Whenever I send a manuscript to a publisher or agent, I always send it recorded and enclose an SAE for return. That return can be within the week, or a month afterwards. My question is this. If one hears nothing from a recipient for 3 or 4 weeks, despite sending an SAE, what can be interpreted from that? Is it being appraised by a 'slush' reader? Is it sitting in a pile waiting for attention? Has it been lost in the post? If the publisher thinks it is any good, does one hear fairly soon or can it take months for a positive response?

The reason I ask is that I sent a manuscript to a publisher who was recommended to me by more than one source - as the material was perceived to be 'right up their street'. I know they have received it (four weeks ago) but I have heard nothing. Having not had the SAE returned I can't tell if that is a positive sign or not. I daren't ring them to find out, in case it is considered bad form to do so. So, do I shrug it off and consider it a no show, or do I risk bridling a publisher who may be weighing the book in the balance?

I know the blog's hungry by now - what with the diet it was on last week, and all - and normally I'd have fed it this morning. Unfortunately, the editorial report I thought would be finished by now, is not.

Picture last Thursday, bearing in mind that editorial reports are almost the only writing-related work I can do away from the computer:

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Played golf with Marian this morning, and did okay, though my score was up and down to say the least. Some rebellion on the part of my balls as well (as it were) - I usually play with my special lady balls (no, don't go there ...) on the pond hole (Lordy, that's even worse but hey let's carry on as if we're all part of the Empire anyway. Bulldog spirit and all that.) in order to give myself the best chance of getting across, but I usually end up in the sink. Today, I decide to play clever, and use the grotty, difficult ball I picked up somewhere in the hope that I'll lose it. No chance, missus. The damn thing sails over and lands on the green. Sigh ... whilst rejoicing of course. I shall never be able to get rid of it now. Ah well ...


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This is interesting. Very interesting, actually. Perhaps even a revelation. There I was the other day, sitting with my laptop in a nearby cafe. I had the beginnings of a flash story in my head and was determined to get it down. Now, I have been trying for months to wean myself of the highly addictive Scrabulous (online Scrabble for Facebook users), with little success. In fact, I am playing a game now as I write this blog post. So, on Wednesday, even though I had opened my word processor and was beginning my story, I couldn't stop myself from starting a new Scrabulous game, even though I felt very guilty about it and angry at myself that I had so little self control. But I did it anyway....

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....i've got a new blog on the go; an autobiography...


How many Black Jacks can you get in your mouth, and how much chewing-gum is enough?

- We had to take it out to suck off the extra juice!

How cold was your bathroom?

- In winter my brother only washed his cheeks, using two fingers on each hand. When the dirt on his neck became visible my father would take him in for a good scrub then the neck would sparkle pinkly.


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Six months ago I went into Borders on Charing Cross Road to see which authors my book would nestle between on the shelves. But after a few seconds in the sci-fi section I was red and sweating with embarrassment and I fled out of the shop and into Soho and relieved my trembling with liquor.

Today though, I am wearing one of five ‘Christopher Hardy – King of Sci-fi’ T-shirts that I had a local printing shop knock up. In about thirty seconds from the look of them. But the point is made; a very childish, unfocused point vaguely taking the piss out of Harper Collins for pigeon-holing me into a genre, but a point nonetheless. Unfortunately it’s a joke that about five people on Earth might understand.

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Great joy and rejoicing today as the lovely Ann Somerville has reviewed Maloney's Law at the Unique Logophilos site and you can find the whole review here (see full post for all links). Many thanks indeed, Ann - I really appreciate that! Always good to make readers cry - in the nicest possible way of course ...


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I've spent considerable time looking like this, over the past week. Headphones on, listening back to the stories I'm working on.
Reading your stories aloud is a terrific help when editing - you are forced to read what's actually there on the page, rather than what you think you've written. It's also, in my opinion, one of the most useful pieces of advice I've received and given. But recording what you read, and listening to it back, can be just as valuable, from a point of view of flow, rhythm, structure, imagery (probably everything); again you 'see' the story in totally different medium

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Lovely to see Maloney’s Law (see full post for all links here!) on both Amazon Canada and Barnes & Noble in the States today. Well, gosh. And PD Publishing have asked me to make a list of places/people who would be willing to review the book, so that’s my main task tonight. Ooh and at work the lovely Stuart in Marketing has put Maloney on the University intranet – what a star. He even mentioned the book’s shortlisting for the Harry Bowling Novel Prize. Cheque’s in the post, Stuart!...

Also nice to see that A Stranger’s Table on Lulu UK now has a sales rating on it. I am Number 117,489, which for me is pretty good, I must say. My work here is done, Carruthers, time to retire …


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I think my psychic ability - very prevalent in my mis-spent youth - has come back full force. I saw a man in a green jumper this morning who wasn't there the next second; but he was definitely there, standing in a neighbour's garden. He was in his fifties, quite tall with a full head of grey hair and quite distinguished features - as if he'd been a high-rank officer in the army. He watched me walk by. I didn't know him, didn't recognise him (in my little neighbourhood we all know each-other's faces even if we don't know each other's names) but thought I'd nod at him to acknowledge his presence - then he just wasn't there, anymore. I thought to myself 'I wonder who that was?' and carried on walking, as if ex-army officers in green jumpers just pop up out of nowhere every day of the week! Then there's Sam.


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