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The Next Big Thing Blog Hop

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I’ve been tagged in The Next Big Thing by fellow writer and publisher Philip Bell of children’s publisher Beachy Books – Website: www.beachybooks.com.

I’m asked by Philip to tell you all about my next book by answering these questions and then I tag five other authors about their Next Big Thing. So here I go!

What is the working title of your next book?

It’s ‘Isle of The Dead’, but it’s had so many titles I’m not even sure I’m sticking with that one!

Where did the idea come from for the book?

Simply living here on the Isle of Wight. I once worked with a guy who said that if he ever became angry enough he would poison the water-plant that we worked at and kill everyone! I remember laughing about it to my dad, and he just looked at me very seriously and said; “don’t ever make that man angry.”

 

What genre does your book fall under?

The book I am writing is full of zombies, so definitely horror. It’s the genre I feel most comfortable in. Sci-fi is another favourite but I’d love a crack at a western. I had a western-horror short story published recently but I’d love to go at a western properly one day.

Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?

I’ve always had my lead character in my book as Ed Harris, but by the time the film deal DOES come through he’ll probably be too old!

Maybe I could play the lead myself!

What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?

Zombies on the Isle of Wight killing lots of people.

Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?

I’ll let you know nearer the time! But I’m comfortable self-publishing. I’ve established myself as a massive social whore, and Facebook and Twitter are my domains. I’ve got people buying my short stories and supporting The Book by the busload…

I just gotta finish it.

 How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?

I hadn’t finished the first draft before I started the second. I hadn’t finished the second before I started the third… *sigh*

 What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?

There will definitely be comparisons with books by Wayne Simmons and David Moody, but they’re right up ‘there’ in the Undead stakes so I’d be happy if my name and book was compared alongside theirs!

Who or What inspired you to write this book?

Me. And my love for the shuffling buggers. And my Facebook Family who have hounded me to get the NaNoWriMo 50,000 words reached! Unfortunately, November had become a horrendous month for myself and things ground to a complete halt, but I’m back on track, and looking to fire on all cylinders again.

Gotta thank my girl, too. She’s pushed me all the way and gets at me when I’m not writing. I wouldn’t have written half the words without her support.

And nagging.

What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?

There’s a love story unlike any other inside it…

 

Here are some of my fellow authors and good friends that I’ve tagged to tell you about their Next Big Thing:

 

Marni Mann

Joel Goldman

Alexandra Diane

John Hardy Bell

Cheyenne Campbell

 

My thanks to Philip Bell for Tagging me

Facebook: www.facebook.com/BeachyBooks

& Twitter: http://twitter.com/BeachyBooks

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Seven Heaven

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Ok, I know I’m shit, and that I haven’t blogged for months, but forgive me. I HAVE been writing and writing hard. I’ve had a short story published with one or two looking at seeing print as well soon, and The Book is gathering steam again… but I will reveal all of the details soon in another blog.
Because today is dedicated to Abigail Kern. She is a fellow writer who had slipped under my radar until she threw a gauntlet in my face via Twitter.
The deal is to list the last 7 films/songs/books you’ve encountered, blog them, and then pass it on to seven other idiots.
Sorry, bloggers.
So, challenge accepted.
The Last Seven Songs I Listened To
Bugger. I just bought a Gary Beck EP so that’s three tracks!
1/ Gary Beck – Paid Out
2/ Gary Beck – Feel it
3/ Gary Beck – Hillview
4/ The Cure – Open
5/ Radiohead – Staircase
6/ Billy Talent – Standing in the Rain
7/ Pendulum – Through The Loop
Last Seven Books I Read
1/ Scars of a Memoir by Marni Mann (buy it. Buy it NOW)
2/ Autumn: The City by David Moody
3/ Drop Dead Gorgeous by Wayne Simmons
4/ The Rum Diary by Hunter S Thompson
5/ Sleepyhead by Mark Billingham
6/ The Slow Empire (an 8th Doctor Who novel) by Dave Stone
7/ Night Shift by Stephen King
Seven Favourite Movies
In no particular order…
1/ Bladerunner
2/ Jaws
3/ The Empire Strikes Back
4/ Rocknrolla
5/ 30 Days of Night
6/ The Dark knight
7/ Sucker Punch
Seven Songs That Are Significant To My Stories
Now, the first one is by a new friend I have made who DJs by the name of Deepbass. His dark, dark mixes have inspired much of my writing lately, and it’s only fair I give him a very honourable mention, as well as include the mix that has got me firing on all cylinders at the moment…
1/ Deepbass
2/ Staircase by Radiohead
3/ Everything’s Ok by Rewd Adams
4/ Six Blade Knife by Dire Straits
5/ Burn it Down by Alter Bridge
6/ Maps by Yeah Yeah Yeahs
7/ The Poem by Maetrik
Seven Favourite Authors
1/ Stephen King
2/ Hunter S Thompson
3/ Marni Mann
4/ Peter Benchley
5/ Max Brooks
6/ Mark Billingham
7/ Me. Why fucking not? Someone’s gotta love me, right?
Seven People Upon Which I Bestow This Award/Curse
1/ Crystalee Beck
2/ Anderson Angel
3/ Marni Mann
4/ Alexandra Diane (see right)
5/ John Hardy Bell
6/ Cheyenne Campbell
7/ M Andrew Patterson
________________________________________________________________
So, there we have it. My first blog in months and it’s a right royal ramble about yours truly. If you enjoyed it, then feel free to pick by the gauntlet thrown by Abigail and create your own blog using the above points, or mix them up with your own.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a muse waiting to inspire my writing and I…

