Direct Marketing

Two or three interesting blog entries in the last 24 hrs on the subject of connecting creative types directly with their audience. The first, from Amanda Palmer, is a stand-making shout out to the effect that she is pioneering a new model, combining her effervescent web presence with paypal to make money that goes directly […]

A Word About Stories

It occurred to me this morning, in a dull flash of latent stupidity, that I’ve not done a terrible amount to point visitors to stories of mine that can be found lying around the web. These were all fanfared when they were first posted, of course, but time has seen the links trampled into the […]

Microcosmos

Really, really, REALLY enjoyed Nina Allan’s “Microcosmos” in Interzone#222. It’s thoughtful and immersive, and builds a complicated family backstory around the young narrator through hints at things unspoken and things that are spoken being not fully understood. Loved it. This issue of the magazine was one of those quirky, varied issues that just throws stuff […]

Interzone and me

So, yes, officially, my story Spy Vs Spy will be appearing in the next issue of Interzone. I talk about Interzone quite a lot on this blog: a/ because it’s personally important to me and fundamentally linked to my development as a writer and b/ because it remains a damned good read. And it has […]

AbFab Whitby

So, over the weekend the postman dropped a very welcome jiffy bag on my mat. It was something I’ve been looking forward to for a fair while now, and I’m delighted to announce the arrival of Fabulous Whitby. This is the second in what looks hopefully like it might be a series of short story […]

The Taste Of Mundanity

So, the Mundane SF issue of Interzone has come and gone. In case you’ve not been aware, there was a whole bunch of foohfarah about the Mundane manifesto, because I don’t know, the rhetoric rubbed people up the wrong way or something. And that was rekindled when IZ announced they were handing over the reins […]

It’s a Farrago, I tell you

In the world of online fiction zines, Farrago’s Wainscot has established itself as among the most chic, oblique and unique. Their regular selection of literary short stories is always worth dipping into, and if that weren’t enough they have this little bundle of extras that goes by the name of Behind The Wainscot. In the […]

As chance would have it…

Delighted to see that my story Amber Rain, first published in The Third Alternative yonks ago, has been reprinted in the very excellent new zine, Serendipity. Cool, huh?

Interzone is 25

With the publication of its latest issue (in the shops now!), Interzone magazine is officially 25 years old. I’ve been reading it for at least 80% of that time and over the years it has introduced me to an uncountable list of fantastic writers that have enriched my life. I’ve eulogised about the mag before, […]

Word, Dog

A date for yer diary, should you be interested in this sort of thing.Wednesday 24th January, 8.30pm 13th Note, King Street, Glasgow Word Dogs : Cry Havoc! An explosive evening of high-octane fiction readings on the subject of conflict, war, ruckuses, barneys and gentlemen’s boxing brought to you by Word Dogs, the exhibitionist arm of […]