If you didn't know, I've asked for my stories to be withdrawn from Trestle Press. There's no point explaining why as it's all over the internet.
Obviously it's a set back in my quest for world domination, but that's what life's all about isn't it. The short story formally known as Das Slap will become a novella at some future point. The other one, A Life in Rags, I will be putting up for free when I work out how to make something free on Amazon.
My only hope is this whole thing doesn't put off other small publishers from attempting to enter e-book and niche markets. The reputation of indie, small and self publishing was bad enough without this, and I think the major publishers have just been given a big stick to beat us with.
Anyway, life goes on and lessons have been more than learnt.
Thursday, 2 February 2012
Wednesday, 25 January 2012
Sunday Drivers
Haven't posted for a while, but here's a very little short story. 120 words.
Sunday Drivers
Nicky had run him over, but that wasn’t the problem. We’d have got away with that. Dark night, dark clothes, tight bend. Guy didn’t stand a chance.
Problem was, she’d slammed the gear in reverse and had another pop.
“The fuck you doing?”
The car bounced over the body.
“He might be alive. Don’t want him talking.” Her hands gripped the wheel so tight. And her eyes...
“Jeez, Nicky.”
She put it drive, floored the pedal. Car didn’t bounce. Guess he was already flat.
“Stop.”
She did. Her hands left the wheel and into her bag.
“Why?”
“No witnesses, no crime.”
Her eyes still burned. I saw the .22 she’d pulled from her bag. “That include me?”
She nodded. “Sorry.”
---
As a break from all the cat, pie and roadsign pictures I've been posting of late, this year I'm targeting shops and take-aways.
Sunday Drivers
Nicky had run him over, but that wasn’t the problem. We’d have got away with that. Dark night, dark clothes, tight bend. Guy didn’t stand a chance.
Problem was, she’d slammed the gear in reverse and had another pop.
“The fuck you doing?”
The car bounced over the body.
“He might be alive. Don’t want him talking.” Her hands gripped the wheel so tight. And her eyes...
“Jeez, Nicky.”
She put it drive, floored the pedal. Car didn’t bounce. Guess he was already flat.
“Stop.”
She did. Her hands left the wheel and into her bag.
“Why?”
“No witnesses, no crime.”
Her eyes still burned. I saw the .22 she’d pulled from her bag. “That include me?”
She nodded. “Sorry.”
---
As a break from all the cat, pie and roadsign pictures I've been posting of late, this year I'm targeting shops and take-aways.
Wednesday, 4 January 2012
2011 Awards
The annual Best Of awards for last year (in my opinion) are...
Best book (that I've read) : Ian Rankin - Let it bleed
I spent the year reading the whole Rebus series so one of them had to win... This one is certainly one of the best.
Best Scouse complied anthology of more than 37 short stories: Off the Record by Luca Veste
There could only be one winner... Click here to see what the fuss is about and also for details of a huge competition.
Best short story : AJ Hayes’s Small Separations at Shotgun Honey
Chilling, concise and very memorable read it here.
Best collection of short stories : Julie Morrigan’s Gone Bad
Fab collection of dark and wonderful shorts. Buy it here.
Best Takeaway menu typo : My local kebab/pizza shop
Nun bread - Either it's an ecclesiastical delight or they've misspelt Nan bread. No picture I'm afraid but here's something similar I found. (Number 9's the good bit)
Best Road Sign :
That's all. Back with another old man rant early next week.
Best book (that I've read) : Ian Rankin - Let it bleed
I spent the year reading the whole Rebus series so one of them had to win... This one is certainly one of the best.
Best Scouse complied anthology of more than 37 short stories: Off the Record by Luca Veste
There could only be one winner... Click here to see what the fuss is about and also for details of a huge competition.
Best short story : AJ Hayes’s Small Separations at Shotgun Honey
Chilling, concise and very memorable read it here.
Best collection of short stories : Julie Morrigan’s Gone Bad
Fab collection of dark and wonderful shorts. Buy it here.
Best Takeaway menu typo : My local kebab/pizza shop
Nun bread - Either it's an ecclesiastical delight or they've misspelt Nan bread. No picture I'm afraid but here's something similar I found. (Number 9's the good bit)
Best Road Sign :
That's all. Back with another old man rant early next week.
