Autumn is underway, with tree crown displays of bronze coloured leaves revealing a spectrum of flaxen yellow and crimson red. Crisp afternoons mean that a cosy writing room can be the perfect place to settle, for the all-important task of tightening the edits on Blood Gift Chronicles Book 3. Transformation weaves through major plot themes, and I’m excited to bring this story to fruition.
I’m also excited by a recent publication of my short story, Blighted Blighty, published in the anthology entitled, The Seam in the World. The anthology is available to buy. Click here. Expect familiar domesticity blended with weird uncertainty, in a story featuring a day in the life of a character facing an unexplained and uncanny fungal sky.
I was asked by the publisher to expand on my reasoning. The following are my replies:
- Why mushrooms as your apocalypse of choice?
An organism belonging to its own separate biological kingdom, genetically closer to animals than plants, breathers of oxygen, able to communicate as suggested by the wood-wide web interconnected through mycelium, and in effect able to travel through the spread of mycelium and spore dispersal… And so I thought, in the event of a decaying socio-political climate, a pick-and-mix mushroom apocalypse would deliver a suitably uncanny dose of cosmic dread.
- Is “Blighted Blighty” commenting on anything specific happening in Britain today?
Blighted Blighty reflects on polarized political framing, in particular in relation to continued debate over the refugee crisis, and the attempts of the previous government to enact cruel policies, sending asylum seekers arriving to the UK on flights to Rwanda. As divisive politics continue, Blighted Blighty explores the possibility of the natural world exacting its own karma.
In further publishing news, I was delighted to have a haiku series entitled ‘Autumn’ published in a much-loved local poetry anthology, Outposts.
And in other news, conventions have been a wonderful chance to get out and about, meet readers, and join in with discussions of the day. Although, joining WorldCon 2026 online meant venturing out from the comfort of my writing room. This year’s panel topic for me was about the writing process, a discussion that brought together so much of what I talk about with new writers as I go along. And it was also lovely to host a table talk, to chat about the intersections of creativity, and the inspiration behind novels that have been a part of my life for many years. Thank you to all those who came along to find out more about my work.
There is a lot to unpack with all of the great panel discussions, including those I was involved in at a more recent convention in Bristol this past weekend. Writing panels have been a popular choice of late, as well as character development, and how we build the narrative on these epic story arcs. I was grateful also for conversations about the place of wisdom in our stories, from wise characters of all ages, and the well-thought-out reflections we as authors bring. More on that another time. Of course no convention would be complete without returning with purchased reading material.
The quiet of evening is drawing in and so I will close for now, and leave you with a breath-of-fresh-air memory of a day trip to Tintagel, on the dramatic North Devon coast. Steeped in stories of old, among succulent-covered slopes and fabulous views, King Arthur was looking mighty fine, a seal was bobbing and fishing close to shore in the waves, pigeons were roosting in Merlin’s cave, and in further caves along the beach, three song thrush flitted and sang. Lovely, and wind-swept.
Wishing everyone a great rest of the week.
