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News
DECEMBER 2009 ...
Where did the year go? The Christmas season is upon us again, and I can't get enough of it. All the silly hats and silly customs, all the awful Christmas songs, are most welcome. Personally, I'm looking forward to all the presents, good and bad; I'm already hungry for more turkey and mice pies than any human should be able to ingest in a single sitting; and I can't wait for the falling asleep after Christmas dinner (after I've watched the Doctor Who special, of course), and then doing all again on Boxing Day. And this year, I get to spend it all with my wondeful new daughter, Marney. It's a good time.
I still have a lot of works out there, going through the submissions process. Some have been accepted, but won't see the light of day until next year now. I have three reviews out in the lastest issue of the inimitable Aoife's Kiss. Details on the "Where's Ed" page. My MA project novel "The Relic Guild" has been through an overhaul lately, meaning I've rewritten it to read less like an academic piece and more like a fantasy adventure, as it deserves to be, and now I just need a publisher . . . anybody seen one? And for next year, my New's Year's resolution, I suppose, will be to get more short stories written and sent to just about every publication that will listen. Maybe to lose weight, too, and give up smoking.
And that's about it, I suppose. At least for this year. Have a great Christmas everybody, and may the New Year be as good as the last/an improvement on the last/bring everything you hope for/be full of wonderful surprises.
Until next time . . .
OCTOBER 2009 ...
For those of you wondering why I haven't updated for a while, this is the reason.On the 30th of August, Jack gave birth to our daughter Marney. What a cutie, right? Oh, she looks peaceful in this picture, and for the most part she is, and she's wonderful and amazing and so far everything I'd wish a daughter of mine to be, and she has daddy twisted right around her little finger; but she also has the lungs of a lion, and she can poo like an elephant. I wouldn't have her any other way. Jack and I are proud and happy. Life has begun a new chapter, and we're looking forward to what comes next.
On the writing front, I have a few new things out, which can be found on the Where's Ed page. There's a short story or two, and some more reviews, plus I've added a new section for things I've edited, which will eventually include an anthology of short stories and poems called The Book of Tentacles which I was an associate editor for.
My novella, Walking Like Morpheus, is doing fairly well at the conventions in America so admirably attended by SDP head honcho Tyree Campbell, and has received some very positive feedback. It's there, just waiting for you to snap up a copy at the Genre Mall.
But mostly, it's been about Marney for the past 5 weeks, and will be for the rest of my life, I should imagine, and that makes me happy. So, until next time, peace and love to you all . . .
JULY 2009...
Right, what's new? Well, some of you might remember that for the past two years (actually, more like three at this point) I have been conducting my Masters Degree in Creative Writing at the University of Bedfordshire, here in merry ol' England. Last month (and by last month I actually mean May) my degree came to an end, culminating in a viva voce (which is a posh term for oral presentation which justifies my academic thesis before two examiners, who (or so I thought) were in the room to tear me several new ones). There were four people present in the room: fighting in the Jungian corner, my internal examiner the marvellous Professor Luke Hockly; and fighting in the Freudian corner, my project supervisor the amazing Mr Keith Jebb; and the referee was a man named Michael, of whom, though he was equally as marvellous and amazing, I cannot for the life of me remember the surname. There were no punch-ups, in case you were wondering.
The last man in the room was my external examiner, and this role fell to (wait for it) the mighty Conrad Williams. Any fan of horror who doesn't know this name should be ashamed of themselves. Not only was Conrad insightful, encouraging and immensely helpful through my presentation, he also writes a darn good story. If you like horror (or just well-crafted stories in general) then I heavily recommend Conrad's novel One, which deserves to be held in as high esteem as Matherson's I Am Legend and Wyndham's The Day of the Triffids. Seriously. Conrad will also be signing copies of One at Waterstone's in Colchester on July 25th between 1-2 pm. You should go. I am. For details call 01206 767623.
So, anyway, my Masters Degree and my viva voce. The presentation went well, mostly due to the encouragement and professionalism of the gentlemen present, and it was far less terrifying than I imagined, again due to those present. I gave my spiel, we chatted for an hour or so, and the end result was an unconditional pass - no rewrites, no extra work, just a flat out pass. YAY!! Though, all agreed that the novel I'd written, The Relic Guild, would need to be adapted if it was to be recognised for its commercial potential. I am currently working on rewrites.
