International Women's Day: Alice the Adventurer

Happy International Women's Day!

When I was writing Alice's Nightmare in Wonderland someone asked me whether I realised that by featuring Alice as the protagonist I was enfranchising a whole generation of pre-teen girls. To be honest, I hadn't. It hadn't been a conscious decision. But then I have a pre-teen girl all of my very own now, so subconsciously something must have rubbed off.

Alice's Nightmare in Wonderland also passes the Bechdel test, which, in case you were unaware, asks whether a work of fiction features at least two women who talk to each other about something other than a man. The requirement that the two women must be named is sometimes added.

This one was quite easy, partly because my book took its lead from Carroll's classic, and partly because it was important to me that Alice wasn't sexualised in any way. In the book she is eleven years old, and so she behaves as an eleven year-old would (if the eleven year-old in question goes around wielding a massive two-handed sword, of course).

You can pick up your copy of Alice's Nightmare in Wonderland and the Alice's Nightmare in Wonderland Colouring Book here.

Thought for the Day

"The secret of great writing is rewriting."

~ Warren Adler, American author

Gamebook Friday: SKILL, STAMINA and LUCK

Last Saturday, BBC Radio 4 broadcast SKILL, STAMINA and LUCK, a documentary all about the history of interactive fiction. (You can listen to a recording of it here.)

As the title might suggest, Fighting Fantasy Gamebooks were an important part of the piece, and this in turn lead to me visiting the Radio 4 studios to be interviewed by presenter Naomi Alderman about the books, how I came to write for the series, and even what I'm working on now.

However, this being radio, a half-hour long interview with me was edited down to about two minutes of the actual documentary. But this being a documentary about interactive fiction, producer Alex Mansfield has put together an interactive audio documentary adjunct. There are some rather special treats hidden within it, amongst them an extended extract of my interview.

To listen to it, simply follow this link and then click 'red things', click '1', click 'restricting your options', and then click 'Fighting Fantasy gamebooks'.

Enjoy!

World Book Day 2016

In case it had slipped your mind (like it had mine) today is World Book Day, which has got me thinking about which books of my will see the light of day this year.

Here's what came out that I was involved in last year...

My 2015 publications.

As you will already know if you read this blog post earlier in the year, this time last year I didn't even know I was going to write Alice's Nightmare in Wonderland, which, after YOU ARE THE HERO, is my best and most reviewed title that I was solely responsible for. And it spawned a colouring book too, which the Americans love! 

At the time of writing, I definitely have three books coming out. The first is a re-issue of sorts - Doctor Who: Terrible Lizards - and the second is another Doctor Who title, but a new one this time - Choose the Future: Night of the Kraken.

And then there's Robin of Sherwood: The Knights of the Apocalypse...

And Shakespeare Vs Cthulhu...

Hopefully there will also be a sort-of-follow-up to Alice's Nightmare in Wonderland, which I have finally decided will be called The Wicked Wizard of Oz, but other than that, who knows?

Steampunk Thursday: Through the Looking Glass

I can't quite believe it's already March - where has the time gone? - which means that the convention circuit is starting to warm up again.

Although I was at London Super ComicCon a couple of weeks ago, I was attending as a punter rather than a guest. But on Easter Saturday, 26th March 2016, I will be a guest at Through the Looking Glass, a uniquely steampunk event, being held at the Winter Gardens in Eastbourne.

I will be selling my Pax Britannia books as well as my new Alice-themed adventure gamebook, Alice's Nightmare in Wonderland.

So, watch this space for more details...

Dragons, look you!

In celebration of St David's Day today, and Google's doodle of the day, if you like your fiction to feature firedrakes, then you should check out these stories of mine.

1       Fighting Fantasy: Stormslayer (2009)

1     Warlock’s Bounty: Revenge of the Sorcerer (2012)

1       Black Library Gamebook: Shadows over Sylvania (2013)

1       Fighting Fantasy: YouAre The Hero – A History of Fighting Fantasy Gamebooks (2014)

1       Alice’s Nightmare in Wonderland (2015)

Tie-in Tuesday: SFFWorld Author Roundtable

As you might have guessed from the title of this blog, I am taking part in SFFWorld's latest Author Roundtable.

Starting from today, Tuesday 1st March 2016, and continuing for three to four days, Bryan Thomas Schmidt, David Conyers, Jennifer Brozek and myself will be answering questions put to us by SFFWorld forum members, staff, and each other.

So, as you can see, the conversation really could go anywhere. Indeed, this being Tie-in Tuesday, it's quite possible that my tie-in fiction will end up being discussed.

If you would like to take part you will need to register an account at http://www.sffworld.com/forum

I will post the link to join in the discussion below, when I have it myself.

Maybe I'll see you there...