I'm Back

Hi all, I'm back in sunny Ireland. Our plane arrived in Gatwick last night at about 10.30. We had a long wait in Gatwick airport and the Monster and I passed the time with making lists (the 32 counties, the 12 apostles, things like that) and then watched Dawn of the Dead (the remake) on the Monster's laptop (which I love and want to steal). Valpot very kindly picked us up at the airport and drove the Monster home. I picked up my car and drove back to Blackrock and arrived home about 1am, then with saying hello to Janna and settling in, I didn't get to bed until 3am so I am tired today! Went for a long walk on the beach with Janna in the evening. It was really warm and sunny and the beach was very sandy (unusual for Blackrock beach which is usually very wet). There were loads of people out on the beach with their kids. Janna and I walked down to the sea and paddled for ages. The sea looked horrible - there were big foaming lumps washing into shore as if someone had put washing up powder in the water - but felt wonderful. I will probably die of some mysterious illness in the next few days for paddling in it. If Dr House sees me, tell him about the polluted water, ok? When we crossed the river it got very deep and Janna was afraid to come after me, so she kept running up and down with the ball in her mouth looking anxious. On the other side the sand was very mucky and as I climbed out of the water I started sinking. I kept on thinking it would level out, but when I sank to my knees I began to wonder if I would continue sinking all the way to my neck. Fighting back panic and an uncontrollable urge to laugh (possibly because it reminded me of a similar instance with Hoofpot and I when I was a child) I said a quick prayer and managed to pull myself out. There were loads of people about and I had my phone with me so I wouldn't have been stuck for help, but the indignity of being pulled out of the mud forced me to try and extricate myself. It was a nice walk, despite the adventures, and possibly a bit much for Janna who collapsed as soon as we got home. I even thought it would have been nice to go swimming in the sea today - what has come over me?

More Photos of Funchal

We spent the day in Funchal today, here are some more photos of what the Monster and I got up to. This is the Marina in Funchal. This was the view from our favourite restaurant on the pier. The town was very busy today - probably because it was Saturday. It was a surprise though because there were other people in our restaurant when we got there! It was a shock, much like the shock when we went down to the hotel gym and pool this morning and found other people there. The Monster and I were outraged! The problem with the restaurant having other people meant that we got a new waiter - a rather bored, surly young man with poor English. However, our very sweet young female waitress happened to be there also and remembered our order and made sure we got the usual.
The Monster striking a pose on the walkway boardering the marina.
This is a restaurant where the tables are on little boats. We never ate there, but I like the concept. Right next door is another restaurant, which is a boat that plays Beatles songs all the time.
We decided to take the cable car that runs from Funchal to the top of Madeira. This is the Monster in the cable car as we zoomed over Funchal. Notice all the red roofs.
At the top of Madeira (or at the cable car anyway) there is a palace and tropical gardens. I don't have the literature with me at the mo, so don't ask me to explain any more than that. This is a thousand year old olive tree in a bed of lavendar that lives in the palace tropical gardens. It also has a granite stone imbedded in its trunk, which it must have grown around as a young tree. Whether it still produces olives, I don't know. Fascinating all the same.There was an exhibit of Africian art at the palace Tropical gardens. Here are some of the birds and animals. They were carved from wood. I really like them.

A view of the tropical gardensAnd another, with a nice red bridge And the Monster showing off in the tropical gardensThey also had an exhibition of geodes and crystals and semi-precious stones. I would have taken more pictures but the lighting was poor and they didn't show up very well. They are amazing though, the forms they can take, and they are so sparkly and pretty. I likes gems.

Funchal

Here are some pics I took of the Monster in Funchal, Madeira's capital. This is a statue of some mermaid creature that resides on the seafront in Funchal. They have a huge marina with a long boardwalk and it is very picturesque. There are loads of little covered bars and eateries dotted along the marina - even a restaurant where the tables are on little boats! The majority of the dishes are fish or meat but there is the occassional italian influence. There were also lots of men fishing from the boardwalk. We watched for a while to see if they caught anything, but no, they didn't (not when we were around anyway).
This is one of the orange flowered trees that can be found on the narrow cobbled streets of Funchal. I don't know what it's called, but it is very pretty. You can see the covered tables of various restaurants in the background. Madeira has been settled for 500 years and once was an important port for ships going to the new world. A lot of Funchal seems to date back to those days as the streets are very narrow, cobbled and wander up and down the mountain in natural fashion. Trees and interesting buildings are dotted along the road.

This is a picture of the blue trees we saw in Funchal. This street led to a main shopping street and was lined by these trees in flower, as well as towers of flowers in bloom. It was lovely to look at. Again, I don't know what this tree is called. Apparently spring (May) is the best time to see Funchal as it is in bloom.

London

Here are some pictures I took of the Monster in London over the weekend.

On the Thames cruise with the houses of parliment and Big Ben in the background. Never knew before that Big Ben (the name is for the bell, not the clock tower) was named after the man who worked on putting the bell into the clocktower. His name was Ben and he was small and round and was (I guess) 'Little Ben' while the workmen knicknamed the bell Big Ben.
The London Eye, as seen from the Thames. Think of it as a giant, very slow Ferris wheel. It cost 75 million pounds to make and is sponsered by British Airways.
Tower Bridge. In the olden days, people could ascend the towers and walk across the upper walkway to cross from one side of the river to the other when the bridge was raised to allow ships through. However, the walkway was home to theives and prostitutes so most people waited the three minutes that it took for the bridge to raise and lower rather than run the gauntlet of the upper walkway. It is now used as a museum.
The Gerkin (big building in the background). A modern marvel of glass and metal, it is now an iconic part of the London skyscape.Westminister as seen from the London Eye.
The Monster at the Apex of the London Eye (the 'flight' on the eye was a bit of a let down. The cruise was much more exciting)Taking pictures of each other on the Gatwick Express, on our way back to the hotel after a long day. The public transport system in London is fantastic. The underground and the trains to and from Gatwick airport are brilliant. We were a little confused by the tube system at first, but once we figured out how it worked, we were flying. It was fantastic (if crowded, hot and a little scary - those escalators are not for the faint hearted!)

I loved London. The buzz, the people, the places. There was so much to see and do, I wish I had a few more days. It was so cool seeing places I had heard so much about - especially Westminister and along the Thames. They are places I have grown up seeing on the tv so I feel like I know them really well and seeing them in the flesh, so to speak, gave them an unreal quality. Went to the Mousetrap on Satruday night. We were a little late because our plane was over an hour delayed and had to enter the stalls through this tiny little door and then down these funny little stairs, so it worked to our advantage in a way. The theatre - St Martin's theatre on West Street - was really lovely and old fashioned with boxes and curtains and everything. Really enjoyed the play and then had a nice meal at a nearby restaurant. Very good price as well. I couldn't believe how many people were in London, especially around Covent Garden. The street was wall to wall thick with mankind. Everytime I went on the underground I thought of Neverwhere and London below. I'm sure some of the tunnels are quite ancient. It is so hot below ground. I didn't look down at the tracks to see how far the fall was because I was sure if I knew, I wouldn't be able to get on the trains. Sometimes ignorance is bliss. London is certainly a place I want to revisit.

