So, a little bit of follow up since last time. It feels like we’re still in the introductory stages, and it’s necessary to share a little bit more about myself.

I’ve always written, as far back as I can remember. When I was a kid I’d write stories by hand (it’s worth noting I have terrible, illegible handwriting, anyone that ever struggled through those pages needed a lot of patience) based on films or cartoons or shows I’d recently seen. I guess it was fan fiction, but I was far too young to really be aware of what I was doing anyway. I didn’t take it seriously, didnt realise that writing is what I wanted to do, to tell stories and be a storyteller, until I was about thirteen. Horror was my thing. I read a lot of Stephen King and Richard Laymon and Anne Rice. I didn’t have much success with horror. Another thing I didn’t have much success with? Editing. I was a lazy writer. I’d rattle these short stories off, make them as violent and horrific as possible, give them one quick read through, send them off and hope for the best. Then I’d be shocked when the trash I sent out wasn’t instantly snapped up.

Eventually, I wisened up to editing. Started finding a little success after that. I had my first story accepted when I was eighteen or nineteen. It was published online by an Edinburgh based magazine called Read This. If you’re interested, here’s the link:

http://www.readthismagazine.co.uk/archive/issue9halfprose.htm

Like it? There’s things I’d change, but it’s not too shabby.

Anyway. A few more details about myself.

I live in Northumberland, in the north east of England. I might have mentioned that last time. The Motel Whore is set in America, and it’s follow up, which I’m currently polishing, is also set over there, but I do plan to set some things in this part of the world. I’ve got a lot planned. Like I say, The Motel Whore is just the beginning.

Naturally I read a lot. My favourite authors include James Ellroy, Stephen King, Joyce Carol Oates, Harry Crews, Philip K Dick, Irvine Welsh, Donna Tartt, Jim Thompson, Heinrich Boll – I could go on. I could keep going on, fill a whole blog post with the names of authors I admire.

As for music, I’ve got broad tastes – rock, metal, folk, rap etc. Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, John Grant, Mark Lanegan  ( saw him play in Newcastle just last week), William Control, El-P, Simon and Garfunkel, Scroobius Pip, The Dresden Dolls, Nas, Young Fathers, PJ Harvey, Grimes, Sage Francis, Wu-Tang Clan, Elliott Smith, Lana Del Rey, Bright Eyes, Saul Williams, Public Enemy – shit, again, I could go on and on and on.

Films? Let’s keep it simple rather that going on and on; my top three are Taxi Driver, Rocky, and Apocalypse, Now.

TV? The Wire, The Walking Dead, Oz, Sopranos, Boardwalk Empire, the usual.

Anyway, I’ll wrap this up. It’s been Introductions Round Two, catch you next time when I’ll try to find something to talk about other than myself. I guess that’ll be hard, after all that is the purpose of a blog. We’ll talk about writing. It might be mine. Yeah. It’ll probably be mine.