said students...

My lunch was taken up with a Kent on Sunday interview (which failed to materialise). Thursday morning was BBC South East, Thursday evening the book launch, Friday the BBC South East broadcast (very effective, though I looked as bad on TV as I expected). There were also reviews in The New Statesman and The Guardian...finally today I did a quick interview with BBC Radio Lincolnshire.

And now it's raining and cold. I've got half-term to look forward to, a birth around the corner and I need to start immersing myself in the new book. I want to write some short stories too, just a couple, because I still want to get into Cemetery Dance one day. I bought myself a copy of Best New Horror 17 today. The Waterstones in Tunbridge Wells has a brilliant 'Horror' section and I've always had a soft spot for the genre...

Book Launch Confirmed

2006-10-13T17:54:00.000Z

I'll be launching the novel at the new Waterstones (old Ottakars) store in Canterbury on Thursday 19th October. 6pm for 6.30pm start.

I've got a few surprises lined up to make it a memorable evening.

Come along if you're close by!

Interviews

2006-10-04T22:11:00.000Z

I've had the pleasure of doing some of these in recent days and it's been quite good fun. I did something for Scotland on Sunday and an interview with Openwide Magazine who seem to be getting back to business. Then it was Teachers Magazine (who are sending a photographer to the launch) and finally the University of Kent Newspaper, which was earlier this evening and the most in depth by far. It was nice to be able to talk about the book and its issues though how Tara the reporter is going to cut my ramblings down to a short article I can only guess. Jenny, the editor, was very professional about the whole thing from the beginning and in some ways I actually started to feel a little like a writer with something to say.

In a couple of weeks I'm going on the radio (BBC Radio Lincolnshire and BBC Radio Kent) to talk about the book and the school workshops we're planning. Live radio. Uh-Oh.

Richard Matheson 1926 -

2006-10-03T18:45:00.000Z

I'm no expert. I've only ever read two of his novels, watched a few episodes of 'The Twilight Zone' that were written by him and seen the film 'Duel' that's based upon one of his stories. But I was excited today when I found loads of his work on Amazon that I can get my hands on!

There's usually only two of his books kicking around in the shops:

I Am Legend

and

The Shrinking Man

They're both available in the excellent Science-Fiction Masterworks series from Gollancz/Orion.

Don't be fooled by these titles. Both novels are much more than they first appear. There's plenty of metaphor and subtext to seek out and analyse if you're so inclined, but if you're not you can just sit back and read a master craftsman doing what he does best; telling gripping stories.

I'm off to Amazon to spend lots of money!

Writing

2006-10-01T14:03:00.000Z

This blog is meant to focus primarily on writing, so while busy on the new book, I've been thinking about the creative process. The analogy I've come up with involves tree trunks and branches.

'Asboville' came together in reverse order. I had lots of leaves on lots of branches and sort of worked backward to the trunk in a bid to join them together. Perhaps this is why the book has 38 Chapters over 214 pages. It's a valid process and one I'm kind of using again with book number two.

I guess what I'm saying is, you don't have to start at the beginning and work towards an end.

I've also been thinking about drafting. One of the stumbling blocks a writer might face is trying to get everything right first time but searching for the perfect sentence is not always the answer. Get stuff down and then re-visit it. If the initial phase is exhausting, coming back to a general something and improving it is far less tiring.

Asboville Workshops

2006-09-27T20:42:00.000Z

It looks like we've got the go ahead for twenty 1/2 day workshops to take out into schools in the new year. The details are still sketchy but I'll be aiming to link Creative Writing, Drama and Anti-Social Behaviour so should be fun. Have some great ideas...

Book Launch Thoughts

2006-09-25T21:24:00.000Z

Susan Hill says that she never does these. I was quite looking forward to mine, but now I'm really not so sure. My local Waterstones (formerly Ottakars) seem happy to host one in October but they've also requested that I provide them with a mailing list of potential audience participants. I'm happy to do this of course, but I've started wondering about the point of it all. I really don't see the point in launching the book to a small gathering of family and friends. That would just be embarrassing and in truth there's hardly going to be a deluge of people wandering in off the street so the whole thing seems a little silly.

Then again, I wonder what I might miss out on if I decide not to go for it?

I've accepted an invite to have an author table at the Folkestone Lit Festival in November and I'll happily do a talk there should they wish me to. This seems much less painful and contrived.

Thoughts appreciated on this...

William Maxwell 1908 - 2000

2006-09-24T16:56:00.000Z

Continuing with the theme of influences...

