About this Site
My name's Jonathan Pinnock. I lead a dual life. In one half of this, I run a software development company called Jonathan Pinnock and Associates. If you've come here looking for that, here's where you need to go.However, if you've come here to find out about the other half of my life, as a writer of fiction and non-fiction, you've come to the right place.
If, on the other hand, you've arrived here by accident whilst searching for Japanese Tentacle Porn, I suggest you try using a different search engine.
If you'd like to contact me, my e-mail address is jon AT jpassoc DOT co DOT uk.
Books
Mrs Darcy versus the Aliens was published by Proxima Books in September 2011.
The Scott Prize-winning short story collection Dot(.), Dash(-) will be published by Salt in 2012.
Mar
22
Tasty Teresa
Filed Under Publications | 2 Comments
For reasons best known to themselves, Every Day Poets have chosen to celebrate World Poetry Day by publishing “Tasty Teresa”, my tale of love, loss and butchery.
This one started off with three lines that appeared to me in a vision one day:
for they found Teresa
in dum-de-dums freezer
in convenient, family-sized joints
It took me ten years to construct the rest of the poem around them.
Incidentally, around the same time, I came up with this fragment, in a similar rhythm:
… I finally met Mr Big:
he was in a jacuzzi,
stroking an Uzi
and a Vietnamese pot-bellied pig
This is still defying my attempts to complete it, which may be no bad thing.
Mar
19
Post-
Filed Under Publications | Leave a Comment
Just noticed that my piece of meta-fiction, “Post-”, went up at Flash Scribe yesterday. Just for a change, I originally wrote this one for the weekly flash challenge at The Write Idea. Can’t remember it getting many votes, but I quite like the way that it sort of loops back on itself.
And I’ve also just noticed that it’s a week since I last blogged. Life is far too complicated at the moment …
Mar
12
Dog Star
Filed Under Publications | 3 Comments
My meditation on Laika, the first dog in space, is now available for all to see in the March issue of Aphelion. I recommend reading it in the style of John Hegley, with excessive emphasis on every instance of Laika and its various homophones.
I like John Hegley. I met him once, you know.
Mar
9
Welcome to the Hive
Filed Under Publications | 2 Comments
This rather unpleasant little piece is now up at Flash Scribe. Enjoy.
Mar
8
What Stirs the Spring
Filed Under Performances | 1 Comment
The dates and venue for “What Stirs the Spring” (featuring “After Michelangelo”) have now been announced. So the place to be is The Drill Hall, and the dates are April 1st to 3rd. This is what they have to say:
Following their success at Hampstead’s New End Theatre in December 2008, Camden-based young company Obstacle brings A Winter’s Chill into the New Year and a new season.
Performers Miles Barden and Joshua Dickinson present the work of two contemporary authors seeking to surpass the mystery of WW Jacobs and the monstrosity of Edgar Allan Poe with their own original, grisly legends.
See What Stirs the Spring when new commissions challenge old masters in the intimate atmosphere of The Drill Hall.
Suitable for those aged 12 and over.
Those two contemporary authors are Oscar Windsor-Smith and yours truly, BTW. And Jacobs and Poe? Pah! Has-beens, them two.
Mar
6
Quiet here, innit?
Filed Under Other people, Stunts | Leave a Comment
So anyway, what have I been doing lately? Here’s a brief snapshot of my writing life over the last few days:
I have written the first chapter of my first grown-up novel. This has taken the total word count (including the prologue) to around 4000, which (as those who know me will appreciate) is completely uncharted territory. The good news is that I even know what happens next, and it seems to be flowing reasonably easily so far. It is, however, rather silly.
Eurofiction has come to an end. I had high hopes for my Task 10 piece, which was unbelievably massively clever and intricate, but it picked up a very average 6. Needs more contextualization, apparently. Although the lack of context was part of its charm. I can guess that it’s going to be one of those stories that I really like, but is going to hang around the house taking up space and asking me to do its washing for the next five years.
The Whittaker starts on Saturday. I am doing both fiction and poetry this year and I really wonder what I was thinking of when I signed up. However, Geoff Nelder will be an interesting judge for the fiction, so I’ll try to stick with it for a round or two at least.
The STIRRED POeT continues, increasing my poetry portfolio at a rapid pace. Whilst my ranking could not in any way be described as stellar, I’m actually picking up a few votes from some of the real poets on TWI, which pleases me no end.
And I’ve got a few things coming out later this month – specifically in Litro, Every Day Poets and Aphelion (and possibly FlashScribe).
Finally, if you’ve nothing to do for a few minutes, take a look at this piece from my mate Oscar. It’s ace.
Mar
1
“Greetings in Jesus’ Name!”
Filed Under Stuff | 4 Comments
Move over Jack Straw. I was contacted just now by someone who’d had this rather curious e-mail regarding an apartment in Nob Hill, San Francisco (yes, honestly), and was wondering if it was some kind of scam or not. Hmmm. All I can say is that we Jonathan Pinnocks don’t half get about, don’t we?
From: pinnock jonathan <pinnock.jonathan@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, Feb 28, 2009 at 11:54 PM
Subject: Re: nob hill apt
To: [deleted]Hello,
How are you? Thanks for been interested in my apartment.My name is Rev Jonathan,Owner of the apartment you are making inquiry about,My apartment is still available for rent and it is located at:1030 Franklin St,San Francisco,CA 94109….I only need someone that can take good care of my apartment at my absence because,right now am not around to show you apartment as i have gone for a MISSIONARY WORK OF GOD IN WEST AFRICA .I want you to note that you will only be able to View the apartment from the outside because am here with the Keys and Document of my apartment,i tried to look for an agent before i left but couldn’t get any in time because i did not stay long in the apartment and was unable to look for a trust worthy person to give the keys to,If you know that you are ready to rent the apartment and have a good credential you can email me back to secure and occupy my apartment at my absent, all i want is for who will take very good care of the apartment as i will be gone for a very long time.Also i will like you to know that the rent charges is not really the issue, hope you are okay with the price of $850 Per Month including utilities like water, gas, heat laundry facilities, air condition and so on, but your absolute maintenance of my apartment is most important thing, if you are really interested in renting this apartment get back to me by filling the application form below so that all arrangement can be made on how you will be getting the Keys and Document to move in.See Application Form below.
*********RENT APPLICATION FORM**********
*********PRIVATE & CONFIDENTIAL**********1) Your Full Name.
2) Your Full Address
3)Phone Number
4) Citizen or Country ?
5) How old are you ?
6) Are you married ?
7) Sex ?
How many people will be living in the apartment?
9) Do you have a pet ?
10) Do you have a car ?
11) What is your Occupation ?
12) Short or Long Term Lease ?
13) When do you intend moving in : Date ?
14) When do you intend to moving out : Date ?
15) Deposit : One or Two month Deposit are required
16) Occupant Picture
17) Reference DetailsLanding 33’1″ x 6’10″ ( 7.83m x 2.88m )
Reception room 27’1″ x 26’1″ ( 6.28m x 5.98m )
Kitchen 23’1″ x 21’1″ ( 4.96m x 4.45m )
Bathroom 7’20″ x 6’20″ ( 3.18m x 2.88m )
Guest WC 6’1″ x 3’20″ ( 2.62m x 1.96m )I personally will actually come visiting you sometimes during when you have moved into my apartment. Looking forward to hear from you with all this details so that i can have it in my file in case of issuing the receipt for you and contacting you. I can be reach anytime at +2348020671041 or 0112348020671041. Awaiting your reply so that we can discuss on how to get the document and the keys of the apartment to you.Thanks and God Bless You
Regards
Rev Jonathan.