Here comes the sun

The sun is shining today and all the colours have intensified. I feel like a feather gyrating on the breeze or a tiny downy seed pod from a dandelion blowing this way and that.

I can't settle.

I'm flitting from writing to reading to listening to music to wanting to nap to yearning to go for a walk and explore the fairy paths on the first dry day since I've been here.

A drum beat at the back of my mind beats out the ticking clock and tells me I don't have much time left here.

I'm sure I'll come down to earth soon.

Conversations with my Characters

As you know Fluffy was hanging around yesterday raining on my parade. As I sat at the laptop watching my words turn into sludge and dribble off the screen a funny thing happened. Fored leaned out of the computer and took my hand.
'How long have we known each other?' he said.
'Er, I don't know, eighteen years or so.'
'And do you trust me?'
'Gosh Fored, you're my character, you're a figment of my...'
'I think after all this time you should know me well enough to trust me.'
'Ok.'
'So let me tell the story, it is my story after all.'
'But what if it's no good?'
Fored shrugged.
'I'm only a character. It's your job to make it good.'
And so the writing flowed from that. I had worried that it was too stilted and fantasy-ish (if you know what I mean) and Fored took care of that. Everytime I slipped back into lyrical prose and thee and thou dialogue he would put up his hand and say
'Hang on a minute, that didn't happen.'
So writing went well yesterday. I might be crazy but I'm happy.

The clouds are attacking!

The rain has taken the mountains.

I woke up this morning and thought it was an hour earlier than it was because the day was so dark. During the night the wind and the rain crept in on tigers feet and Vaseline coated my view into a soft focus starletts face with the ocean and mountains obscured, although I can still hear the waves.

I read some of my stuff to my companions last night. It was scary because I've never really done that before but they liked it.

Fluffy, my dark cloud, is back over my head today. I hope I can wring all of her misery into some killer writing.

For those who asked, Jack is a tiny wire coated jack Russell terrier. He is very friendly and cute and if he wasn't kept away from me I would play and talk with him all day. He was born under a wandering star (like Lee Marvin) and spent his early years living with different families in Eyeries under different names until he wandered up the hill one day and chose Anam Cara as his home.

Today I am listening to Regina Spektor's song, Edit. I like it because it seems particularly apt today. I feel the line 'You can write but you can't edit' applies.

The book I am reading this week

Is my own!

I wrote some blurbs before I started writing the book to help me focus my mind. Here is one of them:-

A slain king and a country at war, but the rightful heir has fled with his loyal companions and seeks refuge in the lands beyond the sea.

An island of power and magic, the prison for a creature from the stars who seeks to escape and get revenge on the peope who put it there.

A young man who wants to escape from the responsibility of the life he has left behind but discovers that he must face his enemies if he is to survive, and save the world too.

My companions are not fans of fantasy or well versed in speculative fiction, but they are interested in my work. It is a very international house at the moment. I represent Ireland, the other writer is from the U.K, our host is from the U.S and her friend is German.

There are books everywhere in the house. They line the corridors and are over the bed in my room. I think the fact there are so many is one of the reasons I felt so at home the moment I walked through the door. Even though the people don't know my genre, my old friends were waiting in my room to greet me:- Tolkien, Bradbury, Conan Doyle, Douglas Preston. Odd Thomas was already smiling welcome from the shelves, and so was Jimmy Tock unfortunately (but I don't have to talk to him).

Writing went well yesterday. I got the prologue done - lots of killing, so I'm happy with that - and started the first chapter where I introduced the hero Fored. I first wrote this book when I was a child so revisiting it makes me feel like a 12 year old again, but in a good way.

We watched a movie last night, Tropic Thunder, which wasn't my companions cup of tea. I am told there are 700 movies in the house. From what I have seen while browsing the shelves they are all romantic comedies. I might just evaporate in a puff of smoke like the witch in the Wizard of Oz when she had a bucket of water thrown over her. I can take rom coms but only with a healthy dose of horror afterwards to take away the sickly sweetness.

It is cold today and the clouds are rolling over the mountains down to the sea covering everything in fog. My window is misted up and I can't see my lovely view. Maybe just as well, I've writing to do.

Thank you for the lovely comments. Keep writing them. Anon, the food is really good, thanks. Shadowthorne, stop trying to get me to sleep and not write, I'm having a hard enough time battling narcalepsy as it is. :) Everyone else, thanks.

