Every time a digital product manger says the word ‘content’, it makes me cringe. Sometimes, it’s appropriate, but mostly it’s a careless shorthand way of commodifying everything, with or without meaning. When I was younger content referred to the actual meaning of what you were painting, reading, making a film of, or whatever. I got […]
The Book of the Dead is out now! I continue to be chuffed at the idea that the excellent Pandemonium team like my stories and desire me to write for them, to print my words on paper and e-paper, and send them out into the earthiverse. Along with (OMG look at the TOC below. […]
I’m thrilled to be included in the almost-published Book of the Dead by Jurassic London. The table of contents includes some of the writers I most respect and admire scribbling words down today – from upstart newcomers like the inimitable Molly Tanzer and co-south Londoner/stand-up guy Den Patrick to heavyweights Jesse Bullington and Gail Carriger, […]
After months and months, the Bloody Parchment anthology is finally out. I’d been working on this story, The Next Big Thing, for a few years on and off, never quite satisfied with it, but really loving it. I wanted it to succeed, succubistic little horror that it was, and so I worked on it and […]
Quite a few of my writery friends have been shouting in despair about how big data is being used to profile screenplays. The long & short of the article is that, contrary to public belief, there is something of a formula to building hollywood blockbusters, and that certain things can reduce take in a film. […]
Look at that! That, there, is a very retro cover. And a beautiful one. I had this story that I was working on called The Next Big Thing, which is about both rather nasty relationship and the hunt for elusive cool. You can read it in this forthcoming anthology by eKhaya, the digital imprint […]
Just finished a first draft, tentatively tited “I swear I heard”, about a boy who discovers a new style of music. Here’s the excerpt: One night you went back to Kinney’s, late, and the joint got jumping just after you got there. Everyone had been waiting for you. They were playing, but they said […]
(maybe not a very good one. I know how that sounds) Some years ago I had a flatmate who had these books by Iain Banks on his bookshelf. He kept telling me I had to read The Bridge, which was his favourite book of all time, so I kept waiting for him to get it […]
Patrick Ness writes true things. Conor’s nightmare scares him awake; a monster comes calling. The monster tells him true things. Uncomfortable important things. The world we live in can be a difficult, unforgiving place. Things get better, sometimes. Events move to their conclusions; everything does not turn out OK. Which is OK. This book is […]
100 word reviews I’m starting a new project, to keep me scribbling on this blog. It’ll be completely random, as well as revealing a bit of the subject matter of what I’m currently reading. Here’s the thing: I hate book reviews. I want to like them, and they always start off interesting, but then they […]