Time is flying by - as can be seen by the time that's elapsed since the last blog. Blogging has also been hindered by lack of internet at home, although this surprisingly has helped increase word output..(now who'd have thought;-)), and by Blogger being banned by Bastard school internet police, so I can't even update there.
Grrrr.
Moan over!

So, what's been happening...hmmm... let me see...

In March I went of on my birthday holidays (although I do insist that 36 IS A VERY GLAMOROUS AGE DON'T YOU KNOW? ) to New York and then Boston.

3 days in the big apple on my own were actually fab. I did a lot of wandering around in the lovely sunshine and of course, shopping. Had long lunch with my agent Joe Veltre and almost persuaded him to ditch the office and continue drinking Bloody Mary's and wine for the rest of the afternoon, but he was far too professional for that...which was probably a good thing, because for all my talk my alcohol tolerance is pitifully low...as many can contest..;-)

Then I got the train to Boston to spend 5 days with the very lovely Christopher Golden and his even lovelier wife Connie and their kids, who were absolutely the best hosts..(once they unlocked the basement and let me out..but that's a different story..)

We went to Ogunquit, Maine which totally excited me because of The Stand connection, The Stand being my MOST fave King novel, had burgers at Wild Willy's, went to Boston, and screeched and cringed together (don't deny it Golden...) at the cinema watching The Ruins. AND we saw Sandra Bullock filming in a beautiful town that was being re-dressed as Alaska, which was all very exciting for Connie and me - not sure little Lily was so impressed, but she did like the huskies ;-)

It was also great to go out for dinner with the local horror brigade - Kelly Laymon turned up bravely fighting her flu with alcohol (my kind of girl), and I finally got to meet Jonny Butane who was rather fabulous and less scary than I expected.
A new friend I made was the artist Steve Bissette (I think I've spelt that right..), who I felt comfortable with right away... and was very funny.
All in all it was a great trip, and the teacher in me loved going into the boys' school and seeing the kids rehearse for their school play under Chris' direction.. I love kids!

Then got back and it was straight to Derby.. I think I love Alt-fiction more each year. Always great to catch up with everyone UK bookwise...I'm starting to feel fond of the North...;-)

Anyway, book wise....

Short stories upcoming:

Do you see? in 'Myth-Understandings' from Newcon Press
www.newconpress.com

Some really good stories in this anthology, all from female writers, and these people are really nice guys...support them! grrr...

The Nowhere Man in 'The British Invasion' from Cemetery Dance available to pre-order (i think..) now from their website.
www.cemeterydance.com

And Tower Hill comes out from Leisure in end of June/beginning of July..

Think that's about it for now....
hugs..
SP x

2008 seems to be flying - I can't believe it's 2 months since I posted last. Here's a quick update on what's going on in my world.

The ALA (American Library Association) nominated 'The Taken' as one of the top 8 horror books of 2007 on their reading list. I was really pleased, especially when seeing that the other names included Sarah Langan's The Missing, Dan Simmon's The Terror and Joe Hill's Heart-Shaped Box, all really excellent novels.

'Tower Hill' is due out in July, and I've just finished my novella for the MUSE collaboration. I'm halfway through the children's book which I'm really enjoying writing, and I'm also working on a screenplay of The Hidden which I'm expecting to get finished this week... It's all work work work. Which is fine by me! ;-)


The big news is that I'm planning to move to North Carolina for six months in August/September to concentrate on writing. I'm planning to rent an apartment in Raleigh, near Alex Sokoloff and an English friend of mine, Liz, who lives there also. Exciting times...

I'm off to New York for a few days in April to catch up with my agent, editor and Sarah Langan, and then I'll catch the train up to Boston for a few days with Chris Golden and family, which I'm very much looking forward to!

I'll also be a guest at Derby's Alt-Fiction which is always a highlight of the year. Next week I'm off to London to the launch of Stephen Jones' book on Basil Copper released by PS Publishing, which will be well worth attending if you're around. The venue is Ye Olde Cock Tavern on Fleet Street.
Other than that life is fine, apart from a damaged foot and an internet nightmare....but I could write a whole novel about that and then you'd all be as grumpy as me!

Catch you later....

SP x

I'm pleased to announce that I've signed contracts for BREEDING GROUND to become a Delirium Books Dark Essentials title .

I don't have a publication date yet but I can tell you that there will be an extra short chapter at the end which will give a small taste of what I see as coming after....so - more news on that to follow.

One of my short stories from the WAITING FOR OCTOBER anthology is garnering some rec's for the Stokers. If you haven't read it and want to you can read it for free here:

http://www.darkartsbooks.com/crystalcarla.shtml

I was really pleased with it in a comically dark and nasty way... Let me know what you think - and feel free to vote for it! ;-).

The next Leisure book has been delivered and is called TOWER HILL (due July 08) and I'm currently working on a children's book as well as putting together ideas for the next novel, so all go as usual.

