FAST AND FURIOUS

http://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/article/2010/02/20/116095_books.html

Nice little review of Judgement and Wrath from down under.

Willinton Won't he?

OK, please excuse the stupid and less than inspired title of this one. It's just a tie into the fact that I did another library event over at Willinton in County Durham the t'other day, this time alongside Sheila Quigley. Again, a realy cosy little affair with some lovely people all joining in the discussions following our readings. Plus, a repeat appearance from my new number one fan in the northeast 'Ernie', who shared first prize in the quiz to win a copy of one of mine and Sheila's books.

I enjoyed this event, even though the journey over was horrendous, including snow, rain, traffic jams, more snow, thickest fog I've ever driven through, and a temperamental sat-nav that decided I should drive over the hilliest, most snow-covered and fog-enshrouded mountains in the UK to get there. Still, it was an adventure.

Good crack, as they say round my parts (Oops, on second thoughts they probably aren't the best choice of words, but you get my drift I hope.)

Have you read the competition entries yet?

http://joehuntersfixers.blogspot.com/

I'm running a competition to win a signed first edition hardback copy of Joe Hunter 3 - SLASH AND BURN - by inviting short stories in the style of a Joe Hunter adventure (2,000 words approx). You can see the rules and regs by clicking on the SAB book cover in the collumn on the right. I am expecting in a few more entries before the 12th march deadline, but there are already some of the stories posted over at my sister blog 'JOE HUNTER'S FIXERS'. If you haven't read the entries yet, please click the link above, take a read and leave comments for the authors. I will open voting for your favourite very soon.

Slash and Burn Book Launch Extra

For those of you intending to come along to my book launch at Waterstone's, Carlisle on Wednesday 31st March, you're also invited to come join me for drinks and sandwiches/cakes over at the Crown and Mitre Hotel, English Street, Carlisle.

I know it's not champagne and caviar, but hey, I'm a northerner.

Let's do the timewarp agaiiiinnn....

A little while back, I waxed lyrical on the strange timewarp that published authors live in while writing a series of books. At the time, I think I was writing book five in the Joe Hunter series, while working on edits of book four and page proofs of book three, so was juggling the past present and future books all at the same time.

Well, now it gets even more confusing.

Book 2, Judgement and Wrath, is already out in hardback (since last October in fact), and will be published here in the UK in paperback on March 18th. I'm currently gearing up for the launch of book 3 - Slash and Burn - which will hit the UK shelves on 1st April. At the same time, I've just delivered book 5 - Blood and Ashes - to my publisher, and have worked on the page proofs of book 4 - Cut and Run. And, yes, guess what, I've already bashed on with book 6 in the series and am forging ahead with the rough draft. Basically, what I'm trying to say is that I'm juggling even more balls in the air than ever before. Confused yet?

This is where it gets really weird. Like I said, book 2 is already on the shelves in the UK, but in the USA we've just hit the page proofs stage for the same book, so yes, I'm going to be going back to Dantalion again, to do a read through and corrections on that to get it ready for publication this summer. In my head I've moved on from Judgement and Wrath, so for probably the first time, I think I'll be able to read it through with a fresh and objective eye. I'm looking forward to it, and hopefully enjoying it as much as everyone else seems to have. It's going to be a tad odd. I wrote the book in English-English, but this edition has been edited to American-English, and I look forward to spotting and comparing the changes. As ever, I trust my editor at William Morrow to have done an exemplary job and can't await to have the finished book in my hands.

Here for your delectation is what the finished book should look like when it hits the US shelves this summer:

On the road again.

I was out at another library event last night, this time at Spennymoor in County Durham. Lovely library and bigger than what I expected. Again I had a lovely crowd of knowledgeable and interested readers who make such events so easy (I prefer interaction with the attendees as opposed to listening to myself waffle on).

One pertinent moment that will stick with me for a long time was when lines from Dead Men's Dust were quoted back to me - now I know how a 'real author' feels. It's funny how you write things that appeal to people but they are pushed to some dim corner at the back of your mind while you press on with new writing. It was nice to be reminded of Joe Hunter's mind set from the first book.

My favourite of the night?  "Best tactic? In fast and noisy, shoot anything that wasn't wearing lip-gloss."

I'd forgotten all about that one and it was a pleasure to be reminded of it. If you're reading this: Thanks Ernie.
Matt

Better late than never

Two days ago I travelled over to the north-east again to a small library event at Bowburn, near Durham. It was a small intimate affair with an equally small but appreciative crowd, and again lovely in that the attendees were familiar with my books. It means that the message is spreading and my name is getting out there. What more can I ask? Nothing. But i can thank everyone for spreading the word. Cheers one and all.

