Welcome to My Website

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Here you'll find announcements of forthcoming publications, promotions and publicity events, news about my current writing projects, a blog, a bookstore with links to my ebook story collections and anthologies, plus some downloadable content you won't find anywhere else. Click here for a first-timer's guide to my short fiction.

If you enjoy exploring this site, please leave a comment and come back soon – I'll be updating it regularly.

Most recent changes: News item below and update to Current Projects page (23 September 2016).

Latest News

Order Your Sons

23 September 2016

The Kindle edition of my second collection of my published short fiction is now available to pre-order. Sons of the Earth collects thirteen of my published science fiction, fantasy and mystery stories. Four of these stories have not previously appeared in ebook form.

Sons of the Earth will be published on 18 October, but is available to pre-order now, from Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk and other Amazon stores.

Sean Timarco Baggaley RIP

19 September 2016

I was deeply saddened to hear over the weekend of the untimely death of Sean Timarco Baggeley. Sean was one the attendees at Liz Holliday's One Step Beyond workshop for new writers in 1998, also a founding members of the writers' group of the same name. Sean was a fine writer of humourous short SF, among his many other talents. A thoroughly nice guy, he left this world much too soon.

Building Books No More

19 September 2016

Nancy Fulda has announced that AnthologyBuilder.com will close on 30 September 2016, as she's been unable to find a buyer for the site.

I found the idea of building bespoke anthologies from a library of stories and cover pictures an absolute delight. You can see some examples here.

First Contact Tomorrow!

12 September 2016

(Post edited because of breaking news.)

I'm delighted to announce that Indie Authors Press have accepted two of my stories for reprinting in their forthcoming SF anthologies.

Stars in Her Eyes will appear in First Contact. This story was originally published in Postscripts #17 (PS Publishing, 2008).

Family Tree will appear in Issues of Tomorrow. This story was originally published in Helix #7 (2008).

Bursting Forth

6 September 2016

My SF story POD People has just been published in the debut issue of Speculative 66.

Each story contains only 66 words, yet is beautifully illustrated. Editor L. L. Madrid has done a lovely job.

Racing Along Route 66

22 August 2016

I'm delighted to announce that my SF story POD People has been accepted for publication in Speculative 66, a new on-line 'zine that specialises in publishing stories containing exactly 66 words.

POD People will appear in the debut issue, due for release on 6 September.

Talking of Spam

11 August 2016

I'm delighted to announce that my SF story The Last Botnet has been accepted for podcasting in Manawaker Studio's Flash Fiction Podcast. This will be my second story to appear there. More details to follow.

The Last Botnet was originally published in Nature Physics Futures in 2008.

Moon Drops

21 July 2016 (edited)

From today, the Kindle edition of my SF collection Moondust Memories costs only $0.99 at Amazon.com and £0.99 at Amazon.co.uk (commencing 06:00 PST and GMT respectively). This deal ends at 12:00 on 28 July. However, if you subscribe to Kindle Unlimited you can obtain this ebook for nothing.

Moondust Memories is also available as a paperback from Amazon and Createspace.

Fellow author, Ian Laville had this to say about Moondust Memories:

"In summary, 'Moondust Memories' is a rewarding read in the best possible way. A wonderful collection of thought-provoking and challenging stories that you will enjoy whether you're a fan of sci-fi or not."

Intentionally Reduced

21 July 2016 (edited)

If you'd like to buy the ebook of Carol Hightshoe's Unintended Consequences anthology, which includes one of my stories, you can get 25% off at Smashwords (use Coupon Code LF75S).

The same discount applies to the paperback at Createspace (use Discount Code 9HW5GHYR).

Both discounts are valid until 15 August.

If you are interested in reviewing this anthology, preferably for an established reviews website, then please send me a message.

Unintentionally Dark Inside

19 July 2016

I'm delighted to announce that my SF short-short Dark They Were, and Strange Inside has been reprinted in Carol Hightshoe's Unintended Consequences anthology, which is published by WolfSinger Publications. The anthology is available to purchase in print and ebook formats from Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk and Smashwords, amongst others.

Dark They Were, and Strange Inside was originally published in Nature Futures (2010).

The Glorious Game Redux

14 July 2016

Sadly, Italy didn't reach the semi-finals (or further) of Euro 2016, so I didn't receive any winnings from the TTA Press Euro 2016 sweepstake. On the other hand, the royalties from my ebooks and paperbacks were fairly healthy during the tournament, so I have made a £10 donation to Oxfam UK.

Thank-you to everyone who bought my books.

Buzzing in Your Ear

24 June 2016

I'm thrilled to announce that my SF story Bee Futures is now available in audio form, in Manawaker Studio's Flash Fiction Podcast 0122. The podcast lasts about seven minutes. It's well worth a listen!

Bee Futures was originally published in Nature Futures in 2013.

Baltic Bees Now a Recognised Species

20 June 2016
(Edited 16:20 GMT: Not nominated as such, but rather eligible.)
I'm delighted to announce that my SF story Bee Futures is on the eligibility list for a Stalker (Estonian SF award) in the best translated SF short story category. This award is announced at the annual Estcon SF convention.

Bee Futures was originally published in Nature Futures in 2013, and reprinted in Estonian translation in Reaktor magazine (2015).

The Glorious Game

10 June 2016

As usual during a major football tournament, I have entered the TTA Press Euro 2016 sweepstake. For better or worse, I have drawn Italy. If I'm lucky enough to win any money, I'll be donating it to Oxfam UK, but not before I've topped up the amount with any ebook (and other) royalties I earn during the duration of the tournament. So, there's an incentive to buy my books!

Forza Italia!
(No, that's not a reference to the political party of that name...)

A View of Futures Past

26 May 2016

Fellow author John Blenkinsop has posted a very pleasing 5* review on Amazon (UK) of my Alternate Apollos ebook, which I've excerpted here:

"These are short stories in the true tradition. In a very small number of words they present us with fully realised characters and natural situations, beginnings, middles and ends that satisfy a reader's soul."

Alternate Apollos is also available from Amazon.com, iTunes, Kobo, and Smashwords.