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| Two interesting articles on writing:- http://www.themidnighthour.net/a-sensitive-canvas/ and also:- http://www.themidnighthour.net/avoidance/ both penned by author Lilith Saintcrow. So, how are your own writing projects coming along? I've been invited to give a reading followed by a Q&A session with pupils of my old school, Golborne High School in late February. I've not been inside the building since I was sixteen - and no, I will not tell you how many years ago that was! I'm looking forward to it; it should be an interesting experience, and I'm curious to see how the school has changed. No prizes for guessing that I've been working away at Rowan, which is now at 62,500 words. I've also now finished a short story, Clara's Wristwatch, which is my response to this month's writing project for Riverside Writers, and which I'll probably include in my next (third) Amazon Short. I've lined up four new Dark Fantasy stories for that already, but have yet to summon a title. I'm still waiting to learn the publication date for my second Amazon Short, Quiet Lives, but it should be soon now. Oh, if you wish to read some reviews of my first Amazon Short, click this link:- http://www.amazon.com/A-Wirral-Otherkin-Trilogy/dp/B000SMZ3I4/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1201354600&sr=8-1To view the list of contributing authors for the forthcoming Ruins Metropolis anthology, which includes my Old world Magic, go to:- http://ericreynolds.livejournal.com/20882.htmlThis list can also be viewed here:- http://sfscope.com/2008/01/ruins-metropolis-table-of-cont.html | |
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|  Have you encountered any faeries while wandering the ancient woods and heathery moor of Caldy Hill? While sitting by a dark and peaty pool cradled by mighty oaks and rustling rowans, were you startled by a sudden hush, when all the birds ceased singing and even the restless breezes from the yawning mouth of the Dee fell still? It is just possible that a faerie may have been passing by. I don’t mean the kind of cartoon “fairy” with a sparkly tutu and gossamer wings. They’re just make-believe. I mean the real, ancient kind of faerie; the kind who can enchant with a glance and whose beauty might steal your heart, if not your soul. Did you know that the seals which congregate on Hoyle Bank beyond Hilbre Island have a secret other-life? And do you know the real reason why the sea never returned to Parkgate harbour? Further clarification can be obtained by reading A Wirral Otherkin Trilogy, which was published this week by Amazon. This trio of Dark Fantasy stories consist of Frog, New Year’s Day and Swap, which are all set on Wirral. Our peninsula has, of course, a rich and colourful heritage from its Celtic, Viking, Roman and Norman settlers. Each of these diverse peoples had their own sets of beliefs and mythologies, and it is from this wealth of folklore that I draw many of ideas for my writing. A Wirral Otherkin Trilogy is available only from Amazon as part of their Amazon Shorts program, which offers a diverse choice of fiction and non-fiction works, sized from 2,000 to 10,000 words in length. These can be downloaded for only $0.49 (which is approximately 25p in British money), giving the reader an economical taster of an author’s work. Visit:- http:www.amazon.com then just type the title into their search box. | |
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|         A Wirral Otherkin Trilogy has been accepted for publication by Amazon Shorts. I received the contract this morning. This Dark Fantasy mini-novella comprises of Frog, New Year's Day and Swap, which are all set on Wirral. | |
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| You are invited to join in with a debate about TV viewing here: http://2e0dtoeric.livejournal.com/5536.htmlRead a beautiful poem about Alexander the Great and Bagoas here: http://rothalion.livejournal.com/49459.htmlThis morning, the synopsis and first three chapters of Tamsin were emailed to the submissions department of a prospective publisher. All I have to do now is wait for half a century until someone deigns to read it! I’m still waiting to hear back from another prospective publisher regarding A Wirral Otherkin Trilogy, which is a trio of short Dark Fantasy/Folklore stories. The 3000-word Seagull Inn is currently undergoing tweaking and polishing, in preparation for submission to an anthology, (deadline April 15th). And I’m still recovering from the biggest chocolate and vanilla ice-cream sundae, with chopped nuts and brandy snaps and runny chocolate drizzles that I’ve ever encountered! Slimming it wasn’t, but scrumptious it most definitely was. Neither I nor Mum could finish the entire dessert. Poor Richard could only look on, over the expanse of plain apple pie which he’d chosen. This was yesterday, in the Waterside Inn in Leigh, which stands beside the Manchester Ship Canal, the historical waterway which joins Manchester to Liverpool and the Irish Sea. Back in the Victorian era of wealthy cotton mills and coal mines, this canal provided a vital route for import and export. Now it’s used mainly for tourism. The mills stand empty, unless they’ve already been converted into luxury apartments. The coal mines were closed during the Thatcher years. And Leigh, like many mining towns, never really recovered from the loss of traditional industries. Many shops are empty or derelict – yet the entrance to Pennington Park glowed yellow with cheerful daffodils, and the gnarled old magnolia trees holding aloft their stately pink and white blooms stand as a testament to tenacious local pride. | |
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| As I write this, the house is in a state of controlled chaos. Screaming drills and stomping workmen’s boots, hammering and sawing herald the arrival of B-Day! That’s Bathroom Day, in case you wondered. Our old and extraordinarily vile bathroom suite is currently sitting on our front lawn awaiting proper disposal. Upstairs, in what truly is the smallest room of the house, various repairs are starting to take place prior to the installation of our sparkly new Italian-designed suite.
Meanwhile, I am doing my utmost to ignore the cacophony in order to concentrate on editing and polishing three Dark Fantasy stories, Frog, New Year’s Day and Swap. I had thought I'd already polished these stories as well as I was able. However, fresh eyes often put paid to this assumption!
These short pieces are linked by theme as well as by geographic region, and will possibly be placed together as A Wirral Otherkin Trilogy. Not only do I need to translate them from my native UK English into American English, but also ensure that the formatting is as required, which is why I have just ordered a copy of the Chicago Manual of Style, as recommended by the prospective American publisher. If a publisher wants submissions to be set out in a particular way, then there is nothing to be gained by ignoring their guidelines and sending them what they don’t want. Well, nothing apart from a rejection slip, that is!
As can probably be gathered, I am not doing a particularly good job of ignoring the builders – hence this post. Perhaps I should use this as a vaguely plausible excuse to put the kettle on and eat one of the last mince pies. Cancel that last idea – I made them, and my pastry is terrible. No, really, it truly is; I am hopeless at making pastry. Even the frozen variety, which requires only to be rolled out once thawed, is not altogether fail-safe in my hands. Almost without exception it turns into semi-digestible cardboard.
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| This morning was spent giving Frog, New Year’s Day and Swap a final editorial polish. These three dark fantasy stories combined are intended to form a small collection, which will most likely be called A Wirral Otherkin Trilogy. Before I can submit this to the intended place, I first have to translate it into American English and then into the required format, and also work out the actual presentation (title page, preface to explain what Wirral is, plus author’s blurb, etc.) I’ll keep you posted.
Well, I’m glad I didn’t bother hanging the laundry outside earlier, as steady rain is now splattering across the French doors. The fence blew over again last night. Ah well, it had only been propped up as a temporary measure until it can be fixed properly. Rain has put an end to all attempts to fix it.
Interesting, is it not, how society decides how eccentricity and conventionality are defined. Ok, so I like unconventional people. In my experience, they tend to be considerably more interesting than the majority of conservative-minded beige-clad sheep who reluctantly slog away for forty-plus years at a job they hate, in order to ensure they can drop dead in relative comfort. I never could see the point. | |
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