The holiday is over

Madame Vin and I have returned from France feeling culturally enriched and rested, even though I had a cold for the last five days of the holiday. To be honest the holiday was good and though we didn't see every chateau / vineyard / museum / French country town we hoped to it was at least restful and we even got some sun which I can prove as most of my skin is now flaking off causing me to look like a sufferer of rare skin disease.

Highlights included a private tour around the vineyard of Domaine Salvert which was informative and ended with a great tasting, the Abbye de Fontevraud and our hotel in Paris which was cool (apart from the fire alarm at six am).

Photos can be seen in the following location: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=10492&l=6dd90&id=633081765

One picture I'll show here demonstrates that direct web names don't always work when using languages other than English. I'm not sure the company Fee du Scrap had this in mind...

While I was away I was able to do a bit of reading. 'Porn' by Irvine Welsh is funny and sad at the same time. The numerous voices, some written in dialect, give character and depth to those involved. The central story concerns the character Sick Boy who must team up with his old friend Renton who is hiding out in Amsterdam after ripping all his friends off at the end of 'Trainspotting'. What Sick Boy doesn't tell his old friend is that Begbie has been released from prison is now looking to get even with Renton.

The added fascination for me in this book is that it is set in and around Leith and Edinburgh, with the student flat just up the road from mine in Tollcross. That and the fact that Begbie is one evil bastard.

The second book was another in the Charlie 'Bird' Parker novels 'Dark Hollow' with Bird getting pulled in to a thirty year old mystery involving the disappearance of woman up in the snow filled town of Dark Hollow. As always the snappy dialect between Bird and his friends Louis and Angel is great and the bad guy wonderfully evil. Though there is less of a supernatural element to this book the dark undercurrent of souls desperate for peace and revenge is still a powerful undercurrent.

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Now that holidays are complete I'm starting work on a new piece of fiction which I hope to complete a first draft off by Christmas. It's a dark tale about brothers, war and loss. I'll enlighten you more as I write.

I also have the festival to contend with plus visits away to see PC Benny graduate and visits from Van the Man and the Father figure.

August does not look like a quiet month.

Read this week:
Porn by Irvine Welsh
Dark Hollow by John Connolly

Immediate Departure Expected

Off to France early tomorrow morning so thought I would get a quick post in before departing.

As we move towards summer all the listings start to be printed for the Edinburgh Festival. This gets exciting and expensive, plus it becomes a serious problem in arranging ones diary to see everything you want to (I've already had one clash because the premiere of Neil Gaiman's Stardust is on the same day I had bought tickets to the opening of the comedy gala!).

So far I've managed to get tickets to the following events:

1. Rolling With Laughter - A friend of ours who disappeared off the radar to the US is returning with her own one woman show about her own life which considering Madam Vin has known her for over fifteen years will no doubt be slightly surreal.
2. Fantasy Writing -Fantasy author Deborah J Miller discusses the pros and cons of being a genre author
3. Loose Ends - Of BBC Radio 4 fame.
4. Stardust - On which I think I've spoken before.
5. Daywatch - The follow up to Nightwatch, as I believe you can never get enough Russian vampires.

****
Read 'The Court of the Air' by Stephen Hunt. This is fantasy set in a mechanised Victorian world of vast air ships, robotic life forms run on steam, old gods and new political voices. It takes some getting into and at times it feels like too many ideas running around for their own good. I think there are probably at least a couple of books in here. I looked it up on the Internet and found this flash animation, which at least is a novel way of advertising.

I've got about three books to get through in the next ten days so plan to concentrate on doing a bit of reading in between visits to vine yards and restaurants. When I return I plan to get on with the new novel with gusto.

Read this week:
The Court of the Air by Stephen Hunt

A Rain Soaked Wonderland

As the UK is experiencing one long monsoon and with little let up in the rain I've turned my attention to reading and working my way through a few books I've had on my shelf for a while. It's either that or learn to cultivate rice on the terrace behind my flat.

