29th of September, 2006

Exactly five years ago today I posted this (which I’ll paste below).

 

“PUBLISHED AUTHOR

Today I am a published author. It’s official. My book, I Met a Roman Last Night, What Did You Do? is out.

I don’t feel any different. I think it’s a little like a birthday – you’re officially a year older and yet you feel pretty much exactly the same as you did the day before.

So I’m busy with work and waiting for the copies of my book to arrive. They should be here today – fingers crossed.”

 

Happy birthday, book.

**

 

And yesterday, I did this. The small one in the photograph is my nephew, and I was exceptionally pleased to meet him.

21st Century Man – An Interview With Scott Pack, and Some Unicycling

A bit of a special one for you today, folks. Steve Stack, (otherwise known as Scott Pack – publisher extraordinaire at The Friday Project) the author of the brilliant ‘It Is Just You, Everything’s Not Shit’ has a new book out. It’s called ‘21st Century Dodos: A Collection of Endangered Objects (and Other Stuff)’  (click here for the eBook version) and, from what I’ve read so far (I only received it yesterday and have been eagerly dipping ever since) it’s another belter.

And he’s here today, the first stop on his blog tour, to talk about it. But not just to talk about it. No, no. There’s unicycling too. More on that shortly.

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, I give you the one, the only, Scott Pack…

Hello Scott! And welcome to the blog. I trust you’ve brought your own cake.

I always have cake, Nik, no worries there.

 

A man after my own heart! So, your new book, ‘21st Century Dodos: A Collection of Endangered Objects (and Other Stuff)’ – tell us about it! Who’s it for and what’s it about?

It is for anyone with a toilet library, anyone of a certain age who has ever felt nostalgic for days gone by, anyone who can remember when television used to close down in the afternoon and anyone with £9.99 to spare on a mildly amusing book this Christmas.

It is essentially a collection of endangered objects. I look at over 100 ‘things’ that are on the verge of extinction, or may have already vanished from this earth, and try to give them a decent send off with a couple of pages of irreverent banter.

Why did you write it?

For the fame and the money, why else does anyone write anything?

Of course, I couldn’t agree more. I thought your first book, ‘It Is Just You, Everything’s Not Shit’ was wonderful – funny and touching and a celebration of the good things a grumpy sod like me can easily forget. Can fans of that expect something similar from this one? Or have you taken things in a different direction?

I always had you down as a perceptive man with fine taste in books, young master Nik.

I think this book would appeal to people who enjoyed the last one but it is quite different. In IIJYENS, as acronym fans like to call it, I was on the lookout for the often small things in life that make it worth living, so it was rather a positive and upbeat book. Dodos is a tad more wistful, it has a small tear in its eye, but is still attempting to be funny.

Is there an object you’ve mentioned in the book that you miss the most?

Yes, I am very upset about the demise of the Maverick bar. It was my favourite chocolate confection but now it is gone.

If you could bring one object back from extinction, which would it be? And why?

Well, you might expect me to say the Maverick bar but, as you will see in the book, I do (sort of) manage to bring it back for one last lunchtime snack. So, instead, I shall nominate interludes. These were short movies shown between television programmes – a potter’s wheel, a tropical beach scene, a windmill and so on – and I think we’d have a much more relaxed society if these were back on the box.

And is there one which has benefited from not being in existence any more, do you think?

There are quite a few entries which we are probably all quite pleased aren’t around any more – dial-up modems, manual car chokes, toothpaste tubes made of metal – but I think the fact the demise of passing back to the goalie is the one that no one misses at all. But reading your question again, that may not be what you meant. Oh, well, it’s the answer I am giving anyway.

Is there anything that surprised you while you were writing it?

Discovering the reason we don’t see white dog poo any more. That was surprising and fascinating. And you’ll just have to read the book to find out the answer.

And – the Main Event! You’ve been kind enough to agree to let me pop a video (not Betamax) of your son reading an extract from the book. Would you like to introduce it?

Coming at you, direct from laserdisc, is a clip of my son Ethan reading two very short extracts from the book while unicycling down our street. They concern the change in pronunciation of two words from our youth, both of which are changes for the worse, if you ask me.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zL4wcYE1dmc]

Anything you’d like to add?

Just to say thanks for having me and to point out to everyone not to try the unicycling at home unless properly trained. We don’t want anyone extincting themselves, do we?

***

Thank you, Scott! It’s been a pleaure. (Great choice of cake too, by the way.)

If you’d like to order a copy of 21st Century Dodos, you can do so by clicking here for the beautiful hardback (or by visiting any book retailer worth their salt), or by clicking here for the eBook.

Tomorrow sees Scott popping over to the lovely Caroline Smailes’ blog where, I believe, you might be treated to some swearing. It will be brilliant. Do have a look.

What I’ve Been Doing

First up – a big thank you to all who’ve popped their blog details into the previous post – I shall take a look at each and every one very soon (and if you’d like to pop yours in, go ahead – I’m all for spreading the word).

