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• 08:04 can anyone recommend a good non-fiction book about Brisbane in WWII/post-war? Looking for stuff about everyday life. #

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• 00:23 starting prelim research work on next year's One Book Many Brisbanes story #

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• 19:29 Starting prelim research on next year's One Book Many Brisbanes story #
• 19:39 can anyone recommend a good non-fiction book about post-war Brisbane (one that details everyday life) #

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• 18:28 On my way 2 c slumdog millionaire #

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• 19:20 finalising werewolf stuff for Black. #
• 19:46 work done. off to slay some zombies. #

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• 20:10 Can anyone recommend POD for my wife's kid's book (18ish pages, full colour) -- just want copies for friends, family etc to start with. #
• 20:44 @mhblacksmith of course. Lulu! I'll check it out. Thanks. #

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• 01:15 xbox360 + left4dead = v addictive #

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• 08:51 putting finishing touches on News Online's Year in Review. sneak peek for tweeps... ping.fm/vRGFt #
• 12:50 ABC News Online Year in Review now live ping.fm/U7l19 #
• 13:20 offbeat year in review = my fave! ping.fm/e8Xnp #

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Black: still alive and kicking

Just a quick post to clarify something.

Earlier today I posted a tweet suggesting that Black Magazine is going to fold.

Brimstone Press have since contacted me to let me know (to my great relief) that this is not so, but they are considering a format change.

Apologies to all concerned.

Tweet digest

• 08:50 3rd, and final, day as acting home page producer #
• 09:10 @CallistaCooper cool. can you ask if she would mind having a chat with me, or exchanging emails? #
• 09:39 Original Pooh drawings sell for $2.8m ping.fm/u73wc #
• 11:58 Any Casula (NSW) residents with pix of plane crash? If so, let me know! #
• 12:11 the trick with hot curry is to maintain pace #

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• 12:17 when desk lamps escape... ping.fm/5obNT #
• 12:54 Don't buy one of these, just have kids! ping.fm/2WSUp #
• 13:31 would like to talk to tattooists, esp old school tattooists, for a short story i'd like to write. #

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• 12:29 why do parents force their kids to visit santa? ping.fm/Nn82C #
• 14:08 @wildmeg yes! where can i buy your book! :) #
• 15:02 should i buy a tivo (i'm in Australia) #
• 20:35 @BlueTyson but... but... it has a happy face in the logo! :) #
• 20:37 researching full moon madness #

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• 08:20 working on 2008 Year in Review for ABC News Online #
• 08:54 @Templesmith I think it's worth a whole book to itself. #
• 20:47 Researching Vlad the Impaler #

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• 10:21 @leebattersby That sounds awesome. #
• 21:12 Writing about werewolves. #

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• 08:07 Preparing for training assessment... i mean, 'exercise'. :) #
• 10:17 eating fruitcake with a spoon #
• 10:24 According to my 4yo, vampires have stolen my 19mo's toothbrush. They're playing a trick on us. #
• 12:34 @leebattersby Ah, no -- he means the *vampires* are playing a trick on us! Wherever does he get these crazy ideas! :) #
• 15:17 just finished a most excellent course in Training Small Groups... am now rewriting my editor/producer training course. #
• 19:06 i used to be a werewolf but NOOOOOWWWWWW i just write about them #
• 21:09 too tired to write the blog post i was going to about this year's One Book Many Brisbanes effort #

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• 08:01 Comment on my Articulate post about 'ultimate crossover': Mulder and Scully are sent to Twin Peaks to help Agent Cooper with his investi ... #
• 08:47 Back, and to the side. Back... and to the side. ping.fm/1mBys #
• 19:19 Continuing to write about vampires. #
• 19:23 @arts_tart at least if they're crawling, they're going away! #
• 21:03 Vampires are fun #

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• 09:05 ABC Brisbane is moving to South Bank! Woohoo! #
• 09:31 More info on ABC's new home, plus aerial shot of site ping.fm/HVV5Y #
• 12:19 Apparently, Brisbane City Council is lodging a complaint against the 'new' ABC home at South Bank. #
• 12:28 Caterpillar invasion: Watch the vid ping.fm/icq61 #
• 14:53 There's something wrong with a survey where Love Actually is rated as 'favourite' anything! ping.fm/X1KT0 PS Where's diehard! #
• 18:41 In hell, the floor is covered in grains of cooked rice. #

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• 05:50 Producing at ABC News Online #
• 05:51 @dgalea I like your 'secrets' series. :) #
• 06:54 Anyone got pics of the F-18 crash in San Diego?? #
• 07:12 @scorpioredhead cool. i'll check it out. #
• 07:27 @scorpioredhead Police: "At this point, the only indication is that the only person who may be injured is the pilot" #
• 08:27 Christmas tree torched in Athens. Awesome photo. ping.fm/YXM5y #
• 10:59 Definitely want to get involved in writing for games. So if you've got any tips, please share! #
• 12:26 @briscreative Of course! Thanks for the tip. And also I get to relive my childhood on PacMan, Frogger, etc. :) #
• 19:32 tired #

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• 05:47 reassembling brain after work Christmas party (and that was Saturday night ... I don't bounce back like I used to) #
• 09:31 Taliban hits NATO terminal... ping.fm/9Ub58 #
• 15:28 Sad that Brains for Breakfast is on the backburner ping.fm/0sfAw [ping.fm/HQjZl] #
• 19:08 Didn't get shortlisted for Aurealis Awards. This must be a 'bad news' patch. :( #

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Brains for breakfast: on hold

Due to the gloomy economic situation, Brimstone Press has had to reassess its slate for 2009, and has put Brains for Breakfast on the backburner.

I'm confident the Brimstone team will do everything they can to make sure Brains sees the light of day. It's hard to keep a good zombie down, after all.

