I took a long break between posts this year. I'm sure you noticed. So where have I been? Among other things, my acting hobby took over for a while with a sudden rush of auditions, resulting in a few days filming ("Toy Gun" and "A Storm In Their Stars"). Audition readings to prepare, lines to …
Tag: Science fiction
Mancunicon (Eastercon 2016)
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
Anthologies and Contests
I hope at least a few of my readers noticed I've been away for a few weeks 😉 Between family issues, travel to internet-free zones (yes, they do exist - welcome to the 21st century!), laptop failure (I smugly take full backups daily) and various other distractions, I have had to let my blog simmer …
WRITE, DARE, SUBMIT – Guest Post
Today's post is a departure - a guest post from I.O. Kirkwood - but still within my "How to get Published" series theme. IO is a rising writer with a refreshing viewpoint. She, too was an unpublished writer until recently. Now read on... WRITE, DARE, SUBMIT Write Since the age of 12, in almost 32 years, I …
Failing To Spot A Winner
. The traditional publishing industry does not exactly have 100% record of identifying books carrying the stamp of massive popularity and commercial success. Consider this list of best-sellers from various genres and their initial rejection totals (source: "How Stuff Works"): Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell (38) Dune by Frank Herbert (20) Carrie by Stephen King (30) Dubliners …
Andy McKell, Speculative Fiction Author 
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