Writing Update June 2024 After a number of stops and starts with various projects including a follow-up novella to EVA, a second book featuring my yet to be published detective series set in a dystopian Edinburgh and then a new novel dealing with Artificial Intelligence, I found myself with the publisher of my cybercrime novel … More Inside the Fiction Factory – Part 95
The Kill Series The only constant is change and you need to be prepared to see the positive, even if initially it may appear a negative. My publisher has decided to call it a day and wind the company up. This happens. The writing world is full of it. I like to joke that you’re … More Inside the Fiction Factory – Part 89
Inveraray I drove across to Loch Fyne the other week and stopped at Inveraray. Fantastic scenery along with an impressive castle. It isn’t open yet as it’s still the closed season, so I could only walk around outside and take a couple of photographs. It’s on my list to visit later in the year though. … More Inside the Fiction Factory – Part 88
Writing Update It’s been an odd couple of weeks. I’ve been doing a lot of taking stock and planning which is all part of the process, but few words have been written. This is fine, because I need a break now and again. The effort involved in outlining a new novel at the start of … More Inside the Fiction Factory – Part 86
January Update 2024 It’s been a busy start to the year. I’ve been out to Culross again, a place I’ve blogged about previously. I decided to take a different route, due to the appalling state of the road I would usually take in. The number of potholes on Scottish roads is truly astounding, so I … More Inside the Fiction Factory – Part 82
Robert Burns The 25th of January is Burns day, when all around the world, people celebrate the life and work of Robert Burns. As a Scot, my introduction to poetry was through Burns, because as a lad that was the way it was. My father read Burns and school introduced me to the poems. Members … More Inside the Fiction Factory – Part 78
Fringe 2024 I’ve applied and been accepted to appear at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe this August. It will be my fifth year so I’m now viewed as a veteran. It has still to be confirmed, but I believe I will be back in The Stand Comedy Club. The photograph with this blog post is one … More Inside the Fiction Factory – Part 75
New Novel I didn’t intend to start writing a new novel this early in the year. As I noted earlier I’ve plenty to be getting on with and finishing up. However, I was feeling agitated and restless as the new year came in and I recognised the signs. There was an idea forming in the … More Inside the Fiction Factory – Part 74
2023 One novella published, two novels drafted, two keynote conference presentations delivered, donated blood three times, performed four live shows with the Cabaret of Dangerous Ideas, made my fourth appearance at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, visited six countries, and have taken a Spanish lesson every single day. It’s been a busy year. The Kill Switch, … More Inside the Fiction Factory – Part 73
In denial It’s been a busy and at times challenging month. The new work in progress is going well. It still has a working title of Canongate 2, the plan and outline is complete and I’m more than halfway through. I had intended to finish the draft in October and that proved difficult. I tried … More Inside the Fiction Factory – Part 70
The Fiction Factory 