Last Post of the Year
Happy new year, everyone!
See you in 2007.
Hope you all have a happy and safe time tonight.
Last Post of the Year
Happy new year, everyone!
See you in 2007.
Hope you all have a happy and safe time tonight.
Happy Hols
to one and all.
A very quick note to say that my copy of the The Bedtime Poem anthology came yesterday and it looks very nice. More on it later.
See you after Christmas, folks.
Enjoy.
I’m still here!
Apologies for not being around much recently. I’ve had a lot of work I wanted to get done before I broke off for Christmas and I’ve been feeling a little under the weather, so I’ve been pretty much tied up.
And it’s nearly Christmas. Blimey. How fast did that come around? Where has this year gone? Seriously, if anyone knows they should tell me.
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This is a wonderful website, for anyone who likes animation. My favourite is LITTLE DOG TURPIE. Check it out. It’s very cool.
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And thanks to everyone who sent me a Christmas card. It’s nice to be thought of. One of my faves was sent (and designed by, no less) by Claire. Claire, if you’re reading, I love it. You’ve done a really fab job!
I’m sure there’ll be time for another entry before Christmas. But if there isn’t then I hope everyone has a really good time.
Funky Love and Little Green Men
Well it’s almost 4 o’clock and I’ve only just sat down at my desk. And I’ve got to leave to take my writing group at 5, so I don’t think there’s much chance I’ll get much writing done today. Which is a pain. I have, very recently, discovered the magical and wondrous world of I-tunes. I downloaded some Transvision Vamp and so had that to keep my spirits up while I was in the car.
I spent half an hour at Mossley School this morning, signing books. I like Mossley school. They’re friendly and professional and have, so a little bird told me, just done very well in their OFSTED inspection. Well done! I didn’t get the chance to see any of the children, sadly, but still, it was still nice.
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Thanks to those who emailed me their congrats on the recent story acceptance. For those who are interested, my story is called, ‘A GIFT FROM THE LITTLE GREEN MAN’ and will be appearing in BEWILDERING STORIES at some point in the new year. I’ll keep everyone posted when I know better when it’ll be out.
The thing I’m most chuffed about is the fact that, due to , promo, tours, signings, novel writing and rewriting, I’ve written precious little in the way of short stories. I wrote one back in January and then nothing until the other week. Logic states that if you’re not writing then you’ve little to submit. And that, of course, leads to very little in the way of publication – anywhere. So it was nice to be able to write a short, and have something to submit. It was even nicer to have an editor saying they want it – especially when they came back to me with a decision so quickly, and with such nice words. It reminded the Ed of ‘The Night Before Christmas,’ which, as I’m sure you can imagine, was really lovely to hear, although, I feel, quite unjustified.
That reminds me, actually. Carol Ann Duffy did a fab version of it. You can buy it here. And if you’re heading over to amazon, you should really have a look at this while you’re there!
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This is a blog I’ve been following for a while now. It belongs to Kay Sexton and is really very good.
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Just a final thought. Did anyone catch that thing on telly last night where a chap from some rather special choir/orchestra thingumy was teaching High School children how to sing in a choir, with a view to competing in the world choir olympics in China? I enjoyed the programme, but the teacher chap who was running the choir reminded me A LOT of the very wonderful Alan Partridge. Was it just me?
Chuffed in Manchester
I had a nice weekend. On Saturday I met up with a few fellow writers and writeworders in Manchester and had a great time. Yesterday I ate some fantastic Thai food with my girlie.
One thing that’s continually surprised me when I meet up with other writers is how normal and nice they tend to be. I’ve yet to meet up with any and not enjoy myself. I hope that doesn’t change.
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Congratulations to Emily, who’s just given birth to her second child. All the very best wishes!
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I was quite chuffed to discover that the short story I wrote the other week was quite good (as suspected) and, following rewrites and a submission, has been accepted for publication. More details to follow.
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I’m at a school in Mossley tomorrow to sign some books, so really I’d better get back to work!
Special Day
Happy anniversary, Liz. Here’s to many, many more. I love you.