Monday, 19 December 2011
Brit Grit Too
Paul David Brazil's anthology of 32 British and gritish writers is now available to buy.
It's quite a line up, some cracking writers and stories plus my own unoriginally titled story.
The full line up is:
1. Two Fingers Of Noir by Alan Griffiths
2. Looking For Jamie by Iain Rowan
3. Stones In Me Pocket by Nigel Bird
4. The Catch And The Fall by Luke Block
5. A Long Time Coming by Paul Grzegorzek
6. Loose Ends by Gary Dobb
7. Graduation Day by Malcolm Holt
8. Cry Baby by Victoria Watson
9. The Savage World Of Men by Richard Godwin
10. Hard Boiled Poem (a mystery) by Alan Savage
11. A Dirty Job by Sue Harding
12. Squaring The Circle by Nick Quantrill
13. The Best Days Of My Life by Steven Porter
14. Hanging Stan by Jason Michel
15. The Wrong Place To Die by Nick Triplow
16. Coffin Boy by Nick Mott
17. Meat Is Murder by Colin Graham
18. Adult Education by Graham Smith
19. A Public Service by Col Bury
20. Hero by Pete Sortwell
21. Snapshots by Paul D Brazill
22. Smoked by Luca Veste
23. Geraldine by Andy Rivers
24. A Minimum Of Reason by Nick Boldock
25. Dope On A Rope by Darren Sant
26. A Speck Of Dust by David Barber
27. Hard Times by Ian Ayris
28. Never Ending by Fiona Johnson
29. Faces by Frank Duffy
30. The Plebitarian by Danny Hogan
31. King Edward by Gerard Brennan
32. Brit Grit by Charlie Wade
Available to buy on Amazon
It's quite a line up, some cracking writers and stories plus my own unoriginally titled story.
The full line up is:
1. Two Fingers Of Noir by Alan Griffiths
2. Looking For Jamie by Iain Rowan
3. Stones In Me Pocket by Nigel Bird
4. The Catch And The Fall by Luke Block
5. A Long Time Coming by Paul Grzegorzek
6. Loose Ends by Gary Dobb
7. Graduation Day by Malcolm Holt
8. Cry Baby by Victoria Watson
9. The Savage World Of Men by Richard Godwin
10. Hard Boiled Poem (a mystery) by Alan Savage
11. A Dirty Job by Sue Harding
12. Squaring The Circle by Nick Quantrill
13. The Best Days Of My Life by Steven Porter
14. Hanging Stan by Jason Michel
15. The Wrong Place To Die by Nick Triplow
16. Coffin Boy by Nick Mott
17. Meat Is Murder by Colin Graham
18. Adult Education by Graham Smith
19. A Public Service by Col Bury
20. Hero by Pete Sortwell
21. Snapshots by Paul D Brazill
22. Smoked by Luca Veste
23. Geraldine by Andy Rivers
24. A Minimum Of Reason by Nick Boldock
25. Dope On A Rope by Darren Sant
26. A Speck Of Dust by David Barber
27. Hard Times by Ian Ayris
28. Never Ending by Fiona Johnson
29. Faces by Frank Duffy
30. The Plebitarian by Danny Hogan
31. King Edward by Gerard Brennan
32. Brit Grit by Charlie Wade
Available to buy on Amazon
Monday, 12 December 2011
Another old man rant...
The youth of today, eh?
That’s one good thing about getting old: you can start saying old people things. However, the statement does have some value.
Every generation post 50’s has left behind some redeeming change. Whether its music, fashion, obesity, whatever. I always refer to them as music eras as they seem to be the driving force. Sixties gave us mods and hippies. Seventies rock then punk. Eighties new wave and indie. The nineties, rave.
I was a bit too young for new wave and slightly too old for rave, but god did I have a bash at it. I’ve stood in fields at four in the morning freezing cold and sweating at the same time. I’ve been in clubs where the atmosphere turned from defensive to electric after the drunks left at three in the morning. I’ve watched the sunrise on Brighton beach after dancing all night in steel toe-capped CAT boots. I’ve got the prematurely bad knees to prove it.
But youngsters today, eh? What about them?
Nothing.
