Rounding out a good year

December with all of its Christmas cheer has been a great month for me, writing-wise. I made my first US sale with my short story Decky's Plight set to appear in the special monster issue of Black Ink Horror (September 07), my story Knightsbrea was one of the 4 finalists in the December competition at Spinetingers and will be published on their website on January 1st, and... I completed the final edit of my novel! Finished it yesterday, actually, witing the words 'THE END' at about 7pm last night.

Then I indulged in a couple of glasses of wine :)

I spoke about my novel to me wifey on the drive home from Newcastle on Christmas evening, and we devised a - what I believe - brilliant story arc, one in which I can develop a number of books, not necessarily sequels but linked adventures in an interesting world. The idea is based around a blend of science fiction and horror, so I'm pretty excited about starting work on the next book...

For now, make sure you check out Spinetingers on January 1st for my story, Knightsbrea.

Nothing Beats the Classics!

I've managed - somehow - to watch a number of old, classic sci-fi/horror movies during the past week without really trying, and it's been great!

The Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954) was on tele over the weekend, and y'know, for an old flick, it was pretty darn good. Then Invasion of the Body Snatchers was on, only this wasn't the original but the 1978 version with Donald Sutherland - still pretty cool. A work colleague lent me Forbidden Plant (1956), so that was Monday night's viewing and again, pretty enjoyable for an old movie. This was followed up with The Day of the Triffids (1962) last night (Tuesday), and although this differs somewhat from John Wyndham's book, it wasn't too bad. I think I'm a fan of the 1981 TV series more so than this film, though.

I wonder why no one has remade The Day of the Triffids?

A fellow writer friend of mine just informed me that next week on the ABC, we've got Invaders from Mars (1953) on Tuesday, then The Thing from Another World (1951, remade as The Thing by John Carpenter in 1982), followed afterwards with The Body Snatcher (1945, starring Boris Karlof). The Body Snatcher isn't related to Invasion of the Body Snatchers, but it should make for some great late night viewing!!

Bring on the classics, I say!

Hurtling towards the End

Darkling Muse is dragging me on, hauling me towards the end without regard to my welfare. All he can see is the finished book, now only 34 pages away. We've scaled 83,000 words thus far, and the dark fellow has assured me of a few more before we're done...

He is an extremely hard man to please, demanding the best and then demanding even better. When I think we've reached the stage where things cannot possibly be improved upon, he thrusts English Grammar books at me and threatens all sorts of meanies if I don't take heed.

You are never good enough, says the Sideshow Fellow. And who am I to argue? He controls the visions, the views of this dark world; I am merely his outlet.

One day I'm going to get one over on him. One day, he's going to get his come-uppance....