For anyone who is interested, my favourite Regina Spektor song today is Apres Moi because it has a nice Russian feel to it.

Anam Cara

Greetings from Eyeries on the Beara Penninsula in County Cork! As I write this I am sitting at my desk looking out over rolling green hills that sweep down to the ocean. Mist covered mountains rise mysteriously out of the sea, like new ideas from my imagination and I can hear the roar of the waves as I watch huge breakers beating against the land.

Yes, I'm feeling inspired!

I felt like I was back in New Zealand yesterday as I drove through the Mountains near Kenmare. Every new twist and climb of the road revealed snow capped peaks and wide lakes on either side of the road. It was breathtaking.

The people at the retreat are very friendly and welcoming. There is just myself and one other writer as well as the woman who runs the centre and her friend. They immediately made me feel at home.

The house is fab nestled on five acres of fairy tale paths winding through the woods and fields and there is a river too. There are also ducks and hens and a little dog called jack.

The only problem (and perhaps it is a good thing) is that the Internet access is seven euro an hour for dial up connection and even my trusty iPhone is struggling to get not only a consistent signal but any signal at all. I had hoped to vblog but that is out of the question. I'm writing this on my phone and hoping to get it uploaded some time today. Because of the connection problems I might be able to read comments but not reply so I apologize for the rather one sided communication over the next few days.

I'm off to start on my novel now. I'm feeling very excited about it.

Oh, and SsQuo - I received your commands yesterday and obeyed. I listened to Regina Spektor over and over again for the full six hours of my journey. I can't say which is my favourite song because I love all of them for different reasons, but I am going to say That Time is the one I like best today for the way she says 'so cheap and juicy' :)

Writing Retreat

I'm going on a writing holiday, no more working for a day or two.

Hang on, that's wrong. I'll be working all week! But I'll be having fun as well!

Thanks to my wonderful, supportive, loving family (who I don't thank enough) I'm winging my way to Co. Cork to the Anam Cara Writing Retreat for seven days of dedicated writing and relaxation. My plan is to start work on my first novel of 2009, working title 'The Bobbit', which is set in my fantasy world of Reath and is an origin tale of sorts for the different creatures that dwell there. I first wrote it when I was twelve and it wasn't bad, but I want to update it, polish it and send it out to publishers. I'm hoping the retreat will help me get the tone right from the beginning.

Because I am going on a week long writer out and about I thought I would take a break from my regular routine and chronicle my week on the blog. I am hoping to vblog every day about my progress, but if I don't have the Internet connection for that, I will text blog.

I start off my week with a six hour drive to get to the retreat centre. I'm looking forward to it because a) I have never driven to Cork before and I'm looking forward to the achievement of completing the drive and finding my way on my own and b) I am going to use the drive to help clear my mind of the everyday clutter and focus on the project that lies ahead. I love driving on my own - good tunes on the radio, the wind blowing in my hair (or the air conditioning),the feel of the steering wheel against my palms, the countryside blurring past my windows.

Here is to a week of adventure and productivity!

P.S Just heard my flash 'Death's Girlfriend' (inspired by a dream - first hand experience that my writing exercise last week works!) has been accepted for publication in Sonar 4's Anthology of Horror and Science Fiction Flash due out in June. Yay! What a good start to the week.

Sunday Toon

Another oldie. These are a set of animations I did back in 2004. I put them together and added some music. They look quite cute.

DIY Downsize: Week Two

I had a very busy week this week and unfortunately both my downsizing and my record of downsizing suffered. I did climb a lot of stairs though and I have begun to notice my clothes getting looser, especially around my waist, which is a good thing. A bit disappointing there is still no change in my weight, but the inches are continuing to come off and my body fat percentage to come down.

I'm going to a writer's retreat this week and it will be interesting to see how my downsizing gets on.

Anyway, here is my week in a rather boring video. Enjoy.

Acceptance is a Wonderful Thing

I received some good news recently. Two of my stories are going to appear in The Drabbler #13.

I am pleased that the good people over at samsdotpublishing accepted not one, but two of my stories for their publication. I am also overjoyed to have a story featured in both The Drabbler #12 and The Drabbler #13.

The Drabbler #13 is due out in March. The theme is Alien Magic. Start saving your pennies.

Poetry Corner

I thought I would post some poetry today. Many years ago Hoofpot and I decided to write a book of donkey poems. Some of the poems were good, some were not so good, but one stood out head and shoulders above the rest. I have never forgotten it and I often think of it in times when I'm feeling down. Here it is in its entirety. I hope you enjoy it.