Alice In Sunderland - An Entertainment by Bryan Talbot is exquisite. A comic full of interesting information that is enhanced by the artwork. The story in an unashamed ode to Sunderland (a city I've never been to), and to the relationship that Lewis Carroll had with the area. We learn of the hero's, villains, myths and history of the place, all of which is interwoven into Talbot's own Wonderland, including a white rabbit mask presenter.

It's the art work that stands out though. Using digital imagery as well as more traditional methods his work is outstanding. See this page for example http://www.bryan-talbot.com/alice/alice_page28.html. He reminds me a little of the great Dave McKean, though their styles are uniquely their own.

Read this week:
Alice in Sunderland: An Entertainment by Bryan Talbot

Course Improvements

Spent the end of the week with several visits to Glasgow attending a course to improve my skills for the work place. Apart from the early start (from me) I quite enjoy these courses, the work all makes sense and you don't have any of the pressures on you of 'real' work.

Just finished writing a synopsis for 'The Missing', which is one of my least favourite parts of writing. Summing up a novel in as few a paragraphs as possible while still trying to make the book sound exciting. It's awkward and tiring work, but at least it's finished. Also have written three reviews which have been sent off to the BFS.

****

We have a new member to our household (at least for the next week). Her name is Missy and she is currently hiding under the bed. I'll try and get a photo of her but she's a little bit shy.



She'll be staying with us until her owner returns from his holiday. Wish I hadn't bothered doing that as the Canon utility I'm using just kicked me out of Explorer resulting in a restart. When Madame Vin (previously Lady H but this is a much better moniker) and I are both using the wireless connection we have all sorts of adventures.

****

Just finished reading the second Hellblazer. 'Dangerous Habits' is better than the first as it gives Constantine a more human aspect. He is dieing, and only in death does one get to understand the fragility of their lives. That something as mundane as cancer could kill a hero who has fought of the hordes of hell is one reason that these books work so well for me. Constantine is fragile and eventually even he cannot escape a force of nature. Only in playing the devil's advocate and perhaps putting his soul in even more danger that before can he possibly hope to beat something as deadly as the disease.

Read this week:

Hellblazer: Dangerous Habits by Garth Ennis

Deastock (proof copy) by Jeffrey Thomas

A Taste of Something Wonderful

Went with Madame Vin to the Channel 4 Taste festival on Saturday where much fun was had by all. Met up with Kanga-Roux and Uncle Brian and much drink was consumed in the form of Leffe beer and wines from the Bordeaux region.

To keep stomachs from growling and moaning much marvelous food was eaten and a raw oyster was consumed.

The evening was finished off in several local inns and headaches were experienced the following day.

*****

Started reading the Hellblazer series. I've read some of these before but this time I'm determined to read them in order. It's a dark cry of a story from the bowels of the 1980's with Thatcher in full flight. The stories of the first collection 'Original Sins' are all concerned with greed in one form or another. Whether as yuppies and their need for money or drug users need for a poison.

John Constantine comes across as a haunted figure both physically in the guise of dead friends who visit him, and mentally in a past that is catching up with him. He's a wise cracking Bogart of the 80's, but one who is feeling the desperation of the city he loves.

Neither the demons nor organised religion come off as successful refugees for the empty souls that plague the period. They are both as bad as each other and both see Constantine as the enemy.

Read this week:
Hellblazer: Original Sins by Jamie Delano

Advice for crazed megalomaniacs

I’ve been out of the loop for a while as I’ve started on a new project and I’ve been bedding it in for the last few weeks, but it’s now up and running and beginning to take shape (to mix metaphors). I’ve also been reading (lots) as I’m doing some reviews for the British Fantasy Society which I assume will either be up on the website or in the magazine ‘Dark Horizons’ they produce. I’ll let you know more when I’ve written them and submitted.

On my personal reading list I’ve just finished ‘The Glass Books of the Dream Eaters’ by G. W. Dahlquist. This is a beautifully presented book (UK Hardback) with white boards and luminous transparent blue jacket. The story consists of Miss Temple, Cardinal Chang and Dr. Svenson as they come up against a cabal of sinister individuals who hold bizarre and slightly kinky parties to which are invited the best of society. Set in an imaginary Victorian city (part London, part Paris) the idea has much of ‘The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen’ about it, with science, technology and art combining to create an altered world, similar but at the same time different to the Victorian period of the history books.

