I am sorry.
I last posted here on the 1st June. Since then I have published the book, won an award(!) and written up the first draft of the sequel. It’s all just gone ‘poof’’! which is amazing, but has left my time management skills hugging its knees in a corner somewhere and me staring at a runaway train.
I am sorry.
Where to start… where I left off??
The Incredible Machines of Thinkery: Outpost 9
Happened. It was published on 24/07/24, through IngramSpark and it’s now flying free! The feedback, reviews and support has been so inspiring and strengthening. Thank you, thank you, all of you!
It’s my own fault my reach on here is so tiny, but as you have all followed me so far - until I fell off the wagon over summer - I would love to ask you to take a peek at the book on Amazon or Goodreads. Purchase only if you feel the urge, obvs! The latest edition is a revised version of the 24/07/24 publication, I did a bit of tidying up (what was that about a learning curve) and added THIS NEWS…
2024 Bridport Prize ‘Highly Commended’ Short Story - ‘Blue’
This is still percolating. On the 19 October I trekked a 700 mile around trip to collect the Bridport Prize ‘Highly Commended’ for a short story I wrote earlier this year - ‘Blue’.
It was a bloody long way to pick up a piece of paper (don’t mention the M5 at Birmingham). It was worth every motorway mile for the confidence this has given me. The 20th October saw me updating every online bio to include the line “Her short story 'Blue' won Highly Commended at the 2024 Bridport Prize.” Whoop! Never, ever thought this would be me - honestly, if you’ve thought about entering competitions but wobbled at the ‘Send Now’ button, please close your eyes… and click. You never know…
The 2024 Bridport Prize Anthologies are available on their website, in both paperback and ebook formats.
The Incredible Machines of Thinkery: Future’s End
Ta-da! Book two! Is at the beta reader stage and my love-hate relationship with the blue horned devil of social media is warming up, slowly. Not a massive fan of tooting one’s own trumpet… I’ve stuck to Instagram for the initial heavy lifting (it doesn’t feel quite as painful as, I dunno, TikTok) and we’re getting on OK… so far. I’ve managed to connect with a number of Outpost 9 lovers who have very kindly offered to be beta readers for the sequel, which feels as privileged as it does other-worldly. As in… Edwin Cooper has… fans… ??
Book two has a first draft and a cover. I’m still chiselling away at the synopsis. In a nutshell: you can expect Cooper to find himself alone, in a world of decay, falling into the orbit of charismatic cult leader, Professor Benedict Crowleigh. Publication date will be May next year, exact date tbc. Note to self - master the art of pre-order dates…
If you have read this rambling something of an update - THANK YOU. If you take a look at Outpost 9 - THANK YOU. If you are still here, on my subscription list, by the time I post again - THANK YOU.
All the very best to you all. Happy wordsmither-ing, and peace out,
✌️
Linnhe