My Father, The Donkey

by School Girl

Of all the donkeys ever

My father was the best.

He didn't wear a three piece suit,

He didn't wear a vest,

He never started work on time,

He never knew if it would rain or shine,

And if you put every farmer in a line

They would all confirm he was a pest.

*

My father had a favourite quote,

And that was - men are cruel.

And so he did his very best

To save me from their school.

Instead he taught me how to play,

To kick up my heels most of the day,

To give the very loudest bray

And to break almost every rule.

*

My father lived a happy life,

Waving his great big ears.

And he doesn't give a toss

That he's the cause of many heart felt tears.

Of farmers who have bought him,

Of mares that loved and lost him,

Not a thought have they cost him,

Through his fun filled years.

The Book I am Reading This Week

This is the fourth installment in the Odd Thomas series by Dean Koontz. In the first two books Odd was a humble fry cook in a diner in Pico Mundo, haunted by Elvis and greeted daily by ghosts, bodachs (evil creatures) and bad guys. In the third book, Brother Odd, he moved to a monastery to find peace but instead found evil in a new guise as well as new friends and companions. In Odd Hours, he has moved again to a small town on the Californian coast called Magic Beach, where he cooks for an old actor and gets caught up in a web of mystery, magic and murder.

I love Dean Koontz and among all his works the Odd series is my favourite. I devoured the previous three books in one sitting. However, I am struggling to get into Odd Hours. I was very disappointed by Dean's last couple of books and it seems that Odd Hours is following the trend. All I can hope is that the next three books in the series (yes, he has said there will be seven) will improve and reach the heights that Odd Thomas and Brother Odd achieved.

Writer Out and About

This week I choose Cafe Anne in the Carroll Village Shopping Centre, Dundalk. I pass it every week going grocery shopping, so it was nice to actually go into it for a change. It has the ever so slight feel of a greasy spoon with plastic table clothes and rather depressed workers. However, my malteaser cheesecake was excellent and the latte hit the spot. I found a quiet table out of the flow of action and settled in for some work. They were playing the greatest hits of Westlife, so I was doubly glad to have my iphone with me (I don't like Westlife). There were a lot of workmen at the other tables eating hearty breakfasts of sausage, egg, beans and black pudding. Strangely enough I found it had a much more relaxing atmosphere than my choice for last week. Go figure.

I took with me this week... (gosh, I really have to shake this list up; I'm thinking of wearing a clown suit next week, or bringing a placard that reads 'Writer At Work' to put on the table)

1. The loose change that is all I have left from my Christmas budget

2. My Mary Poppins bag that holds everything

3. Iphone (duh)

4. Pen, paper, yada yada yada.

Writing Exercise #9

This week's exercise is about how dreams can inspire your writing.

Dreams have always inspired my writing - whether they gave me a plot, a character or an atmosphere to recreate, they are woven through much of my work. I also have notebooks full of interesting dreams that I have written down to use when the time is right.

Have you had an interesting dream recently? Perhaps you had a dream years ago that has stuck in your memory. Even a nightmare can inspire writing.

The exercise is to write down a dream you remember clearly, making a point to highlight the part of the dream that struck you as most important.

After you have done that, read what you have written and structure a story from the inspiration your dream has given you. Remember your story can be as short as 50 words!

When you have finished your story, read it and the dream again to see how similar or different they are.

I don't expect you to post your dreams or stories in the comment section, but if you did the exercise, I would love to hear how you got on.

Sunday Toon

Raiding the archives again this week. This picture is titled 'Flying under the influence'. It is a picture of a Pegasus who had a little too much to drink and is finding it hard to get home. Why should drunken behaviour be limited to humans?

DIY Downsize: Week One

Here is my week in three minutes. Enjoy!

My first week of the DIY Downsize Me Challege didn't go as well as I had hoped but didn't go too badly either, so here is to week two!

On a side note, thank you to everyone who took the time to leave such excellent comments on my post yesterday. I really appreciate it. It has given me a lot of food for thought.

Have a good weekend!

Inky's note: I'm sorry that this post is so late. I spent the whole of Saturday trying to upload the video and failing. Better late than never! :)

2009 Blog Improvement Project

I stumbled upon the 2009 Blog Improvement Project while browsing Deb's blog. The project is the brain child of Kim and the aim is to have an improved blog by 31st December 2009. To facilitate this, Kim will set two tasks a month to help towards improving your blog with different tasks focusing on goal setting, writing better content, building community with readers, getting more readers, and blog layout and design. Participants can choose which tasks they want to complete and are encouraged to blog about the tasks they do, linking their posts back to the BIP site.