The characters are finally crafted. With the three principles all taking the part of the hero this could have been tiresome, but they work together and their individual stories combine nicely. The bad guys (and gals) are also stimulating though their inability to kill the irksome trio is as infuriating as Bond’s nemeses (hint to mad crazed megalomaniacs – check they’re dead first!).

I think the only issue I would have with the story is that Mr. Dahlquist, spends just a little too much time dwelling on ripped female undergarments and a heroine who has to stop to have a quick fumble at regular intervals. This smacks of adolescent wish fulfilment and slows down the story at times.

******

I’ve just heard some good news with regards ‘The Missing’, but I’m keeping it under my hat for the moment. I’ll report it here when things are a little more concrete.

******

I hope you like the new colour scheme and layout of the blog. I’ve put up links to my current short stories (while they are still available) and I’ll add links to some of my journo pieces soon.

Read this week:
‘The Glass Books of the Dream Eaters’ by G. W. Dahlquist
Farthing Issue 5 by various

The Eternal Hunt of the Ephemeral

I thought I might as well put this very short story up here for all to read as I'm not sure what else to do with it. Think of it as a one of those free tidbits you get when dining out. Any responses will be, as always, welcome.

The Eternal Hunt of the Ephemeral

By Adam J. Shardlow

He shifted his body, turning from his bruised shoulder on to his back, intrigued as to what he might find.
A fire crackled someway off casting the surrounding trees into eldritch shadows that appeared to dance and spin in a parody of the plague dance. The flames gave off little heat but illuminated the face of the bearded man who nodded in his direction. He recognised the hunter and retuned a cadaver grin while secretly testing the bonds that held him captive. They held fast and his gaoler looked away.
A titter of manic laughter passed his sharp yellow teeth making the hunter scowl. The man was old and grizzled though he secretly knew that they had been born the same year. The slipping sands were taking their toll on his adversary as much as they were leaving him unmolested. He knew the hunter was tired, as soon as he fell asleep he would slip his knots and disappear quietly into the night to be born again, to love again, carouse again. He thought of his short sweet life, and laughed again.
He relaxed, conserving strength as the memories returned with a sudden jolt causing an expression of pleasure to pass across his delicate features. This was not how it was meant to end. His adventures had been too soon curtailed by this capture. He still had so much to do; his was a life that demanded to be lived. He blazed like star gas; a conflagration of deeds that he was not yet ready to renounce, they ached for action. The occasion of this existence had been but a fleeting punch into the world, the merry jig he had led his hunter a mere diversion still awaiting the main event.

He watched his captive with a quiet disdain from his seat by the fire. He felt old and exhausted but dared not close his eyes for fear the prisoner would once more disappear, a return to the chase that would drag on forever.
He had spent too much time on the road. This was but one of many winters he could remember, long dark expanses of frost bitten darkness, where the chill invaded his bones and refused to leave, the only accompanying sound the baying of the forever hungry wolf packs. After the shadow time the seasons seemed to merge, endless spring, summer and autumn flickered by, the tracks harder to follow but the journeying easier on body and soul. His prey always ahead of him, over the next mountain, in the next town, across the sea and desert where the winds blew eternally and the even the footsteps of the largest of creatures were wiped clean, the land both sterile and timeless. He had endured the eternal pursuit of this trickster but it had taken its toll both mentally and physically. He stroked his beard and wished for the timeless hunt to end.

Spanking comments

Well the writer's event with Alan Campbell was cancelled, so if you want to find out more about him you'll have to give his blog a go at http://anurbanfantasy.blogspot.com/index.html.

As the weather was atrocious we headed to the cinema to watch '28 Weeks Later', which was okay but personally not as good as the first movie. I'm sure the director was attempting to emulate the zombie horror movies of the early 60s that made reference to and commented on Vietnam. This film attempted to sum up America's war in Iraq in similar way, but came over as just a little bit hard handed. That said, great scenes of London being fire bombed. Lady H particularly liked seeing City Airport and the Docklands being levelled as she has had to spend so much time there with work.

