I'm still recovering from a splendid few days at the annual British Science Fiction Convention, held at Easter and generically named Eastercons. 2016 was the turn of Manchester, England to host 1200 sci-fi and fantasy fans, and a fine job the organising team did. For four days the hours between 10 am and falling-over-with-exhaustion-time were filled …
Category: On Writing
Thanksgiving
Being British, I don't celebrate Thanksgiving, but I have a few things to be thankful for at this time and I'm gonna brag about it! Two short stories published earlier in 2015 and more have already been "snapped up" by publishers for anthologies to be published in 2016... The Future Is Short #2 anthology (June 2015) includes …
So Many Whys
I recently re-watched "Prometheus", the movie. It was a "non-prequel" to the hit "Alien" movie franchise. Like many, (humourously here with adult language) I was left with more questions than answers. Sadly, some of those questions appear to concern plot-holes, or at least plot-weaknesses. However, I will suspend judgement until I see the sequel to the non-prequel and …
Paradisi Chronicles
I mentioned the Paradisi Chronicles "co-operative" project in an earlier post. I've worked before in loose-knit shared-world projects, such as the "No Revolution Is Too Big" anthology, but Paradisi Chronicles is different. Let me explain how... In July, 2014, best-selling author Hugh Howey's blog (Your Fear is My Opportunity) challenged traditional publishers to innovate. One suggestion was …
Writing in Groups
I kept reading about them in the blogosphere. Everyone recommends them: Writers' Groups! So how do you find one? Especially if you live in the small, non-English-speaking country of Luxembourg. So I filed it away as yet more writerly advice I couldn't take, like nationwide bookshop signings, getting into libraries... Perhaps I could find a critique …
So That Was August
It was a month of ups. It was a month of downs. It was a time for looking forward and a time for looking back. I was delighted that my youngest daughter has taken up her place in the UK, where her two sisters already study and work. But it leaves the house rather empty …
Dysprosium : SciFi Convention
Dysprosium was the 66th annual UK SciFi Convention, held at Easter 2015. (Yes, I'm still playing "catch-up".) Overview Weird and wacky, thoughtful and intelligent, and a Real Ale bar permanently packed-out with hobbits. Well, not real hobbits, but hairy folk wearing homespun and sandals. (For my non-UK readers, Real Ales are traditional beers produced by smaller breweries with …
Press Release: The Future Is Short Vol 2
A new anthology that contains two of my own stories... THE FUTURE IS SHORT: SCIENCE FICTION IN A FLASH, Volume 2 Now Published ISBN: 9 781514 151518 (trade paperback) Published June 3, 2015 E-book published June 11, 2015 Thirty-six authors took a leap of faith in January 2015 to contribute their stories to The Future …
To Be Correct…
I need some help - with political correctness. As a Starter, Here's a Joke A newly-qualified doctor from a highly privileged background sets up a practice in a poor area. An elderly, working-class female patient arrives and explains she has "problems with my...". Embarrassment overcomes her and she leans forward. "Down there," she whispers. He begins …
Catching Up
I've not posted for a while. Today I'm catching-up with a miscellany of stuff, good and bad. I spent a week in the UK visiting my mother and returned depressed at the toll late-stage Alzheimer's is having on that wonderful woman. Then I heard that my 11 year old nephew had succumbed to cancer. It …
Andy McKell, Speculative Fiction Author 
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