pj makes england her own.
the beasties make some noise.
and mogwai make me dance on the ceiling.
that’s right, it’s time for my biased account of the best songs and albums of 2011 so far.
PLAY LOUD.
i was that mouse: waving white gloved hands. fixed smile failing to distract horrified eyes.
it wasn’t my fault. that’s what I’d tell mark if I met him again. but, as I never will, the best I can do is belatedly offer my side of the story…
a few months ago now, i edited and contributed to a short story collection, pop fiction: stories inspired by songs. if you know me, you probably already know about the book. lord knows i went on about it, not least of all here.
quite a few of you were kind enough to buy a copy, and have therefore (hopefully) read the two stories i contributed, ‘the only conclusion’ and ‘disney’s dream debased’. i hope you enjoyed them, and i appreciate your support. honest, i do.
however…if you never got round to buying the book (because you forgot / hate contributing to charity /deliberately snubbed me as i’m a shameless self-promoter), have i got some exciting news for you.
yes, you guessed it: you can now own one of the stories – ‘disney’s dream debased’ – without bothering to buy pop fiction…and it’ll only cost you 59p.
that’s right: pinch yourself and sing hallelujah. you’re not (disney) dreaming.
last week, i wrote about the new, improved iphone app for ether books here. my argument in ether’s favour was so damn persuasive, i’d be amazed if there’s a single one of you left who owns an iphone and hasn’t downloaded their wonderful free app. but, just in case, you can – and should – get it here.
and now, as if by some crazy coincidence, ether have published ‘disney’s dream debased’. cynics would say it’s almost as if i knew ether was going to release my story, that i only wrote about them by way of thanks in advance. but those cynics would be wrong. and too cynical for their own good.
anyway, it’s yours for 59p. it’s an “ingeniously post-modernist spin on song interpretation itself”, apparently.
now, i know you’re already reaching for your iphone to download your copy (or reading this with tears in your eyes as you remember 
that you still haven’t got a decent phone). but, to entice you further, i’d like to take this opportunity to tell you a little more about ‘disney’s dream debased’.
as with every story in pop fiction, it’s based on a song; one of my favourite songs, in fact, by one of my favourite bands: the fall. it really is a spellbinding tune, and you can enjoy it here, plus read an appreciation of it here on a brilliant fall-centric blog by mike shields.
the song – and therefore my story – is based on a real event: the death of a lady called dolly regene young, thrown from a disneyland ride on the same day in 1984 that the fall frontman, mark e. smith, and his then-wife, brix, happened to be visiting. you can read a brief overview of what happened here, as well as brix’s account of what she witnessed here. my inspiration for the story stems as much from the events recalled by mark and brix as the numerous factual accounts i found when researching the incident. dolly’s death is a fact; the reactions of disney’s staff is open to conjecture…but i had loads of fun exploring the impact such a bizarre scene could have on a man unfortunate enough to be dressed as mickey mouse at the time.
now, it’s not for me to say whether my ‘disney’s dream debased’ conveys any of the horror, tragedy, pitch-black comedy or sadness of the incident itself, but i can proudly say i gave it a good try. dolly’s story has disturbed me ever since i first read about it; it’s gut-wrenching yet ridiculous, cartoon-like but shocking. she was an ordinary woman who died an extraordinary death.
so i’d like you to pick up your iphone and download ‘disney’s dream debased’. but what i’d really love is for you to read the facts about dolly’s end, and take a moment to remember that death is often at least as random and ridiculous as the life that precedes it.
i’m not sure if i’ve ever mentioned ether books to you before but-
oh, silly me, i nearly forgot; i’ve rambled on about ether’s pure brilliance here, here, and performed an award-winning* dramatic performance about it here.
but it’s time for me to rave about ether once again, because from today you** can download the new, improved, all singing, all dancing*** ether iphone app v1.4.
since i last wrote about the fantastic work ether are doing to push the short story into the smartphone age, they’ve massively picked up momentum. almost every day now, ether books’ facebook page and twitter feed raves about new releases; more talented writers are joining ether every day, many of whom are well-established award-winners who often offer their stories for free. because they’re nice like that. not because they’re rubbish at writing and can barely give it away. and, as i’ve said before, i’m proud to have had two stories published by ether books so far (‘i think the sun is shining’ and ‘bcc:’, both frankly brilliant and yours, here), largely because i’m amongst such fine company.
