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.
Jan
6
The Best of Every Day Poets One
Filed Under Anthologies, Publications | 2 Comments
OK, prepare yourselves for a flurry of posts about stuff that happened over the break …
First up is the publication of “The Best of Every Day Poets One”. I’ve got three poems in this: “School Uniform”, “Grey Goo” and “Tasty Teresa” and it will be really nice to see them in print.
The thing I love about Every Day Poets is that they publish such a wide range of material, both highbrow and lowbrow. However, I have to say that all three of my contributions here are on the distinctly lowbrow side. Two of them rhyme, for God’s sake. The other one is my one and only attempt at a Fib. I’m not good with form poetry, but I can just about manage a 1-1-2-3-5-8 syllabic pattern, and in this one you get two for the price of one, because there’s a second part that goes 8-5-3-2-1-1.
Anyway, I can thoroughly recommend that you buy this one. Here’s where you need to go.
Dec
20
52 Stitches
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My little friend here would like to draw your attention to a splendid new 52 Stitches anthology which is now available to buy. You really should buy this one, for two reasons.
First of all, it’s very good and contains some splendidly creepy flashes from the likes of Cate Gardner, Mercedes Yardley, Barry Napier, Rachel Green, CL Scarr and many more (oh, and me).
Secondly, as some of you may be aware, one of the authors involved, Jamie Eyberg, was killed along with his wife in a tragic accident earlier this year, leaving behind two young kids. All profits from the anthology will therefore be given to Jamie’s memorial fund for their benefit. I only had the most tangential interactions with Jamie, but he seemed a nice and genuine guy as well as being a talented and original writer. A sad loss.
Dec
10
Body Parts and Coal Dust
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Now there’s an arresting cover for you, eh? This year’s Whittaker Prize anthology is now available, and what a stunning piece of work it is too. Massive kudos to Donna Gagnon Pugh, the editor, and her cover designer, the enigmatically-named Five Seventeen.
Oh, and I’ve got a couple of poems in it, “Rock Bottom” and “I Suppose We All Thought That, One Way or Another.”
Get yourself a copy now!
Dec
2
Secrets and Silent Times
Filed Under Anthologies, Competitions | 2 Comments
Some time ago I took part in the Slingink Prize and managed to get shortlisted in the poetry section with my piece “Imitation of a Suicide”. The resulting anthology is now available from Lulu and a good read it looks too. I’m looking forward to getting my copy and I’ll be particularly intrigued to see how the junior prizewinners stack up against their more seasoned counterparts. My suspicion is that they’ll more than hold their own.
In other Slingink news, today I submitted my entries for the final round of this year’s scribbling slam. I’ve really enjoyed this year’s competition, having not written much in the way of short fiction this year. In fact I sat out last year’s Eurofiction (the precursor of the scribbling slam) as well as the fiction section of this year’s Whittaker Prize and it was really nice to get back into being forced to come up with some stories.
I think I’m reasonably pleased with all of the stories and all but one of the poems I came up with. I’m not really in contention for the top spot in either category, but I’ve definitely got some material that I can work with – which is, after all, the main reason for doing it.
Nov
21
Mrs Darcy, Episode Ninety-Five and More Other Stuff
Filed Under Anthologies, Mrs Darcy, The Publishing Industry | 2 Comments
Meanwhile, in the West East Wing of Rosings, Wickham makes an unexpected discovery or two. Only five more episodes to go now, plus the epilogue! Excited? I can barely contain myself …
In other news, Adrian Chamberlin, one of my fellow “M is for Monster” authors, dropped in this afternoon to deliver my copies of the anthology. It’s always nice to meet other writers and the anthology looks absolutely cracking. Can’t wait to read it.
Finally, here’s a really interesting interview on Simon Kewin’s blog with Maureen Scott, the co-founder of Ether Books. Fascinating stuff. As regular readers will know, I’ve got a couple of stories on Ether already and I believe that Simon is going to be joining the Ether community soon himself. Definitely worth keeping an eye on.
Nov
19
There are more misunderstandings in this episode. This is essentially a second outing for the mistranslation gag, except with a slight twist on it. Dunno if it works, but I quite like it.
