Cate Gardner's Blog, page 30
January 11, 2012
The Travelling Theatrical Tour: That November Spell
Day five of the blog tour finds us at Ray Cluley's blog, Probably Monsters with a post titled 'The Travelling Theatrical Tour: That November Spell' in which I talk about the genesis of my book, Theatre of Curious Acts. I hope you'll check it out.
Ray is a fantastic and fantastical writer whose stories regularly grace the pages of Interzone and Black Static. His story Fata Morgana (bloody awesome title) is in the current issue. The first story of Ray's that I read was Beachcoming (Black Static 19), a gorgeous tale of loss in which a boy feels other people's emotions through the things they leave behind at the beach.
He has also stories forthcoming in Darker Minds and Shadows & Tall Trees. And I suspect in many more issues of Black Static and Interzone. Definitely someone to watch.
Other stops on the tour:
Interview by Simon Kewin
Twitter Rules at Bloody Bookish
Freedom at TTA Press
Inspiration at Deborah Walker's blog
January 10, 2012
The Travelling Theatrical Tour: Interview with Simon Kewin
The Travelling Theatrical Tour continues over at Simon Kewin's blog where Simon kindly offered to interview me. Thanks, Simon.Simon is one of the inspirational geniuses behind Write 1 Sub 1 where the ambitious sign up to write and sub a story a week (or a month). I watch them from afar. Simon's stories have appeared in Kaleidotrope, Daily Science Fiction, Brain Harvest and many more places. His latest short story 'Her Long Hair Shining' is available to read online at Abyss & Apex.
Other stops on the tour:
Twitter Rules at Bloody Bookish
Freedom at TTA Press
Inspiration at Deborah Walker's blog
January 9, 2012
The Travelling Theatrical Tour: Twitter Rules
Day three of the blog tour takes us to Bloody Bookish run by Social Media Queen™, Mary Rajotte. Considering Mary's trademark, today's post is the apt "The Travelling Theatrical Tour: Twitter Rules", in which I waffle on about what Twitter means to me, some rules for twittering (that I follow, not that you have to follow) and confess to maybe being addicted to tweeting. Most of you will have already guessed the latter.
Although a relatively new site, Bloody Bookish has already devoured and reviewed books by Ian Rogers, Lee Thompson, Barry Napier and Simon Strantzas. It's definitely the place to watch. Its founder, Mary Rajotte's stories have appeared in Shroud and Northern Haunts (we shared a TOC in the latter).
Other stops on the blog tour:
Freedom at TTA Press
Inspiration at Deborah Walker's blog
January 7, 2012
Charles, Me and Books
I've spent part of this week answering interview questions (many thanks to the interviewers) and one of the questions was 'what inspired/who influenced your writing'. I had a whole list of things and people who I thought probably influenced me, but until today, I'd forgotten Charles Addams. Luckily, thanks to Google celebrating his birthday, I remembered him just before I finished my final interview.Phew! No one wants the ghost of Charles Addams rising up, hunting them down, and strapping them to an electric chair. Well not at the weekend anyway.
Along with the Pan Horror Books, The Addams Family was my introduction to horror. And in The Addams Family's case, my introduction to quirky horror. My first weird influence. So Happy 100th, Mr. Addams.
In other news, Deborah Walker's story Chit Win is up at Daily Science Fiction. I'm going to save it for my Sunday morning read. Everyone should read a short story on a Sunday morning. And it's accompanied by stunning artwork by Alan Bao.
Over at Bloody Bookish, I'm this months' Into the Bloodlight author. They're hosting a competition where you can win either a signed hardback or a signed paperback of Theatre of Curious Acts. It's really easy to enter - you only have to comment. During the month there'll also be a guest post from me, an interview, and a review.
