Karl Malden's Bobble Nose, Lee Child and Daffodils

Have you ever stopped to wonder if you're using the correct titles on your blog entries to ensure that you get the most visits/hits. Funnily enough I try to be witty with my titles but it never fails to amaze me (when checking my statistics) that the most visited entries are some with quite obscure meanings to them.

It's probably no surprise that anything with 'Lee Child' in it will get numerous hits. Lee's a terrific author with zillions of followers. Not that I'm saying I name drop lee, i don't. This is only the second time (that I recall) using his name. Saying that though, it's not the post that does name Lee in the title that gets the most hits.

My most popular blog post is one I titled 'Karl Malden's Bobble Nose' - about my lack of prior knowledge about San Francisco prior to a visit - and one that mentions 'Daffodils'.

Who knew that either Bobble Noses or Daffodils could be such helpful marketing tools?

(I've put the three terms in the title of this blog purposefully, to see if suddenly it becomes my most visited blog entry: I'll let you know)

More Pace Anyone?

This originally appeared as a guest post at author Graham Smith's blog, but I thought it apt that I share it again...

MORE PACE ANYONE?

Anyone who has read any of my books or short stories – not half my Joe Hunter crime thriller series – they’ll probably guess that there’s a certain element that I attempt to inject in each and every tale.

I’m not talking action, violence, blood or guts – even if there are ample portions of each to keep the hungriest reader sated – I’m talking about ‘pace’.

Pace is what keeps the pages turning frantically into the night.

Now, injecting pace isn’t simply a paring down of the words so that you race through the text much faster while reading, and it’s not simply about jumping from one set piece to another. Admittedly they’re both techniques that I do use, but there’s more to pace than simply abridging a longer book.

Here are a few techniques that I do use to speed the story along:

First off, my hero narrates the story in first person past tense. In this way we are inside Joe Hunter’s head, and see things the way he sees the action. If anyone has ever told you a story, when events excite them they speed up, and so does Hunter in the narration. He get’s excitable and this translates to the reader’s ear and – hopefully they get excitable too. They experience the story through his senses, and hopefully feel some of the visceral kick and adrenalin buzz Hunter is experiencing.

Secondly, I show all third party events through third person past tense. Because Hunter is narrating his story, he can only narrate what he knows, what he’s seen, heard or experienced. Sometimes because he does not know the full story, we can anticipate some of the danger he’s about to walk into, and therefore feel for him. My intention is that readers rush to find out what will happen next, to see how Hunter will contend with the problem about to be sprung upon him. Pace is set up, even if we’re only subliminally aware – as readers – that we’re being egged on to turn the pages to find out ‘what happens next?’

Sometimes I like to overlap chapters, seeing the events through different characters’ eyes, seeing their take on the same events. Sometimes Hunter’s voice isn’t the best to narrate the fear or terror of a victim, or the rage or smug satisfaction of a bad guy going in for the kill. But because we get the unfolding story from the other party, we are sometimes ahead of Hunter and forced to think ‘Oh, no, how are you going to handle this, Joe?’ It causes anticipation, ergo the desire to read on.

Description is kept to a minimum. I like only to drip feed some facts and local colour into a scene and prefer that the reader conjure their own vision of the scene. Some people say I write very visually, or cinematically, but if you were to actually take a deeper look at my writing, you’ll probably realise that much of the picture has been formed in the reader’s own mind’s eye. Not mine. It’s a clever ploy, and not something I claim to fully understand, I just do it.

I tend to keep chapters short (but not Patterson-short). I know from my own reading experience that I often flick forward a few pages in a book to check where the next chapter ends, perhaps looking for a natural break where I can stop, grab a coffee, go to the loo, eat something, or even go to sleep. Often if the natural break is only a short page or two away, I’ll subconsciously decide to wait for the next break, or the next, and so on. The book therefore unfolds quickly, and it might seem with no thought in the reader’s mind of ‘Hell, I’m never going to get through this’.

I like to leave a cliffhanger at the end of many chapters. Because the story is often told chapter about, Hunter taking the lead, followed by a third party character – often the villain – the reader is urged not only to read one chapter to find out what happens next, but two, and so on.

I write in three major acts:

Usually there’s a problem that becomes apparent. It is usually followed by an attempt to rectify said problem that fails or the problem changes or grows larger. The third act is usually a fast-moving race to the finale as Hunter tries to save the day (whatever the problem may be). By having these three acts, the story is like three separate but interlinked narratives, all three leading to that final battle royal at the end.

Because the stories are violent by nature, I like to show the action in a series of set pieces, each a stand-alone scene in itself, but each promising a bigger, faster and more exciting finale. When you have big action scenes early on in a book, it seeds the idea in the reader’s mind that the end must be even bigger, and hopefully the hook that they want to find out how Hunter can surpass what he’s already dealt with keeps them turning pages.

