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October 2003
Hi. And now some much better news. The BBC are planning to broadcast a reading of my short story, Red as Blood, sometime in late October (no date's been given me yet) on digital Radio Seven. I don't know either which actress will be reading it, but every name I've heard mooted had me leaping for joy (radio actors are some of the best on earth, or so I have always thought.) I will post a message of date and time as soon as I have it - plus actor name. I'm now well into Metallic Love (sequal to The Silver Metal Lover). It's surprising me all the way, which is fascinating and often uncomfortable. You may agree, if and when you read it. It's a very different work to the first, but then, although I partly accept that many writers really write the same book over and over in (one hopes) utterly different ways, I never had any intention of reproducing the first novel. This is a spiky, glittering mirror image, with a dark-haired narratrix out of the slums. But Silver is there... oh boy, is he. The same, and not the same. We all know, there is more than one kind of angel... Mortal Suns is either out, or about to be, in the USA. Over here, Lionwolf Volume One Cast a Bright Shadow is going into production. A short story, Israbel is either out or about to be in Realms of Fantasy, the October edition of which will carry the advert designed by John Kaiine for Mortal Suns. Oh, by the way - Dutton Children's Books USA have bought Piratica !!! I also have some news that I may be adding the title of Editor to my other string of titles (i.e. Tanith Who? Lee What? You-know-that-woman-that-writes-all-those-books-no-one-can-find, etc.) It's early days, so as yet I can't tell you much, but I will breathe one familiar word, which is... Vampires. For now, take care, nice to have you drop by
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July 2003
Hi. I'm afraid the latest update is a piece of bad news, at least for me. I've been mentioning my novel for older children, Piratica for quite some while, as you may recall - the idea was first mooted in 2001. I had some (for me unusual) problems with the novel, but when they finally resolved, loved it, and was very pleased with the result. I worked like a mad thing and got it typed (over 300 pages) in about two weeks plus. I and the editor, copyeditor and compositors then also worked frantically to get it through all its stages for its production date of November this year. This week I got an email from someone at Hodder, telling me that the publishing date would have to be rescheduled. And why? Apparently a well-thought-of, prize-winning author, (from another publishing house) has her own book - also about a female pirate - coming out in November. All the big book stores have therefore expressed reluctance, apparently, at trying to promote my book with hers - and since they have already seen her book, and not yet seen mine, I get second place. Hodder believe that my book therefore can only sell if it comes out next year - March 2004. However, if by then you are not all sick to death of pirates, that is the new date to look out for. Meanwhile, so far as I know Overlook are still on line for publication of Mortal Suns this late summer/autumn. An advert designed by my partner, John Kaiine, should be appearing in Realms of Fantasy Magazine fairly soon. It features the poster we put on this site for the book. You may - or not - be interested to know the girl in the picture is closely based on a photo of me, taken when I was twenty-five. I am now working - at last - on the sequel to The Silver Metal Lover: title: Metallic Love. Various short stories are also circulating - though I've still not caught up with the fate of Moon Wolf - which was bought by Asimov's... More, and better news, I hope - soon. Thank you as ever for your visit,
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June 2003
Hi - a swift update. I've finished Piratica - the Young adult novel - and being late on the deadline - did a marathon type of my longhand MS - it's now at Hodder. She be out in November '03. (One of the most difficult books just to get started - but once I had, I loved it.) Secondly, you may be interested to know I've written a ten minute monologue for Jacqueline Pearce (the wonderful Servalan of BLAKES 7 - aside from her many other roles, which range from Shakespeare, Tom Stoppard and J.B Priestley to cult horror films such as THE REPTILE).
I myself was thrilled to hear my own work brought to life by an actress of such high calibre and originality. More soon.
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March 2003
Well, I'm not long back from REDEMPTION '03. As I said at the closing ceremonies, if I had to mark this con out of ten, I'd give it three hundred. I have, over the years, been to some great conventions, some huge, and some quite small. This was definitely among the nicest. Enough people to give a real feel of audience and participation, not so many you never got to meet anyone. Lots to do, and some extremely interesting and personable interviewers and fellow guests. Some marvellous costumes to be seen, too, and some quite gorgeous ladies and gentlemen wearing them.
The con seemed to run very smoothly, too. A key-note was participation, guests and fans mingling in a most civilized and entertaining way. There was great debate at panels — and great fun, particularly at one of mine where the well-read and informed audience ended up being asked questions by the panel — who found the audience knew rather more than — at least I — did! My fellow professional guests included the excellent artist Mike Collins, whose intelligent conversation was on par with his marvellous artistic skills, and Damian London, the Regent of Babylon 5. This was a class guy, a raconteur of impressive anecdotes and knowledge, equipped with a glorious sense of humour. Brilliant actor, too, as anyone knows who has seen him, both in the series and elsewhere. It was, on a personal level, very good to meet Chris Boucher again after — astoundingly — over twenty years. I've been a fan of his writing since Blakes 7 days. In addition, I was very happy at the people who turned up to meet me. My thanks to them all, and especially to the Paradys Group. So. I had a lovely time. Again, my thanks to the Committee, and everyone else there, for making it such an enjoyable and stimulating week-end. The only downside is coming back to the mountains of work now awaiting me — as if I'd been gone three months not three days. But that's the price of holidays. See you soon with news on projects, and a personalized preview of Mortal Suns. The poster below will give you an idea.
Thanks as ever for your visit,
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January 2003
Hallo! A quick update on Lee news: I'll be a guest at REDEMPTION, the Blakes Seven/Babylon Five convention, held at Ashford, Kent, UK, at the Ashford International Hotel. Dates are 21st - 23rd February 2003. I'll be around from Friday evening till Sunday night. Maybe see some of you there - Best as ever,
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The monologue is on CD in the series 'THE ACTOR SPEAKS' along with a frank and fascinating interview, some intriguing short items, and another 1st class monologue written by director Mark Thompson.