A Big Kid Indie Find

Despite the severe lack of independent bookshops here in Sheffield, I’ve finally found one that will stock Harry Potter’s last hurrah - Rhyme and Reason on Ecclesall Road. And that little discovery has made me smile, but then I’m easily pleased. As a bonus every pre-ordered copy of the book receives a more inventive gift than the likes of your High Street bookstore provide (I won’t spoil what it is, but it’s quite special I think). However, I suspect this “event” is more geared towards children, and although I shamelessly admit that Harry Potter will be bought as a guilty pleasure for both myself and Mrs Curran, I think we’ll be ducking out of it!
(I freely admit to being a big kid in secret, but only in secret!)

I feel like I’m doing my bit to keep the independent bookshops alive too. I know it’s only a small step, but it’s pretty much like supporting your local butcher or fruit ‘n’ veg shop other than your locust-like supermarket. As Chris mentioned in my last blog, I too would never buy a book from Tescos, yet I do shop for food there. However, recently Family Curran have been buying fresh produce from local family shops instead, realising plenty has been sacrificed in the name of “convenience,” such as value for money and quality.
It’s worth going a little further for something better, I believe.

But I’m digressing here…

From what I can gather from their website, Rhyme and Reason is a family owned professional outfit who really take their bookselling seriously, and do plenty for the community and the children. They also do plenty with children’s authors, so my interest was definitely engaged – especially with my current (a)side-project, A World of Night in mind.

Hopefully, my relationship with Rhyme and Reason will eventually extend further than the purchasing of the Deathly Hallows.


And also…

Like some absent minded relative, in the last blog entry I missed off a third novella which I am also considering: a story called “Cook”, based on the Australian ghost-town of the same name. Unlike the other two stories, this one has an already formed plot and would run to around 40-50,000 words. Yeah, I know it’s still a lot of words, but compared to The Secret of Mhorrer (where the first draft clocked in at 180,000) it’s a mere footnote really!

I’ll probably make a decision on the next writing project during the final drafting of The Secret of Mhorrer, but with so many possible projects in front of me, it’s an exciting time and I feel quite childlike about it…

Afterall, I’m just a big kid, right?

Coming soon:A blog entry on where I am with The Secret of Mhorrer, how well The Secret War is doing… And I guess what I’ve learned so far (could be a big blog entry then!!)