A few people have asked me what I’m working on right now. It can seem like a long time between book releases for the readers (and the writer) and it might appear as if nothing is happening. You might imagine I’m spending the summer lazing about the garden, topping up my tan and sipping mojitos while I wait for the spark of creativity to hit me, but the truth is far less exotic.
Right now I’ve three – no, four – projects on the go. The third book in the Timesmith Chronicles is in there but it’s not at the top of the list. Why? Well, I wanted a change, and I thought it might be good fun to try something different before I jumped back into time-travel and epic blitzpunk action.
The main project taking up my time is a new stand-alone novel about the end of the world, told through the eyes of a 13-year-old boy and his 8-year-old sister. This one is more science fiction than the Timesmith books. There are no magic swords, mind-readers or trips to other realms. It’s a contemporary account of the world descending into chaos over a few short days while two ordinary children try to find their mother.
The third project is a mix of comedy and fantasy featuring an ancient map-maker who looks like a teenage boy, his decapitated brother, and their search for a missing artefact that could bring about the last war between Heaven and Hell. But with laughs.
Finally I have a picturebook in the works. The story is written, I’m just debating with myself if I want to draw it as well. Ideally I’d love to but I’m not sure when I’ll get round to doing it!
I like the sound of the end of the world novel.
Now, where are those mojitos…
If you’re going to have to face the end of the world you might as well go out in style! Mojitos should do nicely.