I'm getting thoroughly into my 'five pages of comics, five pages of radio play (at the moment), 1000 words of novel, two mile run' work days. They only seem to work with what I call optional Friday, where I let myself off the hook if I don't do an element that doesn't have a close deadline attached. And they kind of leave me wondering what to do with myself at the weekend. But they let me get away from that nagging feeling I'm sure a lot of writers have, that what I do 'isn't proper work'. (My Dad once told me, when I was much younger, that I was 'always on holiday'.) And certainly, now optional Fridays are in place (me having had a rather awful Thursday night a while back), these work days are good for my mental health. I listen to an episode of BBC Radio 4's The Complete George Smiley every lunchtime (which I suspect is giving me a rather particular tone of voice, because I always start impersonating whatever I'm into, just a little bit.) And I always run listening to a podcast, such as Notes from Coode Street, which is just Jon Strahan and Gary K. Wolfe talking about current and historical SF issues, and is brilliant, or the evergreen iFanboy. Routines are great for those prone to (never that serious) depression. By teatime, I can relax and read a bit (currently finishing up Mira Grant's Feed and still making my way through the complete Conan) or watch something. (For instance, yesterday I was delighted by the Race Against Time documentary on the 'Mutants' Doctor Who DVD, a revealing look at the history of actors of colour in the show and at the BBC, which ends with era-appropriate mock ups of non-white stars in the place of various Doctors.) Then I'm ready to cook dinner when Caroline gets home.

Just popping in for a moment at the start of another packed work week. First off, the winner of our Christmas Quiz, Dean Brown, has received his comps box of DC comics, all the way down there in New Zealand. That's Jessie helping Dean make a start by reading an issue of Scooby Doo.

Now I can tell you about this! Rather wonderfully, Jonathan Ross, television host, comedian, comics creator, amateur astronomer and all round good egg has agreed to appear in next month's Knight and Squire #5! And Jimmy Broxton draws him very nicely.


DC's official announcement can be found here. Thanks to Jonathan for being such a good sport, and for once more aiding the cause of comics. Cheerio!

Phew, it feels a long time since I've done one of these. I'm on a punishing yet rewarding regime right now, a lot of word count, a lot of exercise, and fitting in anything else of an afternoon is tough. But some of this stuff will go off if I don't do it now, and just for once I have exactly ten things to talk about, so...

On Saturday, February 19th, I'll be taking part in an event at Orbital Comics on Great Newport Street in London, in the company of indie comic creator Paul Rainey. I'll be signing from 4pm, and then taking part, from 7pm, in a panel discussion with Paul. Here's the rather lovely poster, which makes me look somewhat skewed and oblong, but at least interesting.

Perhaps I should change my name to Ygor. Anyway, since it's on the same day as Picocon, I may well pop over there first and say hello (ooh, free admission for past Guests of Honour!) I hope I see you on at least one of those occasions. Until then, Cheerio!

At least in the case of Forbidden Planet, and perhaps for all other British comic shops too (do let me know), today is the first day that new comics arrive on the shelf at the same time as for American comic stores. Which means that, in future, I won't have to do that little Wednesday/Thursday awkwardness, and we all get to see our comics at the same time. (Well, I don't, because I have to wait for my subscription package to arrive.) So I'm pleased to say it's today that Batman and Robin #19 (the last part of the Absence storyline, in which her real motivations are revealed, check out the preview pages here), Knight and Squire #4 (preview pages here) and Secret Six #29 (the finale to the Action Comics crossover, by Gail Simone) are out worldwide.

I've been waiting for that big news I mentioned, and it's not being allowed out yet, so I thought I'd share this with you in the meantime. On Wednesday, alongside Knight and Squire #4, Batman and Robin #19 is out. It's the last of my run on the title, and the conclusion of the Absence story. It's been very pleasing for me to have kept the title in the top ten (at #10 and #7 respectively, not that I pay attention, ahem), and thus in a fit state to pass on to the new regular team.

I had a wander out to try and see the partial eclipse as the sun rose the other morning. The bowl in which our village is situated, with awkwardly tall buildings on the edges, meant that, in my dressing gown, I stumbled through the playground and all the way to the bus stop. 'Are you all right?' called the landlady from the pub. I assured her that I was eclipse watching, and not mad. Which is not the first time I've had to shout that. I caught a glimpse, but it was clear, from the bus stop, that the sun was rising into deep cloud, so I left it there rather than get arrested.