Do Not Read This.

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I told you NOT to read this and now you’re reading it. If I told you to jump off a cliff would you do that?

Actually, if I told you to give me money would you do that??

The reason for the very small, nonsensical blog is because I’m involved in WordPress’ ‘Blog A Week’ which means that I have to blog… every week… obviously.

But, I’ve left it too late this week, and here on the Isle of Wight we’re embarking on Scooter Weekend and I’m going to be too busy to come up with anything intelligent or funny. For once.

But, on Sunday, I’m off to the SW4 Festival in London to meet up with DJC-Kay (his website is in my links to the right) and we’re gonna tear it up on Clapham Common before hitting the Ministry of Sound until 7am.

Knowing the things and situations that I usually get into, I’m praying I get back somewhen within the next 7 days…

My next blog will be biblical.

Stylish Blogger Award

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This week I was nominated for the Stylish Blogger Award by my good friend and partner-in-crime, Marni Mann.  The aim for the award is to recognise those who blog and blog well, with a good layout and humorous/interesting/factual blogs. I’m not sure which one of these things Marni has recognised in my dumb ass, but thanks anyway, Marni!

Marni’s awesome, and we’re all just waiting on the publication of her forthcoming book Memoirs Aren’t Fairytales – a book about addiction. You can find out more on her website and twitter accounts. Or just hang around twitter and watch us flirt outrageously despite the 4000+ miles between us…

Ok, here are the rules to the Stylish Blogger Awards:

  1. Thank and link to the person who nominated you.
  2. Share seven random facts about yourself.
  3. Pass the award along to 5 new-found blogging buddies.
  4. Contact the winners to congratulate them.

Seven Random Facts About Yours Truly:

1/ I prefer Zach Snyder’s Dawn of the Dead over George Romero’s version. Blasphemy-ahoy!

2/ I’m 35 years old and love the film Diary of a Wimpy Kid.

3/ It took me until my fourth attempt to pass my car driving test, but I nailed my articulated lorry test on the first go and was offered a job by the company later that day!

4/ I didn’t start eating mushrooms until two years ago and now I love them.

5/ As a kid I always preferred Marvel to DC Comics, and still do now. However, I buy more independents these days rather than either of the Big Twos’ comics. Geek me.

6/ I still think Dire Straits rock.

7/ I’m so good at Motorstorm on the PS3 they once showed my races on TV. Mind you, most of the guys I went up against pasted me…

And now for my nominees: (click on name to see their blog)

1/ Kevin Crew: I’ve mentioned him in previous blogs (as I will the next two or three names) and he is new to blogging, but very fresh with great lyrical skill and adorns his blogs with more than enough pictures to please the eye. Check him out.

2/ If I mention Roy DeWinkeleer and his blog anymore then people are gonna start to think we got something going on. Imagine that, though… the bastard child of Roy and I… it would either be utterly brilliant… or shot at birth.

3/ Derek Haines‘ blogs are something I have only just come across, which is naughty of me

Derek Haines

as I have been following him on twitter for a while now. Bad Jode. His latest offering is about childhood aspirations compared to what we have at our fingertips/wrists right now. Go check him out.

4/ This nomination is a little awkward to pull off. Night Shade Books are a publishing house that host a group blog written by a collection of their authors all releasing works this year. I couldn’t well name all of them so I’ve plumped for John Hornor Jacobs as his upcoming book ‘Southern Gods’ appeals to me with it’s ‘selling your soul to the devil’ vibe. As I have already done so myself.

5/ Another new guy and aspiring author trying to juggle Real Life against The Book – John Hardy Bell. Read his latest blog about struggling to get words on paper as work/life/etc all get in the way. John is a new friend of mine on twitter, but we seem to be having the same hardships getting The Book up and out there. Hopefully bouncing our blogs and tweets off of each other will gee us both up! I’ll race you, John!

That’s your lot this week, but hopefully the above bloggers/authors will give you plenty to digest until I can cobble together next weeks missive. You can also find all of the above authors in my blogroll down the right hand side of my page.

Blogs I Follow… and So Should You!

