Sunday 25 February 2024

COVER REVEAL

Here's the cover for my upcoming new book and a link to the launch event. Cover design by the wonderful Anna Morrison; and some lovely endorsements on the cover. Can't wait for this book to be published - released on 18th April with a launch event at the lovely Golden Hare Bookshop in Edinburgh.

Open image in slideshow, Hope Never Knew Horizon - Launch Event with Douglas Bruton

 https://goldenharebooks.com/products/hope-never-knew-horizon-launch-event-with-douglas-bruton-book-ticket-option?_pos=1&_sid=ed71a409a&_ss=r


Thursday 1 February 2024

First project of the year!!

 I have spent 8 days in January working on a brand new project - well, I say 'new' but it has been rattling around in my head for two and half years waiting for me to be ready. I have, as some of you know, set myself the target of completing at least 3 writing projects a year, so this feels like a good start. The working title for this one is 'DEAD BLUE WHISPERS' which I hope is suitably enigmatic. I wrote the first draft in five days and then reflected on what I had done... with some dissatisfaction I might add. Then looking back at an old notebook I realised I had left out a very important thread, so have spent the past three days putting that right. It clocks in now at 40,000 words and I like it a lot more.

Saturday 27 January 2024

THANK YOU SUSAN OSBORNE

 Susan Osborne's book site 'A Life in Books' reviews the books she reads throughout the year - and she reads and reads and reads. Earlier in 2023 Susan read and reviewed my wee book 'With or Without Angels' which she loved. At the end of each year Susan flags up what were for her the stand out books of the year - 20 books in 2023 and 'With or Without Angels' gets another mention as it was one of the twenty!!! Thank you Susan. I hope you get to read my new book in April 2024!

https://alifeinbooks.co.uk/2023/12/books-of-year-2023-part-one/


Wednesday 17 January 2024

Just Stumbled on this...

There's a lot written about Plagiarism... it's clearly a thorny subject, and complicated too. Here's an article that throws some light on it. I think there's sense in this article too - but then I would say that because it very much mirrors conclusions I have arrived at with my own wrestling of the subject. This is a very moving article too. Give it a read. Would love it if this got a comment or two here!!!

 https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2004/11/22/something-borrowed-plagiarism

Sunday 7 January 2024

KAFKA - CENTENARY OF HIS DEATH

I write a lot and some of what I write gets published but a lot doesn't. Mostly that's OK. I don't dwell on the stuff that doesn't make it into print. I just move on and write something else, something new. Last year (2023) I completed four writing projects. That's one more than I set myself to do each year. One of these writing projects was accepted for publication within a week of being written; another took about six months to be accepted but it was at least accepted. Yet another is in a competition somewhere and I am waiting to hear about it before sending it off someplace else. And the fourth, I know, needs a serious rewrite; but that's OK too.

I have many novel-length works just sitting on my computer and I don't worry about that. I have no regrets about these foundered projects. Indeed I feel I'm very lucky to be published and to be read. So no regrets at all... well, except one.

Some years ago - is it really 16 years ago? - I completed a collaborative project with another writer. It was a six months long writing project, which is a lot longer than I spend on a writing project these days. I loved the experience of this collaboration. It took me to places I never would have gone on my own. This other writer loved it too. What's more, this other writer is an exceptional editor and rewriter. The work could have been astounding.

But soon after completion of the project we fell out, this writer and I, and the work got tossed into limbo. It is a work that this year would have had some significance, this year being the centenary of Franz Kafka's death. This work we completed may never ever see the light of day and, though I have come to accept that, it is nevertheless something I deeply regret. I return to the work often and every time I do I feel quietly sad and quietly heartbroken.

Monday 20 November 2023

2 BOOKS!!!!

 As I have reported here already, I have another book coming out in March/April 2024. But I have just signed a contract for yet another book coming out in Spring 2025!!! 2 different publishers!!! Very exciting for me!!! More about these projects will follow!!! xxxx

Tuesday 7 November 2023

BUSY

 I am a little busy just now - well, as busy as it gets for me these days. I am busy with edits for the new book that should come out in the Spring of 2024 - such thorough feedback from the publisher, which I love. And I have just been perusing the cover designs - great designer working on these... more on this later.

And just heard back from another publisher who liked another novella I submitted and wants to talk about it with me early next week... which is exciting.

Yes, so that feels a little like being busy. Also the logs have just been delivered and I need to shift them from the drive to the side of the house (by wheelbarrow) and then stack them so they are ready for use this winter (now!!!).

And I have yoga class this afternoon.

Lots to do so I'd better go!!!!!!