The Bournemouth Festival of Writing has released a whole load of photographs, courtesy of Solid Imagery, and so I have included a selection from my workshop, Let's Get Villainous, which was a huge success. But don't worry if you missed out. I hope to run this one again so watch this space.
The publishing industry is tough, and since the pandemic it has only got tougher. There was a time when agent submissions were almost guaranteed a reply, if only a form letter, but these day’s you’re lucky to get a reply at all, and that in itself can be so disheartening – it’s like sending your work into a black hole to be swallowed up and never heard from again.
Then if you are lucky enough to get published it’s no guarantee of future success. I’ve now been published twice. Firstly Red Rock with Curious Fox in 2013 and then in 2022 The Sleepers was published by Bloodhound Books.
Yet between these books, and before and after, I’ve never stopped writing. I’ve never stopped sending stuff out. I’ve never stopped receiving rejection after rejection.
So, here I am again. A new novel is complete and winging its way out into the world. I’m back researching agents, looking for publishers with open submission windows, eyeing up competitions that might help me achieve my goal. And maybe, just maybe, this one will be my third time lucky!
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| Wistman's Wood, Dartmoor |
For the past few years, in fact, ever since I received my rights back for Red Rock and dipped my toe into this alternative world, this alternative route for my books, I’ve been working my way through the Science Fiction backlist and self publishing those novels through Amazon under my SF author identity Kate Kelly.
It’s been an interesting project and the latest, and probably the last of these for a while is Permafrost which comes out officially today. Permafrost is a post apocalyptic SF thriller exploring themes of climate change and geoengineering. It’s a story I’ve very much enjoyed writing, and I’m glad to be sending it out into the world.
So what of self publishing in general? Well I’ve learned a lot. Firstly the actual production of the book is the easy part. Holding the book in your hands, flicking through the pages, looking at the cover you designed – it feels so satisfying.
But creating the book is only part of it. The really tough part, the bit I’m particularly useless at, is marketing. I’ve been experimenting with different things and for me, finding a community has been the most rewarding part. I’ve done this by participating in indie competitions such as SPSFC (Self Published Science Fiction Competition) which introduced me to the indie SF scene and I’ve met some great authors through this. I’ve taken part in group sales and Stuff Your Kindle events, and all these have helped shift a few copies of my books, but I have yet to truly find my readership.
And this is the key thing. Who are my readers? Where do they hang out? How do I make myself known to them?
If I ever manage to find the answers I’ll let you know. But in the meantime do check out Permafrost, and if you enjoy it please leave a review.
The Bournemouth Festival of Writing took place last weekend with a wide range of events, talks, workshops, an author’s marketplace, book launches, writing on the beach – not to mention the now infamous naked writing workshop hosted by the wonderfully named Jonny Fluffypunk. (I didn’t take part – too much of a coward).
I was delighted to be part of this event, running a workshop called ‘Let’s Get Villainous’ which was a character workshop with a difference – the aim being for all the participants to take away with them a particularly nasty alter ego, to use in their writing however they liked. I ran the workshop with a series of character prompts followed by various role play activities so that everyone could really get into their character’s heads.
This was my first time at the Bournemouth Writing Festival and I’ve not run a workshop for several years, so naturally my biggest fear was the dreaded empty room. All week I had been seeing events selling out, but really I needn’t have worried – mine wasn’t far off capacity.
And the participants themselves were fantastic. They responded really well to the prompts and as soon as the interactive part began, everyone working together in small groups, the room filled with laughter and energy. There were some wonderful characters and scenarios being explored – I really hope that I will one day see some of them in print.
As for the festival overall, it was a huge success. Dominic (the organiser) is really putting Bournemouth on the map with this, and I look forward to being involved again next year, either as a speaker or a delegate.
