Boom! And just like that he's back. Bigger, better, stronger, even more determined than before to unleash wave after wave of literary awesomeness upon the world.
God knows who that is. Me? Nah. I'm just chillin.
Currently I'm listening to the new album by the Charlatans. On gold coloured vinyl. I have a signed copy. The album isn't released until tomorrow. Benefits of having a thoughtful wife. Buy a copy, it's very good.
And what, you might wonder, have I been doing in the three months since my last blog post? Well, mooching mainly. Much as I enjoy the blog, it doesn't actually generate anything in terms of significant book sales. Case in point, in November and December I had my highest sales of the year. My last blog post was 8th October. So, what little promo I have done has been via FB and Twitter. It keeps things ticking along with essentially zero effort.
I do have a new book finished. Yay! I've edited half of it as of today and hope to release it mid February. It's a huge departure from my usual stuff. For a start it's not a detective, crime type thriller. It doesn't feature any of my previous characters and it's entirely in the first person, Catcher in the Rye style. That's been quite the challenge.
It's a confession in essence. The story is the killer telling the reader about what happened, how it happened and the aftermath of that. We learn how that single event impacted on his life, his relationships, everything. He's not asking for sympathy, or even understanding, he just needs to tell someone because he can't live with the weight of his guilt anymore. It's powerful stuff but you'll hear more about it when it's launch time.
By the way, if you fancy reviewing it pre-release, drop me an email (or even better tweet me or get in touch via FB) and I'll add you to the list. I'll send everyone a free copy and in return you leave a bloody awesome review. I've no interest in handing out freebies only for you to say you weren't keen so if you don't like it, say nowt!
In other news, well too much has happened to fill you in on three months. Dog nearly died over Christmas but he's okay now. Cost a fortune! Swine. Me old man's been a bit under the weather too, if you can call a heart defect under the weather. Needless to say I've got that to look forward to when I'm old. Still, I plan on being wealthy so that'll help. Work's just work though the wife has joined the firm which I like.
By the way, we've got a house to rent out if anyone's near Lancaster and wants somewhere to live. Needless to say, you can see it in that rather obviously link.
Other than that, everything's the same. Liverpool seemed to have turned the corner in the league which is nice. Some unprecedented upsets in the FA Cup yesterday but that's what makes it exciting. Oh, and we're thinking of getting a fake lawn. Neither of us has any interest in grass. It's a pain to mow, get's muddy in the winter and is not remotely dog proof. We have samples on the way to look at and then it's just a case of getting it installed. We're all quite excited about that.
And that's it. Blog post complete. Nice to be back. For those of you interested in such things one of my books is going to be free tomorrow until the middle of the week. It's my crime thriller sequel, Ballroom, Bars and Seawater Baths. Links below, spread the word.
UK Kindle Version
US Kindle Version
Showing posts with label Lancaster. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lancaster. Show all posts
Sunday, 25 January 2015
Sunday, 23 March 2014
Supporting local animal charities
Evening,
If you read this blog, or follow me on FB and Twitter you'll know my dog Ralph was hurt today. He's lost part of his right ear and is spending the night at the vets. The wife is beside herself and we're both missing him being here. But he's lucky because we can afford the bills and the time to look after him.
Plenty of dogs, and other animals, aren't so lucky. So for the next 7 days (at least) I'm donating all proceeds from my book sales to two charities local to where I live. Their websites are:
http://www.wolfwood.co.uk/
http://www.animalcare-lancaster.co.uk/
I do this for no other reason than I'm worried about my dog and this will make me feel better. If you'd rather not play along then just have a look at a dog charity near you and donate to them, simple as.
Either way, just so folk don't misinterpret this, I'm not going to post about it again. Either way, I'll donate what there is in the pot, and if it goes well I might just keep doing it. Whatever, have a look at the websites, your next dog might be on there waiting for you.
Ta
If you read this blog, or follow me on FB and Twitter you'll know my dog Ralph was hurt today. He's lost part of his right ear and is spending the night at the vets. The wife is beside herself and we're both missing him being here. But he's lucky because we can afford the bills and the time to look after him.
Plenty of dogs, and other animals, aren't so lucky. So for the next 7 days (at least) I'm donating all proceeds from my book sales to two charities local to where I live. Their websites are:
http://www.wolfwood.co.uk/
http://www.animalcare-lancaster.co.uk/
I do this for no other reason than I'm worried about my dog and this will make me feel better. If you'd rather not play along then just have a look at a dog charity near you and donate to them, simple as.
Either way, just so folk don't misinterpret this, I'm not going to post about it again. Either way, I'll donate what there is in the pot, and if it goes well I might just keep doing it. Whatever, have a look at the websites, your next dog might be on there waiting for you.
Ta
Wednesday, 12 February 2014
Do you think book signings help sales?
Evening folks,
Quick one tonight, football on Tele.
Given that Alexander McCall Smith did a low key book signing in Lancaster last week that went unpromoted and largely unattended, then I suppose the answer is I don't know.
But I'm doing one anyway!!
Me and awesome fellow local author Frion Farrell will be standing shoulder to shoulder to shift copies of our books. It will be on 29th March in Morecambe, likely at the Headway Hotel. More details to follow as I make them up.
Bottom line, I want to shift some books. I'll see you there.
Note - bloody Liverpool are losing to the bottom team in the league!! Shocking. Nope, hang on, just equalised. Game on. If Liverpool fancy the title this year then they have to find a way to win this one. Nail biting stuff.
Also, despite life threatening weather warnings the wife, me and the dog walked to the shop for half an hour earlier to buy wine. It was savage. But my neighbour was out sorting his recycling in just a t-shirt. Hardcore.
