Fertile Imagination

On April 4, 2014July 5, 2014 By AdminIn NewsLeave a comment

With our twins now on the cusp of becoming teenagers, it seems a lifetime gone since their very existence was in question.

It wasn’t that long ago, though. Latter part of the nineties, turn of the millennium, to be precise. While couples worldwide were daily adding millions to Generation Next, we were trying – and failing – to supply just one.

Difficulty having a child was not something I’d ever imagined. Not in high school (all too easy to get a girl knocked up); not in university (I’m never having kids anyway); not when my beautiful wife and I married (let’s have some fun first), not as a school teacher (I’m not ready to have one of these jokers). Not even when we decided to give it a go, see what happened.

Nothing happened.

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15 In 15

On March 27, 2014March 31, 2014 By AdminIn Navel Gazing, Real Writer, Uncategorized1 Comment

Tagged by fellow scribbler, Lisa Wardle, to do this exercise on Facebook, I thought I’d throw it on Myperbole instead: 15 in 15.

The instructions imply influences of all sorts, not necessarily literary.

The Rules:
Don’t take too long to think about it.
15 influences, authors and poets included, who’ve influenced you and that will always stick with you.
List the first 15 you can recall in no more than 15 minutes.

Okay, here goes:

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Too Rude To Be True

On February 22, 2014February 22, 2014 By AdminIn NewsLeave a comment

Fact is stranger than fiction – that is the adage.

But what if a strange, hilarious, compelling, gobsmacking, factual premise falls short on its potential? What if it fizzles out to nothing because real life isn’t scripted and doesn’t conform to story arcs and satisfying conclusions? What then?

Then fiction takes over.

Such a coup occurred in my recently published short story, Craigslist Boots. Its origins lay in the actual experience of a female acquaintance who tried to sell a pair of knee-high boots on Craigslist (funny, that). After posting her ad, she got a reply from an interested buyer: he was willing to take them on spec for $100. What’s more, he was prepared to toss in an extra twenty if she would acquiesce to a small request:

Would she pull on the boots and kick him in the balls?

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How To Explain A Book Deal

On February 8, 2014April 13, 2014 By AdminIn NewsLeave a comment

I recently signed a paperback deal with Random House Australia for my novel, Are You Seeing Me?. It was exciting, especially after waiting for it longer than I cared to. Of course, I wanted to share the great news with friends and loved ones asap. But with the delivery of said news comes a challenge in helping people understand exactly what it is. Folks who don’t write novels and don’t receive publishing contracts and don’t read novels that have received publishing contracts generally have no real clue as to the true and appropriate level of significance to your achievement.

If you have good friends and you get on with your family, they’re instinctively happy for you. Oftentimes, they assume the deal is the ultimate life-changer; you’re quitting your job, moving to New York, buying a small island in the Pacific, rubbing elbows with Stephen King and JK Rowling and that raunchy bloke who wrote 50 Shades of Grey. Others have congratulations, but figure it can’t be too hard – look at how many books there are in the store we walk past at the mall! A few just smile and nod politely, wondering what the hell would possess anyone to want to write anything after the mandatory creative writing torture in Year 8. All need a little guidance in getting a proper handle on your modest ‘T’ triumph.

So, for authors perched on a similar rung of the publishing ladder as I, here’s three solid pointers to explaining your new book deal:

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All Natural Cover

On August 11, 2013 By AdminIn Loose Shorts, NewsLeave a comment

Exciting Press are publishing my brand new short story, It’s Only Natural. And they’ve given it a cover and everything!

Details of the release will be forthcoming shortly – in the meantime, gaze upon the image above and let your imagination wander into the limitless realms of what characters and dialogues and happenstances may reside within…

Or you could say ‘Bugger that!” and just wait for it to come out.

Fanning The Flames: ‘Kindling’ Released in North America

On April 27, 2013April 27, 2013 By AdminIn NewsLeave a comment

Courtesy of the fine folk at Exciting Press, Kindling is available for the first time in the Home of the Brave and in the True North, Strong and Free.

