Short Story Collections
I’m excited to announce the publication of not one but four new short story collections. These are stories I’ve written over the past decade. They’re about all manner of things – love, betrayal, obsession and many other contortions of the normal functioning mind. For those with a taste for the surreal or spooky, there are [...]
Posted in March 2012 | No Comments » |
Sleeping with the Enemy
What do you do when you fall in love with the antagonist in your novel? I’ve never heard of this happening in any of the writing manuals I’ve read, but it’s just happened to me, and it’s caused me a really tricky plot dilemma. I’m 25,000 words into this novel and it’s going great. I’m [...]
Tags: plotting problems, writing
Posted in March 2012 |
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The Final Chronosphere?
Tomorrow sees the launch of the final book in the Chronosphere trilogy. It’s called Ex Tempora, which means ‘Outside Time’ in Latin. I chose the title for a very particular reason, which should become clear when you read it. Ex Tempora is set six months after the events described in the first two books. It [...]
Tags: Chronosphere, Ex Tempora, science fiction, young adult
Posted in February 2012 |
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A Kindle for Christmas
The commuter train was unusually empty for a Tuesday morning. We were in that odd hiatus between Christmas and New Year when many firms decide to remain closed. In fact, as far as I could tell without standing up and looking about, the carriage contained no one but myself and the gentleman opposite. I’d grown [...]
Tags: Christmas, horror, Kindle, short story
Posted in December 2011 |
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My Existential Crisis about God (and Publishing)
Forty years ago, at about this time of year, a schoolfriend of mine (now a prominent human rights lawyer) told me that there was no such thing as Father Christmas. We were both seven at the time, and I remember standing in his entrance hall – we’d just got home from school and I hadn’t [...]
Tags: "non-fiction publishing" "internet" "God" "existential crisis"
Posted in November 2011 |
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The Art of Ventriloquist Fiction
I’ve now finished the first draft of book one of my new YA spooky series. I’m quite pleased with it, but am worried about my central character (a 14-year-old girl). I’m a man in my 40s. I’ve never been a 14-year-old girl. Yet I’m writing in the first person. But, I keep trying to reassure [...]
Posted in November 2011 | 1 Comment » |
The P Word
Many decades ago, when I was about 15, I read a horror story in an obscure paperback anthology. I’ve long since forgotten the title, author and most of the details of the story, but the final sentence – when the form of the monster is revealed – stayed with me. As a piece of fun, [...]
Posted in October 2011 | No Comments » |
Starting a novel
Today I’m starting work on a new novel. I’m in a state of nervous, caffeine-fuelled, slightly fearful excitement. My fear is not of the blank page or a shortage of ideas. My problem lies in the other direction: I probably have too many ideas, and at this early stage, keeping them in check is especially [...]
Posted in September 2011 | 1 Comment » |
Brighton dreams
Just got back from a brief day-trip to my favourite city in all the world. I spent six fabulous years in Brighton in the 90s, and I’ve made innumerable trips back there since, for work and pleasure. It’s changed a little since those days – new shops, beautiful new library – but the atmosphere is [...]
Posted in August 2011 | No Comments » |
Chronosphere
The second book in my series, Chronosphere, is due to publish on 1 September, which is just 10 days away (if my maths is right!). Chronosphere is a science fiction series aimed at young adults. The first book, called Time out of Time, sets the scene for the story. It’s set in the future, in [...]
Posted in August 2011 | 1 Comment » |