Going on Holidays

Hi all. I'm going on holidays with the Monster tomorrow. We're off to London for two nights and then flying to Madera for a week on Monday. I'm really looking forward to getting away. I've never been to Madera or London before and I'm really excited about going on the London Eye and doing all the fun touristy things you can get up to when you are away. I'm going to take a break from writing over the weekend, but I hope to do some while in Madera and I also hope to update the blog while away, but I may not be able to get on line, so don't be surprised if my blogging is sporadic or non existent.

So, ta-ta for now and I hope everyone has a good weekend and a good week. I'll be back on the 12th with lots of news and photos.

BYE!

Rejection

Being rejected is an inevitable part of being a writer. Here are some tips I have come by to help cope with rejection and to cut down the chances of being 'passed' on.

1. Don't take it personally. Ok, ok, I know everyone says this, but they are right. Getting a rejection letter doesn't mean you are a bad person, or that you can't write and your book/story is rubbish.

2. Line up another market and send it out again. Once the rejection email or letter has come in, line up another market that your story would suit and send it out as quickly as possible. Don't even think about it. Remember, this is a business so act professionally and keep sending your stuff out.

3. Give yourself a time to feel sorry for yourself. You're only human, so of course rejection is going to affect you. You've tried not to let it get you down and you've sent out your story again, but you are still feeling a little low. That's perfectly normal. Give yourself a period of time to be self indulgent - anything from an hour to a day but nothing longer, and have a good wallow for being rejected. Then, when your time is up, put your professional hat back on, forget about your rejection and focus on sending out and writing your work.

4. Listen to any comments and act accordingly. It may not be personal, but there is a reason why your story got rejected. It could be because they already had filled their magazine for that month, or the editor read three stories in a similar theme that day or they simply have an objection to zombies, however it could also be because your story wasn't as good as it could be. If the editor takes the time to give you some feedback, listen to it. It is a positive, not a negative. You don't have to agree with the editor says, but do take it seriously and consider it in regard to your story. Are there changes you could make to improve your story in light of these comments? They didn't have to say anything about your work so the fact that they did means you should listen and learn from that experience.


How to avoid rejection

1. Pick your market carefully. There is no point sending a horror story to a romance magazine or vice versa. You may have written a fantastic story but when it comes to finding a market for it no one seems to be interested because it doesn't fit what any of the magazines are looking for. Sometimes it is easier to pick out your market first and write your story accordingly. You will have a higher chance of getting accepted if you tailor your work to a publication. Reading magazines is a good way to find out what your market is like and what sort of stories they accept. It also supports them and keeps them publishing fiction. Sites like Duotrope and Ralan help as well as they have very informative pages on markets and what type of stories they publish. Duotrope also provide you with the statistics of a markets acceptance rate, so you have an idea of how you might fare. The more research you do on what a market is looking for and what stories are new and original, the more likely you are to be accepted.

2. Follow guidelines. I know every article on writing harps on about this, but it is something so simple and yet seems to be ignored by so many writers. It is so important that your submission follows the market guidelines and looks professional. If it doesn't, no matter how good your work is, it will be rejected. Just because a lot of markets now accept electronic submissions doesn't mean you can relax on your formatting. Make sure you tailor your submission to each magazine's requirements. Some want double spaced attachments, others want single spaced pasted into the body of the email. All have their own way of doing it and won't appreciate a deviation from that rule. Give your story the best chance of being read and make sure it follows the guidelines to the letter.

3. Polish your story. Ok, so you have an idea for a story. You have picked out a market and done your research and written your first draft. Now go through it. Is the story written in the best way possible? Are you giving all the important information and non of the unimportant stuff? Does it start at the write time, not too late or too early? Is there lots of repetition in it? Imelda may be small and pretty but you only have to tell us once, not in every paragraph. When you have checked for these errors in writing, read it a few times for spelling and grammatical errors. Read it out loud as well to hear how it sounds. If you find you can't stand to read your story more than a couple of times, it might be an indication that you need to do more work on it.

4. Be proud of your story. Try to make your work the best possible for that story before you submit it. It is all very well to send something out as soon as the rejection comes in, but that only works as long as you know your story is as good as you can make it. The same with getting feedback. It is wonderful when an editor goes to the time to comment on your work, but the only comments you want are 'I loved it!' and that they want to publish it. Put the work in to make sure you can stand by your story and the choices you made while writing it. Then, if it does get rejected, you can happily send it out to another publication knowing that you have done nothing wrong and the market that rejected you was just full up at the time.

5. Act professionally. Format your story correctly, follow guidelines, include your name and address in your cover letter, write a concise and polite letter with your submission. If you are rejected, let it go and move on to the next. Never contact the editor and try to change their mind. If they ask for a rewrite or say they were interested in a part of your story that wasn't fully explored, do work on your story and resubmit as quickly as possible, don't procrastinate. If you haven't heard back from a market in a long time, query them but remember to keep it professional. Thank them for their correspondence with you. If you always behave professionally and respectfully you are more likely to get acceptances, even if you start off with rejections. There is no better way to get blacklisted than to be rude and aggressive.

Finally, DON'T KEEP A REJECTION FILE. I have learned this the hard way. There is nothing more depressing than to read a pile of rejection letters. Keep focused on the positives. Keep a file of your acceptance letters, make a note of your rejections and then chuck the letters.

Also, I know I focused more on the short story market, but the same advice goes for novels and articles.

Good luck and happy writing!

Review of April 2008

April has been a month of both very sad events - Woozer's death on the ninth - and very happy events - acceptance of three stories for publication.

April has felt like a very long month for me, perhaps because I was very busy and there wasn't Easter to break it up. Writing wise I got a lot done. I wrote nearly 21,000 words, which is more than any other month so far this year. I submitted stories to three markets and entered two competitions. Perhaps the best news of all was the fact that two of those stories were accepted for publication and I had a further acceptance for a story submitted in January. I also started rating and writing at Helium once more and submitted five more stories to the site.

On a less successful note, I failed to think up something new to try in the month of April.I also only read one book, which is the least I have read in a month in over a year. I will have to work on both those things for May.

Rathmullen Retreat

Just back from a weekend in Rathmullen, Co. Donegal. It is a lovely little village in a very rural area with a 2 km sandy beach, a small wood and a ferry across Lough Swilly to Buncrana. It was from Rathmullen that the Earls fled Ireland in 1607. Our cottage was situated a short walk from the beach, which was accessible through a woodland. We were blessed with the weather as it was warm, dry and sunny from Friday evening to Monday morning. The cottage itself was pure luxury with everything you could want for the perfect weekend and more. The dogs - Janna, Rags and Toffee - enjoyed themselves no end with lots of attention and long walks on the beach. Janna was a different dog, leaping and jumping like her old self. There were lots of horses in the area as well and we saw a man trotting his horse along the road while leading him from his van (not to be encouraged) and a jockey exercising a beautiful chestnut thoroughbred along the strand on Saturday morning. We played lots of wii fit as well, which is fun and informative. I now know my balance is back and slightly to the left, which surprised me as I was sure I was more right sided.

