... writing poetry!

I've been tinkering with this poem for a while, and enjoyed writing it as it sits at the intersection of my feelings about the current state of society and a central theme of my books (corporate greed and corruption).

I get most poetry aficionados now have an aversion to rhyme. But hey, I don't!!

(Image credit: Sara Fang)

Allegory (or Fanfare for Corpocracy's rise)

In silence, we watch shadows pass

they shape our thoughts and feed the farce

Moulding lives to fit the lies

that see us strive, conform and die

And scared of what we do not know

we do not move or seek to go

But idle in their well known forms

find safety in such practised norms

There is no need to speculate

the shadows teach us fear and hate

Breed small world views and selfish thoughts

dispense with troubling shoulds and oughts

It matters not what's right or wrong

so long as we all nod along

While voices preach invented truths

to justify each new abuse

As newborn Gods, those few rich men

close liberty's gate and lock the pen

Embrace what once seemed quite absurd

they are the path, we are the herd

In barless cages, through blinkered eyes

accepting corporate sponsored rise

The missing light upon that wall

...an absence which now stains us all

....

I'm sure I'm not alone in worrying about the new worldview a few rich men are trying to impose on us. Plato's allegory of the cave is about exactly that... just taking the first thing you see / hear as truth and running with it. 

Sadly, I don't think you have to be a philosopher to see where we're currently headed!!

... becoming the new Nebula Awards Commissioner!

So I've been a member of the SFWA since January last year, and in October, having offered to become more involved, received a communication from the (then) Executive Director, Kate Baker (who was really supportive and fantasic), asking if I wanted to assist with the Nebulas. 

Of course, I said yes!

 After quite a bit of reading and jumping through administrative hoops, I was unleashed on the Nebula Reading List; ensuring accuracy of information and eligibility of suggested titles and games. Busy work when you're not being paid for it... but thoroughly enjoyable!

Then, this January, I was offered the Commissioner role! AWESOME!! Just in time for the awards season - not swamped and distracted from my own writing career at all :) 

But having the opportunity to oversee the nominations and subsequent voting process from the 'inside' is insane. Thank you SFWA... I think :)

Anyway, 28th February is when the nomination window closes. So hurry up SFWA members, get your ballots in!

... out and about (in 2024 - part 2)

So after travelling to the West Country in June, we decided to head back up North again after the Summer Holidays. Stopping near Birmingham on the way up, where Jo Jo took lots of photos of waterfowl:

...and Max ran around and sniffed alot:

Then it was off to the Peak District and a beautiful site at Crowden, from where we visited the Lady Bower Reservoir:

(Sadly the water level was low so the plug holes weren't in operation). 

Then we visited the marple via and aquaducts (which are side by side and absolutely gorgeous).

and they sit at the end (or beginning I guess, depending on your direction) of a flight of 16 locks, which made for a magnificent walk with Max.

The following day, thinking Marple would be a tough act to follow, we went in search of a waterfall... We didn't manage to find that (as it seemed to require jumping across a fast flowing river), but what we did find was stunning, and we all enjoyed another fantastic walk in beautiful surroundings.

And at the cost of a bootful of Peak District river water ... we also left our own rock on a collection other walkers had built in the middle of the river:

We're gonna check if it's still there next time we pass by!

...... But on our way back home, after another lovely night near Birmingham, disaster struck!!! Something went wrong with Delilah's front nearside, and we were forced to pull over on the motorway. After two hours, a recovery truck picked us up... not so bad? Well, if he'd taken us all the way home it would have been fine. But he didn't; he drove us as far as Cobham Services and told us another truck would pick us up soon..........

.... seven hours later a wonderful man and his recovery truck finally arrived to take us the last hour and 20 minutes home.... It was a long, long, long day. 

We later established that two of the five studs that hold the wheels in place had snapped off on the front passenger side. If we'd kept driving, God only knows what might have happened. So we just have to be grateful no one was hurt and, as it turned out, reapiring Delilah was relatively cheap!

That was it for our travels in Delilah for 2024, and though we went up to London for our anniversary in December, I'll share that trip with you in another blog.

... out and about (in 2024 part 1)

 We had a great couple of trips in Delilah.

The first travelling over to the west country in June, where Jo hugged a tree or two:

and then we headed over to Durdle Door:

Tintagel Castle:

Portland Bill Lighthouse:

and the most amazing model village in Babbacombe:

Okay (coughs), yep - it's been a while... I Promise to do better from now on!

I won't bother you with a blow by blow account of the missing year. But over the next few posts, I'll provide some highlights.

In this first catch up... Books and writing!

• For one reason or another I haven't managed to get as much writing done as I'd like this year. I'm back on track now, and am hoping to have First Among Equals match fit by summer.

• GITM continues to soldier on in Amazon sales. In fact, for a day or so in June it hit the top of the UK Hard Science Fiction charts!!

               

and number 5 in the entirety of Science Fiction!

I'm not going to lie... I was kind of chuffed!!