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Something wicked this way comes

It's own-trumpet-blowing time again, I'm afraid – the latest publication to feature my book reviews is brand-new launch Horrorville. It's from the same stable as SFX and Crime Scene, both of which I also review for, so the editor knew I was a reliable reviewer with a genuine interest in the subject matter.* Long-term readers of the Robot will know I devote every October on this blog to things both spooky and vintage. As with crime fiction, I'm more a fan of classic horror than modern stuff on the screen, though I will read absolutely anything. I even have a playlist of vintage Halloween pop songs on my iPod! Horrorville doesn't really cater to the vintage lover, though issue 1 does have an interview with Fabio Frizzi, who scored a lot of Lucio Fulci's late 1970s/early 1980s horror films.


My next freelance is for In Retrospect; I'm hoping to style up and shoot some images for that article over the weekend. (Obviously not images of me; those would be more appropriate in Horrorville.) In Retrospect is the only magazine I supply images for, but I do enjoy the challenge of taking or, on occasion, sourcing them. When I can, I grovel at Mr Robot to supply me with photos as he's much better at taking pictures than I am.

My last article for In Retrospect was on holidaying like the great bombshells (just in case you fancied emulating Bardot at Cannes or Ava Gardner on the Costa Brava, and my next published one should be on travelling through Spain in the footsteps of great writers, Ernest Hemingway and Laurie Lee in particular, and as I lost my camera in Segovia his photos were all I had to go on. The bombshell article's in the current issue, by the way, which is still for sale online, and the next issue is going to press so there will be all sorts of new goodness available soon.

I usually write travel articles for In Retrospect, but my next piece has a food and drink focus. Intrigued? I promise, it's not just an excuse for me to trawl the chazzas for photo props. (We never need an excuse to buy more pottery; Mr Robot and I were that >< close to buying a set of 1970s soup cups last weekend. However, I will trawl the chazzas because a few more photo props never does any harm...)

I sometimes get frustrated at how little time I seem to have, and feel I never get anything done when other people are doing so much amazing stuff, but looking at my magazines I can see where my time goes and that I probably have done quite a lot. I love working in publishing. There's nothing like being able to share your passions with other people – that's why I blog, after all.

*I'm feeling a bit defensive as I hate the old maxim 'It's not what you know, it's who you know'. Trust me, no-one gets freelance work simply because they know someone; delivering consistently good work on time is the important thing! Though I admit, having contacts and a good reputation does make getting work easier.
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Comments

  1. Witchcrafted Life27 August 2016 at 03:04

    Way to go across the board, dear Mim. I bet it's very enjoyable to be able to write about multiple areas that interest across the span of different publications.

    Wishing you a sunny, terrific weekend,
    ♥ Jessica

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    1. Mim30 August 2016 at 21:35

      It is! I don't think I could stop writing about stuff if I tried. I'm lucky to have so many outlets.

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  2. Melanie27 August 2016 at 14:20

    Good for you! It must be so satisfying :)
    Is In Retrospect available in the shops?

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    1. Mim30 August 2016 at 21:37

      No, by post or via their stalls at festivals at the moment. That makes sense, really - I know from working in 'big publishing' that getting into the shops is hard, and then the amount of the cover price big chains take is pretty high. And if the shops don't sell them, off they go to be pulped, so all the printing/distribution costs of those copies was wasted! Makes more sense for a niche mag to keep everything closer to home.

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  3. tubby3pug27 August 2016 at 20:02

    Congrats I love horror so very impressed

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    1. Mim30 August 2016 at 21:38

      I was massively pleased/surprised to be asked.

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  4. Goody28 August 2016 at 01:05

    Of course you ought to blow your own horn-you have a talent and are able to put it to use. Well done!

    I look forward to October on your blog each year.

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    1. Mim30 August 2016 at 21:39

      I am hoping for a good October this year. I was thinking of making a cockroach cake, after seeing one online, but now I'm thinking I might make a brain instead. Cockroach or brain, cockroach or brain?...

