David Stafford

Me 1 Life 0

noreply@blogger.com (Staff) — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 20:35:00 +0000

Despite its best efforts, life has failed to stop me doing what I enjoy. First up it through me a couple of nasty jobs which meant working some long hours, caused the cancellation of some well deserved holidays and got me pretty peeved off.

Then, sensing this just wasn't tough enough it decided to throw me a curveball dosed in flu, which knocked me off my feet (but not off of work) for a couple of weeks. My day routinely beginning with me feeling rough in bed, too ill to work and ending at 5pm with me feeling rough in bed, too ill to work. Luckily I had the chance to be ill at home during the weekends, just well enough to drag myself into the office during the weeks between.

Life can be pretty evil at times and yet mercy is only a channel surf away. When I saw some of the pretty horrific events that other people or other nations have had to suffer I couldn't help but feel ever so slightly selfish in taking for granted just what I do have.

A few weeks on, work is still evil but it won't bother me. The flu is abating and I'm drowning in novel notes. Now five chapters in, with another inserted after a re-read I'm uploading the novel to the wiki as I speak! Soon be Easter...

Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic Fanfilm

noreply@blogger.com (Staff) — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 20:34:00 +0000

Found this earlier today and it is brilliant!

I never got to play the full game as I was halfway through it when my last PC died. I've got Windows 7 on my new one and I can't get it to work without crashing on that even with the XP compatibility on.

Anyways I'd always heard the story was a good one and I hoped I could find some detail on it. I never for one minute thought I'd find this beauty!

It is basically a cinematic movie made using the KOTOR graphics and some really clever editing to show different camera angles and isn't just a bloke playing the game.

It is a cracking project and I urge anyone who is unfortunate enough to have stumbled across my blog to check it out here http://www.kotormovieforum.co.cc/

Random Quote of the Day

noreply@blogger.com (Staff) — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 22:56:00 +0000

From a conversation between Edward Lindell and Samuel Gideon on the subject of capital punishment...

"Gentlemen," continued Lindell with a slyness in his manner, "we must allow the Chief Justice some respite for we can only imagine that it must be tiring to play God." Lindell looked to the two other men who had so far remained silent in the exchange. Lindell chose not to heed or simply decided to ignore the look of warning from them, "I hear that in his final moments the boy pissed his pants."
"You should not believe everything that you read Edward. I for one expected you to know better than that."
The cold harsh voice had a rasp of gravelly warning and Lindell faced the man opposite and nodded in acknowledgement, "I am surprised you chose not to be there Samuel, I hear that you have announced yourself to be the champion of the people." He grinned with sarcasm, "Oh no that was something else I read, therefore it is also false."
Chief Justice Archibald Rimmer had taken the opportunity to draw on his pipe, the warm tobacco taste giving him some small comfort from the exchange of words. He placed the object to rest and carefully laid his cards before casting Samuel Gideon a questioning gaze, "You do not believe a thief should be punished? A man should obey the law, starving or not."
Samuel Gideon steepled his fingers before speaking, "Would you Chief Justice? Would I? Would any of us?"

Research

noreply@blogger.com (Staff) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:58:00 +0000

The job has been a right royal pain in the backside for the last couple of weeks where it has been a case of if it can go wrong it bloody well will.

Anyway this hasn't deterred from the writing and with another chapter pretty much complete I think it is time for a further research trip to the Royal Armouries Collection in Leeds to really nail down how the various pistols and rifles were operated. So if anyone else is going you'll know doubt see me hanging around the 18th C weapons for a few hours.

Staffs PC Rest in Pieces

noreply@blogger.com (Staff) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 11:12:00 +0000

My PC gave up the ghost and is no more. Typing, typing and more typing finally killed it.

For a long time games haven't been an option. Think it could have just about run something like Jedi Knight which came out donkeys years ago.

And tho' I mourn my old PC time will pass and as I lay your dusty, crumpled aluminium form out to rest one final time I will shed a little tear, for my memories will flood back of me, you and MS Word. Of all the sites we saw together on the web and do you remember that time we got drunk and sent the wrong emails to the wrong person?