if for some reason you’ve got an iphone and evaded ether’s charms so far, now is the time to get involved. ether’s iphone app has 
always been a winner – easy to use, good-looking and a joy to read from – but v1.4 is even better. it looks smarter, it’s more intuitive, plus it’s, like, as down with the kids in this social media age as it should be: now, you can not only follow the authors you fall in love with, as well as link to their own sites / blogs, but also rave about their brilliance by sharing links to their stories via the facebooks, the twitters or good ol’ email. ether has always been great at offering affordable quick reads on the go, but this new functionality means you can now recommend your new discoveries in an instant. as a result, you will inevitably become more popular, and your new friends will think you’re ever so cultured and, like, literary, because you’ve recommended they read some writing and stuff.****
anyway, ether themselves talk far more convincingly – and professionally – about the benefits of v1.4 here and here.
this new world of mobile reading isn’t going to fade away – the rise of the mighty kindle has proved that – and ether will have more to offer as time goes on. this week they announced that, as well as short stories, essays and serials, you can also download weekly columns by well-established writers and journalists via the ether app. plus ether will, sooner rather than later, be available on android and blackberry too. the ether universe is expanding. so come on, get involved. before everyone starts laughing at you more than they already do. sorry. shouldn’t have mentioned that. it’s nothing, honest.
“thanks for this wonderfully written pr stunt, daaan,” i hear you say. “but what’s in it for you?”
nothing. i just do these things out of pure love.
but – oh – incidentally, i do have another story scheduled to be published by ether very soon indeed. it’s called ‘disney’s dream debased’, and originally appeared in a short story collection i contributed to, pop fiction: stories inspired by songs. it’s an essential purchase for everyone in the world who:
a) owns an iphone
b) likes my writing but
c) failed to buy pop fiction when it came out, despite my incessant pleading
d) thinks “£7.99 for a book? bugger that, i’ll spend 59p on just one of the stories instead. that’s a reasonable price”.
there must be one of you out there…so please buy it when it comes out. fret not – i’ll let you know.
so. what now? well, first, i’d recommend grabbing your iphone and downloading the ether app v1.4. even if you’ve been kind enough to listen to me in the past and get involved, you’ll need to update the application to get the best out of what ether has to offer.
and, once you’ve got your app, marvelled at its beauty and immersed yourself in a world of fantastic fiction…get voting. that’s right – the sunday times is looking for the best apps out there, and i reckon ether deserves your vote. it’s either that or angry birds, but frankly i’d plump for the app that doesn’t make you scream like a child and drive you towards murderous thoughts every time you play it.*****
* ‘best iphone app-pimping whilst eating confectionary performance’ category, the idiot awards, 2011.
** when i say ‘you’, i mean ‘you, if you’ve got an iphone’. we’ve already discussed what you need to do if you don’t own one. seriously, sort it out. it’s getting embarrassing.
*** nb. ether app v1.4 does not sing or dance. but v1.5 presumably will.
**** this cannot be proven and yet remains a fact.
***** i am not addicted. it is just a game. it is just a game. it’s just a bloody game and i will destroy those pigs or die trying. ahem. sorry.
the tracks… will be my third novel, and you can read what i’ve written so far here.
i plan to publish the novel’s chapters on this blog as i write them, which is ever so exciting. but bear with me; it’s taken a while to get this far. subscribe to this blog and you’ll be notified as soon as i post new chapters.
the tracks… begins with the death of a woman on the train tracks at london bridge station, and focuses on the effect the incident has on the train driver who inadvertently kills her and a commuter who witnesses the incident.
i’m intrigued by the fact that, over the course of a twenty-five year career as a train driver, the chances are you’d inadvertently kill someone whilst simply doing your job. to me, this grim statistic offers an intriguing premise; train-related deaths are such a common occurrence these days, yet no one’s writing about them.
the tracks… won’t be quite as bleak as it sounds, though; to an extent it’s simply about how negative events can somehow have positive after-effects.
i hope you enjoy these opening chapters. all feedback massively appreciated (but keep it constructive, kids). comment on this blog or email me: daaanlewis@gmail.com.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 out
, 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.
out now!
