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Post by williemeikle on Dec 14, 2009 22:08:00 GMT
In two weeks time it'll be ten years since I had a cigarette. I gave up on New Years Eve 1999, cold turkey, after twenty years of being a smoker.
I hadn't even thought about a smoke for a long time.
Until today.
I was clearing out some old stuff and found a small box. Inside were two ashtrays and three lighters. I picked up the old Zippo, flicked it open and spun the wheel. Any of you who use a Zippo will know exactly the sound that makes.
And, just like that, I'd suddenly have killed for a cigarette.
I closed the box and put it aside.
But I haven't thrown it out. Because that Zippo sound carries more than just my urge to suck smoke.
It carries memories, of happy days with old friends sitting in bars and talking bollocks for many an hour.
It reminds me of my Grandfather, sitting in his armchair watching "The Virginian" and "Bonanza" smoking a succession of roll-ups.
It reminds me of bad mistakes, bad choices I made in my love life, both with women who understood the allure of the Zippo, and ones who didn't.
And it reminds me that I'm happier now than I've ever been.
There's magic in Zippo lighters. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.
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Post by Jim on Dec 15, 2009 14:59:02 GMT
Been 10 months for me. I gave away my zippos, as I felt it was such a waste having them and not using them
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Post by williemeikle on Dec 15, 2009 20:20:55 GMT
Been 10 months for me. I gave away my zippos, as I felt it was such a waste having them and not using them I've still got three lighters, but they all belonged to my Granddad so I'm keeping them. There's no fuel in them and only one good flint between the three of them, so the chances of me succumbing to a fly fag are slim :-)
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Post by williemeikle on Dec 18, 2009 13:03:54 GMT
The Carnacki Box Set is now available. www.thepennydreadfulcompany.com/Three new ghost stories from me featuring William Hope Hodgson's Carnacki - Ghostfinder Get your Edwardian ghostbusting fix here. Only £5.99 (+ £2.50 p/p) or £4.99 (£1.75 p/p) for Book Club Members. If bought individually the chapbooks are £2.99 (or £1.75 for Book Club Members.) The shiny box set contains the stories * The Blooded Iklwa * The Larkhill Barrow * The Sisters of Mercy All three chapbooks have very nice full colour covers and the set is contained in a neat black and white slipcase. The Penny Dreadful Chapbook Club is a great deal. It entitles you to: * A reduction of £1.24 per chapbook. * Members only releases * Reduced postage fees. * Free metallic bookmark and chapbook with your first order. * A yearly membership is currently only £5 Sign up here before adding any chapbooks to your cart. thepennydreadfulcompany.com/page6.html
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Post by williemeikle on Jan 2, 2010 16:25:23 GMT
This proved very popular last year so I thought I'd repeat it. How would you like a character named after you in my current novel in progress? This person will be the one ultimately responsible for saving the planet from Alien Invasion -- how cool is that? :-) To enter the draw all you have to do is join up on my newsletter mailing list. You can sign up from the message box at the bottom of my web page here: www.williammeikle.com or by sending an email to willie.meikle-subscribe@topica.com The draw will be made at noon on my birthday, 25th January, so head on over and sign up now.
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Post by williemeikle on Jan 6, 2010 16:56:30 GMT
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Post by williemeikle on Jan 12, 2010 22:49:05 GMT
I could never be accused of timidity when it comes to promoting my work, especially on Facebook.
But there a line I won't cross. These past few days I've seen other writers frantically trying to get people to nominate them onto voting lists for awards, both in the UK and USA. People are on message boards pleading for the chance to get on lists that might eventually get them a wee shiny statue to put on their mantelpiece.
Personally I believe the work should hold up on its own, and if someone likes it enough to nominate it for an award, I'd be grateful. But I won't go canvassing for it.
If you catch me doing it, shoot me. Twice.
(And before I get jumped on by butthurt people, this isn't aimed at anyone in particular and is just my opinion. Every arsehole's got one.)
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Post by KWEJFIOEWJ on Jan 21, 2010 1:15:56 GMT
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Post by EWJFWEOIJ on Jan 21, 2010 1:16:04 GMT
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Post by williemeikle on Jan 27, 2010 19:28:25 GMT
So far this year I've destroyed the planet, called up demon snowmen, and been inside the mind of an abusive father... so it's time for something a bit cozier.
I've decided to revisit the world of John Royle. John is a PI in St Andrews, Scotland. Down at heel and down on his luck, he’s waiting for the Bogart case. Outside his office window rich men roll putts across the 18th green of the Old Course, but no one ever seems to want his services.
He's already had one novel-length case in "The Case of the Road Hole Bunker", and I'm about to start work on a series of short stories. I'm looking forward to devising some fiendish whodunnits and mysteries in the pulpy, booze and fag driven world that John inhabits.
Plus I get to vicariously visit lots of Scottish locations -- I particularly enjoy revisiting old pubs in my mind, indulging my long-lost cigarette habit, and talking bollocks while drinking strong beer and playing cribbage.
John Royle - the man with the life I could have had if things had taken a different turn. :-)
(PS. Can somebody get rid of the f*cking spam? Please?)
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Post by steppedonwolf on Jan 28, 2010 0:13:37 GMT
(PS. Can somebody get rid of the f*cking spam? Please?) I've asked myself. No response. Sigh.
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