| So after a brief hiatus from the newsletters, I’ve returned with a bit of a revamp. Hopefully that’s something you all appreciate, because I certainly felt me wittering on about my life was getting a little bit samey, so I’m sure you did too. Hence this new approach to it, where I’ll talk a little bit about what I’ve been up to writing, and a few other things that have been going on in my world as well. In terms of writing, The Regulators 4 continues to come together. Hopefully in the next month I’ll have some actual news regarding covers and/or release dates. That’s the plan anyway. We’re certainly getting near to that point now. We’re also approaching the one year anniversary of Dead Line’s release. I’m really thrilled by the reaction to the series over the last year. It’s found a little bit of a new lease of life and all three entries continue to be picked up and enjoyed by readers. So to all the old and new fans of that series, thank you. I’m really looking forward to bringing you book 4 very soon. It has a little bit more of an international flavour about it this time, something that will continue to evolve throughout this next ongoing storyline. Like the first three, there’s going to be something that underpins everything that’s going on in the next three (or four) books. A deeper plot with recurring characters that help to bring it all together. Plus some old faces will be back. Some for a little less time than others… In the meantime, thanks again for your continued support and I look forward to sharing more with you in May. |
ON THE BOX
| This last month I really should have gone to see Mickey 17. I tried. I booked my tickets, but on arriving at my local cinema the screening had been cancelled due to a projector fault. It was the last night it was showing as well, so it’ll be a small screen job now. I did however settle down to watch the latest big Netflix flick (that’s fun to say out loud.) The Electric State. Ironically, it appears, at the same time as Joe Russo, one of the directors did. He liked my post to him as well, which was nice. I know the film has had mixed reviews, but I had a great time with it. It doesn’t take itself too seriously. It has a decent message at the heart and everyone is completely committed. None more so than Woody Harrleson, playing the character Mr. Peanut, an animatronic peanut, who amazingly looks quite a lot like actual Woody Harrelson. If you’ve got a couple of hours free on a Saturday and want to just have a good time, either call me, or failing that, give The Electric State a whirl. Probably the latter. |
READ OF THE MONTH
| READ OF THE MONTH This month I’ve finally got round to reading Shit is Fucked Up and Bullshit: History Since The End of History by Malcolm Harris. Originally out in 2020, it felt like a timely moment to finally pick it up off the TBR. SIFUAB is a collection of essays and articles that attempt to make sense of the world as we find it, with a very specific focus on the evils of capitalism and the rise of fascism. Two things that I think more and more people are seeing similarities between. As a VERY OBVIOUS LEFTY (If this news comes as a surprise to you, you’ve not been paying attention.) the book offers explanations, criticisms and counterpoints to a lot of what’s happening in the world and has been since this collection was begun as well as suggesting the necessity of it all if we’re ever going to have a better and fairer society, an idea which really leans into the idea of “you’ve gotta hit rock bottom before you can recover.” Certainly at the minute, rock bottom seems imminent, although the more we plough on, the more the bottom seems to get deeper. But anyway. I enjoyed it, even if I don’t perhaps agree with everything Harris is saying. Which is kind of the point. I’m free to do that. Long may that continue. |
THE PLAYLIST
| THE PLAYLIST You may have heard me mention on the podcast that I am quite thorough when it comes to creating playlists. I’ve got over 11,000 songs on my iTunes and they’re all categorised into numerous different playlists, including month of release (single and/or the album it was on). I have some autogenerating playlists that cross reference the month and other factors such as genre or mood or year/era. It means that every month I get a variety of songs I’ve not heard in a while and there can be a theme for an artist if they had an album out. Last month, one of the acts that has been on a lot has been Gundogs. Now these are a band that might not be familiar to some of you. Gundogs were a Birmingham rock band who I first came across when making a pilot episode for a never picked up magazine style show hosted by Tim Shaw. This fourpiece blew me away, managing to be both a breath of fresh air, whilst a throwback to the anthemic rock I heard as a kid in the early 90s. Their debut album Little Deaths is a classic and I think the biggest compliment I could give them is that whenever I hear one of their tracks, it makes me feel like Saturday. Not quite sure how I explain that any better. You ever feel like a Saturday? If so, you probably get where I’m coming from. Gundogs split in 2012, and sadly earlier this year, vocalist Leila Antony passed away after a battle with cancer, leaving behind a husband and two sons.Gundogs were a band who deserved so much more. You can listen to the album on Spotify or get it on Bandcamp here. You can also donate to Leila’s family here. |
WHERE’S THE PODCAST?
| Criminally Inspired briefly reappeared at the start of the year with an episode with the amazing (for a Liverpool fan) Stephen Bentley. I had a great time chatting with him. But time for chatting hasn’t been a thing I’ve had a lot of, so the pod is on a little break. Aside from the lack of time, I feel the need to try and do something a little bit different. Criminally Inspired has been fun, but if it’s coming back, it needs to be different from last year. And if it isn’t coming back. Something needs to replace it. I’m thinking about what comes next. Because there’s always something that comes next. So hold fast. It won’t be long. |
