Freedom From The Mundane

Image: AHI

Suddenly, I am back up to full speed without even noticing. After my recent lay off I decided to concentrate on one project at a time and to clearing my outstanding GDRs from last year. Now, I find I have several projects all running at once—they kind of crept up on me—all these plates [...]

February 11th, 2010 | Tags: chapbooks, Day Job, Editing, Eternal Press, Fiction, GDR's, poems, Poetry, projects, Publishing and Marketing, royalties, sitcom, stageplay, Stella, Writing, writing competitions | Category: Books, Day Job, Fiction, Food, Drink, and Bevvy, Poetry, Publishing and Marketing, Writing, Writing Process | Comments (3)

Image: MIT

I noticed out of my office window yesterday that I’d still to pick up the bird table that got blown over on Friday night. It’s still to attract the attention of any little feathered friends, so I repositioned it nearer the garage where I can see it and restocked it with seed and bread. [...]

January 18th, 2010 | Tags: Amsterdam, bird table, birds, Bluegate Poets, chapbooks, creative energy, Day Job, European tour, Facebook, Fiction, Fringe Fantastic, live gigs, Madness, Music, nature, novella, paranormal, Paris, Poetry, Poolside Poetry, Stella, Writing | Category: Animals, Books, Day Job, Edinburgh: the City & the Festivals, Fiction, I.T., Music, Poetry, Reading, Writing, Writing Process | Comments (1)

Image: ANL.gov

Those lovely people over at Eternal Press, the company that published my latest book, STELLA, are in celebration mode. 2009 was one of their best ever year’s for sales, and to celebrate it they are giving away FREE READS for each purchase of a December New Release title from their website.
Visit their site here: [...]

December 10th, 2009 | Tags: Arts Market, black and white movies, block art, Drill Hall, DVDs, Eternal Press, GDR, Harold Lloyd, Leith, Out of the Blue, Photography, silent movies, Stella, Writing, Writing Process | Category: Art, Fiction, Writing, Writing Process | Comments (1)

Image: Heavenawaits

Busy; that about sums it up. Work, work, work but it’s been at a good pace this week so I’ve not been burning myself out as I have felt I have been doing recently. And I’m lapping up literature, which can’t be bad either.
I’ve not been sleeping too great this week. I’ve found myself [...]

November 27th, 2009 | Tags: articles, Day Job, insomnia, Reviews, royalties, Scruffy Dog Review, Sleep, Stella, Thanksgiving, Writing | Category: Books, Day Job, Fiction, Publishing and Marketing, Reading, Writing | Comments (2)

Image: Scott McAndrew

Lovely day over Edinburgh yesterday; sunny, warm, and it felt oddly like a Friday.
I had a busy day in the office as my workload increases and I find myself being pushed into newer and higher profile areas. All good clean fun but the meetings once ends up in can be less than interesting [...]

July 31st, 2009 | Tags: Baccara Burning, Book Festival, busy, celebration, Day Job, Edinburgh Book Festival, Edinburgh: the City & the Festivals, Fiction, journalism, marriage, Stella, wedding, Writing | Category: Day Job, Edinburgh: the City & the Festivals, Family, Fiction, Freelance, Publishing and Marketing, Writing | Comments (3)

Image: popsci.com

Tomorrow I’m on the road for a few days on my annual trip to Blackpool with my best mate. While I’m gone, please make welcome the awesome author (you really should buy her book!) Cate Masters.
Yesterday I could hardly concentrate on anything at work what with my weekend of fun and frolics impending. I [...]

June 25th, 2009 | Tags: bevy, Blackpool, Books, friends, Holiday, Lancashire, Reading, Stella, weekend away | Category: Books, Food, Drink, and Bevvy, Interviews, Publishing and Marketing, Travel | Leave a comment

Image: FMD

Check me out today over at the blog of freelance writer, photo journalist, and long-time cyber buddy, Diane Parkin!!! I’ll be answering questions all day after what was a very different and interesting interview to do, so please check it out.
I seemed to be running late by at least 90 minutes to the rest [...]