So hang in there, everyone. In the meantime, you can help Brains for Breakfast rise from the grave by supporting Brimstone Press.

Here's a few ideas:

* subscribe to Black magazine. (Issue 3 features Alice Cooper, Ben Templesmith, John Birmingham, Eihi Shiina, Australia's coffin culture, a special report on Satanism, and much, much more;

* Pre-order Australian Dark Fantasy and Horror vol 3 (featuring my zombie short story "Dead Air");

* Pick up a copy of e-anthology Black Box (and help the Australian Horror Writers Association at the same time).

Tweet digest

• 10:22 @Templesmith Stoker. Pfft. Old news. #
• 13:37 Logging off. #
• 19:15 @dgalea there's nothing worse, is there? well, clearly, yes. But still, it's pretty bad. #
• 19:16 Writing about vampires. Mwah-ha-ha-ha-haaaaa! #

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No tweets!

Something seems to be happening with LoudTwitter. Something bad.

You can follow my tweets here.

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• 05:26 producing for ABC News Online #
• 20:24 trying to use Streetview to get an idea of what it would be like to fly through Brisbane #

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• 05:21 producing for ABC News Online #
• 11:47 Kemble as a first name: who would've thought ping.fm/QnBDo #
• 12:06 what ever happened to the shandy: one part beer, one part lemonade, 100% fun en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shandy #
• 19:49 I could be crazy, but I'm thinking about a substantial rewrite of my OBMB story. #
• 20:25 phone calls to Mum do not count as procrastination #

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• 11:05 went and saw new Bond flick last night. Awesome! #
• 11:06 Have now watched four movies in four nights. Time to get back to work, methinks! #
• 12:13 addicted to stupid game on my mobile. This is why I must *never* buy a gaming console. #
• 19:46 going to do a bit of work on the story, but I'm pretty tired so it won't be much. #

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• 06:33 checking out user submitted pics of flood damage in Brisbane. #
• 11:34 posting emails on ABC News Online Opinions page #

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• 01:31 on flood watch #

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• 08:09 rostering. do not approach the glass. #

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• 08:37 this atm is 'closed' ... you can tell by the red bar at the top of the machine! ping.fm/8Y6wR #
• 11:34 deadweight... could be followup for 'dead air'?? #
• 19:46 You don't win a war by dying for your country. You win a war by making the other son-of-a-bitch die for his. - General Patton #

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• 05:36 producing for ABC News Online #
• 10:36 hell on earth: ping.fm/TLEX1 #
• 20:11 looking up 'razor wire'. Since wikipedia, I've become obsessed with checking every minute detail... #
• 20:14 ah, these things are called czech hedgehogs ping.fm/qe6Vo [ping.fm/Xin9R] #

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• 19:21 once more unto the breach, dear friends... let's take it from the top... story rewrite 3. #
• 19:27 for elva, this is what a belt feed looks like! ping.fm/hU1H3 [ping.fm/VrDlE] #

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• 19:05 finished 2nd rewrite of story last night. So giving it a break in favour of Empire. #

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• 13:22 going home to investigate carpenter ant invasion. #
• 20:29 working on the story when I'd rather be watching The Empire Strikes Back #

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• 04:33 sub-editing for ABC News Online #
• 07:11 Hoax NYT declares end to Iraq war ping.fm/eQaS0 #
• 08:33 Visit ancient Rome via Google Earth: ping.fm/No9cb #
• 19:51 still editing my story. #

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• 04:31 sub-editing for ABC News Online #
• 20:14 working on the story. We're on speaking terms again. #

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• 05:30 I've got three works nominated in the Aurealis Awards. Wish me luck! ping.fm/iA7M0 #
• 19:53 editing the damn story. Yes it's the 'damn' story now. We're not on speaking terms. :) #

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• 04:49 producing at the ABC #
• 06:20 had forgotten how cold it is in our office. will have to get some tramp gloves. #
• 09:44 why is Boba Fett such an icon? #
• 10:38 anyone know if Optus Fusion is worth it? Seems to be but often with these things you don't end up saving any money. #
• 20:19 getting ready to post JS's story back to her, and also a copy of OBMB to ER. #

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• 08:14 looking to interview a forensic pathologist. #
• 20:32 reviewing some excellent feedback from JS on my OBMB story. #
• 20:34 @acidic trouble is, it has to pierce an ENTIRE alien spaceship (and yes, the caps are justified!) #

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• 14:18 trying to find out more about the QWC writing races. Email me if you know what the deal is. #
• 15:08 Chillaxing with coffee, choc & aust dark fantasy & horror 2007 #
• 19:23 do you work with dead people? If so, please email me. #
• 20:19 interestingly, you yell 'frag out' when you throw a grenade. You yell 'grenade' when one is incoming. #

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• 11:44 editing story. looking forward to returning to work on monday #
• 19:30 does anyone else feel that writing is sometimes like a war with oneself? #

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• 11:34 checking out photos for Brains for Breakfast #
• 19:45 trying to plug a massive hole in my story. trying to ignore sore tooth. #
• 20:02 wow. intense. (the tooth ache, not the plot hole). had to go sit in darkened room for five minutes. #
• 20:57 reading all about armour-piercing munitions. think i'm gonna have to make something up. #
• 21:36 1st draft: knocked some rough edges off. now sending it to people i trust! #

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• 06:18 editing my OBMB short story and giving my 18mo daughter an early morning cuddle. Now *that's* multitasking. #
• 19:38 checking out The Canal by Number 13 co-author Mark Wagstaff ping.fm/Y3CsS?product_id=1 [ping.fm/dLJDd?product_id=1] #
• 19:57 reading about fragmentation grenades #
• 20:33 reading about pulse rifles. could be the sort of thing H&K get into in a couple of hundred years time #
• 22:24 have finished a rewrite of my OBMB story. It's still very rough. #

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• 11:08 trying to knock my OBMB story into shape. Rough going. #
• 15:11 Kids do not follow the rules of physics. They r so small & yet it requires so much energy 2 get them moving! #

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Writing on holidays

My last holiday, I took the laptop, believing I would be able to squirrel away some writing time. I didn't, and it was a big disappointment (in terms of writing, not in terms of the holiday).

