Hi everyone,
I can't believe how long it has been since I last posted. I apologise! Much to catch up on!
Since I last blogged I have had little opportunity to engage in a passion of mine, writing fiction. This is out of sheer necessity as I have been engaged in two things over the last year or so, working towards my PhD, and looking for full-time work.
I have now completed two of the three milestones needed to get my PhD. That consists of the Confirmation Seminar and the Mid-Candidature Review, which I completed in June of this year. The latter involved submitting a completed sample chapter from the thesis, a bibliography, academic portfolio and a thirty minute presentation, followed by questioning from an academic committee. It was, to say the least, tough. Up until that point I had been a full-time PhD student and worked a couple of days part-time for the bills. Since then I made the decision to go part-time at Uni and get full-time work for money reasons. This means two things, I now have, technically, till June 2014 to get my PhD done (though I hope to get it done before then) and I have been actively looking for full-time work, not easy in this job market sadly. Anyway, this has all meant that no new fiction work has been done, though there have been developments with my previous publications.
Four of my previous works are now for sale as Kindle e-books. This includes my novel The Lilith Charm, a previously published short-story that got a lot of great attention when released called The Next Tolken, a children's tale called Grumblethumps and finally the long-form poem that lends it name to this blog, Beyond a Snowy Path. Please feel free to check them out and, if so moved, buy a copy or two: http://www.amazon.co.uk/s?_encoding=UTF8&search-alias=digital-text&field-author=Adrian%20Gibb
The editor of Christmas Magazine has kindly showcased all my Christmas Poems on their Christmas Spirit page which can be found here: http://www.christmasmagazine.com/en/spirit/
I have been able to keep up with non-fiction writing. I am working on a book called Sacred Paths. It is a book that will ask members of various faiths from various locations around the world five 'big questions' and collate their responses. The idea is to promote a pluralistic attitude towards many faiths, examine how each person responds as a representative of the 'label' they feel comfortable with, but also to show, within that, that there are differing attitudes within each faith. I have now all but one of the contributor's material but the first chapter is done and I have started submitting to literary agents. The material is fantastic and I am very excited about this project. Just hope and pray I can have some editors interested too!
Just recently I wrote an article about an interfaith temple in the US and a wonderful man who is both a Buddhist Monk and a Christian Pastor. It can be found here: http://newlotus.buddhistdoor.com/en/news/d/30706
And so, apart from working on part two of my thesis (I am doing part two first, part one next year hopefully) that is me up to date. Have HEAPS of ideas for fiction stuff, including ones I have mentioned in previous posts. Will get to them one day!
Merry Christmas if I don't touch base before!
Adi
Monday, November 19, 2012
Sunday, January 9, 2011
NEW YEAR - 2011
Hi everyone,
I have now taken down The Lilith Charm from its blog home. After 800 visitors I have decided to begin submitting to agents and publishing houses etc, seems like there is an audience out there for it!
Writing an article at the moment for Focus about Progressive Christianity in Brisbane. Should be in February issue.
The Christmas break was great in that, having a little break from Uni, I was able to sit down and see where I am 'at' with my other projects. The YA novel, Ferry Folk, will hopefully be written by the end of the year and the location for the story is probably going to change. The historical novel has taken a major shift in a new direction but one which will relate far more to the PhD so that should work out well.
My PhD continues to gather momentum, with my confirmation seminar in March. Very scary but will be glad when this first milestone is reached and I can just concentrate then on writing the thesis proper and not worrying about proposals etc.
So there you are, busy but all good!
Adi
I have now taken down The Lilith Charm from its blog home. After 800 visitors I have decided to begin submitting to agents and publishing houses etc, seems like there is an audience out there for it!
Writing an article at the moment for Focus about Progressive Christianity in Brisbane. Should be in February issue.
The Christmas break was great in that, having a little break from Uni, I was able to sit down and see where I am 'at' with my other projects. The YA novel, Ferry Folk, will hopefully be written by the end of the year and the location for the story is probably going to change. The historical novel has taken a major shift in a new direction but one which will relate far more to the PhD so that should work out well.
My PhD continues to gather momentum, with my confirmation seminar in March. Very scary but will be glad when this first milestone is reached and I can just concentrate then on writing the thesis proper and not worrying about proposals etc.
So there you are, busy but all good!
