Trolls: Part One

So, episode one of Hall of Mirrors is now live at podshow. It features the first part of my short story, Trolls. The story concerns an elderly woman, Edith, who lives alone in a dark and brooding high rise estate. Edith is being terrorised by a group of children... and they are children... aren't they?

I've also put up a Bonus Track that introduces the series in the Bonus Track feed.

So, all in all, yesterday was a busy day.

Parsec Award Nominee / Hall of Mirrors Promo

Now I hate to blow my own trumpet, but from time to time I just have to purse my lips and toot away like Herb Alpert, and today is just such an occasion. I just received some stuff from the Parsec Awards people which will allow me to walk around the award ceremony with a 'candidate' badge on. I was thrilled. I've been nominated for an award; I may not win it, but I've been nominated. One Among the Sleepless is up for Best Non-Speculative Fiction Award 2007. Isn't that great?

The other news is that the Hall of Mirrors promo is now available for your listening pleasure here: Hall of Mirrors promo
I hope to have the first episode - part one of a two parter called 'Trolls' up by Sunday night. If you're on the mailing list, you'll be notified immediately. If you're not, join here:
Mike Bennett Mailing List

Hall of Mirrors

Hello. This is the artwork for the first episode of my short story podcast, Hall of Mirrors'. I've recorded the first story (it's an hour long, so I'm going to cut into 2 episodes). As you know, it was my intention to include the stories as part of The Bonus Track, however, the size of the story recordings (they're all quite large) means that they would dominate that show to the extent that it wouldn't be that show anymore, it would effectively be the Hall of Mirrors podcast in a feed called The Bonus Track. It would be confusing for everyone, especially new listeners. So I'm going to start a new show altogether - new feed, new music, specific H.o.M. intros and outros, and of course, new stories.
It's a varied collection: tales of horror, tales of the grotesque and tales of... er, people getting into situations that they'd really rather avoid.
I hope to get it going by the end of the week, keep an eye on the Bonus Track feed for a H.o.M pre-launch Bonus Track.
Cheers for now
M

Back in Dublin
So I got back last Thursday. I took a couple of days off the book because I'd kind of ground to a halt with it and felt that a few days away would either send me running back with re-kindled enthusiasm, or see me dropping the project altogether.

The latter happened. It just doesn't light my fire, float my boat, get my mojo working or any of the other things that a writing project should do. Bottom line: I've got too much going on. The plot is simply too big, too complex. It's Dickensian in its size, but, er, not Dickensian in any other respect. So, sadly, it's going in the 'drawer' for now. Instead, I'm turning my attention to Hall of Mirrors, the short story podcast that will begin very shortly in The Bonus Track feed.

I spent yesterday - a wet bank holiday Monday here in Dublin - working on 'Trolls'. This is the third story I've groomed for the podcast, having decided that the first two choices were ultimately not right for a first episode. But 'Trolls' is. It's going to be a big one - bigger than average, but then, start big, get small. Which is like a family motto in our house.

Will I come back to my abandoned second novel? No, not this one. But I have some ideas for something less complicated also set in Spain. And the idea floats my boat too... which is nice.

In the meantime, we have Hall of Mirrors, so keep an eye on your Bonus Track feed, dudes and dudettes.

BFN