The Spoons That Are My Ears!

I have been looking after two parrots on behalf of my friends, Stuart and Monica. They aren't big parrots but little ones (cockatiels?) but as I like the word 'parrot' that's how I prefer to refer to them... Parrots are associated with pirates and I've just completed a 17,000 word novelette for a pirate-themed anthology currently being edited by Jeff VanderMeer... I have written a lot of stories featuring pirates in my career, so it seemed only natural to gather all those previous rogues together in one sea and have them fight it out, to see who's best! I've never had so much fun writing a story!

Other so-called news:

• I am poor and miserable,
• Moutons électriques have just won the Grand Prix de l'Imaginaire, which I guess means that part of me has also won it,
• I have agreed with the Greek publishers of my Infamy book to 'customise' that edition, by altering the contents somewhat,
• John Clute is on the verge of writing the introduction to my Harpy reprint,
• Michael Bishop is on the verge of writing the introduction to the English language edition of my Crystal Cosmos novella,
• The publisher of that novella, PS Publishing, have just won two IHG awards, including one for Postscripts, a magazine I have often appeared in,
• I am travelling to London next week where I hope to meet up with my friend Sarita, John Clute himself, possibly my agent John Jarrold, the excellent poetry performer Rhian Edwards, perhaps my ex-girlfriend Lowri, and anyone else who would like to come along.
• After London, I'll be leaving for Portugal. I doubt I'll stay there long, as I have urgent business back here, but I'm certainly looking forward to my trip.