The noughties were a forgettable decade. The only thing they generated were manufactured pop music, hoodys and trousers that are worn at half mast. The oneties look to be going the same way too.
Youngsters of today, this rant is for you. Think hard about this. When your grandkids eventually ask you, “There was punk, new wave and rave. What did you have?” What you going to say to them?
"We listened to rehashed, manufactured music, I wore my trousers halfway down my arse while your nan had a spray tan in November?" No. You need something more. Some defining theme or music style. Something to celebrate the fact you’re still young and can change the world before you get old and cynical and start thinking you can write books. The inability to spell and punctuate isn’t what you want to be remembered for, is it?
I know everything from festivals to alcohol has become commercialised and dumbed down, but that doesn’t stop you thinking for yourself and rebelling. Not that I want too much rebelling. I’m middle aged now and I’ve got twenty quid on me nectar card. Rebel in moderation, young people, avoiding damage to loyalty card users wherever possible. Most of all, find something that makes you stand out from the last and the next generation.
So, sort it out. Pull your trousers up, they look fucking ridiculous, get out there and do something people’ll remember. Before it’s too late.
And breathe out...
Time for a picture, I think
That’s one good thing about getting old: you can start saying old people things. However, the statement does have some value.
Every generation post 50’s has left behind some redeeming change. Whether its music, fashion, obesity, whatever. I always refer to them as music eras as they seem to be the driving force. Sixties gave us mods and hippies. Seventies rock then punk. Eighties new wave and indie. The nineties, rave.
I was a bit too young for new wave and slightly too old for rave, but god did I have a bash at it. I’ve stood in fields at four in the morning freezing cold and sweating at the same time. I’ve been in clubs where the atmosphere turned from defensive to electric after the drunks left at three in the morning. I’ve watched the sunrise on Brighton beach after dancing all night in steel toe-capped CAT boots. I’ve got the prematurely bad knees to prove it.
But youngsters today, eh? What about them?
Nothing.
The noughties were a forgettable decade. The only thing they generated were manufactured pop music, hoodys and trousers that are worn at half mast. The oneties look to be going the same way too.
Youngsters of today, this rant is for you. Think hard about this. When your grandkids eventually ask you, “There was punk, new wave and rave. What did you have?” What you going to say to them?
"We listened to rehashed, manufactured music, I wore my trousers halfway down my arse while your nan had a spray tan in November?" No. You need something more. Some defining theme or music style. Something to celebrate the fact you’re still young and can change the world before you get old and cynical and start thinking you can write books. The inability to spell and punctuate isn’t what you want to be remembered for, is it?
I know everything from festivals to alcohol has become commercialised and dumbed down, but that doesn’t stop you thinking for yourself and rebelling. Not that I want too much rebelling. I’m middle aged now and I’ve got twenty quid on me nectar card. Rebel in moderation, young people, avoiding damage to loyalty card users wherever possible. Most of all, find something that makes you stand out from the last and the next generation.
So, sort it out. Pull your trousers up, they look fucking ridiculous, get out there and do something people’ll remember. Before it’s too late.
And breathe out...
Time for a picture, I think
Wednesday, 30 November 2011
Interviewed by Julie Morrigan
Julie Morrigan, author of Convictions and Heartbreaker, has kindly had me over at her gaff for an interview.
I spill the beans about where the loot is stashed and who the body is in the boot. Or not. You'll have to click here and read to find out how much information she dragged from me...
I spill the beans about where the loot is stashed and who the body is in the boot. Or not. You'll have to click here and read to find out how much information she dragged from me...
Monday, 28 November 2011
Off The Record now released
Luca has finished compiling the charity anthology and it is now up for sale.
38 new writers have been involved in this and I'm proud to have been a part. Thanks to Luca for all his hard work and the many hours he put into formatting.
Off The Record is available on Amazon, Smashwords and will soon be available in print. All profits go to children's charities, both here and in the US.
At £2.29 or $2.99 for 38 stories, it really is a bargain.
38 new writers have been involved in this and I'm proud to have been a part. Thanks to Luca for all his hard work and the many hours he put into formatting.
Off The Record is available on Amazon, Smashwords and will soon be available in print. All profits go to children's charities, both here and in the US.
At £2.29 or $2.99 for 38 stories, it really is a bargain.
