I will be giving a talk next Monday on the theme of The Entrepreneurial Writer as part of the New Ways With Writing series of talks organised by Writing School Leicester. Come along. The talk is about succesful writers are part of and contribute to many communities. I think it costs a few quid toContinue reading “The Entrepreneurial Writer”
Author Archives: Damien Walter
Listening to – The Bible: A Biography
Recently I’ve discovered the non-fiction author Karen Armstrong, via her short book A Brief History of Myth. I found the book fascinating and brilliantly well written. Armstrong is currently in the news for her book The Case for God, which has been vying for position in the bestseller lists with Richard Dawkins The God DelusionContinue reading “Listening to – The Bible: A Biography”
Writing by Hand
I’ve been typing up from the first draft of my ninja story this evening. Moving from first o second draft is my favourite part of the writing process. First draft is exciting, so hence also scary. Its like a new relationship. You have all these great expectations and lots of passion, and sometimes things turnContinue reading “Writing by Hand”
Bookshops are not Churches. But.
Earlier this week the Guardian book website unleashed a tumult of anger and frustration against the UK’s largest bookseller, Waterstones. The thrust of Stuart Jeffries article was that with its increasing commercialisation (3-4-2 sales, celebrity biogs etc etc) Waterstones had gone from saviour to destroyer of bookselling in just over a decade.
Franchise Heaven
Over at Ecstatic Days, Mark Charan Newton talks to Black Library superstar Dan Abnet about the strengths of fiction franchises, a conversation which should be had more. Franchise novels are a much derided form of fiction. In some cases, the derision is spot on. Many franchise novels are poorly written, utterly generic and bottom lineContinue reading “Franchise Heaven”
Shadows and Fairies
I had a little book shopping spree this evening. Jeffrey Ford’s World Fantasy award winning The Shadow Year and Catherynne M. Valente’s The Orphans Tale – Volume 1. I have read Jeffrey Ford’s short fiction and I’m excited to read him at novel length. Cat Valente has impressed me with her online serial novel, althoughContinue reading “Shadows and Fairies”
A strange Sunday
Sunday was one of those days when all I could seem to do was lounge on the sofa and read, in that semi-dream state where words mingle with reality. In the morning I took a sojourn among The Sea Kings of Mars thanks to Leigh Brackett. I have had the Fantasy Masterworks volume of herContinue reading “A strange Sunday”
My 400th post…
…and coincidentally my blog passed 40,000 visits just a few days ago. In celebration I’ve decided to return to blogging seriously and post every day even if, as today, I only have my circuitous progress through life to comment on. That and to say that for reasons I can’t quite fathom I get a tremendousContinue reading “My 400th post…”
Serious Fantasy
I’ve been a bit quiet since World Fantasy. Blame it on recovery from jet-lag and reacquanting myself with my day job, which decided to go and get all creative whilst I was away. But I’ve told it what’s what, and I think it’s learnt its lesson. World Fantasy was head and shoulders the best conventionContinue reading “Serious Fantasy”
Double Double
Photographic evidence of yesterday’s encounter at In-n-Out burger.
Beat Chic
I’m a sucker for the counter culture. A whole city to explore and I’m back at Vesuvio taking in the Beat Chic. They serve a nice Guiness. That’s my excuse. Every time I take a walk around SF I’m struck by what a quiet city it is. Not silent by any means, but there areContinue reading “Beat Chic”
In and Out
On my last trip to San Francisco I discovered In’n’Out burgers. If you don’t live in California, In’n’Out might need some explanation. Imagine the greasiest possible burger, accompanied with the worlds most artificial cheese, wrapped in a bun that almost resembles bread and chips that no one believes are even related to a potato. AndContinue reading “In and Out”
Damien Walter 