In
terms of 2017, its been a interesting year from a creative
stand-point its been a interesting year certainly helped by my
relationship with Amanda (which has just gone into its second year)
has deepened certainly helped by the fact both of us are writers and
general creative types.
On the writing front, my proposed third
poetry book 'From the Diabetic Ward' has gone on hold at least
temporary after the collapse of my deal with Goya Press back in
March. I'm not the sort of person into mud slinging but would advise
anybody who has any future dealings with them to be very very careful
with them. However from a creative standpoint, this book wasn't going
the way I wanted it to go and therefore perhaps is best being on hold
until I get it right.
Writing wise after stepping away from
it, I spent the rest of this year working on the first books of two
new series 'Role Reversal' and 'The Barbarians of the Wall' both of
which will be out likely hand in hand at the start of 2018. (Both
books have sequels already on the way).
I've also been expermenting with
fiction properly for the right time also and have also a kind of
autobiography on the go which is on its second draft (and is around
63,000 words) and a few novellas in two other not previously
announced series (all of which are between 13,000 to 30,000 words or
so currently) and have a few mini poetry collections on the go which
will show up over the next few years with titles such as 'Mini Soap
Operas', 'Selected extracts from the end of the World' and 'The
Streets where all I saw' or 'The Birth of Autumn'.
A lot of these projects has come from
simply making sure I do a bit of writing every day I can, whether it
is 15 or 20 minutes every day at lunch at work or a little bit at
home or at Amandas, it is simply a case of keeping active with it and
keeping writing something.
Outside of that, Spoken Label (my
podcast intervewing series) has progressed nicely this year releasing
albums and podcasts by 23 different writers and artists. I'm
currently struggling with a bit of a virus but when better by the
start of 2018, I have a number of other artists in mind I want to
speak to so am excited by that too.
Ocean in a Bottle my solo ambient,
classical project is also developing into deeper, more emotional
territories from 'Dream Frontier' and 'From Choirs to Dischoirs' –
the first in two different ambient series (both series will be
carrying it needs stating), Finale which was originally designed to
be the final Ocean in a Bottle which then turned into the beginning
of something different and eventually lead to 4 Eps in a new Autumn
series. There are a few new EPS on the way which I'll talk about more
when they are ready for release From Choirs to Dischoirs Part 2, a
vocal led loop led experiment piece by me called Building Bridges and
a new hopefully ongoing band with a musician from Brazil (more to
follow).
The eagle eyed of you will have noticed
the annual DIH and friends also was released at the tail end of 2017
also. It's too early to say if 2018 will result in another album but
we live in hope I guess, and all being well a new live band will
follow finally from A Means to an End. (Watch this space)
Concluding, I would like to wish you a
suceessful New Year. In the New Year,
Andy N
At the end of each year we all hug the
world of its night
watching the ice solemnize the vows we
make to ourselves
glistening untouched until the dawn
taps above the houses
cosseting the space between the
chimneys
quiet in reflection counting down the
seconds
until the neighbours fireworks lace the
sky
welcoming in the new year with all of
its glory.
