Heck, remember what I said about blogging? And it really is risky reading other writers` blogs sometimes, and now, having read Ken Macleod`s just a moment ago I feel myself compelled to pass on the insidious...

Musical Baton Meme

1) The person who passed the baton to you: www.kenmacleod.blogspot.com/ - the aforementioned Mistah Macleod.

2) Total volume of music files on your computer.
Good grief - at least a 1000, legit stuff from my own CDs, `onest guv.

3) The title and artist of the last CD you bought.
Just bought by mailorder 2 CDs entitled `The Darkness Between The Stars` and `The Feast Of Shadows`, both by a Merseyside band called Flesh-Resonance; I found out about them purely by chance, paging thru sale pages from a mailorder place, was intrigued by the great titles and went to their website where, very considerately I thought, they had several tracks from both CDs available for streaming or download - listened and was hooked straight away. Kind of darkwave, electronicky, spacy, gothicky....heck, I loved them and am looking forward to writing some mindbending SF to them in the future.

4) Song playing at the moment of writing.
`Superjudge` by Monster Magnet, from the CD of the same name! What`re the odds, eh?

5) Five songs you have been listening to of late (or all-time favourites, or particularly personally meaningful songs)

`The Man Song` by Sean Morey; `Liar` by the Rollins Band; `Mambo No 5` by Lou Bega; `New Model` by Marilyn Manson; `The Face Of Melinda` by Opeth. For various reasons.

6) The five people to whom you will 'pass the musical baton.'
Hmmm, I dunno - the Famous Five, or mebbe the Jackson Five, Five Guys Name Moe....

It`s been an interesting coupla weeks - did a signing at Borders, at the Fort Retail park near Easterhouse; not been to it before and was momentarily nonplussed by the sight of the park`s outside appearance, tall, near-featureless walls arranged in a, well, fortified-like curve. But Borders itself was a decent-sized outlet in which the SF/fantasy section has a good spot. But Saturday was one of the first dates for the yearly Orange walks through Glasgow, so the crowds were a bit thinner than usual - signed a few books but not exactly a thronging crowd! All respect to Paul Mark and the Borders staff who were friendly and helpful, and to my driver Lorna and buddy-Dave who came out there with me.

Also last week had an article on Shadowmasque and me in the Xtra freebie paper, distributed in Glasgow`s west end, and all respect to Annie Macloughlin the reporter who wrote it.

Thus far had only the one book review, in the SF/fantasy media magazine Dreamwatch - the reviewer gave me 6/10, but said some very good things about it, thus proving that he had indeed read it all the way through. Good for you, matey!

And thus far, my hopeful next project is still out under consideration - in waiting for decisions and the like I swing manically from laid-back cool to nailbiting suspension. But wait I must.

In the meantime, I`m working on an idea for an SF short story about mind-slavers, yeah, all dominance and submission. Should be a hoot, in a black sort of way.

Also on the horizon is Worldcon, which I will be attending and at which I shall be performing...okay, participating with the aim of informing and elucidating, I hope. I have thus far 2 panels finalised: the first being `Is Blogging Helping Or Hurting Your Career?`, on Saturday at 7pm (being a discussion on the merits or demerits of spending hours burbling on about the minutiae of your day, rather than doing the writing work); the 2nd, on Sunday at 11am, is `Virtual And Physical Activism`, concerning the uses or otherwise of online activism. In addition I`m doing a half-hour reading on Sunday at 3pm, and taking part in a kaffeeklatsch on the Monday at 2pm.

That`s it for now, but as news comes in I`ll post it here. And here`s a thought to close with - on the Shadowmasque page on Amazon you`ll see about 30 copies of the book up for sale as new and used, and do you know why? - because the very great majority of them will be review copies sent out to papers and magazines up and down the country, which the review editors decided to flog off rather than actually review. I`ve been hoping for a review of Shadowmasque in any of the Scottish broadsheet press, but I really should have realised that they would have to get another copy now, wouldn`t they?

