Hiya Peeps!

I think the new site's fantastic. I realise it's traditional to grouse vociferously at any attempts by abc to modernise or improve facilities for its members, but I'm going to break with convention and simply say thank you, and very well done. Drew - things are going okay, thanks. Bit of a mixed bag really. The agent has asked me to make more rewrites and - annoyingly - I see her criticism is actually spot on and very useful. So that is proving tough. Slightly afraid I'm not up to the challenge. I'm writing freelance for a few magazines, reviewing DVDs and travelling to Dam in October for the launch of the Xbox 360. Just broke up with the missus and had to return home - not great fun, but on the other hand it gives me time to get all this novel business sorted. Feeling pretty optimistic, overall.

I'd get a copy of The Writer's Handbook 2006, Styx. Then bosh off your first three chapters to all and sundry. If it's brilliant, it'll find a home no worries.