Authorised March 2004

- Bill's Monthly Column -

Hello everybody

Writing

There have been a lot of questions about the new book I am working on and I was going to regale you with an article about it but I have an awful cold today so I'll content myself with saying it's going very well. 

I am now about 60000 words in, and having a great time writing it. It's set in a world dominated by what can best be described as Nazi Elves. They are the master race, and they are not scared of letting people know it. They are immortal, beautiful, cultured, gifted with magic, backed by dragons. The gods gave us this world and do you really want to argue about it, puny human. 

Of course, it's all starting to go horribly wrong. Gunpowder has arrived, magic is slowly fading, the dragons are devolving back into ancestral dinosaurs. The humans are getting restless. Ancient evils stir. A new civil war is breeding among the ruling elite. Into this slow burning revolutionary situation come our heroes, a bunch of mercenaries in the service of the Queen Emperess. On their latest mission an ancient forbidden book containing sanity blasting secrets falls into their hands. Unfortunately, being illiterate they can't read it, so they decide to sell it to the highest bidder. Things go down hill from there... 

More to follow as things progress.

X-box

Picked up an Xbox in a clearance sale recently. It came along with Halo and another game. I must admit I bought it simply so I could play Halo which everbody I know claims is one of the classic computer games. Who am I to disagree? I don't generally care for first person shooters, being more of a RTS/RPG kind of guy, but this game really sucked me in. 

It has lots of nice touches that tell you you are the hero of an ongoing story and not just a psychotic killing machine blasting everything in sight. The world has been convincingly worked out, and looks lovely. I confess I occasionally get out of the jeep just to look at the scenery. The sight of the ringworld ribbon splitting the sky above you is just awesome. It feels like being there, and I cant think of a higher compliment for any game. I can see me losing a lot of hours to this one.

Eastercon

I will be attending the UK Eastercon in Blackpool on the 9th-12th of April this year. If anybody else is going and wants to get together for a drink or a chat, let Angela have the details and we'll try and arrange something.

For All You Writers Out There

I am occasionally asked for my advice on writing. I can't do better than Kate Elliot does on her website and in the ezine The Swan. Take a look at those links for some very, very pithy and sensible advice.

On the Road Again

Or the plane to be more exact. On Monday am off to Tunisia on holiday. I know, it's a dirty job but someone has to do it. Am hoping to see the Sahara (a lifetime ambition of mine strangely enough) and take in the ruins of Carthage. Unfortunately with this cold I may not make it out of the hotel. Doubtless I will let you know next month,

All the best

Bill

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