Reading as a writer

I’ve now finished The Prefect, and it gets a definite thumbs up. This verdict pleased Beloved, who couldn’t understand my failure to enjoy Alistair Reynolds’ earlier stuff. Beloved and I have similar but not identical tastes, which leads to some interesting discussions and the occasional minor book-based Domestic (particularly during The Great Annual Book Cull). […]

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Further reading

Last weekend I did no work at all, despite being at home, as it was our wedding anniversary, and Beloved and I wanted to spend some time together for once. He did succumb to the lure of motorsport at various points, bless ‘im, though this gave me a chance read a bit more of the […]

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Happy Book Birthday to me!

Consorts of Heaven came out officially today. I haven’t really celebrated (unless you count coming down from t’garret while it’s still light to drink a pint of cider and watch Krod Mandoon), but I think I’ve had a good few weeks of celebratory events so I don’t feel I’ve missed out. The book has also […]

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Reading matters

Unless I spot something my beta-readers have missed, all that remains before I deliver Guardians of Paradise to my editor is the final read-aloud-and-tinker stage. So, with the writing pressure slackening off for a while, I’m turning my attention to my teetering ‘to read’ pile. I was already reading two books at once, sort of: […]

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Another reason not to give up the day job …

… is because I definitely wouldn’t make it as a comedian. However, that didn’t stop me trying to tell a joke at last Saturday’s Forbidden Planet signing. What I didn’t realise was that Neil, the man with the cam, was filming it. The distressing results can be found by following this link. (Warning: may contain […]

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Media, more media

I’ve now got links to photos from last Saturday’s Forbidden Planet signing (at which I decided to dress even more inappropriately than usual). These are from the lovely Danie, who made it all happen, and this set is from my new friend Neil. All those comments about wasabi peas should now make sense. The beautiful […]

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That was the week that was

Saturday’s ‘triple signing’ at Forbidden Planet was the most low-key of the ‘professional engagements’ I had last week. I’m not sure that Southampton was ready for a trio of female SF writers emerging from the basement signing-pit to press dubious oriental snacks on passing geeks. But we had fun anyway. I’ve now got not one, […]

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Shameless self-promotion week rumbles on …

The BSFA meet seemed to go well: no one threw stuff, walked out or fell asleep. My lack of experience at public speaking (panels at cons don’t count – I usually end up sitting next to Charlie Stross, so I don’t need to speak, just nod) means that I tend to be bemused and somewhat […]

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Double seventeen

The launch for Consorts of Heaven went well.  As happened last year, myself and Beloved took the steam train to Alton. Also as happened last year this was a ‘real ale train’ allowing us to enjoy a swift half to set ourselves up for the day. Once in Alton we headed to our favourite deli […]

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Busy week coming up

Saturday 23rd May – I’ll be signing copies of Consorts of Heaven at Little Green Dragon bookshop, in Alton, Hampshire, from 1.30pm to 2.30pm. Please join me for drinkies over the road at the Crown public house afterwards to celebrate the (sort of) launch, though I’m afraid there’s no bar tab – it’s strictly ‘pay […]

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