So when we went to Sydney, I didn't take the laptop. I didn't even take a print-out of any of my existing projects. All I took, writing-wise, was a shorthand notebook, a biro, and a copy of a story a friend had asked me to critique.

It turned out to be a great decision. Without the pressure to work on an existing project, in a new setting, and without the laptop, it turned out that I wrote quite a bit (not sure how many words because I haven't transcribed them yet) of a story that I thought was dead.

Until the holiday, I hadn't thought about this story for a couple of years.

And of course, that flows on to other projects, because you realise that projects are never really dead -- all you need to do is pick up the pen (or open the file) and start work again.

Tweet digest

• 14:43 back from Sydney. Exhausted but happy. #

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• 09:38 I love my lappy, but nothing beats pen & pad 4 sheer simplicity #

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• 09:21 Writing... Right after i get myself a cuppa #

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• 08:32 Working on a story i haven't touched 4 years. #
• 09:26 I wish i had telekinesis #

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• 09:42 On way 2 kids jazz concert @ syd opera house #
• 18:47 Freeform writing 4 the first time in years. It's quite refreshing. #

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• 09:13 In sydney. It's raining. #

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• 19:49 Heading to Sydney tomorrow so updates will probably be few and far between. #

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• 19:49 Heading to Sydney tomorrow so updates will probably be few and far between. #

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• 19:36 writing a review of Saw V, then hoping to knock some rough edges off my OBMB story. #

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• 05:38 catching up with an old friend via the face, and then I'll probably start writing my Saw V review #
• 12:41 In toowoomba 4 morgie & matt's wedding #

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• 06:02 Producing at ABC; looking forward to Saw V tonight and then... holidays! #
• 11:42 counting down to hols #

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• 05:26 producing for ABC News Online #
• 08:52 DESPITE being shot twice during an ambush in Afghanistan, an SAS soldier lashed himself to the front of his patrol vehicle so he wouldn' ... #
• 11:06 yes, I'm eating pizza with a knife and fork. Get over it. #
• 14:34 kid wrangling #

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• 09:38 Cutting up audio for the ABC #
• 10:21 I love the line in this story about how the fighter pilot felt 'like a one-legged man in an ass-kicking competition' ping.fm/EkbtK #
• 12:50 Cutting up audio for The World Today #
• 14:20 The Book Show talks about Espresso Book Machines ping.fm/Mr1eF #
• 19:46 writing... can i really get my story done tonight? I think I can! #
• 19:52 if a circle is 100km across, what's the circumference? 314ish? #
• 20:12 talking with Derek on Skype #

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• 06:59 Moderating UGC content for ABC #
• 11:01 in the gents there's a jug of Janitor Supplies 'all over body wash' - it says if you get it in your eyes, flush for 15 minutes!! #
• 12:33 Democracy in action... ping.fm/M8cyd #
• 20:11 hacking through emails in the hope of getting some writing done tonight #
• 20:27 Sending some emails for Brains for Breakfast ping.fm/GRVB0 [ping.fm/GRVB0] #
• 21:01 time for bed #

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• 18:56 paying bills... sigh #
• 20:35 downloading skype #
• 20:57 writing the final battle scene for my OBMB story. blood, guts, aliens, SACLOS munitions guided by mercs with X-Ray vision. It's all good #
• 21:02 : anyone know how to get a Tweet Digest to appear on a blogger.com [blogger.com] blog? #
• 06:59 Moderating UGC content for ABC #
• 11:01 in the gents there's a jug of Janitor Supplies 'all over body wash' - it says if you get it in your eyes, flush for 15 minutes!! #
• 12:33 Democracy in action... ping.fm/M8cyd #

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Tweet digest coming

I'm going to experiment with posting a daily digest of my Tweets.

Stand by for weirdness!

World Zombie Day looms

World Zombie Day is looming - October 26.

If you're heading along to one of the events, I'd love to see your photos for possible inclusion in Brains for Breakfast.

Dealing with the dead

I'm working on an article for Black magazine about people who deal with the dead - morticians, pathologists, police, ambulance workers etc.

The crux of the article is what is it like to have to deal with death on a daily basis? What are the coping strategies that people use to deal with it - especially those who have to deal with traumatic deaths?

If you would like to be interviewed for the article, or if you know someone who works in these kinds of areas, please email me: garykemble [at] yahoo [dot] com [dot] au or gary [at] brimstonepress [dot] com [dot] au.

'Dead Air': Australian Dark Fantasy & Horror 2009

Angela Challis emailed me yesterday to tell me that my zombie story "Dead Air" will be reprinted in Australian Dark Fantasy and Horror 2009.

"Dead Air", first published in Zombies, tells the story of an undead freakout on-board a 747 en route from Los Angeles to Brisbane.

I'd like to thank Zombies editor Robert N Stephenson who, firstly, picked up the story and, secondly, gave it a kickarse ending.

As all emerging writers will know, feedback from editors is vital to honing your skills.

I'd also like to thank Robert Hood. I almost didn't write the story because I was worried it might be too similar to a film that was in production about the same time I had the idea.

Rob had some sage words of advice for me, which gave me the motivation to continue with the story.

