Not Another New Year!

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It’s that time of the year when the whole world seems to be wetting their knickers over the change of date. In point of fact the whole world will not be celebrating the new year. There are countless new years all over the world and at many different times. Even in our own little country you will be faced with quite a number.

For the sake of argument we’ll start in January.

  1. The change of the number of the year. This incites parties which means spending lots of money. We absolutely have to drink lots of alcohol and eat unhealthy foods at these parties. Some of us travel long distances and spend hours in packed airports and stations. As a penance we do promise ourselves to do better once the first day of that year arrives.  

The financial new year. This stems from when our quaint little country followed the Julian calendar and began the new year in a civilised fashion on March 25th. All accounts had to be settled and people were allowed one week’s grace in order to do this. Never mind a party, your money was destined for the fat landowner.

The academic new year. This begins in September after the harvest is gathered in. At one time everyone had to help with the harvest, both young and old, male and female. There’s a short window for gathering in the produce because we all know what England’s summer weather is like. The school holidays are still based on this for some unexplained reason.

The Celtic new year. The Celtic new year begins on November 1st. The church pinched it as they did most things and changed it to suit themselves. The winter to the Celts was like a prenatal period where we developed and grew ready for the spring.

And then there’s your own personal new year – your birthday.

    I take no notice of new year rituals. Okay, I did have copious snowballs last night but if I didn’t I’d find solidified advocaat in the back of the cupboard next Christmas. Not a pretty sight and I quite enjoy a snowball. I’ve done two loads of washing today and risked being posted on the washhouse door for ignoring the superstition of washing out good fortune but I needed some clean knickers.

    I have made a new year’s resolution if you can call it that. I’m going to be more active on social media. I have books to sell.

    #horror #horrorstories #scifi #scifistories #psychologicalhorror #pyschological stories #pyschologicalcrime #ghoststories #coronabooks #waterdragonpubs #vellichorbooks

    Are we already in the future?

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    I like Philip K Dick’s works of science fiction. Strange dystopian futures.

    Take Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? In the story a catastrophic disaster has wiped out many of the animals and people have no pets. That is unless they can afford to buy electronic animals.

    What did I see on the news the other night? Robopets. Robotic cats and dogs for people who are not allowed real animals for whatever reason. The news item showed residents in a care home enjoying stroking and hugging these toys. Which was lovely.

    Me? I thought of Philip Dick and his bleak vision of the future.

    Two Doors Studio

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    Ian Pearsall, who I mentioned in a previous blog suggested I visit TwoDoors Studio in a nearby town. Lorna and Ruth who own the shop love to promote local artists of all talents.

    I wandered along to an exhibition of Ian’s work which opened a couple of weeks ago. It’s still on and well worth a visit if you’re in the vicinity of Crewe Road, Alsager.

    I met Lorna, who was delightful and happy to take some of my books to sell and yesterday I spent a lovely afternoon with Ruth.

    If you’re looking for presents, birthday, Christmas, thinking-of-you or anniversary then you should definitely visit. It has something for everyone and remember you are supporting local artists who have taken the time to create wonderful keepsakes with skill and love.

    #scifistories, #coronabooks, #waterdragonpublishing, #crime, #psychologicalhorror, #ghosts, #ghoststories, #vellichorbooks, #twodoorsstudio, #bookfolk, #art, #crafts, #folkart, #jewellry, #ianpearsall.

    This Week Starts on a Saturday

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    So far I am having a lovely week. Okay, so that’s probably put a hex on things but you never know.

    I know Saturday is technically the weekend but this week is going to start on a Saturday.

    I had a table at St Andrew’s Book Fair in Porthill. (Stoke-on-Trent for those of you not local to the area.) I go mainly for the gossip, delicious cake and the perfect cups of tea because it’s the sort of place I see familiar faces and they’ve bought my books by now. However, I met some lovely new people who bought lots of books – well six altogether but that meant I could buy more books from other authors to take home –  and cake.

    With my daughter and her partner away for a long weekend it meant I could eat all the cake while reading one of my new books in peace and quiet. Nice.

    On Sunday I finalised all the details concerning the publication of my new book, an anthology of three psychological stories called How Frail the Vessel. Thank you, Lewis Williams of Corona Books for doing all the hard work in getting it ready to present to the public. It’s available now on Amazon in both paperback and kindle.

    Please, please, please write a review when you have read it. It helps to spread the word. We all talk about the Stephen Kings and J K Rowlings of this world but they had to start somewhere.

    Monday was spent in the front garden. No dog as she was still away but I had the cat to help me. Repetitive weeding and tidying helps to stimulate the brain cells and I decided which way my new story is going. It was coming across a bit like The Day of the Triffids meets Shaun of the Dead and I wasn’t sure how that would work but thanks to a day away from the computer (a few days actually) and some hard graft in the garden I can see a, hopefully, more innovative story arc. No spoilers.

    Tuesday began with a trip through road works, a queue for the local tip and a full car park in order to arrive the local surgery in time for a blood test appointment. It’s a good job it wasn’t a blood pressure check. Not so much fun although I got home in time to receive a box of copies of How Frail the Vessel. An excellent reward for a trying morning.

