Neil's Writing World
A blog about writing including event guides, stories, competitions plus the usual book and film reviews.
Sunday 13 October 2024
Theatre Review - The Haunting of Blaine Manor
Saturday 5 October 2024
Book Review - Guards! Guards! by Terry Pratchett
Tuesday 1 October 2024
October 2024 - Update
Welcome to October!
October/Halloween/Fall is my favourite time of the year.
When the leaves turn to shades of gold and red, the weather gets colder, but not too cold. Horror stories are the main theme and Halloween decorations adorn houses, shops and cafes.
I love it. Even better than the over hyped Christmas season.
September Review -
My highlight in September was going to Edge-lit 10 in Derby, at the start of the Month. Seeing and meeting authors and entertainers. See my previous two blog posts for a run through of the event.
It has been brought to light that for now The Quad, where Edge-lit takes place is staying open and continuing with the event. This is great news although they are stopping some regular activities which is a shame. So go visit the Quad in Derby and give some support. Google them for full details.
In October -
I will most definitely be finished reading both Guards Guards and 77 Shadow Street. I'm basically at the end of each book. The next book I read will be spooky as well for Halloween.
Going to Edge-lit has inspired me to write again. By Halloween I will have finished my short story The Cubby Hole.
I'm doing something I haven't done in a very long time. I'm off to see a spooky play at the Victoria Theatre in Halifax.
Called The Haunting of Blaine Manor, it has great reviews and perfect for October and Halloween.
See the link to their trailer below. I will post a review of it on the blog also.
Enjoy Halloween Month...
Neil x
Sunday 29 September 2024
Edge-Lit 10 - Quick Walk Through - Part 2
Continuing the walk through of my experience at Edge-Lit 10 in Derby in early September.
Just had lunch so onto .........
Panel 3 - To Infinity and Beyond - The Rise of Modern SF.
This was an interesting panel and a favourite of mine as you found out some back story into New Doctor Who from author and writer Robert Shearman. He has written for Television including Doctor Who and wrote one of my favourite Ninth Doctor episodes - Dalek.
Joining him was horror and Doctor Who author Mark Morris.
Author of Doctor Who and Star Trek - Lower Decks, Chris Farnell was there too. The last author was Tom Toner. Peter Allison was the host. He is also a writer and journalist.
They talked about modern science fiction and how it holds up today. Tom let slip his Mum worked on classic Doctor Who on the backgrounds and Rob became an excited fan again.
Panel 4 - In Conversation with Sarah Pinborough.
Mark Morris interviewed prolific writer and author Sarah Pinborough. Sarah is quite a regular at Edge-lit as I'm sure I've seen her every year I've been going. She usually calls out at the raffle and is funny and R-rated.
Sarah told us a bit about her life and that to date she has written about 29 novels. These include Insomnia, which she adapted into a television show for Paramount. She has also written Behind Her Eyes, now a Netflix show.
I'm sure she mentioned how she got into writing and that it was later in life but she has been writing ever since. Sarah also talked about her screen writing and how it differs from novel writing.
Mark was impressed as Sarah once wrote two separate trilogies at the same time. One YA and the other Fantasy. I will definitely be checking her novels out now.
Panel 5 - In Conversation with Charlie Higson and Robin Ince.
Interviewed by author Johnny Mains. Fast Show comedian and author of the Young Bond novels, spoke about his writing, dark humour again and briefly about Fast Show.
Author and broadcaster Robin Ince also spoke about his work and new book Bibliomania.
Again an interesting talk, finding out about the two authors. My only regret is not going up to Charlie and saying hello and how much I enjoyed his comedy.
Raffle -
Sarah Pinborough again hosted the raffle. For the first time since I've attended Edge-lit, I actually won a prize. I was the first to win something. I won 2 books from Indie Publisher, Northodox Press. I won on orange number 477.
Night Out.
After Edge-lit I had a great night out meeting old friends Kevin and Hayley. Plus met new ones including Owain, Tom, Helen, Phillip, Donna and Neil. Also a few that names escape me. Sorry.
Overall Edge-lit 10 was a fantastic time and one of my favourites. They just need to bring a lunch hour back for Edge-lit 11.
Neil x
Friday 20 September 2024
Edge-lit 10 Quick walk through -Part 1
Welcome Geeks!
Nearly two weeks ago I was leaving home to journey to Derby for a great time and experience.
I met old friends and made some new ones and chatted about our love of story and writing. I also attended some great panels featuring some top notch authors and entertainers.
I didn't make any notes like I did at the first couple of Edge-lits I attended, as I wanted to enjoy and take in the atmosphere.
Panel 1 - Why so serious? The comedy of horror.
This was an interesting panel which explored comedy in horror and vice versa. With comedy shows like The League of Gents mainly being horror but the situations having comedy injected into it.
The panel had Peep Show and writer Isy Suttie, Fast Show comedian and writer Charlie Higson, comedian and author Robin Ince and writer and Doctor Who script writer Rob Sherman. Hosting the panel was author Johnny Mains.
It was a great and humourous panel and they discussed how horror has a punchline like comedy, building up to a scare.
Panel 2 - Echoes of the Past - How History Shapes Genre Fiction.
This was an interesting panel discussing how genre is set in certain historical settings. Mostly fantasy is set in the middle ages time period.
Chaired by author Charlotte Bond, the panel included Malaysian fantasy author Zen Cho, writer Sarah Brooks and horror and fantasy author Stephen Volk.
They discussed the growing influence of Chinese and Asian history for genre settings. Also mentioned was genre fiction set in the 1800s with Stephen saying he would like to live in the 1850s.
Lunch -
Sadly there's no breaks anymore, which is a shame as the first couple of Edge-lits started earlier and there was an hour for lunch so you could mingle with others.
That's now gone which is annoying because if you're hungry or need a break it means you miss out on an hour of panels or workshops. Myself and my writing pal Steve agreed it would be good to bring it back. The Quad would make extra money serving more drinks and lunches.
To be continued....