hmmm, tell me more…

12 Apr

 

ether writer of the week interview…

i’ve raved about ether books already here, and i haven’t got much to add this time round, except to say that i’m now even more excited about the potential offered by ether, and more enthused about the talented writers the app promotes. as time goes on, ether’s stories will become available on other smart phones besides apple’s but, until then, it’s quite obvious to me that the only way you can enjoy the very best in short fiction is to BUY AN IPHONE NOW.

dan lewis

no, i’m not sponsored by steve jobs (yet), but i am pretty much in love with ether books. not least because i am currently ‘ether’s writer of the week’. as a result – aside from guaranteeing me riches beyond my wildest dreams – ether interviewed me.

you can read the interview here, you lucky thing.

 

…and new ether story published

in addition, ether have just published another one of my stories, ‘bcc:’, which you can now download for 59p through the ether books app.

‘bcc:’ is a tale of infidelity and vengeance via email. it’s, like, well modern and about the internet and stuff (and therefore quite apt for the app, if you see what i mean). if you have an iphone and haven’t already downloaded the ether app, then you are obviously a cultureless wastrel and do not deserve an iphone. but it’s not too late to redeem yourself. free app available here.bcc

last time i shamelessly asked you to purchase an ether story (here), some of you actually listened to me and, over one month on, ‘i think the sun is shining’ is still their bestseller. i’ll be serious for once, and say that your support means a lot to me. thank you for giving me your 59p.

mind you, ‘bcc:’s apparently rather good, so if you could chuck me another 59p, i’d be ever so grateful.

until next time, that is.

cheers.

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when something great is gone

5 Apr

in praise of lcd soundsystem’s final and finest moments

madison square garden, 2nd april 2011

i was there.

just as the narrator of ‘losing my edge’ was there – at the first suicide practices in a loft in NYC, and the first can shows in cologne – i was there on saturday night to witness lcd soundsystem’s last ever show…

read more here.

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the first time i killed myself

15 Mar

The first time I killed myself, I thought, “Well, this is it.”

I know it was a rash decision to make, but I’d had a few beers. I jumped from my seventeenth-floor window, certain I’d make an impact. As I fell, I imagined the last thing to go through my head – besides the pavement, of course – would be some sense of remorse. But I didn’t feel a thing.

And that was it. Dead.

Except…I opened my eyes, it was Monday, and I was late. I dashed into the office and…nothing. No “Hey, Shane, unlucky with that suicide”. Nothing.

I only lasted another three weeks. My horse came in fifth, so I did the decent thing: a bullet to the head. Failed. Now, it’s – I’ve – become a joke. Slit wrists, overdose; I’ve tried the lot. Even licked batteries.

I won’t give up, though. Something has to change, because this is killing me.

 

read more the first time i killed myself here.

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the best 59p you’ll ever spend?

1 Mar

‘i think the sun is shining’ now available from ether books!

what can you buy for 59p these days?

not a lot.

you can’t even buy a decent chocolate bar. i should know. i hadn’t had a lion bar in years, and felt the urge to buy one the other day. crack it open and pretend it was roaring like a real lion. y’know, like in the ’90′s advert. no? oh…anyway. it cost 65p. and it was rubbish. i think it was a fake.

look, the point is, it’s difficult to find something worth roaring about for 59p these days.

however…

i’ve recently had one of my stories, ‘i think the sun is shining’ published by ether books.

ether books publish short stories specifically for the iphone / ipad, so you can read whilst you’re on the move. the thinking behind the ether app is that short stories are the perfect length to keep a reader occupied by their phone whilst they’re out and about / waiting for a train / standing in the corner on their own at a party and pretending they’re really busy reading important emails.

it’s a great app, and is likely to become more popular as time goes on – especially once it’s available on other smart phones and blackberry.

i’m really chuffed to have been accepted for publication by ether – the app has secured loads of publicity, and plenty of respected writers have made their stories available for download. i’m therefore now listed alongside some really well established authors who are also on ether, such as toby litt, hilary mantel and, er, paul mccartney.

the app is free and available here from itunes.
once you’ve downloaded the app, i’d be hugely appreciative if you could bring yourself to part with 59p for ‘i think the sun is shining’ (plus there’ll be more to come, so don’t be surprised if i ask for more of your cash soon).