Anyway, rest easy my friend.

Staffs PC is Dead! His new one is born!

Its a cracker. It boots up quick it has Windows 7 it works, its nice it has Word and there are a multitude of new memories to make, new websites to view, new games to play and new novels to write.

Right let me just clear these cobwebs from my blog, I'm gonna write a few lines...

Road Trip

noreply@blogger.com (Staff) — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 19:50:00 +0000

Been looking at trips to London. Hopefully it'll be a chance to seek out the sights and smells of older part of the city, parts that will allow the creative juices to flow once again.

Before I go next month I'll need to make a list of the areas which are still 17th 18th C in appearance. Bet the wife can't wait!

Other than that I think Hampton Court Palace and the Cabinet War Rooms will be on top of the agenda.

Can't Sleep

noreply@blogger.com (Staff) — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 00:38:00 +0000

Been writing most of the evening - head full of ideas - pen can't keep up. Gonna take a break listen to some music to relax. It'll all make sense tomorrow....

A True Story - Part Two

noreply@blogger.com (Staff) — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 18:05:00 +0000

Many months passed and the day began to loom upon which the man would leave his desk to begin his work as a fireman. His co-workers had never really believed it would happen and their reaction was one of total admiration.

"Yes he's leaving to become a fireman."

"Really! Why?"

The first co-worker smiled at the seconds surprise it was the same shock that he himself had felt many months before. "Because its what he wants to do," he said smiling as just for a moment he experienced that minute glimmer of surety within him.

"That must be nice," said the second co-worker, "you know, to do something that you really like. I mean I don't mind this job but you know to do something because you really want to do it."

"Well, what would you like to do?" asked the first co-worker to the second who shook their head unsure of how to answer.

For a moment a silence befell the group until a third person who had been listening to the conversation spoke up, seizing the moment to share their dreams by simply adding, "I'd like to be an author."

The stunned silence was shattered by a snigger and the dream died...

It seems in this cruel world some dreams are more real than others.

So is it a dream? Of course it is.
Is it dead? Of course it isn't.

What did all this mean? I'm not sure I know. I spend 8 hours a day staring at a PC and get paid for it. Do I enjoy it in the best possible sense? No. Yet at home I will choose to do the same and yet this time I am satisfied. I do not plough on through writer's block and research problems, frustrated and annoyed in the vain hope that one day I will finish my story to a fanfare of happiness and satisfaction. If I did I would not wish to write anymore. I enjoy the journey of writing itself and surely it is the enjoyment of this journey rather than the end which should bring me such pleasures. And that is how I know I want to write. And write I shall!

A True Story - Part One

noreply@blogger.com (Staff) — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 15:51:00 +0000

"I've decided to leave my job and become a fireman," the man said suddenly.

"Really?" asked his bemused co-worker, for he knew that being a fireman would be completely different to the current desk job.

"Yes."

The co-worker thought for a moment, pensively considering whether the next question was appropriate. Eventually, curiosity overcame him and he spoke again, "Is it more money?"

"No," replied the first man, "Actually it is a bit less."

Now this is curious, thought the co-worker, why would someone leave a job that is secure and pays reasonably well to take on a lesser paid role that has unsociable hours.

"It will be a long time until I leave," continued the first man, "I need to undertake training and pass medicals and even then I might not get in."

The co-worker shook his head, "I just don't get it," he moaned with an air of despair, "why would you leave this job and take a pay cut to do that?"

The first man smiled, his eyes bright and alive, "I want to, thats why..."

Job satisfaction is an amazing thing. It cannot be measured in any conceivable way. It is not earned, it is as unique to every individual as every individual is unique to it. I cannot imagine going to an interview and asking "How much will this job satisfy me?" Rather than "How much will I get paid?"

And yet this thing, this unquantifiable thing means everything, for if I feel unsatisfied, then there is something missing from life and if that is the case can I be happy?

That is where my writing comes in. My ramblings and pretend authorings bring me little more than a personal fulfillment of happiness and satisfaction. But what more do I really need?