    All Go in Buxton

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    Thank you Chris and Lorraine (Book Folk of Buxton) for putting on another friendly, cosy Book Fair. It seems that every time I attend one of these events I sell a few more books than the previous time.

    One of the highlights of this event was when a gentleman came to say that he had read my first novel, The Woman Who Was Not His Wife, and thoroughly enjoyed it. He then bought my second novel, The Ceres Illusion. I hope he enjoys that as much. Such comments are precious to me. It certainly made my day.

    I also discovered that the two gentlemen on the stall opposite me lived within spitting distance of my home. So, as well as selling many books I also made new friends. If you are interested in Post-Industrial art look up Ian Pearsall. (www.ianrpearsall.co.uk)

    A splendid day all round. I have booked for the next one. Sunday August 3rd.

    Book Festival

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    I ventured into Leek yesterday for the Leek Loves Books festival. The weather was a bit grim but then it is British summer time so armed with a good waterproof coat I made tracks.

    I had hoped to have a table but was too late applying so decided to support them by going and buying lots of books instead.

    I tend to go through Leek rather than stopping and exploring so this was a new experience for me and one I really enjoyed. So much so that I’ve put my name down for more information on the various activities Leek Loves Books are involved in.

    Ready to Roll

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    Don’t you just love it when a plan comes together.
    I was a bit disappointed that my novella was rejected by one publishing house. (It’s still out there, so here’s hoping.) Rather than wallow in the disappointment I have decided to do what my beta reader suggested and extend it into a full novel. Originally I was going to write a series exploring how the aliens were thwarted but am now looking at tightening up the work and including it in the original.
    Can you imagine my delight when researching the science to find that what I had already written fits perfectly with my ideas of a solution? Way to go.
    It also fits with problems of global warming which I think makes the book a commercial prospect. We shall see.

    #scifistories, #dystopianstories, #scifi, #coronabooks, #velichorbooks, #waterdragonpublishing, #psychologicalcrime/psychologicalhorror, #horror, #horrorstories, #ghoststories

    That’s what you think!

    New Year New – whatever

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    I don’t actually do the new New Year being a bit of a Julian but for those who do belated Happy New Year.

    January is always a bit of a busy month for me. It takes a while for me to get over Christmas to be honest.

    I volunteer to help with the local Parish magazine and January means invoices and reorganising.

    So – here we are in February.

    There’s lots going on.

    1. It was my turn to read the story at Praise and Play. I wrote it a bit last minuteas you can see.
    2. The following day I gave the presentation of the book of our month at the Book Club I attend. ‘The Anomaly’ by Herve Le Tellier. A nice bit od science fiction for us to get our teeth in.
    3. I have a new book at the editing stage. It is called The Frail Vessel and contains 3 novellas each with a psychological twist.

    So, 2025 has started with a flourish of activities.

    If you’d like a dip into the style of How Frail the Vessel why not try The Boyfriend. It’s perfect for February as a lot of the action revolves around Valentine’s Day.

    #psychologicalhorrorstories, #horrorstories, #coronabooks, psychologicalstories, #waterdragonpublishing, #scifi, #psychologicalcrime

    Neville the Devil

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    You might be hard pressed to think of anything worse that hearing a cat hecking (my Mum’s word for it) up a hairball somewhere in your house but you don’t know where.

    I can tell you that being woken on what you originally considered to be a lazy Sunday lie-in by a cat hecking up his hairball right by your ear, is definitely worse. And I’d only changed the bedding the day before!

    I’d had a busy week.

    Madeley Carnival on the previous Saturday, Aintree ComicCon on the Sunday. This meant that I had to fit the weekend commitments in on the Friday before. Monday is Praise and Play in the morning, grandmother duties in the afternoon, Book Club on the Tuesday, Renegade writing group on the  Wednesday, catch up with my writing on the Thursday and so back to Friday with St Andrew’s Book Fair on the Saturday. I was considering going back to work for a rest but decided that having a lie-in in fresh sheets liberally sprayed with lavender was the better option.

    Neville decided it just needed that touch of cat puke.

    The Cat’s Home is too good for him.

    ~horrorstories, #horror, #scifi, #scifistories, #waterdragonpublishing, #cats, #coronabooks

    Here, there and everywhere

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    I’ve just had a fabulously busy weekend.

    Saturday was Madeley carnival. Unfortunately, as this took place within British Summer time everything got a tad soggy. But never mind, a good time was had by all. I sold some books and made some lovely contacts.

    Sunday found me at Aintree with a wonderful view across the racecourse. The day started in the rain with puddles so deep I couldn’t see the road markings but good old Google maps got me there safe and sound.

    I decided that breakfast was the order of the day. It takes it out of you driving through the spray from lorries. It could have been worse, it was a Sunday morning before 8.00 am.

    Let’s hope he doesn’t frighten the horses!

    I was looking forward to a quieter week with some time for writing but with it being my turn to plan and read the story at Praise and Play on Monday, attending Book Club on Tuesday, Renegade Writers Group on Wednesday, my son’s 40th birthday on Friday and St Andrew’s (Porthill) on Saturday I’m not expecting much down time.

    Perhaps next week …