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Well, 'Threadfall' is almost at an end. It was originally intended as a short prequel to 'Gone Away, Gone Ahead' and has ended up far longer. There are a few more short stories to come in the 'Dragonriders of Pern' fanfic series and hopefully a longer third part, taking up from where 'Gone Away, Gone Ahead' finished. Finishing a story is always slightly sad, but it gives the mind an opportunity to start thinking about new ideas as well. Coming soon: 'Hidden Secrets' - A murder mystery with paranormal elements, set in an old cinema. Should be ready to post in a few weeks. Unlike the Dragonriders fanfics, which I usually write in episodic fashion, keeping just a few weeks ahead of posting, I've had to plan this out and complete it, due to all the plot twists. For Dragonriders fans, look out for 'Empty, Open, Dusty, Dead' - After the other five Weyrs disappear overnight, Zalna, a junior weyrwoman at Benden, tries to figure out what has happened. She is sure Weyrleader N'rax must be hiding something.

Started new treatment last week after a couple of difficult weeks when I was in and out of hospital. I don't let it disrupt my writing schedule though. Pleased to say I averaged 1,500 words a day whether inside or back home. It's weird being in hospital. You get institutionalised so fast. The food is pretty dreadful, but thankfully the hospital near me has a Marks & Spencer food hall on site, so I was able to add some taste to the unappealing stodge with such goodies as feta and beetroot salad or supergreen salad. I feel sorry for the patients who aren't mobile and who have to exist on what's provided. I mean, it's not even very healthy. Most of it is prepared off-site and just re-heated, like meals you get on board a plane. Salads look like something from the 1970's - limp lettuce leaves, pale tomatoes and soggy cucumber, with a choice of salad cream or mayo. What kind of hospital is it where you can't even get vinaigrette in 2021!! Whew. Glad I got that off my chest. Anyway, I've been carrying on with 'Threadfall', mindful it's getting close to the end. I also wrote a sequel to my anthology story 'Fellow Travellers', called 'Travelling On'. For each of these I post a chapter each week. I like deadlines. It forces me to write even when I 'don't feel like it'. The supernatural murder mystery has been on the back burner. I really wanted to get ahead with everything else so I had enough finished chapters in case everything went pear-shaped and I became ill enough not to even care about the quality of hospital food. Thankfully, that hasn't happened and the side effects of the new treatment don't include anything that stops me writing. I'm also revisiting a fantasy story I wrote during the 1990's. I think I might post that on this site to see what people think. I can certainly see the differences in my writing style. So, plenty to be getting on with. Plus another scan to look forward to tomorrow. Here's a picture of the hospital lasagne - one of the more palatable meals, although the veg was cooked to mush!

Over the past week, I've started working on another story. Several years ago I took part in NaNoWriMo when I was suffering from writer's block. It certainly did the trick, as I managed to write 52,000 words during the month of November. The story I'd planned out had lots of my favourite elements in it; cinemas, the supernatural, a mystery and romance. As I was writing it at a rate of about 1000-2000 words a day, it was rough in places and the ending was a bit rushed as I wanted to finish a complete story within the set time rather than just do a part of one. Still, as I read through it, I realised I had the core of something that could be tweaked, edited and made better. I'm now probably about two thirds of the way through the new, improved version of my as yet untitled 'Cinema Mystery Story'. Thought I'd post a couple of excerpts here to see if anyone has any comments. I'm hoping it's something people would enjoy reading. Excerpt One: Colin pointed at the time sheet, clipped to the wall above the viewing port. 'It's all on there.' 'Oh, right. Yes.' I was conscious of not doing very well so far. Perhaps it was best to tackle the root of the problem. 'Look, Colin, I know you applied for this job as well. I appreciate all the years you've been here and the experience you have. I hope we can work together as a team.' 'This your first chief's job?' he asked brusquely. 'Yes, it is.' 'Know how long I've been in the business?' 'A few years, I imagine.' 'Nearly forty of them, lad. That's a few more years than you've been alive, I'll wager.' 'Yes.' 'So don't go trying to tell me how to do my job.' His face was starting to get red. He'd obviously been bottling this lot up for a long time. 'I just said that I valued your experience. I mean that.' 'I've been doing the bloody chief's job here for the last few years, since Maurice started to go all forgetful. I covered for him. I did his bloody job, while he were getting the wage, and never complained, never said owt that would get him into bother...' Excerpt Two: Maurice shook his head. 'But it's not your concern. Forget it.' There was something here that wasn't just premature senility. Suddenly I remembered the card falling out of the pack. The High Priestess. A secret. Maurice knew the way up to the box, but then it had been a part of his life for many years. Old memories were always the last to go. He sat himself in the comfy chair and I put the kettle on to boil. There were other things I should be doing, but this might be - no, was - important. I might never get another chance to talk to him like this. 'This old well, Maurice. How long has it been there?' 'Years. Dated back to the old days, when the big house stood here.' 'The house that was here before they built the cinema?' 'That's right. Victorian, it was. All covered in ivy, my mum said. When she was a little girl, the children used to dare each other to climb over the wall. They said it was haunted.' 'Really?' 'Well, you know how kids are. It had been empty for a while and was falling down. Then the land was sold for development and the cinema went up.' 'And this well is under the cinema? Under screen three?' 'Yes. But don't tell anyone. I promised not to tell.' Excerpt Three: Cynthia looked me in the eye. 'You have been on a long and tiring journey. You've found what you sought. Trust what you've learned so far, using intuition and you won't go wrong.' For a few more moments I studied the cards. 'Spot on.' I said. 'I wanted to know if I should trust my intuition and I've just been given the answer.' Cynthia looked at the last card again. ‘You know, I’m getting another feeling about this knight. He’s an empathic person who might be your knight in shining armour. He’s riding in to sweep you off your feet.’ ‘Get off,’ I said. ‘There’s no romance on my horizon right now.’ ‘Are you sure about that? Maybe you should pick another card?’ ‘Well…’ ‘Go on. It’s not going to hurt.’ She fanned the remainder of the deck out again. I paused, hovering above them, then picked one, turning it over right away. I almost laughed out loud. It was the Two of Cups. The lover’s card. Cynthia smiled. ‘Something you aren’t telling me about?’

Okay, I am so excited about the new story, " Gap Year " and it has just started. I have already read the prologue and the first chapter twice each. I am getting a different vibe from this already. I can't decide if the writing style is slightly different or what, but it just feels very fresh; not that any of Mark's stories aren't fabulous but this was has just grabbed me so hard already. Will is not even my favorite character, barely makes my top eight, but I am so excited to see how he handles the challenge of a gap year, and not just the drama already rearing it's head in the first chapter. Is it just me on the vibe, am I just too excited about a new addition to the CAP series? Everyone, let's discuss...

How do I add a new story?