I give my hearty thanks to everyone involved in the process - to John, Michael and Conrad - but most especially to Keith, who put up with me for two long years, and, at times, dragged me kicking and screaming through the degree. You all have my utmost respect and best wishes.
Phew!
Now then, the other stuff . . . I have two new short stories out in A Time To...Vol 3 and Wonderous Web Worlds 8. Check Where's Ed for details. Also, there's a new link on the Links page, which will take you to Nick Jones's dream journal. I knew Nick at university, and I think he needs to get out more. Check it out.
And that's it - Ta-Dah!! Until I have more interesting things to tell you, then . . .
APRIL 2009...
My brand spanking new novella has landed!! Walking Like Morpheus is a near future fantasy about dreams and imagination and mystery. It's me with a smile, baby! :) - see? The brilliant cover was created and design by the equally brilliant Mitchell Davidson Bentley and Atomic Fly Studios. And what a damn fine job he has done, right? Walking Like Morpheus was originally a short story written as part of my BA degree. Last year I developed all the other ideas I never used, replaced all the bits I cut to accomadate assessment word count, and brushed it up into what I've been told is a very entertaining tale. I certainly hope you think so to. Quickly, go now, get your copy before they run out!!
In other news...well, I've gotten behind once more. Three months since I last updated - shame on me! I have some reviews out in Illumen and Star*Line magazines, and short story in Shelter of Daylight, and a tiny story in the Drabbler Special, all of which can be found on the Where's Ed page. There are some other stories and reviews set for release, but no publication dates yet; and there are the usual amount stories and articles currently doing the rounds with their cloth caps wrung in their hands.
Last year I was the project editor for Dana M. Baird's marvellous fantasy novel The Spell Keeper published by Sam's Dot Publishing. This year Dana and me got the old band back together to work on the sequel The Spell Keeper II: Veil of Whispers, which is even better than the first book, and a vastly entertaining romp. I'm pleased to announce that I've now finished my editorial duties, and Dana is currently preparing the final draft. The book is due to be released mid-May, and I'll keep you posted on purchase details as and when. And if you're in the right parts of America for the genre Cons this year, look out for Dana's name. She'll be reading from and signing copies of her new book that WILL be hot of the press.
Lastly, I've also been Scott Virtes's little editing helper on a Sam's Dot anthology called The Book of Tentacles. We have been closed to submissions for a few weeks now, and we're well into the editorial stages. Scott has created some superb artwork, and is in the process of doing a mighty fine job of cover design. Whether you consider yourself a fan of spec-fic or not, you chould check out this anthology when it's released; the stories and poems we have collected here really stand up, and the authors should feel mighty proud of themselves. I know I am.
And that's it. Until next month...(maybe)
JANUARY 2009...
Good lord! Has it really been so long since I last updated!? Well, yes, and I damned well know it has. See, I've been busy. First, my MA project was a novel that demanded every bit of attention I had. But I finished it, and handed it in, and now I wait for the verdict. Hopefully, some time this month. And then, my wife and I moved house. Very stressful and busy time, but we're happy and settle in now. And then Christmas arrived . . . and then I was fantastically lazy, for three weeks, and I mean lazy on an epic scale. Nice!
I sincerely hope you all had a great Christmas, with lots of food, drink and presents. I also hope that your New Year's celebrations went off with a bang, and that 2009 is promising to be a fulfilling year, especially in these dark times.
There's not much to update you on, except a few magazines carrying my work, and that my new novella “Walking Like Morpheus” has been given a tentative February release date. I'm going to stop now, for I still have a Christmas sugar hangover, and my belly is so large I can't get as close to the desk as I'd like.
Until next month . . .
AUGUST 2008...
