Work on the same thing in different ways

A writer pal and I were having a conversation about how repeated themes rework themselves through our writing — to the point that some works are just collages of works that have come before.

It’s a thing I struggle with, worrying that I just keep writing the same thing over and over again (it’s true, I do), but they’re the things that interest me. If I write a book the things that speak to me are going to keep poking holes in my work so the can enter it, worm like, to suck at the organs.

At the moment I’m in a a kinda writer limbo.

I am working on novel edits and the new novels I could (should?) work on I don’t want to right now.

So I looked at the projects that have been gathering dust, and found an unfinished project from about 10 years ago. It’s got some usual weird-cat-shit in it, but I had forgotten just how odd some of this stuff was.

I clearly was operating a different brain-system back then. Maybe I can start using it again.

Short Story Stuff

One of my dream markets is The Deadlands (headed by E. Catherine Tobler from Shimmer) but they’ve become something of a bridesmaid market. I seem to regularly have holds, then 35 days later get a personal rejection. The last one was truly a poignant so close please keep submitting, but because they are so niche, I don’t have many stories suitable.I’ll send them Shadow Jack and get on their block list (gd, I love that story *sob*)

Oh well, I’ll just bundle this baby off to the next market on the list. Bye, baby!

Exciting Art Thing!

One of my favourite artists (and people, she’s just such a wonderful human) is Jenni Coutts and I’m taking the opportunity to commission something before she goes interstellar and I can only dream of art from her. She’s been doing covers for smaller presses for a while, but now the big names have started to notice her (yay!) so I hope she makes tonnes of cash doing what she loves.

I’ve managed to snag an open spot she has in December, so I am very excited to see what she does. I’ve asked for one of her black and white ink pieces because they are just so gorgeous and detailed.

(look at this I mean really, also clickenzee for more of her ink portfolio)

(ngl, her art makes me feel like fumbling toddler with a crayon, but we can’t all be amazing haha)

Audio Book News

If you’re one of the many people who prefer audiobooks these days, then the good news is you can get Cast Long Shadows on audible or other audio sites now. Narrated by the fantastic Catheleen McCarron (who narrated Eleanor Oliphant and Val McDermid’s books) and not me, you’ll be pleased to know.

Cast Long Shadows was originally published in print and ebook by Luna Press, and was shortlisted for a British Fantasy Award.

So, you might like it.

And now back to the word mines I go.