Lee Moan's Steam-Powered Typewriter

After a break in the schedule, I was able to return to Lazarus Island this Bank Holiday weekend, producing 6000 words in three days to bring the grand total to 41,000. I'm at the stage now where I can see the finish line not too far ahead and I'm trying not to rush the third act. Things are happening in the story which I had not planned, but which improve the narrative, whilst other things I thought would be huge dramatic highpoints have fallen a little flat. But I'm trying not to dwell on it too much. The worst thing now would be to go back over what I've already written and engage the Editor side of my brain. The Creator still has some work to do so it's best to leave him alone and let him get on with it.

The latest issue of UK spec-fic mag Scifantastic has just gone on sale. The issue contains my story 'Groghol's Staff', a light-hearted fantasy tale which first began life under the auspicious title 'The Wizard Apprenticeship Scheme'. It was originally envisioned as a fantasy take on the 70s hit record 'Camp Granada', in which a young man writes home to his parents telling them what a dreadful time he's having at camp. In the end I had to trim it down considerably and lose the epistolary element. The resulting story is still one of my most enjoyable writing experiences, one which contains much of my own humour, and a dash of pathos, too. The issue is priced at £2.50 for the print version. A PDF version is available for £1. You can order a copy here: Scifantastic The cover is by Roderick Gladwish. See more of his work:( http://www.gladwishes.freeserve.co.uk )