Author Archives: Dan Jones

Rejection Doesn’t Define You

How many people reading this have submitted a novel manuscript to a literary agent? More to the point I wonder how many people have received rejections? In fact, scrap that. Forget about writing and submitting manuscripts to an agent. How many people have been rejected for anything, ever? A job, a business proposal, a grant,Continue reading “Rejection Doesn’t Define You”

Literature Long Read: The Parable Of Nehushtan, The Bronze Snake

A lot of the background research for my novel The Green Man has involved reading The Bible. That’s perhaps unsurprising given that the story is about a group of Benedictine, Franciscan, and Dominican monks from the 14th century. One of the Biblical stories that I ended up using as a reference point in TGM isContinue reading “Literature Long Read: The Parable Of Nehushtan, The Bronze Snake”

Literature Long Read: Another Brick In The Dead-Wall: Pink Floyd and Melville’s ‘Bartleby’

Before the completion of Moby Dick in 1851, Melville suffered the traditional artists’ existential crisis: a lack of money coupled with being pulled this way and that by competing interests. Most of us who’ve chosen to pursue some degree of success in the arts have felt that Real Life frequently gets in the way. MelvilleContinue reading “Literature Long Read: Another Brick In The Dead-Wall: Pink Floyd and Melville’s ‘Bartleby’”

Man O’War Bookstream Delayed

I got word this week that the Man O’War Bookstream, which was due to begin streaming on Monday, is going to be postponed by at least a week after (drum roll…..) Covid has struck one of the actors in the production. Bravo, Covid, now you’re striking against the people who are innovating ways to getContinue reading “Man O’War Bookstream Delayed”

Man O’War released on Monday 23rd November

I can’t really believe it’s happened so quickly, but Episode 1 of the Bookstreamz adaptation of Man O’War will be available to view on the Bookstreamz platform from Monday 23rd November. Elaine Sturgess and her colleagues Leslie, Paul and Wendy have done a brilliant job in getting the production ready to fly in such aContinue reading “Man O’War released on Monday 23rd November”

“Top Boy’s” Alessandro Babalola to star in Man O’War

Alessandro Babalola will play Adem Johnson, the Machiavellian heir to the Johnson Petroleum Corporation who has chosen to develop his career in the English civil service in my 22nd century world. Alessandro gave a star-making turn as the terrifying hitman Haze in Netflix’s brilliant drama Top Boy, and won an Olivier for his performance inContinue reading ““Top Boy’s” Alessandro Babalola to star in Man O’War”