Newsletter: Get On Your Feet And Jump Around
You can tell what song I've been listening to
Bookish Bounty
I’ve decided to clear out some of the books from my shelves. The photo shows what is available. I was thinking of a horror pack: paperbacks of Turner (classic folk horror in Wales), They Move Below (creepy short stories with bite), and Harvest Festival (“Signs, but better,” said one review). All three books, with free UK postage, for £23. I’ll sign them if you like. Add a copy of It Will Be Quick (powerful contemporary short stories) for an extra £6. This is cheaper than getting them all in Waterstones, and they come straight to your door! Reply to this newsletter if you are interested. First come, first served.
The deal is UK only, due to postage costs. But if you live outside the UK is it a lot cheaper to just buy my books from your nearest independent bookshop. And you can get signed bookplates as an option to stick in the book: I have you covered!
As to writing: my proofreader sent me the edits for UESI at the weekend, and I was heartened to read this: “Honestly, this is the best-quality manuscript I’ve ever proofread!” I do a huge number of passes on my own work (part of the reason why I don’t release many books!), but I am glad the care and attention pays off. A special limited-edition hardback Kickstarter will be going ahead soon. Here’s a sneak preview of the cover options:
My WRITE creative writing class went really well, with a live video connection to Denmark so a fellow author could join us for a discussion about creative collaboration. No technical hitches, the session was (as ever) a pleasure, and I loved the poems and prose created by participants.
Personal
I just got back from a run. An author’s life involves a lot of sitting around, so it is important to get up and be active whenever possible. Hence my choice of song, which I am interpreting as a need to get off my arse! On that note, here’s the video of this newsletter’s classic song, filmed during a 1992 Saint Patrick's Day parade:
One day I hope there will be a united Ireland (along with an independent Scotland and Wales). Hey, if I am reshaping the world in a momentary muse, let’s make sure there is a Palestine free from Western genocide and land theft. Also that the US government is reformed so that half its members have to be native Americans. Ditto for Australia and New Zealand, where at least half the members of parliament should be Aboriginal Australians and Maori, respectively. Colonialisation and cultural destruction has a lot to answer for.
Review Corner
Here’s one I haven’t shared before, a review of Lost Solace:
“This book demonstrates how a good writer can make a story really ping. Drinkwater manages to bring in tension, interest and action in equal measure throughout. The author manages to keep the action flowing without getting bogged down in detail. He has some imagination to produce the swath of differing scenarios presented to the characters.”
Thank you Kevin of Coventry! :-)
And so endeth this newsletter. May you meet a friendly dog and experience a part of its joy at every little thing,
Karl