Sunday 1st December, 2014

Welcome to Advent – for those of you who are Christmas inclined. I’ve not been up to much I can share this week, although the International Rapier Seminar for next year has been announced, so on with the Christmassy video!

(Christmassy in that it mentions the season, not that it’s celebrating the birth of Christ. My interests in this are purely secular.)

TTA Press [External Link] Also restart the Advent calendar of free online fiction and today’s piece is by William Meickle. Today’s link is here: [External Link]

Monday 24th December, 2012

Merry Christmas!

Apologies for the delay in posting but I went to Glasgow for the weekend and really couldn’t bring myself to write a bog post when I got back on Sunday evening. I maybe should have lined up something beforehand but thought a Christmas Eve post would be the most seasonal thing to do. In keeping with this, the penultimate day of the TTA Press Advent calendar is up (links can be found from here: [External Link] and the forum thread for discussion is here: [External Link]), and I’m cooking the things I’m supposed to take round for the family dinner tomorrow.

To prove that Christmas is essentially here, I have a brass band:

Extra brownie points / mince pies all round if you remember all the words!

A number of historical fencing events have gone up on my list of events. In date order:

There isn’t much else to talk about and I’ll update you on my Flattr-ing [External Link] experience next week.

Sunday 16th December, 2012

Another round of Advent presents!

The TTA Press Advent calendar continues (links can be found from here: [External Link]) and there is a forum thread for discussion (here: [External Link]).

(If you want me to mention another Advent calendar or you feel my ignorance of them needs fixing, get in touch!)

Here are episodes 5 and 6 of the children’s TV series, Moondial. Episode 6 is the conclusion, so something different next week.

Remember my edition of The Next Big Thing? My nominees versions went up this week, so here are the direct links to Amber FOX’s edition [Link Defunct] and Vincent HOLLAND-KEEN’s [External Link].

My Flattr [External Link] experiment continues. It’s still surprisingly hard to tip people whp don’t have it on their sites. If they don’t, it’s possible to tweet it at them – but there’s nothing to say they have to pick up said tweet. This is assuming they have a twitter account or that the contact details for it are available on the site. Ah, well, more money in for the other ten or so people who have accepted a share of my December budget. And some people obviously aren’t interested in picking up what could end up being tiny donations even if there’s a possibility of it all adding up. Both Google and Wikipedia have joined in at some point priorto my joining, interestingly enough, so there are obviously people who think this is going to work out.

(A note, in case you haven’t read the Flattr site through: the tip is divided among all the people I click on and accept my click at the end of the calendar month. The clicker also sets a monthly budget of how much money they have available to divide among the clickees.)

Sunday 9th December, 2012

More Advent presents!

The TTA Press Advent calendar continues (links can be found from here: [External Link]) and there is a forum thread for discussion (here: [External Link]).

But, today, you don’t need to go that far as my story was up (with slight delay for a technical difficulty that was basically your standard “problem exists between chair and keyboard”). It’s called How Otter Made The World and is a sort of Just So / children’s story. Or an Otter Creationist Story. Or something.

(If you want me to mention another Advent calendar or you feel my ignorance of them needs fixing, get in touch!)

Continuing the Moondial series of episodes / videos, here are episodes 3 and 4:

As mentioned last Sunday, Bob Lock nominated me as part of the “The Next Big Thing” blog roll (direct link to Bob’s version here: [External Link]). The JourneyMouse Edition went up on Wednesday. I’m expecting Amber FOX and Vincent HOLLAND-KEEN [External Link] to join in the fun this week. There are also a selection of links to other friends and acquaintances who have already taken part.

And my last Advent / December project (that I know about…): Flattr [External Link]. I have signed up and given myself a five euro budget for the month to go out and tell people I think they’re great (and that I want to hand over some pennies. It’s surprisingly hard because a lot of people I would like to tip – online comics, I’m looking at you – haven’t so far signed up. I can drop gentle hints by sending it to a twitter account, though. Some people have joined in and seem to like the idea, some people not. I’m quite liking the whole damned thing and hope it works out.

Sunday 2nd December, 2012

Well, welcome to Advent. First, let’s start with you Advent presents.

Advent Calendars

There are numerous online calendars out there but the one I’m attached to (as ever) is the TTA Press one. You can find the latest links from the website ([External Link]) and there is a forum thread for discussion ([External Link]).

Of course, you’ve guessed the reason why I’m attached to it: I have a story up on the 9th.

Also, if you want me to mention another Advent calendar or you feel my ignorance of them needs fixing, put something in the comments or get in touch!

UnSeasonal Videos

Those of you who’ve been before at this time of year know that I like to post videos during Advent. So, here’s two. Yes, two. I recently “re-found” the Moondial series on YouTube and thought I’d share. I’m going to be a bit odd in that I’m going to post two episodes (there’s a total of six) each weekend. This means that the Sunday before Christmas will have to be something else. I have no idea what, yet, but I will post something.

Moondial, Episdoe 1:

Moondial, Episode 2:

Right, now the presents are out the way, here’s the “business” stuff.

Last week, I was nominated by Bob Lock to take part in the “The Next Big Thing” blog roll (direct link to Bob’s version here: [External Link]). This goes up on Wednesday 5th December and I nominate a couple of people to carry on from me (I’m not publicly naming and shaming until Wednesday). There are also a selection of links to other friends and acquaintances who have already taken part.

The second thing I want to mention is Flattr [External Link]. It’s a new(ish) way to leave tips for websites that looks promising. Basically, you put some money on a Flattr account. You wander the internet and tip things. At the end of the month, the money you put on account gets split between all your tip notices. It doesn’t seem like a lot (a tip could end up being as little as a Euro cent) but if lots of people do it, it could add up to signifcant recognition and recompense for the people who put a lot of time and effort into their web content.

