When I started this blog almost three years ago, it was with the intention of both writing about writing, and building a bit of an audience for my own writing.
It has altered rather a lot in that time, but I try not to completely lose sight of those aims. One of those aims is to every now and again blow my own trumpet a little bit, as well as bring you up to date with what I’m writing at the moment.
And, today’s that day again, as since the last time I posted about my book I seem to have gained a lot of new followers (well, quite a few – see 1000 Up), including a good number from India, where the story takes place.
About the book…
This is a story concerning both the way that women are seen and how they are treated in traditional Indian society. I am extremely fortunate in that I have received many kind reviews for the book, and would like to quote part of one of these:
This beautifully written story, set in a village in Bihar, draws you in from its first page. We see the household through the eyes of Siddiqa, wife of Maajid, mother of two school-age girls and her son Tariq, who is married to Naira. We are drawn into the rivalry between Siddiqa and Naira, in a society where the men are the only wage earners and the women’s lives must, by tradition, revolve around their wishes. Small incidents pile up, one after another, as the underlying harmony of the household is fractured by the resentment and self-loathing of Naira. The family is Moslem, the village is a mix of Moslem and Hindu, and one incident threatens the uneasy cohabitation of the two communities. The police, seen as a hostile force in the village, get involved with an unpredictable outcome to the novel.
And it can be bought by clicking on this link: Making Friends With The Crocodile
And what am I up to at the moment?
Goodness me, much too much, as usual.
Some of you may remember I have been working on a novel with the working title of The Assassin’s Garden for quite a while, in an on and off sort of way. It had grown into what threatened to become a trilogy, but I recently decided that much of the plot line no longer worked for me.
With that in mind, I began reworking the first part into what I thought would simply become a novella or novelette (I can never remember which is which), but with a new thread and suddenly a new set of ideas linking them, it looks as though the trilogy is still very much on.
So the new first book is some 30,000 words in length at the moment, and looking good!
I am also working on a short story in response to one written by a friend, a rather tongue-in-cheek Sherlock Holmes mystery. I may post it later this year on the blog.
I’ve several other short stories put aside for the present, as is the other novel I’m working on sporadically.
Speaking of short stories, though, I decided against publishing the collection of short stories I had planned for last winter. I felt they didn’t really work as a collection – I felt I’d rather have a more coherent theme (such as ghost stories, or Indian stories or what have you). One of them has now been published in a collection by my writing group (Stories From Anywhere), and I have submitted another for the follow-up book which will be out later this year, hopefully. I’m sure the others will see the light of day in some form or another at some point!
Every now and again I churn out another poem, although I see these largely as a bit of an educational exercise. I’d love to write good poetry, but…
With luck, I’ll get some of them finished this year!
Sounds like there is a lot going on, Mick.
Glad to hear your writing is in a good creative spot. Best luck with it.
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Thanks, Frank. If only I could focus on one thing at a time, there might be more to see for it!
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Ha. Good luck with that, as well.
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You won’t be bored TC! Looking forward to the end results.
I’m currently writing an adult book for refugees with beginner level English. Josh is going to illustrate it so lots of collaborative fun.
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Thanks, Jane. The collaboration sounds like fun, indeed. How is it going?
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Very good. I look forward to them!
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Thanks, Rajiv.
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Wow! Many great projects on the go here, Mick! Good luck with them all and I’m impressed with your 30,000 word of your novel, you sound fired up and keep going with it! Also look forward to reading your Sherlock Holmes style mystery … intriguing. Congratulations on your numerous new followers!
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Thanks, Annika. As usual, I just need to be able to keep my focus. I’m not very good at that…
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😀😀
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Best of luck, Mick! It sounds like a lot of great stuff to work on. Poetry is good practice for fiction writers. Finding creative ways to say something routine!
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Thanks, Meg. And, yes, poetry can be a great discipline to hone those skills, although it’s nice when a poem seems good enough just in itself.
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Yes, of course! I try to compose one once in a while myself!
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I guess we all change over the years. Nothing wrong with that. You need to realign your blog with your path, Mick!
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I think that’s what’s happening to it, Arv. It’s rather realigning itself!
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I guess you haven’t been very active in the blogging world, Mick
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Not as much as usual – it’s the old ‘not enough time’ problem, Arv.
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I know.
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Sounds as if you’re keeping busy Mick. Good luck with all your endeavours. Personally, I’d like to hear more about Bob or/and the elves.
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There is a Bob News Update in the pipeline, Colin, I’m just having our legal department check it over first. As for the elves, you may have to wait a bit longer.
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Good luck with it, Mick. I’m more of a non-fiction reader but I have had a look at the first few pages of your book and can see it’s well-written. 🙂
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Thanks, Val.
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I enjoyed “Making Friends with the Crocodile” very much!
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Thanks, Ann. I’m delighted you did!
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So much writing and so little time Mick. Didn’t realise that you had so many things on the go at once, makes me feel quite lazy.
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They’re only technically all on the go at once, Jonno. In reality I tinker with one while the rest twiddle their thumbs on the hard drive.
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Busy busy. Good luck with all this Mick..
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Thanks, Geoff. I just seem to need to find some more time!
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Hi Mick. I’m catching up on my reading (been quite a hectic few weeks) and so am late in seeing this post. It’s wonderful to learn about all of the writing you’ve been doing. I hope we see the mystery series here on the blog. I’d love to read it.
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Well, it’s a one-off rather than a series, Monica, but I’m sure I’ll put it up at some point.
Glad you survived the hippos and other beasties! It looked a great adventure!
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Good to read more about your book and WIPs, Mick.
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Hoping to finally make some progress, Robbie!
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Hello Mick
I am an Indian, and I really appreciate and respect you for writing about the traditional Indian society. There aren’t many people who gives a voice to such issues.
Thank you
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You’re welcome. I’m lucky in that I have spent some time in that society, which I hope gives me a certain insight most Westerners don’t get. I am pleased that my book was well-received by Indian readers.
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