Mark West's Blog, page 86

I'm writing!

I've just this minute sent off my finished short, for consideration in the NewCon press anthology and I'm basking in the glow that comes from having worked the story up, written it, got some critiques and completed three drafts, in a week. That's the kind of speed I thought I'd left behind in the early noughties, so I'm taking it as a sign that joining the Northampton SF Writers Group was a great

I'm chuffed!

Had an email today from the wonderful Mick Curtis, who's just read "In The Rain With The Dead". He wrote - and I quote - 'I loved it! I liked the characters so much that several times I was tempted to look at the end of the book to see if they'd be ok or not'.This has really pleased me. Writers mostly work in a vacuum - you write the story, sell it (hopefully) and then, later on, it gets

Wahey

I've done it! The first draft of my as-yet-untitled short story is now completed - over 8,200 words in three days (thank you, Alison & Dude, for giving me the time)! 2nd draft starts tomorrow, then to the pre-readers and hopefully to Ian by the end of the week (or weekend, more than likely).Heidi Klum (see the video post entry from earlier) seems chuffed for me too!Below is a picture of the

"Just Walking The Dog"

I've just found out that an old story of mine - "Just Walking The Dog" - is still floating about online. I originally wrote this back in the late 80s, then revised it for publication in the late 90s. It was also the story I read as my introduction to the Kettering Writers Workshop, in 1999.With that warning suitably made, here's an old story of mine - very much a monster tale!http://

Heidi Klum - hmmmm, nice

It's been a while since I posted a video and so here we go - a very nice lady, in her skimpies, doing an homage to a film I really like. Ignore that it's for a video game, won't you?

From a work in progress...

On Wednesday, I became a fully fledged member of the Northampton SF Writers Group, as run by the esteemed Ian's Watson and Whates.I've joined the group because I realise I need a helping hand (or shove, depending on your politeness level) to get cracking with the writing again. I need the interaction, I need to hear other people talk about writing, I need to listen to people discuss the craft (

"The Empire Strikes Back" (at 30)

Tonight, Alison & I watched "The Empire Strikes Back", as it was released 30 years ago. It hasn't been that long since I saw it last (perhaps a year or so), but I thought it was absolutely bloody brilliant. Everything about it is top class, it was virtually faultess.Re-watch it for yourself, you'll be glad you did.

Good news - "Up For Anything" is coming again, soon!

In time for FantasyCon, all being well!

Pretty Little Dead Things, by Gary McMahon

This is not due to be published until November, by Angry Robot Books, but I read this as Gary wanted me to crit its follow-up ("Dead Bad Things"). I've been desperate to yell about this novel (and another one coming soon, called "The End", which is - quite literally - a superb piece of horror fiction) for some time and now, finally, I can.Thomas Usher can see ghosts and it's his job to try and

"Falling Angel/Heart"

As my next project involves a private detective (though one based in the UK) and the supernatural, I decided to re-read "Falling Angel", by William Hjortsberg. Enjoying it, over the weekend, Alison & I watched "Angel Heart", the 1987 film written for the screen and directed by Alan Parker. This is my review of the book, which I've posted at Goodreads:In 1959 New York, Harry Angel is hired by the