This year ended up being a productive one, all things considered. I definitely feel like I’ve rediscovered the ability to get into a regular creative routine again. Partly that’s due to returning to working in the office two days a week, reclaiming the potential for cafe writing that’s lost when I work from home. It allows me a sense continuity that’s been missing since the pandemic. And the results have been good.
This year I’ve written eight short stories (although I may manage to squeeze in just one more before the end of the year). Of these, A Little Seasoning came out in Interzone Digital in the summer, and you can look out for A Folded Letter appearing in Chthonic Matter Quarterly early in 2024. Two more of this batch are promised to yet-to-be-announced anthologies, and I’m enjoying having extra stories to sell. A thing that hasn’t happened for a long time.
In addition to A Little Seasoning, this year’s publications also included An Antique Puzzle Chest of Unknown Origin (Weird Horror #6) and The Salted Bones (in the very last issue of Black Static). All of these stories are part of the Bequests cycle I started in 2022. Since I’ve got quite a few of these written now, I’m starting to think perhaps about a themed collection. We’ll see what happens.
Something in the definitely happening category is that my long mentioned urban folk horror novella is going to be published. Charlie Says will be brought to life in 2024 by the amazing Black Shuck Books, and if you’re in the market for the instilled terror of 1970s public information films remixed through the lens of contemporary right-wing Britain, keep your eyes peeled for that one.
Talking of longer works, after taking a break to let the new novel mulch for a bit, I’m back in full flow with it again and all being well it should be finished in the first quarter of 2024. This is my first novel length contemporary supernatural story, and I can hand on heart say that it’s pretty darn refreshing not to have to reinvent the rules of the world every couple of chapters. Don’t get me wrong, I love secondary world settings but this is so much easier. Can recommend!
And one more nice thing on the writing front is that A Moment Of Zugzwang (ParSec #4) was shortlisted for both the British Science Fiction Association and British Fantasy awards. It didn’t win either, but I was stunned to be nominated. The story was also reprinted in the Best of British Science Fiction, so I feel it very much earned its keep.
Musicwise, as is traditional now, February Album Writing Month came and went and left behind it a collection of songs that I was well pleased with. I’ve been so busy on the writing front that it took me ages to find the time to mix and master them yet but, by God, it is out now on Bandcamp. The loose theme was crime and detectives, and so it’s called Noirish.
(Fun fact This was my first year recording with a cat in the house, and I didn’t realise how helpful Az would be. Not only is he the cover model, you can hear him singing on one track and he provides an athletic and perfectly timed organ vamp at the end of another. Yeah, and there’s an entire song about him too. shrugs You take inspiration where you find it, right?)
Anyway, that’s it. That’s everything. A busy year, and with the run up to the World Science Fiction Convention in Glasgow next August, 2024 is looking just as busy.
Thanks to everyone that’s bought or read or listened this year. Yis are all champions.
ayeahmur 