Diary

Current Diary
(See some older diaries here)

2023
January At last! Old Wrongs is done and dusted! Published 10th January Kindle and on paper.
2022
December My 2022 reading year. As usual some excellent, some less so.
September One of my favourite short stories, The Devil You Know, has been chosen for a future edition of Polar Borealis, a Canadian online magazine with a great ethos. AND it’s the first of my stories to be chosen as a reprint.
August At last, a reliable online retailer and wholesale supplier for all my titles. The Great British Bookshop means readers everywhere can order high quality print copies of A Habit of Dying, The Subtle Thief of Youth, The Death Of Tommy Quick And Other Lies and Casa Rosa.
July Very happy to have all my titles now available at Great Expectations – the best book and chocolate store in Nova Scotia!
March 3 My interview with Heige S Boehm, author of Secrets in the Shadows, released as a podcast today. It was done a while ago now, but listening again reminded me how enjoyable the whole conversation had been.
2021
Nov 27 A delightful afternoon at LaHave River Books, meeting customers, talking books and reading a few extracts. All accompanied by delicious cake!
Nov The Devil You Know is the subject of the After Dinner Conversation’s podcast in which the story and any lessons to be taken from it are discussed. Sounds very serious, but the story was also great fun to write!
Aug Double Aspect, first published online by The Ghost Story makes it into print in 21st Century Ghost Stories Vol II. It’s always good to see a story on the printed page.
Jul Delighted to see my story The Devil You Know has been included in the new anthology from After Dinner Conversation – ebook this month and as a paperback in August.
Jun Had a preview of Issue 13 of After Dinner conversation, which is the magazine where my short story The Devil You Know is appearing. It’s always so good to see your work in print (or digital print).
Apr Once again enjoyed working with Dr Najat Al-Saied, author of Screens Of Influence, this time on her forthcoming book which examines the power of Twitter Diplomacy in the Arabian Gulf.
Mar 24th Very happy to see Saltwater And Other Stories published, a wonderful collection. Also very happy to have been the editor. Highly recommended!
Feb 18th Surprised but delighted to have a short story accepted by After Dinner Conversation, a philosophy and ethics publisher.
Jan 10th Life On The Margins video released on YouTube
Jan 1st Review of my 2020 reading year.
2020
Dec 5th A predictably quiet and socially distanced book signing at Endless Shores Books in Bridgetown, NS. But still managed some good conversation and signed a few books. Thank you Endless Shores for even trying this out in these difficult times.
Nov 25th Scottish Arts Trust launch of Life On The Margins, an anthology including Deja Vu.
Nov 14th A very enjoyable couple of hours with new friends and neighbours at Baintons (Mad Hatter Book Shop) in Annapolis Royal, talking books and reading a couple of passages.
Aug Scottish Arts Trust announce longlist of short stories to be included in their new anthology. Very pleased to have Déjà Vu on that list.
Aug 30th La Have River Books becomes the first in NS to stock Casa Rosa (and other titles).
Feb 19th A thoroughly enjoyable presentation to Qualicum Beach Family History Society on Vancouver Island, entitled Family History: Fact or Fiction.
2019
Dec 8th Annapolis Royal NS 1pm launch party for the new Moose House short story collection.
Nov 3rd Grandview Corners, Surrey BC – at the Indigo bookstore, some book chat, reading a few passages. 1pm to 3pm or later.
Oct 26th Coquitlam BC – at the Indigo bookstore, some excellent book chat and support from friends and staff. Looking forward to doing it again next year!
Oct 20th Langley BC – a return visit to the Indigo bookstore, perfect timing for Christmas shopping. Another warm welcome from Indigo staff and customers in Langley. Some great book conversations and support from friends.
Oct 18th Casa Rosa available on Amazon Kindle.
Oct 2nd Geist 113 is out! And it contains my story ‘Survivors’, placed in the Postcard Lit competition. (113 is a particularly good issue, even without ‘Survivors’).
Oct 1st Mystery Weekly’s October special double edition includes my story ‘Hemingway’s Hat’. Delighted to see it in print – both real print and digital. Order by clicking on the cover.
August 8th Vancouver – presentation from Canada Council regarding digital opportunities for artists of all stripes. Very educational.
July 27th Vancouver. Murder mystery game on the city streets. Lots of fun but we could have done with a bigger team and a better understanding of how to play. Would we do it again? Yes.
July 24th Word from Geist magazine that they like a flash fiction and will publish later in the year. A magazine I really like, so an extra boost to have a piece accepted there.
July 21st Book signing and reading event at Indigo Langley BC. Such a beautiful store, such a warm welcome from staff and customers, a great afternoon of books and book talk. Thank you John Roberts and Carole Freeman at Indigo.
June 15th A wonderful afternoon at Black Bond Books, Central City, Surrey BC. A few readings, lots of book talk, all supported by friends and neighbours. Extraordinary support, many thanks to all, especially to Brittany Vesterback and the staff at Black Bond Books.
June 3rd Attended the Congress of Humanities and Social Sciences at UBC to listen to CEO of Canada Council, Simon Brault, speak about the challenges facing the Council. Fantastic to spend even a short time in academia again.
May 29th Gained acceptance from The Canada Council for the Arts as a writer who can apply for grants. Doesn’t sound like much, but it’s great to get accepted and could open the door to funding for research and many other possibilities.
May 1st Heard from Mystery Weekly that they like a story and wish to publish it later in the year. Thanks to Kate Thornton from the short story panel at Left Coast Crime for bringing Mystery Weekly to my attention.
March 28th to 31st Left Coast Crime in Vancouver. Meeting readers and writers, talking about books and thoroughly enjoying time out too. Highlight? Reading a passage from The Subtle Thief Of Youth to a small audience which included two profoundly deaf young people who had a signer interpreting for them. What a privilege.
March 28th Vancouver launch of Casa Rosa during time out from Left Coast Crime. Beautiful setting at the Vancouver Art Gallery cafe with friends both old and new.
March 8th Reprise of my airline pilot role, this time in Limetown. Watch out for the show in October. Don’t blink or you’ll miss me. Always great fun being on set.
February ‘Unforgettable’ nominated for Best Small Fictions 2019 by Retreat West. What an honour, especially when you see what else they publish.
January/February Back in the UK and holding the 1st proof copy of Casa Rosa. Final tweaks remain, but feeling good.
2018
November Casa Rosa completed – or completed for now. Final edits still to be done, but the story is complete.
October Short story ‘Double Aspect’ chosen as The Ghost Story winner and published on Halloween – when else? Plenty of appreciative comments too, always a boost.