Interviewing: Christopher Priest

Back when I joined the Glasgow SF Writers’ Circle I asked the members, who were clearly much better versed in the genre than I was, for recommendations of authors to read. The suggestions I received formed the basis of an excellent education, both in the history of SF and in my own tastes. I discovered, […]

Like a Satellite

If you’re in the West of Scotland over this weekend and you enjoy Science Fiction, you might enjoy spending a day or two at the Satellite 6 convention being held at the Crowne Plaza hotel. The guest of honour this year is the most excellent Paul McAuley, and it’ll be worth coming along to hear […]

The Importance of Warm Socks

I’m currently coming down from Follycon, the 2018 edition of Eastercon, which was held this year in the pretty (if sodden and sleety) Yorkshire town of Harrogate. I always find Eastercons a revitalising experience as a writer because you’re in place where people are genuinely interested in how you’re getting on. What have you written […]

The FAWM experiment

So, we’ve got to the end of February already and I’m happy to say I managed to get through my first attempt at February Album Writing Month (or FAWM as it’s known – think NaNoWriMo for songwriters) more or less successfully. I say more or less because, while the aim of the challenge is to […]

Some upcoming events

There follows a short round up of some stuff I’m really pleased to be doing over the next month or so: Feb 5th : In the guise of Bert Finkle, with my criminal accomplice Markee de Saw, I’m going to be performing at Spangled Cabaret’s 10th birthday show. Spangled has been a main artery of […]

The year of rediscovering what we do with two hands and a voice

Like many people, I like to use January to take stock and plan what I want to do creatively during the coming twelve months. This year, in writing terms I’ve got a clear and straightforward things-to-do list (one novel, one novella and as many short stories as I can cram into the time available), but […]

2017 Roundup

Time for my annual review of the creative year. It’s always interesting to compare what I’d planned for against what actually came to pass. I always feel that when it comes to creativity, you’ve got to be prepared to roll with it a bit. Some projects won’t work out, while inspiration for others will blizzard in […]

Silk Bones in The Dark

It’s the season for spooky stories. If that’s your bag, check out the November issue of The Dark magazine where you can enjoy scary tales by Lisa L Hannett, Octavia Cade, L Chan and, I’m delighted to say, me! Some of you might recognise Silk Bones from Secret Language. But if the story is new […]

Imposter Syndrome

I have a story forthcoming in an excellent new anthology of horror stories called Imposter Syndrome. Editors James Everington and Dan Howarth have ask the cream of the current British horror writing scene (and also me) for stories of eerie doppelgangers and doubles, clones and imposters, and I’m delighted to be sharing book space with […]

The things that happened in Helsinki

Worldcon. The clue’s in the name, really. It’s blinking huge. A colossus of an event featuring hundreds of programme items and thousands of attendees. I managed to book a hotel pretty close to the convention centre and my fitness tracker still reckoned I was averaging 5-6 miles a day just walking from panel to presentation, […]