The Fiction Factory

2024

It’s been an odd year. I worked on a couple of novels and blogged a good deal and by the end of November I took a break from putting words down on the page. The publisher I was with shut up shop and the rights to The Kill Chain reverted back to me so I made it available for download straight away. I did query it with one other publisher, but they passed on it. I came across a good quote recently, it’s more difficult to stay published than to be published. I’m not sure who said that, but I now understand. You spend years being rejected, and if you are lucky then be accepted. For most that continues for a short while and then you find yourself back in the query trenches. Having said that, it’s a good feeling not owing anyone a book or worrying if the next one will make it over the line. I’m as much in control of what happens next as I can be and that means writing more novels and seeing where they go.

I did hope to finish up what I had started during 2024. That didn’t happen. The sequel to The Kill Chain went to edit and received positive feedback. There are still problems to fix and I started working through them and then lost the drive to continue. At the time of writing I’m back on to it and feeling far more optimistic. Sometimes you just need that break away to gain the necessary perspective. The sequel is called The Kill Ward and that is now the final title. It’s set in a hospital so I feel the title is apt.

I was going to write the third novel in the Kill Series and noted that the main character takes a couple of weeks off between jobs. I outlined the plot and I’m okay with it. However, I got thinking about the holiday he takes between books two and three. This was just to tidy up the continuity between the novels and provide a seamless transition as his career progresses. The result was I ended up writing a completely new novel, taking place in Edinburgh just in those couple of weeks. It’s called The Kill Trick and I’m excited for it. This has happened to me before. I sit down to write one novel and end up writing an entirely different one. So, I need to finish The Kill Ward and then rewrite The Kill Trick before moving on with book four in the series, which has yet to be titled.

I changed the title of The Canongate Containment to Deflection Point, did some more edits, created a cover and then sat on it. For whatever reason, I couldn’t let it go out. I’m now planning on querying it.

I started a new novel about AI and Deep Fakes. It’s what I talked about at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe this year and have since lectured on the subject at The University of Edinburgh. It’s been outlined and is underway, but as noted above I have other work to complete. As an aside, that is likely to have been my last fringe performance. The Cabaret of Dangerous Ideas is going through a change of name and focus and I’m no longer part of the program. I appeared at the last five fringes and had a fantastic time, but all things must pass and it is time to move on.

I made it to the midway point in a follow-up novella to EVA. Again, I’m forever working on new ideas rather than finish what I have started. I don’t know if I will complete this during the year. I’ve noted before that this is a problem for me and I need to address it. I’ve also been reading up on factual material about the witch trials in preparation for a story and indeed have read a couple of novels that feature witches and witchcraft. I have an outline for this story, which maybe a novella, or may in fact spin out to a full-length novel. I will find out when I start to write this out.

You will see from this blog I’ve visited quite a few places over the year. I also made my 25th blood donation. I’m still learning Spanish and have become hooked on classical music again as I’m back to piano, practising every day. As usual, I read classic authors and also contemporary novels, cutting across time and genres, always learning something from my random reading habits.

I was delighted to have gone along to see Nick Mason’s Saucerful of Secrets gig. As a massive fan of Pink Floyd this was a real highlight for me. I’ve bought more Floyd related material this year along with yet more books so I’ve a great deal to listen and read through this year. I also attended the Planetarium in Glasgow to listen to the whole of Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side of the Moon while marvelling at the graphics. Again this was a highlight. I’ve heard the album countless times, but hearing the latest mix on a massive sound system was just incredible.

I’m looking forward to 2025, and hopefully producing some exciting new stories. As always, time management is key here, ensuring I turn up at my desk every morning and keep putting words down to the best of my ability.