It's been a tough old year, chasing the writing dream while working full time and feeding the family. Just wanted to send my hearty good wishes for the festive season to my online friends / readers, and say 'thanks' to you all for your ongoing support and friendship, which is invaluable and truly spurs me on more than you probably realize.
Writing update: My little old ebook of gritty crime shorts, MANCHESTER 6, is still selling consistently (pushing 400 now), considering it was just an 'appetite-wetter' while I continued with the traditional publishing route. When I've finished the third draft (big sigh) of 'novel attempt two' for my agent, I'm pleased to announce that I'll be bringing out another ebook of shorts via Ganglion Press. I've just got to go through twenty shorts and maybe whittle them down to the best dozen or so. Look out for THE COPS OF MANCHESTER in early(ish) 2013.
Highlights of 2012:
... Going to my first Harrogate Crime Writing Festival with Graham Smith and meeting... Howard Linskey, Michael Malone, Nick Quantrill, Matt Hilton, Chris Simmons, Luca Veste, Neil White, Jo Evans, Scott Turner, Zoe Sharp, Ali Karim and Kevin Wignall, among many others.
... Briefly chatting with three of my favourite crime authors, Simon Kernick, Stuart Neville and Mark Billingham. And... being in that room when TOSSERGATE erupted! (Quickly digressing...)
... Going to London to meet class acts, Bill 'AJ' Hayes and Richard Godwin, and having a damn good 'chinwag' and walk along the Thames with their lovely wives (don't tell Richard 'n' Bill though!). Richard even took us to Richmond Park which inspired the 'Woodlands Murders' in Apostle Rising - my fave novel of 2012 (that's when I read it anyway).
... Then, off up to Gretna with the family to chew the fat at Graham's gaff, with 'me old mucker', David Barber (& his lovely fam'), Denise and Matt Hilton, Sheila Quigley, Michael Malone and the man who fatefully introduced me to Matt nearly four years ago, Richard 'Thommo' Thompson.
... Without that intro', the annual Gretna gig wouldn't exist, and arguably, neither would Thrillers, Killers 'n' Chillers ezine.
... Personally, I was thrilled to bits that my short story, MOPPING UP (Tonto Books), made The Mammoth Book of Best British Crime 9, alongside the likes of Mark Billingham, Peter James and Zoe Sharp... and FISTS OF DESTINY (from MANCHESTER 6), was selected for The Mammoth Book of Best British Crime 10 beside Lee Child, Ruth Rendell and Paul D Brazill, among other top crime scribes.
Non-writing highlight... obviously...!
All the best everyone. Let's make 2013 a year to remember too!
All the very best,
Col