Anyway, I’ve signed up and intend to trial it for December. My main aim is to be able to give recognition to others without having to give a chunk of money (Paypal, etc, make it difficult to, say, give just 50p for a good story). This also means, as I’m self-serving this way, I’ve set up the buttons on my website, too. I only intend to have them active on the fiction I make available but, until I get on top of the plug-in, they can turn up on any post I haven’t disabled them on. Please have patience with this and please consider putting them on any content you offer in case someone feels like leaving a tip!

Finally, the Outlaw Bodies information:

  • The blog carnival [External Link] can be found here. Nothing has gone up lately. Please let us know if you have a review up that isn’t mentioned or you’ve seen one.
  • Some of the stories have been released as the latest The Future Fire issue (#25 is here: [External Link]). My story is one of the ones available as a webpage.
  • If you look up the EPUB or mobi format copies of the anthology on Wizard Tower Books [External Link], my story (being the first in the book) is the taster.
  • And if you want to talk about that story, there’s room in the comments on the background post.

Monday 26th December, 2011

Archway

An archway in Valletta, Malta

As per usual, not much to see here. I haven’t gotten around to those bits and pieces whizzing around my head that might make short stories, yet, but I have been doing a bit of reading in preparation for the second section of “The Gens”. Not that I expect to get around to it any time soon, but preparation is good. I also had a bit more of a play at drawing and did the above from a photo (from 2003) taken in Valletta, Malta. The original photo actually has people in it but I was too lazy to attempt putting them in.

I’ve decided to put up one final video for December, although Christmas has technically been and gone and Advent is therefore well over. However, “The Fairytale of New York” can be enjoyed at any time!

Sunday 18th December, 2011

Earlier in the week, I posted All the other reindeers games – a brief sumamry of what I’ve found on the animals who want to be humans in mythology and folklore. It’s by no means extensive but it gives you – and me, when I come back to it – a summary and an easy start on where to look for things. It seemed only fair to look at these things seeing as movement in the opposite direction plays a large part in my Alex Jones world and related writing.

On that note, I’m up to Method 10 in (editing) 25 Ways To Kill A Werewolf. It’ll probably be the last bit I work on this side of New Year as I intend to have a play with a few bits and pieces whizzing around my head that might make short stories. Also, I need to start doing some research for my Three Guineveres idea (occasionally referred to as “The Gens”) and flesh out what my second Guinevere is up to. I tell myself this is a reward for making it 40% of the way through 25 Ways but, as with the original draft, it’s another “how long is a piece of string?” job. The next 15 methods could take half as long again to edit through or it might take ten times as long or it might not take much time at all.

The third advent video is below. I’m finally going for Christmas-y with not only a Christmas song but a brass band playing it, too. It’s from a while back but the band is “local” to me being from an ex-colliery village about seven miles away from where I live. And, like a lot of people from or living in the North of England, I don’t feel like it’s Christmas until I’ve heard a brass band play.

The next update post will probably be on the Monday after Christmas (Boxing Day here in the UK). Don’t forget the TTA Press advent calendar (links can be found here: [External Link]).

Sunday 11th December, 2011

Not much to mention this week. I’m editing 25 Ways To Kill A Werewolf (of the Alex Jones world but without Alex herself in it). More precisely, today I have been procrastinating and ignoring it. I took a pen to a hardcopy alongside beta readers’ notes last night so I technically have five chapters stacked up to type changes to and clean up the penned suggestions but I haven’t felt like it today.

Don’t forget the TTA Press advent calendar (links can be found here: [External Link]). I was Day 8 with Sanctuary but every day’s is a good read and we’d all appreciate comments, feedback and just plain page hits. Let me know of any others that are up and running this year and I’ll pass the details along next catch-up.

Here’s another advent video. Again, not a Christmas-y one – but it is Children In Need related, as I usually back the CIN Christmas song but this year have heard nothing about one:

Sunday 4th December, 2012

Two Dragons

"Forward, Upward, Onward, Together" - whether we like it or not

Well, to the left is my latest drawing attempt. You may recognise the original photo. The quote underneath is from the Bahamian coat of arms. It seemed appropriate. I don’t think my control is getting that much better – but, then, I’m effectively only putting an hour or week or so. Whether I’ll make anything more of it? It depends on how long my interest keeps up.

In writing, the latest news is that my story Beaumains is now up in the last issue of Crossed Genres [External Link]. While I’m disappointed that the ezine side of things is closing, I hope CG get the success they deserve with the other projects the team are working on. I’m also very proud to be in their last issue – if only because it means they picked me (me!) and I’ve been in an issue each year they published.

A short rugby detour: Yes, I watched Wales v. Australia. A good match and Shane Williams retired from International level with flair. But I think it will be just as interesting to see how the number 10 shirt pans out as how Wales play post-Shane. I would be very disappointed for the longer-serving Stephen Jones to leave the scene due to not being selected rather than through choice, and without the same kind of send off.

So, it’s officially Advent and it’s okay to talk about Christmas within my hearing. Anything before December 1st (except for actually buying the presents as people on my twitter feed know) and I just get grumpy.

Of course, this also means that advent calendars have taken over the world again. You can find the annual, short fiction-y goodness through the TTA Press site [External Link]. I shall be up on Day 8 but every day’s will be good for a coffee break. Let me know of any others that are up and running this year and I’ll pass the details along next catch-up.

And, as I tend to post videos at this time of year, here’s another one. It’s not a Christmas-y one, though. It’s one I found of last year’s SWASH as SWASH 2012 has officially opened for registration. Get your tickets while they’re hot, folks! [External Link]