Nothing of any significance to report. The novel is being edited. No point rushing it now after many years of writing. The hope is (such a strong word with many dependents) that soon I can post extracts/starters/tasters. I wrote a big Appendix which won’t be going in the book which may be appropriately placed on here. It’s more a constitution, a group of ideas that underpin the motivations of the central characters and themes in the book. So that’s where the book is at this point in time. In between something.

In other news I’m still chipping away at a short fiction collection and am part way through my next novel, which has the working title ‘I Can Complete You’. It’s not (I think) a traditional novel. I’m currently reading Galapagos by Kurt Vonnegut, listening to Cut Copy’s new album (I recently went to a recent gig by them at Club Academy in Manchester, but after about 30 minutes of finding myself shoved about in the second row I had to step way for fear that I might punch heads) and am really enjoying ‘The Killing’ on BBC 4. If you haven’t seen it, you must. It encapsulates everything a decent drama should have, tight plotting, skin crawling tension, believable characterisation, deft edting, sparing but appropriate and gripping use of music (take note Murray Gold, you tit!) The dialogue/translation and overall writing is a tour de force. It might be the best thing I’ve ever seen on television. All of which is the total opposite of BBC’s ‘Outcasts’. ‘Outcasts’ should be taught on creative writing courses as a lesson in what happens when script writing/production and directing goes wrong. I don’t wish to gloat about it because I’m sure there are really original thinking defenders of the show who will no doubt, predictably bleat ‘Well if you can do better..’ I’m sure most of us could.