My first thought when reading about the project was 'What a good idea.' My second thought was 'I won't sign up, I'm happy with the way the Inkpot Files is.' However, the more I thought about it the more I thought the Files could do with some improvement. It is good to want to improve things, after all, and I'm all for having a better blog come 31st December (whatever that might mean). So I signed up.

The first task is Setting Goals.

If you had asked me last week what my goals for my blog were I would have said:-

1. To post everyday and

2. To get more readers.

However, after reading the very useful articles Kim linked to on BIP, I now have more lofty aspirations. So lofty, in fact, that they fill up pages and pages of A4 paper. I won't post them here because they would take up too much room and bore you, but I will list some of the projects I plan to implement to improve my blog.

1. Design a personalised banner for the Inkpot Files.

2. Do research into blog promotion.

3. Introduce guest blogging.

4. Write more about my writing, the writing process, agents and publishing.

5. Review works by up and coming authors.

6. Showcase the work of and/or interview up and coming writers and people in the writing industry.

7. Do more vblogging with book trailers, interviews and sketches to amuse, entertain and inform.

These are some of my ideas for improvement. Now I want to know what you think. Is there anything you would like to see on The Inkpot Files? Anything you want to stop seeing? I'd love to hear your thoughts on the matter.

RIP Patrick McGoohan

Patrick McGoohan was born on the 19th March 1928 in the U.S but grew up in Co. Leitrim in Ireland and later in England. He always identified himself as being Irish. He started his acting career on the stage before moving to TV. In the sixties he starred in the British tv series Danger Man as secret agent John Drake. The series was very successful and broke the US market under the name of Secret Agent Man. After Danger Man, McGoohan went on to write, direct and star in The Prisoner, about ex-secret agent No.6 who is held captive in the nightmarish 'village'. It is the role he will be best remembered for. Due to the success of The Prisoner he moved to L.A where he lived for the rest of his life. In the seventies and eighties his most notable acting appearances were in detective series Columbo. At one time he was tipped to take over the title role from Peter Falk. More recently he appeared as Long Shanks in Braveheart and as Billy Zane's father in The Phantom. He retired from show business in 2002. Among parts he turned down were Simon Templar in the tv series 'The Saint', James Bond, Gandalf in 'The Lord of the Rings' and Dumbledore in the Harry Potter movies. He died on Tuesday 13th January aged 80. He is survived by his wife Joan, three children and five grandchildren.

Rest in peace Paddy.

Patrick McGoohan was on my list of people that I would like to meet/contact. However, I never wrote to him although I meant to many times. Now it is to late. I must write to the other people on my list before it is too late. Do you have a list of people you would like to meet? Who is on it?

The Book I am Reading This Week

The back of the book proclaims it 'attacks all the religious explanations of faith... undermines the idea of sexual relations based on jealousy... pokes a bitter satirical finger at the materialists and politicians.'

Sounds fun.

The front says (on my version anyway) 'the most famous science fantasy novel of all time.'

True.

I like Heinlein, I do (I have to say that or the League of Science Fiction Fans will get me) and I particularly enjoyed The Puppet Masters and Starship Troopers. However, The Moon is a Harsh Mistress I didn't like quite so much. The book was very well written but I felt that story line and character were pushed aside in favour of Heinlein's views and I am not a fan of books that do this. If there is a message - and really, what book doesn't have one of some sort? - I prefer it to be subtly written into the plot rather than the novel being used as a soap box for the author. And yes, I like action in books. If I want to read about philosophy and politics I will read a non fiction book, magazine or newspaper.

With that in mind, I feel I am obliged to read this book because it is so famous. I find the language quite dated and while I'm sure it was ground breaking in the sixties, parts of it seem quaint by today's standards. However, I am being entertained (so far).

Writer Out and About

This week I went to Mizu. It is a sophisticated cafe in the basement and a luxury spa on the upper floors. The food is very nice and gives the illusion of being healthy. As you can see the decor is relaxed and almost homelike. I had lunch in Mizu a while ago and liked the place and that was why I choose it for writing this week. Oddly enough, I didn't find it a good place to write. I couldn't find any crannies to hide in and I wasn't as relaxed as I have been in my other haunts. Just goes to show.

