Hello again everyone,

Last week I published my short story ‘Best Friends Forever’, and have received some good feedback. If you haven’t read it, please check it out here and let me know what you think:

https://ashleymanning.com/2022/08/11/best-friends-forever-short-story/

I’ve started working on a Part II after one of the comments I received, I started thinking about how I could continue it. I don’t have a timeframe for when that’ll be ready, but it’s coming. It’ll be a little longer as well. On top of that last night I had another idea for a sci-fi short story, something that is a bit of a nod towards short stories from the 50s/60s. When I was in sixth form I made my way through every collection the library had of classic sci-fi and have always wanted to write something like that. That’ll be coming at some point as well.

Because of that ‘Blossoms of the Apocalypse’ is taking a backseat, but I’m half way through it and will be returning to it very soon. I feel very positive about writing at the moment and feel like it’s going well. Just have to wait and see.

For my birthday, Tabby bought me Ordinary Monsters by J. M. Miro, which I’d never heard of before. It’s quite a lengthy book, with over 650 pages. I started it on Sunday and currently have 150 pages left to go. I’m really enjoying it so far. Hoping to finish it over the weekend and make a start on other books that I have from my birthday.

There have been a few other things that I’ve watched recently that I haven’t reviewed. I actually got Star Trek: Strange New Worlds to work on my TV (Which took longer than it should have done as Paramount Plus just wouldn’t load). When we got it going we watched 8 episodes in a day, and have now finished the first season. One of the best Star Trek first seasons out of the lot. I’m enjoying the episodic stories. Now to catch up on Discovery.

I’ve started The Sandman, so far 5 episodes in, and again enjoying it so far. I do think it struggles in comparison to the comic, but still a very good adaptation. I think some of the style has been lost in translation, but it’s probably due to how much I the comics mean to me. The Sandman was one of the first comics that I read, and I absolutely loved it. I read the first few volumes over and over before I got the rest of the series. I’ve started reading it again thanks to the series, when I realised that it’s been over a decade since I last did. I will finish the series soon, and I hope that it gets a season 2 and doesn’t get cancelled too soon.

What have you been watching and reading recently? Any recommendations?

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Thanks for reading and until next time,

Ashley