Luke Walker's Blog: https://lukewalkerwriter.wordpress.com, page 32
April 5, 2013
'Set - first book review
Evening all.
Have a wander this way for the first review of 'Set. And then after that, have a good weekend. I'll be editing and reading through stuff for the most part. And hoping the weather improves to slightly better than Ice Age levels.
Have a wander this way for the first review of 'Set. And then after that, have a good weekend. I'll be editing and reading through stuff for the most part. And hoping the weather improves to slightly better than Ice Age levels.
April 4, 2013
Mirror of The Nameless published in September
Now that the contract is signed and I have the final edits of it to work on this weekend, it seems like a good time to reveal my novella Mirror of The Nameless will be published by Dark Fuse this September. I subbed the book less than two months ago so this is a fast turn around and a process I've been very happy with. I'm pretty sure Mirror is one of the best pieces I've come up with so I'm looking forward to seeing it out in the world and hearing what people think of it.
Spinning off that, I had a lot of fun writing Mirror so I'll come up with another novella at some point hopefully in the next couple of months. I've got a couple of ideas brewing. When the time is right (probably after I finish a book I started about a month ago), I'll get stuck in. In the meantime to give you an idea of some of the inspiration for my story, you should read some HP Lovecraft, Clark Ashton Smith and Robert E. Howard.
Spinning off that, I had a lot of fun writing Mirror so I'll come up with another novella at some point hopefully in the next couple of months. I've got a couple of ideas brewing. When the time is right (probably after I finish a book I started about a month ago), I'll get stuck in. In the meantime to give you an idea of some of the inspiration for my story, you should read some HP Lovecraft, Clark Ashton Smith and Robert E. Howard.
March 31, 2013
The story behind 'Set
That post I mentioned yesterday? It's up here. Have a read to learn about the story behind 'Set.
Hope you enjoy it.
Hope you enjoy it.
March 30, 2013
Inspiration and what not
I've written a fairly detailed post for upcoming4.me about a lot of the inspiration behind 'Set which should hopefully be online soon. Obviously I'll link to it as soon as it's available, but in the meantime, I wanted to post this. It's a track by Moby from his album Everything Is Wrong.
I listened to that album a great deal and that track especially while writing 'Set. There's a certain scene in the book - towards the end is all I'm saying - that, to me, fit this piece of music. If you read my book, maybe you'll think the same or maybe not. Either way, I thought it worth linking to the tune so you can either give the album a go or just hear about a small thing called inspiration.
I listened to that album a great deal and that track especially while writing 'Set. There's a certain scene in the book - towards the end is all I'm saying - that, to me, fit this piece of music. If you read my book, maybe you'll think the same or maybe not. Either way, I thought it worth linking to the tune so you can either give the album a go or just hear about a small thing called inspiration.
March 22, 2013
'Set publication day (and a giveaway)
Here it is - publication day for my second book. Head this way to buy it in various ebook formats. Or, since I'm just so damn nice, I'm giving a copy away. Bearing in mind that the afterlife portrayed in 'Set is a little different to the one of Heaven being eternal paradise and Hell being eternal punishment, what I want to know about is your favourite fictional portryal of what might come after death and why you like it. Maybe it's Death's Domain from The Discworld series. Maybe it's something much darker. Whatever it is, let me know in a comment here and I'll pick one person to win a PDF copy of 'Set. I'll keep this open until next Friday, then choose a winner.
In the meantime, Emma, Xaphan, Afriel and all the others are waiting for you...
In the meantime, Emma, Xaphan, Afriel and all the others are waiting for you...
March 21, 2013
James Herbert
When I was about eleven, I got hold of a copy of James Herbert's first book The Rats. My mum told me I couldn't read it, so of course, I did. Over the course of one day during the summer holidays, I sped through it, sure she would come home and catch me reading this stunning book full of sex and violence and people who were real and flawed. She didn't, thankfully, so I ate up Mr Herbert's early classics (The Rats trilogy, The Dark, The Fog, Survivor) and then got stuck into his mid and late eighties work. I loved it all. They were books set in a familiar world. This wasn't old-fashioned horror or the world of Stephen King. This was England. This was a world of the BBC, of Thatcher and cities I'd heard of. This could be happening in my own city with people I might encounter. Scary shit, I think you'll agree.
