Coming soon... Mammoth Book of Best British Crime... plus, other really interesting stuff...!

Things are on the up when an aspiring writer, such as little old me, discovers he'll soon be sharing the pages with top crime authors.  For years I've admired the likes of Mark Billingham and Val McDermid, and more recently Matt Hilton, Nick Quantrill and Adrian Magson.  So, when you throw in Sophie Hannah and Zoe Sharp, amongst other accomplished wordsmiths, you know you'll have a short story collection to remember!  I just hope my first ever published (in print) crime story,  MOPPING UP (Tonto Books) justifies its selection.

It's an absolute honour to be involved, so a big thanks to editor Maxim Jakubowski for showing faith in my story.  The Mammoth Book Of Best British Crime 9 is out on February 2nd 2012.

Sorry if this is a bit of a 'me post', but I also have a crime short upcoming at A Twist OF Noir in the ongoing '600 to 700 (words) Challenge'.  Plus, I've submitted stories to a couple of e-book anthologies recently (to be announced, even if I don't make the cut!), and also to Byker Books for the popular Radgepacket - Tales From The Inner Cities (volume 6).  So, fingers crossed...

And, yes, I'm still chipping away at the latest crime novel. Don't forget, if you wanna read about my exploits over the last eighteen months with New York agent, Nat Sobel, then look out for a warts 'n' all 'Chinwag' coming soon...

Well, that's enough about you, let's talk about me! :-) Seriously, what writing projects are YOU excited about, or currently working on?


Best,
Col

Ps. I've added a couple of pages to the blog 'n' tidied up a bit - let me know what you think...

It's SUPPER TIME...Zombie adult fun at Chris Grant's EATEN ALIVE...

Over the last few weeks - in between regular sessions of crime novel writing - I've 'stretched' somewhat and penned a couple of flash fiction pieces, slightly away from my norm. The aforementioned Clarity of Night contest submission is a supernatural/paranormal crime story (see last post). Meanwhile, when A Twist Of Noir editor, Christopher Grant kindly invites you to write a zombie short for his new site, EATEN ALIVE, then you write one! SUPPER TIME is my somewhat naughty response. I hope you enjoy it here... feel free to let me know...

PS. Mum, this one's NOT for you! :-)

BULLET POINTS...

• The Brazilliant blog king extraordinaire, Paul D. Brazill has an exciting new ebook out, which is incredibly 'cheap as chips'! For more on 'DRUNK ON THE MOON' click here.
• Over at cool American ezine, A Twist Of Noir, editor Christopher Grant has resumed the 600 to 700 Challenge. 
• Geoff Eighinger has thankfully resurrected the sorely missed, Bullet Awards for best stories of the month on the net.  It's truly awesome to have this back, as it is to see David Barber's ever-growing Flash Fiction Offensive bagging TWO places in the top three!  Dave's doing a sterling job over there. Well done to all the winners - more here. 
• Thrillers, Killers 'n' Chillers has yet more debuting writers, with some great flash fiction, including Thomas Pluck, Margaret D. Whittle and K.R. Helms, amongst others.
• Crime thriller author of the popular Joe Hunter series, Matt Hilton, talks about the importance of libraries, and how they inspired him to write as a kid.  Listen to Matt's many variations of the word, 'Erm' (including, 'ehm' 'n' 'um') on BBC Radio Cumbria (fast forward to 2 hrs 18 secs). 
• Oh, 'n' after some heavy research for my crime novel, I've decided to join horror writer Steven Chapman in the 'summer camp' at NaNoWriMo, where you commit to writing a 50,000 word novel in a month. What have I done? Cheers, Steve! If you need a bit of motivation to write, then it's not too late to join. Here's my profile page.  Obviously, I'll be aiming at the 90,000 word mark. But I'm a third of the way in already, so doing this is good for focus, in the busy life of a working dad!

Regards to all,
Col

Feeling lucky, punk? My new story, LUCKY SHIT, over at A Twist Of Noir...

Christopher Grant's 600 to 700 Challenge rolls on over at A Twist Of Noir, and number 608 (words) is my turn. Feel free to pop over and comment at ATON or below.

Ps. In a rare, but rather large, cock-up, I had to re-submit due to formatting issues and, while cutting 'n' pasting, I missed off the last line... I'll reveal it (my last line, not my....!) in a subsequent post, and you can tell me if it was required or not, as I still feel the current ending works.

A TWIST... over at A TWIST OF NOIR...

Christopher Grant, the editor of top American ezine A Twist Of Noir, has a new 600 to 700 (words) 'challenge' beginning Monday 11th October. It's not a contest as such, more of a test to see if writers can keep things punchy.

Personally, I think it's a refreshingly creative idea, and I'm sure it'll prove a resounding success. Obviously, it's an honour to be playing a small part myself, alongside some seriously talented fellow scribes.

Here's the line up... 600 to 700 Challenge.

Eastern Standard Crime is back... plus a few musings...

Geoff Eighinger is re-opening Eastern Standard Crime on October 1st. I have fond memories of the site, as my short FORUM OF FURY was given a very positive review there once upon a time. Plus, several writer friends received acclaim for their stories on the likes of Thrillers, Killers 'n' Chillers and A Twist Of Noir. I recall TKnC actually winning a 'Bullet Award' from ESC in August 2009, as did, the somewhat stunned, David Barber for one of his first published stories, SORRY LOVE. I blogged about it here on TKnC.

However, to avoid the burnout that saw Geoff close the site last year, he will be only reviewing crime novels from North American writers (sighs). Who knows, he may branch out to the Brits one day (hint, hint, Geoff).

