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
16
Cyprus Delight
Filed Under Festivals and Conferences, Publications, Verulam Writers' Circle | 2 Comments
Very quick post because I’m recovering from a severe bout of man flu. My poem “Cyprus Delight”, which was highly commended in last year’s New Writer competition, is in the very latest edition of the magazine, on page 49. It’s always nice to see something in print, especially a poem.
The other good thing that’s happened in the last few days is that my workshop at the Get Writing 2012 conference has sold out. I’m really pleased about this because last time I did one, back in 2008, I had an audience of two plus some chums from the Verulam Writers’ Circle who took pity on me. Suppose I’d better get going on preparing my workshop then. But first I have a talk to Harrow Writers to do this Thursday – if you’re in the area, do drop in.
Jan
10
British Fantasy Society Review for Mrs Darcy
Filed Under Mrs Darcy, Reviews | 2 Comments
There I was, moping because I thought poor Mrs Darcy was being ignored, when up pops a lovely review on *drum roll* The British Fantasy Society‘s web site. It’s really nice to read a review of something you’ve done by someone you don’t know who so obviously gets it – and extra points for spotting the Natalie Imbruglia reference, by the way. Speaking of references, no-one’s yet mentioned the allusion to “Lucky Jim” – or was that a bit too subtle? It’s probably my favourite. No clues, though…
Jan
6
Review: Household Worms by Stanley Donwood
Filed Under Other people, Reviews | 2 Comments
It’s about time I did a few more reviews, having read some really rather ace books in the last few weeks, even if the idea of reviewing things makes me a bit nervous. (What if I miss something important? What if I look completely shallow?) However, it’s about time I actually stepped up and gave an opinion or two. So here’s what should be the first of many reviews in 2012.
First of all, full disclosure. I was sent a copy of this by that lovely bloke, the Bristol Short Story Prize’s Joe Melia, (presumably) after I’d said nice things about Stanley Donwood’s previous collection “Slowly Downwards”. Stanley Donwood, in case you don’t know, is better known as Radiohead’s in-house artist, responsible for all their artwork from “The Bends” onwards.
Being a skilled visual artist of course isn’t necessarily a copper-bottom guarantee of an ability to write, although the two often go hand in hand and in any case the Radiohead connection really ought to pique interest. The good news, however, is that he most definitely can, although this isn’t a remotely conventional collection.
Like “Slowly Downwards”, it isn’t a book that grabs you right from the start. It’s more a case of gradually being sucked into its world. I don’t think that any of these stories would win any prizes on their own, but the cumulative effect is quite remarkable. Most of them are quite short (only a paragraph or two in some cases) and only two extend to any length (the first story, “Wage packet”, and “Sell your house and buy gold”, which plays some effective tricks with white space). Some of them amount to little more than a short lead-up to a punchline (the hilarious “Sky Sports”, for example, in which the protagonist’s suggestion of an alternative form of pub entertainment is met with hostility) whilst others seem to drift by without meaning much, only to hang on in your brain, nagging you. Generally speaking, it’s the short ones that really punch home.
I guess the nearest point of reference would be the stories of David Gaffney, except slightly odder. I’m pretty certain this is a good thing. And the cover’s lovely. Go and buy a copy.
Jan
3
Every Day double whammy and other stuff
Filed Under Acceptances, Mrs Darcy | 2 Comments
Didn’t have time to mention before 2011 ended that I’d had one more acceptance, from Every Day Fiction for a flash called “Rôle-Play”. This means that I have a bit of an Every Day double whammy this month, with an appearance in Every Day Fiction on January 23rd followed by Every Day Poets on January 24th. Which is cool.