Back to reality today however. I've writing deadlines to meet on Wednesday and Thursday, and teaching and packing to do before leaving for my holiday on Saturday.

Writing Competitions

I entered my first writing competition when I was a teenager in secondary school - and I won a prize! Encouraged by my success, I entered more competitions and, apart from 2 (I think), I was placed in or won every competition I entered (while still in school). Naturally enough, I liked entering competitions. There was usually a monetary reward and a prize giving where people said lots of nice things about your writing. However, now that I am older, I am questioning my continued involvement with competitions. First of all, I haven't been able to keep up my winning streak. Secondly, I am spending quite a bit of money on entry fees and thirdly - how impressive does winning a competition sound when you approach publishers and agents? Sure, if you win the Bridport Prize or the Aeon Award it is worth mentioning on your writing cv, but if you are highly commended on Joe Blogg's writing contest from Brigadoon, does it mean all that much? Isn't an editor much more likely to be impressed by the other markets that have published your work than the amount of small competitions you have entered? Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying I'm going to give up entering competitions, but I might be more picky in the future.

Writer Resources

I'm not feeling particularly inspired to blog about anything this evening, so I thought I would post a link to some of the resources I've found helpful in the past few weeks. I hope you find them helpful too.

1. K. A Patterson's blog.

In case you didn't know, K.A Patterson is the editor of Alienskin Magazine. She publishes an interesting and informative writing blog that includes loads of hints and tips about the word of fiction writing. She also posts a list of her own submissions, acceptances and rejections, which is refreshing. Check it out, I always take away something new from it when I browse.

2. Duotrope

A recent writing resource I stumbled upon that makes me wonder how I ever managed without it. Duotrope has an extensive range of markets for both short fiction and novels that are easily searchable and include information on pay scales, average response times and genres accepted. A must for all writers, it also includes a submission tracker for registered users. Check it out and, if you are a writer, PLEASE consider donating to this fabulous resource. Keep Duotrope running, and keep it free.

3. Ralan

While lacking the submission tracker and extensive catalog of Duotrope, I do admire the database Ralan has collected here and if I am browsing for a particular type of market - say, anthologies - I find the layout easier to navigate. Another invaluable resource of a writer, no matter what your level of experience is.

The Golden Age of Horror?

A lot of the ezines and websites I've been browsing in the last few weeks have been talking about how we are in the golden age of horror, comparable to the golden age of science fiction in the fifties and sixties when writers like Issac Asimov were at work. Horror is the flavour de jour. The majority of the genre markets and up coming anthologies are looking for horror and if not horror, then dark fantasy or science fiction with horror elements. You need only look at the book shelves in any online or real world book shop to see how horror or stories with a horror element predominate both the adult and children market. When I was in Easons yesterday I saw there was a promotion for the new Skulduggery Pleasant novel - it was Eason's book of the month - and it's main character is a skeleton. Every week more horror movies are released in the cinema and on DVD. There is no doubt it is popular.

So what do I think of the idea that we are in the age of horror?

I think it is AWESOME!

As you know, I love horror - reading it, watching it and writing it. Ever since my childhood, when I used to stay up late to watch the Wax Works with Vincent Price, I have loved horror. To call our present time the golden age of horror couldn't make me happier. To be a horror writer at the moment is exciting. I would love to be part of the golden age so that in generations to come, when they look back at the naughties, my name will be listed among the horror writers of the golden age.

Valinora Troy Does It Again

Congratulations to Valinora Troy who has just sold a story to Necrotic Tissue. Funnily enough, her microfiction, Reflections, will appear in the same edition as mine. We both have to wait til January 2009 to see them in their glory. However, it adds to VT's already impressive list of growing publications.

Egyptian Dance Workshop

Had a fantastic time at the Egyptian Dance Workshop given by Caroline Evans today. I was nervous on Friday night because I organised the workshop and it is the first time I've ever done something like this and I was anxious that everything went well. I also didn't get enough people to cover my costs, so it was a bit depressing. However, once the workshop got under way I forgot all about that and really enjoyed myself. Caroline was lovely. She had a friendly teaching style, gave great hands on tuition and had a flexible method of teaching the moves that suited the different people in the group. The time flew and it didn't feel like four hours of hard work. We got to do plenty of moves, some combinations and the beginning of a couple of routines, which was much more than I expected and fantastic fun. We worked well as a group and going by what Caroline said we progressed well. Everyone enjoyed the day and all the ladies seemed keen to continue on with Egyptian Dance, which is great.

Good news again!

The lovely people at Necrotic Tissue have accepted my micro fiction story 'The Vilage Shop' for publication in their January 2009 issue. While you are waiting for my story to appear, you should check out some of their other editions. Be warned, if you are of a sensitive disposition, they are a horror publication. What I particularly like about Necrotic Tissue, apart from their obvious good taste, is that they are working to publish quality horror fiction and to help horror writers qualify to join the Horror Writers Association. One of the requirements of affiliate membership is to have a horror story of at least 500 words published for a fee of at least $25. I really want to join the HWA, founded by (among others) Dean Koontz. However, even though I have 2 horror stories accepted, one is above 500 words and less than $25 while the other is for $25 but less than 500!

The competition with Valinora Troy continues. Me: 3 acceptances VT: 4 acceptances (3 already published)

The Loneliness of the Long Distance Writer

Being a writer is a lonely profession. You spend most of your time working alone, living in your head in a world of fantasy and make believe where the characters you create on the page (hopefully) are more real to you than the people you meet in everyday life. 90% of the time I love the solitude of writing. I like my own company and I enjoy exploring the realms of imagination. However, for the past few days I've being feeling the urge to get out and mix in the world. It comes upon me every now and then. I think it is a survival mechanism to help refuel my inspiration batteries. It usually lasts for a couple of weeks and then I return to my default mode of lone wolf. At the moment though I really want to be out there observing people, absorbing the crowd and atmosphere, meeting new people and collecting characters for my big bank of character traits. I blame the spring weather and the length in the evenings. I guess a priority tomorrow should be to get out of the house, go to Curves or to the library and rub shoulders with my fellow man. If any of my blog readers want to organise something and invite me along (purely for research purposes of course) please feel free to do so.

Procrastination

Here are some things you can do to while away the hours you should spend writing...

1. Play Games
Click on the link at the side of the page to practice being a sushi chef!

2. Browse the web
This is such a cool site. I love the idea of trailers for books.

3. Invent stuff
I came up with the idea of the SHRUG. It is a rug with sleeves. You know when you are curled up in front of the telly on a cold night and you have your arms cuddled snugly up underneath your rug, and then you have to expose them to the chill air to do things like change the channel or lift your mug for a sip of tea? Well, you don't have to suffer cold hands anymore. Now, with the SHRUG, you pop your arms into sleeves within the rug which keep them cosy no matter what - whether you are knitting or reading, you won't get cold.