On the personal front I've been taking some time out from writing and having some fun socialising with colleagues from school. I was going to post some pics but the internet and computer arrangement in my house has decided it hates me, so you may have to wait a while for those!
I had dinner with fabulous chick lit international Uber-success Carole Matthews last Sunday (she too lives in Milton Keynes) and was moaning about how there just wasn't time for work, writing and having a life and she very astutely pointed out that without the life bits, the writing soon dries up. And she's got a point. However, the festive season is done and I've soaked up lots of life and so now its time to get back to the hermit-existence required to get everything i want done. Oh well... it was nice while it lasted. I may have another 2 weeks of life once the kid's book is finished... Little rewards along the way!

Anyway, off to grab some christmas cake, a cup of tea and the laptop now...
Big hugs,
Sarah x

Well our website may not quite be up yet, but we are certainly rolling! we had our debut interview in the Lost and Damned Chat on Monday night and now if you go to:



http://www.darkscribemagazine.com/



you'll see us in the featured interview section - and if I say so myself it's a very good interview thanks to Vince's great questions.

check it out!

Hey all,
As the title suggests there is an interview with me up on the UK SF Book news website which can be accessed through the links page! Go take a peek...because I'm far too lazy to repeat everything I said for that all over again here....;-)

What else have I been up to?
On Wednesday the very pregnant Emma, the less pregnant Adrienne, and the completely not pregnant me were lucky enough to be invited to the book launch of 'The Chocolate Lover's Diet' by Carole Matthews. It was a fabulous affair with pink champagne, a chocolate fountain and a huge amount of free chocolates provided by Thornton's. Not the kind of thing we're used to in the horror community - not a black T-shirt or a pint of bitter in sight.

Once we had eaten and drunk (in may case) our fill, Adrienne and Emma raised their collective eyebrows and decided that they were going to organise a launch for me at the MK Borders for the next Leisure book and make it equally fabulous.... and then dragged me to the pregnancy and baby section where we learned a huge amount about various mother/father/baby horoscope combinations. Bless the baby bumps and those who carry them. ;-)

Next week is Fantasycon and I'm so looking forward to catching up with all the writery people. I think I love Fantasycon more than Christmas... and I love Christmas...

As well as drinking far too much than is good for me I'll be presenting the award for Best novella alongside Chaz Brenchley, and then I shall be waiting for the result of the Best Novel category in which Breeding Ground has been shortlisted, once again alongside Chaz Brenchley! As much as winning is always a nice thing I feel very happy to have made the final shortlist....
Will blog again after..

Sarah x

Well hello and welcome back!
As you can see the site has had a face lift and is looking all fabulous and shiny courtesy of my new web demon...Great, isn't it? It's also pretty easy to navigate. I know this because even I can find my way round it without any hitches which means that its foolproof for the computer illiterate.

Anyway, I hope you like it as much as I do. Browse it - take your time - there's a lot of stuff going on in my little world at the moment. Check out the MUSE page. Check out what I've got coming up, what books and stories are scheduled for release, and when I may be popping up in a town near you- It's all here...

Now for the blog stuff.

I went to London yesterday.
It was a friend of mine's birthday and so five of us (and Baby Smith who had the cosy seat inside her tummy, but didn't get to see much) headed into town and did one of the London Walks.
We went to discover Clerkenwell's secret village with our guide, Jean, a retired actress.
It was fabulous. Over that two hours of strolling in the sunshine we watched children happily playing in keyed gardens that had once been plague pits (think medieval mass graves), learned the history of Smithfield in gruesome detail and found hidden gems of history nestled everywhere in the cobbled sidestreets, from the Rookeries to Charterhouse.

Now I talk a lot about going to live elsewhere. L.A. New York. The south of France - all of these places appeal to me. But London? I LOVE London. There's no place in the world like it. Not for me. It's days like yesterday that remind me of that. Wandering through the quiet bank holiday streets you can almost smell the blood, the fear and the passion that are the city's foundations and the place never fails to stir something right in my core.

I lived in the heart of the West End for several years (different life then..big sigh..) and it's only when I go back that I remember just how great that was.

London's history is one long fantastic universe of stories. Everywhere you look hints of them are there. From the obvious ones like Traitor's gate to the hidden ones, like the sealed up underground network of prisons. I love history. I love stories. How can I not love London?

If you haven't read any Edward Rutherford then I recommend starting with London. Written by an eminent historian that book brings a thousand years of history to life and will teach you more than any school lesson about the city.

I had a boyfriend once, a Crouch End boy turned West End man, whose only nightmare was one where he'd be trying to get to London only to find that it had disappeared. Gone. Poof. Just a wasteland left behind. I think he now lives in Rio or a sunny Costa somewhere due to a misunderstanding with the law. I'm sure the law are very unhappy that he's got away from his alleged crimes without punishment. But I know that being away from London is probably punishment enough for him. Londoners love their town.

So I've now decided. The homes in L.A, New York and Antibes? They'll just have to be part time! London's the place for me....

And back in the real world, in the house I can afford to live in (not in any of the above locations..) it's time to get on with the writing for the day..

BUT - if you ever do get to London and have a couple of hours to spare - do one of the walks! www.walks.com They're great. Next up for us - a day of Christmas shopping followed by the Jack the Ripper tour....Brrr...

Until next time,
Keep well,
me x