I’m Back

So, back at the desk once again, even if it is only to tidy up (a little), do emails and write this blog.

Had a terrific time down in St Ives, in spite of the six hour train journey we had to take to get there (and in more spite of the fact that when we booked online we selected 1) a table and 2) a window seat; we got neither).

The highlight of the trip had to be the time we spent in Barbara Hepworth’s home and garden; the garden is, I think, one of my all time favourite places. I’ve never been anywhere where I could feel such a sense of stillness and tranquility, of balance and power and poise. And beauty.
It was really something else.

Aside from that it was all strolls and good food, brilliant weather and marvellous beaches. I have to agree with my beloved when she said (more than once), ‘I love being by the sea.’ I do. I also like being the Frisbee king.

I’ll probably post more pictures soon, but that’ll have to wait because all the good ones are on my beloved’s phone. So until I have them, here’s us:


and here’s me.


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This article, with Darren Shan, is well worth a read; it’s about the ridiculous age banding nonsense “discussion” that’s going on at the moment. And yes, you can see my name here. (It was also tremendously cool to see that Neil Gaiman had linked to it from his blog. It was listening to the Fragile Things audio book I’d downloaded onto my ipod that helped keep me sane during that six hour train journey; some stories never grow old. And I’m a massive fan of his as well. Cool, cool, cool.)
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So I’m refreshed and ready for a return to work. There is work to be done. By the way, anyone see the Doctor Who last night? Without being disrespectful or anything, the quality rockets when it’s an episode Steven Moffat has written, which makes the news that he’s to replace Russell T Davies as head writer for the next series even better. (I still don’t think anything has bettered The Girl in the Fireplace, though this latest one came bloody close.)

What authors talk about when they meet

I don’t often get the opportunity to meet fellow authors face to face, so when I found out that my ‘virtual’ friend, author and fellow writeworder Anne Brooke was holidaying in Buxton I jumped at the chance to meet for a chat with her and her husband over a pot of tea. And that’s what I did this morning. I made the drive in about 40 minutes and spent the best part of two hours gassing. And it was great. We talked about writing and books (of course) a little, and also about other things that had nothing to do with writing. I often forget that us writers are capable of that. Other topics of conversation included: supermarkets, car parks, supermarket car parks, Kent, bull finches, golden eagles, zebra crossings, the Lake District, Pachebel, cameras, Dr Who, Torchwood, Myspace, and lots more. I had a really enjoyable morning, thanks Anne and husband.

Anne writes gay crime fiction – you can look at her latest book here. Her website’s here and her journal’s here.

The rest of the day’s just flown. I’ve been stuck in my office writing all afternoon which has been great. I think I’m getting somewhere. Touch wood. I also managed to record a reading from my book which should be up here soon.

And on a final note…

What Julia posted on her blog today made me smile.