Thrill the World

If you've always wanted to be one of those dancing zombies out of the Michael Jackson 'Thriller' film clip, now is your chance.

Thrill the World is taking place on October 25 and 26 all over the world, including Brisbane (4am on the 26th -- but hey, the good thing is that you don't have to worry too much about the make-up).

It's one of the events that I'd love to feature in Brains for Breakfast so, if you're going along, remember to take your camera and email me a couple of shots afterwards.

Taking part in Thrill the World means you get to: dress up as a zombie; dance like Michael Jackson; and raise money for Camp Quality. What more could you ask for?

Check out this page for more info on the Brisbane TTW event. But remember, there are events all over the world.

And get in fast -- rehearsals are already underway!

(Thanks to Cara for the tip-off!)

YB Fantasy and Horror: honorable mention for 'Dead Air'

I just found out (although the information has been around for a while), that my short story 'Dead Air' received an honorable mention in the 21st Year's Best Fantasy and Horror!

It's a huge honour to be mentioned in an anthology edited by Ellen Datlow, Gavin Grant and Kelly Link (even if it is only a passing mention).

You can check out 'Dead Air' in Zombies, edited by Robert N Stephenson.

Brains for breakfast

Brimstone Press (the publishers of Black magazine) liked my zombie walk feature (issue 2) so much that they've commissioned me to write/edit a hardcover coffee table book about the phenomenon, tentatively titled Brains for Breakfast! (Actually, it may be Braaaaaiiins for Breakfast)

It will be a snapshot of the zombie walk/lurch/shuffle scene in 2008, focussing on the events so far as well as World Zombie Day lurches and other zombie-themed events such as Thrill the World.

Brimstone is offering $50 or a copy of the book in exchange for photos chronicling the events.

The book is slated for an Easter 2009 release (drawing on the whole resurrection theme).

So, feel free to spread the word or, if you have photos you'd like considered for inclusion, please email me: garykemble [at] yahoo [dot] com [dot] au.

Specfic: so hot right now

Had the pleasure of interviewing John Birmingham earlier this week, for a feature I'm writing for Black magazine about Without Warning.

The world may be going to hell in a handbasket but according to Birmo that's good news for fellow speculative fiction writers.

"I was actually at a booksellers conference the other day, I went down to talk to the managers of all the Borders stores in the country about Without Warning and we were having a chat before I got up to do my pimpin', and they were saying that escapist literature is very, very popular at the moment and they think the reason is people are just turning away from the world of real things because real things just aren't all that fun at the moment."

The You can check out the full article in issue 3 of Black magazine, available in all good newsagencies mid-November.

Brisbane Writers Festival reading

Just a quick post to say thank you to everyone who came out for the One Book Many Brisbanes reading at Brisbane Writers Festival today.

We were up against some stiff competition so I (and all the other panellists) really appreciate it.

It was an interesting session -- it would have been good if there had been time for questions.

A couple of things that really resonated with me:

* Jennifer Barrett's story about how, with bare days to go until the competition closed (having decided she'd never finish her story in time), she had a dream where her husband was holding up a copy of the book. He said: "Why do we have all these copies of the same book?" The book he was holding up was the previous year's OBMB edition! She found the competition details and realised that 20 copies of the anthology was part of the prize! Then she took a day off work to finish her story.

* Rena Frohman used her $6,000 to buy 'time'. A brilliant idea. She bought 20 Thursdays off from work, and says she has had a very productive 15 weeks so far.

Now, I have to get off my backside and finish my story for this year's competition!

Reminder: One Book Many Brisbanes reading

If you're at a loose end tomorrow morning, come along to the One Book Many Brisbanes reading, from 10am at State Library Queensland.

I'll be doing a reading/talk alongside other One Book Many Brisbanes authors Jennifer Barrett, Isabel D'Avila Winter, Rena Frohman and Alexis Hailstones.

If you can make it, I'd love to see you there.

More details are available at the Brisbane Writers Festival.

Macabre: now available for pre-order

It has been a long time coming, but Macabre: A Journey Through Australia's Darkest Fears is now available for pre-order from Brimstone Press.

It features stories from Australia's dark past, the 'masters' such as Terry Dowling and Kaaron Warren, and more fiction from upstarts (or, as Brimstone puts it, 'the new era') such as myself ('Feast or Famine').

Black: issue 2 on sale now

Featuring a heap of stuff, including Rob Hood going head to head with the George A Romero at the Melbourne International Film Festival.

Also, from me, coverage of Sydney Supanova (including a Q and A with Supernatural star Jared Padalecki, behind the scenes on Hellboy 2, and a stack of awesome cosplay photos) and a feature about the flash mob/zombie lurch phenomenon.

If you don't see it on the shelf at your local newsagents, as for it by name!

You can also order it via the Black Magazine website.

'Import/Export' in Artworker magazine

My short story 'Import/Export' has been published in issue 2 of Artworker magazine in the More Than Words feature.

More Than Words involves an emerging creative writer interpreting an artwork.

In this instance, I applied some sf with a twist of Steinbeck to Sam Smith's video work 'Street Shift', which won this year's $10,000 Wilson HTM National Art Prize.

I was an interesting experience for me. I'd had this idea bubbling in the back of my brain for a few month's, and then I saw 'Street Shift' and - click!

You can view some of Smith's 'Street Shift' and then read 'Import/Export' here (PDF - my story starts on page 14).

This was my first commissioned piece of writing - thanks very much to Kate Eltham at Queensland Writers Centre for setting it up for me.

And if you're not a member of QWC, I suggest you join so that you too can be in the frame for projects such as this!

One Book Many Brisbanes: Meet The Authors

As you may have seen in the Brisbane Writers Festival program, I'll be appearing with fellow One Book Many Brisbanes authors Jennifer Barrett, Isabel D'Avila Winter, Rena Frohman and Alexis Hailstones at the Brisbane Writers Festival!

