D.E. McCluskey's Blog: Dammaged Blog, the boring life of a writer

The good news is that I haven't changed... Im still the same skint, boring, middle aged bloke that I have always been.

However, I do have a lot more books written than I did the last time I wrote on this blog.

I have also embraced the medium of short stories and have been published in a few anthologies. Happy days.

This is a brief blog, just to let anyone know who might be reading this that I have relaunched my website (dont get all excited as its quite basic) and there is a section to sign up to my mailing list.

www.dammaged.com

Big love to you all!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

2021 looks to be giving us everything that its big brother offered us... is this a hurdle, or is it an opportunity?

The scariest thing EVER in the history of my whole life happened to me on Christmas Eve. I was made redundant from work.

Now, this is partly what I wanted, as it means that I no longer have to fix people's email... but, it does mean that there is no longer any regular income coming in! So, I am pushing my books, like a jockey on the final furlong (or is it furlough?) of the Grand National horse race.

2021 has promise, but it will be hard work, and a long hard slog, however I do believe that I have the determination to make a success out of it.

My books have been receiving great reviews. I released Butterflies towards the end of last year. This was a diversion from my norm (doesn't that sound familiar?) but it was well received. It has since garnered quite a few positive reviews.

I also released an audiobook version of Christmas Carol, narrated my Liam Scott, with incidental music and atmosphere from Clare Scott, both of Ginificant Productions.

This year I have three novels and one graphic novel to push onto you unsuspecting victims... One is TimeRipper that I have been working on for some time now, and I feel that it is ready to be unleashed onto the world. It is a sci-fi thriller, based loosely around the Jack the Ripper mythos...

Next up will be another diversion for me. My very first children's novel. A Seagull's Tale. This is a delightful tale about deception and collusion within a colony of seagulls living in a rock, just off the mainland. There is artwork inside the book, all done by a long term colleague, and partner in the Christmas Carol book, Joe Matthews.

Then I will have (finally) finished my long worked upon graphic novel DeathDay Presents. A horror comedy based in Hell... all the artwork is (almost) in, and I just need to work on the lettering, sort the cover out and get some printed!

After that will be the long winded (titled) horror/comedy/b-movie homage: Mutant Superhero Zombie Killing Disco Cheerleaders from Outer Space (with Uzis)... this should be out just in time for Halloween!

Thats all for me right now. I have to go and write more of my WIP, The Vaccine Machine (nothing to do with Covid 19, or 20, or even 21)...

See you all soon, I hope. Have a safe, warm, and enjoyable 2021... if we work together we can beat this...

Adieu

Dave.

So... my new book, Butterflies, has been released.

I was so nervous about this book, as it's not horror, it's not even a thriller, or a whodunit! It's a drama, and it's female led!!!

SHOCK AND HORROR (or not as the case maybe)

anyway, it didn't sell as many preorders than I was hoping, but then I didn't do as much publicity for it as I did for the other books, mostly because I was a little afraid that it wouldn't be taken to heart with my readership.

It turned out that I was wrong.

Its sold quite a few since release, and the reviews that I am getting are really favourable! It's mad, I'm even considering writing another drama like this one, and see where that goes!

Im also working on something else different at the moment. It's a low key thing that a mate of mine has asked me to do. He has some made tales to tell about his exploits with alcohol and narcotics... he wants to tell the tale, so I'm helping him along. We'll see how it goes. We have the first tale pretty much done, just waiting on more material.

Working my 9-5 at home is taking its toll, especially since I was burgled a few weeks ago and they took my car and TV... they also took two watches that weren't worth much, but had A LOT of sentimental value.

The plus side of it is that Lauren, my fiancé (she said yes) is now moving in at the end of November, so fingers crossed it will be a nice cozy Christmas... also, I managed to write down a structure of a horror novel, about... a burglary!!! Go figure!

TimeRipper is still with an agent, A Seagull's Tale is ready to go to edit, Mutant Superhero Zombie Killings Disco Cheerleaders from Outer Space (With Uzis) is in edit... and Christmas Carol - in rhyme audiobook is almost ready to launch (hopefully ACX will pull its finger out and we can get it out there...)

Thats all for now kids, stay safe, and if you want to join my mailing list (I'm putting one together) then please FOLLOW me on here and drop me a message!

Butterflies

Jeeeeeeeez... as I'm writing this my head is blown away into what feels like a zillion different pieces.

I've been sitting at my computer for what feels like 12 years (that's just this week) mingling 9-5 work with writing and promoting my books.

Anyhooooos!

The crux of it all is that Butterflies is very nearly completed! It's just getting the final run through from the last proofreader prior to being released.

I'm looking at Friday 2nd October to get it out there, so I need to get cracking on setting up a launch, or something! This is the bit I'm rubbish at.

Butterflies is a drama about a young woman who is looking to find her place in life after a series of serious setbacks.

I'm rubbish at summarising my books, but all I can say is that the female protagonist is flawed, but ultimately strong and resourceful... so, you know, if you like this kind of thing then get out there and buy it (it'll be dead cheap... £1.99 or equivalent in different regions).

I'll be looking to make this an audiobook very soon too.

Talking of audiobooks.. CRACK is doing rather well on Audible, and I'll soon have Christmas Carol up there too (just in time for... well, you know).

Things are looking up, I've had some good news that I'll be going into at a later date, but I'm keeping my legs, fingers and eyes crossed for...

so, that's me for now... keep an eye out for Butterflies, but there'll be another update out before that anyway!