'One winter morning shortly before daybreak three men loading gravel heard what sounded like a pistol shot...'

So begins William Maxwell's novel 'So Long, See You Tomorrow'. I was hooked on his writing from that moment onwards, particularly his way of ending paragraphs and chapters with the perfect sentence, often loaded with wisdom.

Take this section from Time Will Darken It.

'The search is never hopeless. There is no haystack so large that the needle in it cannot be found. But it takes time, it takes humility and a serious reason for searching."

I'd be happy to end a whole novel like this, not simply a chapter.

One more for luck.

'Death, about which so much mystery is made, is perhaps no mystery at all. But the history of one's parents has to be pieced together from fragments, their motives and character guessed at, and the truth about them remains deeply buried, like a boulder that projects one small surface above the level of a smooth lawn, and when you come to dig around it, proves to be too large ever to move, though each year's frost forces it up a little higher.'

There's a whole novel there.

His work also has a tremendous, gentle rhythm to it.

I've not read everything he wrote. It isn't easy to get hold of, but I recommend all of the following:

So Long, See You Tomorrow
Time Will Darken It
The Chateau
The Folded Leaf

and his short story collection

All the Days and Nights

He edited Salinger and Cheever.

He was married for 55 years and when his wife died, in July 2000, he followed soon after. He used to tell her stories before switching out the light and he called her 'his one and only'.

Reviews and comments

2006-09-21T11:49:00.000Z

This is new territory for me so it's been fascinating so far.

There's an interesting response on Scott Pack's blog in which somebody mentions the recurring theme of 'outsider' boys painting to a deadline. There might even be a suggestion of 'borrowing' but perhaps that's just author paranoia. The contributor mentions Tom Sawyer, Paul Auster, Mr Vertigo amongst others...

So what were the influences? Well, I read Tom Sawyer a long, long time ago and can safely say that any influence there was purely based in the subconscious. I've never read Mr. Vertigo, though somebody gave it to me to read once upon a time. Did Paul Auster write it?

In truth, the beach hut idea was perhaps most influenced (and this was almost a conscious decision but not wholly) by Phillipe Djian's '37.2 le Matin' (later made into the movie 'Betty Blue', which I loved from the moment I discovered it (and not just for the extended love-making scene at the begninning...honest!) I read the book several years later and would argue that the authorial voice in that novel is up there with the best ever (as good as William Maxwell even, who remains one of my absolute favourite writers. I'll do a piece on him at a later date.)

And then there is the fact that I was living in Whitstable when the ideas for 'Asboville' first started to materialise. Haycliffe (the imaginary town in the novel) is effectively Whitstable, though if the novel works it ought to be representative of many seaside communities throughout the British Isles. There are plenty of beach huts in Whitstable.

I'm going to comment on Dove Grey Reader's response on her blog site too. It concerns the idea that the novel may in some way provide an 'ideal world' view of JB's rehabilitation. Now this was entirely enthralling for me and has something to do with bleakness and hope, novels and endings, publishers and writers, but I'm going to leave it there for a few weeks to see what transpires...I promise to come back to it in the future!

Book Launch

2006-09-21T11:39:00.000Z

I've been trying to get one of these organised. It currently looks as though we're going to be doing something with Ottakars in Canterbury during October but nothing concrete has been put in place just yet. The manager and I have missed each other on several occasions. I'm now hoping Maia are going to be able to sort the final details with him. Ottakars are of course becoming Waterstones and undergoing some refurbishment. All I can say is watch this space and Ottakars front window for further news!

The question then is 'what to do?' I've been to a few launches and I'm not too keen on the whole 'author reads a passage' thing. I think I'll try to make the whole evening more relaxed. A question/answer session on the book, on writing and getting published seems more appropriate.

Ideas/positive and negative experiences welcome.

Early responses to 'Asboville'

2006-09-19T13:11:00.000Z

Well, the book is due to be released in less than a month. It's gone out to dozens of potential reviewers, literary magazines, reading clubs and such like. Now we're back to the waiting game again. So far, those that have commented have been positive in their responses, which is nice but a large percentage of these readers know me personally so there is the whole 'pinch of salt' thing. More promising is the response from various young adult readers who have responded enthusiastically, one or two reading the whole thing in just a couple of days. I know for a fact that of those two, one hardly ever picks up a book which must be a good sign, though I think she may have been looking to see if she was represented in the story...

I picked up boxes of postcards and bookmarks from Maia Press at the weekend. I'm going to start farming them out and placing them in buildings and establishments of strategic importance. If anybody wants to help me with this (after reading the book of course) then drop me an e-mail via the contact page on my website and I'll get some out to you. It can be our little conspiracy...