The reading/talk, chaired by Sabina O'Callaghan, will be held at The Studio, State Library Queensland, from 10am to 11am on Sunday, September 21.

Best of all, it's free!

Postcards from the edge (of suburbia)

I'm sending postcards. If you would like one, email me your postal address. (Postal address will be used for nothing other than to send you one random postcard)

Interview in Studies in Australian Weird Fiction

There's an interview with me in the latest edition of Studies in Australian Weird Fiction.

It was conducted quite a while ago, so I can't quite recall what I said. Hopefully something interesting. Hopefully nothing dumb.

You can buy a copy here (and, if you do, can you let me know if I need to apologise to anyone?)

Haunted Australia: Toowong Cemetery

I've just released into the wild a set of photos my wife and I took for the 'Haunted Australia' column in Black Magazine.

If you'd like to read the article, you can pick up a copy of Black from your local newsagents, or from http://www.blackmag.com.au

You can view the photos at Flickr.

(If you have trouble viewing, please email me: garykemble AT yahoo DOT come DOT au)

Help Paul Haines battle cancer

From dragonkat @ LJ:

Paul Haines, a much-loved member of the Aussie specfic commuity is going through a tough time. After being diagnosed with bowel cancer, having sections of his bowel removed and enduring six months worth of chemotherapy, he has recently discovered he has spots on his liver. Paul has met this news by reloading his guns and is going to fight it with two other forms of chemotherapy for cancers like his, combined with a monoclonal antibody called Avastin. Avastin, however is not part of Medicare or the private health system's funding at this stage. It costs $20,000 to do it. Money that he doesn't have.

So we're going to try and help him raise it.

Please follow this link and kick in some cash if you can.

You can also help by joining the Facebook group.

Interview with Shaun Tan

I recently interviewed Shaun Tan about his new book Tales From Outer Suburbia. You can read the interview at Articulate.

Black #1: on sale now

Issue one of Australian dark culture magazine Black is now on sale.

I haven't had a chance to see where exactly it is available, but if you ask at your local newsagents you may be pleasantly surprised.

If you don't have any luck there, every Borders store in Australia should be carrying it.

For those overseas, you can subscribe here.

Issue one features a range of juicy content, including my articles on Heath Ledger's turn as The Joker, the secret life of a Dominatrix, an interview with The Zombie Diaries director Michael Bartlett, and a feature about the ghosts of Toowong Cemetery.

Writing software feature

My feature on writing software is now available in Writing Queensland magazine (exclusive to members of the Queensland Writing Centre).

I went into the research process a sceptic, came out a convert -- I definitely think writing software is worth checking out, given many of the programs offer a free trial period.

I don't think writing software is for everyone, but some will find it useful to strengthen their weak spots.

If you've read the feature and have any questions, feel free to leave a comment below and I'll do my best to give you an answer.

OBMB at Brisbane Writers Festival

A few One Book Many Brisbanes authors, including myself, will be doing a reading/talk as part of the Brisbane Writers Festival later this year.

The event takes place at State Library, from 10am on September 21, 2008.

I'll post more details closer to the date.

Dark Tales vol 12

Received my contributor's copies of Dark Tales 12 yesterday, featuring my short story "All You Need is Love" (described by Dark Scribe as an "eco-terror thriller).

If you'd like to support Dark Tales, you can buy a copy of the magazine here.

It's also worth mentioning that Dark Tales has upped the first prize of its quarterly competition to 250 quid, which is not bad for a 3 quid entry fee.

Supanova Sydney

Went to Supanova in Sydney on the weekend.

Had an excellent time. Finally caught up with Ben Templesmith, after much exchanging of email. Also, finally got to have a good chat with Marianne de Pierres (which I can't believe hasn't happened sooner).

And then of course there were the 'drawcards' - Supernatural heart-throb Jared Padalecki and Firefly/Serenity/Stargate Atlantis star Jewel Staite.

It was an interesting experience for an 'outsider' (ie, someone who has never seen any of these shows).

And I can really see how events such as Supanova work in terms of pulling in new fans - I left on Sunday feeling quite overwhelmed, knowing that there's about a billion hours of TV/movies/comics that I need to catch up on.

Speaking of catching up, I met up with Stuart McKenny, who I used to work with ages ago at Quest Newspapers. At the time he was trying to break through into comics. It was excellent to see he has done just that.

More One Book Many Brisbanes launch photos

I've uploaded some more photos of the One Book Many Brisbanes 3 launch, courtesy of photographer Phil Hargreaves and Brisbane City Council.

View them at the One Book Many Brisbanes 3 launch group at Flickr.

(Don't forget, if you were at the launch, feel free to join the group and upload your photos)

One Book Many Brisbanes 3 launch

Had an excellent time today at the One Book Many Brisbanes 3 launch at City Hall.

It was a great opportunity to meet some people I've been swapping emails with since finding out I was one of the winners, although it would have been good to have more time to chat with the other authors.

Check out the Flickr photo pool here. (If you were at the launch and took photos and don't mind sharing them, please join the group and upload your photos).

There's a possibility some of the authors might be appearing at a local library near you soon, so if I can I'll definitely be getting involved in that -- I'd love to hear some of the stories behind the stories.

Speaking of which, you can now read all of the stories (including "Untethered") here.

You can find out how to buy the book here, or alternatively borrow it from your local library.

The really good news is that Brisbane City Council is going to run the competition again next year.

I would strongly recommend that if you're a writer, you enter. I never thought I would win. I entered because, frankly, with a $6,000 prize, how could I not enter. And look what happened.

Sometimes life delivers happy endings!

