I've been very busy trying to finish my MA Project & Contextual Essay, not to mention my novel (which has now been chopped about and another chapter added...). I've also been working on a couple of apps, which I'm quite hopeful for and am currently waiting to see whether the first will be funded. All this means that my features and short fiction have suffered, then I was delighted to hear that my interview with Geoff Nelder has been published online at: http://www.profwritingacademy.com/?q=articles/have-laptop-will-travel-interview-sci-fi-writer-geoff-nelder
Today I heard that I have 14 pages in the February edition of Martial Arts Illustrated; namely 4 pages of an interview with Grand Master Sung Jae Park, 4 pages on my Sammo Hung interview and lastly 6 pages - plus the cover - on Matt Fiddes & Michael Jackson.
This was a great and well needed boost at a very sad time for me, funny how these things come along just when you need them.
Wednesday, 7 December 2011
Wednesday, 19 October 2011
Falwriting
I had some good news this week. www.falwriting.com, formerly www.profwriting.com have accepted the four interviews I submitted to them some time ago. Due to the wordage I've had to cut these into bite sized chunks, so my four features now reads a series of ten pieces. I'm told that these will be put in a stand-alone section of the site, so I'm feeling rather pleased with myself. With luck the first of these should be up later this week, or early next.
Earlier today I nervously attended my first meeting with the Fareham Writers Group, and was extremely pleased to be invited to become a member a few short hours later. This is the first such group that I've joined and I feel that I can gain a lot from this experienced and knowledgeable group, particularly as they are extremely friendly and approachable.
On a much sadder note, I learned recently of the demise of a prominent magazine that I used to write for. The harsh economic climate of today will no doubt see the back of many publications. A loss not only for the reader, but also for the writer who supports them.
Earlier today I nervously attended my first meeting with the Fareham Writers Group, and was extremely pleased to be invited to become a member a few short hours later. This is the first such group that I've joined and I feel that I can gain a lot from this experienced and knowledgeable group, particularly as they are extremely friendly and approachable.
On a much sadder note, I learned recently of the demise of a prominent magazine that I used to write for. The harsh economic climate of today will no doubt see the back of many publications. A loss not only for the reader, but also for the writer who supports them.
Friday, 2 September 2011
Final Stages
Sadly living alone again I'm spending more time writing than before. Someone said to me once that writing can be a lonely occupation. At the time I thought that it was just a statement, not a prophesy. So, now there's only myself and my dog, Bella, who's a lovely beast and great company.
As mentioned the writing is really going well. 'A Pride Of Lions' has now been rewritten for the 4th time and is in the final editing stages. Likewise my short story collection, 'Distant Shores'. I'm concentrating heavily on these and have moved away temporarily from other writing, to get these works completed and, as they say, 'out there'.
The MA is also almost finished too, thank heavens. I sent a submission to the Uni earlier in the week and only have one edit of the same to complete and submit, before waiting for feedback from the tutor. When I've had that it's a case of re-edit my last two submissions and send off a total of 15,000 words and a contextual essay, then await the MA submission results. Job done. But I still need to decide what area to concentrate on for the essay (although I have a few ideas) and the editing is easier said than done, for we never seem happy with our work; and, as Oscar Wilde once said, 'books are never finished they are merely abandoned'.
As mentioned the writing is really going well. 'A Pride Of Lions' has now been rewritten for the 4th time and is in the final editing stages. Likewise my short story collection, 'Distant Shores'. I'm concentrating heavily on these and have moved away temporarily from other writing, to get these works completed and, as they say, 'out there'.
The MA is also almost finished too, thank heavens. I sent a submission to the Uni earlier in the week and only have one edit of the same to complete and submit, before waiting for feedback from the tutor. When I've had that it's a case of re-edit my last two submissions and send off a total of 15,000 words and a contextual essay, then await the MA submission results. Job done. But I still need to decide what area to concentrate on for the essay (although I have a few ideas) and the editing is easier said than done, for we never seem happy with our work; and, as Oscar Wilde once said, 'books are never finished they are merely abandoned'.
'A Handful Of Stars' reviewed
In the early hours of this morning, when I was finally signing off after a long days editing, Geoff Nelder sent me the following review on my short story 'A Handful Of Stars', which was published in the Escape Velocity Anthology and which is now available for sale on Amazon. The review was kindly conducted by Dellani Oakes, an American author with Second Wind Publishing.
A Handful of Stars – Mark Iles
Connor is a problem child. Constantly running away and getting in trouble, he's become difficult for Miranda to cope with. Called yet again to the facility where he lives, she finally has a frank talk with him. What she finds out surprises her.
Miranda discovers that Connor isn't like most children. He's not from around here. She doesn't immediately believe what he tells her, but eventually comes to an understanding. With Miranda's encouragement, Connor strikes out on his own once more, searching for his family in earnest.
"Handful of Stars" is a tenderly depicted story of loss, fear and acceptance. It is the very definition of a leap of faith.'
Connor is a problem child. Constantly running away and getting in trouble, he's become difficult for Miranda to cope with. Called yet again to the facility where he lives, she finally has a frank talk with him. What she finds out surprises her.
Miranda discovers that Connor isn't like most children. He's not from around here. She doesn't immediately believe what he tells her, but eventually comes to an understanding. With Miranda's encouragement, Connor strikes out on his own once more, searching for his family in earnest.