Other wise it's business as usual. The new novel is coming along but it'll take a while. I don't envisage completing it until the summer.

Some people have commented that the blog makes a good read, so I'll endeavour to keep at it and see if it grows. I didn't mean to offend anybody who blogs with my reference to 'self gratification' by the way. Most of the blogs I read are great. One day in the future I'll point you in the direction of them but I expect most people who read this (at least before the book is released) are reading the same blogs I read anyway.

When the book comes out, what I'd really like to see is questions, about the book, the story, the characters, writing, getting published (or trying to get published), you name it!

Back from Fishing

2006-09-18T17:11:00.000Z

Things seem to be picking up. People are commenting so they must be reading right? Uh-Oh, now I really have to start saying something. I'm going to try and come at it always from a writing angle but that said, sometimes things just happen that are fun to share...like the other Thursday.

Recently, Susan Hill posted a great 'day in the life' story on her site. I was thinking of doing the same but thought I ought to wait for a day of interest to occur. That day was the other Thursday.

Music is important to me. It's a focal point of my life and a major crutch to my writing. I never would have written 'Asboville' in the way it's written if I'd not heard Tom McRae's 'Just Like Blood' album. For the last few years, on perhaps a 'one a month' regularity I've been going to London to watch live music. My brother lives in the city so it's a chance for us to get together, grab a bite to eat and a beer and watch a favourite band/musician. Until about two years ago I was working in Maidstone so it was pretty easy to jump into the car and drive up, but now I work the other way on the east coast of Kent so there's another hour on the journey. Not only that but I work until a later time. Still, driving is the best option. If you're trying to be 'green'/environmentally conscious and wondering why, perhaps this story will explain.

I live in Canterbury. I love it but despite its proximity to London, getting there by train is no fun, especially of an evening. Knowing that the gig was in Brick Lane, so pretty central, and fearing there would be nowhere to park I started looking into getting up to the city (and back) by train. Now I do like trains and travelling by train but to travel from Canterbury to London and back means leaving London just after 11pm in order to get home and that can mean missing the end of gigs, something I hate to do (and let's face it, shouldn't have to). To get around this, I drove to Ashford, where I could get back to if I left London at 11.30pm.

Still with me?

I left work, drove home, changed, grabbed my ticket and headed for Ashford. It was 5pm and the train was at 5.43pm. I got to Ashford station at 5.38pm to discover I had no change for the parking machine. Still, there was time. I dashed to the shop, bought chewing gum with a £5 note, raced back, bought my parking ticket, stuck it on the iside of the windscreen, sprinted to the train and made it with 20 seconds to spare. The helpful guard told me I could buy my ticket on the train. I sat down, sweating, took a breath and reached into my pocket for my gig ticket. It wasn't there. It wasn't in my bag either, or on the floor. In fact it had vanished into thin air. Staying cool I called See Tickets. I explained that I'd lost my ticket, that I was on a train, heading to the gig. Then I got cut off. Growing more frustrated I called again, miraculously getting the same female employee, who told me it wasn't a problem. She would call the venue (93 Feet East) and I could pick a replacement ticket up on the door. I thanked her profusely.

Later, after meeting my brother and devouring a McDonalds (I know, I know but needs must...) we headed through the balmy (and barmy) streets of the London Bangladeshi community, dodging curry vendors apologetically (while wishing we'd waited to eat...), arriving at 93 Feet East to discover a 'Sold Out' sign and a queue of frustrated hopefuls.

"I'm collecting my ticket," got me to the door and through it where I met two bemused staff who listened to my sorry tale (let's face it, it was a tall story...lost my ticket while running for the train...yeah right!) before explaining that there were no tickets to be collected from See Tickets. I was on the verge of doing something nasty when the manager appeared. After listening to my story again, he finally agreed to let me in.