The Book
Nicholas, Charon, and Dorothy are separated, and stranded in a cosmos they don’t understand. Behind is a City that would kill them, and the cooling gulf of rage that split them. Their only landmarks now are the distant stars, galaxies, and antique wooden doors that litter the plane. Through each door, the promise of a new world brims with possibility, but all they find are dead ends. A translucent tunnel extends before them and shows their direction. Or does it determine it? Are they in control of their decisions, or is something else guiding them? And who, or what, is the Narrator?
Cosmic in scale and scope, Transcendence follows on from the events of Transference. As Nick and Dorothy search the cosmos for each other, and answers, they find the signs of manipulation by an outside hand. Will they reconnect? And how far are they willing to go to be in charge of their own story?
My Thoughts:
Transcendence is the second book in the Narrator Cycle by Ian. I’ve previously reviewed his first book, Transference on this blog and I’ve been fortunate enough to get my hands on an Advanced Reader Copy of this, the sequel prior to its release in May 2025.
Transference is a hard act to follow and often a second book can fall short but I’m happy to say that in this case that doesn’t apply. Transcendence is sufficiently different to feel fresh. The reader is presented with a whole new galaxy of ideas, and yet the significance of what has already happened isn’t played down. This is a book ambitious in scope and deftly executed. The story is gripping, the characters compelling. Really good quality science fiction like this is quite hard to come by and I genuinely couldn’t put it down.
I don’t want to say too much because I don’t want to give away any spoilers but the ending was really strong.
I absolutely love these books and I know you will too!
The Book
Can the dead talk to the living?
Surrey, England, 2019
Tennessee soldier Maurice ‘Mouse’ Forsyth has been watching over Brookwood Cemetery ever since his untimely death in 1917. For over a hundred lonely years, he has become the caretaker of lost souls, welcoming the good as well as the evil, the damaged, the mad and the bad.
But now something strange is happening. For the first time, Mouse seems to be able to communicate with the living. The head gardener’s teenage son, Luke, has seen him.
Overwhelmed, Mouse tries to find a way to communicate with him. But before he can, Luke’s friend Matilda – a sad girl who has often been seen alone in the graveyard – goes missing.
Mouse wants to help Luke, but he has never interfered with the world of the living before.
Leaning on the other spirits in the military cemetery, whose sad past lives are gradually revealed, Mouse is determined to find Matilda.
But the outcome may not be what he was hoping for…
Will Mouse find a way to speak to Luke? Can he help discover what happened to Matilda?
And will the Brookwood ghosts finally find peace?
My Thoughts
A unique and poignant tale. I was immediately drawn to the character of Mouse, and all the other denizens of Brookwood Cemetery. Their stories were both powerful and moving. The historical aspects were skilfully woven into the narrative, all thoroughly researched and fascinating. It is an unusual book, quite different from Patrick’s Josh McNabb stories, but still with the strong thread of Military History throughout.
I felt that this book was a wonderful testament to all those brave souls who may linger in other military cemeteries, much like Brookwood.
Do give it a read. You won’t be disappointed.
The Book:
A crashed UAV on Mars.
A top-secret recovery mission.
Danger at every corner.
When a mysterious aerial drone is shot down on Mars near the American colony of Columbia, NASA accident investigator John Cameron joins a joint DOD team to recover it. But, as a sandstorm moves in to blanket the area, the Americans are attacked by an overwhelming enemy force of EU soldiers in a surprise attack.
Forced into a deep cave system beneath the Martian surface, Cameron and the team uncover a breathtaking discovery, left untouched for millennia.
But what will happen when its original owners come back for it?
My Thoughts:
This is a thoroughly enjoyable military romp across Mars, full of action and mystery. The story is fast paced and the characters relatable. The setting is very well drawn and the author has clearly researched what such an operation on Mars would feel like very thoroughly. The military aspects also felt very authentic which makes me wonder if the author is a former serviceman. If not then this is a testament to good research.
The mystery at the core of their mission is intriguing although I did come away feeling that it raised more questions than answers and I would have like to know more about this aspect.
That aside though, this is a great read and if you like your SF with a military bent then this is the one for you.
