Dan Smith's Blog, page 28

Snow and slaughtered pigs

So we did get snow after all. Not quite enough for a snowman, but enough for my daughter to drop a snowball down the back of my neck. Brrr. And I've survived the week without forgetting anything. I think. Mind you, there's probably still time. Only three more days until Christmas eve (my daughter's keeping the count-down) and then, if they're REALLY well behaved, Father Christmas might pay us a visit. I can remember one year when he didn't come. Not to Mato Grosso anyway – at least, not to...

Orion … they say yes!!

Oh, some good news. Orion has accepted my second book. There will, of course, be edits and revisions and changes, but that's all a natural part of the process. When the book finally goes to print, it needs to be the best it can be. It's only right that way. And while my editor was looking over that, I have drafted another! Yes, I've been hard at work, not just sitting back with my hands crossed behind my head (although, there is a bit of that, too). So, my wife is reading that – in her...

Keeping up with…well, with everything.

Term is coming to an end, and the week is full of ferrying children this way and that. I've already been to three plays and two carol services. Two different churches yesterday, over two hours of singing and readings and now my head is reeling. So all that's left is to wrap birthday presents (yep, birthday – I mean, who would be so inconvenient as to have a birthday at this time of year?), print out a copy of my next book, entertain my four year old, find the party, pick-up, drop-off and …...

Eee, you can get anything on ebay these days!!

I've been whoring myself across the internet for the last couple of months. My aim was to join a few social networking sites, forums, that kind of thing, and have a few backlinks etc. so that when Dry Season comes out and someone searches my name on Google, they'll get something - anything – with my name on it that might lead them to my website. Problem is, though, there are too many Dan Smith's out there. Search for just my name and I'm way down on the list – about 60th. Pah! Search for Dan...

A new date…

Just had a bit of news from Orion. Dry Seaon's publication date's been put back a couple of weeks to the 18th Feb. Being an unknown (to those who don't know me, obviously), the Sales people have suggested the 4th might not be so good – better known authors are pubishing on that date, I think, so I'll probably get trampled under the crush of people rushing to buy their books. Ah, what's another two weeks?  Oh, and I've got a quote for Dry Season. One of those afore mentioned 'better known...

Jesus, Ben 10 and Dry Season

1st of December today. Phew. It goes so much quicker when you're older. Last weekend my son was given a Ben 10:Alien Force advent calendar (very in-tune with the whole Christ thing, I know), and he's been desperate to open it. These past few days must have felt like an eternity to him, looking up at the calendar in the kitchen, craving that one small chocolate that's hidden behind each door. The excitement of chocolate after breakfast has been almost too much for him to bear. He was very...

The jungle – no place to be at night.

Been watching 'I'm a Celebrity…' which is becoming quite tiresome now. I'm sure it didn't ALL involve eating and drinking animal products in past series. Anyway, I was thinking that all those 'celebrities' are quite lucky to have lights. The rainforest can be a creepy place at night. Imagine it without the lights. Black. Complete darkness. Like being inside a cave except you're surrounded by the constant, electrical hum of life. Croaks and chirrups and shuffles and squeaks and coughs and…and...

See…It's not that grim up north!

Well done Newcastle for being named as Britain's Greenest City. I'm sure there are many people in the country who think we're living under a cloud of smog up here, all flat caps and whippets, pint of brown ale in the afternoon, dog racing in the evening followed by a pie and peas supper. But no – we actually have a bit of culture and we always take out our recycling. You could stop anyone on Northumberland Street and they'd tell you they're proud of their city but it's all official now...

Pity the Critter

Okay, so I don't watch a lot of reality TV – or do I? There seems to be so much of it on. Anyway, I watched X-Factor on saturday and wasn't over excited by it. Not sure I get it, really. A few karaoke performances of Queen songs, received with rapturous applause, and, oh yes, the now famous bouncing twins, Jedward.

And now we're in for a jungle treat for the next few weeks, so take a moment to remember the poor 'roaches, spiders, snakes and other assorted forest critters that are going to...

Think Geek

Got my cheap copy of Modern Warfare 2 from Sainsbury's. After seeing the advert during Flashforward last night, I thought £26 was quite a bargain considering the rrp is something like £50. Wandered down there after dropping my son off at school this morning, expecting a crowd, but no. All was quiet. Shop assistant said there was a line out of the door first thing, all of them trying not to look too excited, but the geeks had subsided by the time I arrived (well, apart from me, that is)...