Also went to see an The Curse of the Cat People from 1944, which was dreamy and strange and had some absolutely hilarious dialogue (that just wouldn't get past the pc brigade now), about a child being given a spanking for the first time.

Not many cats in it though.

Who watches the Watch Men?

I’ve just finished reading ‘Watchmen’. This is one of those comic books that I’ve been meaning to read for some time but I kept getting put off by the fact the industry considers it a mile stone, a totem of the adult comic book world. I was worried that I’d read it and not be able to work out what all the fuss has been about. I don’t like things being built up. The moment someone says this book, film, play is the best they have ever seen I know that I’m now going to be bitterly disappointed. They have taken away the magic of discovery for me, and a piece of work that I might have watched and thought of as good, now becomes simply okay.

The best pieces of work are those that I discover for myself. I can still remember the first time I sat in the cinema as saw a re-run of Cinema Paradiso, the first time I watched Casablanca on a wet Saturday afternoon, unaware that it was considered a masterpiece. The first time I read The Great Gatsby with its magical last lines and the first time I heard Gershwin accompanied by those great black and white scene’s of Woody Allen’s.

However I digress…

‘Watchmen’ is clever. It takes something of the infantile comic book staple ‘the masked hero’, and shows them with all their failings, hang-ups and personal problems. Too many hero’s, both on TV, in films and comics, seem to have few if any problems that would stop them from spending their days fighting crime, but what effect would this have on a person’s mental state. This, coupled with a super power, would turn these do gooders into gods, practically unstoppable and left to make snap decisions about what they considered right or wrong.

Another main issue is how society would cope with these heroes living among us. If we relied on these few heroes and then they fucked up, what would be the response? Would we place them above society’s normal values and concerns or would we ensure that they toed the line - that they conform to ‘normal’ society.

The book is slightly dated, rooted in the idea of the cold war and the east / west issue, but this distance helps to gain a perspective, though it would be interesting to see the book set in today’s celebrity, reality TV, ‘terrorist around ever corner’ obsessions.

Off out tonight to see a couple of authors (one of which is the writer of ‘Scar Night’) in discussion. Will report back soon with details.

Read this week: Watchmen by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons
The Killing Kind by John Connolly

The cat, the gnome and the green man

Friends arrived from New Zealand last weekend. It was good to see them after nine months living in Scotland. They were doing a tour around Europe visiting friends and family and we were first on the list for ‘the cat’ and ‘Gnome’.

Whilst much drinking and merriment was had I tried to think of something for them to do that allow out livers to recover and finally decided on taking them to Rosslyn Chapel. I have wanted to visit Rosslyn for many years after reading about it and the number of ‘Green men’ it contained but had been put off to date because of the De Vinci Code tourists.


In typical Scottish weather we paid our fee and joined the others to examine the ornate Gothic interior, with its ‘Apprentice Pillar’ and gargoyles in abundance. The Templar history is a little over done, though the possible last resting place of the chalice is (quite rightly) barely hinted at. And the Green men are fabulous.

The rest of the weekend was spent in bars (five), restaurants (three) and the Royal Botanic Gardens.

Beltane

Beltane is a pagan festival that heralds the coming of summer and the warmer months. Its resonance is felt in many religions and something akin exists around the word, in one format in another.

I joined several thousand others atop the windy Calton Hill at this years Edinburgh celebration (one of the largest in Europe). Whilst most of the Pagans have been replaced with slightly tipsy students or those hanging on from a 60s acid trip, the colours, sights and smells of the festival were thrilling.

I feel I didn’t really get to experience the best of it, mainly because the crowds were too thick, but it was certainly something to add to the events list for next year.

Perhaps he's been abducted by Aliens

Sorry about the lack of an update for the last few weeks but we have finally succumbed to the owner occupier class and bought ourselves a flat. It's in an area of Edinburgh called Tollcross which backs onto the old town. It's an interesting part of the city, I think in the misleading sales pitch of the estate agents it's classed as 'up and coming, with an eclectic mix of urban dwellers'. I think of it as shabby-chic.