And I've submitted one of my books to Nielson with a view that Waterstones will stock them going forward. Potentially huge!
Quick one tonight, football on Tele.
Given that Alexander McCall Smith did a low key book signing in Lancaster last week that went unpromoted and largely unattended, then I suppose the answer is I don't know.
But I'm doing one anyway!!
Me and awesome fellow local author Frion Farrell will be standing shoulder to shoulder to shift copies of our books. It will be on 29th March in Morecambe, likely at the Headway Hotel. More details to follow as I make them up.
Bottom line, I want to shift some books. I'll see you there.
Note - bloody Liverpool are losing to the bottom team in the league!! Shocking. Nope, hang on, just equalised. Game on. If Liverpool fancy the title this year then they have to find a way to win this one. Nail biting stuff.
Also, despite life threatening weather warnings the wife, me and the dog walked to the shop for half an hour earlier to buy wine. It was savage. But my neighbour was out sorting his recycling in just a t-shirt. Hardcore.
And I've submitted one of my books to Nielson with a view that Waterstones will stock them going forward. Potentially huge!
Sunday, 3 February 2013
Is my new book for you?
Evening all,
The answer to this question is actually probably not. It has some fairly controversial themes. Euthanasia. Murder. Government cover-ups. Patient abuse. All the sorts of things that might upset some folk.
Of course you're not obliged to buy the book and if you don't like it you certainly don't have to finish it. Plus, all the events in the book are based on real events i.e. things that actually happened. I just put a few of them together and created a story around them. And there is justice all round at the end so it's all good.
The book is called The Trust, as in Primary Care Trust, like the NHS. It'll make more sense when you read it. It's set in Lancaster. I've changed the name of the asylum to Moorcastle. It was actually called the Moor (and is pictured on the front cover) and it really is being redeveloped. In fact, lots of it already has been. The loan store where one of the central characters works is real too. I know because I used to work there.
Anyway, it's a twisty turny crime thriller although I've introduced a rather nice romance angle for those that like that sort of thing. It's out now on Kindle with all other formats, including paperback, to follow. It's also less than a quid!
Last thing, here are the links!
Amazon UK version
Amazon US version
The answer to this question is actually probably not. It has some fairly controversial themes. Euthanasia. Murder. Government cover-ups. Patient abuse. All the sorts of things that might upset some folk.
Of course you're not obliged to buy the book and if you don't like it you certainly don't have to finish it. Plus, all the events in the book are based on real events i.e. things that actually happened. I just put a few of them together and created a story around them. And there is justice all round at the end so it's all good.
The book is called The Trust, as in Primary Care Trust, like the NHS. It'll make more sense when you read it. It's set in Lancaster. I've changed the name of the asylum to Moorcastle. It was actually called the Moor (and is pictured on the front cover) and it really is being redeveloped. In fact, lots of it already has been. The loan store where one of the central characters works is real too. I know because I used to work there.
Anyway, it's a twisty turny crime thriller although I've introduced a rather nice romance angle for those that like that sort of thing. It's out now on Kindle with all other formats, including paperback, to follow. It's also less than a quid!
Last thing, here are the links!
Amazon UK version
Amazon US version
Friday, 30 December 2011
Interest From a Publisher!
Evening all,
Exciting start to the day today, as the title of this post suggests.
A few weeks ago Ian Rankin (the tip-top crime writer famous for Rebus and now Malcolm Fox) retweeted a message regarding an up and coming publisher called Bang. They were asking for submissions of crime novels, ideally to form a series. They asked for five pages and a brief synopsis via email.
This morning I received a reply which said:
"...I think your novel shows real promise and would like to consider it. Please could you send me a completed manuscript...Please could you also give me more detail about how you see a series will develop from this title and how many books the series might be."
Now I'm not daft, or new to interest from a publisher. I suspect this might well be a standard email sent out to the majority of the submissions received as I know Bang are looking for clients. But it's still positive, obviously, and I'm just nicely excited by it. The plan now is to finish editing The 24 Hour Jazz cafe and email it to them as well as to continue to promote my existing ebooks. If something comes of it, great. If not, I'm no worse off.
As ever, I shall keep you informed on here.
(By the way, I was lucky enough to meet Ian Rankin late last year at a gig he did in Lancaster. He signed my copy of The Complaints. I was pathetically star struck so the wife had to mention my writing and he wished me luck and advised to keep going while I stood there grinning like an idiot. Good times.)
Exciting start to the day today, as the title of this post suggests.
A few weeks ago Ian Rankin (the tip-top crime writer famous for Rebus and now Malcolm Fox) retweeted a message regarding an up and coming publisher called Bang. They were asking for submissions of crime novels, ideally to form a series. They asked for five pages and a brief synopsis via email.
This morning I received a reply which said:
"...I think your novel shows real promise and would like to consider it. Please could you send me a completed manuscript...Please could you also give me more detail about how you see a series will develop from this title and how many books the series might be."
Now I'm not daft, or new to interest from a publisher. I suspect this might well be a standard email sent out to the majority of the submissions received as I know Bang are looking for clients. But it's still positive, obviously, and I'm just nicely excited by it. The plan now is to finish editing The 24 Hour Jazz cafe and email it to them as well as to continue to promote my existing ebooks. If something comes of it, great. If not, I'm no worse off.
As ever, I shall keep you informed on here.
(By the way, I was lucky enough to meet Ian Rankin late last year at a gig he did in Lancaster. He signed my copy of The Complaints. I was pathetically star struck so the wife had to mention my writing and he wished me luck and advised to keep going while I stood there grinning like an idiot. Good times.)
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