Now, apart from continental accessibility, what’s different about this publication compared to the original Aussie release in 2010?

Exclusively e-book (Kindle for the first 90 days, then in other formats subsequent)
Hawt new cover
Cheap as chips ($4.99 in the US; $5.12 in CAN)
Much less ink
Zero chance of paper cuts
Author is slightly older (though still sexy)
Every single copy downloaded has a different ending
Nazi zombies
Vampire zombies
Zombie zombies

As you can see from this extensive list, the work is TOTALLY different, barely recognizable from before. So, grab the new and improved Kindling while internet stocks last!

(Warning: Some of the statements above may be the product of author hubris and/or inebriation…)

Kindling in Kindle format for North America – buy the US version here and the CAN version here.

Billy, Don’t Use My Number

On March 13, 2013April 3, 2013 By AdminIn Arguwrite1 Comment

Writers love to tell you their word counts.

“Just did 500 words before breakfast!”

“Got my 1,000 words done for the day!”

“30,000 words done on the new novel!”

We take great delight in passing on the numbers we produce. I have been no exception. If you trawled back through my Facebook and Twitter posts, you would find statements similar to those above (though probably not without profanity).

Well, I’m here to tell you that’s all in the past. Aside from those punching the keyboard, no digits will ever again offer any implied measure of my authorial efforts. And if my colleagues on the shelves have a high regard for the craft – as I know they do – they will avoid any future reference to word counts, too.

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Exciting Backlist Deal

On January 22, 2013January 22, 2013 By AdminIn NewsLeave a comment

(Pic Source: James Hibberd)

Exciting Press figures my venn diagram is a little more adjacent than Snooki’s.

In a deal announced by Exciting’s Creative Director, Will Entrekin, the cutting edge US indie publisher and I have signed a four book deal, encompassing my backlist quartet of novels – Kindling, The Umbilical Word, Most Valuable Potential and The Procrastinator. The deal permits me to join a stable of wonderful writing talent that includes James Brown, Kurt Wenzel and Aussie literary icon, Nick Earls.

I’m really thrilled about the opportunities ahead with this partnership. It represents a new lease of life for all my once-upon-a-time-in-print works. Particularly gratifying is that, for the first time in any format, Kindling will be available in North America.

Stay tuned for release details and dates. And if you’re a fan of Snooki, I’m sorry this post was so long.

The Real Writer – A Do’s and Don’ts Guide #6

On January 8, 2013January 8, 2013 By AdminIn Real WriterLeave a comment

Real writers do recognize real criticism.

Emerging authors: Someone saying your story is great rather than garbage is more preferable, yes?

For about ten minutes, it is. After that, you’re pretty much left with the same lingering question: “How come?”

Truly worthy criticism doesn’t leave that poser unanswered: in an ideal writing world, an author’s ear would only ever be attuned to constructive feedback; the hater guff and airhead fluff would be as comprehensible as Charlie Brown’s teacher. Alas, this is not Utopia – attempts to kick a literary goal often get foiled by a swift-handed Lucy – so it falls on the writer to identify useful opinions of his/her work. Easier said than done when it’s your heart and soul laid bare on the page.

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The Real Writer – A Do’s and Don’ts Guide #5

On October 30, 2012October 30, 2012 By AdminIn Real WriterLeave a comment

We’ve finished the four Don’ts – time now to have a look at the corresponding Do’s. First up:

Real writers do the trade every day.

Any number of author voices more resonant than mine have extolled the virtues of turning up. Stephen King advocated “bum glue”. Jane Yolen referred to “exercising the writing muscle”. Lawrence Kasdan suggested “being a writer is like having homework every night for the rest of your life”. No doubt engaging with your story on a daily basis is a must. But what’s the deal for emerging authors: the folks who are chasing creativity behind jobs and kids and mortgages and slush piles and rejection slips, whose days are invariably full while their pages are often empty?

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