Nick Kyme

Well, not strictly true I guess. I was mashed while playing for Moose, Evil Crimson Moose Inc. to be exact. And, no, I haven’t joined a strange and nefarious corporation dedicated to deeds most foul, it’s the name of our charity football team.

This is old news now (pre-Children in Need), but BL put a team of desperate wannabees (neverbees?) together to play in a 5-a-side footy tournament to raise some money for the kiddiwinks – foolishly, I agreed (spurred on by my colleagues).

Here’s the team, btw… (from left to right: Neil, Anthony, Ed, Darius, Christian, Me and Ragnar)

So, the reason for the late post? Well, during the course of one of the games (we had three and only managed to beat a team of girls – they did have 10 players on the pitch against our 5 but the score was tight: 6-5), the first one as my bad luck would have it, a big fella the size of an artic lorry bodychecked me and bruised my ribs to the bejesus. There was no malice, it’s just a physical game is all. It was painful, though, and I reckon I was down to one lung for much of the matches after that. Over a week on, it still hurts.

Still, we raised over a grand for charity combined with a cheeky bake sale done earlier in the week (now, that is a much better money raising idea).

So, it’s meant that running has been knocked on the head for the next two weeks (at least – and I’d just joined a really nice running club and was starting to build on my fitness level). I did manage a session of badminton last week, which was fine for the first game (when I kind of crushed my girl friend – sorry, Anth), but soon as the painkillers wore off I was rubbish. Imagine Kryten from Red Dwarf swinging a badminton racquet and you’re about there. Smeeeg heeed.

I had been really enjoying running club too, despite the shockingly cold and (up until a couple of weeks ago) wet weather. Still, I fully plan to return, hopefully week after next.

Prior to being kiboshed on the footy pitch, I did manage to do a bit of hiking in the Peak District. This involved tromping through peat bogs, getting lost in the mist and running up rocky river beds – nice. The two pints of Celtic Gold and the pie and chips afterwards were well-deserved and like the nectar of the gods. I’d recommend it.

Christmas is on its way and for those who celebrate it, like me, there’s stuff to do in preparation. I am really looking forward to it this year as it’ll be mine and Anthea’s first Xmas together. I even ventured into the Thunder Dome that was Nottingham City Centre yesterday to purchase gifts (I usually do my shopping online, but had a few things I need to see and hunt down in the flesh, as it were). It was freezing, but I didn’t mind that – I actually quite like winter, so long as I can come back to a warm house (my heating broke down last year and for a few days it was frikkin’ cold as a bast), and very, very busy. Not New York or London busy, but brutal none-the-less.

Had a few bevvies with my journo mate, Dan, which was very civilised, in one of my favourite Nottingham pubs (the Malt Cross, if you’re asking). I like the vibe in there, it’s bustling but friendly and kind of bohemian. Cool. We discussed all things Walking Dead (stunning TV show, by the way – when we were talking about it, a total strnager came up to us and joined in briefly on the conversation – see, friendly. You wouldn’t get that in most of the ‘pastel shirt’ pubs of Nottingham; more likely a bottle in your face), Lost and all manner of other geeky pursuits.

Speaking of London, by the by, me and the good lady are taking a trip to the ‘Big Smoke’ in a couple of weeks for a spot of shopping, sight seeing and luncheon (maybe even a show). We’re going by coach, which will take about twice the time but has none of the associated hassle. I’m prepared for the three hour journey, though, as I purchased God of War: Ghost of Sparta and Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep to pass the time. Combined with a bit of DS action for the missus, I think we’re covered.

Maintaining the frosty, wintry theme, I’m taking my brother and his wife sledging at the Tamworth Snow Dome next week. I’ve been before on a stag do and it was awesome. Just hoping my bruised ribs are more or less mended by then (come on healing factor, come on…). Fingers crossed.

Like I’ve said in earlier posts, I’m taking December off. Partly, this is because my output this year (especially under post-apocalypse of ‘09 fall-out) has been insane and I need a rest, and because it’s the holidays and I want to focus on seeing my loved ones, having a good time and not work. I have a couple of days before the end of November, though, and with Fall of Damnos going to proof readers and ‘Forgotten Sons’ for Horus Heresy: Age of Darkness in the can, my slate is pretty clear. So, I’m going to use it to work up a few pitches for next year’s efforts.

First up, there’s a Horus Heresy novella that I can reveal anything about, then there’s Nocturne, of course (which is pitched and green-lit, I just need to plan out the details) and a healthy batch of short stories and at least two other novels I want to write (which could be a sequel to Fall of Damnos, an inquisitor novel and possibly even something set during the Heresy – nothing has been confirmed at all with regards to this last one, I am working on pitches that is all).

Okay then, that’s me for now. I’ll try and post a bit more often. Oh, keep those Firedrake reviews coming in. If you love the book get your five stars up on Amazon and the BL site please. It’s tough in the shadow of The First Heretic, so I need all the help I can get.

Bazinga!

That was my reaction to the frankly awesome fireworks display at Alton Towers last night. If you keep up with my antics on Facebook, you’ll know that after finishing Fall of Damnos I celebrated by going to Alton Towers with my brother Anthony and a bunch of folks from GW for bonfire night.

It was brilliant and a fine way to cap off three months of bloody hard work to complete the book.

We arrived by coach and spent most of the day queuing up for rides and get over-charged for food and drink but, hey-ho, this is a theme park so such it up losers.

I’ve been to Alton Towers a fair few times before, much like Gil Grissom I loved roller-coasters. Not those dumb-ass, spinning, vomit-inducing pirate ship style efforts but proper, high-speed, loop-da-looping , g-force inducing muthas that make you wish you’d packed a spare pair of trousers for the day.

I won’t give you a blow by blow account of the day, but here some pictures of me and my bro on the rides that I had to pay an arm and a leg for to be put onto a USB wrist band (what a wonderful modern age we live in). Enjoy!

PS Pulling dumb faces was mandatory, though some would say that’s a permanent state of existence for me…

Welcome to Air - it's like flying, don't you know.

My face was fixed like that for five whole minutes afterwards - I call it my Pout of Terror.

'Don't look down down...' is the catchphrase for Oblivion. Err, how exactly am I supposed to do that?

I had planned on a thoughtful/pensive expression for this one, but opted for the 'Fly Catcher' instead.

Good news everyone! After taking a day off work, I’ve finally finished the first draft of Fall of Damnos. Woot, and there was much rejoicing around the land!

I’ve still got to give it another read through, run the odd spell check and tweak a few sections but I feel like I’m across the finish line. The pressure is most definitely off – phew!

It clocked in at just under 100,000 words (though, I might breech the 100,000 word mark after the tweaks) and there’ll be maps and a character list as per every book in the Space Marine Battles series. This is really just the first part of the story as I hope/plan to do a sequel to this one which describes the second phase of the action on Damnos.

Look out for the new novel in April 2011.