JK Rowling takes the stand

JK Rowling appeared in court in New York today to testify in her case against the publication of the book, The Harry Potter Lexicon (hence known as HPL). Michigan man, Steve Vander Ark, started the HPL on the net in 2000 to compile together a resource of information on everything to do with Potter’s world. It contained family trees of the characters, lists of spells and information about the books. The site was praised by Rowling, who admitted to using it to check her information when writing her books, and by Warner Brothers who make the HP movies. However, when the man behind the HPL decided to publish it as a reference book for HP fans, JK and Warner Bros took umbrage and took the HPL publishers to court. Rowling says that she wants to publish her own HP encyclopedia (and give the money to charity) and it seems that she doesn’t want any competition.

From a consumer’s point of view, I don’t know what the fuss is about. If I were a fan of the HP series I would happily buy BOTH the HPL and whatever future encyclopedia Rowling brings out. I certainly have my fair share of official and unofficial X File reference guides and I know for obsessive fans, of which I am sure there are more than a few million in the HP camp, it doesn’t matter if there is information duplication, you still want to have the complete collection.

From a writer’s point of view, I still don’t know what the fuss is about. When you write a book, and especially when you write a series of books as successful as the HP books have been, you can’t expect to control everything that is said and done about them. The HPL is a reference book, a resource and guide compiled lovingly by fans. It is not plagiarism and it does not seem to be some hasty cash in. It is hard to say how I would react in the same situation but if in years from now an unofficial encyclopedia on Reath is published, I don’t think I would object. After all, there is always room for commentary and compilation of your work and it will never compare to something you have written yourself because you are the author and you hold the secrets to your world. If you haven’t already made it up, you can always make up something new.

It makes me wonder why JK Rowling has taken this case to court in the first place. On the surface it seems to be about money. It appears she doesn’t want anyone else making profit from her work. HP has been so successful; you would think she could afford to be generous. Whatever her reasons, she isn’t coming out of the whole situation well. She has claimed to be so upset by the whole case that she is having trouble writing her next book and has said she won’t write her own planned encyclopedia if the HPL goes ahead. Things like that smack of emotional blackmail to me. The case also has serious implications if she wins. It means that authors will have much greater control over what people say about their work. It means that reviews, reference books and guides will have to get express permission from the original author and perhaps even pay large amounts of money to be allowed to be published. It means that authors will be able to monopolise their work and an ultimate death to all unofficial companions. To me, that is a bad thing. I hope JK Rowling doesn’t win.

Lessons I Have Learned

Lesson # 1

Be very careful when researching your writing markets and competitions. I've been working hard the last few days on my short story Dead Jimmy for the Writers Inc Writers of the Year Competition which closes for entries today. At the start of the month I opened a file with the details and links of the competitions I wanted to enter for April. I've been checking on the file regularly to make sure I was keeping to the briefs with my stories and that the closing dates really were catching up with me, but I never once thought of checking to see if this competition was open to electronic submission! Usually I make a note in my file on whether the submission is electronic or print, but for some reason I forgot to mention it with Writers Inc. When I clicked on the link to send my story off and enter the competition I found, to my horror, that it is print submission only. The long and the short of it is, I won't be entering this competition and Dead Jimmy needs a new home.

Lesson #2

Don't leave entering competitions to the last possible moment.

You could say I put things on the long finger. In fact, my fingers are so long I am probably tickling you while you read this. That's why competition deadlines are a good thing for me, as it gives me a goal I have to be finished by. However, a deadline doesn't mean I have to scrape my entry in at the very last minute, just before the clock strikes twelve on the last day of entry. It is better to be prepared in advance, giving me more time to perfect my stories (hence increasing my chances of winning) and enter well in advance of the closing date so I can get to work on the next submission. It also means that when things like this happen, I will be prepared and not thrown and I won't end up with stories looking for a home.

A Turkey for Valinora Troy!

Congrats to VT on getting her micro fiction up on microhorror. Here is a link to her spooky story The Diary. She now has three acceptances, two of which have already been published. Way to go Valinora, on to the next!

Who is the voice of your SatNav?

Sorry I haven't blogged in the last few days. I've been in a period of mourning for Woozer. I know she was old and ill and every day for the last three years I thought would be her last, but death is aways sudden in the end. The house isn't the same without her. I miss her heavy breathing and the little thump as her hips hit the floor when she lay down. I keep on expecting to see her sleeping in the living room or tottering over to say hello when I come home. Even Rags and Janna notice her absence and miss her. I suppose it has also made me think about the other dogs mortality. When Janna was sniffing Woozer's body and saying goodbye, I couldn't help but flash forward to her own inevitable death and the decay of her body as age takes its toll. I have high hopes for Rags equalling if not beating Woozer's 15 years, but I don't think Janna is even going to make it into double digits. I guess the lesson is to appreciate every moment you have.

On a more frivolous note, I was travelling to a play in Armagh yesterday with friends and the car I was in had satellite navigation. As the woman's dulcet tones directed us on the wrong path I posed the question - who would be your ideal SatNav voice? My friend thought Morgan Freeman would be good to give directions. I chose Kelsey Grammer, especially if he slipped in the occasional 'Die Bart Die' between giving directions. I think Leonard Nimoy would also be cool - who wouldn't love to be told where to go by Spock?

Farewell Woozer

28th March 1993 - 9th April 2008

More good news!

This is turning out to be a good week. I just heard that my micro fiction 'The Sky Horse' will appear in the May edition of Apollo's Lyre. I'll post a link once it is published. Obviously another publication with impeccable taste.

1st Fiction Sale

I love Alienskin. No, I really do LOVE ALIENSKIN. Seldom has there been an ezine with such good taste and discernment. In this day and age of cutthroat publishing they encourage new writers, they take the time to give feedback on your story when they reject it and they provide a platform for quality Science Fiction, Horror and Fantasy tales.

THEY ALSO HAVE ACCEPTED ONE OF MY STORIES!

I got the email through this morning. They want to publish my horror story 'Who's for Dinner?' in their August/September issue. It will be a long but worthwhile wait and hopefully I will have more acceptances by the time my name hits the web in lights. :)

Recovered Innocence*

The woods were dark and deep. At their heart lay a pond, its surface as still and smooth as a mirror. Annabell tried to reach the centre of the woods but she kept on getting lost. First she discarded her blue tooth earpiece, then her iPhone. The ground swallowed them. She moved deeper into the wood. She cast aside her laptop, her mp4 and her digital watch. Grass grew over them where they lay. Lighter now, she ran the rest of the way. The unicorn was waiting for her by the still waters. It whinnied in welcome and called her to it.

* This is a micro fiction I wrote for fun yesterday in an impromptu contest with my family. The theme was horses and the limit was 100 words. I thought I would share it with you.

10 Reasons why I'm not a Disney Princess

We rented Enchanted this evening and I watched it for the second time. It is an enjoyable movie and I laughed a lot watching it, but it reminded me of all the ways I am not a Disney princess like Giselle and never will be. I think that is probably a good thing.

