RIP, Jan

I consider myself a lucky man in that I have three best friends - of these, the most longstanding is Nick. We met on the first day at Rothwell Juniors, in September 1976 - my parents had just moved us from Corby to Rothwell, I knew nobody and I was sat next to him by the teacher.

We got on like a house on fire and remained friends throughout our school career and beyond (we’re meeting him and his wife Jane for the day when we go on holiday in August). I spoke to him today and ended the call with a smile on my face and tears in my eyes. Jan, his Mum, passed away this morning.

Childhood was slightly different in the 70s and 80s than it is today. During summer holidays, we’d wave goodbye to our Mum’s and go off in search of adventure, without a phone, without any money, often without a Roughneck flask. But when we wanted to be fed, we went to whoever’s house was closest.

Nick’s Mum & Dad were craftspeople - Alan is a skilled carpenter who could fashion anything out of a bit of wood, working with no seeming regard for what he was doing, until he showed you a small mouse on a delicate ear of corn. Jan was likewise talented, creating beautiful handmade flowers (she made Alison’s bouquet on our wedding day, plus the button holes).

Jan was a big hearted lady, in every sense of the word. She was kind and gregarious, warm and caring and nothing ever seemed to be too much trouble. My Mum is the best lady in the world, of course, but if I’d had to choose a “Mum 2”, Jan would have got the job. During those schoolboy summers, as my Mum did to Nick, Jan fed and watered me, taught me card games, made me laugh and always looked after us - I don’t think I ever heard her say a cross word. Later, once we’d discovered the joys of pubs and nightclubs, we’d often stay over at their house, watching Night Network and having a laugh, before getting up in the morning to bacon sandwiches.

When Alison & I got married - Nick was my Best Man, as I’d been his - Jan stood by proudly, both because of us boys and also because she and Alison had quickly developed a mutual love for one another.

The Duncan’s moved to France not long after that, so we didn’t see them as much as I’d have liked, but we still spoke and saw them around when they were back visiting family. Alan rang me late last year, to say that Jan wasn’t very well and I kept up with the news through Nick and his brother Chris, via phone, emails and Facebook.

I can only imagine how Nick and Chris, let alone Alan, feel today and I wish there was something I could do. They showed great strength and friendship to us when we lost Tracy and I only hope that I can do the same.

Jan Duncan was a genuinely lovely woman and she will be sorely missed by everyone who knew her. I just wish I could have said goodbye.


Playing cards, as often happened when you went to visit Jan & Alan.
Me, Alison, Jan and Nick, August 2000

RIP, Jan.

Trees Of Insolence

A while ago, whilst reading a lot of Harlan Ellison, I wrote a story called "Trees Of Insolence". It's a bizarre little piece, based around Alison's old house in Duke Street in Kettering and some kind of terrible future where books and music are banned and I experimented with form and typographical tricks. I liked it a lot but finding a home for it was a bit of a problem - it's not horror and it's very different from what I normally write.

Well now it's found a home. In a post to celebrate International Short Story Day, Emma Audsley & Shaun Hamilton's Horrifically Horrifying Horror Blog has published it (along with shorts by many other brilliant writers) and I'm really pleased.

The story is on this link, search for my name.

If you get a chance to read it, I hope you enjoy it.

Our 20th Anniversary

Twenty years ago today, I was driving a Fiat Panda. I only remember that because, on my way home to get ready to go out with a friend of mine called Alison, on a kind-of-date, I ran over a coat-hanger and the metal bit got jammed into the tyre, puncturing it. I spent an unhappy half hour at Dolphin Tyres waiting for it to be repaired (Panda tyres were tiny, it didn't cost much thankfully), raced home and got changed and rolled up at Alison Brooks' house twenty minutes late. I explained what had happened, I think she kind of believed me and we went on our way, to the Point in Milton Keynes.


We booked tickets to see two films - Waynes World and Basic Instinct - and watched the first. It was funny, we had a laugh, life was good. We had something to eat, then went into a pub for a drink before the 2nd film and I asked Alison if she wanted to go out, properly, "you know, as boyfriend and girlfriend". She said yes, which surprised me enough that I couldn't think of anything to say - not the best start. Speaking of which, it also meant that the first film we saw as boyfriend & girlfriend was the Paul Verhoven sleaze-fest. Hmmm.

Six years later, to the day, we got married. It was a lovely occasion, Alison looked stunning and I was as happy as I could be.

