Cate Gardner's Blog, page 26
April 15, 2012
Well I saw that coming...
My eldest nephew is the Grim Reaper. I bet you didn't expect me to say that on a Monday morning.
This weekend it was the Grand National horse race, which is a big deal in the country as a whole and an even bigger deal in Liverpool where the racecourse is. (Liverpool this, Liverpool that, do I ever shut up about my home town?). I love the horse racing but prefer the flat races and the Grand National can be particularly gruelling as horses seem to die jumping the fences every year. They'd made some safety changes to the course this year, but obviously still not enough to ensure the safety of the horses.
Anyway, onto the 'my eldest nephew is the Grim Reaper' business. Before the race started one of the horses (Synchronised) threw his jockey and made a bolt for it, to which my nephew said, 'That horse has so just had a final destination moment.' Synchronised was rounded up and entered the race, and within ten/fifteen minutes he'd fallen and needed to be put down. Makes you wonder if the horse did see what would happen.
Have you ever had a premonition?
In 1998 I had dozens of dreams about playing slot machines and gambling and they continued for a few weeks, culminating in the moment when I won a holiday to Las Vegas. Then, while in Vegas, I had a dream about an old-fashioned casino, with some very old slot machines away from the general floor and with a small avenue of shops running off it. When we found ourselves in that exact same casino (or as close to as my dream memory would allow) I said, 'Wow, this place is just like from my dream last night and in my dream the person next to me won a ton of cash from a slot machine.' Next moment...
...the slot machine next to me began spewing money.
This weekend it was the Grand National horse race, which is a big deal in the country as a whole and an even bigger deal in Liverpool where the racecourse is. (Liverpool this, Liverpool that, do I ever shut up about my home town?). I love the horse racing but prefer the flat races and the Grand National can be particularly gruelling as horses seem to die jumping the fences every year. They'd made some safety changes to the course this year, but obviously still not enough to ensure the safety of the horses.
Anyway, onto the 'my eldest nephew is the Grim Reaper' business. Before the race started one of the horses (Synchronised) threw his jockey and made a bolt for it, to which my nephew said, 'That horse has so just had a final destination moment.' Synchronised was rounded up and entered the race, and within ten/fifteen minutes he'd fallen and needed to be put down. Makes you wonder if the horse did see what would happen.
Have you ever had a premonition?
In 1998 I had dozens of dreams about playing slot machines and gambling and they continued for a few weeks, culminating in the moment when I won a holiday to Las Vegas. Then, while in Vegas, I had a dream about an old-fashioned casino, with some very old slot machines away from the general floor and with a small avenue of shops running off it. When we found ourselves in that exact same casino (or as close to as my dream memory would allow) I said, 'Wow, this place is just like from my dream last night and in my dream the person next to me won a ton of cash from a slot machine.' Next moment...
...the slot machine next to me began spewing money.
In my Liverpool Home
Things are about to become gigantic in Liverpool.
To commemorate the sinking of the Titanic a century ago there will be "Sea Odyssey Giant Spectacular" in which a 30 foot girl and her 50 foot uncle will be walking the streets of Liverpool in a magical tale of love, loss and reunion (according to the Sea Odyssey website). The event starts at 9:30am Friday 20 April 2012 and runs through to Sunday 22 April 2012 at 2pm. There is also a festival at Stanley Park.
In the 1990s, I worked in Albion House, Liverpool (which were formerly the White Star Line offices and where James Bruce Ismay, the President of the White Star Line and Titanic survivor had his office). Sadly, the building is now abandoned and falling into disrepair.
If you live anywhere near Liverpool, you should check it out.
To commemorate the sinking of the Titanic a century ago there will be "Sea Odyssey Giant Spectacular" in which a 30 foot girl and her 50 foot uncle will be walking the streets of Liverpool in a magical tale of love, loss and reunion (according to the Sea Odyssey website). The event starts at 9:30am Friday 20 April 2012 and runs through to Sunday 22 April 2012 at 2pm. There is also a festival at Stanley Park.
In the 1990s, I worked in Albion House, Liverpool (which were formerly the White Star Line offices and where James Bruce Ismay, the President of the White Star Line and Titanic survivor had his office). Sadly, the building is now abandoned and falling into disrepair.
