Aston and Steven are hopeless cases, only helping each other to oblivion on the couch, more lost in London than either cares to admit. This is the story of their slothful friendship, a box from a ghost and a fatal computer program.


A shorter chapter this week, which will prove the exception rather than the rule.

There are probably more true moments in this chapter than any other, although most of "Electricity" has some basis in fact. Steven and Tom are exaggerated versions of my two closest friends from London, although their darker moments are my own. In truth, I don't have a bad word to say about either of them.

It's an unusual position to be in, reading something that is acutely part-memoir and part-fantasy. "How to Disappear Completely" held no such discomfort. "Electricity" brings a constant fear of causing offence, but it's not something that can really be indulged. No-one wants to read (or hear) a timid story. Still, I hope it's evident how much I care about these characters. Even Aston...

Labels: Aston, chapter blurb, podcast, Steven

Travelling with another is never easy. Take Steven Black, the most irritating man Aston has ever met. Rather surprisingly, he's also become his best friend. From Perth to London to Amsterdam, the two entirely fail to hit it off, ultimately approaching violence over Backgammon. Despite this, they might just be of some use to each other.

In the meantime, Aston discovers there is more to Lauren than could have been guessed. Or is it less?







Apologies again for the delay! My sister is in town from interstate, so I simply haven't had the time to sit down and record what has ended up being a bumper chapter (82 minutes!)

Eagle-eyed readers may notice the title has changed from "The Stowaway and the Box" - a title I much preferred. The reason for this is that, for reasons I can't quite understand, there's no mention of a box in this chapter. Which is a shame really. I must have made an edit aeons ago and completely forgotten about it. The box in question will make its debut next week instead. Unreliable things, those boxes...

Chapter 5 should be up at the usual time. It should also be a good deal shorter than this week's, by way of compensation for the overrun. At this stage, unless I'm accidentally referring to items or events that play no part in the chapter, the title will be "The Same Deep Water As Me."

Labels: chapter blurb, london, novel

Summer arrives in London and Aston is feeling romantic, almost. A chance drunken encounter leads him into a world he quickly realises isn't for him. But is there some electricity between him and Lauren - perhaps something neither of them could imagine?

3: GHOSTS available now here

NEXT WEEK: The Stowaway & The Box

Labels: Aston, chapter blurb, lauren, mp3

Tom Hensley, Aston's financially-minded flatmate, has a new job. He's been there two weeks and hopes soon to find out what it is. With a bit of luck, he'll work it out before the phonecalls threatening concrete boots start yielding deadly results. As usual, Aston is no help at all.


2: THE QUIET OFFICE available now here
NEXT WEEK: Ghosts

Labels: Aston, chapter blurb, london, mp3, novel, podcast

August 1999,

Aston Somerfield is a professional, but this says nothing of his questionable work ethic. Rather, Aston is determined to keep things uncomplicated. No-one and nothing will touch him, not even the sudden death of a friend he barely knew. At least, that's the official story.

Whether he likes it or not, fate is coming for Aston and it's about to lead him to places he never expected to go.

As chaotic and random as the city it inhabits, Electricity is about to drag Aston from Australia to Seville to his Battersea Bedsit. Ultimately, he will find himself entwined in a mystery bigger than the universe itself. Being of a somewhat useless persuasion, Aston will do his very best to ignore it.

CHAPTER 1: LOVE,WINE & MATHEMATICS is available now here

NEXT WEEK: The Quiet Office

Labels: Aston, chapter blurb