I took with me this week paper, pen - oh, you know the list.

Writing Exercise #8

Think of your favourite character and/or world from fiction. It can be from a book, graphic novel, tv show or movie.

Now write a short piece using that character and/or world.

I don't mean fanfic. No stories about the firefly class spaceship Serenity stopping by your house to pick you up for adventures with Captain Malcolm Reynolds (or is that only my fanfic story?).

Ahem.

Anyway. Write the piece portraying the character and/or world as accurately to the source material as possible. This will make you appreciate how well written the original character is and the tricks the author used to make the character fleshed out, 3 dimensional and likable.

And remember - this story is for your personal writing file. I don't want to encourage anyone to be a plagiarist. :)

Sunday (Not) Toon

No Sunday Toon this week ( I know, I know) but I thought you might find this as entertaining as I did. I was watching Chuck and he was wearing the t-shirt pictured above (ok, not this t-shirt but one very like it) and I thought 'I want one of those'. The floppy disc reads 'my entire life'. After watching the episode I went on line to find it and find it I did, along with many other cool Chuck themed tees at CafePress. After browsing their catalogue I think this has now jumped to the top of my 'I want' list.


For more Chuck inspired fashion and other t-shirt extravaganza, check out Cafe Press (they didn't pay me for a promotion or nothink!). While you're there check out their Firefly designs too. They have some shiny ones. :)

Vblogging has arrived!

There is a television programme in New Zealand called Downsize Me. Each week an expert in nutrition and one in fitness help a different person slim down and shape up over an eight week period. I have decided to do my own DIY downsize me challenge over the next eight weeks and vblog about my progress here every Saturday. My goal is to lose 8kg, but more importantly to get back into regular exercise and a healthy eating pattern. If you have any suggestions, please let me know. I started today with a 45 min walk on the beach with Janna (and a video of Blackrock beach to prove I was there). It was a hard 45 minutes - I really have got very out of shape - but I feel better for having done it.

The Don't Wants versus The Wants

For most of my life I have focused very much on what I don't want - where I don't want to be, what I don't want to be like, what I don't want to do, etc. - and given very little thought to what I DO want. Those who believe in the Law of Attraction would say that doing this has kept me in the position I am in. By focusing on the things I don't want to be, I have actually been spending time and energy keeping those very things attached to me. I think it is time for a change. I'm changing the old mental tape (it really should be mp3 by now) and making sure I am looking towards what I do want. Let's see if it works.

Inkpot Forecast

Current Forecast


08 January 2009 11:36

Today

Very cloudy at first with a deep to severe depression, some pockets of self loathing, and some icy patches of conversation. The clouds will clear gradually to give another dark, unfulfilled day with the possibility of creative pieces developing later on.

Tonight

Activities tonight might lead to a break in the clouds, but expect more storm clouds to draw in around midnight with some self recrimination, some harsh judgement and depressive thoughts leading to lack of sleep.

The Book I am Reading This Week

Unless you've been living under a stone for the last thirty-something odd years you can't have missed hearing about Anne Rice and her vampire revolution in some shape or form. This book, about the life story of morose, pretentious so called vampire Louis introduced Ms Rice's most famous vampire - Lestat - and catapulted her into the public imagination.

Vampires have never been the same since.

Whether you have read the book, seen the film or come in contact with the thousands of spin off clones (be it Laurell K Hamilton, Christopher Pike, Darren Shan, Stephanie Meyer or any of the thousands of vampire writers out there) you cannot have failed to notice that vampires are no longer the enemy. They have gone from demons that possess the bodies of the dead and use every trick in the book to not only suck our blood but steal our soul to a creature just like us - except stronger, faster, sexier and, er, immortal.

Vampire rights and calling for their integration into everyday society has become a strong trend in modern books and tv shows about vampires. Having a vampire boyfriend is now so common it is almost expected. The vampire has become our cuddly friend - ostracized, misunderstood and marginalised. In all respects they have become defanged, no longer a threat to our own immortality. A domesticated monster made fat and friendly by our fascination for the macabre.

As you can tell I dislike this tame kind of vampire who usually has long curly hair and wears crushed velvet suits with frilly shirts. I like my vampires to be monsters. They should be scary, lethal, unquestionably evil and attractive in the way that jumping off a cliff or sticking your fingers into an electrical socket can appear to be. I am reading this book because it is so famous and I thought it might help me to understand why the enemy has now become our best friend. I am finding it hard going however.

