AAAAAAARRRRRGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHh

Date: 11 September 2008 11:27:50

Hey all,

Wow, this is a tricksome thing, keeping this updated. Then I slope back, a month or year later like the prodigal blog and say 'sorry I haven't said anything', as if people are hanging off (m)any of my words and then I do a shopping list of what I'm up to.

WELL NO MORE!

No sireee!

Except it probably will be, sorry.

OK: Stress levels: been pretty high recently. College is back and OH BOY did things go wrong at the end of last term. Couple of weeks since then and 20 hours plus of meetings and phone calls and so far nothings resolved apart from anger. Shame. Very upsetting in many ways. But we trog on and today I'm doing my favourite icebreaker lesson with a new group of tech students. Wish me luck.

Arts centre? Well, that's in a strange place also. We booked in two weeks of inventory and update and so far that's gone spectacularly tangentally: a gig required more practise space than we anticipated (the kids did amazing again though, very cool, shame some of the adults let them down - the company providing stage and equip bodged badly - but the teens were all sorts of amaze) and a company that sponsored us required some evidence at short notice as they were dropped in on by higher ups. Distractions. We start back next week as chaotically as ever and maybe that's the way it'll be.

Did You Know came out via Spring Harvest at the end of August and again has been very positively received which is great for my ego levels. That can be found here, if you're looking to drop some dosh on sunday school materials (http://store.springharvest.org/product_info.php?cPath=54&products_id=436).

Messenger comes out via DLT books on October the 20th which is also great as it's the sort of thing that publishers either understand totally or don't and because of that languished on a shelf for a year or so. I'm stupidly happy with the work that they're doing on it though (even down to the formatting which is widescreen, if anyone's interested) so that's cool, also. Or at least I think so anyway.

Then, on the flip side, Sylver's been delayed. Very sad about that one, but the close of the story is so intricate that one part which I wondered about being too subtle was decided to be too obtuse (even for me). It had a tight window or opportunity and, as a result misses it by a whisker. Because of that the re-write phase has got the chance to be a little longer and some parts alluded to may well be expanded a little more so hey, it's the right decision, just a shame it doesn't hit for this Christmas. The ends a corker though, still can't wait for people to get to the final act.

Then, got a meeting on monday about another title which is a collaborative work, and I'm really excited about it as I love the guy who'd be participating in it and... Hmmm... Am I allowed to reveal the sequel that was just signed today? Possibly not, we'll see. News for another update maybe.

Apart from that - wow, all go now that I've typed that all up, things are decidedly roller coastery. Good and bad in equal measure but can't complain and much to be very thankful for. Summer holidays vs autism were as hard as they normally are but we did get a weeks holiday and that went well on the majority of the days so hey ho.

Righto, packing for college. Gb all and we'll see how long my determination to update more frequently holds.

((and not even remotely secretly got my eyes on a new ipod but WHICH ONE???? Sigh... Touch is getting the nod so far but those new nano's look all sorts of yummy and I do want to support the global more towards Product: Orange... Sigh... Decisions decisions...)).

Actually, decision wise, I do have to make one soon and it's a doozey. Without going into it too much that would be a prayer I'd appreciate if you'd be so kind. I really do have to work out what to focus on in my life - I'm very stretched but the obvious decision is very much the hardest.

Currently listening to: Quench: Reality Radio. Love it love it love it... Currently playing: Space Invaders Extreme, when the time allows and just bought SSB: Wii and MGS4 in the Morrisons sale for me to spectacularly fail to have time to play. Currently working on: Five books back to back to back to back to back now... :(