Sunday 2nd May, 2010

A plug for Coyote Con [External Link] and a plug for me!

I hope the First of May passed more easily than folk tradition would suggest. It’s apparently an inauspicious day to start anything but there are at least two things I hope go well!

First of all, Drollerie Press [External Link] (whose forums I play around on and whom have been kind enough to publish one of my short stories) is one of the organisations involved in Coyote Con [External Link], the “First Annual 31 Day Digital Author Conference”, which runs for the month of May. Go have a look and have a natter. But be aware that server time is East Coast America.

And the plug for me. The podcast (that’s audio recording / broadcast to thee and me) of Half-Breed is up on Cossmass Infinities [External Link]. It’s episode 5 and read by Paul W Campbell, who has a lovely voice. (I’m not just saying that.) If you enjoy it, you might like to know it first appeared in print in Twisted Tongue, Issue 11 [External Link], which is available in hardcopy or pdf formats and is well worth a browse.

Addendum: Almost forgot the Great SteamPunk Debate [External Link], which also opened on 01/05/2010. Have a browse and enjoy that, too!

Sunday 27th December, 2009

An apology, genealogy tweaks and a writing update of sorts.

First, the apology. Yet again, I’m late. Thankfully not two days late but I’m still sorry. My keyboard decided to play up as night fell yesterday. My spare was in the garage (no electricity in there, so no chance of looking for it) so I borrowed a wireless one off my dad. Turns out it needs batteries. So I hauled out the old spare this morning. Turns out that doesn’t work any more (D’oh! for keeping it in a damp garage, I guess). I had to go to the supermarket to buy a new keyboard. Then I had to write the update. Which is pretty massive, even if it doesn’t seem so to you lot!

To follow that, the belated “Merry Christmas!” and a “Happy New Year!” for later this week.

Now the genealogy tweaks. This is the massive bit. Since my last update on all things genealogical, I’ve had a small break through on the CHARLESWORTHs. The family I called the Gazette line (note past tense) has now been connected to the main group, the Black Bull line. This has led to a few changes in the page layout and text as well as the obligatory file updates. Please let me know if you notice any stupid mistakes or you have some corrections to the data. As usual, the data I’ve presented is as a result of someone else’s hard work. This time, all thanks go to Mike SPENCER and his wonderful emailings of parish records on the DERBYSGEN list. Although a general thank you to everyone who’s been involved at any point is also sent out (you know who you all are, I’m sure).

Slightly less earth-moving is a round of TABERNER updates. Once again, the tireless team on the Lancashire OPC [External Link] have provided me with some nice little additions in the shape of baptism, marriage and burial records. Thanks guys!

And final point: Half-Breed, the first Alex Jones story has been accepted. Yes, that is a second time. It’s been accepted by CossMass Infinities [External Link] to be a podcast. Yes, that does mean audio. So: Yay!