This month…
This month was a rollercoaster. Before you read this newsletter… please know that I am okay. Honestly, I’m good. I do not need a hug, as nice as that would be.
So let’s list this thing out:
1. I was offered some commission work to write for a big Intellectual Property (more on that in a second).
2. I couldn’t say yes to writing said IP, because of the writer’s strike. The last thing I want to do is cross the picket line. I’m from a family of English coal miners. It wouldn’t go down well.
3. Due to problems at home, I was forced to live in my car for a few days.
4. Living in my car turned into an adventure! I picked up a bunch of camping supplies and spent nights in the Peak District and Sherwood Forest. It was lovely to get away for a bit.
5. While living amongst the wild things and the lay-bys, I finished the novel I’d been working on for the past year and delivered it to my agent.
6. After various email exchanges and phone calls with both the WGGB and the WGA, I spoke to the amazing lawyers at WGA East who confirmed I was in the all-clear to write for the IP. This company and the type of work currently sit outside of the scope of the current strike.
7. Lastly… I and my partner of 13 years… broke up.
Bloody FM’s The Dead
Produced by Bloody Disgusting in collaboration with the George A. Romero Foundation, The Dead is a full-cast scripted audio drama anthology set in the world of Romero’s Night Of The Living Dead films.
In May, they put out an open call looking for writers, and I jammed some of my scrunched-up notepaper into their digital letter-hole. I guess my hourly chaos magick ritual dance routines must be paying off, because they liked it… and asked me to shove more words into the hole.
As such, I’ll be scripting a four-part story for them.
More info to come.
The whole breaking up thing…
I know.
It’s big.
Iknowiknowiknow.
I feel weird putting it in this newsletter, but it’s a significant event in my life… and at least in the case of my writing, I wear my heart on my sleeve.
That’s a trait I get from my Hungarian granddad btw. I remember one time he burst into tears in a corner shop when he saw a certain brand of sweets on the counter. What the sweets reminded him of, I never found out. One can only assume the Fox’s Glacier Mints were a favourite of some former lover… or they killed his parents.
But yeah…
I don’t know what this means for my future… and part of me wants to grab a sharpie and scribble over this past month, doodle something much more fun over the top, but life doesn’t work like that.
It is what it is…
All we can do is move forward.
Five recommendations
1. Skeleton Crew by Stephen King - For years, I’ve been saving this book like a delicious beer in the back of the fridge. I finally cracked it open and was not disappointed.
2. The Deepest Breath - A heart-attack-inducing documentary about the highs and deep, deep lows of free diving.
3. New X-Men by Grant Morrison & Various Artists (lots of Frank Quietly) - I’m coming to learn that I just love X-Men comics. These are some of the best.
4. Oppenheimer - I’ll be listening to this soundtrack for years to come. The film is pretty good, too.
5. Jurassic Park - I first watched this when I was five years old. A stone cold stunner of a film. It’s better than 90% of movies coming out of Hollywood today.
Some other bits
My Dog Shits Cash will soon be a podcast, free for any and all. If you’ve enjoyed the story in any way, I’d love to get a few reviews on there when it’s up.
The Other Stories was nominated for the Best Podcast Artwork at the Independent Podcast Awards.
I’m in need of some life medicine. If you have any podcast, book, film recommendations that might soothe or inspire, I’m going to need it.
&&&
With that…
I’m away now.
In the days ahead, I wish for you a kinder inbox…
And all the pumpkin-spiced fluids your heart desires.
Until next time,
Just Luke
I'm so excited for you with the writing gig - You'll be amazing. Everything else will come right in the end - if you need another night out any time, you know where to find me.
Man. I feel you. Some years back I broke up with my partner of 11 years. It sucks.