Now I'm thinking too hard. Time for a beer, a bet and some food in preparation for the footie. I will continue my musings another time.

Meet Nathaniel Cross

noreply@blogger.com (Staff) — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 19:50:00 +0000

I wanted to write something that summed up the vision of Nathaniel Cross. Whilst he isn't necessarily a good man, he is the main character of the novel living life on the edge and surviving against the odds. He can have no mercy as he knows it is mercy that gets you killed.

It isn't what I thought I'd write as I started but it came out and though it isn't directly from the novel I thought I'd put it up here.

The shadowed form loomed menacingly above him as a bolt of lightning stitched the midnight sky, the sudden flash of light revealing little more than a silhouette. Its head was covered by a wide brimmed hat, angled low over the face. The nose and jaw were concealed behind the high collar of a fully buttoned long dark coat, the hem of which ended below the knees. The hands were buried inside a pair of dark black gloves and held a pistol threateningly towards him, its barrel glinting in the moonlight. Silently, the shape moved upon him as though it were an apparition of death itself and as it leveled the barrel of the pistol, a gloved finger began to tighten slowly on the trigger. Only the eyes were visible and these offered no compassion as a sudden flare from the pan and a crack from the weapon split the air with a brutal finality. And as life faded from him he could see only the savage eyes burning back, beholding their moment of revenge through the grey smoke which danced heavenward from the barrel of the spent pistol as high above them both the rolling boom of thunder echoed warlike across the heavens.

Communications Disruption Can Mean Only One Thing...

noreply@blogger.com (Staff) — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 18:42:00 +0000

Fortunately in my case, unlike Sio Bibble in the Phantom Menace, it did not mean invasion.

However, it did mean no internet for 3 days which is almost as bad. "Aliens stole my broadband!" screamed the front page of the local rag. I have never needed to look at a google map, buy something online so much in my life than for those 3 days.

I even had the desire to compare car insurance prices just because I knew that I couldn't.

Turns out that Virgin Media had done something their end which had effectively killed a large number of cable modems. Do they know they delayed my research into 17th and 18th Century weapons? Do they care?

Actually looking at my bookmarks in Chrome is kind of scary. There's a few too many weaponry sites along with pages relating to vice, gentleman clubs and Victorian Crime. If the wife sees that lot she'll probably wish it had been porn.

I also applied for a promotion at work and am ecstatic to have been successful. Hopefully this means more money, a cushier role and more time to do the work I love which is pretending to write. Somehow though I doubt it.

Its just another piece of life that threatens to stop the release of our graphic novel. My good mate Chris Taylor who is preparing the artwork for the graphic novel has also just changed jobs so its a busy and successful time for both of us.

So with everything wonderful I will return to the novelisation of our project. It's such a shame that the Thief Taker's London conjours up a desperate vision of crime and corruption, with cobbled streets awash with rivers of blood. I'm in too much of a good mood for that I think a re-write is in order and I shall change the setting to a village fete. Chapter One - The Case of the Missing Marrow. Sounds like a new hit for Sunday evening tv.

Back to Work - Nooooooooooooooo!

noreply@blogger.com (Staff) — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 19:06:00 +0000

Curses of real life. How can you concentrate writing when you being told to do mundane jobs by your boss. I know I have to pay the bills but its just not fair. My mind is a prisoner to capitalism and it needs to break free.

Against all odds I'm still buggering on. Must go shouted for dinner. I need to eat...unfortunately...

Thief Takers - The World

noreply@blogger.com (Staff) — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 17:25:00 +0000

Whilst watching footie this weekend I began messing about with a few of the resource pics I'd been gathering from the internet. 1 hour later I'd added a couple of transition effects and some music and well what do you know...

Anyway back to the writing now...

Don't You Just Love Bank Holidays?

noreply@blogger.com (Staff) — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 06:07:00 +0000

Off work today so the mind is positively pulsating with things to do to the old novel. Really couldn't sleep last night and probably woke up about three or four times to write something down in the handy notebook that has pride of place at the side of my bed.

Can't think how many times I've found inspiration in my sleep and thought I must remember that in the morning only to wake up and think what the hell was that I came up with last night.

