Matt Bone

…to blow away the dust that seems especially attracted to this blog. Work on Rifts, the sequel to Endless, is continuing at full tilt – hence the relative quiet on here, as well as my truancy from the Outside World. Contrary to my best efforts, the book seems determined to end up longer and more complex than its predecessor. (Don’t worry; I’ll get my own back in the editing – or what I like to call the word murder – stage.) I’m probably breaking writer-character confidentiality to say it, but one of the new protagonists is fast becoming my favourite yet.

In other news, Endless should be available in paperback form this summer. If I may say so, the physical version of the artwork is shaping up to be even lovelier, especially with the extra cover space. Expect a lot more news on this front – including a release date, giveaways, and no doubt a photo of me clutching said paperback like a newborn – in the coming weeks and months. In further ‘watch this space’ news, I plan to release a short sci-fi story in digital form at some point in the near future. It’s not set in space, else I would’ve made a ‘watch this outer space’ pun here. Lucky escape.

Reviews are starting to roll in for Endless, and as always it’s fun to see how different aspects of the book appeal to different people. RA Brady of The British Fantasy Society found “some quite brilliant writing” (strange how I remember that quote) whilst feeling he had to battle through the start to get there; conversely, Jon Bloch of The Kindle Book Review preferred the beginning sections and wants more of Earth in subsequent books (he might just get his wish).

SciYourFi appeared to like the characters and their development the most, which perhaps chimes best with the reader reactions so far. Most seem to have especially taken to that loveable(?) rogue in the book, Manvedian (a friend recently informed me that he had developed a man-crush on him, which I’m still digesting), with the most amusing comment comparing him to Russell Crowe. I’m not sure either men would approve.

In other news, work is progressing well on the follow-up to Endless, Rifts. I’m a few chapters in, and so far it’s darker, more violent and more challenging. I’m beginning to think someone spiked my coffee.