My latest short story, They Meet by Moonlight, has been published in the most recent issue of Leading Edge Magazine.
An alien detective sets out to solve a human murder but learns a few things he hadn't bargained for along the way.
You can find a copy here: Leading Edge Issue 85
Earlier this month I attended the launch event for the Bournemouth Writing Festival which will be taking place in April in the town. I was there because I will be taking part this year, delivering a writing workshop on the Saturday.
My workshop is called ‘Let’s Get Villainous’ and is a character workshop with a difference. The goal is that at the end each participant will take away with them a thoroughly despicable and villainous character, or maybe an anti-hero, to do with whatever they wish.
We will be using a combination of lucky dip prompts and role play activities to create our characters and then really get into their heads and get to know them. It will be quite interactive and hopefully a lot of fun for all concerned.
Tickets are available here: Why not come along and join us.
The launch event itself was well attended and buzzing with energy. It was great to finally get to network with other local writers and I’m really looking forward to this year’s festival.
I hope to see you there.
The Book:
Nicholas Fiveboroughs is a Sicko, someone that takes on others' illnesses. In a city where diseases can be transferred, the rich buy longer lives without pain, and the poor get a short life of constant sickness. Maybe it was fate, or maybe someone is looking out for him, but after Nicholas barely survives his latest affliction, he gets the chance to try and change things. To finally stop the whole disease transfer network.
Tensions escalate as Nicholas infiltrates a higher society he doesn’t understand, and starts to fall for the very person he needs to manipulate to be successful. And between run-ins with a talking animal and genetically modified humans, the world around him just keeps getting stranger. Can Nicholas tear down the disease transfer architecture? And can he do it without losing his own humanity along the way?
My Thoughts:
This is a quality piece of science fiction, innovative and original. We find ourselves embroiled in a divided future society where the rich pay people to take on their illnesses so that they can live their lives with the privilege of good health.
Nicholas is one of these ‘sickos’ and following a close brush with death he sets out to infiltrate the higher reaches of their society, intent to bring it down. However nothing is quite so simple and soon Nicholas finds his assumed identity brings along with it a new set of problems and inner conflicts.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. There are some wonderful ideas swilling around and a very well conceived flawed future society which is quite original. There are plenty of surprises along the way to keep the reader on his/her toes.
At the time of writing this Transference has reached the Quarter Finals of the Self Published Science Fiction Competition (SPSFC4) and I wouldn’t be surprised if it goes all the way.
Definitely one to read and a strong recommendation.
The Book:
An Anonymous Message. A Mysterious Symbol. A Sinister Plot.
Can Kara finally learn the truth? When the time comes, will she want to?
For over ten years Kara was a Hunter – the highly trained individuals with the ability and resources to find people, no-matter where they tried to hide. But after killing her best friend in a tragic accident, her world collapsed in on itself, and Kara spiralled.
Recovering, and keen for a distraction to keep her mind from wandering, Kara turned her attention to something that had intrigued her for as long as she could remember – to the mysterious symbol on her wrist. Determined to learn more, she began a hunt of a different kind – a hunt for answers.
But three years of searching yielded little information, and she began losing hope of ever discovering the truth.
But then, unexpectedly, she receives an anonymous message – a message pointing her to a highly secretive prison on the outskirts of the Kuiper Belt. What she finds changes everything, and leads her down a path that puts her, and the people around her, in danger.
Can she learn the origins around the strange marking, all whilst unravelling a sinister plot that threatens to send a peaceful world back into chaos?
My Thoughts:
A fine bit of space opera. Lots of set action pieces which are well paced and gripping but with a slowly unravelling mystery at its heart. The clues and reveals come in at just the right pace to draw you in.
Kara is a really interesting character and I found her immensely relatable. I also loved her relationships with family and friends which were complex and well drawn, particularly her friendship with Anya.
All in all a thoroughly enjoyable romp through the solar system. I look forward to the sequel.
