Decoding Static

Living Room Stories Second Edition

2012-01-19T16:36:00.000Z

I am pleased to announce that the Second Handmade edition of Living Room Stories is now available to buy, after the first edition sold out in 36 days! In early October 2011 inspired by Ólafur Arnalds' Living Room Songs I wrote a story a day for seven days. The resulting seven short stories are about love, memories, hurt and hope. I have reordered the stories into a linear retelling for the physical release. Copies are available for £5.00 (includes postage to anywhere in the world (via paypal)). The second edition will be limited to 50 copies. There will not be a third edition, this is it! The cover is a new transparent print (above). The cover art is a print of the art I produced for Tricia, who won the Mensis Liber giveaway. Each of the stories are printed on individual double sided cards with accompanying art or photography, housed in a seven inch record sleeve. Each copy is signed.

'Living Room Stories is a highly original project. And you sense this before reading a single word. ... Related to this is Harrod’s extraordinary ability to attach a lyrical and poetic quality to his descriptions. ... it is an artistic interpretation, a beautiful tribute to a fellow artist’s work, and represents an innovative means of finding inspiration. It would be no exaggeration to say that I have not taken pleasure out of a reading ‘experience’ quite like this before. ... Harrod’s work should be regarded as a new form that calls on influences from literature, poetry and music. This project is a stunning marriage of the three, and I cannot wait to see what comes next.' Read Rory's review at Sabotage.

If you are interested in reviewing or interviewing please get in touch via email: decodingstatic@gmail.com or @decodingstatic on twitter.

Living Room Stories Sabotage Review

2012-01-19T15:43:00.000Z

Rory O'Sullivan over at Sabotage has reviewed Living Room Stories and I am very happy with the review, a very pleasant surprise when I came across it last night.

'Living Room Stories is a highly original project. And you sense this before reading a single word. ... Related to this is Harrod’s extraordinary ability to attach a lyrical and poetic quality to his descriptions. ... it is an artistic interpretation, a beautiful tribute to a fellow artist’s work, and represents an innovative means of finding inspiration.'

'What a collection this is. It would be no exaggeration to say that I have not taken pleasure out of a reading ‘experience’ quite like this before. ... Harrod’s work should be regarded as a new form that calls on influences from literature, poetry and music. This project is a stunning marriage of the three, and I cannot wait to see what comes next.'

Read Rory's review at Sabotage.

Thank you Rory.

#amwriting blog post

2011-12-28T12:04:00.001Z

Today over at #amwriting I talk about layers to meaning and taking risks with how we publish our writing.

'I encourage other writers to be curious with how they present their words and am very interested in seeing what happens when the boundaries are pushed.'

Read An Individual Approach to Writing. As is traditional with my writing it is in between the lines that I ask of the reader and other writers to push those boundaries.

National Short Story Day

2011-12-22T10:13:00.000Z

Today is the shortest day of the year, it is also National Short Story Day. To celebrate this I am sharing with you my short story, twilight. Like many of my stories, twilight appears wrapped in sadness, but there is an under current of love; the love of a broken heart that corrodes all other love. There is also strength and a glimmer of hope; we never truly give up. It feels rather apt it is set in the Arctic twilight as today is the winter solstice; the darkness will recede in time and the light will grow.

twilight

This is years of neglect. This is years of decay. Writing faster, this place is sad. He re-reads the words, allowing each to resonate inside.
‘Escape is no answer,’ he mutters, throwing his pad on the fire.
The paper is greedily consumed and the burst of heat subsides. He stares out across the Arctic twilight; the blue infused light is at its peak. The mountains tower like etchings belonging to legends of old.
The red roses fell like scattered goodbyes. He gripped tightly to his. He refused to say goodbye. His daughter gripped his leg tightly; he felt her tears seep through his trousers.
‘A coward. I was a coward. I am a coward,’ he curses.
‘This place is sad,’ he repeats.
He scratches at his beard, his sole accomplishment and that’s just neglect. She’ll be eight now. She was going to be here eighteen months ago.
The exhaust fumes hung in the air, waiting. He pictured the gases filling her lungs, poisoning her. He thought, she needs somewhere pure. He ran first. Sold up. Her Grandparents were keen to look after her, wanting a connection, needing a replacement.
He pins her drawings up. She sends one every week. He doesn’t look at them. Always her, Mummy and him, Daddy.

