I'm not sure how I feel about the cancelled Doctor Who Christmas Special. I'm sorry there won't be any new TV Who this year and I do like a Christmas Special, but I do think the show needs fresh eyes and a fresh vision, so I choose to see this as an opportunity. Time will tell. It always does.

Just the thing for a miserable wet Saturday... another lovely thing from @obversebooks.co.uk and @stuartdouglas.com - you can't go wrong with Pyramids of Mars, or the Black Archive.

Today's reading. Another cracker from @obversebooks.co.uk and @stuartdouglas.com

It's a lovely thing when your childhood pops through your letterbox... a new Tomorrow People novel from Chinbeard and a Space 1999 novel by the excellent James Swallow. Back to the 1970s I go...

Jim Mortimore has joined the ranks of those to have their FB accounts deleted so his online presence will now be based at his own site. jimmortimore.co.uk

This lovely book has been published as a memorial to the much missed Doctor Who/Star Trek/Space 1999 (and many others) author David A McIntee. I have a short story, Murder at the White Russian Club, which ties in to David's novel, The Shadow of Wen-Chiang. www.amazon.co.uk/Think-Title-...

An AI snafu led to Obverse Books' Facebook page being one of many pages deleted. A shame because Obverse do fabulous things, so here is their new Facebook page. www.facebook.com/profile.php?...

A merry and joyful Christmas to everyone. Be happy, have fun, and I hope Santa is kind to you.

A charity novel featuring Peter Cushing's Dr Who, raising funds to help the homeless. obversebooks.co.uk/product/15-t...

Currently reading Doctor Who: The Chimes of Midnight by @robertshearman.bsky.social . I'm about 50 pages in and it's glorious. I have a feeling in future years it may become one of my Christmas staples.

Current reading... Gary Russell's first book in the second series of Tomorrow People novellas from AUK. Really pleased the Tomorrow People have this new life... and really pleased to be writing for it. Hugely enjoying this new release.

One of my Sherlock Holmes radio plays, The Strange Case, just got a rerun and can be heard online here for a while. www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFec...

Today's arrival. Should I read this now or wait until Halloween? Who am I kidding? No way am I waiting a month to read some Paul Magrs and Dracula goodness.

It's lovely to find a pic of one of your own books. The Forty Nine Steps from earlier this year.

I have a short story in this new collection from Candy Jar Books. My story, The Quantum Eye, is a celebratory little piece here in The Havoc Files 5. More details here. mailchi.mp/2d4ff612d4c8...

It's a busy time. I have a few things out or airing round about now. Here's the first. A new ish of Commando... Bismarck: The Last Days. One of the bleakest things I've ever written. www.commandocomics.com

For Doctor Who fans of a certain vintage there is nothing quite like the feeling of getting a new Target novelisation. And today, three arrived! A fourth is being sent all by its lonesome for some reason.

I have another Tomorrow People novella coming... The Devil's Teeth... more details here. wearecult.rocks/the-tomorrow...

This anthology came out in 2016, though only in Canada. My story, A Dirty Business, is probably the most traditionally James Bond story in the book. It was nice to get James Bond onto the CV.

Been tidying up a bit and found a copy of this, the 50th birthday issue of the Dandy from... just over 37 years ago. Crikey O'Blimey, that makes me feel old. I remember that issue like it was yesterday. Hell of a party to celebrate the Dandy's 50th as well.

A quick word for anyone who is also a Facebook Friend. My account seems to have... gone. Kaput. It was hacked or compromised and it's gone. So expect a friend request from the new me.

What is the world coming to when this is the first bottle I think of for Christmas? God, I'm old...

Another of the favourite Christmas covers from the 30 years (man, boy and idiot) I did on the comic... this one drawn by the brilliant Keith Robson. Loved Christmas issues, even sitting in the office in (normally hot) September, listening to Christmas music on headphones as we wrote the issue.

I spent almost 30 on the staff of the comics. The Christmas issue was almost always my favourite ish of the year. There was something special about doing that issue. This cover, drawn by the legendary Dave Sutherland , is probably my favourite ever Beano cover. He captured the warmth of Christmas.

Very sad to hear of the passing of David A McIntee. Always enjoyed his work and he was always supportive and generous with his time. We spent a lovely couple of days a few years ago sending messages back and forth discussing an idea for a book he hoped to write. Very sad news.

New Cushing for Christmas! It's freezing outside in Scotland just now - even more than usual, no time for rough sleeping. All profits from this book will go to help the homeless in Edinburgh and Dundee. obversebooks.co.uk/product/14-t...

Here's a scary thing. Next year will mark 40 years since I joined DC Thomson's comics department as the most junior of editorial juniors on the Hoot comic. I'm old. First thing I ever wrote was a Wanta Job Bob script, drawn by Steve Bright. I planned to stay for 2 years, stayed 29 years. Happy days.

The fifth book of the year from me... another trip back to my childhood and the 1970s. The Tomorrow People - Childrean of the Evolution. And yes, my work does all seem to take me back to my childhood... well, it beats having to grow up. www.amazon.co.uk/dp/183791895...

Fourth book I had out this year... UNIT - The Catacombs of Seville for Candy Jar... UFOs, zombies, dodgy monks, Benton the romantic hero, and all in Franco's Spain. www.candy-jar.co.uk/books/thecat...

This is the third book I was involved with this year. What did I do for it? Oh, this and that... but I'll only admit to doing the cover. It's a charity anthology featuring Peter Cushing's Dr Who. obversebooks.co.uk/product/13-t...

The second book I had published this year was an Erimem novel, Never Die Twice, a self-indulgent 60s Bond pastiche. I'd have been rubbish in the 60s, though. I'm just not cool enough to swagger like 60s heroes did. www.amazon.co.uk/Erimem-Never...

Been a busy year so I think I'll start my Bluesky journey by looking at this year's work... the first book I had published this year... The Raccoons - The One That Got Away from Candy Jar Books. www.candy-jar.co.uk/books/therac...