What in my world?

22 December 2024

2024 was a year of two halves, at least in terms of my writing news. Until late summer, the year was rich in acceptances and publication news. Since then, it’s been the literary equivalent of tumbleweeds. The writing life was ever thus.

This year, I’ve received ten acceptances, four of them for previously unpublished short stories. Unfortunately, in one case the editor closed the publication before he could publish my piece. Ah well, these things happen. Elsewhere, Elephant Talk was accepted for and appeared in All Tomorrow’s Futures from Cybersalon Press (March). Growing Up was accepted for and appeared in Roads Less Travelled, Issue 1 (from Midnight Street Press). Wheat Futures was accepted for The Growers (a forthcoming anthology from NewMyths.com). All three stories sit close to my heart in terms of their themes, so it is a particular pleasure to see them find good homes.

I have also received reprint acceptances from Galaxies Science-Fiction for Those We Leave Behind, (French translation, pending publication), Stupefying Stories: Showcase for Dust Bunnies, Ef-Zin for On This Day (Greek translation), Flash in a Flash Patreon for Starless, and Atoms, or the Number Fifty for Venera 9, a poem. Finally, Laying the Table was accepted for reprinting during the Christmas 2025 period.

I’ve spent much of the year marketing a novel I thought I had completed in January, but it has had another revision pass since then (nothing is ever truly finished). I’ve also written about 40,000 words of a new SF novel.

Attending the Levitation 2024 (BSFA Eastercon) in Telford, UK was my big event of the year. This convention was very well organised, but inevitably featured many more discussion panels and book launches than I could find time to attend. I participated in a panel on “Doctor Who and the Industrial Revolution” (the nearby Telford Ironbridge is relevant to both), which proved great fun, also the launch event for the All Tomorrow’s Futures anthology from Cybersalon Press (which includes my story, Elephant Talk). Best of all though, I was present to see editor Donna Scott win the BSFA Award for Best Collection for Best of British Science Fiction 2022, which just happened to include a story by me (Those We Leave Behind). Beaming smiles all round! And yes, I did buy Donna a very big glass of red wine to celebrate her success. Kudos also to the publisher, the inestimable Ian Whates of Newcon Press.

My plans for 2025 are to resume work on my new novel while continuing to market the previous one. I have recently drafted a new short story, and I expect I’ll write one or two more during the year. Although I’m supposed to be focussing on novels from now on, the short fiction “itch” never quite subsides.

In summary: 2024 was a good year overall for me, with hopefully better to come, provided the publishing industry doesn’t collapse because of a tsunami of AI-generated sh!t. Please visit this website regularly for news, while supporting the efforts of other real writers and their fellow artists.

The news in short

13 December 2024

To help you find some intriguing but inexpensive reading for the festive season, my ebook collections of short fiction are available for $0.99/£0.99/€0.99 until 1 January from Amazon and Smashwords.

Second landing on Venus

9 October 2024

I failed to notice at the time because of a surfeit of vacations (lucky me!) but Atoms, or the Number Fifty reprinted my poem Venera 9 in its summer issue.

Unorthodox appliance

8 August 2024

(Note added 3 October 2024: The editor closed this publication before he could publish my story. He cited online harassment as the reason. I am appalled that he should have been treated in this way and don’t blame him for withdrawing from the publishing arena. What ever happened to “Be kind”?)

I’m delighted to announce that Unorthodox Stories has accepted my flash-length horror story Safewords for Sexbots for publication.

This is my fifty-ninth story that’s been accepted for publication.

Don’t forget your household chores!

2 August 2024

I’m delighted to announce that Stupefying Stories recently reprinted my short story Dust Bunnies in their Showcase feature. The accompanying illustrations are perfect. This story is free to read!

Dust Bunnies originally appeared in Shoreline of Infinity magazine.

Today, it’s all Greek to me

Updated 2 August 2024 (original post 3 July 2024)

I’m delighted to announce that Greek-language ‘zine EF-ZIN has reprinted my short story On This Day. This is my first story to be translated into Greek. The illustrations for the story are superb (see below for an example).

On This Day originally appeared in Nature Futures.

There is honour in a mention

20 July 2024

Although none of my SF stories published in 2023 made it into the Best of British Science Fiction anthology for that year, it is pleasing to note that Dust Bunnies was one of only four stories listed as “honourable mentions” in editor Donna Scott’s introduction.

The Best of British Science Fiction (2023) is published by NewCon Press. It is full of excellent stories and the entire series is well worth your support. The 2023 edition is available from the publisher and from Amazon.

The road to growth

11 June 2024

I am delighted to announce that my science fantasy short story Growing Up has been published in issue 1 of Trevor Denyer’s new magazine, Roads Less Travelled. The line-up of authors is impressive to say the least. Issue 1 is available for purchase at Amazon.

This is my 57^th published short story.

Atomic Venus!

3 June 2024

I’m delighted to announce that my SF poem Venera 9 will be reprinted in Atoms, or the Number Fifty. This poem originally appeared in Sourav Sarkar’s U.S.A. anthology (rather ironically, for those who know their Space history).

The wheat is growing

19 May 2024

I’m delighted to announce that my SF story Wheat Futures has been accepted for publication in The Growers, a forthcoming anthology from NewMyths.com.

Repeat nova

25 April 2024

The Flash In A Flash Patreon has reprinted my flash SF story Starless. It originally appeared in Shacklebound Book’s monthly newsletter.

Star disappears in a flash

12 April 2024

(My run of acceptances continues…)

I’m delighted to announce that Jason Brick‘s Flash In A Flash Patreon will be reprinting my flash SF story Starless on 25 April.

Growth through travel

10 April 2024

I am delighted to announce that Trevor Denyer has accepted my science fantasy short story Growing Up for publication in either issue 1 or 2 of his new magazine, Roads Less Travelled.

This will be my 57^th published short story.

Halcyon days

10 April 2024

I am delighted to announce that the editor of Ef-Zin, a Greek SF fanzine, has accepted On This Day for translation and reprinting in their next issue. It will be the second translation for this story, which was originally published in Nature Futures, and my twelfth foreign language in all.

It was the best of levitations

3 April 2024

I had a wonderful time at the BSFA Eastercon (Levitation 2024) from 29 to 31 March. This was an exceptionally well run and enjoyable convention, with the Telford International Centre providing an ideal venue. Highlights included being on the Doctor Who and the Industrial Revolution panel, which was great fun, also the launch and associated learning-themed panel for Cybersalon’s All Tomorrow’s Futures: Fictions That Disrupt anthology, which was doing good business in the dealer’s room. Best of all though was witnessing editor Donna Scott collect the BSFA Award for Best Collection for Best of British Science Fiction 2022. Donna richly deserves this accolade, having performed sterling work editing the series for Newcon Press since its inception in 2016. Hearing her read out the names of her “2022” authors during her acceptance speech was, I have to say, a genuine thrill. I never thought I’d hear my name mentioned in an awards ceremony! The glory is, of course, Donna’s!

Selling tomorrow’s futures