So I now have the first two pieces for the next issue of Focus, and I’m already getting kind of excited - even though it’s still two months to the deadline (July 27 if any of you fine folk and Google robots are thinking of contributing) and probably at least another month or six weeks until people actually see it.

The first article is by Tony Williams. One of the things - for me - that I like most about writing is learning new stuff - the piles of research you get to do just so you can drop a tiny fact into the story that gives everything that spark of verisimilitude (which probably explains why I start many more stories than I finish). Anyway, Tony - as well has having self-published two sf novels The Foresight War and Scales - happens also to be an expert on firearms and really big guns - check out his website: http://www.quarry.nildram.co.uk/.

I’d already had the idea of doing a “foresight” column - asking knowledgeable folk in various fields to take a look into the future of their area and offer some informed opinions - so when Tony wrote to me volunteering to write something completely different I nabbed him, and persuaded him to be my guinea pig for the first column. Cheers Tony.

The second piece is an altogether different kettle of ball games.

If anyone read the editorial to the last issue of Focus, they’ll know that I went on an Arvon course about two and a half years ago lead by Christopher Priest and Alistair Reynolds. Of the people on the course, I don’t think any of us would have argued with the fact that the most talented “pupil” there was Nina Allan - she’s a really fine stylist, awesomely committed to her art and with an aesthetic edge that could cut glass. She’s had a number of short stories published and was on the shortlist for the 2006 BSFA Award for “Birdsong at Eventide” (Interzone 199).

Anyway, we’re still in touch so when I had the idea of doing ar series of articles that asked writers to take seriously that dreadful question “where do you get your ideas from?” - Nina was one of the first people I wanted to ask the question. Her article arrived today and it turns out she’s just as insightful a critic as she is a writer - which is kind of sick making - but it does mean that I’ve got a really, really fine article for the next issue. and that makes the editor in me very happy.

I don’t think you could find more different pieces, but I’m pleased.

I’ve also been promised more from Christopher Priest (hurrah!) and an article by John Jarrold on the relationship between agents, writers and publishers.