If you live anywhere near Liverpool, you should check it out.
April 10, 2012
If you go down to the Caravan Park today...
My story "In the Dark Hollow of a Caravan Someone Waits" is now available to read at This is Horror. Mega thanks to Michael Wilson for inviting me to write something and for Jason Hicks for his fantastic artwork, which accompanies the story.
You will also find stories by Simon Bestwick, Lisa L Hannett, Paul Meloy, Gary McMahon, David Moody, William Meikle, Samuel Bonner, Stephen Graham Jones and Simon Kurt Unsworth at This is Horror.
You will also find stories by Simon Bestwick, Lisa L Hannett, Paul Meloy, Gary McMahon, David Moody, William Meikle, Samuel Bonner, Stephen Graham Jones and Simon Kurt Unsworth at This is Horror.
April 7, 2012
Lego Houses, Gorey and Me
If you're not too busy munching your Easter Eggs (oh, my poor chocolate-empty belly), then I'd love it if you could headed over to the TTA Press/Black Static site where there is a wee interview with me by Peter Tennant. I owe Peter several boxes of chocolates.
April 5, 2012
The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore
I'd like to say this video found me all by itself, but in truth, it had a little help from Sharon Ring who recommended it to me on Facebook. See...Facebook does have its uses. I'm not just procrastinating.
So, for those who love books and words...enjoy. This truly is a beautiful, mournful and uplifting tale.
...and I guess this is my Easter gift to you so HAPPY EASTER.
So, for those who love books and words...enjoy. This truly is a beautiful, mournful and uplifting tale.
...and I guess this is my Easter gift to you so HAPPY EASTER.
April 4, 2012
My story The Menagerie of Frozen Birds is now availa...
My story The Menagerie of Frozen Birds is now available in Ice Picks, an anthology from Rainstorm Press and edited by S.S. Michaels.
"Perhaps it was the lights, maybe they played tricks, but Magda could have sworn that the blue girl moved, that her eyes flicked towards Viola and her mouth opened revealing her teeth."
The anthology also contains stories by Jeremy Shipp, Caleb J Ross, Robert R Best, David Dunwoody, Todd Austin Hunt, John Edward Lawson, Stacey Graham and Damien Walters Grintalis.
April 3, 2012
Creepy-Crawlies
Bernie Mojzes and A.C. Wise have accepted my story The Familiar Buzz of Gone for The Journal of Unlikely Entomology. Happy dance with added flapping of wings.
The current issue contains a story by the awesome E. Catherine Tobler. And the issue my story is in will have a story by Amanda C. Davis (one of my favourite short story writers - and trust me her story Drift is killer).
The current issue contains a story by the awesome E. Catherine Tobler. And the issue my story is in will have a story by Amanda C. Davis (one of my favourite short story writers - and trust me her story Drift is killer).
April 2, 2012
What I did in March
I wrote an odd tale about balloons, cake, vicious aunts and memory stealing fiends (The Binding of Memories)
I wrote a desperate tale of loss (In the Dark Hollow of a Caravan Someone Waits)
And, those were the shorts.
I completed the second draft of The Bureau of Them at 19,214 words - edited it, edited it some more, decided it was missing a certain something and have left it to brew.
That was my only longish thing.
Other things...
- I wrote an article for This is Horror (Decapitating Gingerbread Men)
- I survived an interview with Peter Tennant (though word is yet to get back to me if he survived)
- Pedro the Pedometer entered my life and just as swiftly departed it when he refused to count all the steps I'd done while mowing the garden. No one should mess with me when I'm gardening. He winks Hello at me every morning, but I'm determined to ignore him. Next time, I shall buy a pedometer that calculates zombie steps.
- I lost 12lbs and shook my hips in front of the mirror like a narcissist.
- Attended a house gig for my brother's 40th birthday where he'd hired Henry Priestman (formerly of The Christians). Very, very awesome. And my brother joined him on stage (or rather in the kitchen)
- Hadley Rille had a sale of their eBooks (officially started on Saturday 31st so I can include it) and it's still ongoing (due to end soon) - so at the moment you can read Theatre for 77p or 99c. A steal.