‘This place is sad,’ he repeats quietly to the blue light.
He remembers their chatter, their laughter, their coughs, the rustling of wrappers, of papers. He remembers their different voices, hearing their conversations. Sat on the edge, he would turn up his mp3 blocking out their joy.
He stretches out his hand. He wants to connect. To feel another’s touch. What did I expect? Her memories to avoid the cold of the ice? The cold of my heart?
The fire is dying. He walks inside, tripping against a crate of empty bottles. He reaches for the fridge door, a beer, an automatic reaction. A fine tuned technique for forgetting. He flicks the cap off, it clatters to the floor. He takes a sip, the taste, acidic. A surge hits him, he begins to cry and drops the bottle. He walks out. He picks up a stick and places it in the fire, it flickers alight, he tips it up, the flame grows. He walks back in and holds it close. Her thick yellow crayon. That same blond hair. He walks out again. He walks. His feet crunch the fresh snow.

To read more short stories visit National Short Story Day.

eleven/11

2011-12-21T16:19:00.001Z

2011 saw my first release, Living Room Stories, which surprised me by selling out; nicer than that were the comments I received. Thank you. The funny thing about Living Room Stories is that it felt such a natural set of stories to tell; the idea struck me and with little thought I went with it. I then had a desire to finish a project and so released the handmade edition. An organic process; Living Room Stories is me and perhaps much of what I have been chasing.

In 2012 I plan to release tearing at thoughts, a collection of my writing, art and photography from the past nine years, it will include work not previously shown including All Hands are Made of Sin:

'...I stare at my hands, folding them together, my face crumbles. I hear him say ‘Let it out’, but I gulp down the solid lump. I sip more water. I look at my 6 fingers. I hear the jeweller’s laughter. She heard the smash of the glass as I slammed her face onto and through the counter.
‘I didn’t want to be alone.’ The words slip out.'

I'd also like to point you to an interview I did with Dan over on eight cuts as my answers are my reflections on where I am now:

'Urban landscapes can be empty, but a scratch here and a scrape there and they begin to open up, as I connect with that space I sense and feel a beauty, a uniqueness, another option. It is the edge of cities that interest me, forgotten areas, often left to nature to reclaim. It is in this reclamation there is growth.'

I have at long last reclaimed myself and I am hopeful it is sustainable.

Book of the Year 2011

2011-12-20T12:55:00.000Z

My 2011 book of the year is:

'Trapdoor is infused with sadness and I wouldn’t have it any other way, it is this sadness, and the emotional attachment it brought out of me, that has so much to tell us about being alive. To feel alive we have to trust ourselves and our perspectives, not the voices of others.'

Trapdoor lived with me long after I closed the cover for the last time; it doesn't so much as haunt me but acts as a constant reminder of the power of love. I asked Vix for her reaction:

'I'm delighted and humbled by Andy's selection of my novel Trapdoor as his book of the year pick. Given that the story was such an intense, personal journey, it means the world to know that it's not only reaching but resonating with its audience. Being gifted with this response both enheartens and encourages me to continue to craft such works, even as I've rewritten the first four pages of my next novel over a dozen times in frustration! I want to thank Andy, and all the readers who've shared Raven and Pegasus's story, for all their support'

To read more about Trapdoor and to buy visit Trapdoor at Lost Violet Press. You can also read my review and interview.

d i s t o r t i o n

2011-12-16T04:30:00.000Z

Green leaves & White berries.
i Watch.
We Embrace.
We Kiss.
tears Drip.

I didn't get much further.

