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.
Oct
16
Get Writing 2010
Filed Under Festivals and Conferences | 2 Comments
We interrupt this service to give a blatant plug to “Get Writing 2010″, the conference organised by my excellent local writers’ circle. An astonishing array of speakers and workshops, plus (if you get your skates on and book quickly) the chance to pitch your wares to an agent or editor, and all for a mere £45 including lunch. Here’s the link. So what are you waiting for?
Oct
13
Sparks Night
Filed Under Acceptances, Performances | 2 Comments
Ooh, this should be fun. I’ve just had a piece accepted for the next Sparks Night. This is the one where you read out a piece of under 1000 words in front of a projection of a specially commissioned photograph. I’ll be fascinated to see what they come up with to accompany my piece. I’ve chosen an old favourite of mine, “Canine Mathematics”, which I last read at Leighton Buzzard Writers’ open mic night, where it seemed to go down reasonably well.
Anyway, if you fancy coming along to see me making a fool of myself, the venue is Upstairs at the Three and Ten, Steine Street, Brighton, and the date is Tuesday, November 3rd. I’m really looking forward to this. Just got to work out how to get back home afterwards – I’m hoping against hope that there isn’t a replacement bus service between London Bridge and St Pancras, because that will really piss me off.
Oct
12
Fifty-Two Stitches Anthology
Filed Under Anthologies, Publications | 3 Comments
Yay! My copies of the anthology arrived today. I know I’ve probably said it before, but it really is a fascinating collection of dark and unpleasant writing, with a remarkably consistent level of quality for a project with so many contributors. More power to Aaron Polson of Strange Publications. Oh, and here’s the link in case you haven’t ordered yours yet.
Submissions are opening again for next year’s project on October 31st, by the way.
Oct
12
City of Derby Writing Competition 2009
Filed Under Competitions, Placings | 2 Comments
Weird business going in for short story competitions. On the one hand, there are some that I regularly enter where I’ve never had a sniff of the longlist, let alone a prize. And on the other hand, there’s City of Derby. Last year, when it was judged by Alex Keegan, I came joint second. This year, when it was judged by Sara Maitland, I came third. To say that I’m gobsmacked is something of an understatement.
Anyway, Mrs P, daughter P and I went to Derby on Friday for the award ceremony and a good time was had by all. Sara Maitland was an outspoken and generous judge with an obvious passion for the short story form. Last year we didn’t get to read any of our work, so I was a little surprised to be asked to read an extract and talk about it. I usually quite like reading my stuff out, but I think I rambled a bit this time. Actually, I rambled a lot. But the audience laughed once or twice, and on at least one occasion in the right place. And the winning story, Kite, by Gaby Pritchard, was very very good indeed.
I am also now in the possession of a signed copy of Sara Maitland’s book “Far North and other Dark Tales” with the word “CONGRATULATIONS” all over it. Which is worth more than any cheque really. I’ve only had time to read the first couple of stories in it and they are rather wonderful. Looking forward to reading more of her stuff.
Here’s the link to the winning stories. Obviously I’d like you to take a look at mine, but have a peek at the others as well. Especially the winner. It is quite special.
Oct
5
Old Magic in a New Age
Filed Under Anthologies, Publications | 4 Comments
Exciting week ahead … but I’ll say more about that later on. To kick things off, my contributor’s copy of Earlyworks Press’ latest anthology, “Old Magic in a New Age”, dropped through the letterbox this morning, featuring my piece “Nature’s Banquet” as its lead story. There’s loads of other good stuff in there, and I can’t wait to read it. Copies are available here.
Oct
3
After the Rapture …
Filed Under Publications | Leave a Comment
The Rapture is one of my favourite concepts in religion. I’m sure it must be an urban myth, but I read somewhere that there is an American airline that ensures that at least one of the pilots is non-Christian, so that if the Rapture occurs mid-flight, the plane will still have someone on board that can fly it. It would be so good if that were true, though, because it shows an attention to detail that you don’t usually find outside Judaism.
Anyway, I can’t help feeling that the Rapture does pose some serious logistical problems, and my piece that appeared last night on Twitter looks at one of these. Here’s the direct link to it, although you really should be following @tweetthemeat on Twitter anyway, shouldn’t you? What’s Twitter, did I hear you say? Oh, get with the program, Grandad.
Oct
1
Turn Around When Possible
Filed Under Interviews | 8 Comments
I had an e-mail this morning from Oonagh Joslin of Every Day Poets to tell me that “Professionalism” was the most read poem there during the month of August, and would I like to be interviewed? Well, that’s as close to a definition of a no-brainer as I’m likely to come across, so of course I said yes. So there it is. I am going to be interviewed about my poetry. I repeat, I am going to be interviewed about my poetry.
This journey is going in all sorts of directions that the satnav never predicted.