Inside Ed's Head

Status Report 2023-07-31

Happy book launch to me! Happy book launch to me! Happy book launch to me! Happy book launch to Ed James! Happy book launch to me!

Get Marshall 3 here:

https://geni.us/EJM03m

#Last Week

Okay! I had a bit of time off, which is unusual for me. Harrogate was its usual chaotic joy, always great catching up with old friends but it’s exhausting. Weirdly, I had five friends on the shortlist for the Theakston’s prize, so attended the awards ceremony. Congrats to Mike Craven for winning the big one, though I suspect competition will be at least as strong next year from the other contenders, not to mention a few other books by others on off years.

Me and Mark Edwards probably talking about something that shouldn’t be overheard

Me, Mark, Fiona, Jenny and Steph singing I Think We’re Alone Now by Tiffany

Enough of that, though.

Had a weird thing where my heart went back into AF despite my ablation. A trip to A&E and the drugs did work. Just – the consultant was about to stick the paddles on my chest and noticed I’d gone back into sinus rhythm. Pretty scary and could’ve been 100x worse. Anyway, I’m trying to look after myself a lot more so it doesn’t happen again. Back at my consultant cardiologist in the next month or so, so we’ll see what happens next. I bought an Apple Watch that afternoon as it tracks AFib – take care of yourselves!

#This Week

Back at my desk yesterday morning to work through edits for Marshall 4, due out at the end of October. Nothing massive so far, but a few chunky bits that’ll need some reworked chapters and some new ones. I’ve fixed 265/380 comments so far, with 10 left in as aide memoirs to support the big stuff. Probably a few big ones lurking in the end.

My plan is to get all the edits done this week, including running it through my repeats checker spreadsheet, then next week will be a full read of the book.

It was hard getting some distance with the book as I wrote it, which wasn’t the most fun I’ve had in writing, but bashing through it at the pace of the editorial comments... and it’s feeling... okay? Yeah, it’s okay. There’s a lot of plot stuff in there, but a heck of a lot of character stuff, which I’m pretty proud of. And okay is as good as I get with my own stuff!

One thing, though, is it’s made me think of where to take Marshall next and I’ve been toying with the idea for book 5, but this has made me just decide to go with it. I spent a bit of time today unpacking the old synopsis for the sequel to Senseless, which was called Spineless, and it’s a really solid idea, much more in line with books 1 and 2, but also something different too. But there’s a lot of character work to develop over books 5-7, so it’ll be a while before I can get down to cutting words.

But that’s for a week’s hence – after that edit, I’ll finish the synopsis of Fenchurch 10 ahead of the outline and draft. A bit of juggling, but a lot of planning stuff. There’ll be a longer gap than between the other ones, mostly as I’ve got a Fenchurch book to write, but also I’m just a bit knackered! That said, given Fenchurch 10 is the last one, that’ll clear the decks and allow me to get up to speed on Marshall. And maybe some other projects.

Normally, I’d just get stuck into the read edit the day after it goes, but I’m appearing at Bute Noir this weekend in Rothesay, chairing this panel on Friday at 7pm:

Pyscho Thriller

Fiona Cummins, Stuart Neville, and Luca Veste - A twisty session with three fine writers who like to mess with your head. Fiona's new novel All of Us Are Broken is breathtaking; Stuart's The House of Ashes is haunting and thought-provoking; Luca's You Never Said Goodbye is an electric thriller with real heart.

I’ve read Fiona’s last three and they’re all great books. Haven’t read Luca in a while and I was blown away by Trust in Me – I told him it didn’t read like he hadn’t written it and he took at as a compliment, I think! And just started Stuart’s Blood Like Mine, which has already gripped me – I feel it’s going to be as strong as his Haylen Beck novels, but with vampires. Should be a great panel at my favourite festival.

Anyway. That’s enough from me.

Cheers,
Ed