Other good places for thought I've found are (in no particular order):

1. The Shower
2. The Bog (sorry but its true)
3. Work (hope the boss isn't reading)
4. Waiting for a train
5. The garden (must be sunny)
6. Bed with the lights off

There must be more that I haven't found yet...

Anyway time to visit one of the above to crack on with just how good old Nathaniel Cross can survive the underworld of 18th Century London with a price on his head. From the research I've done I don't envy him.

On something entirely different just seen that Arjen Robben is swapping Madrid for Munich. Wonder if this means Chelsea could be on their way to capturing Ribery?

Thief Takers - His London, His City, His justice is His Revenge

noreply@blogger.com (Staff) — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 22:08:00 +0000

We decided early on that we wanted to use the City of London almost as a character. There is so much history there already that most things don't need making up or changing. In an almost nerd like way we also wanted to use historical maps to chart the journey each character would take and the locations of each scene.

The opening scenes take place on the darkened streets near to Smithsfield Market in the fictional "Seven Bells Inn" (named after the signal for imminent rum rations).

The Seven Bells Inn is certainly not a nice place for a quiet pint. In fact it would probably be best described as a wretched hive of scum and villainy. Hmmm...

A dangerous rooftop chase follows a violent hanging and an encounter in the fictional "Belize" club (based on one of the many gentleman clubs in existence at the time)

And this is only the beginning for Nathaniel Cross. His journey continues...

Thief Takers - The Plan

noreply@blogger.com (Staff) — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 21:53:00 +0000

So...

While the artist sketches the author muses. I'm good at musing. Its the stuff that follows that lets me down.

Anyway, I muse on a little too long. The draft is pretty much done, I think to myself. I feel unemployed. I can't draw, I can't even colour something without going over the lines - I'm told it isn't done like that any more. This only proves my point that I shouldn't be anywhere near the arty process of the graphic novel.

My mind needs something to do before it goes blank. I can't abide a blank mind!

What if? I ponder, what if I novelise the plot? We'd have the graphic novel and I could practice my hand at writing the whole thing. Maybe I'd had a drink but next morning I still think its a good idea - despite the headache. It will help iron out any kinks in the script. It will give Chris more background to work with. It will be fun.

Two chapters in and you really begin to realise how 1 page of a script transforms into hundreds of words. Suddenly our world is alive and slowly but surely it is beginning to wake up...

Blogging Reborn

noreply@blogger.com (Staff) — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 21:18:00 +0000

Its been a while...embarrisingly so...

Honestly it really didn't take me this long to read the six novels I posted about way back when.

Real life occasionally, just occassionally tries to suck the creative energy from you. Holding down a "real" job for the money needed to pretend to write began to cast great thunderous storm clouds over the world of my joint project with good friend (and clever bod who designed my blog), Chris Taylor.

Yet I realised I'd gotten it all wrong. After a hard day of real life issues, what better way is there than to escape into the turbulent and violent times of the Thief Takers?

The wife thinks its strange. Why do I lock myself in a quiet room, in front of the pc for hours each night, (no its not for that! Well mostly not...) cursing every interruption of my bladder, my dinner, my sleep? - maybe she's right to be worried. I mean I'm spending my evenings with a gang of violent cut throats with loose morals. Its a world where every man has a price. A place where you trust no-one and no-one trusts you. But its my world and at the end of the day I think I understand it more than the real one.

Reading Six Novels At Once?

noreply@blogger.com (Staff) — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 20:57:00 +0000

Recently I couldn't decide what to read next. So for some bizarre reason I decided to read six novels at once. I mean why not? After all surely it's only the same as following six different series at once isn't it?

The six I've gone for are below and as one ends another shall take it's place.

Harlequin - Bernard Cornwell
Resurrectionist - James McGee
Morte D'Arthur - Thomas Malory
Azincourt - Bernard Cornwell
Band of Eagles - Frank Barnard
Enemy of God - Bernard Cornwell

It's like being the controller of a TV Network just with words!