A short time after this, my class put together a school newspaper. There were several weeks of build up to this (computers were slower back then) and we had plenty of time to come up with articles to go in the paper. Encouraged by my teacher, I wrote to the publisher of James Herbert's garishly-covered paperbacks, New English Library, with a letter I asked them to forward. From what I remember, the questions were a strange mixture of what I thought adults might ask each other and random things only an eleven year old could come up with. Even so, the reply - complete with a glorious signature - came back in the post. Almost a quarter of a century later, I still have that letter.
As a reader, James Herbert was almost always a pleasure to experience. As a writer, he was one of the biggest influences on me. But I have to admit, there will always be an eleven year old boy in me who is speeding through the pages of a graphically violent book about man-eating rats while being ready to throw the book under the sofa if anyone should come in the front door.
For that, if nothing else, James Herbert will be missed.
A short time after this, my class put together a school newspaper. There were several weeks of build up to this (computers were slower back then) and we had plenty of time to come up with articles to go in the paper. Encouraged by my teacher, I wrote to the publisher of James Herbert's garishly-covered paperbacks, New English Library, with a letter I asked them to forward. From what I remember, the questions were a strange mixture of what I thought adults might ask each other and random things only an eleven year old could come up with. Even so, the reply - complete with a glorious signature - came back in the post. Almost a quarter of a century later, I still have that letter.
As a reader, James Herbert was almost always a pleasure to experience. As a writer, he was one of the biggest influences on me. But I have to admit, there will always be an eleven year old boy in me who is speeding through the pages of a graphically violent book about man-eating rats while being ready to throw the book under the sofa if anyone should come in the front door.
For that, if nothing else, James Herbert will be missed.
March 17, 2013
Some rather jolly news about The Mirror of The Nameless
I'm thrilled to reveal I've sold my novella The Mirror of The Nameless to Dark Fuse. It should be published later this year. Obviously more info to follow as and when. For now, though, I shall celebrate by drinking a cup of coffee. And saying hurrah.
March 16, 2013
An excerpt from 'Set
Fancy a sneak peek at an early scene from 'Set? Read on...
Bryson closed his eyes, counted to three and opened his eyes.
“Everything all right?” Jim said.
“All right? I’m dead. You’re dead. We’re both dead and we’re standing here in a deserted hospital as if this is the most normal thing in the world.”
“It is normal, George. This is death. What’s more normal than that?”
Bryson could think of nothing to say. He looked to both ends of the corridor and saw the nothing he expected. A little morning light fell through the windows in his ward. One of them was open; no sounds came with the sunlight. Bryson stared at his brother.
“You’re really dead?” he said.
Jim nodded.
“And I’m dead, too?”
Jim nodded again.
“It doesn’t-” Bryson stopped. “I’m not sure. I think I mean. . .”
Jim laughed. “Believe me, George. This place changes things. You’ll see things differently pretty soon.”
“This place?” Bryson said. He felt slow; the space around them seemed to be passing by as if pushed by a strong wind.
“Where we are. This is a halfway place of sorts. Life is behind you; death is just outside. This is designed to give you a moment to adjust. I’m here to welcome you, to make sure you know where to go.” He slid an arm around Bryson’s shoulders. “Come on.”
Bryson let his brother walk him to the doors and then the stairs. A row of large windows on the other side of the stairs let in great sheets of light. Bryson shielded his eyes.
“Don’t worry. It’s not as bright once you get outside,” Jim said.
Bryson concentrated on the sound of their footsteps for a few moments before he could find his next question. “So, everyone dies and goes to something like this?” He waved an arm around. “Then they go where? Further?”