Check me out on facebook @davemccluskeyauthor or @dammagedcomics
Twitter is @dammaged_pro or @demccluskey1
Instagram is @dammagedproductions

this week has been blood exhausting...

Not just getting up the stairs, dealing with the COVID stone (actually half a stone, but still bad)...

Ive been getting my ass back into gear in the promotion and writing fronts!!!

I have finished the first draft of Sing Sing Sing... for Murder, and and now doing something I hardly ever do... Im already into the second draft.

I have finished MY final edit of Butterflies and its now back with Lisa (editor) for her final run through... that will be launched in the first week of September I think. This is a departure for me from what I am used to. Its not a horror, its not a thriller, its not even a kids book... its a drama, told from a female perspective!

WHAT????

I have also had the final inks back for the final edition of DeathDay Presents (graphic novel) and the colours and letters are all that stands between launching that graphic novel.

The audiobook of CRACK has gone live and its already getting boss reviews, and we are so close to finishing the audiobook of A Christmas Carol! Hopefully laughing this in October... ready for the Christmas market!

Erm... so, I did an interview on Tad Talk with my friends in Phoenix AZ... I did a two hour radio interview in a liverpool/ north-west internet radio station... I did an online horror con and now I am just about to jump into a pod cast interview for Everything Fear...

I hope I get some sleep soon...

Also, the dog, Ted, is finally learning that pooping inside inside is not for him... but now thinks that his playpen is nice and comfortable to take a wee!

Speak soon...

I was put on Furlough by my 9-5 job for four weeks... I thought this was going to be all the time I needed to tie up all the loose ends to stories that I had hanging around my head...

Little did know I was about to turn into a taxi driver, dog sitter, and unofficial gardener!

Although, I did get quite a bit done.

I finished the first draft of Graveyard Shift, I got A Seagull's Tale to where I wanted it to be... and I revived Butterflies from languishing at the bottom of the TO DO list.

Then work called me back in and I have found out that I have furlough fingers for doing IT again. I am completely out of the loop LOL...

Anyhooooooos... Im back on the train and have finally gotten around to getting on with the sequel to In The Mood... for Murder! This one is called Sing Sing Sing... for Murder.

Some things seem to be moving in the right direction at last. I just hope I can get a bit of traction and move them along a bit...

Thanks for reading... keep on doing it, and reviewing!

So... my daughter's mum bought her a puppy! All very nice and good.

Its a little sausage dog and cute as a button!

All good yeah?

NOPE!!!

The frigging thing is pi**ing and shi**ing all over the place. Because it cant go for a walk yet due to its needles, I am taking it out into the garden for hours at a time, where it plays and runs, barks and yaps to its heart's content.

When we go back inside, I turn my head for like ONE minute and there is a turd lying under the couch, or a puddle in hall...

I am trying to get some writing done (working on the sequel to In The Mood... For Murder, called Sing Sing Sing... For Murder) and all the thing does is sit and look at me with its stupid, gorgeous eyes!!! Wanting to play!

My daughter just wants to use it as a cute handbag and her mum is just happy when its not in her house!!!

Anyway his name is Ted... After my dad, apparently!

End of blog!

So... Im now one week into my three week furlough from work. I thought I'd have all the time in the world to get some writing done... but it seems that the world has other ideas.

But...
TimeRipper is still raring to go!

I have a new proof reader for Mutant Superhero Zombie-Killing Disco Cheerleaders from Outer Space (with Uzis)

Butterflies in currently being edited

I have an artist for A Seagull's Tale

The audio book for CRACK has been submitted to Audible

I have people working on the audio book for my rhyming version of Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol

The artwork for DeathDay Presents graphic novel is almost complete

I have finished drafts of: The Glimmer Saga (Glimmer, City of the Fireflies, The Throne of Glimm)

The Boyfriend

The Spirit of Christmas

Nine Months

Graveyard Shift

Dark Spirits

Reboot: A Cosmic Horror

Gore

Silver Girl

and I am just about to start on the long awaited sequel to In The Mood... for Murder... called Sing Sing Sing... for Murder.

So, its not like Im letting the grass grow under my feet

2020 is turning into a damp squib (or squid if you watch the IT Crowd)

People working from home losing the will to carry on, people not working at all, people eating themselves into three sizes bigger clothes... (I have to admit to the first and third one on this)

My hair is a mess. The bad hair life I was experiencing has turned into a MESSSSSSSSS... I just want to shave it off and get it done with, but Lauren thinks I'll end up looking like Phil Mitchell from Eastenders (and she's not far wrong)...

We got a puppy... its boss, the cutest little sausage dog you've ever seen... until I find all the poop and pi** under the table that it seems to like so much!

Anyways!

Ive continued to write, to keep my mind active!

Ive just submitted my latest novel TimeRipper to a publisher (fingers crossed), another novel is with the editor (Butterflies), Glimmer is almost ready for the editor (the two other parts of the saga are almost ready for the editor too)... I have written first drafts of two novels, Nine Months and Graveyard Shift... and planned out the sequel to Graveyard Shift called Dark Spirits...

Oh, and I have found an artist for A Seagull's Tale cover (and sketches inside) too...

I am knackered... and in serious need of a BEER!!!!

Thats all for now! Stay safe everyone...

Hi

I'm pretty new to all this blogging stuff, so Im going to give it a try out to see if it will generate me some followers. Im pretty lonely out here on my own.

So... I was born in 1973 and started writing when I was in my late 30's... just simple rhymes, but these have moved onwards and (I hope) upwards too.

Started writing comics and graphic novels and currently have 16 to my name... and now I have two novels too...

The Twelve and In The Mood... For Murder.