1. I can't sing

2. I'm not thin

3. I'm not 2-d

4. I can't get my animals to clean up for me

5. When I fall out of a tree (or off a building) there is never a handsome man there to catch me

6. I can't make my own clothes

7. I don't look perfect after running through the streets in the rain and then crashing on someones couch

8. No matter how hard I try to organise spontaneous dance routines with large numbers of people and/or animals they never work out

9. If I am on the floor scrubbing it clean, bubbles don't float around my head reflecting my image (then again, I am never on the floor scrubbing it clean)

10. I don't have a (wicked) stepmother

On a different note, the short list for the first round of the Aeon Award was published and I didn't make it. However, there is always the next round to aim for and it means I can send 'All The Dead Stars' out to another market, where it might prove more successful.

Watched the debut for season 4 of Dr Who on BBC1 tonight. It was good. Donna irritated me, I just can't distinguish Catherine Tate from her comedy show characters and it makes her seem really insincere and totally hammy to me. To anyone who has seen the episode (4:1 Partners in Crime) is it just me or did you think the Doctor should have left well enough alone? It was a win win situation before he and Donna bumbled along. The Adipose were cute little aliens and it was a good weight loss solution for London. Pity they messed it up.

BUSY DAYS

So far April has been very busy for me. I was back teaching this week, went into Easons to do research for a non-fiction title yesterday and submitted FOUR short stories to competitions and publications this week. I wrote and submitted a flash fiction and micro fiction to Alienskin (after the success of Valinora Troy I thought I would try my hand at it) as well as entering the Molly Keane Competition and sending a robot story to Permuted Press for the robot's beyond anthology competition. I am also waiting eagerly to see if I made the short list for either the Grace Dieu Writer's Circle Competition or the first round of the Aeon Award. I'm told that the results will be posted any day now, but you know what they say about a watched webpage never reloading. Oh yeah, I also did some research into more story markets and subscribed to a couple of cool looking magazines as well this week. On a writing note, I really want to write a gooey, juicy, scary horror. I haven't written one in a while and I feel the urge has come upon me to write something truly horrific. Perhaps that will be my goal for next week. I also have to think up something new to try out for April. Any suggestions?

GOOD NEWS EVERYONE

Valinora Troy's micro fiction 'What the dog brought in' is published in the latest edition of Alienskin ezine. Check it out here. Well done VT, it's a great story. While you're there, check out the other stories and don't forget to look in the zap room to see what doesn't make it.

The Until Mentality

Unfortunately, in so many areas of my life, I have the 'Until Mentality'. I'll exercise until I lose weight, I'll teach until I have enough money, I'll keep going until I get tired. When it comes to writing, however, I lose the untils. I'll write until... publication or not, I don't see a time when I won't write. A few years ago I promised myself I would try this out for five years and see what happened but the thing is, whether I succeed or fail (in publication terms) there is nothing else I would want to do - or am really able to do - apart from write and act. So, when it comes to writing, I can say to myself 'I'm a writer' and banish the 'Until' that usually comes after.

Competitions for April

After totting up the amount of money I have spent so far this year on Competition Entry fees versus the amount of money I have received from writing, I have decided to limit the number of competition fees I pay to two per month. Therefore, for the month of April, I have selected 2 comps with entry fees and 2 without to try my hand at.

FIRST THE PAYING ONES

1. Writers Inc Writers of the Year Competition

Closing date: 14th April 2008

Entry fee: £6 per short story

Prizes: Prize fund of £3,500

Word Limit: 50 - 3000 words

Guidelines: This competition has various different categories including poetry, children's and journalism as well as short story and the entry fees vary accordingly. It accepts stories in any genre and style. The winning poem will be submitted to the Forward Poetry Prize and the winning children's story will be sent to a Literary Agency. Accepts email submissions

2. Momaya Short Story Competition 2008

Closing date: 30th April 2008

Entry Fee: £6

Prizes: Ist £110, 2nd £55, 3rd £30, 7 hon mentions, publication for ten stories

Word Limit: 2,500

Guidelines: This competition accepts stories in any style or genre. Judges include leading journalists and literary agents.

SECOND THE FREE ONES

3. Permuted Press' Robots Beyond Anthology

Closing Date: 4th April 2008

Entry Fee: 0

Prizes: Payment of 1c per word and publication in the anthology

Word limit: 3000 - 7500

Guidelines: This isn't really a competition but after failing to enter their giant creatures competition on time, I am entering this as a contest to delude myself into thinking it is one. They are looking for stories about robots which boldly takes the man machines into territory they have never gone before.

4. Molly Keane Memorial Creative Writing Award

Closing date: 4th April 2008

Entry Fee: 0

Prizes: €650

Word Limit: 2000

Guidelines: This competition is run by Waterford County Council. No age limit or restriction in subject matter. The prize will be awarded at the Waterford Literary Festival in June.

I've got a publishing deal!!!!!! :) - APRIL FOOLS!

I've my novel out at publishing houses at the moment and this morning I got a phone call from an editor (I'd rather not give the name of the publisher at the moment - want to wait til contracts are signed and sealed and they can't back down!) saying she was really interested in my book and that they would like to talk to me about it! I was so excited I could hardly speak. She's going to email me some stuff and I might even have to fly over to England to talk to her (although she did mention coming over here to see me). Wow. I'm shaking as I type this. I can't believe it! :)

HAPPY APRIL FOOLS EVERYONE!!!

Review of March 2008

March started well for me with news that I had won the Dundalk branch of Curves 30 day challenge. Apart from a not too dodgy prize of a €55 token for Boots chemist, I lost 10lbs and 18 inches, which is the real prize. Unfortunately things took a turn for the worse after that high point and I suffered about three weeks of ill health which meant little to no writing, cancelled teaching days (hence loss of money) and exercising falling off the radar. I got two weeks holiday at Easter but was still picking myself up so I didn't get all the writing done that I had planned. My goal for March was to read 9 books. I completed five, which is up from last month but only half as many as January. Word wise, I wrote fractionally more than February with 11,400 compared to last month's 11,100. My aim was to enter 2 short story competitions this month and I exceeded it by two. I entered short stories into the Fish One Page Prize 2008, Tom Howard/John H Reid Short Story Contest, Aeon Award 2008 and the Invisible Ink Story Competition. I had also planned to enter a story to the Permuted Press Giant Creatures Anthology but failed to finish my story 'The Shark that ate Dublin' in time. Likewise, my entry to the Bristol Prize Short Story Competition 2008 was a non runner as I missed the post (imagine running a competition in this day and age without online entry as an option?). I had plans to submit my flash fiction 'Does Love Dogs' to AlienSkin but failed to edit it in time to submit it before March ended. There is always next month. Exercise was practically non existent this month, with no attendances to curves and only a few salsa slims and days where I played wii (highest fitness age 41, lowest 24). I did complete my achievement goal for the month in trying new things, which was climbing the Greater Sugar Loaf in Wicklow. I just scraped in at the last minute but I managed to get there in the end and it was a challenging but rewarding day. With my four submissions this month I have beaten my January curse - which is, I submit in January and then don't submit anything else all year until the January of the following year. I hope this trend keeps up. I promised to keep you updated on my stories from past months, so this is how my January entries are doing. My entry to Glimmer Train's Family Matters Competition, 'The Shadow Room' failed to be short listed and I am guessing that 'The Memory of Fat', my entry to the Maria Edgeworth Competition didn't get to the finish line either as the festival took place on Saturday and I was not invited to attend. I am still waiting to hear back on how my brave little stories are doing.