Yep, I really am that much of a nerd. I love Doctor Who and just about everything it stands for. My wife, who is lovely and talented, knocked up this picture for me, and I love it and her. Let's face facts, the Doctor has never been so handsome, right? . . . RIGHT?! Probably not. I'm presently on at my wife to blend her face over Martha's. Hopefully we'll see that one next month. Stephen Cole's story, Sting of the Zygons, is, by the way, a bloody good'un, not to be missed, and you should go forth, now, rush to the shops to buy it! Truth is, I miss Doctor Who when it's not on TV, and I'm counting the days until the Christmas Special arrives. Like I said - NERD!
Ok, two new tales for you to rush and buy: first is The Trouble With Hiring Skips, which (as I mentioned last month) is now out in the current issue of Tales of the Talisman; the other is Joseph's Ghost, which after a long search has finally found a home in issue 3 of Sam's Dot Publishing's sensuous Sounds of the Night magazine. This issue of Sounds also has two of my reviews.
And a reminder to all you poets and short storyets out there: the SDP anthology The Book of Tentacles is still on the lookout for submissions. I'm an associate editor on this one, along with cheif editor Scott Virtes, and fellow associate Susan Campbell. So far we're a little over half-full, and there's plenty of room for more. Without bias, I can honestly tell you that this anthology is going to be a very good. The standard of submission has been very high. So, if you think you've got what it takes, have a look at the submissions guidelines, and give it a shot. Scott, Susan and I are waiting for you!
Also, SDP are running another anthology INFRADEAD: Tales of Human Extinction which I'm nothing to do with, but Scott is, along with Tyree Campbell and J Alan Erwine. Again, submissions are still open, so check out the guidelines and give it a shot!
And that's it for this month. Maybe more next . . . we'll see . . .
JULY 2008…
Wow, has it really been that long? Well, to be honest, I haven't posted for a while because I haven't felt like I had anything to say. That and the fact that I've been having this kind of long-running nerd-gasm over “Doctor Who” Seriously, did you see the end of season 4? OMFG! And TYREE CAMPBELL of SAM'S DOT PUBLISHING fame and fortune, asked me to write a review/article of New Who. All this time travelling has affected me mentally, and my wife is praying for the moment that I stop talking about “Doctor Who” and cease singing the theme tune, to which I have now created lyrics: “Doctah Who . . . Doc-tah Whooo . . . Dor-or-or-Doc-tah Who . . .” Mr Campbell has my completed review/article at his secret base somewhere in the US of A, and I am waiting to see if he deems it usable. I wait with baited breath . . .
I have a short story and a review in the current issue of Tales of the Talisman magazine (though it's not officially released yet. Purchase details next time), and another review in the current issue of Star*Line. There is also another short story up and awaiting your immediate reading pleasure at Lorelei Signal. I Just heard that my short story “Welcoming Joseph Back” has been accepted for Sounds of the Night magazine, which could be included in the August 2008 edition; a flash fiction piece “Basket Love” is about to get a rerun in the December 2008 edition of Aoife's Kiss; and, of course, there are reviews aplenty waiting for publication, and more tales on the cusp of being snapped up (I hope). Also, my novella “Walking Like Morpheus” is scheduled for release with Sam's Dot sometime in 2009, I think. This will be my first novella release since my successful and well-received vampire tale LIVING STONE (which, by the way, is set to get new cover art courtesy of the brilliant and multi-talented MARGE SIMON). I'm very excited, and I'll keep you posted with news on both.
Lastly, on a serious note, there was a major disaster that seemed to miss the British press by a mile, and little was reported about it. I'm speaking of the floods in Cedar Rapids , America . I know folk who were affected by these floods, and the stories I heard were heartbreaking. Follow this LINK to dispel the ignorance of the British press.
And that's it. I'm determined to make an August post. So . . . until next month!!
MAY 2008...
Well, again I haven't been great at updating the website, but then I like to keep people keen :) I've been snowed under recently, writing my novel for my MA, and largely feeling like it'll never get finished. And to the amount of time spent on the novel, I feel like I've been neglecting few people recently, most especially my wife who's pretty sure she has a husband but can't seem to find where he is at the moment. And then there're two friends; first is TYREE CAMPBELL and that Sci-Fi novel I'm supposed to be writing with him. It will get done, T-Dog, I promise you that. And then there's TERRIE LEIGH RELF, with whom I'm writing a werewolf novella. Terrie, I'm sorry, and the novella will get finished soon.
