A better day today. Thank goodness. Even managed to get the draft minutes done from yesterday and with my boss for checking, so I’m very nearly on top of it all. For now … And talking of being on top of it all, I mustn’t forget to welcome the last of the year’s calendar firemen. So hello to Dave whose hobbies include weight training, skiing and motor cycling. He’s really very cute, but should be wearing less, to my mind. Not that I’m fussy ...

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God, but today was long. And wearisome. And totally exhausting. I think I've aged at least five years just dragging myself through it. I seemed to have been in work for weeks and weeks, but when I looked at the clock it was only 9.45am. Damn and double damn.

Talking of clocks though, I've had a bit of technical difficulty with my watch once we turned the corner from November to December. It didn't seem to understand when I tried to move it from the 31st to the 1st of the month, as each time I tried it would change the time instead. No matter the position of the button ...

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got home yesterday after twelve days in England, exhausted but inspired... sad that I left J over there for another 3 weeks, but energized and looking forward to a productive month. I already had some lovely news: my portfolio of three short stories has been Highly Commended in the Biscuit Publishing Short Story Competition.

I've got a busy week - I'll be launching the second issue of The Short Reviewon Thursday (fingers crossed!) and with almost 1000 hits to the first issue, I have high hopes that this issue - which is bigger than the last, with more reviews from my expanding stable of reviewers- will get even more hits from far and wide.

One thing I did in England was pick up several review copies of books sent to me by kindly publishers and distribute them...

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(photo courtesy of Amy Glendinning - The Heywood Advertiser)






It occured to me that in all the times I've mentioned school visits and workshops and such I haven't ever really gone into much detail regarding what actually goes on when I do them. So, here goes...




I arrived at Woodland Community Primary School at ten o'clock. This was good; I was on time.




I was welcomed by a very friendly member of staff (this is important - it's far nicer to be welcomed by a friendly person than a misery guts!) who signed me in. (Which has reminded me - I didn't sign out at the end of the day. I hope they don't think I'm still there.)

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I was very pleased to hear last night that the excellent Screaming Dreams (who publish the smart Estronomicon e-zine) will be publishing my mini-novella The Vampire Narcissus in the early part of next year as a free downloadable PDF.

The story is set in Renaissance Italy, and on the whole concerns a dark romance between...

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Well, I love writing full stop. But what I really love about my job is when I get the opportunity to visit schools and run workshops and meet children and do readings, and, and...

I've just got in from a day at Woodland Community Primary School, Rochdale. I'll blog in more detail when I've a little more time but I have to say that I loved it. Brilliant children, brilliant teachers, brilliant Head, brilliant school and a brilliant day.

As part of my visit I was truly honoured to officially open their new school library (which is BRILLIANT.) Below is a picture of the plaque. (I never thought I'd have my name - correctly spelled! - on a plaque!)


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Lazy morning today - though we did venture out in the rain to sort the cars out. I do like checking the tyres regularly and looking at the oil and water and stuff. It makes me feel useful and gives me a false illusion of control. And Lord knows how I need that!

I've also been very domestic and made a crumble for pudding, though as usual I left the roast to Lord H. And we've wrapped Christmas up, hurrah! And even done cards. Far fewer than last year, thank the Lord, as I'm culling, m'dears, I'm culling ...

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Writers are a motley bunch. Take a core sample through the Society of Authors and you'll find high-literateurs, cheerful writers of category fiction, self-publishers of exquisite nature books, academics, and authors of joke books for the Christmas market, and that's before you've got your own name-label safely on. We have only a few things in common: bodies the shape you'd expect from working sitting down in reach of the kitchen, a slightly mad look in our eyes from too much time spent alone, a tendency to talk too much when another human being does heave over the horizon, and a tendency not to discuss work in progress.

There are people who assume we're not talking because we don't want our ideas pinched.


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After a wild night it is now a wild day. Rusty, tottering on his 20 year old legs, nearly got blown over but insists on having his early morning walk. A dignified dog dislikes wearing coats but he has one which is only worn in extreme circumstanes like today. The wind howled. He swayed. We made it to the smelling post and weaved our way back. Deaf and nearly blind, that post is his purpose now that his pal, Phoebe, has gone. Little did we realise how much he depended on her.
Five years ago, we had 2 cats and 2 dogs now there's only Rusty.
This afternoon, as I don't have to do my duty, I'm trying to work on a story but the wind and rain outside, strangely distracts. So I read Y'vonne's story and her poem. Very good. Now I will get on with my own. Forget about the weather and it's violent mood.

I've had quite a good time this morning helping to run the Goldenford bookstall at Farnham Maltings - in spite of having to get up at 6am! We sold a copy of Laptop and a copy of The Hit List (the latter to the very lovely stall holders behind us - so thank you for that, Tim & Trudi. Very much appreciated indeed!) Irene also sold some of her collectables, which we were showcasing on the table - so well done, Irene! It was also good fun simply because of the amount of people coming through the doors. Had lots of great conversations, and people were surprisingly willing to chat. Must be Christmas! Arrrggghh, the "C" word - sorry ...

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