A black screen and applause. SILENCE.

Northern Lights in grey;

squealing guitars explode.

an echo fades

A lone figure.

NOISE, BLACK.

noise. black.

I could be describing my shattered mind. I could be.

'The imploding anger. I lose the present.'

consider.

For Books Sake Favourite Books of 2011

2011-12-15T15:32:00.000Z

For Books Sake (who I came across via, yes you have guessed it, Dan at eight cuts) asked for favourite books of 2011. Pop over to For Books Sake Favourite Books of 2011 see a picture of me and our wonky festive tree to see my favourite book published in 2011 and what a book it is. One thing I realised is that I have only read 3 books published this year, the other 30 range from the 1920's to now.

Clue: ‘Yet there were a cheerful, happy people despite their incessant killing, and certainly not afflicted by the boredom which weighs so heavily today on our own young urban civilization.’

Next week I'll tell you about my favourite favourite book of 2011.

Living Room Stories Competition Winner

2011-12-14T11:30:00.000Z

I am pleased to announce that the winner of the Living Room Stories art is Georgina.

Congratulations! I hope Georgina will enjoy the art and find somewhere nice to hang it. Commiserations to the other entrants, better luck next time! Thank you all for entering.

eight cuts Analogue Christmas Presents

2011-12-13T11:30:00.000Z

eight cuts have released digital and analogue christmas presents lists and I am very happy to be on the analogue list with Living Room Stories.

On twitter Dan had this to say 'Living Room Stories by @decodingstatic is the best handmade in a long while'.

Check out the other fabulous ebooks, chapbooks and hand made items on the Digital and Analogue lists.

Living Room Stories Sold Out!

2011-12-12T18:49:00.000Z

I am amazed to announce that Living Room Stories has sold out in only 36 days!

I will release a second handmade edition in Mid January, limited to 50 copies.

Thank you to everyone who brought one of the 25 copies, I hope you all enjoy the stories, art and photography.

Cheers to everyone who supported the project and the many twitter and facebook mentions.

Please leave a comment below or contact me @decodingstatic on twitter if you would like to know when the second edition becomes available.

Living Room Stories Guest Post

2011-12-05T11:00:00.000Z

Nik Perring, author of the fab Not So Pefect invited me over to the Nik Perring Show to chat about Living Room Stories.

'I’m thrilled to welcome long time friend of the blog, writer, blogger, and all round top bloke, Andy Harrod, to the blog today, to talk about a really, really cool project. Definitely my kind of thing.'

'I offer a lot of myself in these seven short stories; bows across violin and cello strings or soft piano provided a way into my memories and emotions, at the heart of both of these is love. Without love I fear we are nothing. It is the love the couple share that makes yesterday’s call a fond remembrance rather than the despair of loss.'

Read my guest post at Sunday = Songs + Stories.

Thank you Nik.

Living Room Stories Interview

2011-12-04T16:45:00.001Z

Anne Stormont over at Write Enough has interviewed me about Living Room Stories, my writing in general including my stop, start novel, Deception and my love of music.

'It is only in the last few years that I have felt comfortable attaching the label of writer to my sense of self. Expression of feelings and thoughts is important to my sense of self and this is what drives my writing. I write because if I don’t, my head resounds with noise; I disconnect from the world. To write frees me.'

Read the interview at Write Enough.

Thank you Anne.

Living Room Stories eight cuts Interview

2011-11-30T10:58:00.001Z

Dan Holloway over at eight cuts interviews me about Living Room Stories and my writing. Dan’s questions were a joy to answer, even so they deal with those uncomfortable edges. On that edge I talk about music, urban decay, layers, relationships and the here and now.

'As I revealed each layer, there wasn’t an answer, but a clue, a hint. Perhaps there is no answer, no end point. But that it is the journey, the here and now where we reside, which is important, but that importance is so often clouded and masked. We have to delve through layers to reach meaning, to experience a life that is authentic.'