Adi
Sunday, September 12, 2010
SEPTEMBER UPDATE
Hi again everyone,
Firstly I should update you on how 'The Lilith Charm' is going. So far over 700 visitors have stopped by to check it out, which is great. Also really grateful to noveltheology.com in the US who have listed 'The Lilith Charm' on their site as a novel to read: http://www.noveltheology.com/blogs.html
I am extremely pleased to announce that for the fourth year in a row a poem of mine, called "I'm Going to Christmas", is going to be featured in the online advent calendar published by Christmas Magazine: http://www.christmasmagazine.com/ This is a wonderful website, please visit!
My latest article for Focus was on Taize worship services. Very interesting! I am not writing as frequently for them any more due to my studies, but keeping my hand in!
Studies going well. I have what is called a 'confirmation seminar' in March of next year, which is a presentation which, if all goes well, confirms my status as candidate and moves me onto the next level so to speak. Working on the proposal that goes with this seminar, so far so good.
I have as yet not been able to get back to writing my fiction. Missing writing, a lot, and have dabbled in a Doctor Who script just for fun, but still hoping to get back to the novel about Lionel Johnson before the year is out. This has also been complicated by the fact that I have had another novel idea pop into my mind, this one far more relevant to the PhD. Like Fidelis, my first novel, this would be a mystery centred on the figure of Pontius Pilate, but this would be a murder/mystery set in Pilate's time, at Caesarea Maritima, the administrative centre of Judea. Still working on an outline for this latest one, but very excited about it.
Otherwise, all going well and looking forward to the Christmas season. Hopefully I will be hopping on here before then!
Cheers,
Adi
Firstly I should update you on how 'The Lilith Charm' is going. So far over 700 visitors have stopped by to check it out, which is great. Also really grateful to noveltheology.com in the US who have listed 'The Lilith Charm' on their site as a novel to read: http://www.noveltheology.com/blogs.html
I am extremely pleased to announce that for the fourth year in a row a poem of mine, called "I'm Going to Christmas", is going to be featured in the online advent calendar published by Christmas Magazine: http://www.christmasmagazine.com/ This is a wonderful website, please visit!
My latest article for Focus was on Taize worship services. Very interesting! I am not writing as frequently for them any more due to my studies, but keeping my hand in!
Studies going well. I have what is called a 'confirmation seminar' in March of next year, which is a presentation which, if all goes well, confirms my status as candidate and moves me onto the next level so to speak. Working on the proposal that goes with this seminar, so far so good.
I have as yet not been able to get back to writing my fiction. Missing writing, a lot, and have dabbled in a Doctor Who script just for fun, but still hoping to get back to the novel about Lionel Johnson before the year is out. This has also been complicated by the fact that I have had another novel idea pop into my mind, this one far more relevant to the PhD. Like Fidelis, my first novel, this would be a mystery centred on the figure of Pontius Pilate, but this would be a murder/mystery set in Pilate's time, at Caesarea Maritima, the administrative centre of Judea. Still working on an outline for this latest one, but very excited about it.
Otherwise, all going well and looking forward to the Christmas season. Hopefully I will be hopping on here before then!
Cheers,
Adi
Saturday, April 10, 2010
APRIL UPDATE
Hi again everyone,
Well a lot has happened since I last posted last year. The primary thing I guess is that I am now a PhD candidate at the University of Queensland! I was tossing up whether to go back to the school of History, Philosophy, Religion and Classics or perhaps do a PhD in creative writing. In the end all the signs were pointing towards doing the former and it gives me the possibility of enhancing my credentials to write historical novels anyway, as well as possibly achieving an academic career in this field, both options literally dreams of mine!
The short story Quarter to Oblivion was very well received on Antipodean SF. At the beginning of this year I had started writing two major projects, a historical novel set in the 1890's in Victorian London and Munich, based around the poet Lionel Johnson, and a young adult novel set in the early 1960's in Belfast. Both have been put on hold for now while I am concentrating on my thesis, but I hope to get to a place this year where I can devote some more time to them. The one set in the 1890's is a particular labour of love for me and I would love to complete it before too long.
The Lilith Charm has gone great guns, much better than I expected, with 500 readers already accessing it online. A fantastic progressive christian company which promotes progressive fiction is interested in letting people know more about it, and have suggested I look into perhaps placing it on Amazon Kindle for sale, which I am looking into.
Otherwise still writing for Focus and enjoying my new studies!
