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LOoBW first review

 The first review of Looking Out of Broken Windows appeared online yesterday. It’s on Bookcunt’s brilliant blog, which, if you haven’t yet had the pleasure, is a mix of book reviews and book related memoir posts. Her debut memoir, A Fucked Up Life In Books, is an absolute diamond of a book. If you love…

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MMU Novella Award Guest Post

 What with jetting about the interweb on the blog tour and sorting out the local book launch, I quite forgot to post a link to the post I wrote for the MMU Novella blog, in which I talk about why I think Beside the Sea is an important work that deserves and demands to be…

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New Short Stories 8

 Sensual and atmospheric, embattled and defiant, in the throes of turbulent events and viewing from a distance, these stories are windows that open onto the men, women and children of our twenty-first century world. The people portrayed do not seek our pity nor our love but with each turn of a page, we may feel…

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Judging the Carve Esoteric Award 2014

 In addition to proofing my collection, editing the novel, teaching and doing the many millions of things associated with having young kids, I spent a part of January as a guest judge of the 2014 Carve Esoteric Short Story Contest. The quality of the stories was as impressive as you would expect if you are…

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The Gap

 I’ve posted before about the spot-on-ness of Ira Glass’ advice about storytelling. I’ve also posted about a rather splendid animation of the most import bit of that advice. Well here’s another, equally splendid animation of that key bit of advice. Let’s face it good advice bears repeating, great advice requires it, and when the advice…

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Looking Out of Broken Windows goes to press.

 Salt announced on Friday evening that my debut short fiction collection has gone to press. This brilliant debut short story collection by Dan Powell has just gone to press: pic.twitter.com/Mu1KNVJkpv — SALT · Independent trade publisher, est. 1999 (@saltpublishing) January 31, 2014 Yep. That’s right. Actual copies of my book are in the process of…

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A Fucked Up Life In Books – Review

 ‘I fucking hate book snobs. I fucking hate people who think that one genre is for stupid people, or not worthy of their attention. I couldn’t believe it. I’d shagged a book snob.’ Bookcunt is, by her own admission, a cunt who loves all kinds of books. Her blog is full of reviews of the…

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Book It! A Literary Celebration.

 With the imminent publication of my debut collection of short fiction (I am currently reading through the first proof), 2014 was already going to be a milestone year for me. Now, as well as being the year my first book is published it will also be the year I attended my first literary festival as…

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Best Writing Music Of 2013

 As you know, I prefer to write with music playing. Has to be instrumental, preferably ambient or drone with the occasional classical twist. The following albums of note soundtracked my writing in 2013. All well worth seeking out if you want something to listen to while writing or reading: The Complete Blood Meridian For Electric…

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The Best of What I Read in 2013

 In 2013 the books I read look like this. The following are my favourite reads of the year. Graphic Novels/Comics The following collections got me itching to write comic scripts again. Thinking of doing something soon. Local – Brian Wood/Ryan Kelly A brilliant set of short stories that revolve around the central character of Megan…

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Season’s Greetings

 Just a quick post to wish you all a Merry Christmas and Prosperous New Year. I’m offline (apart from the odd tweet and possible Facebook/Google+ photo) but will be back after Christmas with my books of 2013 and my top tip writing music released this year. Hope Father Christmas brings you just what you need.…

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Albums That Made My Year – 2013

 With new albums from The National, Anais Mitchell, Iron and Wine, Villagers, James Blake, Volcano Choir and Bill Callahan, it was no surprise to me that 2013 was a bonanza year for great new music. While the albums of the above mentioned acts were all top buys for me this year, the following list, in…

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Short Story Advent Calendar

 Just found out the the Booktrust website is running a Short Story Advent Calendar. The Short Review, whose post tipped me off to the Advent Calendar, has joined in with by posting a Short Story Christmas Wishlist. I thought I might join in with my own list of short story collections I’d like to find…

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