notes from an unruly body: life in August
Books, events, and updates
I love the end of August, for the simple reason that really I love September and it’s now on its way. Soon the days will be getting cooler, bright blue skies will pair themselves with a chilly wind like the finest of Autumn wines, and I will finally be released from the curse of summer heat which my body simply doesn’t work well with.
This month has been a slow month, dwindling my way through the ataxia, but I was also lucky enough to be able to go to a dear friend’s gorgeous wedding before having to hunker down for another couple of weeks. (Congratulations to Katy and Rachel, who made the most beautiful brides!).
I’m about 80% of the way through the first draft of book two, and I can see a light at the end of the tunnel, so hopefully by next month’s round-up I’ll be able to say that it’s finished and in a drawer and waiting to be looked at again soon!
I’ve read less this month (double vision will do that) but played a lot of narrative video games, and honestly, it’s something I really think every author should try at least once. The story beats of a branching, interactive narrative are a fine way to observe the rise and fall of tension in a plot, and I’ve been enjoying revisiting them a lot.
For now, this is what I’ve been enjoying in August, as well as a few announcements of things to come.
Books I’ve been reading this month
· The Haunting of William Thorn – Ben Alderson
I was lucky enough to receive an advanced copy of Ben’s book from our shared publisher, Angry Robot, and I think readers are really going to eat this one up. A gay love story, a haunted house, a reckoning with grief and a peek at the shadows of history. The ending also managed to surprise me, which doesn’t usually happen!
· Where the Dead Brides Gather – Nuzo Onoh
Nuzo Onoh is known as the Queen of African horror, and after reading this one I can certainly see why. This is a dark story of malevolent ghosts, family secrets, lost loves and tense personal dynamics, all elevated by Nigerian mythology. I’ve read very little African-inspired horror before, but I think I’m now going to search out more.
· One Yellow Eye – Leigh Radford
This was published only a month after Awakened, and honestly it feels a little like my book’s spiritual cousin! I’ll be appearing at an event with Leigh (more on that below) in September, so I’m excited to get to talk to her about this book. An obsessive scientist? A viral outbreak? The limits of ethics and science tested all in the pursuit of saving someone you love? Needless to say, I really enjoyed it.
· The Hounding – Xenobe Purvis
Someone online said that if this had been written during the time of the Brontës it would have become a classic alongside them, and I’m inclined to agree. Set in 18th century Oxfordshire along the banks of the Thames, this is a book about freedom, womanhood, suspicion and violence. A deceptively easy read with, in my opinion, a lot packed in.
Games I’ve been playing this month
· The Dark Pictures anthology (all games)
The Dark Pictures anthology is a series of narrative-driven survival horror games, each with a different setting and cast of characters, but linked by the appearance of a mysterious man/narrator who may very well be Death himself. It begins with the Man of Medan, progresses to Little Hope, then House of Ashes, and the most recent The Devil in Me.
Some of these are stronger than others in my opinion. Man of Medan and House of Ashes were my particular favourites, and the ending of Little Hope I found a bit disappointing. However, there are three more games planned in this series and I’ll certainly be buying them when they’re out.
· The Quarry
Another from the same developer, but not part of the Dark Pictures anthology. The Quarry is probably a stronger-written narrative choice horror game than the others — although it lets itself down a little towards the end. I’m desperate to play Until Dawn which preceded it, but alas, it isn’t available on Xbox so I’m just going to have to sulk over that for a while.
Book/Writing News
It’s now nearly three months since Awakened was released into the world, and it looks like my horrible baby has sold at least 1,000 copies! This, for those wondering, is a “healthy” sales number for a debut from an indie publisher, so I’m breathing a little sigh of relief and hoping very much to reach my own personal goal of 5,000 copies sold within the first 12 months. If anyone wants to help with that, feel free to tell all of your friends about it!
Meanwhile:
· The audio version of Awakened has been released in the US, UK, and Commonwealth territories, beautifully narrated by the excellent Antonia Beamish. So, if you’ve been waiting to listen rather than read, you can now find it available wherever you buy audiobooks from!
· In exciting news, I’ll be appearing at my first ever book festival in September as well. I’ll be sitting on two panels as part of Edge Lit in Derby on the 20th, and there are still tickets available so if you’re in the area do please come and say hi.
· In other events news, I’ll be chairing an event for the excellent Rachel Charlton-Dailey as part of Off the Shelf festival in Sheffield in October. We’ll be talking all things disability and history on 19th October at 12pm, and tickets are still available here.
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For now, that’s all from me. I’ll see you all at the end of a hopefully very autumnal September, when even more hopefully my first draft will be done!
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