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.
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.
to read my top 5’s from 2010 (songs, albums, and now – in this expanded, remastered, deluxe edition – with added re-issues), please click here.
yes, i know it’s 2011. i’ve been busy. y’know, listening to music and stuff.
a terrible pun, i know. blame lack of sleep.
was i up late last night being a total rock god? no, of course not. i was putting the finishing touches to my application for the 2011 jerwood / arvon mentoring scheme. i’d invite you to apply too but, unless you have the time to read the rules, write a 1,000 word statement and biography and hand-deliver your application to the free word centre in farringdon by 5pm tomorrow…you’re too late. sorry about that. for what it’s worth, i left everything to the last minute, and only just posted mine off in time. i probably missed something important out. like my contact details.
it’s a great op
portunity – three fiction writers, three playwrights and three poets chosen from applicants will receive guidance and support over the next year from established writers, plus the prize includes two separate weeks at arvon foundation courses, where work-in-progress can be developed.
the reason i’m mentioning the scheme here is that, when writing my application statement, i found myself thinking fondly of the week i spent on an arvon foundation course last summer. there are four different locations around the country where courses take place, and mine was at john osbourne’s old home, the hurst.
i’ll keep it brief and say: it was one of the best experiences i’ve had as a writer. tutorials in the morning, free time to write in the afternoon, and group fun in the evening. beautiful surroundings. great tutors. loads of fun. you even cook for each other – which is more fun than it sounds.
most courses are attended by about fifteen writers, and i’m pleased to say that for five days i was surrounded by about as nice a group as you could wish to meet. a really diverse bunch of friendly and talented characters, including melanie, vinnie and jane, whose wonderful words you should, of course, sample.
most importantly, the course gave me the space – both mentally and physically – to actually write. having the free time to concentrate on what you love doing, whilst knowing that you are supposed to be doing that and nothing else, felt…unusual. and awesome. i wrote a lot of words. a few of them were actually alright.
arvon haven’t announced their 2011 courses yet, but will soon. sign up and they’ll let you know once they’re open for bookings.
get to the point? fine:
if you’re a writer, and you’re reading this, and you acknowledge that your writing can and should improve, and you haven’t done an arvon course…then do one. you won’t regret it.
(disclaimer: you might regret it. but i doubt you will. and if you do, don’t come crying to me. arvon don’t pay me for this, you know. i just like them and think they’re great. oh, just BOOK A COURSE, will you?).
oh, and if you’re interested, i submitted a story called ‘i think the sun is shining’ with my application. i’ll put it on this site sometime soon, but in the meantime i’d be eternally grateful if you’d do me the honour of reading it here.
out now!
daaanlewis 
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