That said it has everything I hoped for in out first house. The tenement dates from the 1890s and has plenty of original features such as large windows, original floorboards and smart cornicing. The flat has been fully refurbished by a building firm so the kitchen and bathroom are brand new saving us much time in the decorating and renovating business.

Tollcross is close enough to the city for my liking (a mere 10 mins walk) while at the same time boasting its own shops, delis, restaurants, cinema and bars. We've already tried a few of the hostelry's with Bennet's and the Cloister's being excellent pubs with real fires for lazy Sunday's and Henricks being the more modern bar for when I fancy a glass of wine and something to eat. The cinema is the lovely 'Cameo', which has both art house and mainstream fare. Lady H bought us membership for my birthday so I plan to spend quite a bit of time in front of the silver screen.

I am now writing this from the room we've christened 'the den' at my new desk with (at last) a proper chair. One of the best parts of moving here is the view and from the den I look out over the roof tops of the tenements opposite, an outlook that is dominated a church spire all gothic and dark. It's inspiring.

So now I'm installed its time to turn my attention to all those works that have been sitting in the back of my mind (including a story of brothers lost under London, a short about a mural, and adapting 'The Park' for a comic book) while touting the now complete 'The Missing' to agents. Time to get busy.

Read this week: Heart Shaped Box by Joe Hill

What the magpie saw…

Walking home last night from Teuchters we spied a cat stalking through the grave yard of St. Mary's Cathedral. The cat moved low to the ground, using the long grass as cover as it hunted a pigeon sitting on the ground. At first I thought the pigeon must see the cat but it turned its back on the hunter that was now less than a couple of metres from his prey.

A magpie flew into the open space and up onto the gable roof of the church. He watched the cat and the pigeon with interest. A second before the cat lunched itself at the pigeon the magpie flew down from its perch letting out a warning call allowing the pigeon to fly into the air and escape by the proverbial cat's whisker.

Is this a common reaction in birds? Do they see themselves as one species united in common cause against the cats of the world, fighting a war that stretches down through the ages? Certainly the magpie's reaction had nothing to do with its own survival as the cat had no interest in it and the magpie was perched out of reach. It also must have nothing to do with 'survival of the fittest' as far as I can tell pigeons and magpies have no dependency on each other.

Read this week:

The Book of Ballads illustrated by Charles Vess with stories by various writers.

The Missing

Finished the last re-write of 'The Missing', five minutes ago. That's it now before I print it off and hand the book over to a couple of carefully chosen readers and gain my first response to ideas that have been circulating in my mind for the last two years.

It's a strange period as I have no idea how this book will be received. Previously, I kept my readers up to date with what I was writing and would feed them tidbits as I wrote, but this time they will be entering blind. They have no idea about the themes, the setting, the characters or the intent. It will be as new to them as the first time they select a book off the shelf in a well stock library.

Now is the time I'll start to write the pitch and start researching publishers. I also want to get back to writing a few short stories before the summer project kicks off.

Disappearing Bees

Apparently all the honey bees are disappearing from the US http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/6438373.stm. No one really knows why this happening but the ecological impact could be disastrous. It gets me wondering what would happen if other creatures suddenly vanished. What would happen if one day there were no birds at all? The skies bereft of any flying creatures or the seas suddenly empty of fish? Who would eat all the acorns if the squirrels vanish? And what about bacteria? Whole processes of nature would suddenly stop happening.

Read this week:

Stardust by Neil Gaiman (the novel format).

Futuristic Elves

Interesting article from Ireland http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/6425333.stm

I suppose the man is either being quite crafty or is slightly disturbed. The one thing the article does not cover however, is why as a futuristic elf shaman he (she) needs a selection of bras and supender belts? Was the elf shaman attempting to seduce someone in the new underwear or does she just like to look good while on the run?