Today, in 2012, Alison & I celebrate 20 years together as a couple, 14 of them married. I can't take much credit for it - her love, kindness and tolerance have helped a lot - but I like to think we make a great team and I hope we continue to do so for many, many years to come.

Happy anniversary beautiful.

Hauntings (and me) at Forbidden Planet London

As regular readers of the blog will know, my story “Fog On The Old Coast Road” will be published in the NewCon Press/Un:Bound VE anthology “Hauntings”, edited by Ian Whates. The wraparound cover, created by Ben Baldwin, is below (and it's a thing of beauty, I'm sure you'll agree).

The concept was launched at The Hauntings Event on the 11th of March (which I wrote about extensively here) and the video of my reading (professionally edited by Vincent Holland-Keen to take out my break, halfway through, due to the heat from the open fire!) is here (links to the blog post and video).

The launch itself is taking place on Saturday 30th June, from 1pm to 2.30pm. And not just anywhere - oh no, it’ll be part of a small press expo held at the Forbidden Planet Megastore in London. For more details, here’s the link, but essentially it’s a mini-convention of four small press publishers - NewCon Press, Jurassic London, Myrmidon Books and Snowbooks - being held in the books department to “celebrate the love of genre which brings us all together”.

In attendance will be (from the official listing) - Nina Allan, Christopher Priest, Adrian Tchaikovsky, Pat Cadigan, Sophia McDougall, Lavie Tidhar, Rod Rees, Gareth L Powell, Una McCormack, Ian Whates, Paul Kane, Marie O'Regan, Andy West, Mark West, Rebecca J Payne, Theresa Derwin, Ben Baldwin, Adele Wearing, Esther Saxey, David Thomas Moore, Glen Mehn, Thomas Emson, Alan Baker, Danny Acacio and Sarah Anne Langton.

I am really excited to be involved in this - both the anthology (which I have high hopes for), the signing event and for being included in such terrific company. There's a lot of people on that list I'd love to meet, I just hope I don't get so nervous I end up standing by the table trying to look inconspicuous.

Hope to see you there.

Alt-Zombie's here!

The Nunsploitation story went well and will appear in the anthology that asked for it, hopefully later on this year (ebook first, then as a print edition), so more details as and when. I have to say, I’m really pleased with it, as I am about the following news.

Now available on Amazon and all good on-line stores. From the publisher who brought you Alt-Dead & Fogbound From 5, Hersham Horror Books is proud to bring you 21 Alternative Zombie stories.

Featuring original short stories from David Williamson, Alison Littlewood, Joe McKinney Mark West, Jan Edwards, Stuart Young, Richard Farren Barber, Katherine Tomlinson, R.J. Gaulding, Stuart Hughes, Rachelle Bronson, Adrian Chamberlin William Meikle, Shaun Hamilton, Stephen Bacon Dave Jeffery, Gary McMahon, Shaun Jeffrey Jay Eales, Selina Lock, Zach Black plus a bonus story only available in the print version.

Includes zombie stories from a UK #1 bestseller, British Fantasy Award winners, a Bram Stoker Award winner and a writer from the original Pan Book of Horrors....

Amazon UK Link: £8.99

Amazon US Link: $13.79

The Book Depository: £8.74

Barnes & Noble US: $9.99

Hersham Horror Books, we don’t do reprints only newly written works of horror fiction. This book may also be used as a weapon in the event of a zombie apocalypse.


Really pleased to see this, since it not only features my story “In Cars” but I also contributed the cover art.

In fact, I thought it might be of interest to follow the path of the artwork. After discussions with Pete, I came up with a ‘dead face’ concept and worked through several variations, which he liked but ultimately felt was just a little too creepy.

Coming up with some other ideas quickly, I found a picture of a bloody hand and that was the Eureka! moment. I re-created the picture with new elements (the test was a found photograph) and that’s what you see as the final result.

The Mill - now available in paperback

"The Mill", my little 'story-that-could' moves into another phase of its life today, as it's released in paperback by those fine folks at Greyhart Press. I'm thrilled, as you can imagine - it's always nice to hold a book with your name on the cover, doubly so when you know that people have really connected with the story.

We have a signing session lined up in July, at Market Harborough Waterstones and more are likely to happen beyond that, mostly - I think - in conjunction with other Greyhart writers.