The trouble is, at the moment, the novel I'm writing for my Masters Degree (a novel called The Relic Guild) has thus far been a tricky little bugger to write. It's simply more complicated than I ever imagined it would be. But I'm at a stage now when I can come up for air. The end is in sight and I can rejoin the real world now. And you know what, The Relic Guild ain't a bad story at all!
Also, I'm about to be an associate editor for a SAM'S DOT PUBLISHING anthology called "The Book of Tentacles", which will be a collection of stories that have something to do with tentacles. Geddit? Submission are now open, so if you're a budding writer with a tentacles story up your sleeve, check out the GUIDELINES, and give it a go! Lead editor will be the multi-talented SCOTT VIRTES, and fellow associate editor will be Susan Campbell, and I'm really looking forward to reading what comes through.
There's no new story to put up on the STORIES page, after all, and the new Mr Jarvis story hasn't developed any further than a few paragraphs in my notebook. But I do have another story up on Allison Boast's webzine WRITE OFF that's just waiting to be read at no charge watsoever. I've also had some more work accepted, but not released yet. More news on that as and when. Lastly, I now have a Facebook page. Go take a look - and at my MySpace page - and let's be friends!!
And that's it for this month. Until the next...
MARCH 2008...
I didn't update last month because I was far too busy reading Harry Potter and eating chocolate and crisps. But now I'm back with lots of new stuff! Firstly, I was recently the project editor for a novel called The Spell Keeper written by Dana Baird. That novel has just been released by Sam's Dot Publishing. I feel very proud to have been involved with Dana's novel; it is a vastly enjoyable piece of entertainment. So go buy a copy - go now, do it now, right . . . HERE!
Now then, as for my own personal work, I have a few new releases. My reviews of Tyree Campbell's A Nice Girl Like You and David Lee Summers' Heirs of the New Earth are in the current issue of Aoife's Kiss; and there are 3 more reviews to be found in recent issues of Star*Line magazine. Also my newest drabble (a short story of exactly 100 words) can be found in Terrie Leigh Relf's The Drabbler #10. I have some more work out doing the rounds, but nothing confirmed as yet. As soon as they are, I'll let you know. What is out is all on the Where's Ed page.
Next month, I might - just might - have a new old story to put up for y'all to read. And I don't want to get anyone over excited, but the 4th episode of Mr Jarvis and the Experiment Saga has just srpung into life in my notebook. Not sure when it'll get finished, but when it is, you'll be the first to read it. Lastly, a few people have asked recently if I run a blog. I do, but infrequently. For anyone interested, my blog can be found at my MySpace space . . . um, anyway, the link is at the top of this page.
And that's all for this month. Hope you're all enjoying the Leap-Year (did you not count the days in Feb?), and perhaps more next month . . .
JANUARY 2008...
Happy New Year!! I sincerely hope everyone had a great Christmas and 2008 is shaping up just as you hoped. I got an ipod this time around, which I'm pretty sure makes me a corporate bitch. Maybe. I've recently been writing reviews for STAR*LINE Sci-Fi poetry magazine, and this is an excellent venue to be associated with, and I'm very proud. Star*Line is edited by writer and artist Marge Simon, and 2008 will be the magazine's 30th year of publication. Congratulations to them - trust me, it's well worth a look.
My novella LIVING STONE can now be purchased at APPETITE, a cafe bar in Colchester Town that supports the arts, especially local talent. And their food ain't bad either! Not only can you enjoy the exhibition of local artists while sipping fine coffee and munching the best bacon and mushroom sandwich on the planet, but appetite also run a book club, open mic nights, and other specialties. For readers, writers, artists and food-lovers in and around the Colchester area, there's no better place. Check out their website, and contact ALAN the manager for details of forthcoming events.
Apart from that, there's a couple of new links, and I have some short stories and reviews ready for release in various magazines, but none of them are out yet. Keep an eye on the Where's Ed page for upcoming details.
Until next month...
DECEMBER 2007...
