Head full to capacity.

This might sound like belly-aching - especially to authors who are struggling for ideas (and I apologise for this blog) but multiple projects can be a real problem for me sometimes.

As an author you have to have plenty of ideas to write that novel or short story. And if I just 'dried up' that would be devastating. That scenario scares the hell out of me. But saying that, too many ideas popping up at the same time are a real headache too. A nice problem to have, you would think wouldn't you?

If I'm in the middle of a project, I need to be fully focused. Sometimes though, another idea or two will leak into my head. That's fine. I would normally jot down the details and continue with what I'm doing. But there's nothing worse for me than working on a book, and the other ideas start nagging, and pulling in the background. Its hard to shake off, and when it gets to that stage, concentration goes out-the-window, which slows the whole process down. It can quickly ground to a halt and leave you a blubbering mess.

My solution for this was to leave what I'm working on and take up the new project. But if this continues to happen as I'm working on the next idea, and another idea comes along - what do I do then? Its like swimming against the tide.

When it gets to five or six ideas bouncing around - that's when it becomes a really serious issue. Which one do you work on? It got to the stage with me, where I was drowning in ideas - head so swamped, that I didn't know where to turn. Ok, so what's the answer? Different authors deal with this in different ways.

You've got to slow things down.

Take your foot off the accelerator, kick back and relax. Go for a walk. Make yourself a cup of coffee or tea. Think of something else for a while. If I'm honest, its the walk that does it for me. I let the cool air wash over my face, listen to the traffic, or the birds - take long, deep breaths. Then, when I'm ready... I go back, but only when I'm ready!

Take one idea at a time and see it through to the end no matter how long it takes to finish, simple really. I've learned that the other projects will always be there to fall back on (if there's any life in them) some ideas will never come to fruition and were never meant to be.

I don't know if this has helped anyone? Its just my experience.

New short story or book idea?

It never ceases to amaze me when an idea for a story hits me. I was in bed last night - Monday May 9th 2016, and an idea came to me.

I don't know why these things happen like they do, but when my mind is clear (such as dozing in bed) an idea for a story began to fill my thoughts. I've even got two ideas for a title:

Rage, or The Reluctant Killer!

Which one do you like? Drop a comment (below).

I've pictured all kinds of scenario's for this book/short story and am already putting them together in a file.

I like the title: 'The Reluctant Killer' it gives a real naivety to the main character of the plot. I think this would have to be an adult novel. I'm thinking, stalking, violence, clever plotting and edge-of-your-seat suspense.

I'll let you know how it unfolds.

I honestly didn't realise when I started where it would all lead.

Way back in 2002 I decided to write short stories again (I used to write them in school) and found a small publisher called Crystal Serenades Publications. In fact it was my brother Derek who told me that a publisher had started up, and was looking for ghost stories. 

I'd written one called, 'Halfway Home' which they loved and featured on their website. I ended up writing twenty-six in the end, and all were published for anyone to read. After that Wizards' Kingdom (Athena Press) was my first novella - written in 2004 and published in 2005, and that started me on my novel writing journey. 

Next was, The Obelisk of Ashmar book 2 (Athena Press 2006) and finally Jarrak's Darkness book 3 (Athena Press 2007) - my first trilogy.

I went from mythical fantasy to paralell worlds with The Curious World of Shelley Vendor, which I wrote in 2008 and published 2009 with North Staffordshire Press. There was a gap of two years and the sequel, The Curious World of Katie Hinge went to print with my own imprint (Tallyberry Publishing 2011) Also, Shelley Vendor too after parting ways with NSP.

Another year of writing and my first science fiction book came to the world in the shape of, Crank Tech One: DESTRUCTION (Tallyberry Publishing 2012). What can I say, I love robots.

After that things slowed somewhat, but I carried on plugging away. My next offering was to come three years later, in March of 2015 - House of Darke (Pegasus). Influenced by Dystopian adventures such as: Hunger Games, Maze Runner and Divergent. This became popular from the word go.

Not long after that I wrote a novellette prequel to Crank: IU-137 (Tallyberry Publishing), this went onto Amazon as a free ebook in July 2015, making that my eighth book, and the fastest downloaded book, with over 1000 downloads and counting.

Death Trap (DramaScape) will be my ninth novel and should be in print by September of 2016. Set inside a video game; Drake Banks battling two computer programmes Scott Vent and Crystal Moon. Can't wait to see that one in print. 

This leads nicely onto my first paranormal adventure called: Killian Spooks 'Ghosted' (Tallyberry Publishing) and novel number ten, which is being rewritten and edited for 2016. It's what I'm working on right now. It'll be my biggest novel to date and, is set in my home town of South Wales - the Rhondda Valley to be precise.

As I write this blog I've just signed a contract for book number eleven: D.I.S.C. DIRECT-INTERFACE-SHADOW-CONTROL. This is my second publishing deal with Pegasus. This novel will probably be out in 2017. The story: Joseph Lanes is skinny, fifteen and ginger - prime bully material. He's beaten up everyday, but on one occasion discovers a disk in the mud. This changes his life forever!  