Black: turn to the dark side

Finally, I get to reveal where all my spare time has been going lately:

Western Australian publisher Brimstone Press is proud to announce the launch of a major new national magazine - aptly titled BLACK: Australian Dark Culture - that exposes Australia's attraction to the dark side.

BLACK covers pop culture and entertainment with a dark flair: from movies, music, and books, to politics, witchcraft, fashion, comics, gaming, true crime, bizarre medical cases, and much more.

BLACK editor-in-chief Angela Challis describes the magazine as a revelation and one of the few genuinely new offerings at news stands.

"Crime dramas are the most popular shows on TV, horror movies are flooding video stores, and paranormal books are incredibly popular," she said.

"Everyone is drawn to the dark side … and there is clearly a demand for dark-themed entertainment, but until now, there has not been a publication that caters to the enjoyment of all things dark. BLACK will fill this expanding and increasingly popular niche."

BLACK managing editor and political reporter Shane Jiraiya Cummings views the magazine as a vehicle to explore the darker side of the human spirit, as well as pop culture and entertainment.

"Almost everyone loves the villain, and BLACK caters for that, but dark culture is more than just scary movies and brooding anti-heroes," he said.

"BLACK addresses serious social issues that many consider taboo like alternative lifestyles, euthanasia, and political censorship – such as China's ban on supernatural movies and literature in the lead-up to the Olympics, which we're covering in our launch issue."

The launch issue features:

* Heath Ledger as The Joker in the upcoming Batman movie The Dark
Knight: the fateful role that may have led to his death.
* M. Night Shyamalan on his new movie The Happening.
* China's Olympic ghost ban.
* Stephen King's Dark Tower series.
* A glimpse into life as a dominatrix.
* A tour through
Brisbane's necropolis.
* Interviews with Australian authors Robert Hood, Marty Young, and Nathan Burrage.
* … and an AUSTRALIAN EXCLUSIVE! – A new short story by STEPHEN KING (from his upcoming book Just After Sunset).
* Plus competitions, news, fiction, opinion pieces, and an extensive HorrorScope review section!

Contributors to issue one include Gary Kemble, Rocky Wood, Chuck McKenzie, Josephine Pennicott, David Caroll, Leigh Blackmore & Margi Curtis, Mark Smith-Briggs, Bella Dee, Dr Carissa Borlase, James
Doig, and more!

BLACK magazine will be on sale nationwide from July 14.

Further information on BLACK magazine (including subscription information* ) can be found at http://www.blackmag.com.au/


* Australian Horror Writers Association members will receive a subscription discount, so if you are an AHWA member, please email your interest via the link
on the website.

So if it appeals, please ask at your local newsagency. Being a fledgling publication, from an independent publisher, BLACK will need all the help it can get!

The joy of writing

For one reason and another (more on this soon) I haven't had much time for my fiction lately.

Then, last night and tonight, I've found enough time to write a whole chapter of Number 13, the crime thriller I'm working on with British writer Mark Wagstaff and fellow Brisbanite Damon Cavalchini.

I find when time is scare it really gets to me, it's like an itch I can't scratch. And then when I finally find some time to write, it's like a soothing balm. (Okay, enough with the bad metaphors).

On the Vision list recently there was a discussion about the Alphasmart, which is basically a cut-down word processor that you can take anywhere, anytime.

I have to say, if I can get one second-hand, I'd definitely consider it. I love my Mac, but it would be nice to have something cheap that I could just lug around with me -- the electronic version of a notebook and pen, which is what I use at the moment.

Which serves it's purpose, but I find when there's a big gap between long-hand writing and transcribing, it can be a disincentive. And then there's the other issue of actually deciphering what I've written!

Review: 'All You Need is Love'

Issue 12 of Dark Tales, which features my short story "All You Need is Love", has been reviewed by Dark Scribe.

You can read the review here, and buy Dark Tales here.

Kate Eltham's defence of One Book Many Brisbanes

Read it here...

Why arts funding matters

A letter of mine has been published in today's Courier-Mail, responding to a piece by Chuck Brooks earlier this week.

Unfortunately Brooks' letter isn't online, so I can't link to it, but the general gist was that arts funding in general (and the One Book Many Brisbanes competition in particular) is a waste of money.

Here's my response, for those who can't get their hands on a copy of the newspaper:

I'm sure there are many people who would agree with Chuck Brooks' musings on arts grants. Just as there are many people who don't agree with taxpayers' money being spent on deploying troops to Iraq and Afghanistan, health funds being spent looking after chronic smokers, or public monies spent propping up unsustainable industries.

But just like defence, health and big business, the arts is a valid and vital part of our society.

Mr Brooks says most people have never heard of the winners. So rather than judging the stories based on merit, he would have preferred them judged on profile? Why not just commission stories from Nick Earls, Rebecca Sparrow, David Malouf et al?

Because the whole point of One Book Many Brisbanes is to encourage all Brisbanites (in fact, the competition was open to all Queensland residents) to reflect on the place they call home.

It was open to everyone, including the cash-strapped waitresses, taxicab drivers, brickies and labourers Mr Brooks mentions.

The total prize pool of $60,000 works out to just over 3c per Brisbane resident. The total cost to ratepayers: 12c each? Let's be generous and call it 50c each.

As for public arts funding as a whole, a 2005 report (by the Canada Council) puts Australia well down the list of comparable countries, on just 0.14 per cent of GDP.

Hardly a case of enslaving and plundering the Australian people.

If you have ever enjoyed an Australian movie, book, play or CD, thank public funding, because I'm sure if you dig down far enough, at some point in their careers those writers, musicians, directors and playwrights have needed a helping hand.

As for living on the public teat, I can say from a personal perspective that nothing could be further from the truth.