Readin’ the Roman
Just to let you know that you can now see me reading from my book on youtube by clicking here. It’s the same as the one before, but a few people have emailed me saying they were unable to play it. Hopefully this one will work better.
Hera, Children’s Poetry and Indian Food
I’ve been a bit busy recently which is why I’ve not posted in a few days.
My jacket came on Saturday (thank you Parcelforce), which was a good start to the weekend. I spent a lot of Sunday writing. Yesterday I went over to Sutton, to the Leather’s Smithy, to sign a few books, came home and wrote, then spent the evening here in one of our favourite restaurants, who was celebrating its 12th birthday, eating the best Indian food in the west. Sadly (ahem) they weren’t playing the music they’ve got on their homepage. The food was great (as always) so I forgave them. And today I wrote before heading off to my Writing Group – which was really good fun too. They are a really talented bunch.
Stumbled upon this review of my book on Amazon.
“This is a good book for juniors. It’s written in plain, honest prose and there’s a clear framework to all the chapters.
My son, 8, liked the fact that he knew some of the historical detail covered in the stories, but not all of it, so it reinforced what he’d learned whilst teaching him a bit more. He was quite disappointed when we came to the end because he’d enjoyed the adventures so much and he wanted them to go on and on!”
The reviewer, Emmsy, gave it four out of five stars.
Thanks Emmsy, for the great review and for taking the time to post it.
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Recommended!
I’d also like to draw your attention to this person and her website. It belongs to one of my favourite singers (and someone my girlie loves), and a massively talented songwriter, Hera. Check it out, buy her records. They and she are great. If I get time enough I may even post a review on here of one of her albums – but for now – have a look and a listen.
You can also hear some of her work at her myspace page . Well worth checking out.
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I’ve had quite a bit of contact with my editor on the Bedtime Poem For Every Day of the Year poetry anthology to which I’ve contributed, and it’s looking like it will be available in time for Christmas with plenty of time to spare. Which is a relief. Very much looking forward to seeing that!
Right. Must finish up some notes and then I’m finished for the day.
God Bless America and…
Stoke. Actually. And the people on the other end of the phone at Parcelforce Worldwide. You are really very lovely people. If I had the money I would buy you all cakes. And if you didn’t like cakes I would buy you something you did like. Like a hot air balloon or a really nice hat.
This is, of course, in reference to the continuing motorcycle jacket, erm, issue. I ordered said item last Wednesday. It took hours (literally) for those lovely people over at http://bikeremporium.com/ to confirm they were sending the correct size (which involved me measuring my chest – 40 inches for anyone who’s interested) and post it. It took two days to get from Washington State to California and then to the UK. It took a day to travel from the airport to the holding depot in Stoke. And that is where it’s stayed since Monday.
And do you know why? It’s because UK Cutoms decided that I need to pay them some money before it can be delivered. And that’s cool. Only, they didn’t think to tell me that. Nope.
So today, feeling a wee bit narked, I rang the USPS. And they were great. They gave me a number to call here in the UK. I called that number and the person on the end of the phone explained what had happened and that Customs should have sent me letter. And then she went one better – she gave me the depot’s number and said that if I called then I could pay the duty to them and it could be on its way. And that’s what I did. And when I spoke to the exceedingly, gloriously wonderful person at the Stoke depot he said he’d send it (not on Monday as it should have been) but so it would arrive tomorrow – as a gesture of goodwill.
I could not be happier. Thank you Parcelforce and thank you Stoke.
Let’s just hope it comes! I’d best bloody like it when it does!
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HUGE CONGRATULATIONS to both Claire Allan and Jillian Henderson-Long, for their recent publishing successes. They are both great writers and lovely people who thoroughly deserve it.
And a belated happy birthday to Luke Greenwood. Sorry I missed it, mate.
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And can I ask you all to send positive, get-better vibes to my girlie’s sis, who’s done a Rooney and bust her metatarsal. With a chopping board, or so I hear. Hope you’re feeling better soon!
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And I’m still busy writing.
See y’all on the other side of the weekend, folks. Have a good un!