My hopes for April? To keep up submitting to competitions and publications. To increase my word count. To read more books. To think up and complete another new achievement. To have a successful Belly Dance workshop on the 19th and to have fun in Donegal with my sis's and dogs at the end of the month.

The Great Sugar Loaf

Mountain View states that the Great Sugar Loaf ( or GSL), in Wicklow, is Ireland's 457th highest summit, has a height of 501 metres and is the most easterly summit in the Dublin/Wicklow area. Although I was not armed with this information this morning, I set out for the Great Sugar Loaf with Janna, Valpot and Pinky. The weather forecast (which proved to be accurate) proclaimed that the morning with be sunny but that rain would move in towards the afternoon. As a result we set off bright and early. We couldn't have asked for a better day. It was mild, the sun was bright and warm and it was dry. I was surprised at the amount of people at the GSL when we arrived. Cars lined the narrow country road for as far as I could see and a steady stream of people - parents with young children, groups of friends of all ages, men and women with their dogs - were moving up and down the mountain (or, technically, the hill). The GSL itself is a barren conical shaped structure, named after the archaic mountains of sugar that were once common in grocery stores and which it resembles in appearance. The lower slope is covered in short grass and furze, with sheep and mountain ponies grazing in the fields, while nearer the summit the ascent is more precarious with lots of scree and an almost perpendicular slope. The sky was crystal clear and we had a fantastic view over Dublin bay and the city as well as the nearby Powerscourt. It is weird to see, only a few minutes drive outside of the city, rolling hills of green spread out like a playmat at your feet with dark hedgerows and stone walls separating the verdant pasture, cotton buds of sheep grazingand the azure bowl of the Irish Sea embracing the horizon. The bird life was sparse. A few crows were visible, I saw a Bunting of some kind (I think Reed) and the air was alive with the beautiful song of high flying Skylarks. I was hoping to see some hawks, but I had no luck. I was doubly glad that the weather was fine because as we began to climb it became evident that a stream wound down the mountain in wetter times and it would have made for more unpleasant going. I found the weather and the views invigorating, but the climb was hard going. You know those moments when you begin to question your sanity and the advisability of starting on your chosen task? Well, I had one of those moments. It was very obviously highlighted that I am not as fit as I thought I was as I had to stop and rest on the steeper slopes, suffering the humiliation of young children and men hampered by baby backpacks (an unusual luncheon choice) racing past me. When the same people passed me going down who had only moments before gone up I began to get worried. However, I did not mind that I held up badly in comparison to the others on the climb. I am very proud that I was able to do it, that, despite finding it tough I persevered and that I didn't once give into my vertigo and dislike of slopes even though at times I could feel panic trembling at the edges. Near the summit the wind grew very strong which, combined with the narrow path, the steep incline and the number of people both coming up and down made it very unpleasant. Thankfully, the route down was a lot easier than the way up as gravity aided the descent and before long we were back at the car. Despite wishes to be air lifted out by a rescue helicopter, it was not necessary and we all managed to make it down under our own steam. My highlights of the day were 1. how well Janna performed, racing up the mountain after her ball (and Valpot) and then running back to me with a whine and a kiss to make sure I was holding up ok. 2. Seeing a man carrying a baby on his back who was moaning constantly. It was funny seeing the little tike complaining as her daddy reassured her 'almost there'. I also wondered why she was complaining when she didn't have to do the hard work and was being carried. 3. Seeing (what I think was an elderly) Collie dog sitting down half way up and not budging and feeling pleased that I had managed to make it further than this tired canine. 4. Managing to climb over terrain that I found both physically and mentally challenging. 5. Listening to the skylarks. 6. Last, but by no means least, Valpot and Pinky's company.

While I would like to climb the GSL again, I think it will be awhile before I attempt it again and I also now know that it will be a while before I can even think of attempting Kilimanjaro or Everest. Sigh.

Review of Week 24th - 29th March

HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY TO Hoofpot and

Valpot



HAPPY BIRTHDAY THIS WEEK TO



Woozer, who reached the grand old age of 15! Way to go Woozer, I thought you wouldn't make it but you proved me wrong. You can't knock the rockie spirit.

and

Mal... er, I mean Nathan Fillion. Hope you had a good one Nathan.

WRITING

Writing was ok this week. I wrote about 3000 words, 3 short stories and submitted to one competitions.

GOALS

Tomorrow I am climbing the Sugar Loaf (a big hill in Dublin) with Valpot and Pinky. It is my goal for March (remember the fun new things I was going to do every month? January it was Badminton and February it was Bowling?) so I hope the weather stays fine and we have a good time.

Book Review: Odd and the Frost Giants by Neil Gaiman

Odd's father is dead, his mother remarried to a boorish man and his leg crippled by a falling tree. Life in his viking village seems grim until he wanders into the woods and meets some talking animals who turn out to be Norse gods in disguise.

This cute little book was produced for world book day and joins the ranks of similar chapbooks by famous authors written specially for the event. World Book Day seems to be aimed primarily at children, to encourage them to read, and hence the books are very cheaply priced with coupons distributed at schools that can be redeemed against the cost of the book.

I am a fan of Neil Gaiman's writing (it still galls me that I missed his book signing in Dundalk) and enjoyed his last adult book, Anansai Boys, very much. Because this is aimed towards children, Odd and the Frost Gaints lacks the darker more sexual elements of Gaiman's work, but it still retains many of his trade mark features such as deceptively simple writing, gods and magical worlds colliding with the ordinary.

I liked this book very much. The mention of the Asgard made me think of Stargate, but that was not Neil's fault. Last year I purchased Garth Nix's edition for World Book Day, The Creature in the Case, a worthy addition to his world of the Abhorsen. Other famous authors, including Ireland's own Eoin Colfer, have contributed works to this worthy cause. I like the idea so much of these short stories in book form that I want to write my own version for World Book Day - well, my alternative version of it. World Book Day for the non famous (yet) struggling writers. I plan to launch it on 27th July 2008 and get as many writers involved as possible. So, if you are a struggling writer and you would like to publish a chapbook to encourage reading, drop me a line.

What Tarot card are you?

Saw this on Malice Blackheart's blog and thought I would give it a go.

You are The Star

Hope, expectation, Bright promises.

The Star is one of the great cards of faith, dreams realised

The Star is a card that looks to the future. It does not predict any immediate or powerful change, but it does predict hope and healing. This card suggests clarity of vision, spiritual insight. And, most importantly, that unexpected help will be coming, with water to quench your thirst, with a guiding light to the future. They might say you're a dreamer, but you're not the only one.