SLASH AND BURN BOOK LAUNCH 31/03/2010

Hi all,
I can now confirm that the official launch of Joe Hunter 3 - SLASH AND BURN - is scheduled for Wednesday 31st March 2010, at Waterstone's book shop, Scotch Street, Carlisle, Cumbria, and I extend an open invitation to all who want to attend.

This is your opportunity to get your first edition copies personally signed by yours truly, a day before the books go on general sale.

The more the merrier folks, tell all your friends

Matt

Brains Vs Brawn

Hi all,
I've just today recieved my panel assignment for this year's Crimefest, taking place between Thursday 20th and Sunday 23rd May 2010 at the Marriott Hotel, Bristol, UK.

My panel is as follows:

Friday, 21 May


2.10 - 3.00

Too Tough to Die: Brains vs Brawn - Action Thrillers & Psychological

Suspense

participants for this panel are:

* Clem Chambers

* Ann Cleeves

* Matt Hilton

* Tim Weaver

Moderator: Sarah Rayne

CRIMEFEST is fast becoming a predominant factor on the crime writing convention circuit. For more info about the convention and participants etc look here: http://www.crimefest.com/

Newton Hall or bust.

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of travelling over to County Durham to the allegedly largest single housing estate in Europe. I was attending a library event at Newton Hall, Durham with gritty northeast crime writer, Sheila Quigley.
It was a different event fromothers that I'd done as the people attending were knowledgeable and had actually read my debut novel (a turn up for the books as they say), so instead of having to introduce myself and explain all about Joe Hunter etc, we could get straight into things.
It was a great night, and I enjoyed it very much. Thanks to all that attended and who threw all those intelligent questions at us.
Matt

COMPETITION UP-DATE - IMPORTANT CHANGE

Many of you will have alreay read that I am running a competition to win a signed first edition hardback of Joe Hunter 3 - SLASH and BURN - and the rules can be found by clicking the book cover in the sidebar.

Well, after much thought and deliberation, I decided that you all should have the opportunity to read the wonderful stories being sent in, with the opportunity to read them all and to comment and vote on your favourite.

I thought that this would be a fairer and more translucent process than me picking my favourites (it also dispells any claims of favouritism on my part!!)

So here's how it's going to go now:

I have set up a new blog called 'JOE HUNTER'S FIXERS' and you can find it here: http://joehuntersfixers.blogspot.com/

I will post each story anonymously, so the stories themselve rest on their merits and not on the name of the author. Please do read and leave comments, but if you are the author please don't make it  known by replying to them - yet -you can do that once the competition has ended if you wish.

On the closing date for entries, I will open voting by way of a poll.

The top three (voted for by you and me) will then be posted at Thrillers, Killers 'N' Chillers and here at Matt Hilton Thrills and voting will be re-opened to find everyone's favourite. I will collate the votes from both sites and then announce the winner on 1st April and arrange for the book to be sent to the winner.

Remember, this is just a bit of fun. Copyright remains the property of the individual author and your story is yours to do with as you wish following the closing date. I will of course credit each story with the authors name afterwards. Happy writing - and good luck.

I hope you all agree that this is a clearer and fairer way of judging, and now invite you all to go over to JOE HUNTER'S FIXERS to read the first entries already posted there.

Matt

Popcorn time - we're going to the movies.

Some of you may recall that last year when at Thrillerfest in New York, I took part -along with a group of other top authors - in a discussion on various different aspects of the crime and thriller genres.

If you want to know what is our grisliest death scenes we've written, or how we most resemble our fictional hero or how we'd describe our books in 12 words, then you can find out via the movie links below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pek-Q7ga1cc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYnW6wz8r8M

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLXAvcjoCV0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IantNLHgWpE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_X9JeA3gIA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZN_ZrSNVnR8


Hands up who thought I was about to announce a Joe Hunter movie?

Short story competition update

So the stories have started to come in, and I'm having great fun reading people's forays into the high-voltage world that Joe Hunter travels through.

Keep 'em coming. Remember, there's a signed first edition copy of SLASH AND BURN up for grabs for the winner.

You want more details, I hear you say. Click on the book cover in the sidebar and it will take you through to the competition rules.

Joe the Vigilante

Has anyone had a go at the new Joe Hunter punch 'em up game over at http://www.joehuntervigilante.com/ yet.

Go there and click on the boxing glove and away you go. The instructions for playing are on the front screen before you start playing. Have fun but beware: It's addictive.

While you're over at Joehuntervigilante, why not have a look at the book cover. It gives you insider info on the Joe Hunter books before they're available. If you click on 'Read More' you go to the Hodder site where there's new images and news on the up-coming books and release dates etc.

pardon the cheesey pun, but Happy Hunting.

