Merry Christmas, Listeners!

Even if you don't celebrate Christmas, let me send you my best wishes for the holiday season in the shape of the Sometimes 15 Christmas Special. Featuring music from X, The Elves of Heaven, and John Serrie (download links below); also "Quiztimes" the exciting (er?) new Sometimes quiz that - especially for this holiday edition - pits characters from my podcast novels past and present against each other to see who knows the most about Christmas, or "Crimbo" as we call it on this side of the pond (and no, that's not in the questions).

There's also a story from Saki, "Bertie's Christmas Eve", and a reading of Edgar Allan Poe's 'The Raven' by Underwood and some new friends of his. For a reading of the poem by Underwood without his new friends, click here.

Click the bird to hit the MP3

All in all, it's a big fat 45 minute bundle of festive nonsense that I'm sending to you all in place of the Christmas cards I can't send you because I don't have your addresses and I couldn't afford the stamps. Have a good one, listeners, and I look forward to filling your ears with more podcast delights in 2011.

... Oh, and comment for Pete's sake. What, am I talking to myself here??

The Elves of Heaven
"This Christmas" (mp3)
from "This Christmas EP"
(Seaport Music Records)

Buy at iTunes Music Store
More On This Album

X
"Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" (mp3)
from "MERRY XMAS From X"
(Anko Records)

Buy at iTunes Music Store
More On This Album

Jonn Serrie
"The First Noel" (mp3)
from "Christmas Prayers"
(Valley Entertainment)

Buy at Amazon MP3
More On This Album

The Christmas Quiz came from here: Christmas Quiz

Also, that alternative reading of The Raven can be found here: UnderwoodReadsTheRaven_Download_ListenLive

Check out this comedy-horror type home video made by myself and a few friends recently. I play two characters, neither particularly pleasant ;-)

Music on the video: "Dead on the Inside" by Freakhouse.

Bugles parp and trumpets quack! Fish sauce crystallizes into a solid lump of anchovy goodness and middle aged men fall off gym balls at the news that I and my wife are going to be in New York to meet you, should you be around, on the evening of Saturday May 1st.

Uncle Velvet is trying to nail-down a suitable venue, but we need to know how many we can expect in advance, if possible. So if you can make it, let us know by posting here or on the Facebook Event page: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=110974775604721&ref=nf 

I can't sign any of my books, because as you know, they are only available in podcast form at the moment (I can try to sign a podcast, but it might be tricky). There may also be a reading, but it's impossible to say at this time, because we don't know where we're going to be. So the sooner you RSVP, the more likely that will be ;-)

I thank you, and look forward to meeting you in the flesh.

As you may know, this site had a setback the other day and some recent postings (along with your comments to them) have been lost. However, since I often repeat my postings here and on my main site, the missing posts can still be viewed at MBP.com. My thanks to Jason for saving the (website) day as always.

In other news, I've been slowly chipping away at the U&F block. I'm getting an average 2 thousand words a day done, which isn't much compared to someone like Scott Sigler, but is a hell of a lot more than I was doing a month ago when I was employed. I've now written the first drafts of the first four episodes (possibly five or six because the episodes are massive and may need to be edited into two here and there) and I can confidently say that I like them very much.

Meanwhile, some new art has been posted in the gallery at MBP by Paul Warren, KS Claw and Jon Cape. Below is Jon's vision of the road incident in Episode 1 of U&F.

My thanks to all the artists for their hard work and for sharing it with us

Lastly, I now have a release month for the paperback anthology that my story, "Salvation" is to appear in. The book will be released by Dragon Moon Press in April - same as (hopefully) the recommencement of U&F Part 2.  The anthology will also feature stories by Scott Sigler, Phil Rossi and Emerian Rich to name a few. It doesn't have a confirmed title yet, but when it does, I'll let you know 

Happy New Year! A bit late, I know, but I've been busy falling over on ice and what have you making Safe Danger videos. In case you don't know what that is, here's a pointer:

The story content of Episode 19 is now almost finished. Next I need to record the bumpers, including the Q&A bit, and the music, and then we're done. In 19, we re-join, Keith and Michelle, Damo and Hodge ... and Giles. You'll like Giles.

When the eggs take colour, the episode will be live.