In other news, Amy McLean and I were both a bit stunned to see that her video (see last post) has been picked up by the “Tim Burton news” twitter account (presumably unofficial but with a very high follower/follow ratio). Will be interesting to see if it spreads any further…
Dec
31
The Tim Burton Campaign Starts Here
Filed Under Mrs Darcy | 2 Comments
I finished my last post with “see you in 2012″, but there’s one last thing I’d like to squeeze in before 2011 goes out…
A week or so ago I tweeted that someone had found their way to the Mrs Darcy web site using the search term “darcy versus the aliens film”, which resulted in a brief exchange of ideas between myself and the lovely Amy McLean (remember her review?), in the course of which we both decided that Tim Burton would be a perfect choice of director for such a project – if only because it would mean we’d almost certainly be able to get Helena Bonham-Carter as Charlotte that way, to say nothing of Johnny Depp as Byron.
What follows is entirely unsolicited, with no further input from me. Apart from, as you can probably imagine, a vigorous shaking of the head when she asked me if I minded her doing this. Do please share this video as widely as you can. For Amy’s sake, obviously. Not mine. Definitely not mine.
And that definitely is it for 2011. Have fun tonight and don’t do anything silly, OK?
Dec
29
So, 2011 then…
Filed Under Goals | Leave a Comment
Normally today would be the day when I do my reflective post about the past year. However, given what a bloody amazing year it’s been, there’s a danger that it could all turn out a bit smug. So I’ll just confirm that it has indeed been absolutely bloody amazing, and I hope yours has been too. But if it hasn’t, hang in there because there’s another year around the corner, and it might just turn out to be the one where wonderful things happen to you. No guarantees, mind, but see you in 2012 one way or another.
(But before you go, take a look at A J Ashworth’s selection of book voucher beauties- several there I recognise, including – ahem – one in particular…)
Dec
22
Last Minute Presents
Filed Under Other people, Reviews | 2 Comments
OK, everyone. I’m guessing all of you have already gone out and bought a copy of Mrs Darcy versus the Aliens for everyone in your family (*stern face* you have, haven’t you?), but if you’re still looking for something, here are one or two ideas. I’ve been meaning to do proper reviews of all of these, but have singularly failed to do so – something I aim to rectify in the New Year.
I’m a bit torn when it comes to recommending a single best novel out of the ones I’ve read this year, so I’m going to cheat. The best paperback novel I’ve read this year is undoubtedly John Harding’s Florence and Giles. If you’re looking for an example of the power of a unique narrative voice, look no further. And it’s wondrously creepy too. The best hardback novel I’ve read this year is Vanessa Gebbie’s The Coward’s Tale: a lovely, warm patchwork quilt of a book with one of the most utterly satisfying and perfect endings I’ve read in a long, long time. Best Christmas stocking filler is Scott Pack’s Steve Stack’s 21st Century Dodos – like its progenitor’s blog, witty, entertaining and informative.
Best left-field oddball I’ve come across is probably Stanley Donwood’s Household Worms – as you would expect from Radiohead’s in-house artist, he has a completely unique voice. The best newcomer I’ve comes across this year is fellow Scott Prize winner Cassandra Parkin with her New World Fairy Tales, and I can only repeat what I’m quoted as saying on the cover: “A beguiling collection of present-day fables that effortlessly transcend their folk origins”. (I’m also really looking forward to reading AJ Ashworth’s Scott collection, Somewhere Else, or Even Here.) Finally, for the writer in your life, the best how-to book of the year has to be Nicola Morgan’s Write to be Published. It even has a mention of Mrs Darcy versus the Aliens in it – what more do you want?
So plenty of ideas there if you’re still looking for something. Probably too late for Amazon, but you can still go into a bookshop. There are a few left if you look around.
Dec
20
Lost for Words, amongst other things
Filed Under Mrs Darcy, Publications, Reviews | Leave a Comment
My satirical poem “Lost for Words” is up at Ink, Sweat and Tears today. It’s the first poem I’ve had published for a while, and I’m quite pleased it’s at IS&T because I’m pretty certain it was their guidelines I read a while back that included the warning that anything containing the word “shards” would probably not make it as far as publication. Which ultimately set me off on the train of thought that led to this poem.
