Content courtesy of and authored by Adam Nevill . . . . .
What a year, eh? And I'm not sure what stank worse - the pestilence, or the incessant government incompetence. The two became inseparable. And then there were my epochal fears for America and what events there might mean for the rest of the world ... Two drawing pins and a sharp stone in the same shoe ... Oh, then the "EU Trade Deal". There was no shoe, just bare soles on drawing pins.
But, on my speck of sand down here, on a professional level, I know that in hindsight, I needed the big pause button to be pressed on my participation in life. Back in January, I was on course this year for two literary festivals, four horror cons and some local talks at a museum and a book group. All of it scattered throughout 2020, plus a film shoot, a film festival and umpteen meetings in London. All of it was cancelled ... and my abiding emotion was relief.
Instead, I've just put my head down and worked across numerous films in development, for which I have a role as either EP or screenwriter (one even got the trigger and was filmed). The cinematic side of my work reached something of a critical mass in 2020.
In 2020, I also needed to publish and launch Wyrd in 3 formats and rewrite next year's novel (I began my current novel-in-progress in 2019 but managed 6 drafts this year, with decent gaps between each draft). Throughout 2020 I've also needed to fulfil orders from my webstore that has nearly melted during the lockdowns ... (thank you for your orders!) So, I've worked most days, or part of most days in 2020. It's been intense but customers and readers seem happy, Wyrd is wriggling out there and I have another novel + film in the pipe. I'm counting major blessings that I was able to do all of this work on what I love and think of as a purpose in life.
I hope to publish the new novel on
Halloween 2021 and there will be a film adaptation of No One Gets Out Alive to watch sometime next year too. More news on these will flow in next year's newsletters.
It may have been my busiest year since 2016, when I started Ritual Limited and my indie publishing venture from scratch but I've untied some knots too. Around work I've enjoyed some family time, a few paddles, some swims & walks. No one fell ill either. My work, the girls and living down here has been this year's salvation. What I'm taking away from this year, though, is to not get involved in so much extra-curricular stuff again. To do anything thoroughly and completely will mean not doing other things at all. There is only so much sand in the hour-glass. |
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| If you've had a hound of a 2020, I extend my sympathy and empathy and I hope some light is filtering onto your horizon right about now. Now, let's all shoot-up the vaccine in 2021 and enjoy a massive bonfire of the vanities (using conspiracy theories and stupid ideas as kindling). |
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| Couple of writing related items and then I'll get on to my recommendations from 2020. The Reddening has been translated into Russian by Astrel (my 6th book in Russian and a record for me in any language) and No One Gets Out Alive is forthcoming in a French translation. |
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A strong critical reception for Wyrd has continued and I am still finding reviews – this one at This is Horror last night and Wyrd made Gingernuts of Horror's list of best collections in 2020 too. I want to reiterate my sincerest thanks too, for all of your reviews and posts about Wyrd, wherever they've appeared. They've made a huge impact and really boosted this unusual collection's signal. You rock.
I checked my reading diary on Christmas Eve and I am currently reading my 100th book this year. Reading remains my favourite leisure time pursuit and I've read some superb fiction and non-fiction in 2020. My favourite reads in 2020 are stacked below (one horror; the other everything else). |
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| 2020 has been an exceptional year for television. I'd be hard-pressed to pick my favourite series, though I am edging Raised by Wolves into pole position; a wonderful blend of science fiction & horror. To my eye, it feels like the expansion of a vision for Ridley Scott, that he began in Prometheus and Alien Covenant. And, if your tastes are similar to mine, I wholeheartedly recommend the following: The Outsider; Channel Zero - Dream Door & Butcher's Block(these two I hadn't seen before this year but Candle Cover and No End-House are also terrific); Kingdom Series 2; Bosch Series 1 - 6; The Mandalorian; Gangs of London; Castle Rock. |
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I've watched a few films too (mostly horror and a few of them were true horrors). But my shortlist of the horror films I watched for the first time in 2020 and recommend would include Relic; Possessor; Vigil; Gretel and Hansel; His House; Sputnik; Underwater; Dead Center.
Beyond horror, I recommend the war films The Unknown Soldier (on a par with Saving Private Ryan) Mosul & 12 Strong. I'm going to throw in Mank, The Lighthouse and Parasite too. All good. |
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| Thanks ya'll for subscribing and reading these infernal missives throughout 2020 too. And there'll be more coming in 2021. Meantime, keep well, don't despair and keep those horns raised. I'll be in touch in January. |
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Manes exite paterni
Adam
December 2020 |
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