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  5. Unknown28 August 2016 at 06:14

    Mim, dear
    (I've spotted it: you do not - underline that - belong in a a thing like "Horrorwille" magazine; unless like a gorgeous leading lady that stands strong at the end) :)
    Getting a freelance job is a big success, my dear. At this day and age, to be able to spread your work service, is a great accomplishment (and it's good for the wallet, too) :)

    Have a great Sunday

    Marija

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    1. Mim30 August 2016 at 21:41

      Yeah, reviewing doesn't pay much, but I squirrel the money away into my emergency fund. Recent news reports have suggested loads of people in the UK couldn't last a month if they lost their job - I never want to be in that position if I can help it! No-one can help losing their job, but being prepared for emergencies is important.

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  6. Polyester Princess28 August 2016 at 10:31

    Well done on having those articles published, Mim. xxx

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    1. Mim30 August 2016 at 21:41

      Thank you! I was at a low point, thinking I was a bit rubbish at everything, when I got offered the work. That made me feel considerably less rubbish!

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  7. The Vintage Knitter30 August 2016 at 10:18

    I read your last article in In Retrospect and really enjoyed it (you look amazing in you contributors photo - wicked beehive!).

    Me too when it comes to having little time - I'm way behind in updating my blog and my sewing/knitting has been neglected recently, but there's only so much that you can pack into a day - or so I tell myself!

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    1. Mim30 August 2016 at 21:43

      Sadly, I can't do my own beehive, that was done for me at Vintage Nostalgia last year. I really should start setting aside a couple of hours at weekends to practice hair things - but then where do spare couples of hours come from? As you say, there's only so much you can pack into a day.

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  8. Cate30 August 2016 at 12:34

    Congratulations on getting published in Horrorville! I love your articles in In Retrospect, I always have a good read of those. xx

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    1. Mim30 August 2016 at 21:44

      Thank you! My shoot over the bank holiday didn't go as well as I'd hoped, so I'm going to have to try again. Good job I like drinking 'spare' sherry...

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  9. Vix30 August 2016 at 18:00

    Not one but two publications, we have a celeb in our midst. I'll have to track down In Retrospect, they don't even have Vintage Life in our WH Smiths.
    I'd love to travel Spain in Laurie Lee's footsteps! xxx

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    1. Mim30 August 2016 at 21:47

      Unless you come across the Retrospectres at a festival, it's mail order only at present.

      It's amazing how much of Spain is still structurally very much as Lee would've seen it, especially in the centres of old towns. The Civil War led to the destruction of some places, but as they were mostly rebuilt, it hasn't made a massive difference. You can walk round the streets of Toledo as he did, and see the El Greco paintings he writes about.

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  10. Vronni's Style Meanderings30 August 2016 at 18:21

    Well done you!

    xxx

    Veronica

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  11. freckleface31 August 2016 at 22:19

    What is it they say, comparison is the thief of joy? Some people probably do have lots of time to do nice things. I feel I make a little go a long way, because it's the nice things I want to remember. To me that's part of the reason for blogging. The rest of the time it's drudgery, but who wants to listen to other people whinging? (I know the answer; it's nobody). So you're right to celebrate your achievements in being chosen to do this work and the time it takes to do it well. Trumpet away. I like to hear of people doing well.

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  12. Mother of Reinvention5 September 2016 at 20:40

    Sounds like you are very busy but at least it is not a chore doing something that you love. I think that doing freelance must be very hard work indeed and you would definitely not get it if you weren't very good at it. I think that there is never a time not to buy vintage props for photo shoots. Looking forward to your Halloween posts and will keep an eye out for those mags. Xx

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  13. Kate-Em12 September 2016 at 21:23

    Congratulations on getting in the magazine. I enjoyed your travel article in In Retrospect and the new one dropped onto the door mat today so I look forward to reading that too.

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