Why the new blog layout?

All shall be revealed soon.

In the meantime here is a link to keep you entertained. A new book released based on the Woody Allen comic strip drawn by Stuart Hample.

Out for lunch

I’ve just had several intensive writing days so that I can get the bulk of the second draft of ‘Juvie’ written. That’s now about three quarters done and I hope to have it complete by the end of next week. At the same time I’ve been enjoying some glorious Edinburgh autumnal weather and eating many nice lunches in the bars round and about town.

I went over to the Botanical Gardens yesterday as the weather was so fine and took some photos, and hope to see the Spain exhibition on at The Mound later today.

I’ve also been catching up on some reading:

‘Dark Entries’ is Ian Rankin’s first attempt at a graphic novel and he decided (perhaps unwisely) to write a John Constantine story. It’s not bad, it’s just not anything amazing. the story is a little predicatable, Constantine doesn’t feel like the John I know and love and the art work by Werther Dell’Edera doesn’t help.

I do however like the format it’s be printed in. Standard book size (about half the size of a graphic novel) with a good hard back cover, though the printed paper inside is a little cheap feeling.

‘All His Engines’ by Mike Carey however is much better, in fact it’s probably one of the best Constantine’s I’ve read. The story is gripping and sinister, the characters are well created and the art work by Leonardo Manco is thrilling and vivid. John in LA is a fish out of water but this highlights his Britishness as he takes on demons and old death Gods. Worth reading and a good starting place if you’ve never read any before.

‘American Jesus’ is a new work by Mark Millar, the l’enfant terrible of comics who’s work seems to be in the ascendency at the moment. I imagine this book causes all sort of issues in those of a slight religious bent, but in truth its a book about being a kid, growing up and taking responsibility for your actions. The artwork by Peter Gross is simple, reminding me of children’s books with its pale colour work.

A good work that no doubt be controversial. I’ll be interested to see them make this one into a movie and who would supply the funding.

‘The Adventures of Jimmy Corrigan - The Smartest Kid on Earth’ is a simply told tale of loneliness and your place in a family. At first the character just comes across as pitiful, but he grows on you until eventually you hope that everything turns out right for the sad Jimmy, with his overbearing mother, new found father and lack of a love life. The art work is brilliantly rendered, like pop art in miniature. A great heartfelt book.

Read this week:

‘Dark Entries’ by Ian Rankin

‘All His Engines’ by Mike Carey

‘American Jesus’ by Mark Millar

‘The Adventures of Jimmy Corrigan - The Smartest Kid on Earth’ by F. C. Ware

Coming soon to an interweb near you...

I’ve been working away at the second draft of my new novel which I can announce here. The book is called ‘Juvie’ and is set fifteen seconds into the future, that is just slightly ahead of time now. Set in Greenville, a town in the middle of the grass desert that could be the US or else a town in Europe, the novel follows Ben, a teenager who has decided to stop taking his inhibitors. The world around Ben is antagonistic too children and juveniles alike, treating them with outright hostility and ensuring that they are constantly watched and monitored after ‘the incident.’

The book is about paranoia, surveillance culture, Big Brother and the Mothering State, how we’re fearful of those who differ from us, are younger than us, think in different ways to us.

I hope to have the second draft done by Christmas with another rewrite early next year.

‘The Missing’ has had it’s cover approved and I’m now awaiting the proof copy for one last read through. The publisher’s claim it will be out for Christmas - so fingers crossed. I’ve got a website going live very shortly adamjshardlow.co.uk will be the place to find out about my work and also the new home for this blog. I’ll let you known when it’s live.

'the small print' also has a blog.

Right back to work, but before that here are a few things to keep you busy:

A great little story in pictures by the very talented Shaun Tan is available at The Guardian.

The Mannahatta Project is cool interact map showing what parts of Manhattan looked like in 1609.

A new blog by a friend of mine. He’s managed the sum total of one update so far but I’m sure he’ll add another. He is a little angry with life. Stay away if you don’t like swearing.

The website for artist Vincent Chong

And an interview with John Jarrold which is very perceptive and informative.

****

Warren Ellis is well known for his comic books, but his single novel should be hunted out as well. Crooked Little Vein is a pastiche crime novel, part Raymond Chandler, all Warren Ellis. It’s laugh out loud funny and shocking and perverted (in only the best sense) and clever.

A burned out PI Michael McGill lands a case for the American Presidents heroin addicted Chief of staff to search out a lost part of the Constitution. This leads to a nightmare road trip across the US in the company of a nymphomaniac into the darkest underbelly of alternative sexual deviance.

Did I mention it was funny?

Warren Ellis (not to be confused with the musician) is a definite favourite of mine. You can read his daily updated website here. He’s a little misanthropic, but below the gruff exterior I have first hand knowledge that he’s a very nice man deep down (I won’t say what it is to protect his cover).

Read this week:

Crooked Little Vein by Warren Ellis