What Tarot Card are You?
Take the Test to Find Out.

Happy Easter

I can't believe it has been over a week since I blogged. The last seven days have passed so quickly for me - and without much to show for it unfortunately. I keep on thinking it is early March, but April is less than seven days away.

Because I missed blogging on the big day - HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE

I know this picture isn't religious and doesn't relate to the true meaning of Easter, but it is so cute I couldn't resist. Now, if only that rabbit could be replaced with a pig and that picture would remind me of two good friends of mine.This time of year always seems to be an excuse to over indulge in cheap (or expensive) chocolate, which leaves you feeling rather bloated and ill. I was in Dublin at the weekend and I overheard a woman in the toilet's of a hotel saying that she couldn't eat chocolate because it inflamed her ovaries. I am fascinated by this. What are inflamed ovaries?

I am in holiday mode this week, even though I am not officially on holidays, and this has made it hard for me to work. I will leave my official review of the month to next week but March hasn't been a great month. What with being sick for the majority of it, my life has suffered - from my work to my exercise regime and my animals. I hope that in the remaining few days of the month I can turn things around and, to paraphrase the words of (the original) Sarah Connor 'Write a lifetimes worth' - or at least a months.

Book Review: Artemis Fowl and the Opal Deception by Eoin Colfer

This is the fourth outing of the highly successful series centering on criminal boy genius, Artemis Fowl written by Irishman Eoin Colfer. In the last book, Artemis and his bodyguard Butler had their minds wiped by the LEP recon (or fairy police - they live under the earth's core. Lord Boate anyone? X-Philes are probably the only people to get that). Without knowledge of the fairy world and his changing outlook on life, Artemis has returned to a criminal life but his past has not forgotten him. Opal Kobi, arch villain and uber intelligent Pixie, is seeking revenge on the people who put her behind bars. That means Artemis and Captain Holly Short, among others, are on her list. The usual crowd are reassembled in this novel from Foaly to the flatulent dwarf, Mulch Diggums.

It has been a while since I read the last Artemis Fowl book. I enjoyed the first book, with the titular hero reminding me of Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child's character Special Agent Pendergast (and hence Sherlock Holmes). I found the second book somewhat dull but the third book in the series was, in my opinion, the best of the lot with a great storyline and more depth to it than the others. The Opal Deception did not come close to changing my mind on that matter. Is it just me or is Artemis wearing a bit thin? Perhaps I have finally got too old to read children's books. I found this installment a trite by the numbers affair with every other line a punch line and its tongue much too firmly in its cheek to keep my interest. Don't get me wrong, I do like Artemis, but I just couldn't get into this one. I had hoped that the fourth book would follow on from the third with a deeper more layered tale but instead it seems to have got even more frivolous. It's not that dark things don't happen in this novel - in fact something very serious and surprising takes place - but it didn't have any resonance with me. I couldn't believe in the world or believe that Mr Colfer was taking it very seriously when he wrote it. I can't fault his writing style or the way he builds tension and creates conflict but for me, in this book, everything was a little too contrived and the need to be amusing and clever claimed precedence over the characters and storyline.

I am the first to admit that the mood you are in when you read a book greatly influences your enjoyment of it, and perhaps I was simply in the wrong mindset to enjoy this book. I am sure that the leagues of Artemis Fowl fans would eagerly inform me of my errors, but The Opal Deception left me cold. I'll think twice before I read another. I give it 5/10

Prader-Willi Syndrome

I saw a very interesting documentary on Prader-Willi Syndrome this evening. I had never heard of it before but, thanks to the information super highway, I was able to Google it after the programme and learn more than I ever need to know about this interesting syndrome. It effects boys and girls equally, is found throughout all ethic groups and doesn't seem to be passed on genetically. It is a genetic disorder caused by an anomaly in chromosome 15. That's all very well Inky, I hear you say, but what effect does Prader-Willi Syndrome (named after the two doctors who first described it and more commonly called PWS) have on its suffers? Well, it does so in many different ways but the main one is that they are obsessed with food.

Born with less muscle tone, a PWS child will usually sleep more than other children and develop at a slower rate. At around the age of two they become obsessed with food and will begin to put on weight, even without a change in diet. They need up to 50% less calories than non PWS sufferers but are unable to know when they are full and think about food constantly so, naturally enough, obesity is a big problem (no pun intended). They have developmental and behavioural problems as well. Their mindset is very rigid and they dislike a break in routine or change in circumstances. Once they get stuck on a point they can obsess on it and not deviate from it unless carefully distracted. They are prone to mood swings, violent outbursts, swearing and self harm. Physically they are often small in stature and sexual maturity is very delayed if indeed fully reached. They have small hands and feet, lack muscle tone, dislike exercise, have difficulties in social situations and sleep a lot. There is no cure and the only treatment is strict diet control and behaviour management. A person with PWS can never be left alone with food (or so claims the PWS association of Australia on their website) and independent living is not achievable.

The documentary showed three different people and their families living with PWS. One, a man in his 30's, travelled to India to see a holy man for a cure and was bitterly disappointed when he didn't get one. Another, a woman, resented her father suggesting she live in a care home for PWS where the kitchens are locked insisting it was a prison, despite the residents themselves telling her how good the place was and how someone with PWS couldn't live on their own (one woman had entered the care home weighing 32st and within a year was down to 14st. She was an enthusiastic supporter of the home and tried to convince the woman by sharing her own experience, but her story fell on deaf ears). The third person the programme followed was a young girl who, despite being eldest in her family, behaved more like the youngest and whose favourite fictional character was the incredible hulk (I hope this was a genuine liking on behalf of the child as it seemed just a bit too pat as regards the documentary needs. The girl could change on the drop of a hat from a very sweet, laughing child to a screaming, violent monster and her favourite character was the incredible hulk? You certainly didn't want to see her angry).

Anyone who knows me will be aware of my own battles with weight, obesity, food addiction, self harm, short statue and fondness of sleeping yet I know I don't have PWS and I'm not even trying to claim that I have. I know I have the will power to stop eating, that no one is to blame for the weight I carry but myself. I have nothing but admiration for those who CAN'T stop eating and who still fight against the hand they have been dealt - especially to the woman who lost 18st. It is all very well to say that you are addicted to food and that it is like a drug addiction where you have to take your drug every day to survive, but who started to abuse that drug in the first place? I know I turned to food for comfort, for its numbing goodness and companionship. I worked hard to get to the weight I am today and I have to work even harder to get it off. It is a struggle, it is one day at a time and it is darn hard. However, I chose this path. People with PWS didn't, and I applaud every single one of them and their families for taking the steps on that rocky path of weight control and succeeding.

Review of Week 10th - 16th March

I've had to have words with my immune system. What should have been a cold that ran its course in a couple of days ended up knocking me down for two weeks with serious consequences to my work. I don't think my white blood cells are working hard enough. I called them in for a debriefing and gave them a good dressing down. Shame faced they nodded their little white heads and pleaded to try harder. Only time will tell if they can keep out of the gambling dens in my pituitary and stay on the job.

