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.

New Year, New Books, Old Haunts.

Hi folks,

it's been a week or two since I last said anything here, but like everyone else I've been up to my eyes with the Holidays. If I haven't already said so personally, then I wish you all a happy, healthy and prosperous 2011.

I've been writing. No surprises there then? I am an author and that's what I'm supposed to do, I guess. But it has been a funny few months, between delivering book seven in the Joe Hunter series, and before starting the eighth. I've been pottering around, really, doing 'other stuff' with my writing, but nothing that I can show you or even tell you about....yet. I did do my little Joe Hunter Christmas poem, and hope you enjoyed it. Otherwise, there's nothing much that I can put my finger on as far as my writing's concerned. I often find November and December are limbo months for authors, or maybe it's just me. I have been working on another project, but this was just a personal exercise, and it may never see publication, so I feel there's not much to tell.

Still, there is some good stuff coming up soon.

In two days time (6th January) the paperback edition of CUT AND RUN hits the stands in the UK.

And in just under a month's time on the 3rd of February 2011, the fifth Joe Hunter book - BLOOD AND ASHES - will be published in hardback in the UK (Hodder and Stoughton).

For those of you interested, or who intend attending if/when it happens, I'm looking to hold an official launch for Blood and Ashes, but haven't as yet fixed a date/location, but worry not, I'll keep you all informed. It will be on or around the publication date.

I've a couple events coming up in the next few months:

For those of you attending the York Festival of Writing, I'm attending for the full duration this time, from the 24th through to the 27th of March. Please come along and say, hi, and I look forward to meeting you all there.

Also, a regular fixture on my calendar is CRIMEFEST, and this year it will be at its usual venue again (the Bristol Marriott) from 19th through to 22nd of May, and I'll be there. Again, I'd love to meet anyone who read my books and look forward to saying hello. It's a great convention and I urge readers, writers or aspiring authors to come along. You'll be glad you did.

Crimefest Bristol 14-17 May 2009

As many of you know, I attended Crimefest in Bristol and had a great time. Others have reported on the festival itself, and in a much better way than I ever could. All I'd like to add is my thanks to some wonderful people who made my time there so enjoyable. The list is long, but special thanks to Myles and Adrian, Sheila, Maureen, Adrian and Ann, Cara, Colin, Ali, Steve, Brian, Yrsa and Oli and Leni: all special people. Thanks also to those who purchased copies of my book (and sold me out on my first day!).

The group photo is just some of the little gang of friends I made. From left to right: Steve Warne, Sheila Quigley, Ann Magson, Ali Karim and me. The remainder of photos were of me on a panel with fellow debuters Alison Bruce, Steven Hague, M.R. Hall, Jenni Mills and Aly Monroe, with Peter Gutteridge as moderator.

Thanks to Adrian Magson for the pics.