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It's the end of the year as we know it

31/12/2014

That's right. Another 365 (and probably a bit) day cycle is ending, and a new one starts. And after all, tomorrow... is just another day. Although it's also the start of 2015, 15 years into this century, five years since I first became a published author, election year (in the UK). 50 years since Winston Churchill died, and since Brady and Hindley were charged with the Moors Murders, and the 'F' word was first spoken on British television. 100 years since the Gallipoli campaign in WWI, and since Edith Smith became the UK's first policewoman granted full powers of arrest.

We won't all have had the year we wished for in January 2014; we won't all get the year we wish for in January 2015. But even so, I wish good things for you all; and that whatever happens, I hope you play the best hand you possibly can.

I leave you with a ten year old photo, taken on New Year's Day 2005, on the Stiperstones, Shropshire. Onwards and upwards!

PS - don't forget that GASP - the Gothic Alternative Steampunk and Progressive radio show - is broadcasting as usual from 8pm on New Year's Day - with the added bonus of our new regular extra hour! That's right, you can listen in on Blast 1386 0r on Tune-in; and if you'd like to chat you can also join in the facebook event. Happy new year!

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Merry Festival, one and all

23/12/2014

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Merry Festival, Mr Black

The nights drew in. A thick hoar frost became a regular morning caller, tracing icy fingers across paths and grasses, turning bared trees into glistening monoliths. Birdsong was muted and discordant; the more tuneful avian visitors had fled to warmer climes for the winter. The air was grey and biting, and all traces of colour were erased from the cold, hard earth.

It was just the right time of year for a celebration.

-The Home Front, Volume I of The Automata Wars.

That's right - whether you're celebrating Yule, Xmas, Saturnalia, Pancha Ganapati, Hanukkah, Hogswatch, the Doctor Who special or anything else, there are plenty of reasons to celebrate. Such as:

Almost all businesses in this country being closed, so we get some time off (sorry, doctors, nurses, firefighters, police and others who have to work. Pub landlords - it's your own choice!)
Gluhwein
Lots of films on telly
Gluhwein
Visiting friends and rellies you haven't seen for a while, and them having gluhwein.

And whatever other things your particular celebration promotes.

In the spirit of all this good will (and gluhwein) you may already be aware of a free short story download made available by my publisher The Last Line. That's right folks, my short story Storm Watch, first published in the compilation Tales from the Asylum remains free to download, so get yours now.

There's more - in that there's now a video of a new short story I wrote for and read at Southcart Books Festive Fantasy event on 13th December. With thanks to Craig 'Beasty' Beas and Steven C. Davis for filming, may I present for your delectation the seasonal short 'The Wolves of Winter'.

And don't forget that the Gothic Alternative Steampunk and Progressive - GASP - radio show WILL be broadcasting on both Xmas day and on New Year's Day. You can listen on Blast1386, download the Blast app, or listen via Tune-in (which I usually find more reliable).
If you've had enough of mince pies and the Queen's speech, join us live on the facebook event for each show:
Xmas day (8pm UK time)
New Year's Day (8pm UK time)

And finally - on a slightly less giving note - don't forget that volumes I & II of The Automata Wars - The Home Front and The Front Line - are both available for digital download from Amazon. Wouldn't they make lovely (if a little grisly) things to pre-load onto a kindle you may be giving someone for Xmas... *sings*, prostitutes, killer robots, face-suckers with wings... these are a few of my favourite things...

Whatever you're doing, have a good one.... see you on the flipside

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The Doors were open...

17/12/2014

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A brief-ish blog this week. What are you doing reading a blog, anyway? Don’t you have mince pies to quaff?

In a musical note (geddit?) to last week, I went to two gigs – Gogol Bordello on Thursday, followed by The Doors Alive, a tribute band to (surprise!) The Doors on Friday.

Gogol Bordello appear to have discovered the secret of perpetual motion. They leaped on stage, leaped around on stage, and leaped off stage again, throwing a variety of ‘shapes’ in gypsy-vogueing style. Anthemic song followed anthemic song – they do seem to have rather a large range of anthems. I was particularly impressed with the bass guitar, which seemed to blend funk and reggae rhythms into many of the songs – a cowboy/ country&western/ reggae/ mariachi type song being a particular standout.

There was a surprising amount of wine throwing from the stage. I hope that the bottle contents had been replaced by ribena or similar and that it wasn’t genuine alcohol that was showering the front rows – if so, what a waste!

I wasn’t sure what to expect from The Doors Alive. As it turned out, I got a very good tribute act, who had clearly studied all the moves and the accents. Exemplary musicianship all round, coupled with a pretty good impression of Jim Morrison’s vocal range – as the singer was at pains to point out, they were ‘a band, not an icon’.

They played a nice mixed up range of classic tracks, some a little more unexpected than others, and got the crowd involved very nicely. I was impressed. Definitely worth a watch if they’re around your area.

