My Inspiration

OK, there are many of you who will read the heading above and think that I'm going to start naming names  of all the authors who have inspired me to date. I think I've already done that on a number of occasions and you're probably sick of hearing me going on about the same people. No, all I'm going to do here is mention one name in particular. That name is ADRIAN MAGSON.

Now I'll probably embarrass Adrian in saying so - he's such a humble guy - but of all the author's I've read and admired, Adrian probably gave me more of an inspirational boost than any. Now it could be quite simply that Adrian was the first 'real' author I ever corresponded with, but his words of encouragement gave me the proverbial kick up the butt that my writing aspirations required way back when I was still aspiring to be published. Adrian might not even remember our short email conversation, back when I bit the bullet to congratulate him on hearing of his publishing deal with Creme De La Crime for the first in his Gavin and Palmer series. On Adrian's urging I submitted my latest novel to his publisher - and it was rejected. But, hey. Not such a bad thing. Because I also gained some great feedback and advice from both CDLC and Adrian. As a result of that I continued writing. Believe it or not, but prior to that I was on the cusp of giving up on my writing dream. The advice was just the push I required, and glad I am that I spoke with Adrian that time.

Since then I've followed Adrian's writing, through the Gavin and Palmer books, and more recently through Red Station, and Tracers (Harry Tate series), and Death on The Marais, and Death on the Rive Nord (tbr) (Lucas Rocco series). But also, I have also avidly followed Adrian's 'beginners' column in WRITING MAGAZINE. I was chuffed to hear from Adrian recently that he had plans to pull all his columns together in one volume, and here it is. WRITE ON! The Writer's handbook.

For any aspiring author there's good advice on writing, and there's great advice, and from Adrian you only get the latter. This book is a superb addition to any author's shelves - beginner or advanced - and - written in Adrian's engaging, anecdotal and witty style - is actually an enjoyable read (unlike many text books). An interviewer asked me recently which book on writing I'd recommend, and without pause I said Stephen King's ON WRITING. I wish I'd had Adrian's book on hand at the time because my answer would assuredly be different. I'd have said Adrian Magson's WRITE ON and Stephen King's On WRITING. Yeah, it really is that good in my opinion.

You can grab yourself a copy here:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Write-Writers-Help-Adrian-Magson/dp/1908006773/ref=sr_1_13?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1312976486&sr=1-13

An Author's Lot

So what's happening in my world?

The short answer is loads.

But I guess you want the long answer.

Well, I'm about to kick off on the publicity trail and anyone who has been following this blog knows that there's actually more to an author's life than just sitting at a computer writing the latest draft. It's one thing writing the book, getting it through the editing process to a satisfactory position where the editor is happy with it, but then you must do your damnedest to get the word out to potential readers.

So here, briefly, is what is on the cards in the next few months.

Radio interview with Siren FM. Check. It's in the bag and should be airing some time this coming week around the Lincoln area, as well as a podcast from South-side Broadcasting. I will post a link when it comes available.

Next week from 19th - 22nd may I'll be at bristol for Crimefest. This year I'm on a panel called 'The Grass is Greener': USA Vs UK, and for the first time will be moderating a panel called Without reservations: No Holds Barred. I'm thoroughly looking forward to Crimefest, which is rapidly becoming the best crime fiction convention in the UK.

After a very short break - where to be honest I'll be working on my next draft so it's no break at all - I'm off to Whitburn Library, South Tyneside on Friday 10th June. If anyone's in the area please come along and support your local library.

On 13th June I'm then attending the Middlesbrough Literary festival alongside Stephen Booth and Graham pears, and forensic specialists from the nearby university for a night of crime fact and fiction.

On Wednesday 15th June I'm joining Zoe Sharpe, Diane Janes and other authors at Kendal Library, Cumbria for a night of crime.

Rounding off that week, I'll be at Nottingham Crime readers day at Nottingham Library on saturday 18th June.

A few days later, Tuesday 21st June, its off to London for the inaugural Crime in the Court: Goldsboro Books's new crime spectacular in Cecil Court, London.

Couple weeks writing are then on the cards, but then it's off to New York for Thrillerfest 7th - 10th July, where I'll be taking part on a panel talking about balancing real life and fiction.

Then it's the Theakstone Old Peculiar Crime Writing Festival at Harrogate, Yorkshire from Thursday 21st- Sunday 24th July.

But that's not all that's happening that week. Blood and Ashes is released on 21st July, and running alongside it will be a week long campaign on Talk radio where I'll also be taking part in live interviews. With an audience of over 2.5 million, I'm looking forward to this one.

All that done and dusted, I then start looking forward to the launch of the next book - Dead Men's Harvest - in mid-August, at the same time as publicising the impending release of both Slash and Burn and Cut and Run in the USA, this coming winter. For this I will be heading off to Bouchercon, St Louis, Missouri between 14th and 18th August.

Who said an author only sits at a computer writing? This is just the tip of the iceberg and doesn't take into consideration all the social networking, blogging, guest blogging etc that must be undertaken.

At the same time I'll be putting the finishing touches to JH 8, Starting JH 9, line editing and proofing JH 7, and Line editing and Proofing JH 4 for the US market. Plus other little projects I've got on the boil.

Mind you, it's still the best job in the world and I wouldn't change it one bit.

Olde Peculier - and that was just me!

Hot on the heels of Thrillerfest and Bodies in the Bookshop, I had the honour of attending The Olde Peculier Crime Writing Festival in Harrogate, Yorkshire, alongside such luminaries of our genre as Mark Billingham, Val McDermid, Lee Child, George Pelecanos, Peter James, Laura Wilson, Simon Kernick and many, many more top authors.

The event was held at the beautiful Crown Hotel in an amazingly beautiful town - it shamed me that I'd never visited before having by-passed it on numerous occasions in the past on journeys south.

The high-lights for me were in catching up with old friends Sheila Quigley, Yrsa Sigurdardottir and Ole, Ali Karim, Zoe Sharpe, Lee Child, Andrew Grant and meeting and making new friends in Ken McCoy, Russel McLean and the various people who introduced themselves to me as readers who'd loved my debut book. A special shout to the DS from GMP - you know who you are - your enthusiasm and commitment to kick-staring your writing career had a profound effect on me and I'm truly glad i had an influence on you.

I hosted a table at the Saturday night dinner and was glad to be surrounded by readers and aspiring authors who made the event memorable. Thanks for all the questions and for actually listeneing to my answers, hope I helped in some way. We even figured out the murderer and his motive for the heinous crime. We were a good bunch of detectives, I guess.

Hi to Wendy from Waterstones who was a real gem.

Thanks to Suzie Doore and Kelly edgson-Wright from Hodder and Stoughton for the lovely meal on friday.

Thanks also to Selina Walker for the invaluable advice.

It was a superb event all round and well worth any aspiring crime author - or even reader - adding it to their must attend list. I'm definitely going back next year - if they want me. (Hint, hint).

Harrogate Old Peculier Crime writing Festival - Again

News from the Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival at Harrogate. Although I was originally only attending as a 'fan', I've now been asked to host a dinner on the evening of Saturday 25th July 2009. I'm honoured and thrilled and hope that some of you out there are going to the festival and will give me a nod.