The SALMON AND DUSK page has been updated with two new profiles, offering a little background to the latest story.

Check them out HERE.

An old flame from Kilbey's past returns with suspiciously tempting offer. Theo puts her foot down, but if there's one thing Kilbey can't resist, it's... actually, there are plenty of things Kilbey can't resist.

But can Violet be trusted? And how much trouble is Kilbey in if she can't?

DOWNLOAD CHAPTER ONE

Art by Victor Wycoco

Keen-eared listeners will notice that tonight's episode of SALMON & DUSK is the first to directly contradict the podcasted version of HOW TO DISAPPEAR COMPLETELY.

How can this be? I hear you ask.

Oh, really? No-one asked?

Well, let me explain anyway.

The current season of SALMON & DUSK is based on the final draft of HOW TO DISAPPEAR COMPLETELY, which I'll admit is a little unfair, since very few people (thus far) have read that draft. My thinking in this is, I don't want to have to rewrite a second bunch of stories when the new draft of the original finally launches (in whatever form that is.) Also, the latest draft is the clearest expression of what I really want to do with the series, so it makes sense for me to base any new stories on that version.

The drafting process has been a long and rather torturous adventure and there have been casualties along the way. Theo's surname, for one thing - although I have days when I still waver on that one. Another has been a whole subplot in which we meet Violet, who has a rather special (at least, she thinks so) connection with Kilbey.

Violet played a small but vital role in the original novel and, indeed, continued to do right up until, ooh, January this year, when she was finally excised. To be honest, I only held on to her as long as I did as I quite liked the character and Victor had done a couple of smashing illustrations of her. But, sadly, she's gone.

Or that was the plan.

When I put aside the intended Story 4 (for reasons too complex to go into here), she came back with a story in tow. And, I thought, it made sense to reintroduce her, given that I wanted this season to be a "fresh start" for anyone who hasn't listened to the first book. I did consider creating a similar character, but then I thought again of those illustrations and, frankly, I don't like to throw anything away.

Hope you can forgive this act of authorial vandalism. Of course, with history gone, there's no saying that a few vital things about our world have changed without anyone noticing. Don't be surprised if we hear more in that line when Season 2 comes around...

cheers!

Myke

The fourth in a new series of adventures for Salmon & Dusk.

On a boozy night out, Theo thinks she's made a new friend. Instead, it quickly becomes clear she's helped an old friend of Kilbey's find him.

Violet has a job for Salmon and Dusk, one Kilbey may find hard to resist, even if it spells disaster for his relationship with Theo.

But what does any of this have to do with a bunch of hyacinths and a grave in Highgate cemetery?

BLUE VALENTINE is a two episode story in the ongoing SALMON & DUSK series.

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

A Valentine's Day present to all my favourite listeners!

Victor Wycoco has provided some brand-spanking new, eye-caressingly wonderful and really rather definitive portraits of our heroes to grace the new profile pages in the SALMON & DUSK section.

Larger versions of each picture are available by clicking on the pic on the profile pictures. Grab them while they're hot!

More presents to come next weekend (probably) as Story 4 kicks off. More details to follow, but here's a title to whet your appetite: SALMON & DUSK: BLUE VALENTINE.

My wonderful webmaster Jason Andrews has unlocked the comments, there's now no need to register on the site to say hello.

Of course, registering means you get access to the forum and the occasional bonus feature, so I recommend you do that anyway. It's quick and painless and spam-free!

Look forward to hearing from you,

Myke

Being ill in Bangkok, why Story 3 was written twice and why Nero doesn't listen to much Rockabilly these days.

All this and more in AFTER DUSK 5 - as I discuss the background to the new series of SALMON AND DUSK.

Download the fifth episode

The third in a new series of adventures for Salmon & Dusk.

When Kilbey is hospitalised after his latest cash-saving initiative, Nero is left alone to take on the case of a woman stalked by a cashed-up stranger.

Quickly, Nero comes to realise not everything is as it seems. His client seems more interested in finding out more about him than worrying about her own safety. Just who is she and who is she working for? Is Nero's past about to come back to bite him?

YESTERDAY CAME TOO SOON is a single episode story in the ongoing SALMON & DUSK series.

DOWNLOAD THE ENTIRE STORY

Art by Victor Wycoco

This song is mentioned several times in the new story, so for those of you unfamiliar with The Small Faces, here it is in all its (slightly tinny) glory. The first mix of Yesterday Came Too Soon actually saw the song fade up under the final scene, but I'm increasingly uneasy about using any copyrighted music in the podcasts, so you'll just need to imagine that still happens.

'People who once passed me by, will turn their heads round...'

Altogether now!

Story 3 has had a long and somewhat cursed history to date. After various factors conspired to keep me from podcasting it before flying out to Bangkok for three weeks' work, I then found myself in a hotel room whose various whirrs and clicks (not to mention the neighbouring building site) made recording to the usual standard difficult, if not impossible. And then there were the four days in hospital...

The end result is, I've put the planned story 3 aside for now. It's written, but I don't feel quite ready to record it. I think a redraft will do it a world of good anyway.

In its place will be Yesterday Came Too Soon. As with the missing story, it's a Nero tale. With Kilbey in hospital, Nero has to deal with a particularly unusual client - one who seems to know a lot more about him than is comfortable.

Written during my time convalescing, this will be a one-off episode (just like the story it's replaced) and I'm hoping to have it online within the week. (Perhaps with a little more background noise than usual.)  We'll get to see a bit of a different side to Nero as he puts together the pieces of a rather romantic mystery.

As always, your patience is appreciated!

Coming soon then: Yesterday Came Too Soon.

Art by Victor Wycoco (which inspired the story in the first place)