It remains for me to thank Scott and Amy of Southcart Books, plus host A. Stuart Williams for another fantastic book reading event last Saturday. I took the opportunity to try out a new short story, 'The Wolves of Winter' written specially for the occasion, on the lovely audience, who applauded loudly with ABSOLUTELY NO COERCION WHATSOEVER (ahem). Thanks to fellow author Steven C. Davis, and Walsall photographer Craig ‘Beasty’ Beas, that reading has been recorded for posterity, so I shall be unleashing it on you not-so-unsuspecting-populace very soon...

And finally, don’t forget you can download a free short story, Storm Watch, courtesy of me and my publishers The Last Line, available in a range of formats. And if you like what you read, volumes 1 & 2 of the Automata Wars are also available for kindle (and we now have only six(6) physical, paperback copies of The Home Front left!)

See you next week...

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Have a prezzie! (And come to Southcart)

7/12/2014

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Whatever your beliefs, religions or lack thereof, it is traditional in many places to give gifts at this time of year. I'd like to share in the general gift giving bonhomie this year by giving you ALL - yes, you, you AND you - the opportunity to download one of my short stories, in the format of your choice, absolutely free. That's no pence. Gratis.

Storm Watch first appeared in 'Tales from the Asylum: A Steampunk Compilation', published by The Last Line in 2010. 'Tales from the Asylum' is the first volume of 'The Asylum Chronicles'.

The Asylum - it was built like a fortress; yet no-one questioned why.
It had hundreds of uniformed wardens; almost no-one noticed.
It held strange and dangerous inmates; no-one knew.
Built in the 1870s, yet seeming to endure forever, the Asylum has seen governments rise and fall, has witnessed wars and riots. It has stories to tell, strange twisting stories of past and future

Tales from the Asylum follows in the footsteps of the Asylum warden, Arkwright, as he makes his rounds. In the final cell, a cell strangely dripping with brine, is James Fairweather - another of the unfortunate inmates who can never be released.

Storm Watch is James' story.

Get it free from Smashwords here.
And my compliments of the season to you all!

Of course, if you like what you read, you may well want to hear more...
There are several ways you can go about this:

The Automata Wars Volumes 1, The Home Front, and 2, The Front Line are both available for download via Amazon for kindle (not free, sorry!) (or you can find them via my Amazon page at www.amazon.com/author/lmcooke if you're not in the UK)
You could come to Southcart Books next Saturday, 13th December, for Southcart's Festive Fantasies event, and pick up paperback copies of the Automata Wars series while you're there

At Southcart, I'll be doing a reading from The Home Front, and also, I MAY have written a short, wintery story to read, especially for this event (called The Wolves of Winter). There'll be lots of other writers reading too, and lovely Scott and Amy, Southcart's proprieters, will also provide free nibbles. It's free entry too, and a fantastic opportunity to get some rare and unusual Xmas presents, so we hope to see you there...
(Full author programme will be announced very soooon...)

NOTE OF WARNING!

If you would like to acquire a paperback copy of The Home Front, then there are only ten(10), yes ten (10) copies left of the first print run. That's ten (10).

The Last Line publishing house currently has one (1).
I have the remaining nine (9) (mwah ha ha ha)
If you'd definitely like one (1)(or maybe more), drop me a line so that I can reserve one (1)(or maybe more) for you...

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Steaming across the universe...

3/12/2014

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Fellow author & GASP host Steven C. Davis and I spent last weekend at the National Space Centre in Leicester, for the second Steampunks in Space event. The writing contingent was strongly represented, and included my publisher, James ‘Arkwright’ Snee of The Last Line Publishing House; EA Stokes, a fellow Last Line author; Kit Cox, aka Major Jack Union; Toby Frost, creator of Space Captain Smith; and Rod Duncan, a writer of crime and creator of the 'gas-lit Empire'.

As well as presenting our ‘Star Wars IV – Steampunk’d’ Workshop, Steven and I also took part in author’s Q&A sessions and chatted to a large number of interested people on our stand over the weekend. The unusual venue provided a great ambiance – although we did have to occasionally help out with torches when people were looking at books; it was a smidgeon dark at times.

Many thanks to the event organisers and to all the staff at the Space Centre who were very solicitous throughout the day; in testament the event ran smoothly and – almost unheard of – almost exactly to time in every way. Precision management at its finest! And thanks also to the people who came along to the workshops or Q&As, or stopped for a chat at the stand. A most excellent event indeed!

The Last Line stand at Steampunks in Space

The next event - and probably our last before Xmas - is on Saturday 13th December, back at Southcart Books, Walsall, our favourite bookshop.

Southcart are having a 'Festive Fantasies' event, with authors and readings. It's free entry, and free nibbles too! More info coming very soon...

And finally for now – keep your eyes peeled for a festive freebie! Festive in the sense that it’s being given away at this time of year, that is; it might not actually be all that festive in itself. Watch this space... (well, next week’s space, actually...)

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It's the end of the year as we know it

Merry Festival, one and all

Merry Festival, Mr Black

The Doors were open...

Have a prezzie! (And come to Southcart)

Steaming across the universe...

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