Also today I found out that my story “How I Became a New Man, and What Good It Did Me” has now been published in translation in the German magazine WortMosaik, alongside Valerie O’Riordan in the Internationale Literatur section. I’m really looking forward to getting my hands on a print copy, just so I can see my work in a language that I don’t speak. The original may be found here, by the way.
In other news, I’m really pleased that Camille Gooderham Campbell, head honcho of Every Day Publishing, has chosen to recommend Mrs Darcy versus the Aliens for the Advent Book Blog. Whilst I’m on the subject of Every Day Publishing, I’d also like to draw your attention to their latest project, Every Day Novels, which starts in the new year with K.C.Ball’s “Lifting up Veronica”. K.C. is a superb writer and I’m really looking forward to reading this.
Finally, I really should have been writing Part 2 of the Mrs Darcy Christmas Special today. But instead it struck me that Wickhampedia really should have an article on Regency Christmas. So I wrote one. Wickhampedia is one of the things I’m most proud of this year and I’m slightly sad it hasn’t attracted more of a fanbase outside the people who know me already. Maybe it’s just a bit too odd. Or possibly just not funny enough. You can never tell.
Dec
16
140 And Counting and Other Stuff
Filed Under Anthologies, Mrs Darcy, Publications, Reviews | Leave a Comment
Right then. Got your Kindle handy? Good. Here’s a twitter anthology for you, from the splendid 7×20 magazine. I’m in there, with a twitter haiku, and there’s loads of other good stuff too from a wide variety of tweeters. If you’re in the UK, you can download it here, otherwise you’ll need to go here.
In other news, my good friend Oscar Windsor-Smith has come up with a Christmas present guide which for some reason includes Mrs Darcy versus the Aliens, alongside such other gems as The Archangel and the White Hart. Do you need any more recommendation than that? (He’s also spot on about Vanessa Gebbie’s The Coward’s Tale, which I’ve only just finished and is absolutely wonderful. Make sure you buy that one as well.)
Finally, this year’s Christmas Special for Mrs Darcy has turned into a bit of an epic. The first of two parts may be found here. To make things even more complicated, it’s actually a sequel to last year’s special. Thinking about it, it’s only a matter of time before the word count in the specials outnumbers the original.
Dec
9
Interview with Niall Boyce
Filed Under Interviews | 2 Comments
I’m very pleased to welcome fellow Proxima Books author Niall Boyce to my blog today. Niall is the very talented author of the utterly fab Veronica Britton: Chronic Detective serial, parts one and two of which are currently available from Amazon here and here respectively. If your taste is for an action-packed mystery story featuring a feisty time-travelling detective as a heroine, do yourself a favour and download both of them at the first available opportunity. You won’t regret it.
But do read the interview first.
Hello and welcome to the blog, Niall. I’d like to find out a bit about you yourself first. You’re a senior editor at the Lancet in your day job – I’m interested to know if your background is primarily in arts or science?
I studied English at A-level, and was seriously thinking about applying to do it at university – but medicine won out in the end. I have a medical degree and a PhD in physiology, and worked as a doctor for some time. I suppose my background in science explains why so many of my favourite authors – Kurt Vonnegut and Christopher Priest for example – didn’t go through the arts degree/creative writing route. I lack grounding in the theoretical aspects of English literature, and this means I have had to go the long way around learning certain parts of the craft. Then again, it means I’m not hemmed in by various preconceived notions and, frankly, snobberies.
Always good to come across another Christopher Priest fan! How do you find creative writing fits in with your non-fiction work?
An interesting question. In terms of content, science fiction is, to me, about conducting a thought experiment – reasoning out the consequences of a temporary suspension of the laws of physics or biology isn’t very different to what scientists do every day.