Story over? Not quite. David Kitt played until almost 11pm (see, I would have missed the end if I'd caught the train from Canterbury). As it was I caught the 11.37 from London Bridge to Ashford, shared a packed carriage with a bunch of drunken 'Thursday is the new Friday' commuters and fell asleep somewhere around Tonbridge. When I awoke the carriage was quiet, just me and my thoughts, until I detected a low rumbling sound coming from somewhere ahead of me. I peeked out over the seats, wondering where it was coming from, but there was nobody in the carriage. It wasn't until I got up from my seat just one station before Ashford and made my way to the door that I discovered a slumped gentlemen in a forward seat, his IPOD glued to his ears, snoring away contendedly. He was a little surprised when he woke to find himself fast approaching Ashford. In fact he was so surprised that he jumped up and raced to the door in a half-sleep state, where he started pressing the 'open' button frantically. I had to calm him down and explain that Pluckley was no place to be getting off a train after midnight (least of all because it holds a place in the Guinness Book of Records for being the most haunted village in England). He bemusedly agreed and the last I saw of him he was climbing into a Taxi, presumably heading off to Sevenoaks or somewhere (on double rate no less). I, meanwhile, arrived home at 1.30am, vowing never, ever to go to an evening gig by train again...

The point of all this? Well there isn't one really, except to say 'welcome back' to my blog and 'thankyou' to the manager of 93 Feet East for letting me see the wonderful David Kitt and equally wonderful Jape. Less 'thanks' go to See Tickets who could try harder when genuine people make genuine mistakes (however foolish) and Network South East who could provide a service to London of an evening that reflects the needs of the 21st Century homo-sapien...

Blog on hold

2006-08-20T13:21:00.000Z

It occured to me the other day that this blog of mine is all self gratifying nonsense at the moment and will probably remain so until the book comes out when, maybe, with a bit of luck, people might read the book and visit the website and catch the link to this blog and then a few aspiring writers might start asking questions about writing and at that point the blog can carry out its function, as a blog about writing for writers and everybody will be happy, least of all me. The thought came like that, quickly, without punctuation...just a carousel of realisations...and so this blog is on hold until October...unless I get a comment to respond to...

Nothing day

2006-08-17T18:30:00.000Z

Not much happening today, a walk by the sea, a spot of photography. There was some activity on the beach actually; a host of birdwatchers gathering. An 'Aquatic Warbler' had been spotted. They seemed quite excited about it. We took the dog in the other direction...for safety reasons.

The beach got me thinking about places and how much a sense of place is important in 'Asboville'. My new novel is set in Glasgow (or some of it) and I've only been the once. I was immersed in the location that 'Asboville' was written in and feel I should go to Glasgow for a few days, just to see...

Book Cover

2006-08-16T23:06:00.000Z

Okay, so I've heard it said that writers go on too much about their latest book cover and all that, but tonight I was invited to go and see my book cover being printed and as it represents the fulfilment of a dream I've had since I was 16 I think it deserves a mention.

There we are. I've mentioned it. I feel better for it.

Marketing

2006-08-15T19:06:00.000Z

Here's the thing. I've set up my website, my blogsite and my MySpacesite. Now I have to get readers. At the moment I'm blogging to myself.

Today I went out into the field, or on another run of local bookshops, to let them know my book is coming. The same thing happens each time:

i. Catch the eye of the bookseller. Bookseller looks away nervously thinking 'okay what does this guy want?' Approach bookseller... nervously.

ii. Stumble through an opening introduction which includes the words 'my book' while desperately reaching into bag for cover image and printed details, because I know the bookseller is thinking 'vanity press'/'self published'/'print on demand' etc...

iii. Produce cover image, mention the words 'properly published', meet booksellers eye to show honesty. Wait...

iv. ...for the question that comes each time. "What wholesaler/supplier can we get it from?" Bookseller begins to smile knowingly, expecting dumbfounded look from myself. I mention the word "Gardners" and everything changes. A light clicks on in the booksellers eyes. "So it's a real book..."

Okay, perhaps this is mild paranoia but that's how they make me feel.

The hard sell is just not in my nature...but I'm learning!

Where to begin...

2006-08-14T13:16:00.000Z

If I do anything with this blog I think I'll use it to talk about the creative process and writing in general. Unless some interesting comments arise, which is unlikely at the moment as nobody is reading this blog, nobody knows it exists and I am still working out how to change that...

I have very little to say at the moment as not much is happening. I'm waiting for 'Asboville' to go to press. When it has done that I'll be helping my publisher mail out review copies to all and sundry and then I guess there will be more waiting until the release date.

I'm 20k words into the next book. It's coming along but I find myself deleting as much as I create each day. This is actually a good thing because things are taking shape and becoming less wooly, characters are developing and new story ideas are arising. I'm busying myself with research too.

What I also need to do is send out some stories that have been sitting in my PC doing nothing for a time. I try to follow a policy of always having them 'out there'.

Asboville

2006-08-12T18:14:00.000Z

- Asboville -

Maia Press

October 2006

2006-08-12T17:08:00.000Z

Welcome to my Blogspot!