I’ve always been ambitious. I’ve always had a feeling that if I really concentrated and focussed my energy, I could achieve great things. The problem has always been figuring out what I should concentrate on. I’ve always felt like a bit of a work in progress. As if I still have some developing to do. As if I still haven’t quite grown up.

Well, today I have some good news. Today I think I’ve finally got things sorted, and I can really set my mind to achieving a goal. Today I think I’ve finally discovered what I want to be when I grow up.

I want to be a franchise.

I’m always hearing about franchises. This franchise and that franchise. There’s the Star Wars franchise and the Lord of the Rings franchise and the Harry Potter franchise, not to mention all those superhero franchises. Seems to me that the best way to be successful, the best way to be a major hit, is to be a franchise. So that’s why I want to be one too.

Okay, so now I’ve got that sorted. I know exactly what I want to be. I have the rest of my life mapped out in front of me. There’s only just one thing left to sort out.

What on earth do I actually have to do to become one.

I suppose the first thing is blanket media coverage. Everywhere you go, all you are going to see is me. Read a newspaper or magazine and I’ll be everywhere. Watch television and you won’t be able to avoid me. Try walking outside without spotting me up on a billboard. And as for the internet, you can forget about missing me there.

Then I suppose there will be the merchandising. Every aspect of me will be for sale. I can see myself being broken up into lots of different pieces, each one of which will be copied en masse and put up for sale. Any bit of me that you want you’ll be able to buy.

Finally, there will be all the new releases. Every six months or so, there’ll be a new release of…me. Each one will be a major event, a massive extravaganza. Full on media coverage – nobody will be talking about anything else.

So there you have it. The master plan. All my future goals, neatly laid out. By the time I achieve my aim and become a franchise, I’ll be the biggest thing ever.

You have been warned. Watch out for me soon.

Update on Riptides in Reality

Just a quick reminder that the Riptides in Reality contest is still running.

Go to http://www.between-boyfriends.com/2016/06/riptides-in-reality-sci-fi-and.html where you’ll find a cool giveaway happening. Enter for a chance to win a bunch of prizes, including a copy of the anthology plus a variety of books by the contributors, an Amazon gift card or even a Kindle Fire.