1 day till Azincourt!

noreply@blogger.com (Staff) — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 21:38:00 +0000

Can't wait. One more day to go till Azincourt by Bernard Cornwall hits the shelves.

When was the last time I was this excited by a forthcoming book?

Well it wasn't that long ago actually. Sebastian Faulks joined a list of authors who have carried on the James Bond novel franchise, though his must surely have attracted the most media attention. Hell there's even some kind of trailer for it and it's own theme song if you haven't seen it its here!

Yet though I've had Devil May Care on my shelf for a whole 3 months now I'm yet to read it.

Why? I felt I just had to dust of the old Fleming novels and re-read them for the thousandth time first to get a feel and a flavour for the real Bond, James Bond.

Can you force a good read?

noreply@blogger.com (Staff) — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 15:51:00 +0000

Simple question really? Can you write something you have no interest in?

I'm not asking this on part of anything I'm doing, it was just a question that came to me in one of those quiet moments where my brain has nothing better to do than think of rubbish.

Another snippet I've thought about today when looking at my payslip and thinking the tax is daylight robbery. I have to be careful of this thinking malarkey as its probably allowed some vital procedure I need to know at work slip out the back door.

Window Tax and Daylight Robbery

Quick the Tax Man is on his way! Block out the light!

Wonder how these poor buggers at Hardwick felt! Ah they were probably wealthy enough anyways...

Whew!

noreply@blogger.com (Staff) — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 15:11:00 +0000

I mentioned in a previous bit about my current project and its been a quick, quick, slow, quick start.

What I want to know is how do you know when something you've written is perfect?

My first draft sounded great. However, days passed and I began to build upon the foundations. The more I built, the more I thought I don't actually like this bit.

It was kind of like your dream house, only you've gone and made it out of cheese. It looks good, sounds good but after a few days it starts to smell!

Anyway, a second draft followed. Things changed, characters died before they had even been born. Unlucky.

Something still wasn't quite there. All I'd done was made it slightly nicer. Basically I'd fabreezed my cheese house. Not exactly a bad thing but pretty soon the cheese will strike back.

More tweaks, here and there led to a full rewrite and finally I'm happy with it...........for now.

Was all that time that went before a waste? It makes you wonder with the increasingly marketable commodity of director's cuts, making of books, isn't it time authors started sharing with their readers what the finished article might have been.

I believe we're too sneaky for that. There's no such thing as a bad idea...only an idea that needs to be saved for another day, another story...

Brave New World

noreply@blogger.com (Staff) — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 18:05:00 +0000

They say never mix business with pleasure.

For me it was slightly different. The business was a new joint collaboration with a long time good friendly bloke. The pleasure was the beer whilst we we began our first steps into our brave new world.

Don't those beer fuelled ideas get you into trouble?

I've never written a graphic novel. When I write I see the world in its entirety, the look, the feel, the taste, the smell, everything.

Why would I want someone to steal that from me, to force the reader by slamming some image into his face whilst shouting 'Oi this is what I'm imagining. Look this is it! You can't imagine it any other way.'

The main reason is my great mate Chris Taylor, check out his blog here

How long this will take I don't know, but what I do know is I'll love every minute of it.

The Beginning - My Prologue

noreply@blogger.com (Staff) — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 09:45:00 +0000

The creative medium, wouldn't life be boring without it.

I don't care who we pretend to be or who we really are, at some time we've all watched, read, listened or just plain imagined something that someone else has created for us. And after we've thought...WOW!

I've destroyed the Death Star more times than anyone I know.

I've saved the word countless times from one threat or another and yes in the end I always get the girl.

I don't know why I have to venture into other peoples worlds everyday, my own isn't that bad especially when you think most worlds I end up becoming part of have some tyrannical empire or just maniacal bad guy who wants to take over the world from his underwater cave.

Yet still we pack our bags and go. And the best bit is that each of us have a different journey. We read the same words, we see the same things, yet we are all in a slightly different realm.

And that's our imagination. I love mine. It is truly crazy and at times it means the washing up doesn't get done or the lawn doesn't get cut. But what the hell, whilst you've been doing the ironing I've been saving the galaxy. Again!