“Yes. That’s right.”
They reached the second floor and turned with the steps.
“Further,” Bryson said. He stopped. Jim did the same and searched his brother’s face. “Further,” he said again. “We’re talking about Heaven and Hell, aren’t we?”
“Yes, but relax.” Jim smiled. For a moment, Bryson was back to his childhood, now so long ago. He saw himself waving to his brother as Jim left to go and fight the war. That vanished August morning was all around Bryson, closing in with sights and sounds he hadn’t known in over sixty years.
“It’s all right,” Jim said again. “Anything beyond this is not as you imagine it to be. Heaven and Hell. . .well, you’ll see.”
Bryson closed his eyes, counted to three and opened his eyes.
“Everything all right?” Jim said.
“All right? I’m dead. You’re dead. We’re both dead and we’re standing here in a deserted hospital as if this is the most normal thing in the world.”
“It is normal, George. This is death. What’s more normal than that?”
Bryson could think of nothing to say. He looked to both ends of the corridor and saw the nothing he expected. A little morning light fell through the windows in his ward. One of them was open; no sounds came with the sunlight. Bryson stared at his brother.
“You’re really dead?” he said.
Jim nodded.
“And I’m dead, too?”
Jim nodded again.
“It doesn’t-” Bryson stopped. “I’m not sure. I think I mean. . .”
Jim laughed. “Believe me, George. This place changes things. You’ll see things differently pretty soon.”
“This place?” Bryson said. He felt slow; the space around them seemed to be passing by as if pushed by a strong wind.
“Where we are. This is a halfway place of sorts. Life is behind you; death is just outside. This is designed to give you a moment to adjust. I’m here to welcome you, to make sure you know where to go.” He slid an arm around Bryson’s shoulders. “Come on.”
Bryson let his brother walk him to the doors and then the stairs. A row of large windows on the other side of the stairs let in great sheets of light. Bryson shielded his eyes.
“Don’t worry. It’s not as bright once you get outside,” Jim said.
Bryson concentrated on the sound of their footsteps for a few moments before he could find his next question. “So, everyone dies and goes to something like this?” He waved an arm around. “Then they go where? Further?”
“Yes. That’s right.”
They reached the second floor and turned with the steps.
“Further,” Bryson said. He stopped. Jim did the same and searched his brother’s face. “Further,” he said again. “We’re talking about Heaven and Hell, aren’t we?”
“Yes, but relax.” Jim smiled. For a moment, Bryson was back to his childhood, now so long ago. He saw himself waving to his brother as Jim left to go and fight the war. That vanished August morning was all around Bryson, closing in with sights and sounds he hadn’t known in over sixty years.
“It’s all right,” Jim said again. “Anything beyond this is not as you imagine it to be. Heaven and Hell. . .well, you’ll see.”
March 14, 2013
'Set - purchase link
Been a bit quiet at my end of things for the last couple of weeks - or at least it appears that way. I've been working on a new book, sorting out a few submissions and fighting off a cold since the weekend so my blog hasn't been updated. Anyway, I'm here with the link for 'Set on Musa's site. Head this way to order a copy ready for next Friday.
'Set (published 22/03/2013)
And while I've got you, do me a favour. If you read it, or The Red Girl for that matter, nothing would make me happier than a review somewhere. While I'd obviously prefer a review to tell people how wonderful either of my books are, I'm more concerned that they're honest. Reviews aren't for me or any other writer. They're for readers.
Thankee-sai.
'Set (published 22/03/2013)
And while I've got you, do me a favour. If you read it, or The Red Girl for that matter, nothing would make me happier than a review somewhere. While I'd obviously prefer a review to tell people how wonderful either of my books are, I'm more concerned that they're honest. Reviews aren't for me or any other writer. They're for readers.
Thankee-sai.
March 2, 2013
Book cover reveal (and 200th post)
For my 200th post, I'm thrilled to reveal the book cover for 'Set. How nice is this?