"Handful of Stars" is a tenderly depicted story of loss, fear and acceptance. It is the very definition of a leap of faith.'
I'd like to thank Dellani for her very kind words and also Geoff, for sending this to me.
Sunday, 21 August 2011
Pride Of Lions
I haven't posted for a while, simply because so much has been going on. Changes in my private life have left a void and so I have thrown myself into my SF novel A Pride Of Lions, yesterday finishing the 2nd rewrite. I've found myself writing constantly, sometimes from 10:00 until 01:30 and, as I said on Twitter, it's frustrating when you make a cup of tea, look at your novel, then take a sip only to find it's gone cold. This happened five times the other day. So the plan now is heavy editing, fire up the coffee percolator to combat the peculiar happenings with the Earl grey, and then to submit my work for crits while looking for an agent/publisher. I estimate that the word count at about 60,000, which is about right.
Although I've almost finished my short story collection Distant Shores, and I'm keen to publish it, I've decided to hang fire for a while, to see how the novel goes before making any decisions about how and where to market it.
The MA finishes in February, and I have one more submission to make (comprising of two edits of the same work). Then it's re-edit the complete 7,500 MA Project and submit it along with a contextual essay for marking; then all will be done and dusted, and it will just be a question of waiting.
There's also the fact that I may be moving soon too, further north, to Boston in Peterborough. It's nice there and very quiet, no such animal as a traffic jam. So, things have been extremely hectic, as I go through my cupboards and the loft to vet what I have to take with me. It's amazing what you accumulate over the years.
Although I've almost finished my short story collection Distant Shores, and I'm keen to publish it, I've decided to hang fire for a while, to see how the novel goes before making any decisions about how and where to market it.
The MA finishes in February, and I have one more submission to make (comprising of two edits of the same work). Then it's re-edit the complete 7,500 MA Project and submit it along with a contextual essay for marking; then all will be done and dusted, and it will just be a question of waiting.
There's also the fact that I may be moving soon too, further north, to Boston in Peterborough. It's nice there and very quiet, no such animal as a traffic jam. So, things have been extremely hectic, as I go through my cupboards and the loft to vet what I have to take with me. It's amazing what you accumulate over the years.
Sunday, 10 July 2011
Cursed, So I Am
Why is it that when you think you are finally catching up on your writing projects something catches your eye and your breath quickens? Browsing through publishing sites this morning one in particular immediately grabbed me, and I thought I'd love to have a story that would really fit into that. Then realised that I did. So, now I'm rewriting my short story 'Dream Stealer'. But that's never the end, is it? On top of this project I have the novel to complete, a feature a magazine editor's agreed to in advance and a brace of book reviews.
So, is writing a gift or a curse? A bit of both I guess. I simply love the way that stories chop and change as you develop them, the thrill of getting critiques back and the sheer delight of having one or two accepted by editors; the dismay when occasionally those accepted aren't published and you wonder why you left it with them in the first place, when there are so many other markets waiting out there.
Tis cursed, so I am.
So, is writing a gift or a curse? A bit of both I guess. I simply love the way that stories chop and change as you develop them, the thrill of getting critiques back and the sheer delight of having one or two accepted by editors; the dismay when occasionally those accepted aren't published and you wonder why you left it with them in the first place, when there are so many other markets waiting out there.
Tis cursed, so I am.
Friday, 8 July 2011
Updates
Geoff Nelder now has his trilogy 'Left Luggage' under contract with Scottish small-press LL-Publications. This is an absolutely superb piece of news, for not only is Geoff an excellent writer but also a staunch backbone of the BSFA Orbiter groups, never failing to critique and assist the other members of the group. Well done Geoff, great news indeed. My fingers are crossed also for his 'Xaghra's Revenge', which is currently under consideration with Angry Robot.
Exactly what is happening with Combat and my feature of Matt Fiddes and Michael Jackson is simply beyond me. The editor assures me that this has already been published, although it's not out in the shops and should have been on 29th July, but the issue is showing on the digital edition page of www.combatmag.co.uk. I'm hoping that all goes well, as I've always been a strong supporter of Combat and have been producing work for them, on and off, since 1984.
As well as continuing work on my short story collection, which I hope to publish as an EBook, my novel is progressing well. The tutor for the MA Project, Andrew Wille, is simply superb, offering sound advice and criticism. At this moment in time I have 7 features accepted and 7 short stories away for consideration, having finally cracked my latest effort 'Seven Steps To Gethsemane'.
In the meantime it's back to writing the novel, and getting my spicey female Key Character, Jenny, further into battle with those seemingly unbeatable aliens.
Exactly what is happening with Combat and my feature of Matt Fiddes and Michael Jackson is simply beyond me. The editor assures me that this has already been published, although it's not out in the shops and should have been on 29th July, but the issue is showing on the digital edition page of www.combatmag.co.uk. I'm hoping that all goes well, as I've always been a strong supporter of Combat and have been producing work for them, on and off, since 1984.
As well as continuing work on my short story collection, which I hope to publish as an EBook, my novel is progressing well. The tutor for the MA Project, Andrew Wille, is simply superb, offering sound advice and criticism. At this moment in time I have 7 features accepted and 7 short stories away for consideration, having finally cracked my latest effort 'Seven Steps To Gethsemane'.
In the meantime it's back to writing the novel, and getting my spicey female Key Character, Jenny, further into battle with those seemingly unbeatable aliens.
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