So, here I am, and it’s late’ish [originally written as e-mail, 3/11/2000]

And I’m still on a slight high after being at the cinema (another post to follow this one/precedes this one about that), and thought I’d ramble in the direction of the list for a while about a few things.

Why do authors publish their books?

I mean, I think I know why they write them. Creative urge, desire to express themselves, because they enjoy writing or can’t help but do it.

But why do they publish them? What is it that makes an author put their heart’s work out into the book store, in front of a hundred million potential critics?

I suppose it’s the same for any ‘creative’ activity, such as painting, music, etc.

I guess with ‘performing’ arts, they are only going to work if you have to perform for some people. However, with writing, the joy and the fun is in the writing? Why then do authors publish their work?

Non-fiction I can understand – to explain, to educate, to inform, to expand understanding and spread knowledge, to help.

And sure, fiction authors probably hope to some extent that their work might do that, but there must be more to it? It earns money, which is a good reason, and if you’re good at something and you enjoy it and it makes money, then hell, you should be doing it, right now. But is that why all authors start writing, start publishing? What about authors who can’t afford to live of their income from the writing, but they still do it?

Is it a subconscious or conscious desire for acceptance?

Is it to entertain? In the hope that their work brings others enjoyment? Isn’t that a bit vain? Is vanity an essential part of being an author?

When a musician performs live, they get a buzz, a response from the crowd, and I can see how that might be almost addictive. But when do authors get that? When they meet the fans at book signings? Perhaps, but it’s not on the same scale is it?

And they don’t know it’s going to happen, they have to publish the book first and then see if it happens?

Are they goaded into it by friends and family? “Go on, send it in, it’s good, really.”

I know it’s all of these things really, we’re to complex to do things for a single reason, but I wonder, about the authors I read, which of the reasons were at the front of their minds when they published their first book, and which were there when they published their latest one.

I’m quite proud of Gemmell Mania. It seems to be attracting a steady stream of visitors, even if it’s not thousands a day, and the comments in the guestbook are quite favourable.

It certainly feels like I’ve achieved something with the site.

Gemmell Mania is over 10,000 hits now!

I’ve changed the author recommendations bit to use PHP3 and mySQL, which is much cooler. I need to change the reviews to do the same, but I’m not sure how far to go.

Life is generally moving onwards. Still need to find a buyer for the house, if you are thinking of moving to Stockon on Tees, let me know.

Managed to put some more time in and get the Gemmell Mania website updated. A whole bunch of reviews, some recommendations, book release dates, and an HTML version of the character anthology put together by the excellent folk on the GemmellFantasy mailing list.

I still feel like re-organising this site, moving the miniatures off onto their own bit, making it easier to browse the images, but I’m not certain – I quite like the layout as it is.

Another day another dollar.

Didn’t make it to work today. Spent over an hour in the car just getting to the edge of where we live (i.e. one mile) with another 6 miles ahead of us. Grete had to go to Birmingham, so we turned around, I stayed at home, and she headed off.

Dunno why I’m so down all the time at the moment, but I’m not being very stable at work either, which I really do need to fix.

So, do I paint for a bit, or play more Baldur’s Gate II, or just smooch around the ‘net for a while. Choices choices.

What was the TV program presented by Dr Heinz Wolf called? The Great Egg Race seems to spring to mind? Kind of like Scrapheap is, but on a smaller scale, and more boffin-oriented.

Scrapheap is, without a doubt, the best television program of the last decade. You have to love it.

Robot Wars comes close – I have these visions of loved old folk having to sit at home and watch it because their sons and grandsons and daughters and granddaughters have nicked their wheelchair motors to power their latest tin-monstrosity.

Ok, ok, so I’m terrible at keeping my diary up-to-date, what else is new 😉

Grete’s away at the moment in Brighton, so I’m missing her terribly 🙁 I’m addicted to Baldur’s Gate II which is her fault anyway! 😉 Just finishing off the chapter 3 quests before starting out on chapter 4.

Work is pretty dire at the moment, team mates are great, but it’s performance management season, which is a bit like the hunting season with noisy honest blunt staff members on the menu.

Ah well, we endure.

Still haven’t sold the house, starting to get very worried about that now. Finances are getting out of control again, and my ‘control freakishness’ is becoming a serious issue.

I’m sure we’ll be fine!

Grete’s a lot better, although still not totally sorted. I’m knackered 😉

Grete’s suffering badly at the moment, her anxiety and depression is pretty bad. We nearly had her admitted to hospital, but decided against it at the last minute. She’s better off here, at home, where she’s familiar with things, and where I can keep her safe.