So we come to the end of another year. And it doesn't end easily. I'm having website problems, which I hope to have cleared up soon. Most specifically, these problems pertain to the photo of me holding my James Award, and the banner artwork. They don't appear anymore, and I haven't a clue why. Hopefully I'll have it figured out for the new year.
Right then, down to business. Unfortunately, there ain't much to report this month. Once more, I have a few works in the pipline, but nothing new released as yet. They'll have to wait for January and beyond, I guess. However, that Marvellous Marva Dasef has written a review of my novella LIVING STONE. Also, I've just uploaded my review of Bruce Boston's brilliant dystopian future The Guardener's Tale. Check them out over on the Stories page.
And that's it. I told you there wasn't much. Sincerely, I hope you all have a great Christmas, and here's to a successful New Year for us all.
Until 2008...
OCTOBER 2007...
A little while ago, I announced that I won a James Award from SAM'S DOT PUBLISHING for best article. The article, For the Dead Move Fast, concerned vampire fiction, and the developement of vampire Sci-Fi, which appeared in issue 2 of the vampire magazine HUNGUR. As you can see by the photo, I recently received my James Award, and I feel rather proud of it. It's a great feeling to gain recognition for your work, especially from your peers. I send much love and respect to those kind and brilliant folks at Sam's Dot. They are truly unsung heroes.
I've been busy and a little out of action of late, hench the lack of update last month. I'm currently working on a novel for my Masters degree, which has literally taken up every second of my life recently. Then, I had a knee operation, which has left me on crutches for a few weeks. Ahhh, poor me! But apart from the James Award, there's other news and updates to tickle your fancies.
I have a new flash fiction story published in THE LORELEI SIGNAL, which is accompanied by some damn cool artwork by MARGE SIMON. Also, issue 7 of ILLUMEN has just been released. Along with more brilliant speculative poetry than you can throw a star at, this issue boasts not one, not two, but THREE of my reviews. Gotta be worth the money! On the STORIES page, I have just posted my review of MARVA DASEF'S fantastic novel TALES OF A TEXAS BOY, which based on the childhood of her father during the Great Depression. Last but not least, there's a couple of new LINKS that are well worth checking out. There, all you need to wile away your lunch break at work.
Hopefully, there'll be more pleasantries awaiting next month. Until then . . .
AUGUST 2007...
Been a bad couple of weeks due to a sickness bug, which quite kindly left me feeling as though a giant had gripped me around the waist and then wrung me out like a dish cloth. Having said that, there's always a silver lining, right? Sam's Dot Publishing runs an ongoing drabble competition (for those of you not familiar with what a drabble is, it's a short story comprising of exactly 100 words, no more, no less), which they compile into a best of anthology called The Drabbler. My effort The Unforeseen: Earth Receives A Letter Of Complaint After Historic Events During A Lunar Landing was not only selected for The Drabbler #9 anthology, but also received 2nd place. A very good friend of mine, Mike, got 1st place, and all kudos to him! There's a new drabble contest out too. Link to be found on the links page.
I've now started to have stories accepted for magazines that will be appearing next year. It's good to know the future is still there, but I haven't finished with this year yet. My short story Siren of Rain has just been published online at Between Kisses, and can be found beneath a big fat plug for my novella Living Stone - did I mention I had a novella out? There should be a few more pieces appearing over the next four or five months, and I'll keep you posted as to where and when.
Now then, if you want to hear a tale of woe and anger, head over to my MySpace page and read the blog entry entitled "Dear Mr X". But be warned; it'll make you cry.
And that, as they say, is about it this month. I'll be off to complete being ill now, while sincerely hoping you enjoy all the goodies I've presented to you.
Until summer's end . . .
JULY 2007...
MWAH-AH-AAAHHH!! It's here! Living Stone, my brand new, nice and shiny, perfect bound novella . . . it has arrived! I'm a little excited, as you may have gathered :) Of course, I've added a link to purchase centres on the Where's Ed page, along with a synopsis. It's published by those kind and loving folk at Sam's Dot Publishing, and the wonderful cover art is by Tim Ramstad. And now that marvellous Marva Dasef, writer and interviewer
extraordinaire, can run the second half of our INTERVIEW, which (you guessed it) is all about Living Stone! Am I adding too many links here? Don't care - I'm just one big massive smile at present, and I've always been crap at playing it cool.
