You write so that when you fall, your descent will be arrested, by a silver net of words tied in knots onto the walls. And you ask, are they strong enough, tough enough, tall enough, what if they just break so that you crash into the floor? So you write and on you tie them... Continue Reading →
I grew up surrounded by fantasy and sci-fi. Maybe that's why it's what I love to write now. Bedtime stories were The Hobbit, Wind in the Willows, Roald Dahl. Daytime video viewing was Star Wars, Willow, Labyrinth and all the Disney films. It's still seen as odd if you're into fantasy and happen to be... Continue Reading →
It's all over. Both the year and my book. Completing the book has been my biggest achievement and one I didn't expect to happen. When I looked back at my New Years postfrom January 2015, I was surprised to find I'd gone beyond what I thought I could do. I completed the 2nd edit on... Continue Reading →
Well, I had to didn't I? The final Discworld novel. After this, there will be no more. I knew this day would come eventually, but it shouldn't have come so damn soon. I've started reading it and it's just as good as I expected albeit tinged with bittersweetness in every word. One day I shall... Continue Reading →
I have two writing pals on my desk; Catbutt and Grandad. Catbutt was a gift who is also a handy paperweight. I call him Catbutt as he has a hefty posterior. Grandad is actually a vicar troll but his cross fell of a while back. I gave him to my Grandfather (also a vicar) for... Continue Reading →
I worked on my first book for three years. Three years. And at roughly 45,000 odd words it’s not exactly War and Peace. Of course, my little old book had to be put into stasis more than once. I’ve been working and there have been house moves and life changes a-plenty in this time. Still,... Continue Reading →
After many machinations, alterations, deletions, frustrations and other things ending with -tion I have finally finished The Book. I have bits of this book on my computer that date back to 2011 - yikes! All 29 chapters now stand before me, hovering somewhere between novella and novel (I haven't done a word count yet as... Continue Reading →
It sounds so simple. Writers write. That's what we do, where and wherever we can. Of course it's not quite that simple. Leaving aside that writing takes a good amount of staring into space, thinking (trust me this is very important) quite a lot of us also have day jobs to do. If we're lucky these... Continue Reading →
If you need some inspiration for gifts of a 'wordy' kind, then let me help with these lovely things I got for my birthday. First up, two lovely new notebooks for my collection. I like the clouds that appears on the pages in the Notebook for Dreamers. Next up a super soft pencil case decorated... Continue Reading →
