Mark West's Blog, page 89

All That Mullarkey, by Sue Moorcroft

On Saturday, Matthew & I went along to Waterstones in Kettering to see my old critiquing partner Sue Moorcroft, who was having a signing there. Her latest book - "All That Mullarkey" - has just been published by ChocLit and it's wonderful - I'd go so far as to say it's my favourite book of hers to date (I read it in draft, some time ago) and I'm really looking forward to getting into it again.Sue

And we find ourselves here...

"david & the clowns" is almost done now – I've read it to Alison, picked up on some stupid little mistakes and I've got good feedback from my pre-readers (thank you, one and all) – and it should be winging its way to its intended market tomorrow. Which leaves me with a clear plate, writing-wise and I'm eager to capitalise on my new-found enthusiasm, drive and creative vigour. Which means only one

Coming very soon...

WHERE THE HEART ISA GUIDED TOUR OF BRITISH HORROR - edited by Gary FryTake an alternative tour of Great Britain…Writers are often told to write about what they know best . . . and what do they know better than their own homes? In this anthology, 19 fine authors of dark fiction reveal some of the less palatable elements of their native environments.There's blood where the heart is.Much

I'm in marketing - or, at least, the 3 year old version of me is!

I got a copy of "Generations" in the post today, a new marketing booklet from FordDirect that collects together car-related memories and is illustrated throughout with old photographs. The reminisces make for a nice read – my favourite is the lady who fondly remembers "doing all the things I no longer approve of in my Escort XR3i" – and the pictures are, on the whole, wonderful reminders of

Me & Dad, at Kidsplay

We had Matthew's 5th birthday party at Kidsplay and, after the kids were done with the climbing wall, Dad & I decided to have a go.We both got to the top easily enough but then we couldn't figure out how to get back down. So I let go…The video isn't brilliant quality, but the ending's funny

Happy Birthday!

5 years ago today, my little Dude was born and the first time I saw him, I was struck by an intense feeling of love and protectiveness and a terrifying sense that I had no idea what to do. 5 years later, I have exactly the same feelings but we're both still here and loving life, so each of us is obviously doing something right!He's clever, funny as hell, has a wonderful laugh, cares about people

So, where're you from (and other cheesy chat-up lines)?

There's a little freebie-web-counter attached to this page, which I check occasionally and it lists the location people are looking at the site from (not addresses, which'd be great, wouldn't it? The last person who clicked lives at 123 Mornington Crescent, here's a picture of his house on Google streetmap).Anyway, I checked it this evening just to have a look and was quite surprised at what came

Goodbye then, Gene Genie

"Ashes To Ashes" finished tonight, with a beautifully written, superbly played, poignant episode. I'd guessed, pretty much, what Gene's role was but it was so much more than I'd thought. As for Keats, both Alison & I cheered when Gene punched him (and I wondered if, for a moment or two, we were going to see horns sprout out of his temples).Great to see Nelson and the pub again and the fate of the

The art of "unsee"-ing

I write horror, so I obviously enjoy the genre and I take a lot of enjoyment from it as a consumer - reading and films and some glorious soundtracks - and, in general, I don't like censorship. I understand its importance, of course, because I have a little boy who's almost five and very inquisitive and would love to read Daddy's Fangoria. He knows about horror, because I've told him things that I

Interview, by Gregg Winkler

Over on the Random page (it used to be called Gallery, but isn't now), I've just posted an interview Gregg Winkler undertook with me, back in April 2007. It originally appeared on his 9fingers Live Journal.We discuss plenty of things (including "Conjure" which, as it turned out, was another two years away from publication), mess around and have a laugh. It's good fun - check it out.This is a