Apologies For The Delay

If this blog was a physical book, I’d be taking it from the shelf, blowing dust from the cover and creaking the spine to get to the page for this entry. I’d like to picture it as a leather-clad, vellum filled tome, but at the moment it’s more like a cheap exercise book with a few doodles on the cover.

Three months since my last entry? That’s bad, I know, and I hang my head in shame, disappointed with myself. In my defence, though, I’ve been busy.

Last time, I said ‘watch this space’ as if there was some impending news. Now, three months on, approximately two months after the event, I can reveal that my short story The King Is Dead… was published in the British Fantasy Society’s Christmas 2011 Journal. My words. Printed. On real paper. I’ve not physically clapped eyes on it yet (it’s not the first thing to have been mislaid in the post), but hope to soon.

In the time since now and then, I’ve also finished my edit on Book 1 of Requiem for the Grey Man, so it’s now ready to tout into the world. The search for an agent begins very soon. I’m also almost done on my entry for Fantasy Faction’s short story competition, the winners of which will be published in an anthology alongside some of fantasy’s newest luminaries (check the website to find out who). What began as the twinkle of an idea I had months ago has morphed into something completely different; it kind of ran away with itself, but I’m pleased with the end result. Another read through, a few more tweaks and it should be ready. Fantasy Faction is a great site, one that’s come on leaps and bounds in the last year, and I’m honoured to be part of it.

Same goes for Starburst Magazine, which sees its first revamped print issue in just a couple of day’s time. Editor Jordan Royce is doing a great job, nursing the project from its infancy, to this and beyond. He’s got a great group of writers on staff, superb columns, reviews and great ideas. Pick up a copy at your comic shop or newsagent, maybe even subscribe, safe in the knowledge that you’re supporting a magazine that voices true and honest opinions of all things sci-fi. Hurrah!

That’s it for now, then. Sorry it’s been brief (better short than nothing), sincere apologies for the delay (now I sound like a train announcer), and I’ll endeavour to update on a more regular basis.

One last thing. I recently re-read William Gibson’s Neuromancer for the first time this century, and it’s still a book I’d recommend. It stunned me twenty years ago when I first read it, and has done ever since. The story, the writing, everything about it is brilliant. Just brilliant.