SO LONG AND THANKS FOR NOTHING

A short-story market I mentioned a little while ago, Coach's Midnight Diner, has permanantly closed, according to Duotrope. Nuts. I'll still keep working on the piece I *was* going to send to them, because hopefully it'll end up a really interesting story that'll find a home elsewhere....

I've had a good week or so away from my pc and haven't written anything in that time, and it's all thanks to Left 4 Dead 2.

I thought about writing a little review, but I don't know if I can be bothered. Suffice to say, it's an excellent game if you can find at least one other human being to play it with (pleasingly, it allows same-console split-screen, a function so many games nowadays forsake in place of internet-only multiplayer). The AI is okay, but only really stretches to shooting the shit out of zombies and healing you/each other - don't expect a computer-controlled teammate to lob a pipe bomb at that advancing horde of monsters and you'll probably get on with the game just fine.

Interestingly, all levels/campaigns are unlocked from the start of the game, so you can play them in any order you like (although you can only get certain achievements on the xbox by playing a campaign through from start to end in one go - so no taking a break to play something else then coming back to it) with a couple of stand-out moments including rescuing a gnome from a carnival (seriously) and trying to leg it through a town as a terrifying thunderstorm slows your progress and clouds your vision.

I've also got PEGGLE FEVER and a massive headache from trying to solve some of the puzzles in BRAID.

But enough of that, I need to try and crack on with the aforementioned story, my zombie novel that's taking far too long to finish, and a couple of other things, including an idea for a zombie-western - but I'm going to try and write this one unlike a zombie story, and concentrate more on the 'undead' aspect. So no inarticulate moaning, or hunger for brains, or headshot-kills only. Well, maybe I'll keep the 'hunger for brains' angle...

I'M STARVING

I forgot to do a review of The Hills Run Red! Basically: dialogue-heavy, unpleasant violence, interesting take on the slasher genre, bad/over-acting (sort-of on purpose, I think) and WILLIAM SADLER. That's all you need to know.

I also watched INFESTATION and that was very, very good. Basically: giant (but more like big) insects take over the planet, excellent main character, genuinely funny, slighty above-average CGI and RAY WISE. That's all you need to know.

I've also made a full CD of music available, for my last band BLACK JACK KETCHUM. We recorded a five-track beast of a record called Rock n Roll Racehorse - if you like angry/noisey rock, jazz/funk/electronica, or just stuff that really has no easy classification, DIG IN!!!

http://www.mysace.com/blackjackketchumuk

I WILL WELCOME THE APOCALYPSE WITH OPEN ARMS

If only because it'll bring an end to all my worries. Yeah okay Captain Pedantic, so it'll bring a whole new set of worries with it, but at least they'll be shared by everyone.

I got a rejection for an agent query today - a polite one, but it still got me thinking. It didn't 'inspire excitement' in the agent, which could simply be their personal preference...but it still got me thinking.

I think 'first person point-of-view'* queries might be considered a 'gimmick' but I'm carrying a lot of anger at the moment and think a "confrontational" style would at the very lesat grab the agent/publisher's attention, and make them think that an angry person's targetted them for no rea reason ahaha aaahhhhhhhhhhh.

"So you think you've got problems? Should you have a latte with soy or skimmed milk? Try being me for a while, sweetheart/pal; despite living all over the place, I've been continuously (not literally) haunted by (literally) unspeakable, and indescribable horrors."

Say, that's not half-bad...

Also working on my zombie collab, and I have to say, just referring to it as a 'zombie' story really doesn't do it justice. It's MENTAL.

Going to watch The Hills Run Red soon - look for a review tomorrow, if I can be bothered haha

And why the anger? Well I am having a bad hair day.



*and as an interesting aside on 1st person POV, read THIS

WHAT DO YOU LIKE?

I like lots of things. One day soon, maybe tomorrow, I shall link to the things I like. Maybe you will like them too! Rev. Austin fell on his face recently. Him brian make hurt inside more?

UPDATE!

Boring Post Title Award!

Continuing working on Bricksville (I think I'll end up keeping this title) and have just hit 26K words. The plot's moving along like it's got a rocket up its arse!

I'm currently experiencing technical difficulties with a relationship, which isn't the sort of thing you want to read about on another person's blog, but the upshot to this situation (and, unbelievably, there is one) is that I've thought of some new characters to put in the novel. The main one is The Dirge, a mutant (OR IS HE?!) who appears during the weird storm that affects the titular town and rips peoples (AND zombies) hearts out. Why? Hmmm. I wonder... :D

and on that mysterious bombshell, I'M OFF!!!

SO HERE IT IS

November. National Novel Writing Month. I'm going to try and finish my 1980's horror film novel, although I'm finding it a little *too* fast-paced.

I also recently picked up The Mammoth Book of Best New Horror 20. I've being following this annual series for ages now, but the last couple of collections have been a little dull, with last year's having a surfeit of ghost stories. Book 20 is already a bit better, with a few decent, slightly-weird 'apocalypse' stories, but I'd like to see more new writers, rather than yet more whimsical "horror" from Neil Gaiman and the like.

The more astute of you will have noticed my book and film review sites have slowly ground to a halt. But fear not! I've become a reviewer for another site, and I'm just waiting to see what book I get sent (I got to choose a few titles I'd like). So keep your eyes peeled for THAT.

That's all really. Ta ta!