Hunter doesn’t say much. When he does it is short and to the point. The dialogue is often leavened with sporadic bursts of dark humour. A laugh can help the pace, because it helps put the reader’s mind in an alert state, and again keeps them moving on, AKA turning pages.

Some people point at my writing output over the last three or four years, and think I’m incredibly gifted when it comes to speedwriting. That seems like a lofty claim, but I mention it only because I wish to get the point about pace across. I write fast because I’m feeling the pace myself. Because the writing style is fast, I seem to be able to put the words down on paper almost equally as quickly. I feel the buzz and the adrenalin rush.

If pressed to answer where my need for pace comes from, it’s probably due to the kind of books I loved to read as I was emerging as a writer. I loved the old so-called ‘Men’s Action books’ of the 1970s and early 1980s, typified by Mack Bolan, Remo Williams, Nick Carter and the like. I also loved the 1930s action adventure tales that are best remembered for Robert E Howard’s Conan the Cimmerian, Edgar Rice Burroughs’s Tarzan etc. All those tales were fast moving, slightly larger than life and were – above all – great fun to kick back and read. It was due to those books that I began writing in earnest, as I tried to emulate my literary heroes. When I came up with the idea of the Hunter series it was with a mind to pay homage to those old action writers, and I hope that I’ve achieved my plan.

Also, as an add on to that master plan, my mind has recently been wondering if there were other writers out there equally inspired by the same books as me, and I played around with the idea for some time of putting together a collection of action inspired tales. Well, that plan is now underway. I’m shortly going to release a collection of action-packed short stories, aptly under the banner of Action: Pulse Pounding Tales as an eBook, where the emphasis is on - you guessed it – action and pace. It seems that there are other writers who similarly enjoy a good old rippin’ yarn, with plenty of escapism and derring-do. It’s turning out to be quite a weighty tome, but one thing I can guarantee: it will be a helluva fast read.

Matt Hilton

WheretheheckhaveIbeenandwhathaveIbeenupto?

OK, so I've been out of touch lately, but believe me, I haven't only been gadding around the world (Gadding, now there's a word you don't hear every day - thanks Diane McCarogher) and enjoying the high-life. I've also been extremely busy with a number of projects, some of which you already know about, some you don't.

I'm a writer. I write. Sometimes I even have to concentrate on the writing in order to get the writing done.

So here's the skinny on what I've been writing.

First up, I've been hard at completing a novel that doesn't sit in the Joe Hunter mould. It is a thriller, and it is action-packed, but it also has shades of speculative fiction thrown in for good measure (notice I didn't mention sci-fi: some people instantly turn off at the mention of sci-fi), and it features a new hero by the name of James Rembrandt. Things are pretty hush-hush about this project (translated as: I haven't sold the book yet), but it is tentatively entitled THE PHOENIX MAN. After months of working over the twisty-turny plot, I'm both relieved and also a little saddened to be leaving Rembrandt behind for a few months. More news on this project as and when.

I've also written a Joe Hunter short story called 'DEAD FALL' and hopefully this will soon be released as an ebook through all the usual channels. I'm currently working on a second Joe Hunter short story, but more on this as and when I sort out what it's going to be about.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/True-Brit-Grit-Anthology-ebook/dp/B007Y0FBNU

For those of you who've missed them, I've a none-Joe Hunter appearing in True Brit Grit, a terrific collection of short stories put together by Paul D Brazill and Luca Veste, called Payback: With interest, (and am planning a story for inclusion in their next collection Off the Record 2).

Coming soon, I've a story in Smart Rhino Publications' aptly titled book Uncommon Assassins called MISCONCEPTIONS. Watch out for more news on this superb collection collected and edited by Weldon Burge.

http://www.smartrhino.com/upcoming.html

My US readers might be pleased to hear that William Morrow and Company (Harper Collins) have now got the rights to publish 'Blood and Ashes' and 'Dead Men's Harvest' and they'll be out some time next year in the States. But first up, they're publishing the mass market paperback edition of 'Judgment and Wrath' with this terrific new look cover. The book is due to hit the stands this October.

http://www.amazon.com/Judgment-Wrath-Matt-Hilton/dp/B005MWRHHA/ref=tmm_hrd_title_0

In the UK, the next Joe Hunter book to hit the stands this coming August will be the paperback edition of No Going Back.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/No-Going-Back-Seventh-Thriller/dp/1444712713/ref=tmm_pap_title_0

I've also been working hard recently on page proofing 'Rules of Honour' the eighth Joe Hunter thriller, due for release in January 2013, and 'The Lawless Kind' the ninth Joe Hunter thriller for release in January 2014.

