Lee Moan's Steam-Powered Typewriter

Saw Peter Jackson's King Kong last week - a fantastic piece of cinema. Many of the negative criticisms have been over the extended running time. I remember reading that the studio bods were horrified when they heard the director's cut was three hours long, but after viewing it they decided it was fine as it was, and left it alone. Having said that, I think it was too long for what was essentially a simple (and well-known) story; but don't get me wrong - it wasn't too long in the Oh-God-when's-this-gonna-end? sense (I didn't glance at my watch once throughout the screening); I just think there was a lot of unnecessary character development with the secondary bods (i.e. Jamie Bell's character and the captain, etc.) It didn't make sense to build these characters up when they vanish completely from the storyline in the final third of the film. Still,it's an editorial quibble. Like I've already said, fantastic cinema! The realisation of Kong will go...

It was always going to be a long shot . . . Sadly, I failed the task which I set myself back on November 1st - to write a 50,000 word novel in thirty days. Yep, I'm a NaNoWriMo Loser. But I'm not disappointed. Oh no. Because, out of the flames of disaster, a phoenix has risen. About halfway through the month, I had a flash of inspiration and saw the story I was writing from a different (and far more interesting)character perspective, which meant rewriting virtually everything I'd written (all 20,000 words almost!) This is why I failed NaNoWriMo, but I have now, the first third of a much better novel. I will finish it, but at a more sensible pace. And even if I don't, there's always next year...

Revelation magazine has accepted my story 'Deus Ex Machina' for publication in their December issue. I'm very excited about this, and can't wait to see it - artwork and all! Unfortunately, due to personal commitments it looks like I'm not going to finish my 50,000 word novel before the end of NaNoWriMo (Nov 30th). I reached 20,000 words at the weekend, but things have ground to a halt. Still, I do intend to try and get it finished at a more leisurely pace, hopefully completing the book before Christmas. I'm still very excited about it.

I've only gone and signed up for what I can only describe as Organised Lunacy on a Global Scale. Yes, Novemeber is the official month for bashing out a 50,000 word novel in a mere 30 days. Easy. And peasy. Sometimes I knock out a novella in my lunch break at work.! (NOT!) This is my first attempt at this, and I'm being cautiously optimistic. My biggest problem is choosing which story to write, because right now I've got loads. (Believe me, this is not boasting. It's frightening!) I've managed to decide on what I think is the most promising idea, a story called (for the moment) 'Envy', which came to me this morning when I wrote down a one-line what-if synopsis thing, and the whole novel kind of exploded in my mind like one of those instant assembly tents, you know the ones where you just pull a cord and voila! Ici! Anyway, it's all kicking off on November 1st. I'm desperately trying not to cheat by starting it early -- you know, give myself a headst...

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it's issue 2 of new spec-fic mag Scifantastic , silly! And guess what? I'm in it!!! Hooray! Yes, turn to page five and you'll find my story 'Killing Gloria' looking very comfortable and all printed-like, with a great illustration by Roderick Gladwish. Superb! This is officially my first story in print! You can purchase this fab magazine by going to the following address: www.scifantasticmag.co.uk . Well, go on then, hurry up. Phew, need to lie down for a little while, chill . . .

I am such a bad blogger! It's been over a month since my last blog entry, but then I've been a busy little person. Several stories currently with print magazines: One story - 'Killing Gloria' - has received a hold request from brand new print mag Scifantastic . Their first issue is out next month, and 'KG' will hopefully appear in issue 2, November. 'The Man Who Ate Planets', which was being considered for inclusion at Andromeda Spaceways , was returned to me a little while back because they'd had it for three months, and couldn't find a place for it. I have since submitted it to Apex SF & Horror Digest . I then sent 'Deus Ex Machina' to Andromeda , which is now on the second round of reading. I've got two more stories waiting to be submitted during August reading periods (one to Interzone , one to new mag Farthing ). Other than that, I'm reading Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, whilst simultaneously working my way th...

"Pants"