It's very nice to see you here. Hopefully, during your visit you'll be able to find out a little bit more about my books, what inspired me to put pen to paper, and what other people have had to say about my efforts. And, of course, this is also where you'll find the occasional update on what I'm doing at the moment. As you can see from the menu on the left, I have two novels currently available for your enjoyment: Kâsdejâ’s Children and Painted Gold - The Long Night of Evan Raby. (My first novel, Who Will Catch Him Falling? is currently kept chained up in the attic, where it belongs!).

And of course, whether you've read either of my books or just visited this site to have a look around, please feel free to leave a comment in the Guestbook.  I really do value any form of interest or feedback, so whatever has taken you this far, please don't be shy - leave a message and say hello!

Fatal Sisters is finished!

Well, at least my part in the process - there's just the small matter of a spot of light proof reading and then I'll be ready to publish.

And to celebrate that fact, I though I'd post a bit more of a sneak peek - yes, you can now check out what is, in effect, Chapter One of the book ("Arrival") here! For those of you who've already checked out the excerpt I posted back in April, the style of this new piece might be a bit of surprise - that preview is actually the prelude to Fatal Sisters and the rest of the tale continues in much the same style I've used in Arrival. I'm really intrigued to see what people think of this (and I'm sure it's not going to be everyone's cup of tea), so if you have any thoughts drop me a line or share them with the world on the Guestbook.

As I said, above, the next stage in this process is to get the final draft proof-read, and then I'll be looking to have another limited run available to purchase before the end of the Summer.

Until next time...

Justin

Okay, so it's been two months since I posted an update but I'm afraid March was a month of very little progress, involving as it did a two week holiday to Whistler, in Canada, and a rather persistent bout of bronchitis. Still, April has already proven very constructive and I've done heaps of work on the editing and re-writing of Fatal Sisters. So much so, that yes, I've actually posted the long-promised sneak-peek on the site, so why not go and have a nose at it here!  And keep checking back, as I might add a bit more as time goes on!

Whilst writing, I'd also like to take the opportunity to wish Peter Nicholls of IQ all the very best as he fights to recover after a very nasty illness - chill out Pete and take it nice and easy, okay!

Valentines day, eh? Well, I know of at least one chap who’s idea of romance is to buy his wife a copy of Kasdeja’s Children – let’s hope it doesn’t end in divorce!

But back to business. I said I’d be more forthcoming with updates on this site and it’s now halfway through February already – cor blimey, tempus fugit and all that! 

I must admit since the euphoria of completing the first draft of the new book it’s been very hard work to knuckle down and get to grips with the next phase. For me, the creative process is most rewarding when it comes to developing a plot and capturing personalities of the characters who want their stories to be told. After that, I must admit that the technical demands and nitty-gritty of editing the words on the page can sometimes feel a bit of a chore. Whilst I’m extremely proud of my books as a whole the fact remains that if I ever look at a page of my writing in isolation I’m always filled with a mixture of horror and embarrassment. Surely no one could ever actually bring themselves to read this stuff?

And yet, it seems there are people out there who do, and I’m very grateful to those of you who take a few minutes out to offer support and encouragement. It really does make such a difference to know there are people who have found a connection with what I’m doing.

Now, I think it’s time to reveal the title of the new book. It could all change of course, but I’m pretty sure it’s going to be called...

Fatal Sisters – The Incidental Angel’s Long Fall to Earth.

Bit of a mouthful, I know, but that’s they way I like it (oo-er missus). For a while there I was pretty set on calling it Starring the Angel – The Miracle of the Thousand Days but I decided it was about time I stopped ripping off Peter Nichols (of de fab IQ band) and started thinking up my own titles. Which leads me to answer a question that a number of people have been asking – is there any particular musical influence in the book this time around? Well, there’s clearly a big dollop of IQ in there (I don’t just steal PN’s lyrics at random) but I have to say that the biggest inspiration for Fatal Sisters has been the collective works of Tori Amos. It seems every time one of my characters came to tell me her tale, she chose to talk to me through one of Tori’s songs. Aside from that, the Thirteenth Step album by A Perfect Circle has been a very big inspiration, whilst I always seemed to find myself drawn to put on either Steve Hackett’s Metamorpehus or the Asche & Spencer soundtrack to the film Stay as an accompaniment to my writing. Beautiful stuff!

Well, I'm extremely pleased to say that a complete version of my fourth novel is now in existence!

Okay, so it may only be a first draft and I've still got months of honing and revising ahead of me before it's ready to share with you, but its a great feeling to know that the story is finally all down on paper. It's also something of a relief to know that it all actually WORKS (although I guess I'm probably not the best person to really make that judgement).

Keep checking by the site for news and updates and possibly even a few sneaky-peeks from the book!

Now, of course, I just have to think of a catchy title...

Okay, so I've been really rubbish keeping this site updated during the year but there has been a very good reason; yes, the latest novel is fast approaching completion! There are approximately 150,000 words written and I'm actually in the process of writing the very final chapter. Before anyone gets too excited (and especially me!) there's still a long way to go. Once the novel as a whole exists with a coherent beginning, middle and end the next stage is to slavishly review the whole thing. As well as editing and correcting this also means making all the necessary adjustments that will, hopefully, turn the story into something rewarding to read i.e. making sure the style of narrative always remains consistent, checking the flow from scene to scene and, most important of all, fleshing out all those little details and mannerisms that will breathe life into the characters.

And what characters they are. One can only speculate on the plane in which they exist but suffice it to say they aren't really my creation at all - they simply come to me, fully formed, and demand that I tell you their stories. And I really can't wait for you all to meet them and hear what I have to say.

And yes, I promise that I will update this site a lot more often now that the end is in sight!

No, I really do...