Well, it has only taken four years but my novel is now finished and available on the kindle store. I think I must feel the same way about it as a parent feels when the children grow up and move out; sad to see it go, but by God glad it has gone. It has been a huge part of my life for such a long time. I feel a long way removed from the first sentence that got set down, sometime in 2008, while I still lived alone in my old flat.
Middling was born out of the realisation that I was engaged in writing the wrong novel. The other book wasn’t what I wanted to be writing. I don’t know why I was writing it, or where I thought it was going. But one day I decided I needed to be working on something I was genuinely passionate about, I just didn’t know what that was. It came to me one day, on the train, while listening to a Kevin Smith podcast.
In the podcast Kevin Smith and Scott Mosier were pretending that Mosier had died, and Smith was talking to him from beyond the grave. Smith said ‘So is there a God or not?’ There was a long pause and then Mosier said ‘we’re not sure’. That was the seed from which the whole book grew. Not that that little exchange really sums up the book, it grew into something different from what I was really expecting it to be, but then I imagine it’s a rare novel that turns out precisely the way anticipated. It would probably be a lot less fun to write, too.
I am very satisfied with how the book turned out. As surreal, metaphysical seaside adventures go, I think it is a pretty good one. If you feel so inclined you can take a look at it here, and if you do so on the 30th December 2012 it will be available for free. There will be more days where it is free later, the perfect time to take a punt on an indie book, and I’ll post here when those dates are due.
toby wallis 
Dear Toby, Its 00.02 and I just finished Middling. I very much enjoyed it but it will be some time, and possibly a re-read, before I can say exactly why or how much. Those are the best kinds of books. Needless to say, I read it in one sitting. It has been far too long since I read a book through to the small hours, so thank you.
Best regards.
Thank you for taking the time to read my book, and for taking the time to write this message. I really appreciate it. I’m thrilled at the thought you felt it worth reading all the way through in one go. I can’t remember the last time I read something in its entirety in one sitting. I am really pleased you enjoyed it, and quite admire your reservation on judgement as to why.