I've been writing seriously for 10 years - for love, not for the money. Most of my stories have been published by small press magazines (run by people who also do it for the love), paying generally $25-$50 a pop.

I write because I enjoy it, not for prize cheques. But I applaud Brisbane City Council for celebrating the craft of writing, and the contribution writers make to society, through One Book Many Brisbanes.

When the anthology is released next month, I invite all Brisbanites to read it (it will be available for Brisbane City Council libraries) and decide for themselves whether it is worth their 3 cents.

Thanks,
Gary Kemble
(One Book Many Brisbanes winner)

Wordpool reading

A big thank-you to everyone who braved the wind and the cold last night for the Wordpool reading at Avid Reader.

It was a great night. We had a full house so hopefully the organisers are happy with how it went.

Ben Law was hilarious. I also really enjoyed the reading by Anthony Lawrence - nothing beats poetry read out by the author.

Baron Field finished off the night with some lovely songs.

For those who couldn't make it, or those who made it but want to hear the ending, you can check out "Untethered" when it is published next month.

Ian Fleming's writing regime

At the launch of the new James Bond novel Devil May Care, Sebastian Faulks says:

"In his house in Jamaica, Ian Fleming used to write a thousand words in the morning, then go snorkelling, have a cocktail, lunch on the terrace, more diving, another thousand words in late afternoon, then more Martinis and glamorous women.

"In my house in London, I followed this routine exactly, apart from the cocktails, the lunch and the snorkelling."

Never mind the cocktails and glamorous women - I'm just envious of anyone who can get through 2,000 words a day.

(Via Articulate - click to see the Bond girl!)

The agony of the 'rewrite'

I've just realised that I'm going to have to trash about three-quarters of my sf ms Drift.

Of what I'd written, only about 25k is serviceable, due to my decision to rip out two major sub-plots.

I know that by simplifying the plot Drift will be a stronger book.

But still -- you think you're almost there, and then you realise that a lot of that work was for naught.

Oh well. The good news is that I get to make a whole heap of new stuff up, and this time with one eye on structure and the finished product!

Sneak peek of 'Untethered'

I'm going to read part of my One Book Many Brisbanes story 'Untethered' at Wordpool on Thursday, May 29, at Avid Reader, West End, Brisbane.

It would be great to see some Kemblog-sters there.

The event kicks off at 6.30pm, and you can get tickets ($10 - wine included) at Avid Reader.

Hope to see you there!

(For those who can't make it, the One Book Many Brisbanes anthology is out next month - check here for details)

Tim Winton: story is the key

One of my colleagues at ABC News Online interviewed Tim Winton yesterday, talking to him about his latest novel Breath and writing in general.

You can read the feature here. I blogged it at Articulate, but I thought it was worth distilling the quote even further here:

"The magic of story overcomes most geographical or political or even age or
gender differences between people."

I know that that resonates with the sf project I'm working on at the moment (was agonising over the setting and nationality of the characters) and I'm sure it resonates with most other writers as well.

The web freaks me sometimes

I'm acting photo editor at work for the next two weeks, so I've been paying more attention than usual to Flickr.

Check out most recent uploads - 4.600-odd in the past minute. All kinds of photos, from arty to family snapshots to just plain weird.

I found this excellent photo of Dan Deacon at the Coachella Festival, blogged it at Articulate and then commented on the photo page. Within minutes, Mick O had posted a comment back at Articulate.

Until I found that photo I'd never heard of Dan Deacon, or the Coachella Festival, and certainly not of Mick O! Now I've got a relationship with Mick O. I mean, obviously it's a very shallow one but it's a seed, and some of these seeds will grow.

I've also recently renewed my acquaintaince with Facebook - for better or for worse. :) Since giving up on it a while back, they've introduced this "People you may know" feature. It's bizarre, seeing all these people you very barely know, you may have met once, or people from your deep, dark past. I'm not sure if it's a good thing or a bad thing, but it will definitely change many people's lives, if only in a small way.

These are just a couple of tiny, tiny examples, but I sometimes get the sense that the wired world is on the verge of something.

And as a writer, it all feeds into the subconscious (along with all the juicy tidbits of knowledge I pick up off Wikipedia).

(P.S. This blog post is also a test of Writer, a nifty little web-based word processing program. You write stuff on it, then can save it, email it, post drafts to your blog. It's pretty cool)

Courier-Mail article

Brisbane writer and journalist Jason Nahrung has done a very short interview with me for the Courier-Mail about my One Book Many Brisbanes win.

You can read it here...

“Untethered” wins One Book Many Brisbanes spot

I can now happily reveal that my short story “Untethered” has won a spot in the Brisbane City Council’s One Book Many Brisbanes anthology.

Given that this is by far the biggest competition I’ve ever won and, let’s face it, could be the biggest I ever win, there’s a few people I’d like to thank.

My wife Amelia. Writing is hard at the best of times, but when you’ve got two kids under five, it’s a real challenge finding the time. Amelia isn’t really into horror and science fiction, but she has always helped me find the time when I’ve really needed it. Without her help, “Untethered” either would not have been finished by the deadline, or would not have been polished to the extent that it was.

I’d like to thank the Vision Writers group, especially those who found time to do a last-minute critique of “Untethered”. The feedback, most of which I acted on, was obviously on the money! I’m very grateful to Rowena Lindquist for introducing me to Vision a few years back. I’m not the most active member, but it’s good to be able to connect with other speculative fiction writers, even if only via the internet.

And while I’m thanking writing groups, I’d like to extend this to the Australian Horror Writers Association and Queensland Writers Centre. People sometimes think writing is a lonely hobby and, while the actual sitting down and typing is a solitary experience, there is no shortage of camaraderie for those who wish to seek it out.

