Milford Blog

The new Milford SF Writers' Conference Blog site kicks off with a lovely piece by Al Reynolds (Revelation Space, other SF blockbusters).

I first went to the Welsh incarnation of Milford in 2012, after which I was entrusted with the annual report.  Then once I'd got the bug, I returned in 2014; some more words about that one here.

My story Words of War came out of 2012, as did a very rudimentary version of the first few chapters of the now finished (but as yet unpublished) Machine Songs.  And in 2014?  Well ... you'll have to wait!  Needless to say on both occasions, I made some fantastic writer friends, ate lots of vegetarian nosh and explored Mordor; some beers might also have been consumed.

And I'm back again this September for more writing related shenanigans.

Here is a screenshot from the Milford Success Stories page.  Keeping some distinguished company there:

Dancing Around The Monolith

Seismic events: the referendum, Game of Thrones and, of course, the latest Guy T. Martland short story...



The lovely folks at Disclaimer Magazine published my story 'Dancing Around The Monolith' a few days back.  Although it feels like weeks as that referendum thing happened in between it being published and me posting this...



They kindly tweeted about it lots at the time, but in case you missed it, you can check it out here.  Or by clicking on the picture to your left/above/in another dimension (depending on how you are viewing this). 

New Story 'Kite' published by Nebula Rift!

The Scion Is Dead! Long Live The Scion!

Have no fear - The Scion’s story is not yet over.  However, unfortunately my publisher has decided to close down.  As of the end of May, The Scion will no longer be available on Amazon.  (So if anyone out there hasn’t yet got a copy, now is the time!)

‘So what’s the future for The Scion?  Is this the end?  Wasn’t there a sequel planned?’ I hear you shout.

I’ll answer this with a quote from Frank Herbert: ‘There is no real ending.  It’s just the place where you stop the story.’

‘But the Dune saga went on a bit, didn’t it?’ you reply.

‘Well… Dune was excellent…  And I quite liked the first few sequels…’

‘Are you saying you did lose interest then?’

‘Maybe I’d partaken of too much spice.  I’d overdosed.  My irises were altering to match those of Paul Atreides.  I had to stop.’

Anyway, I have no intention of ending The Scion’s story just yet.  The sequel is almost finished and there is another planned (A trilogy!  Woot!  Woot!).  So my protagonist, Septimus Esterhazy, is out there trying to find another publisher on my behalf.  Will he succeed?  Only time will tell.  But he is a persistent bugger and keeps telling me more stuff about him that I dutifully transcribe.

I’d like to take this moment to say a huge thanks to Safkhet for publishing my debut and throwing me out there into the world.  We’ve come a long way together in a short time, and it has been a lot of fun.  Thanks again to everyone who bought the book, read it, reviewed it and supported my fledgling efforts.  There will be more.

GTM

Sep sets out on another mission for the Sassrit...

LES NOUVELLES

A view from the 'ivory tower', yesterday morning.

I am sticking my head out of the ivory tower to write this.  Actually, it isn't ivory.  No elephants died to support my writing.  It was formed by a unique and somewhat alien process of ossification.  But it looks a lot like ivory and sways slightly when the wind is up.

Anyway, I'll come down soon.  But I've been busy with this writing thing.  The sequel to The Scion is coming along slowly but surely.  I keep slipping past self-imposed Scrivener deadlines, but the words are getting down.

The guys over at Safkhet have the synopsis and they seem happy so far.  The title will be revealed soon.  I'll weave a flag and fly it from the roof.  You'll see it for miles.

In addition, somewhere out there on the level plain, machines are gearing into action, and dead tree versions of The Scion are churning out.  Or will be.  Stuff is happening.

And finally, I managed to send a finished version of Machine Songs to Carol Kean of Perihelion reviewing fame.  It is still a rough diamond.  Or as I mentioned to her, probably cubic zirconium.  She managed to see through the typos and has already been tweeting about it, and even squeezed it into one of her reviews!

@tea_in_carolina: 'Machine Songs is more than YA coming of age.  It's as epic as Harry Potter / Ender's Game.'  Really?  Wow!  Thanks, Carol!  #listenforthemachinesong, folks.

Well, now I've tasted the rarefied air, it's time to return to The Scion 2.  See you all on the other side.

Lotus Eater published in Nebula Rift!

Clone Music published by Perihelion SF

My story Clone Music has been published by Perihelion SF!  It landed on the 12th February.

This story features a character from my novel The Scion, an artist called Sirius Andervich.  Well, he is only obliquely referenced in The Scion, but he was an interesting chap, so I wrote a bit more about him and it became this story.

The idea came to me when I was thinking about Paul Simon incorporating other cultures into his music when writing Graceland.  Not that I am in any way denouncing this album - it is quite brilliant.  In due course the idea became darker and more perverted, especially when a former friend of Andervich reared his arrogant head and some clones got involved.

Clicking on the speaker above will take you to the Clone Music...