In other news, things have calmed down slightly after the flurry of announcements on Monday, but there’s still plenty of other stuff going on. I’m in the shortlist for this year’s Café Doom writing competition with a rather revolting old story that I found lying festering in the archives. Doubt if it will go any further (the shortlist is being judged by the good people at Shock Totem even as I write), but it was nice to see it get a few votes after last year’s failure.
I am also beginning to drown in a sea of anthologies. Over the last week or so, I’ve had my copies of 50 Stories from Pakistan and Shambelurkling and Other Stories arrive and I believe that my M is for Monsters are arriving on Sunday. These will soon be followed by the forthcoming ones from Every Day Poets, The Whittaker Prize, Fifty-Two Stitches, The Slingink Prize and Eclectic Fiction. This is to say nothing of the VWC one that I’m in the process of editing right now …
I also received my contract this week for my Murky Depths story, “Teamwork”, which will be coming out in May – really looking forward to seeing that one in print.
And finally, keep an eye out for something special that I did for National Short Story Week next week *taps nose*.
Nov
14
Shambelurkling and Other Stories is Now Available!
Filed Under Anthologies, Publications | 6 Comments
Before I say anything else, feast your eyes on that cover. Isn’t it gorgeous? Right, this is another anthology that I’m in, except there’s a bit of difference in that this one’s for kids – specifically kids aged 8 to 12. It’s been produced in aid of the National Autistic Society’s Early Bird Plus Programme, and of the unbelievably reasonable £3.99 cover price, £1.06 will go to the charity.
So props to Marit Meredith of The Pages Magazine for organising it, and to my fellow writers too numerous to name, but including Trevor Belshaw, Sharon Birch, Rachel Carter, Rebecca Emin, Ruchira Mandal and Maureen Vincent-Northam.
I reckon it’s an ideal Christmas present if you’ve got any 8 to 12-year old kids lying around the place. Here’s where you can go to buy it.
My contribution is a bunch of poems about imaginary animals. Here’s one to whet your appetite:
The Scuzzcat’s a bit like a tabby,
except scrofulous*, scorious* and scabby.
When you stroke one, the memory lingers,
because bits come away in your fingers.
* Look these up in a dictionary. Then again, on second thoughts, best not to.
Nov
3
Eclectic Flash “Best of 2010″ Anthology
Filed Under Acceptances, Anthologies, Performances | 6 Comments
Nice e-mail from Brad Nelson of Eclectic Flash last night (quick reminder of editorial staff page at EF for those of you who don’t remember it from last time) to say that my odd little bilingual flash “The Language of Angels” has been selected for their “Best of 2010″ anthology. Good to see a strange little piece like that getting some more recognition.
Had a great time at Sparks as usual last night. “Desert Culture” had a bit of a “meh” response, partly as a result of me fumbling the reading a bit and partly because it’s quite a slight piece anyway. But “Advice re Elephants” seemed to go down very well. I think it’s my favourite piece at the moment, and I think I’ll probably read it again at the VWC Open Mic night at The Goat in St Albans on November 25th.
Oct
28
50 Stories for Pakistan
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… is now ON SALE! Do you need me to say anything more about it? Go and buy a copy now. Buy 10. Buy 20. Buy 50.
And if anyone fancies hearing me read my contribution, “Desert Culture”, come on down to Sparks 11, Upstairs at Three and Ten, Steine Street, Brighton next Tuesday, November 2nd at 8PM.
Oct
27
Shambelurkling and Other Stories
Filed Under Acceptances, Anthologies, Charity | 4 Comments
Bit of serendipity today. As a result of following some new people on Twitter (I think mainly because they’re also in the “50 Stories for Pakistan” anthology, although I could be wrong), I picked up on another charity anthology, this time being produced by the people behind The Pages Magazine. All royalties for this one are going to the National Autistic Society Early Bird Plus Programme, which seems like an excellent cause.
The tricky bit about this particular anthology is that it’s aimed at kids – specifically 8- to 12-year-old kids – and I don’t write stories for kids any more (I did once, but that was a long time ago). However, I did happen to have a dozen very silly poems for kids that were lying around not doing much, so I sent them in this afternoon. A couple of hours or so later, I received my acceptance for all twelve. Woo hoo!
It’s always nice finally to find a home for something (especially stuff that was written getting on for 20 years ago), but to find a nice home for it is even better. The anthology is coming out in time for Christmas, and I’ll let you know when it becomes available.