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