With that in mind, the last week hasn't been my most productive. I'm getting back on my feet now, but I still have a cough and the sniffles so progress is slow. That said, I managed to write four thousand words (one short story and one flash fiction - both need editing) and read one book. OK, that isn't much to boast about, but those words were written from my sick bed.

I hope next week to be getting back into the swing of things.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Because the 17th March falls in Holy Week this year, St. Patrick's Day is being celebrated on the 15th March. So,
HAPPY ST PATRICK'S DAY EVERYONE!!!

A Brilliant Introduction to Shakespeare???

I was leafing through a book sellers magazine the other day and I came across a selection of Shakespeare's plays (or 'stories' as they put it) presented with pretty covers and illustrations for younger readers. The accompanying blurb went as follows (and I quote):- '...The tales have been retold using accessible language...' Now, I don't know if it is just me or is the weakest part of Shakespeare's work his story lines? Star crossed lovers, jealous husbands, vengeful sons, power hungry men - yes, they are strong basic plots but it is THE WAY they are told and the beauty of the language that makes them great plays. Hamlet would be nothing without his soliloquies. Othello would lose its power without iambic pentameter and would Lady Macbeth still pack as much punch without her scheming words? I don't know, I suppose it is good that Shakespeare's 'stories' are being made accessible to the younger reader, but I feel his plays without his language are a bit like eating chocolate without the guilt - it just ain't possible.

Death in Dreams

I was watching a movie (1408 to be exact. Not bad; typical predictable Stephen King storyline, but very watchable thanks to John Cusack) and the old chestnut 'you can't die in your dreams' came up. As it happens, I had a dream recently where I killed myself. I was a professor in a university and something terrible was going to happen. I knew this because there had been a taster of it the week before but when it came back it was going to stay for good (the terrible event involved everyone in the whole world being turned into zombies). I couldn't stand the thought of this so myself and my husband decided to commit joint suicide. We lay down on our bed together and I shot him in the head and then shot myself and died. When I died, the dream merely changed to another dream. I didn't wake up or anything like that. So I guess you can die in a dream and live. Anyone else out there die in a dream, or am I just a very sick and twisted individual?

New Photos

My new photos are now up on MovieExtras. I like my full length shot (although my trousers are so long it looks like I don't have any feet, which is strange) and I like the 'personality' shot (above) but my head and shoulders shot isn't great. It isn't the photographers fault, he did his best. I don't like it because I am grinning like a maniac in it. One of the lists of photo dos and don'ts on Movie Extras is don't look comical, casting directors don't like that. Well, all I need is the red nose to look like a clown. It is very embarrassing. I wonder if I'll get any job offers from it (anyone looking for a village idiot?)

Book Review: The House of Thunder by Dean Koontz

This book was first published in 1980 under the pen name of Leigh Nichols. Its writing style reminds me of Robin Cook or Michael Cricthon's books of the same era. The story centers around Susan, who awakes in a small county hospital after receiving a brain injury in a car crash that left her in a coma. Her recovery is going well and she is even developing a romance with her dishy doctor when she starts to see the ghosts of the four men who killed her college sweetheart thirteen years before - or does she? The plot is clever in that nothing is quite what it seems and the writing describes skillfully some scary set pieces. It is an entertaining although not ground breaking read. I give it 5/10

Voiceless

I lost my voice yesterday and I can't remember where I put it. The weird thing is, I think I can still talk and then I open my mouth and this hoarse croaking whisper comes out. No matter how hard I try to speak, it doesn't make any difference. When I manage to get a word out it sounds like I have important secrets to impart and it is strange when people reply in a normal tone of voice. I know when other people have lost their voice I always feel tempted to whisper when I speak to them - in solidarity or just because it sounds plain weird talking normaly while they speak quietly, I don't know. I hope my voice comes back soon. I hope there isn't a deeper reason why it is has left me - like a message that I should be silenced or that it has found a big black horse and a cherry tree it would rather be with. Ok, altogether now - whoo-hoo, whoo-hoo

Review of week: 3rd - 9th March

My health wasn't great this week so, apart from teaching, I more or less took the week off. I read one and a half books and wrote half a story. Should have heard back about some of my January stories by this stage, but still not a peep. Writing is a good lesson in patience. My fitness age today is 26. Must do my brain age, probably would be about 88. Lost my voice today, hope I can find it again.

Quote of the day

'There's too much blood in my caffeine system!'

The Lion

For their loyalty to her cause
She rewarded them.
Before her throne they knelt, heads bowed,
Respectful,
And sapphire light engulfed them.
For moments they knew bliss and then -
Changed eternally -
They emerged into new life.
Free together they enjoyed the novelty,
Discovering what it was to be,
And in their play they trespassed,
Using gifts that did not belong to kill.
Rent from top to toe by claws designed for giving,
A fissure opened to allow a shadow in.
Multiplying like the darkness,
The creatures grew from the once proud ones sin.
Blue flame flickered now in colder fury,
Cursing the favoured for their one ill fated action.
Shamed to look upon each other they scattered,
Seeking distance to fill the void they had created.
Yet hope still glimmered if they paused to find it.
Redemption lay within their grasp,
If not their sight.
To rid the world of shadow and to heal it,
To end the wrong they caused and make it right.
Until that day they must wander,
Knowing neither warmth nor sleep nor food nor love.
Denied all that makes life precious,
Persevered from death until they can make good
Their fall and once more roar in union together.

Book Review: Voices by Ursula Le Guin

Ursula Le Guin is a well known author in fantasy circles for her Earthsea trilogy of novels. I read the Earthsea cycle several years ago and, while I enjoyed them, I have a very vague memory of what they were about. I'm not sure where Voices fits in with her more famous books, but I certainly enjoyed it a lot better. It is set in a town that has been persecuted because of its love for books, and told through the perspective of a seventeen year old girl. The prose is simple, the descriptions evocative and the situation very realistic despite its fantasy setting. I'm not really sure why it is called Voices, as the story is told from one person's point of view and voices don't seem to play a big part in the story (as in, she doesn't hear voices and she isn't always listening to different people and their opinions). There is also a woman with a lion which I liked. This story involved little to no magic, so if you like your fantasy stories very magical and unlike the so called real world, then this book isn't for you. However, if you are in the mood for a nicely told little tale, then you might enjoy this. I give it 6/10

Book Review: Year's Best Fantasy 5

It scares me when I think I bought this book 3 years ago and only got around to reading it this year. Yup folks, the year's best fantasy stories in question are for 2004 (the book was published in 2005) and if these stories are the best, I'd hate to see the worst! Most of these stories weren't even published in magazines, but other fantasy story anthologies, so I think the whole book is a bit of a con to get the editor's pals stories published. I hadn't heard of most of the authors apart from Neil Gaimen, whose story is particularly poor (both in writing and in taste). There were one of two stories I liked, several I am surprised qualified as fantasy and the majority I am amazed even got published in the first place. If these are examples of good short stories, then I am even further off the mark than I thought I was with my own writing. I give this collection 4/10