Last night was my launch event for Shadowmasque at Ottakars in Glasgow, and rather good it was too with a good turnout and the chance to see some old friends. And, of course, the opportunity to read out a couple of sections of the new book, answer questions and exchange witty banter! Thanks must go to Ottakars` events manager, Jenny Wild, who organised the event and intro`d me at the start, and for providing glasses and additional wine. As well as friends from the Glasgow Writers Circle, my old place of work, and the local LibDem constituency party (of which I am a proud member), my parents also came along so it was a kind of extended family affair. Later on, we repaired to a local hostelry known as the Counting House where we were joined by the redoubtable Ian McDonald (for it was he). Ian had intended to be at the Ottakars do but his plane from Belfast was delayed by tigers on the tarmac/baboons hitchhiking in the landing gear...well, ackshully I believe it was a technical prob leading to his waiting for a later plane.

So yes, a good time was had by all, even though I have yet to see a review of Shadowmasque in the Herald, the Scotsman, Scotland on Sunday, or the Sunday Herald (yes, yes, Cobley is on his hobbyhorse again - just stand clear for a moment or two...). Indeed, a friend remarked to me last night - `What? - you don`t seriously expect the Scottish press to give over precious column inches to covering Scottish writers, do you?`

However....yesterday, I did receive a call from a reporter for one of the local Glasgow papers, the West End Extra, and I shall be meeting said reporter this afternoon for an interview. So all is not lost.

And a week tomorrow, Saturday, June 25th, at 3pm, I shall be doing a signing at Borders at the Fort Retail park on the south side of Glasgow - not sure if they want me to do a reading and such, but I`ll scout out the possibility before then.

That`s all for now, but I`ll keep you up to speed with developments, never fear.

You know, for a writer there are a couple of aspects of the post-publication period which can definitely get under the skin, namely a) getting a duff review by someone who either hasn`t read the book, or someone who has no liking or understanding of the genre, and b) not getting reviewed at all. Now I know that the commonly received wisdom among my peers and heroes is not to allow irritation to become action in this matter....but hell`s donkeys, it is really hard to stay silent! Hence this small, acerbic entry today, Sunday June 5th, the day before Shadowmasque is officially published.

I bought the Sunday Herald today (being, for those unaware, the Sunday edition of a Scottish broadsheet paper, the Glasgow Herald...which a short while ago rebranded itself `the Herald`). Now it is certain that the book review department of the Herald/Sunday Herald received a copy of my book several weeks ago, along with information as to my being a Glasgow writer living and working in the city. And thus far, including today`s edition, there has been neither sight nor sign of a review of my book by this esteemed organ. Oh, but there has been plenty of coverage of the latest Harry Potter outing, and the review section today had a review of a book about Philip K Dick - get that? They will review a book about a (dead) American SF writer but perish the thought that they`d actually review a fantasy novel by a living Glasgow writer.


But I`m not bitter. As I once said a while ago, being an SF/fantasy writer in Scotland is like being an electric guitarist at a Beethoven convention - they`ll let you in the door but man, you ain`t gonna get to play. It seems to me that the smothering hand of the Scotia Literary establishment (the MacMafia?) lies heavy upon the media north of the border, a deadening influence dedicated to keeping gaudy neerdowells out of the arcadian temple of Scottish writing, deriding these profane upstarts or, preferably, ignoring them altogether.

But at least we gaudy sci-fi and fantasy writers have something that some of their cherished scribblers don`t have - an audience.

Here`s a quick update - just learned that I`ve been included in three recomendation categories for the British Fantasy Society`s annual awards, for Best Novella, Best Story, and Best Collection. I don`t really expect to win one of these, but its the first time I`ve made a short list for any award so it`s a nice boost to the old ego. For a look-see, aim your browser at -
www.britishfantasysociety.org.uk/info/bfsawards.htm