I made it! A lot sooner than I had planned too. The Family Of Noise is now finished in its entirety. That's about all I can say about it - because now, it's about to play The Great Game Of Publishing out on its own in the big wide world. This is also a good time for me to say an insanely huge thank you to everybody who took the time to read the trial copies and gave feedback... doesn't that seem like a lifetime ago? Maybe it was - I feel like I've been writing it forever. There's certainly been enough blood, sweat and tears to justify it feeling that way.
I'll leave it there for now - parked very carefully in the street. Any positive/exciting news will be posted right here, you can bank on that much at least.
What next? Well, the next few days are going to be filled with submissions. We also have a magazine going to print on Wednesday and a big show next weekend in Manchester that needs some attention from my side of the fence so it looks like it's going to be 'one of those weeks'.
Once all of that is over though, I want to get back on the horse and put something new out here at Bad Hare. I'm in the mood for something about as far removed as I can get from The Family, so perhaps a poetry book or maybe I'll focus on finishing up Scenes From The Coffee House. I'm still trying to figure out what to do with Cities of the Dead at the moment too. I've been talking to a publisher about releasing an illustrated version of it but good illustration doesn't come easily or quickly either. I'll make a decision on it soon though.
If you've been paying attention in the long term here... Project X is still ongoing. I wish I could release some info here but I can't so I'm trying to forget about it until I can.
Actually, I came across Mr Gaiman's Calendar of Tales again a few days ago. I always loved what he did with that. I like the idea of chewing a similar - but not very similar at all - concept over. I also happen to be off work for the Whole Of December. I'll have had all the time off I need by around the 3rd.
Who knows.
Meanwhile, I have missed posting my Places I Would Like To Sit And Write One Day series. To make for it, this one might take all of the biscuits:
Fjaòràrgljúfur Canyon. Iceland. Photo by Jason Fenton via mthrworld.com
I was talking to somebody a few days back about my 12 possessions and they asked me how many apps I had on my phone. Not counting all the things that are bundled as standard, I have about 17 and in reality, I think I could probably live without... all 17 of them.
I'd miss using it as iPod that's absolutely guaranteed, I might even miss the camera but the rest I think I use (occasionally) because they're there.
...and then I found this, which is beautiful in every way:
It's called The Light Phone and it makes and receives calls and tells the time. That's all - not even any text facility. It's the size of a credit card and fits right in the Bellroy Sleeve next to your bank card. Demand appears to be high but if they really are shipping soon like it says on the site, they can count me in all the way because here, you have a fan of the highest order.
And now, back to work.