But let's not ignore the rest of this month's news - yes, that's right, there's more! My short story Spiral's End has just been published on my old mate Allison Boast's webzine Write Off. This tale, however, comes with a warning; read the blurb on Where's Ed before reading the story.
There can't possibly be any more, you say, well there is: my teenie tiny tale The Unforeseen: Earth Receives A Letter Of Complaint After Historic Events During A Lunar Landing has also been released in The Drabbler #9!
It's all on the Where's Ed Page . . . whaddaya waiting for?
Until next month . . .
JUNE 2007...
Busy time lately. I've had a couple of stories and reviews accepted, which are due for release sometime this summer/autumn. One review is currently up at Aoife's Kiss online. Link to be found on the Where's Ed page. There's one new link on the Links page to the Genre Mall, which is a very nice place for lovers of SpecFic. Look under "Resources". Also, on the Stories page, I've put up a couple of my reviews of very worth while books. You'll also find links to purchase centres as my words will surely make you rush to buy, buy, buy :)
My novella Living Stone was due for release this month, but it's been delayed and won't be out until July now. I'll let you know as soon as.
And that's about it for this month. Until next...
MAY 2007...
Things have been a bit slow recently, hence the lack of update last month. Though I have been interviewed by Marva Dasef, and a link to that can be found on Where's Ed. Also, a release date of 1st June has been set for my novella "Living Stone", though it may come sooner. I'll keep you posted. Apart from that, my short story Stealing From Prometheus has been released in the Cover of Darkness anthology. Details to be found on the Where's Ed page. I currently have several short stories out doing the rounds, but nothing accepted as of yet. The other stories I have had accepted already, still have no release date, so, again, wait and see.
Some sad news on the author front: Kurt Vonnegut died aged 84. Some of you will know his work, some of you will not. Follow this link to find out more about the man and his writing.
Lastly, my heartfelt sympathies go out to all those affected by the Virginia Tech massacre. Sometimes, the world doesn't make sense.
Until next month...
MARCH 2007...
A mixed bag of good and not so good this month. Firstly, I have two new reviews up at Aoife's Kiss online - links to be found on Where's Ed. On the Stories page, I've posted an old children's story of mine entitled Future in a Bottle - enjoy! There's a new drabble contest out, to which I've posted a link, obviously on the Links page, along with Sam's Dot Publishing's guidelines for novels.
An article I wrote was recently nominated for the non-fiction category at the Preditors & Editors poll, an online award for the independent press. At the close of voting, my article was in first place. I, and others, thought I had won. But once the judges had sorted through the votes, it transpired that my entry had actually finished in joint 7th place. I'm not certain what happened, and I guess I'm a little disappointed, but I do take pride in the fact that I was a top ten finisher, and my sincere congratulations go to the winner, Jennifer Stewart, for her article Hints for Writers. A big congrats also goes to all the writers nominated in the various categories.
HOWEVER! That same article did win first place in the non-fiction category of Sam's Dot Publishing's James Award, which has pleased me no end. The article, For the Dead Move Fast, can still be read in issue 2 of Hungur magazine, which is listed under magazines on the Where's Ed page. For details of all the winners of the James Award, take a peek here at Expressions...
In general, it's been a busy time for me of late. I'm avidly writing a short novel for my Masters degree, along with several side projects, and the hours in the day never seem to be enough. I've also become Sam's Dot Publishing's reviewer and associate novel editor, which gives me the oppotunity to monitor what's occurring in the independent press. Keep an eye out for my reviews especially; there's a lot of great stuff being released outside the mainstream.
And finally, in the next month or two, my novella Living Stone is set for release. This story was the final project for my BA degree, and is illustrated by Tim Ramstad. As soon as it's published, you can be sure I'll let you know.
Until next month then...
FEBRUARY 2007...
Well, I never updated in January, and this was largely due to three reasons: one - my computer nearly died, and had to revieve massive heart surgery, which it took a while to recover from; two - I was ill with a virus for a couple of weeks over the New Year period, poor me; and three - I am fantastically lazy, and didn't have much to report anyway. That said, I'm back for Feb, and there are few new things to tell.