Dan also wrote a wonderful introduction to the interview. Maybe it is time to start to really believe in my writing.

'Living Room Stories, inspired by Ólafur Arnalds’ Living Room Songs, is one of the most perfect things of 2011.'

'I think what’s special is the sense of fragility he conveys. His characters, and his images, are all on the cusp of fading form view altogether. They are sous squeezed almost dry, yet in his stripped back grey prose the colours and hopes of what has leeched away return to haunt us long after we finish reading.'

Read the interview at eight cuts.

Thank you Dan.

Deception 6/9

2011-11-30T10:30:00.000Z

Living Room Stories Competition

2011-11-28T09:00:00.000Z

As promised I am holding a competition to win the art that provides the transparent cover to my Living Room Stories collection. I will sign the art and write a personal message to the winner. The art will be mounted and framed. The art is 7 x 7 inchs, framed probably 9 inchs square.

To enter: Leave a comment below and your email address or twitter name (I'll only use these to contact you with the result).

Deadline: Midnight (GMT) Friday 9th December.

Picking a winner: Each entry will be assigned a number and a number will be selected at random by my wife, Rachel.

If you would then like to share a link to the competition that would be great!

Copies of Living Room Stories are available to buy at Living Room Stories, handmade edition.

love is everything

2011-11-25T11:00:00.000Z

Living Room Stories - Review

2011-11-24T15:18:00.001Z

Anne Stormont over at Write Enough has posted a review of Living Room Stories. It left me speechless.

'Andy is a writer with a unique and original voice, an often unconventional presentation and, sometimes, painful honesty. ... I have never read anything like this. As an artefact it’s unique, as a concept it’s original. As a piece of storytelling, it’s brevity belies its emotional depth and intelligence. This is a life story – beautifully told. It’s heart-wrenching, absorbing, wonderful.'

I've hoped, but never thought I would hear such words about my writing and stories. Read the rest of Anne's review at Write Enough.

Thank you Anne. I am very much looking forward to the interview.

Johanna Harness - #amwriting Interview

2011-11-22T19:00:00.000Z

Welcome Johanna Harness to Decoding Static. Johanna started the #amwriting hastag on twitter, which has brought together many writers and created a very friendly and supportive community. Johanna explains what led her to begin #amwriting and how it has helped her writing.

What lead you to start the #amwriting hastag?
I was so drawn to all these writers and the idea of not writing alone really appealed to me. I started out doing little informal shout-outs, asking who was writing at the same time I was, but I ended up having individual conversations with a dozen people. I wanted a gathering place where the conversation included everyone. Even more importantly, I wanted a community where I could drop in briefly and then go back to writing. I wanted a water cooler for people engaged in writing, not just a place for people to go when they wanted to talk about writing. #amwriting has always been about the work.

Did you have any hopes and expectations for #amwriting when you began?
Mostly I hoped to get writers talking to each other. I didn't have any expectations.

Did you expect the #amwriting community to grow as big as it has?
I had no idea! In those early months, people would only show up for a few hours during the day. I kept doing morning roll calls and posting the FAQ and word kept spreading. It still amazes me.

How does it make you feel to see something you started have the impact that #amwriting does have on bringing writers together?
I spent a lot of years teaching writing, so a group like this really makes my heart sing. It's profoundly satisfying.

What do you think attracts writers to it?
The community is inclusive. It doesn't matter how much experience anyone has or what they're writing. We only care about the process. If you're writing, you're welcome. That's a big draw.

What is your favourite(s) aspect of the #amwriting hastag?
I love the mix of people. My friends hang out there, but I also get a chance to meet new people. The atmosphere is always supportive.

Has #amwriting helped your writing?
Absolutely. Lately I've been doing writing sprints with writers and they're helping me stay focused from hour to hour. Long revisions can take the wind out of me. I feel like I'm never going to get done. Other writers know what I'm going through and their encouragement keeps me on track.

