Writing
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
CODI Again I’m running behind with updating this blog. Deciding to draft a second novel in the year has proved challenging but an enjoyable one, so I’m not complaining. It has taken up a fair amount of time and with work being so manic, some things have slipped. I’ve some catching up to do before … More Inside the Fiction Factory – Part 72
Pollok House If you read this blog, you will know I spend time visiting places of historical interest and like to flag them up. I’m not going to give you a potted history of these locations as you can easily look up the background online if you are interested to find out more. I like … More Inside the Fiction Factory – Part 71
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
Bucket List I’ve never been one for having a bucket list. There are things I want to do and see, that’s only natural, but the writing of lists and ticking things off has never been my thing. I recall while having a coffee in the shadow of the Rialto Bridge and watching people stand in … More Inside the Fiction Factory – Part 68
Catch-up It’s been a busy few weeks. Work has been full-on and fitting writing around it has been challenging. I’ve left the structural edit of The Clockmaker Conspiracy alone for now while I am now in the swing of writing out the draft of a follow-up to The Canongate Containment. I’m effectively doing NaNoWriMo in … More Inside the Fiction Factory – Part 65
Poetry It struck me the other day that I haven’t blogged about poetry. Looking at my book shelves I have a number of individual collections and anthologies which I dip into on a regular basis. Being Scottish, I was brought up with Robert Burns and had to learn by heart a number of his poems. … More Inside the Fiction Factory – Part 64
Doune Castle I revisited Doune Castle at the beginning of September. Those who are fans of the Outlander series, will know this was used for the fictional Castle Leoch, where Colum MacKenzie and his clan lived. As always I took a great many photographs, despite having done so on previous occasions. If you have watched … More Inside the Fiction Factory – Part 63
The Fiction Factory 