Adi
Well a lot has happened since I last posted last year. The primary thing I guess is that I am now a PhD candidate at the University of Queensland! I was tossing up whether to go back to the school of History, Philosophy, Religion and Classics or perhaps do a PhD in creative writing. In the end all the signs were pointing towards doing the former and it gives me the possibility of enhancing my credentials to write historical novels anyway, as well as possibly achieving an academic career in this field, both options literally dreams of mine!
The short story Quarter to Oblivion was very well received on Antipodean SF. At the beginning of this year I had started writing two major projects, a historical novel set in the 1890's in Victorian London and Munich, based around the poet Lionel Johnson, and a young adult novel set in the early 1960's in Belfast. Both have been put on hold for now while I am concentrating on my thesis, but I hope to get to a place this year where I can devote some more time to them. The one set in the 1890's is a particular labour of love for me and I would love to complete it before too long.
The Lilith Charm has gone great guns, much better than I expected, with 500 readers already accessing it online. A fantastic progressive christian company which promotes progressive fiction is interested in letting people know more about it, and have suggested I look into perhaps placing it on Amazon Kindle for sale, which I am looking into.
Otherwise still writing for Focus and enjoying my new studies!
Adi
Friday, December 4, 2009
Update
Hi everyone,
A poem of mine has been included in an online advent calendar and can be found here: http://www.christmasmagazine.com/en/mc/calendar.asp?d=4 ie, December 4th!
In the next couple of weeks my short story A Quarter to Oblivion will be published at AntipodeanSF, found at: http://www.antisf.com.au/
Other than that my novel can be still be found at: http://thelilithcharm.blogspot.com/
Will update again soon.
Adrian
A poem of mine has been included in an online advent calendar and can be found here: http://www.christmasmagazine.com/en/mc/calendar.asp?d=4 ie, December 4th!
In the next couple of weeks my short story A Quarter to Oblivion will be published at AntipodeanSF, found at: http://www.antisf.com.au/
Other than that my novel can be still be found at: http://thelilithcharm.blogspot.com/
Will update again soon.
Adrian
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
The Lilith Charm
Lilith, the first wife of Adam, is a figure Reverend Penny Green had never heard of. But when her grandfather is accused of murdering a sixteen-year-old girl in a botched exorcism, Penny learns about this she-demon; and her legend.Penny, an Anglican Minister struggling in a conservative and somewhat misogynistic parish, is assisted by progressive Rabbi Simon Cohen in uncovering what really happened to the murdered girl. In return, she helps the Rabbi look into an apparent suicide by a member of the Rabbi’s synagogue.Simon and Penny have come together after eight years of mutual silence. The last time they communicated, Simon professed his love and Penny had gently, but effectively, rejected him. The Lilith Charm focuses on the rekindling of their friendship and the feelings that Simon still has for Penny.The only clue these devoted servants of their respective faiths have to try and solve the deaths is a tattoo and a symbol, known as the Lilith Charm, found on the deceased. The symbol leads them into a complex maze of Jewish and Christian symbolism and mythology that links the two murders.
The Lilith Charm can be found at: http://thelilithcharm.blogspot.com/
Adi
The Lilith Charm can be found at: http://thelilithcharm.blogspot.com/
Adi
Saturday, August 15, 2009
NOVEL - THE LILITH CHARM
Hi everyone,
This is just to let you officially know that on October 14th I will be launching The Lilith Charm in the format of a blog, for you all to read at your leisure.
This has been a big decision as after Fidelis I had thought I wasn't going to publish another novel online. However, after a lengthy submission process, I have determined that this book is kind of between the lines for the publishing houses, who are either secular and find it too spiritual, or are religious houses and find it too secular! Either way I am finding it hard to find a home for it. I should say, though, that I have received some fantastic feeback along the way from seasoned professionals, so that has been great.
I will have the details of the address for the blog etc soon, will be linked to this one though.
Hope you enjoy it once it is there!
Cheers,
Adi
This is just to let you officially know that on October 14th I will be launching The Lilith Charm in the format of a blog, for you all to read at your leisure.
This has been a big decision as after Fidelis I had thought I wasn't going to publish another novel online. However, after a lengthy submission process, I have determined that this book is kind of between the lines for the publishing houses, who are either secular and find it too spiritual, or are religious houses and find it too secular! Either way I am finding it hard to find a home for it. I should say, though, that I have received some fantastic feeback along the way from seasoned professionals, so that has been great.
I will have the details of the address for the blog etc soon, will be linked to this one though.
Hope you enjoy it once it is there!
Cheers,
Adi
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