A big thanks to all the editors who have published my stories over the years, especially those who have offered me feedback and helped me improve my craft. I’d like to single out Angela Challis (Brimstone Press) for special thanks. I sold my first story to Angela’s Shadowed Realms. It gave me a lot of confidence going forwards. Since then, she has been very supportive of my writing.

Finally, I’d like to thank David Kowalski. David didn’t have any input into “Untethered”, but our chats over the past few months have made a big difference to my attitude to my writing. Earlier this year I was thinking about putting writing “on the back burner”. David’s limitless enthusiasm is a large reason I’ve persevered, and hopefully that decision will bear fruit over the coming years.

About Gary Kemble

(Photo by Amelia Kemble. Hi-res version at Flickr)

Hi, I am a writer, journalist and blogger based in Brisbane, Australia. If you’re reading this bio much after September 21, 2010, please email me for something more up-to-date.

I've written stories all my life. While I identify myself as a 'horror' writer (or more broadly a speculative fiction writer) I've had a variety of stories published, including literary, romance and thriller. I do love horror, zombies in particular, and I think I identify with the 'outsider' status that comes with focusing my writing on the dark side.

I had my first short story win on September 10, 2001. Since then, my short fiction has been published in magazines, anthologies and online in Australia, the US and the UK. Zombie schlockfest 'Dead Air' was picked up by Australian Dark Fantasy and Horror and received an honourable mention in the 21st Years Best Fantasy and Horror.

I've had two wins in the One Book Many Brisbanes competition. Time travel story 'Untethered' won in 2007 and sf/horror tale 'Bug Hunt' in 2009.

'Feast or Famine' - the story of two Australian journalists trapped in a bunker in Afghanistan - has been published in the landmark Australian horror anthology Macabre: A Journey Through Australia's Darkest Fears.

I work as a journalist for ABC News Online, where my roving brief includes coordinating ABC News's social media strategy.

In 2005 I helped establish Articulate, the ABC’s arts weblog, and was an active contributor until the blog's demise earlier this year, mostly covering the speculative fiction beat. I am now a sometimes contributor to The Buzz. My non-fiction has also been published in Black: Australian Dark Culture and Writing Queensland magazine.

In 2010 I blogged AussieCon 4, the 68th World Science Fiction Convention, thanks to help from Arts Queensland.

In 2006 I blogged Conjure, the 45th National Science Fiction Convention. My coverage of speculative fiction in both Articulate and ABC News Online has been twice nominated for the Ditmar Award for Professional Achievement.

In 2007/08 I was on the judging panel for the Australian Shadows award, the top award for Australian writers of dark fiction and horror.

I am a member of the Australian Horror Writers Association, Vision Writers and the Queensland Writers Centre.

I live in Brisbane's leafy western suburbs with my wife and two children.

Terrifying 1950s comic book covers

Tasty. Check out the slideshow here.

(Link/montage via BoingBoing)

James Doig on Australia's horror heritage

I have just interviewed James Doig on his Australian Gothic and Australian Nightmares anthologies of vintage Australian horror/supernatural fiction.

"I guess there is a danger here that we're becoming homogenised, subsumed by the latest Hollywood blockbuster. Just as the regional ghost story in the United States and Britain has pretty much disappeared, there is a danger that national traditions will go the same way. Too many modern stories have their roots in American popular culture - Stephen King, Hannibal Lector, Night of the Living Dead - rather than our own traditions.

"That said, I should say that our best writers have their own unique, distinctly Australian, voices. Terry Dowling, Margo Lanagan and Lucy Sussex are as good as anyone writing today, and there are many more who are right up there."

Read the full feature on Articulate...

Angryjournalist.com: a meltdown waiting to happen

Angryjournalist.com offers a place for hacks to vent about the trials and tribulations of being part of the 4th estate.

My prediction? Meltdown within a week!

Black Box, featuring 'Night Terrors'

The Black Box e-anthology (featuring my flash fiction story "Night Terrors") is now available for pre-order.

So what's inside? From the Brimstone Press website:

100 of the darkest, most surreal flash fiction stories from 80 of the hottest horror and fantasy authors: Will Elliott, Stephen Dedman, Lucy Sussex, Robert Hood, Richard Harland, Kaaron Warren, Mikal Trimm, Jay Caselberg, Rick Kennett, Martin Livings, Trent Jamieson, Lee Battersby, and more!

Music from the best Australian alternative, gothic opera, metal, and hip hop artists. Dandelion Wine, Wendy Rule, Opera Macabre, Pathogen, Temujin, Empyrean, The Eternal, and more!

Electronic galleries of dark art from the finest Australian and emerging international artists. Andrew J McKiernan, Adam Duncan, John Banitsiotis, Brian Smith, Bryn Sparks, and more!

Plus all the multimedia nastiness and surprises you loved from Shadow
Box.

All profits will be donated to the Australian Horror Writers Association.

Australian Shadows finalists announced

You can find the finalists for the 2008 Australian Shadows Award here, and if you want, my judge's report here.

Hah - subtexts? I wouldn't know a subtext if it punched me in the face. :)

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Duma Key poster

I love Stephen King. I hate this poster.

(Imagine finding Stephen King on the end of a cotton bud!)

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'Feast or Famine': number 6, with a bullet!

Paula Berinstein emailed to let me know the podcast of "Feast or Famine" and interview with me (recorded for the 2006 Halloween special) is in The Writing Show's Top 10 most popular episodes!

You can check it out here...

Blogging from the trenches

Thousands of people have been following the fate of a British soldier fighting in the trenches of World War I on a website publishing his letters home exactly 90 years after they were written.

Wonder what the wifi was like back then?

Horror in 2007: recommended reading list

Check it out at HorrorScope...