Lisa and I have been married 3 years today
Happy Anniversary to us!
Testing the new blog.
This photo is one of my favourites. I am enjoying play with Photoshop Elements on my Mac.
Stephen and Friends may be moving
To keep up with my news
bookmark 5thbabylonian.wordpress.com ( www.stephenandfriends.com will still exist and will eventually point back to this site)
and the ubiquitious www.5thbabylonian.com
Changes to www.5thbabylonian.com
Visit www.5thbabylonian.com to see the changes I am currently making.
A Podcast of Impossible Things
There are some titles that you wish you had thought of first! And A Podcast of Impossible Things is one of them.
However almost as good as thinking up the title is being allowed to take part in the podcast, so turn up your loudspeakers and go to their
Big Finish Special – How The Doctor Changed My Life
And if you listen to it all the way through you will hear me talking about Doctor Who and Potential – my story in the collection How the Doctor Changed my Life. And you have the chance to win a copy of the book!
Conversations with an Alien part 3 – Troublesome words
Fred my imaginery alien friend remains confused.
‘You invited your friend round for coffee,’ he says accusingly ‘and gave her tea! Ad while I am at it. Lisa spoke about a Jeep (which I am led to understand is a make of car, and pointed to a Suzuki!’
‘Well,’ I reply ‘ When I say coffee, I just mean a non-alcoholic drink. And when Lisa said Jeep, she was meaning a type of car not the make.’
Fred disappears muttering to himself.
Podcastin’
Belatedly, I thought that I would tell my reader(s) about my podcasting experience.
Bob’s experience was similar to mine. Nerves at meeting new people on mass. Terror at podcasting and a very short piece to the microphone that I thought that I would have the opportunity to add to later – but didn’t.
I will post the link to the podcast when it gets published by Paul at Big Finish Towers.
But that was not the end of it. I met some really, really nice people. Including Bob, and Simon Guerrier (The world’s nicest editor), Chris and his lovely wife and even lovelier daughter and… and…
Had a really, really good afternoon! (Note to self really must stop saying really!)
Now BUY THE BOOK
Conversations with an Alien part 2 – Oil Crisis? What Oil Crisis?
Fred my imaginary alien friend is puzzled.
‘Stephen, I am puzzled.’ He says
‘What about?’
‘I have just read that experts believe that your planet has only 25 years of oil left. And yet you don’t seem to be being doing a lot about it!
‘When you say “you”, do you mean me, or the planet?’ I say. Thinking that the next time I invent an imagery alien it will be one that can point me in the way of successful patents and great riches. Not one that asks awkward questions.
‘Both.’ He replies.
‘Well…’ I reply, making a note to myself that I start too many sentences with well. And end to many with the lame line ‘And stuff like that’
‘Well…’ I repeat. Having derailed myself with my internal conversation. ‘You have to understand that I have heard this before. When I was ten, my uncle who was the captain of an oil tanker told me the very same thing. That oil would run out by the time I was 35. And I am now 42!’ I pause, but Fred just stares at me.
‘Well’ (bugger that word again) ‘ It seems to me that if there really is 25 years of oil left, the price will get higher and higher meaning that we have at least 50 years left. And then I will be 92. And it will be someone else’s problem.’
‘Surely there is something you can do?’ Fred asks.
‘Can a rain drop change the direction of a storm?’
Fred opens his mouth to respond, but I get there first. ‘And don’t give me that crap about chaos and butterfly’s wings!’
Fred leaves. And I sit thinking. Surely I am right. And there is nothing I can do.
Life begins at 42
I am 42. Fans of Douglas Adams will recognise this as the answer to Life, the Universe and Everything.
In the next few days, I will receive a copy of the book that I have contributed to – Doctor Who: Short Trips – How the Doctor changed my life.
And it seems very likely that within a few months that another short story of mine will be published.
Just in case any one has any doubts. This in not vanity publishing or (in the strictest definition of the term) fan fiction. I did not pay any money for the privilege of being published and I am being paid for both my stories.
I will not claim that these are literary masterpieces, or that I am on my way to financial independence as an author. But it would seem that my life has taken an interesting twist.
About
Your Host - Stephen with people reading one of his short stories in the background
At the age of Forty four, I have found a new life as a writer of short fiction with two pieces already published (read the blog and visit www.5thbabylonian.com to find out more).
It seems that these are now destined to become collectors items! (In other words they are no longer in print)
I am happy married to a wonderful woman, who does not want any her details published on the web (so that is all you are going to find out about her from me!)
I have had various weblogs for 7 years now (and a website for over 10 years)