In the meantime, however, if you fancied getting hold of this wonderful print edition, those very nice people at Greyhart are running a competition that's free to enter, with three copies of the book on offer. To check it out, click the link below:

The Greyhart Press competition to win a free copy of "The Mill"

If you're unlucky, it can also be purchased from Amazon in the UK here and in the US here.

If you're one of those odd people who doesn't like paper books, you can always go the ebook route.

Available from Amazon.co.uk here
Available from Amazon.com here
Available from iTunes (UK) here
Available from iTunes (US) here
Available from Barnes & Noble here
Available from Smashwords here

An afternoon in Paris - and lovelocks

I had to go to Paris today with my work colleague, Rosie - we had a business meeting there and managed to get everything tied up by lunchtime. After taking our Parisian contact out for a very nice meal, we caught the train (a double-decker carriage - British train companies, please take note) and got off at Saint Michel. After a quick refreshment stop at a café across from the Notre Dame cathedral, we walked down along the Seine (where we saw some wonderful stalls, with people selling paperbacks and art and some of it looked great - I wish I could read French) and decided to head over to the Louvre.

There’s a bridge that links the Quai de Conti to the Quai des Tuileries (where the Louvre is), called the Ponts des Arts. There was something on the bridge fencing, which neither Rosie or I could figure out, so we went to have a look. They were padlocks, with names (and often dates) written on them.

I checked it tonight, on Wikipedia and the story behind them is lovely.

Love padlocks have existed for quite some time, though there are no certain sources for their origin. They are a custom by which padlocks are affixed to a fence, gate, bridge or similar public fixture by sweethearts to symbolize their everlasting love.

In Paris Town Hall in May 2010 [there was] expressed concern over the growing number of love-locks on the Pont des Arts bridge, stating: "they raise problems for the preservation of our architectural heritage". Lovelocks disappeared suddenly in 2010, but the Administration denied responsibility and they soon re-appeared.

Quoted from - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Love_padlocks

More love for "The Mill"

A new review, from Gary Swindley at The Horrifically Horrifying Horror Blog, for "The Mill".

"This story of loss and longing doesn’t just tug at the heart strings, it reaches deep inside and gives the old ticker a good yanking."

The Mill

With print publication due very soon for "The Mill", it occured to me that there wasn't a book trailer for it. So that's now rectified...




A signing has been arranged at Market Harborough Waterstones, which I'll post more details for when I have them. In the meantime, if the trailer takes your fancy, here are some purchasing details....

Available from Amazon.co.uk here
Available from Amazon.com here

Available from iTunes (UK) here
Available from iTunes (US) here

Available from Barnes & Noble here

Available from Smashwords here

Donna Summer, Disco Queen - RIP

As we sat down to dinner this evening, I put the radio on (we generally listen to CDs) and caught the six o’clock news. The last item caught my attention, something about Donna Summer and Simon Mayo confirmed it when he came back on air. Donna Summer died today, of cancer.

I never saw her live and the music she released when I was aware of her (apart from “Dinner With Gershwin”) was the Stock, Aitken & Waterman stuff that I didn’t like. The Donna I enjoyed was the one who came out in the middle of the disco wave, working with Giorgio Moroder and letting rip with that tremendous voice over his electronic shenanigans.

In the late 80s, I used to go 2nd hand record buying in Leicester with my friend Craig and one of our usual haunts was a place called Boogaloo Records (it’s not there any longer). They sold pretty much everything, at a good price and I picked up most of Donna Summer’s back catalogue from there, a lot of them gatefold sleeves, almost all of them featuring one track that pretty much lasted a side.

The first album of hers I got was “I Remember Yesterday” and listening to it now, it transports me back to that wonderful 1987 summer - I was driving a car that didn’t keep breaking down, it seemed to be sunny all the time, I was enjoying life, I fell in love - and it makes me smile. I played that LP so often I wore it out (though I now have it on CD) and had to buy another.

A little later, on a trip to Kings Lynn, I picked up a biography of her (which I re-read a couple of years ago) and continued to explore her music, falling completely for “MacArthur Park” and it’s beautiful arrangement that served her voice perfectly.

Donna Summer had a tremendous voice and the world is a little diminished today, for having lost that. The Disco Queen Is Dead, Long Live The Disco Queen. RIP.


This is the song she’s probably best known for - I like it (it appeared on “I Remember Yesterday” and closed the album) but it’s not my favourite.



This is almost my favourite



This is my favourite, a beautiful love song.