This takes me to possible novel number twelve - Villains 'Mother Quartz' which is written, but needs a few rewrites, edits, redrafting and so forth. The story is set in 2050 and is my first stab at an adult detective novel. The Sherlock Holmes style adventure, has fast action, humour and robots (didn't think I'd leave them out did ya?). I've a couple of options for this one, so I'll keep you informed.

I've one or two projects on the backburner - another wizarding adventure, tell you more about that at a later date, another idea I'm toying with.

From short stories to almost twelve novels, I never thought that would happen. I'm so lucky.

It's been a while, me and blogging are sometimes, distant strangers.

What's been happening? The year is moving along nicely. Deep into school presentations and workshops, especially 'World Book Week' lots of schools and lots more travel. Being an author and getting paid for events is what it's all about.

Been invited to a 'Writers Retreat Weekend' in March, with I think, four other writers. Looking forward to that, thanks for inviting me Steve Lockley.

I've been given back the rights to Killian Spooks and the Ghosted Children, my YA novel. Whiteley Publishing and myself haven't been seeing eye-to-eye, so we've mutually ended our relationship. I'm retelling the story and bringing it out later this year with Tallyberry Publishing (my own imprint). It'll have a different ending, but no one got to see the first edition. You'll be able to acquire it in paperback and ebook format - so a lot of editing and re-writing to do, with a brand new book cover, exciting stuff!

Dramascape, my newest publisher, has assured me that 'Death Trap' will be ready to launch in September at my Rhondda Book Fair 2016. This novel has been sitting in the background for a l-o-n-g time. The initial illustrations look amazing, and I can't wait to see the cover design for that one too.

Once Killian Spooks is sorted, I can finally get back to writing Villains: Mother Quartz. The story is there, but needs more work. This book will take me into the adult crime novel market. More on that later.

There are one or two other things in the background, but I'll let you know about them in another blog.

Hi to my readers.

I've gone a bit techy...mmmm! I've two format's for you this time around on my blog. I've done a podcast of my 2015 review on YouTube (link below). But those of you who don't do YouTube here's what I've been up to and what to expect in 2016. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZ3bg0Bgv54

As you know in March this year I launched 'House of Darke' - my first fantasy/steampunk novel, and I must say the response has been great. Pegasus, my publisher did a great job with the book and also the 'Book Trailer' too - the first time I've ever had one (it's also available on Kindle...and soon in audio book format). 

Killian Spooks and the Ghosted Children was supposed to have come out in 2015 but...I've had a lot of problem's with the publisher; formatting, editing and so forth, so I'm hoping that everything will be ironed-out and the book will come next year.

Death Trap: this is another long awaited book. I've teamed up with Dramascape and Simon Powell. It's looking really good and in mid-production. It's been edited and they are in the middle of creating and adding illustrations to the format. I'm expecting it in ebook and paperback, so I can do a book launch. From what I've seen so far it looks amazing and should be ready early next year.

D.I.S.C. - Direct-Interface-Shadow-Control: this will eventually be novel number eleven, if it's published! It's with Accent Press at the moment and I'm awaiting their response to the adventure. This story is about five teen's, who are bullied in various ways, but eventually become warrior's and have to save the earth. I'm hoping Accent's Imprint 'YA Cafe' will take it on. Finger's crossed.

Also, by the end of 2016 all of my books should be in audio format. InEar Entertainment have already produced Crank Tech One and are toying with the idea of setting IU-137 as an audio prequel. Living Audio have already recorded Wizards' Kingdom. They are in the process of producing The Curious World of Shelley Vendor and House of Darke. The rest of my back catalogue will follow.

Finally; Villains: This is my work-in-progress. It's a kind of Sherlock Holmes 'Who Done it' series. Pinkel Krooke is a private detective and has a sidekick, Simon. Simon is an A.I. or android with special crime-solving software. It's set in 2050 and nearly everybody is living underground in Spirit City. The crimes that the police can't solve Krooke and Simon can. I'm going for a novella series of maybe five books. This will be my first adult offering in a novel. We'll see what happens.

So, I hope this has kept you up-to-date - I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a fantastic 2016.

Hi my trusty blog follower 

Thanks for dropping by. I'm going for a slightly different approach with a new project. I've an idea for a private detective series. I'm calling it...Villains - another case for Pinkel Krooke. There'll be five books and the protagonist Pinkel Krooke will have special talents. 

I'm working on the details as I write. The cases will also be unusual too with the villains being weird, so the normal police detectives can't work them out. So Pinkel Krooke is the only person who can solve the crimes. There will be plenty of action and the usual thrills n' spills along the way. I'm also thinking of a side-kick Simon (an AI assistant). Got to put a robot in there somewhere.

What do you think of the idea? Would love to hear your opinion?