Hello!
So, quite a bit of news for you.
First of all, I’ve just had some “bobby knockers” (or as I used to call them when I was a kid, “Jacky Knockers”). As befitting my new grown-up role, I ran out and shook my fist at the scarpering scamps, shouting, “Yeah, you can run!” And now I’m worried that they’ll come back and terrorise me into a nervous wreck. I take this as a sign from the Beyond that my forthcoming project is a timely one – but I get ahead of myself.
Next, I’ve been polishing up parts 1 to 4 of Tidelands, which is now done, and as well as the updated Substack posts, there are now shiny new ebooks available. This is in preparation for publishing a collected paperback edition through WoodPig Press, which will be entitled Tidelands, Volume I: Summer’s Lease. This will be coming out (hopefully) by the end of the year – I’ll keep you updated on the exact date.
In the meantime, parts 1 to 4 are free to read on Substack, and probably will remain so. I’ve given a fair bit of thought to this, and the idea of charging for access, or putting parts of it behind a subscriber-only paywall, just didn’t work for me, so there is now no paywall. If you do want to pay to support my work, you can still do so by upgrading to a paid subscription, where you’ll also get free copies of the published ebooks as they appear. Anyone else who wants to support me, or would prefer to read in a more conventional format, can do so by purchasing the books:
As part of my polishing and updating, I’ve also added author notes to each episode of the Substack versions – not as a sort of “what I was really trying to say”, but just some random thoughts on related topics, what inspired me, stuff about writing craft, etc.
The other big news is that Volume II of Tidelands – provisionally entitled Time’s Wrinkle – is now under way with Part 5: 1984 and All That. This carries on from the end of Part 4 (although you’d be forgiven for doubting that when you start reading, but be patient). I’m still working on the cover, but here’s the blurb:
It’s 1984, and thirteen-year-old Freddy Lazenby is looking forward to a carefree summer of nothing but TV, comics and computer games – but his mother has other ideas.
Soon he finds himself a casual employee at Seaview Meadows Retirement Home, where Nurse Manager Abigail Torsion has made it her mission to bring Thatcherite economics to the world of elderly care, and where the lives of the residents are a joyless regime.
One such resident is Algernon Whitby, retired horror writer, former spy, and self-professed Master of the Mystical Arts. As the two strike up an unlikely friendship, Whitby is convinced that Seaview conceals a conspiracy of cosmic proportions. But are these just the sad delusions of a lonely old man, or are there indeed darker forces at work than privatisation…?
Sound like fun? It’s proving great fun to write! Anyway, if you want to check out the first instalments, start here. Or, if you want to catch up with Volume I first, go here.
In philosophy news, Is My Coffee Conscious? is due out in just over a month, and there’s the possibility of another pop phil book, which may see bookshelves in 2027/8. But I haven’t forgotten about my own philosophy projects. Descartes’s Dog has had a cover refresh, which I think better suits the tone of the work (though I am slightly sad to see the Beagle go, as it was based on our beloved (and now departed) Gracie). The other project – an intro to virtue ethics – is still on my radar, and I plan to recommence serialisation of that in the next few months.
Regarding WoodPig Press, things are still progressing nicely. I’m currently working on the line edits to what will be our first title, as well as responding to the submissions from our second round. A reminder that you can follow progress on all of this over on my other Substack, where there are also some interesting interviews with our freelancers (illustrators, editors, audiobook narrators, etc).
Regarding which, the press also provides a range of publishing services from publishing professionals who are opposed to AI. So if you’re working on a book, at whatever stage, then you can find out more about the help we can offer here – or just get in touch.
I think that’s about it…
Anyway, if you’ve any thoughts or questions on any of this, then feel free to leave a comment or drop me a line.
Until next time,
Gareth.
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