The guest blogs will continue on Monday (ooh, the suspense), but here is some linkage to any you may have missed:
Freedom at TTA Press
Inspiration at Deborah Walker's blog
January 6, 2012
The Travelling Theatrical Tour: Freedom
It's day two of the Travelling Theatrical Tour and the second stop on our journey is the Black Static Blog over at TTA Press.In today's post "The Travelling Theatrical Tour: Freedom" I talk about every procrastinating writer's best friend. Well my best friend. I hope you'll check it out.
Black Static (and its sister magazine Interzone) are two of my favourite magazines. In fact, my favourite short story of 2011 is Black Feathers by Alison Littlewood which appeared in issue 22. They've also published work by Ramsey Campbell, Ray Cluley, Simon Bestwick, Christopher Fowler, Simon Clark, Barbara A Barnett, Sarah Pinborough, Gary McMahon and a gazillion others. Though you probably already know that.
Note to self: subscription is due next month.
Many thanks to Peter Tennant who made the TTA visit possible. I'm a huge fan of Pete's personal blog - one of the funniest on the web. Or maybe I have a similar sense of humour. If you haven't got it bookmarked already, you should do so now.
In case it got lost in my ramble, the link to the guest blog: The Travelling Theatrical Tour: Freedom
Other stops on the blog tour:Inspiration at Deborah Walker's blog.
January 4, 2012
The Travelling Theatrical Tour: Inspiration
It's day one of the Travelling Theatrical Tour in which I travel across the superhighway to places wondrous and far and offer advice, inspiration and madness.First stop on the tour is Deborah Walker's blog with a post titled "The Travelling Theatrical Tour: Inspiration". Today we talk about titles and notebooks. I'm sure we all like notebooks. Although, I suspect some of you don't like them quite as much as I do.
I chose 'inspiration' as the topic for Deborah's blog as she inspires me. Deborah is a relentless creative genius who is racking up pro-pay acceptances. Two of the many are Ezra's Prophecy at Daily Science Fiction, and Looking Good at Cosmos Magazine. She also has a story forthcoming this Friday at Daily Science Fiction. As I said, racking them up.
I'd love it if you could read my guest blog and check out Deborah's work.
January 3, 2012
Cujo, Books & Touring
The year may be new but the chaos continues...
Thanks to gale force winds a portion of the garden fence came down overnight (again!) and we've had an Alsatian roaming our garden for most of the day. Gave my poor little mum an awful fright as it came bounding at her this morning. To make it even more annoying, it turns out our neighbour knew the fence had come down and went out leaving it to roam our garden because she didn't want it in her house. The air is several shades of blue.
My brother attempted to fix my office chair, because it has a weird tipping motion, only the fool that is me didn't check the chair until he'd left and now... It's determined to tip me all the way out. I'm sitting by the strength of my thigh muscles. They're going to be like steel by February.
Or not.
Some excellent 'other people' news. Remember those two books that I couldn't wait to read in 2012. Well, Alison Littlewood's 'A Cold Season' has made it onto Richard & Judy's book club list. If you're in the UK, then you know how huge that is. And, Simon Bestwick has super awesome news that is making him happy dance across Manchester. You can't say you weren't warned. (Sorry, dude)
My Travelling Theatrical Tour (to celebrate Theatre's release) starts tomorrow when I'll be heading over to Deborah Walker's blog. The second part of my blog journey will be at TTA Press on Friday courtesy of Peter Tennant. I'll be taking in various other sites across the month and I hope you'll follow my trail. I'll leave chocolate breadcrumbs.
Thanks to gale force winds a portion of the garden fence came down overnight (again!) and we've had an Alsatian roaming our garden for most of the day. Gave my poor little mum an awful fright as it came bounding at her this morning. To make it even more annoying, it turns out our neighbour knew the fence had come down and went out leaving it to roam our garden because she didn't want it in her house. The air is several shades of blue.
My brother attempted to fix my office chair, because it has a weird tipping motion, only the fool that is me didn't check the chair until he'd left and now... It's determined to tip me all the way out. I'm sitting by the strength of my thigh muscles. They're going to be like steel by February.
Or not.