aside from my fine self, there are many of up-and-coming authors to choose from, some of whose stories are free. much as it pains me to recommend anyone else apart from myself…rebecca emin, adam marek, lane ashfeldt and denise kirkby are all great authors who seem to be really benefitting from their association with ether books.

if you’re a writer, you can submit to ether, and the process is really painless…not least because their social media queen, bea moyes, is endlessly helpful and enthusiastic about ether books’ writers.

go on. you may even earn yourself a few pence.

but, before you go submitting your masterpiece, may i recommend you download my story? it may be the best thing i’ve yet written (not necessarily an achievement). it’ll make you laugh, it’ll make you cry, it’ll stop you looking sad and alone in the corner at that party.

what else can you buy these days for 59p that’ll fill you with so much joy?

please, on second thoughts, don’t answer that.

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‘pop fiction: stories inspired by songs’ launch party!

24 Feb

if you are unfortunate enough to know me, you’ll have heard me banging on about pop fiction: stories inspired by songs a little too much over the last few months. even if you don’t know me, there’s a chance you know about the collection. after all, i did write about it in my very first post.

well, the plugging isn’t over yet. not quite.

the book’s outpop fiction launch party flyer, we’ve notched up a few sales, and it’s had a few reviews, too. most recently, the literateur gave us a lovely write- up, plus we’ve had some decent feedback from the likes of sabotage blog, booksquawk and it’s all happening.

and now, you lucky people, i’m pleased to announce that the launch party for pop fiction will take place on thursday 24th march, upstairs at the betsey trotwood, from 7.30pm.

the plan is that around five of the pop fiction contributors will read a story each, plus there will of course be some great music to fill the gaps in between.

come along if you can, it’s sure to be a great night, not least because the betsey is a great place for events such as this. i’m biased, though, as the pub’s located opposite the old guardian premises and was, therefore, essentially my local for quite a few years. the guardian’s moved, and i’ve moved on, yet i still can’t tear myself from this fine drinking establishment. it may have something to do with the draught asahi and endless variety of whiskies.

admission is free, but there’s limited space, so please rsvp at popfictioninfo@gmail.com

oh, and yes i will be reading. probably my “ingeniously post-Modernist spin on song interpretation itself”, ‘disney’s dream debased’, influenced by the song by the fall. what a treat.

an evening of words ‘n’ rock ‘n’ roll?

gig of the year, more like. and you’re invited.

 

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#keepingitpeel Podcast Special : The Fall (via #KeepingItPeel)

19 Feb

pure brilliance.
worth it for john peel’s compiled fall announcements alone…

#keepingitpeel Podcast Special : The Fall This edition of the #keepingitpeel podcast is a special edition featuring just the one artist. A group that John Peel had great admiration for: The Fall This band recorded more Peel Sessions than any other. A total of 24 between 1978 to 2004. All of these sessions were collected and released on a 6 CD compilation. This special edition podcast just scratches the surface of their output, an edited highlights of only a small part of their history. T … Read More

via #KeepingItPeel

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why you need what you need…

16 Feb

this nation’s saving grace (omnibus edition) - the fall

in praise of mark e. smith’s finest hour

give the fall a chance. right here, right now, in the company of the seminal this nation’s saving grace. i’ve even provided the original album tracklist for your listening pleasure. c’mon, click here.

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new fiction – ‘bcc:’

1 Feb

‘bcc:’ was written in march 2009 and appeared on youwriteon.com’s best seller charts.

it’s one of the only stories i know of to rely on the use of emails to convey its message. it’s, like, totally modern and stuff…and you can read it here.

<smiley face>. LOL. etc.

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new fiction – dead dom

25 Jan

dead dom is my second novel, completed in march 2008. it’s quite a sick little puppy.

you can read chapter 1 here.

you can read chapter 8 here.

if you enjoy these sample chapters, let me know and maybe – just maybe – i’ll send you the manuscript. for free. because i’m lovely like that.

WARNING – dead dom contains bad language, terrible behaviour, awful violence and is not your friend.

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the limited filmography of d. lewis

18 Jan

a couple of short films i wrote and stuff:

‘dancing managers’

‘recruitment fail’

in answer to your question:

no, i’ve never had a single acting lesson. i KNOW. some talents one is simply born with.

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