 

It’s been a busy few weeks for me, which is why I’ve not had all that much time for blogging of late. And what on earth have I been doing, you ask.

 

Editing mostly. I’ve had a lot on over at The Story Corrective, which is always nice and enjoyable, if not hard work and time consuming.

 

I’ve been writing again. Good stuff, too. Stuff I’m proud of (that isn’t Freaks!) and stuff I’m really looking forward to sharing. Soon, I hope.

 

I’ve been preparing interviews. One of which, with the brilliant Scott Pack/Steve Stack (awesome publisher, visionary, AND author) will go live here on Wednesday. It’s a belter, I promise. And involves offspring of said author reading an extract from said author’s latest book, WHILE UNICYCLING. I kid you not.

 

Caroline and I also got the copy edits back for Freaks!. Now, that’s the stage of the book publishing process that always makes me ridiculously nervous. It’s almost as bad as waiting to hear the decision of whether it’s going to be published or not, because that’s the part where people can turn round and tell you that your writing’s shite – and back it up with actual evidence. I was relieved to see that there was very little that needed changing. So, that means that either my writing’s not rubbish, or that they missed it. I am hoping for the former.

 

So, there you go. That’s what I’ve been doing. No rest for the wicked and all that. I shall see you all on Wednesday (I hope!), where there’ll be an interview about 21st Century Dodos, talk of chocolate, and a unicycling son. Who could possibly want to miss that?

Would You Like Me To Read Your Blog?

Hello, hello. I hope you’re all having a marvellous week. Mine has been busy and filled with editing other people’s stories, editing my own, writing my own and other such things.

 

A question. Or, request, if you will. Since I’ve moved here from Blogger I don’t have an updateable blogroll, which means I’ve had to go back to using Google Reader. Which is fine. But I’m worried that, in the changeover, I might have misplaced a few links. So, dear lovely readers, and fine, if it’s not too much trouble (and if you’d like me to read your blogs!) could you pop the links in the comments?

 

Much obliged!

Talli Roland’s Brain: Revealed

I’m delighted to welcome Talli Roland back to the blog today. Talli was here a little while ago, defending Chick Lit – you can read the post here.

 

And as Talli’s such a top lady and author, and because her latest book has just been released on the Kindle, I thought it was about time to ask her back. So here she is, talking about those niggly What-if questions us authors have. Enjoy!

 

 

Answering the ‘What Ifs’

While generally, being a writer is fantastic (coffee, wine, coffee, wine), one of the negatives is a little thing called doubt. Unlike traditional jobs, you don’t have people around to pat you on the back or provide solutions while you pound out the words. There’s just you, your brain, and your laptop. Inevitably, an army of swarming questions launches an attack.

A small selection of things rattling around my brain last night:

  •                   What if I can’t get my novel exactly where I want it to be?
  •                  What if people hate my new novel?
  •                  What if I have to go back to a full-time job — how will I explain a three-year absence?
  •                   How will I ever retire on a non-existent pension?

I think I’ll stop there; I don’t want to bring you all down! When I get in such a state (which I have to admit, is quite often), I try to turn around the questions into positives. Imagine this:                     What if I become a best-selling author with multiple novels?

  •                     What if I make enough money to have financial security?
  •                     What if my husband and family are just so proud they can’t stop telling me?
  •                     What if I believe in myself and have the confidence and focus I need?

You know, strangely, I usually feel a whole lot better! It’s not rocket science to say ‘focus on the positives’, I know, but sometimes when it comes to the ups and down of the writing life, it really does make a difference. At least, until the next bout of insomnia!

What are your what-ifs, positive or negative?

 

Talli Roland has three loves in her life: chick lit, coffee and wine. Born and raised in Canada, Talli now lives in London, where she savours the great cultural life (coffee and wine). Despite training as a journalist, Talli soon found she preferred making up her own stories – complete with happy endings. Her first novel, The Hating Game, was an Amazon UK best-seller, remaining in the top 100 for almost three months, and she’s just released her second, Watching Willow Watts. Talli blogs here and can be found on Twitter here.

 

Today Reminded Me Of Good Things

Today, the weather did that thing where it knows it’s really in Autumn but decides it still likes the idea of summer and so, with some of the leaves on the trees turning orange and brown amongst the green ones, and with a breeze that’s cool and fresh and cleansing, it allows a warm sun to sit up there all day long. It’s a nice mix.

I like days like these. I like the cool and freshness of autumn and I like the colours and I like it being warm. There’s something magical about them. I like that it won’t be long before leaves will litter every pavement around here and  the smell of wood smoke and fires will be in the air.

Some of my favourite days have been days like these. It was a day like today when, almost five years ago, I drove to a school near Manchester Airport, to kick off the tour for my first book.

It was a day like today when I walked in the woods and watched birds through binoculars, and kicked up piles of fallen leaves on the pavement afterwards, on the way to eat Bangladeshi food.