June 23rd, 2009 | Tags: Amazon, author events, author page, blog tour, Blogging, Books, Cate Masters, competition, Day Job, Diane Parkin, e-book, Edinburgh Book Festival, Edinburgh Zoo, free stuf, Interview, marketing, penguins, promotion, Reading, sales, Stella, ticket sales, tickets, web cam | Category: Animals, Books, Day Job, Edinburgh: the City & the Festivals, Internet, Interviews, Publishing and Marketing, Reading, Writing Process | Comments (2)

Image: Laura Galbraith

There’s still time to win a free copy of STELLA over at Cate Masters’ blog. You have until 8pm EST to head over to http://catemasters.blogspot.com and leave a comment. In reality, I’ll be asleep at that time (1am BST) so I’ll do the draw first thing tomorrow morning.
I’ve had a great weekend. After [...]

June 21st, 2009 | Tags: 30th birthday party, Blogging, book shop, Books, competition, drinking, Edinburgh: the City & the Festivals, Father's Day, mouse, Pub, Reading, Stella, Waterstones | Category: Animals, Books, Edinburgh: the City & the Festivals, Family, Food, Drink, and Bevvy, Freelance, Music, Reading, Writing | Comments (1)

Image: whatsonsouthwest.co.uk

There’s still time to win a free copy of STELLA over at Cate Masters’ blog. You have until tomorrow to head over to http://catemasters.blogspot.com and leave a comment.
Things were somewhat more relaxed in the office yesterday. I’m still spinning plates but made good progress with some work. I took a slightly extended lunch (for [...]

June 20th, 2009 | Tags: 2-Tone, alcohol, Bevvy, Blogging, competition, Edinburgh: the City & the Festivals, Freelance, gigs, Hamilton's Bar, House, live music, marketing, News of the World, party, Picture, promotion, Publishing and Marketing, ska, skanking, Stella, Stockbridge, The Beat, Writing | Category: Books, Day Job, Edinburgh: the City & the Festivals, Freelance, Interviews, Publishing and Marketing, Writing | Comments (1)

Image: Unknown

I’m a guest of the rather wonderful Cate Master’s today. This is a special interview with lots of new information and a giveaway, so go check her blog out at: http://catemasters.blogspot.com.
We have new neighbours. They’ve moved into the adjoining house and have made their presence felt. As a result, I’m not their biggest fan.
Thankfully [...]

June 18th, 2009 | Tags: anti-social, blog tour, Blogging, book promotion, bookmarks, Books, Cate Masters, Day Job, dinner, drinks, friends, marketing, neighbours from hell, Pakistani, promotion, Stella | Category: Books, Day Job, Editorial Comment, Food, Drink, and Bevvy, Publishing and Marketing, Writing | Comments (2)

Image: Mel Blanc

STELLA received a wonderful review from romance author, Ginger Simspon, over the weekend. This is the first official review of my new book and I’m delighted it was so good! Click here to read.
If you missed it, please pop over and have a read of my guest blog at Love, Romances & More, [...]

June 16th, 2009 | Tags: Blackpool, Blogging, book review, Books, Day Job, e-books, Edinburgh Book Festival, Edinburgh: the City & the Festivals, Editing, Fiction, Food, Drink, and Bevvy, Freelance, giest blog, good times, Internet, News of the World, novella, novels, Reading, Short Stories, Stella, traffic chaos, websites, Writing | Category: Books, Day Job, Edinburgh: the City & the Festivals, Fiction, Freelance, Internet, Interviews, Writing | Comments (1)

Image: Roger Price

I’m delighted to advise that my guest blog went up today over at Love, Romances and More. In it, I talk about the pleasures to be gained from writing to music, so pop over and have a read, and if so inclined, leave a comment.
The STELLA blog tour is still on over at [...]

June 14th, 2009 | Tags: and More, Blogging, Day Job, Edinburgh Book Festival, Editing, Fiction, guest blog, Indian meal, Internet, love, mobile working, overtime, Romances, Stella, Writing | Category: Books, Day Job, Edinburgh: the City & the Festivals, Fiction, Film & TV, Food, Drink, and Bevvy, I.T., Publishing and Marketing, Writing | Comments (2)

Image: Gothessa

Some of the more eagle eyed among you may have noticed I have changed the spelling of Marc Palombo’s name in yesterday’s obituary. I mentioned all the pranks he played over the years – this was another – he got the last laugh after all.
For years I always wrote ‘Mark’ in correspondence, and when [...]

June 12th, 2009 | Tags: blog tour, Blogging, Bridge of Weir, burial, CAtholic, Family, friends, funeral, guest blog, Houston, Lara Stauffer, Marc Palombo, Mass, Renfrewshire, Royal British Legion, St Fillan's, Stella | Category: Editorial Comment, Family | Comments (3)