It's been a quiet week. Mostly.
I've been beavering away at the edits for THE END, finishing off a commissioned story and working on a potential three-novel pitch called THE CONCRETE GROVE; sort of clearing the decks before launching headlong into DEAD BAD THINGS, the second book for Angry Robot.
Working on the pitch got me thinking about my direction as a writer. I've certainly become an accidental novelist of late: the longer format appeals to me in so many ways. I've also got a lot of stories I want to tell, and all of them seem to be demanding a novel-length platform. Situations, characters, histories...they're all crowding my head and yelling to be heard.
So, hopefully these novels will all see the light of day over the next few years, and I can build something of worth. If not, I'll have a fucking good time trying.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Friday, January 22, 2010
A Cock
Just because it's Friday, and I'm in a weird Friday kind of mood, I thought I might post a picture of a cock.And much hilarity ensued.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Who is Thomas Usher?
His name is Thomas Usher. A normal man. An average guy. Until he is involved in a tragic accident and his wife and daughter are killed…
After that, things begin to change. Usher is no longer normal. Or average. Now he can see the dead, and the dead can see him. They seek him out to help them. The lost. The Lonely. The departed. They never speak to him; they only ever demand his attention.
The ghosts are drawn to Usher, and he is compelled to help them in the hope that he might once again see his family. But sometimes, just sometimes, it isn’t enough and even his best efforts make things worse. Much worse.
His name is Thomas Usher.
He is an usher for the dead.
It’s who he is.
It’s what he does.
After that, things begin to change. Usher is no longer normal. Or average. Now he can see the dead, and the dead can see him. They seek him out to help them. The lost. The Lonely. The departed. They never speak to him; they only ever demand his attention.
The ghosts are drawn to Usher, and he is compelled to help them in the hope that he might once again see his family. But sometimes, just sometimes, it isn’t enough and even his best efforts make things worse. Much worse.
His name is Thomas Usher.
He is an usher for the dead.
It’s who he is.
It’s what he does.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
PRETTY LITTLE DEAD THINGS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Coming in July 2010 from Angry Robot/HarperCollins
Just in are some wonderful blurbs from two of my writing heroes: Angry Robot
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
At Last, That Big Annoucement...
I'm delighted to finally be able to announce that Angry Robot/HarperCollins will publish my next two books, Pretty Little Dead Things and the sequel Dead Bad Things.
More details here: Angry Robot
Now the really hard work begins.
More details here: Angry Robot
Now the really hard work begins.
Friday, January 15, 2010
Thursday, January 14, 2010
The end of The End...
So last night I finally finished the first draft of my new novel, The End - all 63,000 words of it. A short novel, yes, but essentially so. Anything more would have been padding.
The story is essentially my personal spin on those brilliant little plague movies from the 1970s, films like Rabid and The Crazies. Short, brutal, but with a message and a social conscience. Early Cronenberg filtered through J.G. Ballard by way of the Credit Crunch...my usual cheery stuff, then.
The book is due to be published this September in a limited trade paperback edition (I think) by the lovely NewCon Press. It should be launched in Nottingham at FantasyCon 2010, all things going well.
Keep watching this space for my big announcement, by the way. Hopefully I'll be able to spill the beans early next week...
The story is essentially my personal spin on those brilliant little plague movies from the 1970s, films like Rabid and The Crazies. Short, brutal, but with a message and a social conscience. Early Cronenberg filtered through J.G. Ballard by way of the Credit Crunch...my usual cheery stuff, then.
The book is due to be published this September in a limited trade paperback edition (I think) by the lovely NewCon Press. It should be launched in Nottingham at FantasyCon 2010, all things going well.
Keep watching this space for my big announcement, by the way. Hopefully I'll be able to spill the beans early next week...
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Friday, January 8, 2010
Pieces of Midnight
Hopefully before the end of February, you'll be able to order my next collection Pieces of Midnight from the wonderful Ash Tree Press. 17 supernatural tales, and with an introduction by the sublimely talented Steve Duffy.
For now, here's a sneak peek at the superb cover (illustration by Keith Minnion and design by Jason Van Hollander).
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Just Up Ahead and off the Road
Saturday, January 2, 2010
So that was 2009?
A slightly belated Happy new Year to friends, readers and fellow writers. I hope next year is happy and properous for us all - and the economy improves sooner rather than later, so we can bid this recession a fond fuck-off.
So. Another year closer to death...but last year was one that signified a major step up in my writing career, both in terms of the sales I made and, of course, in the quality of my work (well I think so, anyway).
Bring on 2010. Already lined up are Pieces of Midnight, my collection from Ash Tree Press, a mass market novel (more on this when I can announce it officially) and stories in a couple of high-profile pro-rate anthologies. Then there's World Horror 2010 in brighton and Fantasycon in Nottingham. A busy year ahead; and certianly one I plan to grab by the balls. Hopefully I'll get to see you all somewhere along the way.
So. Another year closer to death...but last year was one that signified a major step up in my writing career, both in terms of the sales I made and, of course, in the quality of my work (well I think so, anyway).
Bring on 2010. Already lined up are Pieces of Midnight, my collection from Ash Tree Press, a mass market novel (more on this when I can announce it officially) and stories in a couple of high-profile pro-rate anthologies. Then there's World Horror 2010 in brighton and Fantasycon in Nottingham. A busy year ahead; and certianly one I plan to grab by the balls. Hopefully I'll get to see you all somewhere along the way.
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