Hello!

Its been far too long since my last post. I can sum up the reason why with just three words: Busy, busy, busy. Ok, so it’s one word repeated three times, but it’s the best excuse I have.

Anyway, onto what’s been happening…

Do you remember Project 13? I hope you do, it’s the project that saw the publication of The Thirteenth Camera. The talented editors behind the project want to do it all again. This time the anthology they have in mind will have a theme of ‘Saints & Sinners’. I’ve written a very early draft of my particular entry which is entitled Acid House.

I couldn’t turn the opportunity down. Did I find the original project frustrating? At times, Yes! But only because I was forced to work in a different manner. The creative collaboration between the editors and the writers was excellent, and I learned a great deal during the experience.

Speaking of that original project sales of “13 The Anthology” are trickling in. We had an excellent review from Soundsphere Magazine which you can find here: http://www.soundspheremag.com/reviews/book/book-review-13-the-anthology/

I am immensely proud of the specific reference the review made regarding The Thirteenth Camera:

The collection closes with another tale that would sit easily alongside books of the ‘New Weird’ ilk with a shot in the arm of arresting surprise not unlike Ian McEwan’s ‘Solid Geometry’.

We could use some more reviews so if anyone reading this would like to offer an independent review on Amazon, or via their own blog, let me know. A free copy for review purposes can be arranged. (Note: This is not a plea for gushing five star reviews. It’s a request for honest feedback be it praiseworthy, constructively negative, or some fence sitting middle ground.)

Unrelated to any project is a new piece of flash fiction entitled The Ending. It’s a little bit experimental with a non-standard narrative, but I’ve got an eye on a couple of magazines that might be interested. Feedback from trusted sources is currently good on this one.

The My Stories section of the Musings has been updated to include The Ending and Acid House, and gives a little bit more information about those stories.

The Useful Links section of the blog has been updated with details of:

The Screenwriting Goldmine http://www.screenwritinggoldmine.com/ 
Gareth L Powell http://www.garethlpowell.com/  
More information on both those site is contained in the Useful Links section.

The Favourite Quotes section has had an abundance of new quotes added.  I’ve re-structured this page too. I’ve now listed the quotes alphabetically based on author surnames. For various reasons I didn’t want to do this, but it’s the simplest way of checking  which quotes I’ve already got listed and which I haven’t. The criteria for listing quotes remains the same. Any quote has to resonate with me in some way. That doesn’t necessarily mean that I agree with the sentiment behind any listed quote, it may mean that the quote makes my blood boil. I hope you find them interesting, inspiring, provocative, but most of all engaging.

Take Care,

Mike.

13 The Anthology is now available on Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com. It’s competitively priced at a mere 77p so please give it a chance and treat yourself. Ok, ok, I’m hardly likely to say anything negative about an anthology that contains one of my stories, but I genuinely believe that there are stories in this anthology for everyone. It’s a themed anthology centred around the number “13” but every writer was free to interpret that theme in any way they pleased. Let’s put it another way: The Editors gave each contributor creative freedom – although that doesn’t mean we weren’t asked to amend elements!

As a result this isn’t an anthology laden with horror stories, or sci-fi stories, or twist in the tale stories, or any other kind of specific story. It’s a diverse well balanced anthology. There is a sci-fi story in the mix, and there’s a ghost story too, but you’ll also find historical fiction, fantasy, dark drama, uplifting drama, black comedy, straight comedy, and great characters too.

My own story is very British, blackly comic, that hopefully will appeal beyond the English Channel.

Leaving my own work aside I can honestly state that I’m proud to have my work alongside the other works in the anthology. During the compiling stage the authors were all asked to read the other contributors work, and to comment. It was an interesting exercise, and there was diverse views from all of the writers. That process shows the care that was taken in producing this fine body of stories.

So please lend a helping hand and support some up and coming writers. You haven’t got anything to lose,  well OK 77p or 99 cents but that’s less than a cup of coffee.

If anyone does take the plunge please feel free to leave an Amazon review, or contact me directly to let me know what you think. You can even be critical; just keep it constructively critical!!!

Happy Reading,

Mike.