On the "Where's Ed" page, under anthologies, you'll find my science fiction story Avatar has been released in the Sam's Dot Publishing trade paperback Wondrous Web World 6. It's packed with great short stories and poems from some of the up and coming voices in the small press . . . Well? Need I say more? Off with you, right now, and order yourself a copy while stocks last . . .
I have 3 or 4 new short stories due for release. Technically they were supposed to already be out by now, but due to one thing or another, they have been delayed. These, I will keep you posted on. I have a couple of reviews coming out soon, one of which is for Tyree Campbell's new novel The Dog at the Foot of the Bed. This book isn't actually due for release until April 2007, but I was lucky enough to read an advanced copy, and my review is a pre-emptive strike for when it hits the market. If any of you like your science fiction gritty and dark, then The Dog at the Foot of the Bed is for you. In fact, it's just a bloody good story all round, and well worth adding to your collection.
Last year, I wrote an article for Hungur magazine entitled For the Dead Move Fast. This article was about vampire SciFi, and I was lucky enough to have it entered into the non-fiction category of the Preditors and Editors poll. When the ballots closed, I was in first place. If that holds up while the ballots are checked for cheating, my article will win a nice shiny award. Thank you to everyone who voted for me. However, it doesn't stop there; that very same article, plus a review I wrote for Gavin Salisbury's Europa poem, is also up for a James award at Sam's Dot Publishing. My fingers, and my toes, are crossed. I'll post the results as soon as I'm privy :)
Sadly, there are no new links this month, but next month I hope to have some more, along with another short story for you to read on the "Stories" page. Until then, a belated "Happy New Year" to you all!
DECEMBER 2006...
First of all, the third installment of the Experiment saga, Getting Bashed, is now up and ready to read on the Stories page - the perfect Christmas gift, from me to you! There are a couple of new links for your pleasure, and the limerick anothology I helped edit is out, but sadly most of the publications that have my latest work still haven't been released yet, but they're coming soon!
Elsewhere, I discovered a fascinating and magnificently valuable piece of information: hedgehogs don't have knees. When the world changes, remember that you heard it here first.
Recently I also discovered MySpace, and I've become hopelessly addicted. In just a month, I've accumulated a lot of friends, mostly other writers and publishers, and I'm always looking for more. I've added a link to MySpace at the top, so drop by when you get a chance. I've certainly had more success there than I have with my Guestbook. No one signs it anymore, but I'm forever hopeful.
Until next month . . . Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!
NOVEMBER 2006 . . .
I'm actually on time with this update, which is more of a surprise to me than anyone! Ok - there are some new links up for your pleasure, but unfortunately the new publications that should've been out by now aren't. As soon as they're released, I'll update the Where's Ed? page. The good news, however, is I've put a couple of old tales up to read on the Stories page. And not that I want to get anyone over excited, but I've been a busy bee of late, and next month the third instalment of the Experiment saga will be up and waiting for you . . . can't be bad, huh?
I received my copy of The Year's Best Fantasy & Horror Vol. 19, in which my short story Nobody's Fool was given an honourable mention. To be honest, and to my shame, I hadn't heard of this anthology until now. And I expected the HM list to be filled with little people, like me, with names that weren't quite big enough to sell books like others can, and that being the reason why we recieved a mention rather than our works actually appearing in the anthology. Boy, was I wrong! Not only is the book filled with fantastic stories, but honourable mentions were also given to the likes of Clive Barker, Chuck Palahniuk, Ramsey Campbell, and (most importantly for me) Neil Gaiman, who is my biggest writing hero of all time, ever, in the history of everything. For a brief moment, I suddenly found myself in mighty company, and it made me feel very proud. Congratulation to everyone who got on that list, and well done to the contributors and editors behind the anthology; it truly is a great read.
OCTOBER 2006 . . .
