Tolkien, Niven, Herbert, H. G. Wells, um ... Kewin?

I came across this page recently, when I was browsing for reviews of my stories (as you do). It's a "proposed anthology" put together by Christopher Vera on his Mystic Nebula blog that explores the use of milieu in fiction. The list of books is impressive - not too far off a greatest hits compilation of SF and Fantasy. Tolkien's The Hobbit, Frank Herbert's Dune, Larry Niven's Ringworld, H.G. Wells' The Time Machine and so on.

But, weirdly and wonderfully, at No. 8 in his list, is a short story of mine called Museum Beetles. What can I say? This is a story I'm proud of. It was published in Abyss & Apex, a fine and wonderful magazine, where, in fact, it can still be read. And the story was given an honourable mention in Gardner Dozois' Year's Best Science Fiction (23rd edition). But quite how it ended up in such stellar company I'm not sure. I'm amused and (obviously) pleased. And if ever that anthology comes off, then I'll be very pleased ...

The Story So Far

So I've been writing, on and off, for about 13 years : poetry, prose and even the odd attempt at a graphic novel. I've collected a huge pile of rejections from a great number of publishers over the years (all of which I've kept and which I'll one day turn into a Tracy Emin-style work of art). But amongst the rejections have also been a few acceptances. To date, as my main web site says, I've had 25 short stories and 25 poems published. These have generally been in "small press" outlets, occasionally for an actual cash payment, more often for a free copy of the relevant magazine.

Which is all fantastic - each and every acceptance has been an absolute joy. But now it's time to try and move to the next level. The purpose of this blog is simply to document my attempts to do so. There is, for example, my first novel, Hedge Witch, which is just crying out to be published (more of which later) ...

I have been a little concerned that blogging would become a distraction: something I'd do instead of actual, creative writing. But I think it will be both therapeutic and interesting if I don't go mad with it. We shall see!