Diary

January 2012 - Anyone who lives in the North East of England can submit to the new IRON Press anthology of short stories. See the IRON Press website for submission details:
www.ironpress.co.uk
December 2012 - Short story collection now with my agent, together with a rewrite of my first novel, MARGE, now called IDENTITIES. I was shocked to discover that not much has changed in the world of child sexual abuse since I wrote MARGE so it is still as relevant today.
November 2011 - I am currently working on a short story collection. Ten stories done and two to finish. IRON Press has asked me edit another anthology of short stories for them: it is for writers based in North East England and is planned for publication in Autumn 2012.
It's a damn strange world at the moment; it feels as if the planet is heading for major disasters because GREED has been allowed and encouraged. Do Cameron and Osborne live in a millionaire's bubble where they are totally unaware of what's happening in the world outside Westminster

For me, working on the first draft of a new novel is a form of self-torture; the pleasure comes later on in the editing process. But I still consider myself lucky to have found a workling life that fulfills me. Part of the joy is when the characters start interfering. Some just want bigger parts but the strong ones want to challenge the direction I'm taking them in, or the quality of their back story. Then it's time to listen and give them space to grow.

July 2010 - Finished Jez and the Anarchist and sent it off to my agent. Just have to play the waiting gamenow. Great article in the Society of Author's mag, The Author, current edition. It' s about the current state of the publishing industry - read it and weep! 
Been sitting in my partner's back yard having breakfast in the sun and watching a spider weave a line from the shed to the washing line to the window and then set about creating a gorgeous large web, so perfect, so light, so clever. Put me in my place in the scheme of things.
Yesterday, went to see Anne Orwin's Senior Youth Theatre perform a short play of mine - Making Plans for Jessica.  It's set in a Care Home where the residents collaborate and rebel against the senior Care Worker. The strap line is: Old Dogs; New Tricks. It's had two good earlier productions. This one was BRILLIANT because the young actors performed it so convincingly; and the direction was excellent. It needs to be seen more widely and we are making plans...Fantastic Youth Theatre Group, so talented. 
Working on short stories at the moment. It's a very different discipline to the novel in many ways, but at least I don't have to hold 70,000 words in my head all the time!

June  2010 - Ended up having pleurisy - awful pain! Back with a vengeance now. The Other Side of Clouds is now with my agent, as is another novel I was able to work on while taking steroids (Ugh!). It's working title is Jez and the Anarchist and it's set in poor West Cumbria where the latest madman-with-gun went wild.  I'm also working on some short stories. I was stimulated by winning the Notes from the Underground/Latitude Festval Short Story Competition last year. Most excitingly, all the reaserch I've been doing on Beowulf is now coming to fruition. 

Mar.2010 - My grandson, Jack's 21st birthday. Hope he's having fun with his pals.
Woke up in the early hours from a bizarre apocalyptic dream. Lots of flooding, running around large cargo boats, being chased (of course) and ending up in the sea close by some disintegrating piers. All around me in the water were dozens of wrapped presents. Wrote it all down in my dream notebook. Sometimes I look back at descriptions of dreams I've had months and years ago and I don't recognise a thing, which is really spooky. On to the hard slog with The Other Side of Clouds, a brand new ending. It's getting there.


Feb .27. 2010 - Been laid up with a strange 'something'. Swollen throat, swollen tongue, back pain, loss of appetite, and that's just the start! Was supposed to be doing a reading with my partner on Wednesday evening; he was more than able to hold the fort. In bed for three days and having emerged got that brand new feeling. Also, that glad to be among the living rush. Consequently back to the work in progress, The Other Side of Clouds, with  renewed energy. Should finish this draft by the end of next week. Then I'll put it to bed for a few days before doing one more draft.
Just (before the compulsory bed rest) completed a picture story book for younger kids. Have to ask my friend, Maxine, down the road if she'd like to do some paintings on spec then I'll send the lot to my agent.

Jan 2010 - Now tutoring part-time in Creative Writing at Northumberland University. Loving the students and their freshness; it's good to be challenged by their questions and exciting to be stimulated by their energy. Still working on my novel, The Other Side of Clouds, doing another edit and hope to complete it by mid February at the latest.
Loved the snow; it was beautiful to look at and it kept me indoors, writing.