With regard to style, my preference is for clear prose – this isn’t the same thing as saying I don’t like complexity. The purpose of science writing is to make difficult ideas easily understandable to a large number of people, many of whom may not have English as their first language. It’s probably been said before that doctors who write have certain traits in common. The tendency is to avoid flourishes, but to pack a lot of information into a relatively short word count, with an emphasis on telling, pivotal details. This certainly applies to medics such as Arthur Conan Doyle, Joseph Conrad, and Arthur Schnitzler. They’re all very different in terms of subject matter, but I think you can trace a characteristic medical/scientific style in their writing.
As for the grind of writing – I set aside half an hour every day and write 500 words. I think getting precious about these things is the enemy of actual creativity.
I hadn’t realised until I looked at your blog how many short stories you’d had published (including some that I’d already listened to on the Liars’ League podcast). Do you see your future as purely a writer of full-length fiction, or do you think you’ll still continue with short forms as well?
I like short stories a lot and, as I said, there’s something about a medical background that tends towards brevity in prose. I’m planning to continue with both novels and short stories: the idea dictates the form. For example, I have written a few ghost stories, and I think these work best in the short format (either as short stories or novellas). Veronica Britton is rather more complex, and I think a longer format was needed to give the situations and characters space to breathe.
How did you get involved with Big Finish? When will we see your name on the credits for the Doctor Who TV series?
Doctor Who came about when Big Finish put out a call for new writers. I was just lucky that my submission was chosen (although I had previously written a few Doctor Who DVD sleeves and commentaries). I had a neat idea for a short story that would take the original rules of the show (eg, the Doctor couldn’t get his companions home), and blend in some things that wouldn’t or couldn’t have been done at the time. 1963, the year the show started, is now a historical era itself, and many of the attitudes and assumptions of the characters are things of the past. So it struck me as an interesting thing to explore.
I’d love to write a TV episode – in fact I have a cracking idea for one – but I’m not anticipating a call any time soon. Doctor Who is so big now that a strong track record of TV writing seems to be the minimum requirement. More Big Finish would be good. My story for the Bernice Summerfield range (The Empire Variations) was one of the most fun things I’ve written: being able to put Andy Warhol face-to-face with a giant floating alien dinosaur head was tremendous.
Ha. I bet! Veronica Britton features a strong, complex female heroine. Can you tell me a bit about where the inspiration for her character came from? And who would you like to see play her in a film adaptation?
I always saw the hero of these books as a woman: one reason for this is that I think women are rather more adaptable than men, in all sorts of ways. If time travel ever comes to be, I imagine women will be far better at it. So you’ll see that the male time travellers in VB are all rather bull-in-a-china-shop, whereas Veronica is more subtle, honest, and brave. As for who would play Veronica, I think Nicola Walker (Ruth from Spooks) would be ideal.
Did you see “Veronica Britton: Chronic Detective” as a serial right from the start?
I think the nature of good adventure fiction is that it consists of a series of cliffhangers, whether those come within a single story or in instalments. So I was keen on building plenty into Veronica Britton from the start. Every decent adventure narrative – from Exodus to King Solomon’s Mines and beyond – keeps you asking “How on earth are they going to get out of this one?” I think it works as a whole (the complete story is around 120, 000 words) or as individual episodes.
Do you think that electronic publishing is creating a new market for serials?
Although text-based serials declined in popularity through the twentieth century, serial fiction still persisted and thrived in the form of TV series and, of course, comics. Speaking for myself, I far prefer getting the new issue of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” every month to waiting for the trade paperback. Though whether or not e-serials are viable depends on the method of selling: it certainly seems to have worked for e-comics.
What are you working on next?
My next project is a novel about parallel universes, Arthurian legend, a TV show about a mysterious scientist, and 1970s Swansea. I’m currently at the phase of scribbling lots of different scenarios and bits of dialogue down on index cards: in 2012, these will hopefully coalesce into a seamless whole…
Fascinating stuff! Many thanks to Niall for dropping in. Now go and buy those first two episodes, OK? Seriously, they are very good indeed.