I stole the term ‘imaginary bets’ from Tim Powers. He used it in the talk he gave at Eastercon 2009, which was a true plotting masterclass; I offer as evidence the fact that Ken McLeod, who had just won the BSFA award for best novel, was taking as many notes as I was. The Powers’ […]

Of Guardians of Paradise, from ‘Strange Horizons’, right here. Be warned: contains spoilers for my earlier books.

I’ve been aware, in the week since handing in Bringer of Light, of the need to refocus on the next novel. Okay, I’m also waiting for editorial feedback, tinkering with short stories and enjoying the seasonal re-appearance of my social life, but really those are just excuses. Prompted by a desire to avoid another deadline […]

I emailed Bringer of Light off to my agent at 11:55pm on Tuesday evening, technically meeting the November 30th deadline. Right now I’m feeling slightly lost without the Little Nagging Voice telling me I should be writing. Of course, I still should be writing: I’ve got several short stories I’d like to revisit, not to […]

I was meant to be Scorpio. Not actually a giant sky scorpion, but born under the sign of same. Only, I was fashionably late, and so I’m – just – Sagittarius. Not that I’m at all sure about astrology – those born in Sagittarius are meant to be moderate, athletic, reasonable people, whereas I … […]

Holiday win, as the young folks might say. The village is quaint, the coastline dramatic and our cottage, nestled against a cliff above a small but perfectly formed fishing harbour, comes with its own working well, terraced garden and gun emplacement (though I’m not sure the cannon still works). I’ve done a little writing, but […]

Now don’t laugh, but I’m now old enough that the word ‘hiatus’ sometimes gets associated with the word ‘hernia’  in the echoing spaces of my brain. This is a shame as it’s a fine word, more suited to keeping company with words like ‘myriad’ and ‘plangent’. Just for the record, I haven’t been unlucky enough […]

I’ve seen two reviews of Guardians of Paradise these week, one positive, this one less so. I thought I’d link to both, in the interests of balance. Meanwhile, I’m so near the end of Bringer of Light I can smell victory. Or rather, leisure time. Just gotta hold my nerve…

I’d go to this. I might anyway, but in my current deadline-ridden state next March is a little too far ahead to be planning.

Gollancz have now put a fine selection of photos from last week’s party on their Facebook page, just here. I took far too much pleasure in responding to compliments about my fangs by trying to look innocent and saying ,’What fangs?’ Not that it was easy to look innocent in that costume. Ming was the […]