Hello to my German readers - Hallo an alle meine deutshen leser

Hallo an alle meine deutschen Leser. Bitte verzeihen Sie meine arme Nutzung Ihrer Sprache, aber ich wollte nur sagen, dass ich wirklich hoffe, Sie genießen meine Joe Hunter Pfund, und wenn ja, wird es Sie freuen zu hören, dass Heyne Verlag Titel 2 - Urteil und Zorn - wie gut wird (möglicherweise unter einem anderen Titel).


Matt
 

The Sleuth of Baker Street on JAW

Great little review of 'Judgement and Wrath' from THE SLEUTH OF BAKER STREET.

This link takes you to a PDF of the latest newsletter and the review is on page 4:
http://www.sleuthofbakerstreet.com/NEWSLETTERS/January%202010%20Newsletter.pdf

My thanks to all at SOBS for the excellent review.

I met the lovely ladies there while at Bouchercon at Baltimore back in 2008. Nice to see that they remember me and have stocked my books. Again, ladies, thanks for that.

Dzho Khuntur kicks the Reapers butt in HARVESTER

Ok, so after my mumblings this morning about foreign translations and my lack of updates on when the books were coming out, just look at what I found:

It appears that Dead Men's Dust has been translated to/changed to HARVESTER for the Bulgarian edition published by ERA Media Ltd. Joe Hunter is now Dzho Khuntur and I am now Mat Khiltun and Rink is Rinko and Tubal Cain is Reaper.

Here's alink to ERA Media's website:

http://www.erabooks.net/?action=show_book&bid=301

Here's a link to a review:

http://www.novinar.net/news/ubietc-sabira-suveniri-ot-telata-na-zhertvite-si_MjkyMTsyNA==.html

And here is the cover:

Up and At 'Em (for want of a better title)

Hi all, just random mutterings this morning.

I've got some very exciting news to share with you all...but I'm just going to have to hold you all in suspense until things are official (that's the job of a thriller author after all). All will be revealed soon.

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of attending Newton Aycliffe library, over in County Durham. I was doing a talk and Q&A, alongside the north-east's top crime writer, Sheila Quigley, and a great time was had by all - I hope. It was a small intimate crowd that turned up, but each and every one of them were interested and interesting and we got quite a deep conversation going that went beyond the usual 'where do you get your ideas from' and 'how did you get you book published' that seem to be staples of such events. I was deputised to replace crime and saga author Ken McCoy who unfortunately could not attend. I wasn't the real McCoy, but I think I made a few new fans. Thanks to everyone who was there for making it such an enjoyable event.

It looks like the book launch for number 3 may be on 31st March 2010, but this is still unconfirmed at this moment, but hopefully I'll have a date for you by the end of next week.

...and don't forget about the competition I'm running to win a signed first edition copy of my up-coming new hardback in the Joe Hunter series - Slash and Burn.

http://matthiltonbooks.blogspot.com/2010/01/win-signed-first-edition-hardback-copy.html

For my American readers, I've been finishing off a few little bits for the US version of Judgment and Wrath (the dropped 'e' in Judgement is no mistake, folks!) and it should be with you from William Morrow and Co (Harper Collins) in a few short months. I love the look of the book and will share it with you all very shortly.

Der Knochen Sammler is out in Germany, L'Inseguitore is out in Italy. I'm still waiting for word on how things are going with the foreign translations, but there isn't any complaints. Still waiting for news on both the Romanian and Bulgarian editions.

In the meantime, keep on keeping on folks
Matt

Thrillers, Killers 'n' Chillers wins coveted Best Fiction Magazine Award

A few weeks ago, I posted here to say that my sister blogsite Thrillers, Killers 'n' Chillers was nominated in the Preditors and Editors readers' poll to find the favourite webzine on the Net. Now, I must say that the site is primarily aimed at readers of Horror and Dark Fiction, so TKnC was in a more favourable position than some of the other crime/noir sites (some of them that I would quite happily have voted for myself) due to the fact that a pretty large quota of TKnCs contributors are writing in the horror and dark fiction genres. Well, it's with great pride and with great gratitude that I announce that TK'n'C did indeed win the coveted first place position, beating off some pretty damn fantastic competition along the way. I don't claim that TKnC is better than they are, maybe it just had more voters. Have a look here for confirmation of the results:
http://anotherealm.com/prededitors/votefictzine09.htm

Now then, I like to think of myself as a humble and self-effacing kind of guy, so I don't want to take all the praise or adulation. I want TKnC's contributors, its readers and supporters to bask for a moment in the glory. Without any of you TK'n'C would be a pretty boring place to visit.

Thanks to everyone who voted. Thanks also to Col Bury for all his hard work in making the site as great as it is. And thanks to Preditors and Editors for bestowing the award on TKnC.