Writer Out and About

This week I travelled to the scenic town of Carlingford. It is funny, but living in Ireland I sometimes forget how beautiful the country really is. A trip out to Carlingford and I remember. It was a cold day, but very sunny. I'm afraid my photographs don't do the loch justice. It looked much nicer in reality. Because of the weather I didn't get much writing done, but I did do some thinking and plotted out a story I am going to write this week, so it was worth the journey.

I brought with me:-

1. My car (too far to walk!)

2. My trusty notepad

3. A nice inky black pen

4. Too few clothes for writing outdoors in Ireland in January

Writing Exercise #7

Today is...

This is a handy technique I discovered on Erica Hanson's blog for writers, readers and educators. What you do is take five minutes out of your day to write a paragraph on what 'today is'. You can write about your feelings, your surroundings, things that happened or will happen. You should focus on the five senses - remember to describe the colour, taste, smell, sound and texture of the day. Don't over think your paragraph either. Write it down as fast as you can.

If you keep a journal this is a wonderful place to put your 'Today is' thoughts, but typing it on your computer, into your phone or scribbling it on the back of a napkin works just as well.

My advice is to get a really pretty notebook, with a soft leather or fabric cover and crisp white pages. Write your entry in every day with a black ink pen. Over time you will have a lovely collection of thoughts that capture who you were at that moment. To make it extra special, write your 'Today is' paragraph at the start of the day at the top of the page and in the evening write three things that happened that day which you are grateful for at the bottom of the page. At the end of the year you will be able to look back and see how you have changed over twelve months.

Tell me what your day is like for you today. Is it full of velvet promise, or is it foggy with skunk rich activities? I look forward to reading about them in the comments section.

Sunday Toon

Gosh, this picture is so old! It is from when I was a good little artist and used to post pictures regularly to my Elfwood account. I titled it 'Lost'. Mrs Penguin is giving out to Mrs Penguin - 'What,you had the map UPSIDE DOWN?' Somehow they ended up in the north pole instead of the south. Lucky for them that polar bear looks like he will help them out. A blast from the past I thought you might like to see (acrylic on paper 2004).

Positive Thinking

The song says it all - accentuate the positive, eliminate the negative.

As a chronically negative person I find this very difficult. It is funny, I have no problem telling myself a hundred times a day how horrible I am, but when I try to tell myself I'm good at something, it sounds false. I think the negative 'affirmations' only sound genuine because they are so familiar.

Anyway, who wants to have anything to do with a sorry sack? Putting myself down isn't going to get me anywhere. I know I said I wasn't going to make any New Year's resolutions, and I'm not, but I am going to try and be more positive about things.

What do you do to keep positive, or do you think looking on the bright side is overrated?

2009

I decided not to do a review of last year because as far as I'm concerned I've put a big lid on 2008, sealed it up tight and hidden it away in the vault only to be taken out when I can say 'Gosh, remember when I used to think things were bad in 2008? I didn't know how lucky I was!'

With that in mind, I am looking ahead to the bright shiny New Year. I have already started the year with my micro tale 'The Vilage Shop' appearing in Necrotic Tissue and I can look forward to another micro appearing in 52 Stitches in the summer, which is two publications greater than I have EVER started a year with and is unbelievably awesome. I also have a writing retreat to look forward to later on in the year, and a niece and nephew on the way, so things are looking good already.

I don't want to make resolutions because they are too vague and ephemeral to keep to. Instead I'm going to set myself goals for each month.

My goals for January are very writing orientated:-

Get my story submissions up to 30 (currently at 17)

Finish Miranda's Maze

Write an outline for a fantasy novel

Read up to ten books or magazines

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Welcome to 2009! A New Year and a new Inkpot! My green fur and grumpy mood has gone. I can safely say I have suffered the last of my grinchitious (although I'm still coughing a bit). The New Year has started on a high point for me with the release of the latest issue of Necrotic Tissue featuring my micro fiction 'The Vilage Shop'. Check it out (it's on page 65). What's even better is that Valinora Troy's story 'Reflections' also appears on the very same page! In case you didn't know, she's my sister, so not only do we appear in the same publication but on the very same page! Well done Valpot. Ok, I think I have used up my quota of exclamation marks for the year. I'll be back later to talk about New Year resolutions and predictions. I hope you are all enjoying the beginning of 2009. Ah, smell that new born air.