Underground

If you've listened to Blood and Smoke so far, you'll be aware that some of the action on the audio recordings that David is listening to takes place in Aldwych underground station, which was used as air raid shelter in World War 2. For years I've been trying to get down there, especially as I'm now writing about the place. Illustrations, maps, plans, photos and a whole pile of books are fine for research, but you can't really get a sense of the layout of the place unless you actually go there. However, this isn't easy because the station has been closed since 1994.

The London Transport Museum organise batches tours of the station every now and again, but tickets go very fast. I had tickets for a tour last June, but ultimately couldn't go because my dad was taken ill on the day of the tour. Then another batch of tours was announced in October, but I missed the news and only found out about it when it was totally sold out.

So anyway, there I was on Thursday, watching a Youtube video about the station and grinding my teeth in frustration that for the foreseeable future, this was the closest I was going to be able to get to the place I'm writing about every day. Finally, over-brimming with vexation, I decided to call the Museum and  see if I could get news on when tickets for the next batch of tours would become available. The guy I spoke to told me there were tours on now. I said I was aware of that but that they were sold out. He then told  me that there had been a cancellation and that a ticket was available for that night (Thursday). The resulting jolt of excitement I felt almost knocked me off my chair. I snapped up the ticket and legged it to the station. After battling my way through the London rush hour, I finally got to the Strand and joined the queue of fellow station enthusiasts. And then, oh joy, they finally let me inside.

I won't bore you with the details, (blah blah tunnel, blah blah staircase) but suffice it to say I had a wonderful time, and what I learned and saw in Aldwych will now make itself into one or more of the remaining chapters of Blood and Smoke ... and beyond.

Update - January

Yikes! A month has passed without a word from me. So, just so you know I'm not dead, here's an update. I went away on holiday for a week at the start of January and managed to get 15,000 words of U&F 4 written. Actually, all this numbers stuff is starting to make my head spin, so let's just go with titles from now on, and let's call U&F 1&2 by their old collective name of "Underwood and Flinch" (the first podcast). Then you have "Blood and Smoke" and then this new project, which is going by the working title of "Underwood and Flinch: Underground".

So, I went on holiday and got a lot of work done on "Underground". We went to Fuerteventura in the Canary Islands. The weather was good, but I spent most of my time indoors battering away on a little lap top I take away with me for the specific purpose of holiday writing. I always write on holiday. Last year I wrote a huge chunk of "Underground" as well, so that's two years, two holidays, two huge chunks of "Underground" written. But this year, unlike last year, I've continued to write after my holiday. I've been writing today, and every day since I got back. I suppose you could say the muse is upon me, and "Underground" is coming along at a furious pace.

"But what of Blood and Smoke?" you cry. "When will we get the next episodes of that story?" Well, I've got the first drafts done of the remaining episodes, but I haven't polished them for recording. Not yet. Not until I have certain elements of "Underground" sorted out. Why? Because "Blood and Smoke" has numerous overlapping storylines with "Underground", and so it all has to tie up. I don't want to release those remaining B&S episodes only to find that I later need to go back and change them. So never fear, "Blood and Smoke" will finish in time. And "Underground" will begin when - and only when - it's finished and ready. As I mention above, I'm writing every day, usually over 1000 words, so hopefully I won't have to wait until my 2016 holiday to get it finished. Huzzah!!

Happy New Year!

Happy new year, listeners! While I wait for the champagne corks to start popping, I've been putting together a Youtube playlist of easy listening classics. I did this because I was at a friend's house recently and we felt the need for some easy listening. On checking Youtube for a playlist I discovered that there was nothing that hit the spot. Therefore, on returning home, I determined to make one myself. So, here it is, just in time for you to ease in the New Year.

Chillax! (as the young people say ... or used to say - I have no idea what constitutes cool-speak these days, I lost track after "Ace!" back in the seventies).

Update - Podcast is now live in iTunes

... And here's the link to take you there in case you've managed to lose your subscription ...

Get Sometimes Christmas Special on iTunes, baby!

Festive Sometimes Posted!

Yuletide greetings, Listeners! 

My latest podcast offering hits the podosphere tonight as Sometimes Dec 2014 goes live. However, due to iTunes' new quality control settings, it may be a while before it reaches your iTunes inboxes (if you use them, that is ... obviously). They say in a recent email:"From Monday, December 22, through Monday, January 5, 2015, new podcast submissions will require additional time for review and processing. During this period, you will be able to submit new podcasts. You also will be able to publish new episodes to existing podcasts. New episodes may require additional time to appear on iTunes Store."

Sometimes Dec 2014 features HP Lovecraft's classic tale of weird horror, The Statement of Randolph of Carter. My reading of the story also features my dodgy American accent - apologies in advance to sensitive American ears.

The podcast also throbs with music from The Elves of Heaven, a news bulletin, a trip to see What's in My (Festive) Fridge, and all this to the uncanny goings on in the Bennett household that unfold when Mr Yip returns with his Karaoke machine - apologies in advance to sensitive ears everywhere. Download it here, or if you're an iphone user, wait patiently for iTunes to do their thing.

Sick

Sorry for my silence but it's been a sh*tty month, and to top it all off, I'm ill. I won't bore you with the details because they are many and confusing. I've been to the doctor twice this week and on both occasions I've come away with a medicine that hasn't worked. So, I guess I'll be going back to the doc's on Monday. No other news, I'm afraid. I'll post something next weekend (if not before). Until then, pip-pip. M

New Podcast! Meanwhile 01

"Meanwhile" - it's a news show in which I basically explain what's been going on in my writing and audio production world (or the lack thereof) for the last season or so. Also features news of Free Ebook of The Month and a five minute sample of Disturbing the Devil. It's in iTunes now, or you can listen direct here ...