Blood gets a new look, and Bleakwood returns
“The world is a beautiful place but we have to make it that way
Whenever you find home, we’ll make it more than just a shelter
And if everyone belongs there, it will hold us all together
If you’re afraid to die, then so am I” - Getting Sodas, The World is a Beautiful Place and I am No Longer Afraid To Die.
I’ve been thinking a lot about these lyrics recently. I’ve followed American politics for so long that it was actually my degree specialism, back in the dusty old days of the previous century, back when there was still some hope in the world, but over the years that’s become an increasingly depressing pastime. But I’ve been watching the results of the recent days and thinking that maybe, just maybe, there’s still some hope in the world. Not a lot, maybe, but a little.
On the other hand, I’ve also been following the slow descent of Twitter from ‘barely functioning hellscape’ into ‘ultimate billionaire’s vanity project’ with much the same horror as anyone else who has chosen to make that their social media home this last decade or so. The seams are coming apart on this whole thing we call the internet, and there’s a part of me that wonders if that isn’t just the best thing. Turn it all off, chalk it up as a blip, get on with our lives.
But it’s never that easy, is it? Too many people rely on places like Twitter and Facebook for huge swathes of their connection to the rest of humanity, and it’s not enough to say ‘suck it up, buttercup’, or ‘LET’S ALL MOVE TO MASTODONG’.
Who knows what the future holds for social spaces. Whatever the answer is, let’s hope it has a better ‘no nazis’ door policy.
All of which is to say that if you haven’t already, make sure to put your email address in to the box when prompted, so you don’t miss out on news from all things me when Twitter implodes under the weight of Elon’s ego. I’d give that about five days or so.
Speaking of the end of the world, the Blood on the Motorway trilogy is now available in both paperback and hardback. And what’s more, it should be available in all good bookstores, not just the evil ones. Look, here it is in Waterstones!
The hardback versions have brand new, specially designed covers. They’re a bit pricey, but they’re as cheap as I could make them with the distributors. To find all the links to the stores of your choice, check out my website.
What else? Oh, yeah, Bleakwood is back! It’s been a few months since episode four of Bleakwood had us venturing into the dark mind of Dan Howarth, but it’s back with Episode Five - The Oaks.
This episode is written by me, and tells the tale of Amanda. She’s having a good day, even with the threat of a full shift at Pentarkle Industrial hanging over it. But this shift will not be like the others. This time, she'll come face to face with The Orb, and the man behind its controls.
Oh, and I’ve recently discovered that Bleakwood wasn’t showing up on Apple Podcasts for some reason, so I’ve fixed that. You can find it in your search now, or follow this link:
That’s about all the news that’s fit to print here at Hollow Stone Towers, so I’ll just leave you with a plea from Elon:
Until next time, happy reading,
Paul