Some excellent 'other people' news. Remember those two books that I couldn't wait to read in 2012. Well, Alison Littlewood's 'A Cold Season' has made it onto Richard & Judy's book club list. If you're in the UK, then you know how huge that is. And, Simon Bestwick has super awesome news that is making him happy dance across Manchester. You can't say you weren't warned. (Sorry, dude)
My Travelling Theatrical Tour (to celebrate Theatre's release) starts tomorrow when I'll be heading over to Deborah Walker's blog. The second part of my blog journey will be at TTA Press on Friday courtesy of Peter Tennant. I'll be taking in various other sites across the month and I hope you'll follow my trail. I'll leave chocolate breadcrumbs.
December 31, 2011
So Long 2011
I've completed all the work I need to complete in 2011. Or all the work I'm going to complete at any rate. I've spent the last few days redrafting blog posts for my Travelling Theatrical Tour which is coming to several blogs near you in January. Thanks to everyone who offered me a spot on their blogs. Much appreciated. And, I love you all. Well, most of you. Okay, some of you. (Don't want to scare off the blog hosts)
Tonight I shall watch Rise of the Planet of the Apes, maybe take the top off the bottle of wine in the fridge and sniff it, and then hopefully not drunk tweet. (Hey, I had Lucozade at work this week and nearly spun clean off my chair). No doubt I'll then jump into bed, grab a notebook and let that magical 'it's a new year' take over my senses for at least an hour and write, write, write. It really is the most magical time of the year (and we're all nuts for falling for it year after year after year). On that note, may you have many more years. 2012's End of the World - load of bollocks. I hope 2012 brings you everything you want. Unless you want the world to end that is.
I shall call a close to this year's bloggage with my favourite song of 2011...
Tonight I shall watch Rise of the Planet of the Apes, maybe take the top off the bottle of wine in the fridge and sniff it, and then hopefully not drunk tweet. (Hey, I had Lucozade at work this week and nearly spun clean off my chair). No doubt I'll then jump into bed, grab a notebook and let that magical 'it's a new year' take over my senses for at least an hour and write, write, write. It really is the most magical time of the year (and we're all nuts for falling for it year after year after year). On that note, may you have many more years. 2012's End of the World - load of bollocks. I hope 2012 brings you everything you want. Unless you want the world to end that is.
I shall call a close to this year's bloggage with my favourite song of 2011...
December 30, 2011
The Weaving of a Fictional Year
This year's fiction has included...
Sandstorm Monsters, Ghost Butterflies, a Paper Man
Lost People, Peeling Wallpaper, Messerschmitt Fighter Planes
Smelly Motels, a Terraced Street, Grandfathers
Broken Pocket Watch, a Goatish Man, Mysterious Doors
Empty Classrooms, An Imaginary Girl, Kidnap
Spiders, a Rag Doll, Sleepmakers
A Forgotten Clown, a Perfume Maker, Monstrous Words
Sea Shells, a Frozen Girl, Hellish Graffiti,
Fish, Bottles of Happiness, A Fleeing Preacher
An Empty Birdcage, Flies, Psychadelic Lollypops
Can't wait to see what this coming year brings.
Sandstorm Monsters, Ghost Butterflies, a Paper Man
Lost People, Peeling Wallpaper, Messerschmitt Fighter Planes
Smelly Motels, a Terraced Street, Grandfathers
Broken Pocket Watch, a Goatish Man, Mysterious Doors
Empty Classrooms, An Imaginary Girl, Kidnap
Spiders, a Rag Doll, Sleepmakers
A Forgotten Clown, a Perfume Maker, Monstrous Words
Sea Shells, a Frozen Girl, Hellish Graffiti,
Fish, Bottles of Happiness, A Fleeing Preacher
An Empty Birdcage, Flies, Psychadelic Lollypops
Can't wait to see what this coming year brings.
December 28, 2011
Everything but the End of the World
Things to look forward to in 2012...
Is it here yet?
Is it here yet?