Could you tell us a little bit more about your own writing?
I write young adult novels and stories, both fantasy and contemporary. My first novel, Claire Morgane Almost Saves The World, is about a teen botanist living in the newly-outlawed territories of the American West. To head off an impending famine, she has to go looking for a crazy conspiracy theorist--who most likely lives in the dimension next door. It's a great deal of fun.

What inspires your writing?
That's a difficult question. A get a glimpse of something in my mind--an exchanged glance in a rearview mirror--or a favourite character walking in a ruined house--or something sparkling at the bottom of a pool. It's the kind of image that makes me catch my breath and ask, "What's all that about?" I go searching for the story.

Why have you chosen a younger audience to write for?
When I first started writing, I created much older versions of my characters, but I kept finding myself drawn to things that happened earlier in their lives. Finally I let the characters have their way and reframed the story as a YA novel. It was the right thing to do. The characters sparked to life and my writing voice changed overnight. For me, it was all about the characters and accepting the story that wanted to be told.

Anything else you like to add?
Thanks so much for this opportunity, Andy! I appreciate it so much.

Thank Johanna for answering my questions. I can relate to that glimpse of a scene, character or idea that begins a story. Many of my stories have started that way. The writing sprints also sound very interesting and may give them a go to help with focus. Find out more at #amwriting.

this is all

2011-11-21T12:49:00.001Z

Something beautiful.

Living Room Stories – Mensis Liber Giveaway

2011-11-17T20:44:00.001Z

I am very excited that Mensis Liber is giving away a copy of Living Room Stories. Mensis Liber is run by Kenna and she is giving away a free book every month or maybe more!. 'The goal is simple, for people to read more.'

I am joining the giveaways of 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami (one of my writing inspirations) and Olives by Alexander McNabb.

Kenna have some very kind words for me 'Decoding Static has been one of my favourite sites, for the amazing stories Andy writes'. Kenna also mentions that I am 'considering making a new cover art for the book winner!' I can confirm I will be making a new piece of cover art for the winner.

To have a chance of winning this unique copy of Living Room Stories pop over to Mensis Liber and answer the question. Clue the answer is on my blog!

Thanks again to Kenna for this.

Living Room Stories Preview

2011-11-14T13:03:00.001Z

For those of you who would like to take a sneak peak at Living Room Stories before buying, you now can.

Living Room Stories - Handmade Edition

2011-11-07T10:00:00.000Z

STOP PRESS: Second Edition now available, includes new cover art and is limited to 50 copies. The first edition sold out in only 36 days!

Original Post:
A Hand made edition of my Living Room Stories is now available to buy. In early October inspired by Ólafur Arnalds' Living Room Songs I wrote a story a day for seven days. The resulting seven short stories are about love, memories, hurt and hope. I have reordered the stories into a linear retelling for this release. Copies are available for £5.00 (includes postage to anywhere in the world (via paypal)). The first run will be limited to 25 copies. The cover is a transparent print and each of the stories are printed on individual double sided cards, housed in a seven inch record sleeve. Each copy is signed.

If you are interested in reviewing or interviewing please get in touch via email: decodingstatic@gmail.com or @decodingstatic on twitter.

Cover Art - a transparent print is included.

Each story is on a double sided card.

risk

2011-11-04T09:30:00.000Z

'True art is only to be found on the edge of what is known - a dangerous place to be, an exciting place to work, a continually unsettling place to live subjectively.'

(James Bugental 1987)

Living Room Stories - Collection

2011-10-26T16:36:00.000+01:00

I have decided to publish my Living Room Stories. For this release I have made the enclosed art and each release will include a transparent print as the cover. The stories will be printed onto individual sheets of card and housed in a seven inch record sleeve. The first run will be limited to 25 hand made copies.

I will be producing a couple of review copies, if you are interested in reviewing it please get in touch via email: decodingstatic@googlemail.com or @decodingstatic on twitter. Please also contact me if you are interested in interviewing me regarding this project.

I will also hold a competition to win the original piece of art, more on this after the release, which will be early November.