Tales from the Garret

(Before I get going, let me just say that the word in question will appear in this post as f*ck. This isn’t because I find said word offensive – as you’ll know if you’ve read much of my stuff – but because others might; plus, there’s a distinct risk of the unexpurgated form prompting unwelcome […]

In my current less-than-focused state, I’ve given in to the urge to join an online book indulgence community (I’m sure that’s not how they bill themselves, but that’s how I think of ’em). In fact, as I wasn’t sure which one to go for, I joined two: LibraryThing and Goodreads. Tempted though I am to […]

Entropy? Ennui? A bit of both right now I think. Having said that, t’garret is as tidy as it’s ever been, so any entropy must be purely internal (if such a thing is possible). As well as ticking off ‘Tidy Stuff’ from my mental ‘to do’ list, I can now check off the equally vague […]

I’ve recently had several conservations about growing up in a house with no books. I didn’t really feel the lack at the time, as I didn’t know any better, but I do remember that it led to some early reading choices which still make me cringe. I’ve no intention of embarrassing myself further by giving […]

Continuing my theme of self-indulgent posts largely consisting of lists, I’ve decided to have fun with a writers’ meme that’s currently doing the rounds. 1. Are you a "pantser" or a "plotter"? Plot … no pants … no, pants plot. Much as I’d like to, I’m not confident enough to go totally seat-of-the-pants (yet): I […]

Despite an encroaching lurgy, I’m intending to take a trip up town tomorrow for the Gollancz autumn party. The plan (South West Trains and Northern Line permitting) is to drop into the Forbidden Planet megastore on Shaftsbury Avenue en route (probably between 5.45pm and 6pm – it’ll be a flying visit) to buy books I […]

This does feel like indulgence, but I’m going to do it anyway. Below is a selection of my preferred writing music, listed as artist followed by any particular album(s) I like. It’s a somewhat eclectic mix. Slow default, the sort of stuff I usually put on to get started: Banco de Gaia, especially Maya, Iqizeh […]

I’m in a rather in-between place right now, writing wise. The next deadline will be when I go over the copyedits for Guardians of Paradise, probably in a month or so’s time. Until then I have two big projects I could get to work on, but neither of them are firing my enthusiasm, and until […]

I survived my 10 days without internet access quite easily, due mainly to spending most of it surrounded by distractingly beautiful landscapes. My waterfall buffer is now full. The weather was a little Scottish at times, and having gone on holiday with a trio of photographers, I did get rather used to hearing the phrase […]

Though I’ve not got much writing done over the last week, I’ve certainly been busy. I enjoyed playing at being medieval, especially the bit where I got to pose in a big frock with an eagle owl on my arm; beautiful bird, if a bit heavy after a while. I went to a village fete, […]