It was a day like today when I spent the whole day inside a shopping centre and drove home happy, and then walked out into the night (it had gone cold) and the evening was dark and full of magic, and I sat in that restaurant and ate gnocchi. And then, later, slumped on a sofa in front of a fire.

It was a day like today when I sat at my small desk, in my small office, with the magic outside – on the other side of my window – and I wrote ‘In My Head, I’m Venus’ – I remember it well.

I think it’s funny how I’ll forever associate days like these with good things. And sitting here, typing this right now – after I’ve spent the morning writing and the afternoon editing for TSC, after I spent fifteen minutes turning a speed rope (first time in over a year – and I didn’t die!) and talking about some not so great stuff on the phone – after all of that, I can step outside and have that feeling back. And it struck me (forgive me for being all philosophical) — but it’s struck me that as good and as precious as memories are – and magical too – we all have the opportunity to make new ones. Life, for me, has been bloody tough at times, but on days like these I think it’s safe to look forwards. And, perhaps, to stop being quite so grumpy too.

Who Would I Be…

Today sees the launch of Talli Roland‘s eBook version of ‘Watching Willow Watts’ and to celebrate she’s having one of those blog splash thingies. And the subject is Who Would You Be If You Could Be Anyone?
Because Talli’s a top type of person, and because I’d like to draw your attention to her new book, I thought I’d give it a go.

 

So who would I be, if I could be anyone? Well, when I was younger I’d have loved to be Luke Skywalker (lightsaber, the force, cool modes of transport, etc etc). And a little later I think I’d have loved to have been Joe Strummer. Wonderful music, looked cool as you like, politically aware – someone famous and successful who was both honest who had a conscience. I learned a lot from him and the music of The Clash and was, a few years ago, lucky enough to shake the great man’s hand.

But really, when it comes down to it, I don’t think I’d want to be anyone else. They simply do it better. What I think I’d like to be is a slightly better version of me. And I think I’m lucky, because that’s a lot more attainable. And there’s less of a queue for it.

So, who would you be?

*

And here they are, in their prime, looking rather cool, covering Sonny Curtis’ ‘I Fought The Law’.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16u0wwCfoJ4]

And, a little later, with his own band.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tld1lh6rG_Q]

Oh for a quiff!

Flash Fiction Made Simple – an Online Course With Me

Starting on Monday October 3rd, I’ll be running an online how to write flash fiction course, over at Winning Words. The course will last for six weeks, and it’s called WRITING FLASH FICTION MADE SIMPLE. It’s for all abilities (though probably better suited to those who haven’t had books out).

I’ve been working on the course for a long time and I have to say that I’m really proud of it. I think it’ll be fun, and hard and rewarding, and I’m certain it’ll make anyone a better writer of short fiction and give them a better understanding of the form.

And writing the course has been interesting for me. As you’ll probably know I’ve taught writing for years but never in this form before. Usually it’s been in a workshop, for a couple of hours, or as an ongoing, mentoring kind of thing – both totally different to this. Where this really shines, I think, is in its succinctness – and that’s mostly because I’ve had to come up with a formula that’s succinct, and well structured – enough to be taught in six(ish) stages. The most important thing I’ve learned in doing it is that the process of WRITING SHORT FICTION IS ACTUALLY A RELATIVELY SIMPLE THING. It’s about converting good ideas into good stories, and then making those stories great.

 

So, that’s mainly what the course is about. It’ll help you generate good ideas (in many different and, perhaps, surprising ways); it’ll help you to convert them into good and effective stories – and then into publishable ones. You’ll learn about the structure and shape of stories, the craft of writing them, as well as the usual things (effective description, characterisation, dialogue etc). I’m pretty sure it’ll make anyone a better writer of short fiction.

 

The course structure will involve a little reading, a lot of writing, and an assignment a week. I’ll be around to offer one-to-one help, along with feedback, and there’ll be lots of useful, optional exercises too.

 

If you sign up before September 18th it’ll only cost £115 (that’s under £20 per week). If you sign up after, it goes up to £137 – so, if you fancy it, I’d get in early. Click here to sign up.

 

If you’ve any questions or if you would like to find out more, you can email me here.

Interviews

This is one for those who might be new to this blog, as well as a reminder to those hardened readers who’ve been around for years (hello, I love you all), but I have, over the five years I’ve been blogging, interviewed some rather brilliant people.

If you’d like to see who – there are ALL sorts, from short story masters (Aimee Bender, Mary Miller, Michael Czyzniejewski, A.C. Tillyer), to wonderful novelists (Michael Kimball, my wonderful co-author of Freaks!, Caroline Smailes; Kate Long, Jenn Ashworth, Jess Ruston) top children’s writers (Leila Rasheed), poets (Shaindel Beers) and even brilliant literary consultants (Gary from BubbleCow) to name but a few – CLICK HERE.

And there are more exciting ones in the pipeline too – watch this space (or subscribe, or pop me in your reader, etc etc). Until next time… enjoy!