Did you catch the collection of action-inspired tales I collected and edited yet?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Action-Pulse-Pounding-Volume-ebook/dp/B008082QP6

Or the short Romantic thriller story called Confetti For Gabrielle?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Confetti-For-Gabrielle-ebook/dp/B008031XBY/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1341174345&sr=1-1

Or seen or grabbed 'Dominion' or 'Darkest Hour' with these excellent new covers designed by Nicola Birrell?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dominion-ebook/dp/B006GT3NPI/ref=pd_sim_kinc_1

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Darkest-Hour-ebook/dp/B006P2BHAE/ref=pd_sim_kinc_3

So you can see I've been working on lots of different projects, not to mention travelling to Florida, Glasgow and Bulgaria in the last few weeks.

Coming up, I'll be in London for a few days, at the annual gathering of crime writers at Goldsboro Books' 'Crime in the Court' event (Tuesday 3rd July from 6pm onwards), then I'll be hopping over the pond to New York City for Thrillerfest where I'm appearing on a panel moderated by none other than Linwood Barclay. back over the pond to Blighty, and I'll be at Harrogate for the annual Theakston's Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival at the end of July. oh, and something completely different, I'll be at Megacon, at the Richard Rose Academy, Carlisle on 18th August, wearing my horror writing head at a brand new event that should be excellent. See http://www.facebook.com/megaconcarlisle for more details.

In between it all, I'll be writing, I guess.

Guest Blog with Graham Smith and Graham Smith

It's with great pleasure that I hand over the reins of my blog today to book reviewer and author Graham Smith, who comes wearing both hats, both unique individuals...

The two different Graham Smith’s are here today to talk about Gutshots: Ten Blows to the Abdomen. The reviewer part of Graham will be interviewing the author part of his psyche. Expect frank answers and the odd firework.

Reviewer:

Thank you for allowing me this opportunity to interview you Graham.

Author:

I’ll be honest from the start. When my agent (Graham Smith) and publicist (Graham Smith) told me I was gonna be interviewed by a book reviewer I was hoping it was gonna be Mariella Frostrup. Instead I got you. So ask what you gotta ask and then let me go get some writing done.

Reviewer:

Can I get you a coffee or something?

Author:

I’ll have a beer and twenty fags.

Reviewer:

I’m sorry I only brought a fiver with me.

Author:

You’re a bloody cheapskate. Forget the beer, just get on with the interview as there’s a torture scene which is calling to me.

Reviewer:

Having read Gutshots: Ten Blows to the Abdomen, it struck me that you haven’t yet found the niche you are most comfortable writing in. Why do you write in so many different styles, tenses and points of view?

Author:

I don’t like boundaries and find pigeon holes constricting. What I do is write the stories which come to me asking to be told. I tell them the way which sounds best in my head, whether it is a first, third or even second person point of view. Tenses and styles are merely tools in an author’s toolbox. I vary my writing styles when writing short stories to suit the story and to maintain artistic freedom. Some of my writing is very hard hitting whereas other stories are all about me leading the reader one way just so that I can catch them out with a twist at the end.

Reviewer:

You have stories which range from neighbourly disputes to full on action thrillers and one of the tales even starts as a love story before descending into a tale of bullying and torture. Why does your writing vary so greatly?

Author:

Are you serious? What did I just tell you? I tell the stories that come to me asking to be told. I’m nothing more than the mouthpiece for the voices whispering in my ear.

If your next question isn’t on a different topic I’m off.

Reviewer:

In the introduction to My Job is Murder you make reference to an anthology you had a story in. What was the anthology about?

Author:

It was Action: Pulse Pounding Tales which was compiled and edited by our host Matt Hilton. Action: PPT is a great anthology of action thriller stories which hark back to the seventies when action men were tough uncompromising rogues who killed without a second thought. Action was always more important than believability in those days and I tried to carry that on with my story Issa’s Island Prison, which had three swordsman storming an island citadel to rescue their queen.

Reviewer:

Your collection is excellent value at £0.77 or $0.99 for fifteen stories. Why did you price it so low?

Author:

Firstly I’m only really charging for the first ten stories. I’ve included five bonus stories as a way of sharing my writing with as many people as possible. I’ve named the online haunts where they first appeared to show my appreciation.

It’s priced low in the hope that readers will take a punt. I mean what can you buy for less than a quid or a buck?

Reviewer:

One of the bonus stories is co-written. How did that come about?

Author:

Rosalind Nazilli actually altered the settings on her computer when in Greece so she could download a previous release of mine called Eleven the Hardest Way. We were in communication via Facebook and when I found out what she’d done I knew there was a story to be told. I threw down a rough draft which Rosie polished to become Downloading Disaster.

Reviewer:

Kindle or book?

Author:

Don’t be a muppet. You know fine well I mostly read paper books but my releases have all been on kindle. I see the benefit of both.

Reviewer:

What’s next for you?

