The news in brief? Well, Last weekend was spent seeing the folks down south and a good time was had by all ... I've bought a polaroid camera ... bought tickets to see Prince in August ... and had some success with editing the book and receiving contributions for the cover.

I'd like to thank the following people for their help to date

David Markoff - http://markoff.pl/

Meghan Colson

Clara Goodger

Laura Gregory

carmendevos http://www.polanoir.com/carmendevos

www.philippamarshall.co.uk

Currently in discussions with actor Philippa Marshall with regards to releasing some sample chapters of my books as podcasts. This is for the lazy gits who never get around to reading any of the chapters on the website.

As well as her acting, Philippa has done loads of voice over work so I'm looking forward to working with her.

I've come up with a new idea for the front cover of Digging Deeper, which I'll keep under wraps for now as I am working with a few people to come up with some proposals.

Suffice to say I'm very pleased with the response, glad with both the concept, the potential eye-catching appeal and the fact that Enrique won't be on the cover for a 3rd time.

If you'll excuse me, I must get back to some editing ...

Image details:

magdalena #04 by carmendevos

people.polanoid.net/carmendevos

http://www.polanoir.com/carmendevos

Aaaah, gorra b jaysus, that's me back from a Bank Holiday weekend in the Emerald Isle. Very nice to get away although the majority of the city was shut on Good Friday. Thank heavens for the hotel bar.
I'm planning to get straight back on the editing now although I'm slightly concerned having read some 'proper' books of late and wondering if I can cut the mustard. The story flies along at 100 mph at the moment and although - in my humble opinion - it's a page turner, does it have enough description to allow the reader to actually give a monkey's about the characters? Add my previous concern with regards to the level of dialogue ... and I have a bit to work on, but I am really pleased with the storyline.

On another note, I don't know if I've mentioned it before (I don't think I have) but someone was telling me the other day that they're doing (or at least filming) some reality show involving authors. The basic concept I think is for self-published monkeys to stand up, knees knocking in front of a panel of judges, and read extracts from their work. Would I ever enter I hear you cry?

No chance!

1) I find it difficult to read to an audience.
2) Imagine the humiliation of hearing your work's a pile of pony only fit for the recycle bin ... and then it being aired on telly so that everyone else knew you were a loser.

I can see it know, me with goofy teeth and a lisp, forearms across my face in the form of a cross. "I'th got thhe xth thactor" just before we cut to a scene of me in tears, crying/hugging Ms Deeley or Dermot O'Leary (I imagine it would be one of them presenting it, both of whom lack the bosom to cry into following such a traumatic ordeal. Maybe some boffin type like the Vorderman would be more appropriate, a heftier bosom if nothing else) after having my book, yes MY BOOK, cut to ribbons.
Not sure how it's going to work. I can hardly see the contenders walking out onto the stage to some hip-hop beat, bright lights and a frenzied audience, with banners and all ... there's an expectant hush ... before some geeky bloke with glasses produces a book and proceeds to read some poetry???
All the best to all those brave enough to have a go though eh? Don't let a self-critical wuss with no confidence eager to cling onto whatever pride he has left like me put you off ... I'll still probably be sad enough to watch it, especially if they shoot anyone not up to the grade. A programme that kills and maims any of my potential competition gets the thumbs up from me.

The first draft of the thriller has now been completed. I'm taking a break from it before returning to do the editing sometime after Easter.

Also, I've bought myself a digital camera and so have been thinking about possible covers. Any ideas gladly welcome ...

Ahh yes, with the clocks springing forward tonight, we know that Summer is finally here. This fact was reinforced as I drove to Edinburgh Airport last night and was pebble dashed with stones as I overtook a gritter on the M9. Here in Scotland, last week in snowed and last night, the gritters were out.
Is it any wonder the Romans gave up. Managing to conquer the rest of Europe (in bright sunshine) they got up here and eventually thought, sod that for a game of Roman legions. Fighting against tribes who spent 6 months of the year in almost complete darkness, freezing temperatures, cutting winds ... and kilts. Bopping a few Italians over the head would have been a doddle compared with day to day survival. Having survived 2 Scottish winters myself (albeit they've apparently been fairly mild), the changing of the clocks is almost a celebration. It's as if the summer months and light evenings are a reward for having put up with all that the previous 6 months has thrown at you. In a nutshell, I'm looking forward to my pupils adjusting to the new levels of light in the morning.
PS On the book front, I'm hoping to have the first draft complete my Sunday night (fingers crossed)

Not so good news on the word count. Slacked off this last week but belted out a few yesterday. Now up around the mid 52's and hoping to churn out a few more this afternoon.

PS Went to see Alan Carr last night as part of Glasgow's Comedy Festival. Very funny! Alan (from my book) would have loved it.

We have the technology ... sort of! The podcast of my radio interview is now available by clicking the jellycast icon on my website.

The problem - I found out more by luck than judgement - was that the file needed to be an MP3 as opposed to a WAV (I see you all nodding knowingly). It's a little crackly but seeing as how my only copy was on good old audio tape, it made the transfer a bit tricky.

I've just typed a load of updates only for the chuffing thing to crash on me, so I'm afraid you're going to have to have the shortened version.

1) My first official ad campaign has commenced. Having become addicted to urbandead.com over the last few months, I found out today you can advertise with them ... so I have.

