47North Deal For Dreams Before The Start Of Time

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What a year this is turning out to be! I’m dizzy. Back in April, I delivered the manuscript for my second novel, Sleeping Embers Of An Ordinary Mind (imminent release date, 1 December) and this month I’ve signed a contract for my third novel with 47North. The title is Dreams Before The Start Of Time and the publication date is scheduled for early 2017. That sounds a long way off. But, believe me, it isn’t! 47North Logo

The premise for this novel has been in my thoughts for some time. I initially approached it as a novella project, but I’ve decided the ideas need more breathing space. So, a novel it will be! And, I’m looking forward to developing this manuscript with the guidance of my excellent editor, Jason Kirk.

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5 Authors On Their Short Story Inspirations

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Pre-order the Kindle eBook.

Pre-order the Kindle eBook.

Next week, my story “The Adoption” will be published in an anthology of speculative fiction—Phantasma—edited by J.D. Horn and Roberta Trahan. I decided to celebrate the anthology’s upcoming release by reflecting on a piece of short fiction that inspired my fiction writing. And this led me to wonder if my co-contributors could pinpoint short stories that influenced their own work.

So I’m delighted to share in this blogpost a few reflections on short form by J.D. Horn, Roberta Trahan, Jason Kirk and Kate Maruyama.

You can pre-order Phantasma Stories, a Kindle eBook, and it will be delivered to your Kindle device or Kindle app on 22 September!

So here goes, in alphabetical order… Read more →

My New Website and The Latest on Phantasma Stories

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I decided to pile on the stress this summer by rebuilding my website!

As the rebuild progressed, my second novel Sleeping Embers Of An Ordinary Mind moved steadily forward from its development edit, to copy edit and proofread. And, at the same time, I polished my short story ‘The Adoption” for the anthology, Phantasma Stories, which will include stories by J. D. Horn, Jason Kirk, Kate Maruyama, Jodi McIsaac and Roberta Trahan.

Over recent weeks I’ve solved a few glitches on the new website and blog. As for the trickiest problems, I’m fortunate to have an ace troubleshooter at hand, namely, my son Adam!

So here is the new website! Read more →

ARCs For Sleeping Embers Of An Ordinary Mind

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ARC3cropA milestone moment. A box of books! All the way from the US of A. These are Advance Reader Copies of Sleeping Embers Of An Ordinary Mind.

If you’ve never heard of ARCs, let me explain… An ARC is an uncorrected proof, and it’s produced several months before a book’s official publication date.

A publisher sends out print ARCs and electronic ARCs, mainly for review purposes. Often, they’re devoid of cover art, but as you can see, 47North has produced these ARCs with the fab front cover art, designed by M S Corley.

Sleeping Embers Of An Ordinary Mind will be published by 47North on 1 December 2015.

Cover Release: Sleeping Embers Of An Ordinary Mind

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Since I returned from my month’s research trip to China in May last year, I’ve worked flat-out to write my second novel, Sleeping Embers Of An Ordinary Mind. So this is a special week for me—to see the fabulous cover art, by designer MS Corley. I love the strong emphasis on typography.

Publication date: 1 December 2015, in Kindle eBook, paperback and audiobook editions.

It’s been immense fun to write this novel but a huge challenge, too, because of the complexity of the three-storyline structure. But I have the perfect editor in Jason Kirk at 47North. He gives me invaluable advice and has the knack of suggesting subtle changes that have a big impact.

And with two novels under my belt, I felt it opportune to redesign my website. Many thanks to my son, Adam, who guided me through the revamp!

So here’s the cover and the back cover blurb: Read more →

A Conversation With Speculative Fiction Author E.J. Swift

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ejswift_author photo_bw smallI met E.J. Swift last summer when we shared a panel at LonCon 3, with David Hebblethwaite and Adam Roberts, discussing writers who cross the boundary between mainstream fiction and science fiction. Since then, I’ve finished my second novel, Sleeping Embers Of An Ordinary Mind, and E.J. has completed her trilogy The Osiris Project. Not only that…E.J.’s short story “The Spiders of Stockholm” has been long-listed for The Sunday Times EFG Short Story Competition.

We felt it was time for a catch-up chat—about past writing and future plans. Read more →

And The Title For My Novel Is…

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SLEEPING EMBERS OF AN ORDINARY MIND

I’m absolutely thrilled with this title and I’m now excited about the next stage in the publishing process—cover concepts by 47North’s designers.

The publication date will be sometime this year and as soon as it’s firmly decided I’ll announce it here.

It was a tough challenge to find a title because this novel has three intertwining storylines set 600 years apart—in fifteenth century Italy, present-day China and twenty-second century London.

So when, and how, did I arrive at Sleeping Embers Of An Ordinary Mind? And how did I even choose a working title? Read more →