Hello darklings, my old friends

Last week I hit a decidedly despicable peak of dreariness and posted the following to Facebook:

Been gutted to be missing out on cons for a couple of years now…and extra sad that it’s out of my hands at the moment even if I could/would want to go (egad, the grammar pains).

I haven’t written or read for well over 18 months, and boy does it hurt. I’m out of touch with my craft, my friends, my colleagues, those of you who I only consider reprobates (you’re my favourite), and that hurts equally so.

I’m don’t feel part of the community anymore and it’s 100% my fault.

I wanted to reach out and chat to everyone who I miss dearly, those of you who fancy swapping stories for red penning, those who fancy a virtual pint, or those of you who just want to FB poke me or send me a reading recommendation.

Miss you all!!

I didn’t fell like I should be allowed to talk to old friends and colleagues because I’d been out of the loop so long, I felt as if I’d let them down simply by being away for so long. I hadn’t done a single thing to better myself or the community, and I hadn’t even exchanged simple pleasantries with other writers in too many months to count (or too many to be arsed counting).

Turns out you can’t escape…no matter how far you stray from the darkness.

I was almost instantly met with virtual hugs; people reaching out to chat in real life (as real life as web cams can get anyway); offering advice, reading recommendations; banter and insults were received most graciously; and I realised most of the worry I was experiencing had zero founding, proving once again that the horror community is one of the kindest, nicest gang of people you could ever hope to meet.

Thank you, everyone, you’ve lifted this miserable sods spirits and inspired him to write again!