2) The cashpoints, bus shelters and telephone boxes of Falkirk are awash with free books after a flurry of releases by yours truly this morning through BOOKCROSSING.COM

3) I'm pleased, following my entry earlier this week, that Liverpool managed to scrape through in the Champions League meaning I didn't need to delete my hard work. Even better, Celtic went out which meant I recouped the £100 bet I lost in the summer on a double or quits. PSV in the next round ... I mean Liverpool of course, not Celtic

4) After 6 months off the smokes, the craving have hit back with avengance. I've not caved though, yet.

5) Ewan McGregor becomes the first A lister to decline, very graciously, to review my book. Something to do with agents dictating what he can and can't endorse. I can't blame these celebs to be honest. They must get asked to get stupid things all the time, open crappy fairs and fetes, read crappy books etc etc

That'll be it for now. Trying and failing to put out my radio interview (yes the one I did two years ago) as a Podcast. Bit too technical for me. Hope to get back the the writing tomorrow.

Word count update, just over 50,000!

So i'm chuffed to meatballs with that as I really wasn't expecting, what with other commitments, to churn out 4000 words in a week. Talking of other commitments, I should have done extra tonight on the basis I shall be camped in front of the telly tommorrow night to watch the footy. If Liverpool fail to get through to the next round I'll delete this weeks work. On second thoughts.

In other news, my God son has taken his first few steps and under no pressure from his Dad, has already been given a Thomas the Tank Engine Ball. At least with such practise so early in his development he'll hopefully be good enough to play for the mighty 'pool' instead of wearing the white and blue of his Dad's beloved Spurs.

Another 1000 words rattled off (47,000 in all), but tonight I managed to do it without the vodka kick start. Lots and lots more dialogue, which isn't ideal, but i thought it best to get it down on paper and I can always fiddle about with it later. After Claire's comment on my last entry, I would like to point out that there is no rhyme or reason to my "story filling in" at the moment, suffice to say it's my bloody book so I'll do it in whatever order I bloody like haha! The last two scenes are yet to be written (although I know exactly what is going to happen) so I've moved back in time from what I was writing last night although I've missed a bit out so I'll need to move forward again at some stage before going back to the beginning and then doing the ending. Maybe it's time for a sniffter of vodka after all.

It's going very well, thanks for asking. Forgive me, I've had a couple more vodkas than I probably should have - on a school night and all - but the planning of the book has come along in leaps and bounds. It's all there, it's just a case of incorporating what I've already written around my new framework. Written about 1000 words tonight but had to delete around 600 which are now obsolete. Current work count of just over 46,000. Still a long way to go but feel happy it's all fitting into place. I'm actually starting from the back and piecing it together as i work my way forward but I was just toooo keen to get another twist in at the end.
Only just realised this is the first book I've written in the third person and although it supposedly gives you more freedom, I actually find it harder to write. Slightly concerned with the amount of dialogue currently in the story but that's something i can address later.
PS Saw HOT FUZZ at the weekend. 6/10.

Some of you may be pleased to know that I'm working on the thriller today having finished reading The Catcher in the Rye this morning. I didn't know anything about the book before I read it other than,

1) It had a cult following.
2) The bloke who killed John Lennon was reported to have had a copy of the book on him when he was arrested.
3) The bloke who tried to assassinate Reagan was supposedly obsessed with the book.
4) I think it's been mentioned in "Lost".

I read it, and as much as I don't take criticism too well myself (and who am I to comment on a modern classic), I just didn't get it. So I've done some research this morning on the basis I'd missed something (after all, I'd have probably thought Animal Farm was about some talking pigs if it wasn't for the fact I studied it at school) and from what I can tell, yes it is purely about a messed up teenager who's been booted out of school. I can't say I really ever got into the story. It's written in the style of a teenager (although it was published in the early 50's i think) but everything is "kinda" this and "sorta" that and "if you wanna know the truth". He basically hates everything, including himself at times but I never really knew when he was being serious or not. The story trundles on, he was going to ring someone and then couldn't be bothered, then he was going to go some place, but couldn't be bothered but I kept with it on the basis that if someone killed the inspiration behind the biggest boy band in the world and someone else attempted to assassinate the President of the United States because of the book, then something really profound must happen at some stage. It doesn't, but then Donnie Darko was supposedly a cult film everybody loved (about another messed up teenager) and I didn't really get that either - and this comes from a teenager who wrote crap depressing poetry until it came out of his ears.
Being a sucker for trivia as I am, I was however pleased to learn that the title is based on a misreading of a line in the song "Comin' Thro' the Rye," by Robert Burns. Furthermore, the lead character's surname is Caulfield. Apparently 'Caul' in Scottish, means 'Rye' ... Rye field.
Who am i to criticise? I just don't understand ... even thirty years after it was first published, it was the most banned book in the States. Still, don't let me put you off.

If it takes this long for the completion targets to be done on the third book, how long is it going to take to finish the actual book? Well, I'll tell you ... 12 weeks ... with a following wind. That's the aim, and doesn't include cover design, formatting, getting it to the printers, sourcing an ISBN etc etc. It's going to be a tall order. Going back to full-time work for the immediate future has put pay to any plans to crack it out ASAP. I've completed over 45,000 words though so I'm half way there. It'll just take about 3 months of evenings and weekends to get to grips with it.

As for my day job, the news is good. Now that the weather is warming up a little, it means that the site toilets aren't frozen up until lunchtime. There were 2 days last week when I couldn't go for a wee before noon. And they say nurses have it tough ...