A Bit of a Moan

I've been away visiting the hidey hole in Barga, which has a beautiful new set of hand crafted windows installed, and to Florence. After coming down with a virus for the first couple of days of the holiday (aching knees and thighs - which is a strange one) I was able to spend the rest of the time recuperating in the sunshine, hidden from prying eyes by sticking to my favourite park bench in the old town. Not much had changed (which is one of the reasons I go) and I was able to catch up on reading and take a little time out from writing.

Florence was fun; though this time I found the place not as enchanting as past visits. Having done all the museums and seen most of the sights, we kept to wandering the streets and watching the tourists and locals alike, partaking of food and resting. I still like the place but it doesn't feel as dynamic as Edinburgh. It's as if the place has been preserved in aspic, handsome but dead - a city haunted by the living.

All the rest and recuperation from the holiday was however undone by the company RyanAir. I've often heard of those poor passengers left out in the cold by this company with no recourse to any customer service when things go wrong (as they will some times, through no fault of any one person) to which the boss Mr. O'Leary puts down to the fact they are a cheap carrier.

Our plane was cancelled five minutes before boarding was due to begin. Along with the passengers from three other planes we were left in departures with no clue as to why this had happened and no staff to tell us what to do. The crowd then had to push their way back to the main part of the airport, past some very confused security staff to three small windows (only two of which were manned) where we then queued to be seen by a member of RyanAir staff. To get to the front of this queue took us four hours. We were then given the choice of making our way to another airport in the hope of getting a flight, or waiting for two days in the hope of there being room on the next available flight. Not really satisfactory in any way when one of the queuing people mentioned that he had already been waiting two days for this flight. In the end we were able to get on a flight to a different UK airport late that evening where we had to stay overnight and then rent a car to drive back to Scotland. To add insult to injury it seems that the Ryan insurance we took out is worth absolutely nothing.

It seems that RyanAir have no desire to provide any kind of customer service, treating their customers with a complete disregard or any kind of respect, and I'm sorry Mr. O'Leary but it does not matter what I've paid for my ticket, if I've paid for a return I expect a return. As it is I can't wait for the start up of this website.

Read this week:

Untold Stories by Alan Bennett

One Valentines gift - a Flat

I'm working on a new draft of 'The Missing'. This is the one where I'll hopefully finish for now. It feels more complete than it has ever done before, with a proper ending and far better justification for the main character actions. Once this rewrite is complete (which should take about a month) I'll print it the whole lot off and give it to Lady H for its first outing in the big bad world. Only then will I start on a treatment to send out to the publishers and agents and start thinking about the next project (of which there are many).

We're off to Italy on Saturday, a few days in the house in Barga and then three nights in a great boutique hotel in Florence. I'm looking forward to the break as its the last one I might get for some time as Lady H and I have bought for each other half a flat. We plan to tape the pieces together and have a whole apartment that's all ours for the beginning of April. Not a bad Valentines day present by any ones estimation however as I'm on my own (Lady H is in London on business) I'll have to celebrate with a curry and a beer.

Read this week:

The Complete Maus by Art Spiegelman
The Prestige by Christopher Priest
The Book of General Ignorance by various

and because I got bored of books call 'The something' - Curious Scotland by George Rosie.

Hollywood Settee Spud

Just a short entry. The idea for the TV script (The Park) has taken off this week with an agent in Hollywood requesting a first look. I know nothing will come of this but it makes it feel all worthwhile knowing that someone is prepared to read my material. It makes me want to carry on and stop being a couch potato (I never refer to it as a couch preferring settee which Dictionary.com informs me comes from an alteration to the word 'settle' - I guess I'm a settee spud.).

Read this week:

Marvel 1602 written by Neil Gaiman and illustrated by Andy Kubert.

Ethereal Images

The water colours of Joseph Mallord William Turner in the Vaughn collection are only let out of storage every January. The rest of the time they are squirreled away to protect them from the damaging effects sunlight has on such delicate works.
They act as a counterpoint to the Canaletto's seen recently. Several of the works depict Venice. They are ethereal, half glimpsed silhouettes that loom out of the fog of memory. Whereas Canaletto is hard lines and detail, Turner is colour and light and imagery, half glimpsed and half remembered. I can't say I prefer them just that they speak to me in a different way.