Dec 6, 2012
Still here, but extremely distracted, and busy. Insomnia has decided to reacquaint itself with my existence - thanks a lot - and the only writing I seem to do is via messages to myself on my phone in the middle of the night. some of it isn't bad, but not yet ready for human consumption. Best wishes to everyone.

Oct 9, 2012
Hi. I'm reviewing everything at the moment, and any spare time I have is being focussed on a big writing competition that closes on 26th October (Chickenhouse/Sunday Times) and which requires minimum 30,000 words, of which I've got 20,000, so please don't think I've disappeared just because I'm not featured anymore! Peace, love, and all that, to everyone :O)

Sep 5, 2012
Sorry everyone, and anyone who has commented - been a summer of various mishaps and illnesses, some of whch continue to incapacitate me. Will be with you soon, with luck.

Jul 19, 2012
I'm working on many things at once, so nothing's really moving at the pace I'd like. Plus a million things going on, and I'm trying to decide whether to try and get another agent or approach publishers direct, or both, or neither, and give up altogether and concentrate on spending more time with my grandchildren, because that's where my happiness truly lies. I can always find reasons not to be writing, and lots of pathetic distractions and I find it as hard to be self-disciplined as I did when I was at college, in 1972! But of course, I HAVE to write. I don't want to put everything on here, partly because I don't want people to see the stuff I don't think is my best, and also because I don't think people here want to read longer stuff. On the other hand, if I don't, it may never be seen at all. Oh well, just rambling away to myself, and maybe Sarah, Connie and Bethan. It saves me actually having to do some actual writing, doesn't it? I think I'll go and post a very silly story. See you later :OI

Jun 4, 2012
A perfectly reasonable comment from one of my friends: 'Can't believe you are still featured!! Not that you are undeserving in any way, loved reading it again....on a serious note, do you think admin have abandoned Booksie??' My reply: I agree. It's entirely random and arbitrary, and I don't know why I, or this piece, was chosen. And if you look at Emmet, for example, there's obviously no reason on earth for one thing to be chosen above another. Am I ungrateful? No, because it has brought me to the attention of lots of people who would otherwise never had heard of me. Do I think it's unfair, and that other people should be given the same opportunity? Of course. Do I think whoever runs Booksie will see this and unfeature me? Who cares. They haven't bothered replying to my email complaining about dirty ads appearing on my pages, and if it doesn't stop I'm out of here anyway.

Jun 4, 2012
Anyone interested in New York, or architecture, or who likes browsing odd things - I accidentally came across a site for a guy with my dream job - Scouting New York for movie locations - (http://www.scoutingny.com/?p=5199) Check out The Abandoned Palace At 5 Beekman Street. If the rest is as fascinating as this, I may just spend the next few years living on this amazing site.

May 29, 2012
nycgbyrne@gmail.com

May 21, 2012
I just noticed an obscene ad on someone's story page, and then found it on one of my own. Is anyone else noticing this, and can we do something about it?

May 17, 2012
Sorry about all the depressing stuff about depression recently. I'm hopefully through with the darkness and writing about it - I'm happy to say I'm working on some silly things again, and also a short novel, which is actually a dark thriller now I think about it, but at least I'll be channeling the darkness somewhere productive. I hope.

Apr 4, 2012
In answer to the question below, which I can't answer personally because, amnehquti, your site isn't accepting comments - I don't speak Arabic, unfortunately, but I work in a school that is 70% Muslim and has a high prorportion of Arab students. I thought it would be nice to add a greeting in your language, so a couple of them helped me. I hope it was accurate!

Apr 2, 2012
I have a new story posted - Granddad's Little Accident. Don't let the title mislead you - this is a serious work of philosophical literature (with jokes of course). Needs revision, and as usual, it uploads in an infuriatingly different way to how it looks on my laptop. Still, I'd really like people to read it and let me know what they think. It isn't a departure from my usual work, and as usual, I don't know what category it fits into. WARNING: Does contain references to F*rting, but it is absolutely relevant to the story and is done tastefully. I think.

Mar 27, 2012
No disrespect to anyone I am a fan of, or who is a fan of me, but someone read one of my poems, and of course I visited their page and started to read some of her stuff. As is often the case, I was delighted, and thought I'd discovered another Booksie 'friend with talent'. Whether it was the story or the style, or both, I found myself hooked, and would like to know what others think. This young woman seems to have already found her voice, and to have found a profound story to tell. Of course, I could be wrong, but I'd like to know what my other talented friends here think of her. She is BethanGray. Please check her out.

Mar 19, 2012
Couple of new (actually old) very short pieces of weirdness. Some people think I need help, but I say it's them who need help, otherwise why would they be working in a building that's full of Psychiatrists?

Feb 24, 2012
Thanks to everyone who read Octopus's Guardian, and apologies for its previous state - a couple of verses were in the wrong place and the ending was terrible. I've corrected it here and there so it should read better now, and the ending has now been elevated to the lofty status of 'adequate'.

Feb 20, 2012
Would anyone like to read my Octopus's Guardian and let me know what they think? It's the only thing no one has read, and it is actually my favourite. But don't let that stop you telling me it's garbage, if that's what you really think. That's far better and less worrying than seeing twenty people have read your work and none of them felt bothered enough to comment. Thanks

Feb 15, 2012
Been to see the Muppet movie - it was either that or War Horse. Think I made the right decision (and that probably tells you more about me than I want you to know). I did take 2 of my grandchildren, but I can't say that really affected my choice.

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