2011 Writing Review

At the begining of the year, I had several plans for what I was hoping to accomplish in terms of writing this year. We're approaching the finale now, so how have I done?

The main accomplishment has been finishing my second novel Gap Years. After some initial editing it was read by my beta readers, then I kind of ignored it for a while, but now I'm almost done with the final edit. Definitely by the end of December...

I wrote 2 of the short stories that had been waiting for ages, plus another 2 flash fiction stories that I thought up along the way. I wrote my first complete TV screenplay and plenty of suppporting material for a potential TV series. I've also collaborated on a short story with Kenneth Schneyer and recently started on another experimental collaboration with several authors. Details on both of these will be forthcoming.

What shall I do next...

Book Review: Phases of Gravity by Dan Simmons

This was the last review I wrote, several months ago now, and the book is published this month.

Unusually for me, I’m reviewing a non-SF book. This is purely by accident of course. The title, the fact that it’s about an astronaut and is being published by Subterranean Press fooled me into thinking that Dan Simmons’ Phases Of Gravity was going to be science fiction.

Read the rest of my review at SF Crowsnest.

The Gondolier in Cornish

This Cornish translation of The Gondolier is due to appear in a newsletter for learners of Cornish at some point. It's already been posted here as part of the Celtic polyglot version, but this is the first time it's appeared on its own.

An Gondoler

Gen Gareth D. Jones

Pedn dirag du ow gondola a droghas leven der dhowr kosel an gwerdhowrow. An lester smoth re servyas dhebm lies bledhen ha degi trethyji dre dhowrhensyow an cyta 'ter dornow sur ow hendasow, henath war henath.

Th era an howl ow sedha dres an cyta goth, ow treylya an dowr maga tewal vel funen dhu 'ter treven fin derhevys a grag. Me 'anellas down ayr yeyn an gwyns gorthuher.

Era teller y'n bys o tekka 'vel an cyta varthys-ma a werdhowrow ? Ha'n skath ow tos es dh'y theller yn porth, me a sevis malja'ma miras der vaner lowen ort an ebren a vis Meurth yn tewlwolow.

An Diwedh

Translated by Neil Kennedy

Retro Roadmaker

I came across this article about a 1960s concept nuclear roadmaking machine. Similar idea, though far more colourful than the machine from my Roadmaker stories.

Steampunk Novelette Sale

My steampunk novelette The Journey Within has been accepted for publication in the anthology Ancient New. The book has a wider remit than just steampunk and looks to be rather interesting.

The story had been accepted for another anthology last year that has since been cancelled.

It should be out towards the end of next year.

One Hundred Fiction Publications

Filling in my fiction tracking spreadsheet, I came to the startling realisation that Remember Yugoslavia? is my 100th fiction publication. 101st too if I count the podcast seperately.

This total includes:

44 translations in 20 languages
19 reprints
1 comic
3 podcasts

I'm quite astonished!

Steampunk Podcast

News from Anatoly Belilovsky that his story Kulturkampf is being produced as a podcast by Cast of Wonders.

Kulturkampf appears in The Immersion Book of Steampunk and was Anatoly's first story sale, though he's done rather well since and other stories were published ahead of my anthology in the end.

I'm looking forward to hearing how the story will sound.

Remember Yugoslavia?

My short story Remember Yugoslavia? is out today in Nature magazine. You can read it online, or listen to the podcast too. This will be my first podcast in an English accent!

The Future is Murky

Terry Martin of Murky Depths has given his first post-MD interview, in which he discusses the future of The House of Murky Depths now that the magazine itself has come to an end. The long-planned Best of Murky Depths is still on the cards along with several other projects. In fact, I have another possible project I discussed with Terry a while back; must give that some thought...

BSFA Award Nominations

Nominations for the BSFA awards have started making their way to the BSFA and the nominations so far have been posted. As I thought inevitable, the fabulous artwork for The Immersion Book of Steampunk has been nominated, along with one of the stories from the anthology. It will be another couple of months before the shortlist is anounced.