Wednesday 26 August 2009 A Stitch in Time

I’m sure I don’t need to remind you, but I’m going to anyway: Fifty-Two Stitches is available for pre-order right now.

It’s packed with great stories and has a very creepy cover courtesy of Aaron Polson - is there nothing this guy can’t turn his hand to?


So, what are you waiting for? Don’t waste your time reading this nonsense, head on over and place your order. You know you want to.

As soon as I get my copy, I’m going to sign it, auction it on eBay and buy it back myself at an extortionate headline grabbing fee in the perverted hope that it raises my pitiful profile.

Monday 17 August 2009 Hobbled

After my whinge-fest in the last post about not having enough time and wanting the world to stop for a while, I experienced a classic case of be careful what you wish for. The world didn’t exactly stop and wait for me to catch up, but it certainly slowed.

All because of what should have been an innocuous little fall, a simple misplaced step as I crossed a ditch. My foot caught in a hole in the dirt; the rest of me fell and my stubborn foot stayed just where it was for a little too long until deciding to follow the rest of my falling body.

I’ve written about intense white-hot pain before, but don’t think I’ve ever actually felt it... until then, that is.

As I struggled to my feet and tried to walk, it felt as if my foot had been ripped off and I was trying to walk on a raw and bloodied stump.

After hours of waiting in Accident and Emergency to see a doctor, then god knows how long waiting for an x-ray and another wait for the doctor, I was told that nothing was broken, but that I’d damaged muscle and torn ligaments and it would take a while to heal.

A week later and I can just about put weight on the thing and manage to get around, albeit with a rather peculiar and ridiculous gait that would easily qualify for the Ministry of Silly Walks. A walk that’s resulted in much mocking and little sympathy from my loving family.

Still, the upside of all this is some unexpected time off work in which I’ve managed to catch up on some of those things I whined about in the last post. Not enough obviously, but I’m not complaining.

On those occasions (few and far between) when I’ve managed to wrestle the lap-top away from an evil family member, I’ve even managed to wrap up a story or two. My internet allowance has been severely limited though; I only pay for it, why should I get to use it?

What I’ve really learned from this though, is that my blog is clearly cursed in a Monkey’s Paw kind of way and I really must be careful what I write here.

Expect a carefully considered, danger-free post next time.

Tuesday 4 August 2009 Time Management

Where the hell did that week go? I try to keep this pitiful blog updated on a regular (if not frequent) basis, but that last week just flew by and I think I pretty much stood still.

As ever, I’m behind with just about everything.

I have a huge To Read pile that seems to be growing like some sort of nasty rash. I’ve read an awful lot of junk recently and want to get back to some good stuff, some stuff I actually enjoy and look forward to reading. Recommendations welcome, by the way – I’m pretty eclectic.

I don’t watch much TV, but my To Watch pile is increasing and I’m behind on that too. I’ve only just caught up with the recent season of Lost - fantastic, as ever and I really must make an effort to keep up to date with the final season as it happens. The last episode was great and left me desperate for more. Still didn’t top the end of season 3 though – We have to go back to the island, Kate… classic moment.

Yesterday, I finished the first season of Dexter – loved it, and will probably add the books to my To Read pile.

I still have most of The Sopranos to watch, as well as Band of Brothers, two seasons of Dexter, a Twilight Zone box-set and the first season of Night Gallery. Oh, and countless films too.

See, I’m not exactly up to the minute.

My To Listen pile (OK, that’s not actually a pile as such, more a digital mass) is always increasing, and I’m lagging way behind.

Did I mention my writing? Way, way, way behind on that. Lots to write, lots to draft, lots to edit, to polish, submit, cry over when rejected, submit again.

I just need the world to stop for a while and let me catch up. That’s not a lot to ask for, now is it?