I wrote a desperate tale of loss (In the Dark Hollow of a Caravan Someone Waits)
And, those were the shorts.
I completed the second draft of The Bureau of Them at 19,214 words - edited it, edited it some more, decided it was missing a certain something and have left it to brew.
That was my only longish thing.
Other things...
- I wrote an article for This is Horror (Decapitating Gingerbread Men)
- I survived an interview with Peter Tennant (though word is yet to get back to me if he survived)
- Pedro the Pedometer entered my life and just as swiftly departed it when he refused to count all the steps I'd done while mowing the garden. No one should mess with me when I'm gardening. He winks Hello at me every morning, but I'm determined to ignore him. Next time, I shall buy a pedometer that calculates zombie steps.
- I lost 12lbs and shook my hips in front of the mirror like a narcissist.
- Attended a house gig for my brother's 40th birthday where he'd hired Henry Priestman (formerly of The Christians). Very, very awesome. And my brother joined him on stage (or rather in the kitchen)
- Hadley Rille had a sale of their eBooks (officially started on Saturday 31st so I can include it) and it's still ongoing (due to end soon) - so at the moment you can read Theatre for 77p or 99c. A steal.
April 1, 2012
White Rabbits
If you follow me on Twitter or Facebook, you may recall the man in the stovepipe hat and blue coat who I saw when travelling home one day. Well I saw him again and this time, I got off the bus. I had to follow him. I should add that there was a dual purpose to this action in that I could add steps to my pedometer, Pedro. The things I'll do in the name of exercise.Unluckily for me, the man in the stovepipe hat was walking in the opposite direction to where I needed to go. Still, a quest must be followed. Whenever he turned, I avoided hiding in doorways like they do in films. My eyesight isn't great (and I refuse to wear glasses) so it wasn't until I was about six steps behind him that I noticed the 10/6 sign affixed to the side of his hat. No friggin' way. Guy thinks he's the Mad Hatter. Okay, I had no confirmation that he thought that, but he was certainly in fancy dress as the Mad Hatter. In the middle of the day. And, this was the second time I'd seen him dressed thus.
The fact that I stopped when he next turned - well, I was only three steps away from him - probably gave away that I was following him. Oops! I fiddled with Pedro the pedometer and pretended to be checking my steps. He didn't move. I didn't move. Awkward! I said he had a nice hat and he told me he kept his rabbit under it.
I'm like 'ha! ha!' what with him being dressed as the Mad Hatter and all, but then he tipped his hat and I swear I saw a hint of white fur. "And I'm Alice," I said, winking. How brave was I? Seriously, I'm the kind of girl who sits in the corner biting her lip and hoping not to be noticed.
He told me he'd been looking for me (or rather an Alice) everywhere. Okay, that's a little creepy. Not that stalking a guy you don't know isn't creepy but at least mine involved adding steps to Pedro. Still, he was cute and creepy, so when he asked if I wanted to go to a tea party, I said yes (Note to children - do not do this at home) and besides, he nodded to the cafe we'd stopped outside. How convenient. As I don't drink from cups that I'm not familiar with (and always bring a spare - hey, this is England and we like our tea), I pulled two blue china cups and saucers from my handbag and we had mint tea, while the rabbit that was under his hat proved to be a soft toy. The rabbit didn't have tea with us.
Although, I'm not certain the pill he gave me will make me three dress sizes smaller by Easter Sunday. I think he may have been pulling my leg.
I do hope your April got off to as strange a start. Tomorrow I shall tell you what I did or didn't do in March. In the meantime, check out yesterday's blog post in which you'll find Theatre of Curious Acts on sale at a ridiculously low price (77p in the UK and 99c in the US)
March 31, 2012
Sale Now On: Part Two
Hadley Rille Books are having an eBook sale this weekend which means Theatre of Curious Acts is 77p in the Amazon UK store and 99c in the Amazon US store.
If you have a Kindle, and especially if you've named said Kindle (which means you care about it), then I hope you'll take a chance and download my story of Great War Soldiers and the Horsewomen of the Apocalypse.