Author:

I have a couple of short stories to write. One is for a charity anthology and the other is for a site I’ve been requested to submit to. Then my publisher (Graham Smith) says I have to re-write my novel before testing the waters.

Reviewer:

Thank you for your time.

Author:

Yeah, whatever.

Graham Smith’s eBooks can all be found via his Amazon author page. UK or US

Five Star Action

http://www.crimesquad.com/reviews.asp


Those brilliant people over at Crimesquad.com have given ACTION: PUlse Pounding Tales Vol 1 a hefty five star review.


I'm chuffed to bits at this line: "This book should not be purchased by asthmatics or heavy smokers as it leaves a fit person breathless with excitement."


Of course I can't take all the kudos for this terrific collection, it's obviously down to the quality of stories delivered by such luminaries as Stephen Leather, Zoe Sharp, Adrian Magson, Steven Savile and Stephen Lockley, Paul D Brazill, Col Bury, David Barber, Graham Smith, James Oliver Hilton, Iain Paton, Richard Godwin and many, many more.

You can get a copy of APPT here http://www.amazon.co.uk/Action-Pulse-Pounding-Volume-ebook/dp/B008082QP6/ref=pd_ecc_rvi_1

Go For ACTION!

ACTION: Pulse Pounding Tales Volume 1, is now available as an ebook on all Amazon platforms. If you're in the USA you can get it here:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B008082QP6
and in the UK here: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B008082QP6/ref=tsm_1_fb_lk 


with 37 action-packed stories from some top thriller authors including Stephen Leather, Zoe Sharp, Adrian Magson, Steven Savile and of course little old me. Plus a host of up and comers including Paul D Brazill, Col Bury, Richard Godwin, James Oliver Hilton, I S Paton and many more.

Almost Here!

37 Action-packed Pulse Pounding Tales!

That’s exactly what you get in this collection of action stories from top thriller authors, both established and on the rise.

Think back to the days when heroes were heroes and the action was furious and full-blooded. When often as not, the hero was quite the opposite: an anti-hero - but he needed to be, to bring the kind of violent justice to villains worse than him. When political correctness took a back seat, even as the bullets and karate chops were flying. Basically it was good old harmless fun. It was a case of disengaging your moral compass and getting down with the hero as they took on all comers, and they did it with balletic grace and uncompromising violence. Gratuitous? Mostly. Realistic? Not always. Great fun? You betcha!!!

Then fast forward to the here and now: What if the current action and thriller authors set their minds to bringing back the action genres of old?

Well, that question is answered here.

Within these pages you will find secret agents, vigilantes (both just and insane), cops, villains, soldiers, veterans, gangsters, swordsmen, privateers, Ninja and even a crypto-zoological beast you might recognise. Some of the tales are delivered with shocking realism, some as lighter entertainment, some on the grittier side, but each and every tale included in Action: Pulse Pounding Tales Volume 1 is sure to get your heart racing.

Kick back and enjoy the ride!

Contents:

Introduction by Matt Hilton

Strangers on a Train by Stephen Leather

Satisfaction Guaranteed by Matt Hilton

Valley of Death by I S Paton

The Real Deal by James Oliver Hilton

Jingle Bells by Adrian Magson

Death By Licence by Joe McCoubrey

The Night Butterflies by Zoë Sharp

Gallance by Col Bury

Battle For Baghlan by Matt Hayden

The Stranger by David Barber

Expiry Date by Gavin Bell

A Most Honorable Death by Jochem Vandersteen

Jack Be Nimble by Steven Savile & Steve Lockley

At Close Range by Ian Graham

Cutter’s Law by James Hopwood

Angel Tough by Absolutely Kate

On Her Majesty’s Bloody Service by Iain Purdie

The Legend of Jimmy-The-Gimp by Keith Gingell

Blood Moon of 1931 by Terrence P. McCauley

Skinner Alive by Daniel Moses Luft

Jobs Taken by Asher Wismer

The Handler by Gavin Hunt

Blood on Their Hands by Les Morris

Issa’s Island Prison by Graham Smith

Eastern Fury by Andrew Scorah

The Liberator by Paul D. Brazill

The Tower of Marnir by Paul Grzegorzek

Bit Part Player by Theresa Derwin

The Judgment of Jean Lafitte by Evan Lewis

Avenged: Sixfold by Natasha Marie Thomas

Man or Mouse by Mark Dark

Stokey by Robin Jarossi

Savage Sun by Richard Godwin

One Flew Over the Policeman’s Bonnet by Pete Sortwell

Born of Woman by Laird Long

Chickens by K.A. Laity

*Bonus Story* Trench Warfare by Matt Hilton

Acknowledgements

Afterword by Matt Hilton

A portion of the proceeds from sales of this collection will go to the charity Help for Heroes http://www.helpforheroes.org.uk/