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If you are friends with me on Facebook or twitter you will have noticed that I spam the hell out of other peoples’ blogs as well as my own. So, I thought that I would collate all the main ones I read/whore out and share them all in one space here for you.

I’m good like that.

In no particular order: (click on heading to go to their blog)

Roy DeWinkeleer and his RADventurer blog:

Ok, I said ‘in no particular order’, but Roy is an absolute fucking heavyweight in the

Roy is not the one on the right. I think.

blogging world and one of my favourite bloggers/writers around. His turn of phrase and the shit he gets up to is something of legend. Hell, in the guy’s latest blog about Beef With Shakespeare he manages to offend The Bard and most of my country and yet I still thanked the fucker afterwards.

He made me feel cheap and used. And I liked it.

Kevin Crew – Social Assassin:

Kevin is an old school buddy of mine and relatively new to the world of blogging, but his writing and subjects are strong, and he has already waded in by destroying the music of today in his very first blog! Follow-ups include the seedier side of Jamaica, and his latest offering is about… fire-eating. Go look.

A guy – like me – who likes to litter his blogs with pretty pictures.

Kerry Ella Connolly’s blogs about sex:

I just told you it’s about sex. Plus she puts in LOTS of rude pictures.

Ms Connolly

So what the fuck are you still reading this for?

Jeff Bennington:

Author of Reunion and also the successful Writing Bomb blog. A friendly, amicable author who takes the time out to answer any and all questions! Aspiring writers should read his blogs… and his book! Jeff also teaches a creative writing course, and the students and their book are the subject of his latest blog.

Natalie’s Twentysomething blog:

Ms de Gruchy is a new friend of mine but has been blogging for a while. Her page is covered with her thinkings/feelings, her pictures, stats about herself and her thoughts about the new man in her life.

It’s so saccharine I feel sick. But I like her and her blog and her cakes, so she makes the list.

The MixTrain:

The MixTrain

Being a radio DJ it goes without saying that I LOVE music, but Fatter Agnus’ collection of DJs from all over the world is the only blog I really follow to any extent. He often posts reviews of music products (if you’re that way inclined) but the real deal is when he posts up new mixes by himself and other DJs – that’s when you find yourself dancing around your lounge, washing up, or partying with these guys in the background.

Tune in and drop out.

Rachael Williams’ blog:

She’s a famous, she’s beautiful, one of her favourite films is Akira (as is mine) and her latest blog is about Vincent Price. Oh, and she blogs about porn and has naked pictures all over the place.

This girl ticks every fucking box I’ve got.

Did I mention she’s also a model?

Mitch Day – footballer, buffed, handsome, idiot.

I love Mitch. Everyone loves Mitch. You, too, will love Mitch if you read his blog. He’s a professional footballer (grass and beach) and plays in Spain. Plus he’s going out with a Barcelona cheer leader.

If that guy fell out of a plane he’d still land on his fucking feet.

The G and T Blog:

My fellow DJs at Vectis Radio (an online radio station) that have currently overtaken me in the ‘Who Can Get The Most Complaints Per Show’ race – mainly due to Gareth Icke being able to stick 500 straws up his arse in a record-breaking attempt.

They might be idiots, but they're our idiots.

Marni Mann:

A lady in Florida who has probably done more for my writing in the short time I’ve known her than I ever have myself. Read her blog, and soon you’ll be able to read her book… watch this space.

That’s all for this week. All the bloggers above are also on my blog roll. Enjoy!

I want to be like Mitch when I grow up.

I Need A Man!

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Actually, I need a lawman.

To be even more specific I could do with a sheriff from Texas.

The reason? The book I’m writing is going well (and I’ll update everyone on it’s progress next week) – and I’ll explain just how much research is getting in the way of writing – but I need more information on my main character; a sheriff in a small town just south-west of Dallas.

I’ve contacted the Sheriff’s Association of Texas but have received no reply, and I’ve had the same problem having contacted some sheriff’s and police departments directly in small towns in various places throughout the state. I understand that these people are very busy and may have no time to reply, but even a quick note to let me know would have been appreciated as I could then move on to the next potential helper!

I need a sheriff/lawman/woman currently in work or retired just so I can ask them some basic questions about procedures, the uniform, arms, techniques, and various other questions I’ll come up with along the way. In return they will receive my eternal thanks as well as acknowledgements in the book and anything else they require!

So, I call upon my blogging, facebook and Twitter brethren, and ask if any of you can help me or know of someone who can help. You can contact me directly at the bottom of this blog, or through Twitter or facebook. I would put my email on this page but the amount of spam I receive almost weekly through this site puts me off doing that.

That’s all from me on this blog; it’s short and sweet as I’ve still got a book to write! I just need a little help filling some of the blanks…

And if someone could get me to Texas to ride in this beast I would gladly do so... in the name of research, of course.