GARY FRY

Goodness, more extended radio silence. No post since May. Gulp. In my defence, I've been ridiculously busy at work, so haven't had much time for indulgences like this. But now, with a few minutes to spare, I have an opportunity to update on my activities lately. I know all three of you are baying for this info.  I say I was busy, and that's true, but as the saying goes, if you want something doing, ask a busy man. To wit, in July this year I wrote a 92,000 word novel in 27 days. It was madness. I started with a detailed plot breakdown (which helped immensely) and just kept on writing. One Saturday I did 10K, another I did 12K. I ride the peaks and endure the troughs. I've written nowt else since. The book itself is rather an original tale, involving computer games. I won't give the premise away here, because the novel is under consideration at the moment, but I'm really happy with it. It's a real departure from my usual urban horror routine. I hope to say mo...

Well, I'm delighted to report that my new book, the limited edition chapbook ABOLISHER OF ROSES published by the superb new imprint Spectral Press, has SOLD OUT pre-publication. This is most encouraging. Thanks to all who bought it. The book is part of a new kind of fiction for me, a fusion of story, theme and character that, I hope, lacks some of the clunkiness of my earlier attempts at getting this way of writing right. That's development, isn't it? I can only apologise to all those who witnessed by first goes at this approach. ;) What else has happened? Had a short novella accepted for a project due out next year - a piece called 'The House of the Rising Son'. Very pleased with this tale and the editor loved it, too. So more news on that when I have it. I'm still working on my second haunted house novel, DIVIDED SPIRITS. It's about halfway down, and after an extensive rewrite recently, I'm about ready to plough into the second half. I have a week off ...

Well, nowt much has happened since my last post. I've been really busy at work and haven't managed to write much. However, everything being grist to the old mill, I suppose it's worthwhile to point out that I've done quite a bit of travelling, including a trip to a place I've always wanted to visit: magnificent Vienna. I really love the 'flavour' of great cities. You get this in London and Edinburgh, but on the whole I find British cities rather generic. With their identical high street stores crowding out places of genuine and unique interest, there's only a handful that survive the merciless prevalence of Big Business. Elsewhere, however, the situation's different . . . or perhaps *feels* different. In Seville or Stockholm or indeed Vienna, there's a sense of the soul of the places being allowed to breathe. Maybe that's because I'm not quite so attuned to the high street logos of foreign companies (except for the universal, the ubiquito...

So my first novel is now out, and has been for a few weeks. Already folk have read it, and the feedback has been great so far. Folks seem to find it gripping and creepy. Nice. Another thing that's happened lately is a real short story kick on my part. I've now written 9 in 8 weeks, which keeps me on target to do one a week for as long as my enthusiasm and inspiration last. To be honest, the day job has been hardgoing lately, and I've felt increasingly hemmed in by it all. If I'm not writing, I'm not altogether happy, but instead of my usual manic spells of writing a whole book in two months flat, I've decided to pace myself, do a marathon instead of a sprint. So things are going well. 65K in two months - can't complain. Keep that up and I'll hit 360K in a year, which, my records show, is far more than I've managed via my former slash and burn technique. Was delighted to place a new tale with the forthcoming Spectral Press imprint run by my Facebook b...

My first novel is now available to preorder in advance of a 18th September 2010 release at the British Fantasy Convention. Click here for more information. And here's a taster of what to expect . . .

Wow, you look the other way and suddenly three and a half months flash by! I find, with some dismay, that I haven't updated this thing since before summer, largely because I've been busy as usual. Stress at work coupled with other things have limited my leisure time, and so stuff like this have been neglected. But now I'm back in the saddle to some degree. So here goes. Well, I didn't finish the novel I mentioned last time. When it came to my fortnight off, I was so knackered that I just bummed out and watched the World Cup, or went down  the beach with a barbie and got all meated-up (local parlance). But I have been working on another of the novels I mentioned, which now has a title: Divided Spirits. All I can say at this stage is that it's a ghostly tale set in south London, in an old Edwardian house once occupied by a decidedly strange family. Creeps shall follow as certain as night follows day . . . What else? Oh yeah, my first novel: it's coming out at FCon...

Well, it's been an interesting week. First, I saw the artwork for my forthcoming novel from PS, and it's very 'left-field' but fits perfectly with the book's mood and title. Can't wait till 'Canted Steps is announced. I've recently designed an advertisement campaign for the book, which Pete Crowther is going to use via PS Publishing. It's highly unusual, so we're doing it as an experiment. Keep an eye on http://www.pspublishing.co.uk/ for when it starts . . . Second, progress on my new novel continues. I've now done 17,000 words and the plot, such as it is, is beginning to creepy and crawl. I think I've cracked writing novels now, but I'm not about to blather on about my technique. It works for me, but may not for others. I'm taking two weeks off work in June to catch the opening of the World Cup (will watch every game, even between pointless teams [and I don't mean England, you sarky sod] ) and through the day I'll work...