Somehow I missed the following review first time around: BRUTAL SPIRITS
Copies of the chapbook are still available from the link to your right (or by emailing me direct).
Many thanks to the BFS for agreeing to archive these reviews on their website.
"Firmly in the front ranks of the new wave of British horror." - The Guardian
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Thursday, April 23, 2009
On Turning 40
So today I turned 40. I don't feel older; I don't feel wiser. I just feel tireder. The Big Four-Oh - to be honest, it was all a bit of an anticlimax. I've had more exciting naps.
Looking back (as one does at this age), I completely wasted my twenties - stayed in a dead-end job, went through a series of dead-end relationships, drank too much, and generally coasted through an entire decade. In my 30s, however, I feel that I achieved a lot and even realised some life-long ambitions.
Over the past ten years, I lived in London for a while, married a woman I truly love, had a son who makes the world a better place because he's in it. I've become a published author, written a novel (almost three, actually), made it into The Mammoth Book of Best New Horror and been nominated for (but not yet won) a couple of awards. I've made some great friends, particulrly through my writing, and met many interesting people (some of them idols of mine) along the way who have inspired me.
The world might be going tits-up at the minute, but I've done a lot this past decade. There have been both good times and bad, but thankfully the former outweigh the latter.
In the next ten years I plan to really go for it. There are still things to do, ambitions to realise and places to see. It might be interesting to see what I write here on my 50th birthday, if any of us are still here to read it.*
(*Being a miserablist, I simply had to end on a pessimistic note)
Looking back (as one does at this age), I completely wasted my twenties - stayed in a dead-end job, went through a series of dead-end relationships, drank too much, and generally coasted through an entire decade. In my 30s, however, I feel that I achieved a lot and even realised some life-long ambitions.
Over the past ten years, I lived in London for a while, married a woman I truly love, had a son who makes the world a better place because he's in it. I've become a published author, written a novel (almost three, actually), made it into The Mammoth Book of Best New Horror and been nominated for (but not yet won) a couple of awards. I've made some great friends, particulrly through my writing, and met many interesting people (some of them idols of mine) along the way who have inspired me.
The world might be going tits-up at the minute, but I've done a lot this past decade. There have been both good times and bad, but thankfully the former outweigh the latter.
In the next ten years I plan to really go for it. There are still things to do, ambitions to realise and places to see. It might be interesting to see what I write here on my 50th birthday, if any of us are still here to read it.*
(*Being a miserablist, I simply had to end on a pessimistic note)
Monday, April 20, 2009
J.G. Ballard
I just want to add my own tribute to the late J.G. Ballard, who died of lung cancer over the weekend, aged 78. He was a true original, and work like "Crash" and "The Atrocity Exhibition" will remain with me always.
I've just heard that the American porn star Marilyn Chambers also died recently, aged 56. David Cronenberg's Rabid is one of my favourite horror films, and her performance was extraordinary. RIP to a troubled soul.
I've just heard that the American porn star Marilyn Chambers also died recently, aged 56. David Cronenberg's Rabid is one of my favourite horror films, and her performance was extraordinary. RIP to a troubled soul.
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Hungry Hearts
I've just received a mock-up of the cover for Hungry Hearts, the zombie novel I've written for Abaddon Books. The book is basically a very, very fucked up love story, so this twisted romance image really makes me smile...
Friday, April 17, 2009
Best New Horror #20
I'm delighted to announce that my story Through the Cracks, from the collection How to Make Monsters, has been selected by uber editor Steve Jones to appear in THE MAMMOTH BOOK OF BEST NEW HORROR 20.
And yes, that does seem to be my name on the cover. (Keep quiet about it and they might leave it there.)
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Captain Nemo(nymous)
I'm pleased to announce that I've just sold a story to Cern Zoo, the next issue of the weird and wonderful series of Nemonymous anthologies. Not telling you which one it is; you'll have to try and guess.
Even more pleasing is that fact that today I finished the first draft of a 12,000-word story I've been wanting to write for about ten years. Safety Dance is an autobiographical and anecdotal ghost story about a certain time and place where I grew up: northern England in the 1970s.
Even more pleasing is that fact that today I finished the first draft of a 12,000-word story I've been wanting to write for about ten years. Safety Dance is an autobiographical and anecdotal ghost story about a certain time and place where I grew up: northern England in the 1970s.
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