Okay, so I'm getting lazier and lazier. It's been a busy time for me recently, and three months have passed since I last updated. A couple of months ago my wife and I moved house, and we're now living in the English countryside, surrounded by fields and spiders the size of your hand (which my cats love to eat). Last month I graduated from university, complete with a silly hat and Dracula cloak photo finish. I got top grades: Bachelor of the Arts with Honours in Creative Writing, First Class, and that made me all smilie :) see? And I've just been accepted by the University of Bedforshire to conduct my Masters of the Arts in creative writing, which I begin this month. I've been writing like a demon this past while, and have some pretty big projects coming up, which I'm excited about. More on those in the future.
Biggest news is the mention I recieved in the Year's Best Fantasy & Horror anthology, edited by Ellen Datlow, Kelly Link, and Gavin J. Grant. This book is a nice, big fat hardback from a major publisher, and filled with some serious literature. Although my story Nobody's Fool wasn't picked up to actually appear in the anthology (but it can still be read in issue 1 of Shimmer magazine) it was named in the Honourable Mentions list in this year's issue. I was flattered to say the least, and my copy is on its way from America as we speak!
I have a couple of new pieces of work out, listed on the Where's Ed page (which I've started dating so you know what's new or old), and there will be more next update. There's another episode of the Mr Jarvis saga on the way for the Stories section, but I'm not sure if it will get finished this year. I'm also planning to put some of my older works up too, but again we'll see what time allows. There's a few new website for you to view and enjoy on the Links page . . . and my spider senses tell me that more are on the way . . .
And now, unfortunately, the news must end on a sad note. David Gemmell died over the summer. He was the author of 30 or more novels, and regarded as the leading voice of Heroic Fantasy in Britian. I first read his work in the late eightes, and he quickly became one of my writing heroes. I've read each of his novels more than once, and, a couple of years ago, I had the pleasure of meeting him at one of his talks. Without doubt he was the biggest influence behind my decision to become a writer: I simply wanted to tell stories like David Gemmell. Of course, only he could weave the tales he told, and my own area of focus moved on to a different place. But David Gemmell remains a benchmark in my eyes, and the quality of his storytelling is a lesson for any writer. To find out more about the man he was, and his works, follow this link.
JUNE 2006 . . .
Ok, I'm a bit late with this update. I recently finished my BA at university, and my final assessment - a 17,000 word story - pretty much caved my head in to complete, but I managed it, and now I have everything crossed, waiting for my final grade. So, to relax, I've been enjoying the World Cup, and getting seriously addicted to Baldur's Gate on the computer. I'm back writing now, and there's one or two new pieces of mine available to purchase, just follow the links on the Where's Ed page. Also, there are some new links on the Links page, which may be of interest. I am currently an assisstant editor for a limerick anthology called Appalling Limericks. It's all good fun, and If you fancy trying your hand at entering follow this link to the submissions guidelines: APPALLING LIMERICKS
And that's it. See you in July . . . or maybe August.
MARCH 2006 . . .
There's two new links at Where's Ed to a short story and a review to read online. Otherwise, there're no new links to other websites this month, but I'm gathering some more which'll be up next month. However (fanfare please) Experiment II: The Pleasure Point is up and waiting to be read. This is the next installment of the Mr Jarvis saga, and can be found on the stories page. Other news: I recently won 2nd place in a creative writing competiton that was run at my university. My prize was the princely sum of £5, and a place in the Luton University creative writing society's magazine, New Lines. I am, at this time, uncertain as to how widely available this magazine will be, but I'll keep you posted. And that's all, folks. See you in April.
FEBRUARY 2006 . . .
A new flash fiction story is now out and listed under 'magazines' on the Where's Ed page. I've had an article on vampire fiction, a review and another short story accepted, but haven't got any release dates yet. Also the Links page has been updated with a couple more interesting places I've found, and the second instalment of the Experiment saga should be up next month.
JANUARY 2006 . . .
First off, happy New Year to all, and may it be a prosperous one. Next, a big thank you to my wife, who's help pretty much ensured this website got a heartbeat. By way of news, there isn't much to tell at this point. There are a few new stories and articles due out in magazines later in the year, and I'll keep you posted on release dates. Everything else has already been published, and it's out there now, waiting to be read. Go to the Where's Ed page to find details, and I'll see you next month.