To diverge, may I thank all my blog friends who chose to spread the word about my recent good news of earning representation from highly-respected New York agent, Nat Sobel.

Also, I had a lovely surprise earlier in the week when EVEN MORE TONTO SHORT STORIES slapped onto the hallway mat. It contains my first ever story in print, the gritty, no-nonsense, MOPPING UP - which introduces characters from my crime novel, including Detective Inspector Jack Striker. In a welcome twist of fate, I'm honoured to be sharing the pages with Matt Hilton, whose story THE SKIN WE'RE IN is well worth a nosey.

Thanks, too, to Matt Hilton, who assisted me with my crime postings over at TKnC, as I've been particularly busy lately. There has been a flurry of posts recently and you may have missed some excellent stories, including some cracking debuts, so why not check out the last dozen or so? You won't be disappointed. And please let the writers know what you thought, constructively! http://thrillskillsnchills.blogspot.com/
I'm rambling, so catch you soon... hopefully with good news on my crime novel, which is doing the rounds...

Regards,
Col

BULLET POINTS...

Just a quick heads up on a few crime fiction related bits n bobs...

* Only four days to go to the March 12th deadline (when the voting goes live) to win yourself a signed copy of SLASH & BURN, Matt Hilton's 3rd crime thriller novel in the popular Joe Hunter series. If you fancy your chances you've just gotta write a Hunter style short story here.

* Got a nice little mention (for my recent short, A PUBLIC SERVICE, on A TWIST OF NOIR) from Gary Dobbs AKA Archavist over at his damn fine blog, THE TAINTED ARCHIVE.

* Watch this space for a Q&A with debut novelist, Nick Quantrill, around the day of his book launch of BROKEN DREAMS on March 20th.

Catch you all soon,
Col

A PUBLIC SERVICE...my noir flash now showing over at A TWIST OF NOIR...

Just a quick heads up to say my noir flash A PUBLIC SERVICE has been kindly accepted by Christopher Grant over at leading American crime webzine, A TWIST OF NOIR.
This is what ATON's editor said about it..."Col, great story. Nice twist ending, actually a real ending..." There's more, but I don't wanna give the game away.
As usual, just click on the title above to have a gander and be sure to have a good browse as there are some cracking stories on there.
Enjoy.
Col

A mention at the RAP SHEET & a polite request...

I'm pleased as punch to have had another mention over at top American site, the Rap Sheet. You have to scroll down a bit as I'm not a headline act...yet! Editor, Jeff Kingston Pierce has done yet another quality post, this time on happenings around the blogosphere, and my recent online flash fiction win with FRANTIC is included.

Also there's an award for the best ezine, webzine, fiction zine, call it what you will, over at Critters Writers Workshop called the Predators & Editors Readers Poll. Personally I voted for my favourite ezine A Twist Of Noir, but our very own Thrillers, Killers 'n' Chillers is also on the list so feel free to offer your support.

Voting is easy, but please do so before January 14th at...
http://www.critters.org/predpoll/fictionzine.shtml

Col Bury's Crime Fiction Choice...

Your choice: skip the waffle to see my first set of selections below...

My choice will be a regular feature from now on whereby I'll be pointing you in the direction of some of the top notch short fiction I've enjoyed from around the blogosphere.

There are some cracking writers out there - many as yet undiscovered - and, since August 2008 when I began 'blogging,' I've had the pleasure of becoming friends with many of them (well virtually!).

So I'll be delving into the archives of my favourite Webzines and I make no apologies for some of my selections possibly being horror, supernatural or even Sci-Fi based as many of these genres often blur together. The only criteria is that a crime is committed or, at least threatened, and dark humour is always a winner with me! (For example, if some two-headed monster bites the head off an unsuspecting victim then I'd say that's a crime, wouldn't you? Extreme, but you get the gist.)

Having said that, many of my choices will undoubtedly be straight crime fiction or noir as I love the 'grit' therein. And, obviously, I can't choose any of my own...

'God, you're a harsh task-master, Col.'
'Shut it! This is about other people so wind yer neck in, you egotistical...!
'Okay, okay. I was just wondering whether I could mention some of mine, that's all.'
'Right...do you want me to get me weapon out?'
'Easy, Tiger!'

That sorted, and in no particular order, where better to start than the archives of Thrillers, Killers 'N' Chillers and top American ezine, A Twist Of Noir...

Col Bury's Crime Fiction Choice #1

THIS OLD HOUSE - by Paul Brazill

Col Bury's Crime Fiction Choice #2

THE WAY TO A MAN'S HEART - by Gary Dobbs

Col Bury's Crime Fiction Choice #3

CRIME OF THE CENTURY - by Vallon Jackson

Enjoy!

Ps. Watch this space for the next three choices...

WANTED by Col Bury now up at top American Webzine, A TWIST OF NOIR...

Just a heads up in case you've didn't catch one of my crime shorts. I'm reliably informed it does have 'A Twist Of Noir,' hence it's now showcasing there!
Feel free to click on the title above if you fancy a nosey.

FORUM OF FURY gets a mention over at THE TAINTED ARCHIVE

Surprisingly - to me anyway - it seems each time I log on someone else has commented on my short story, FORUM OF FURY, which is pleasing me no end and is more than I ever expected when I penned the tale. Who'd have thought that a simple idea, which stemmed from changing a pen name to a real name on an online chat forum, would create waves (okay, maybe ripples then!) across Cyberspace?

Gary Dobbs aka Archavist, who runs the popular site, THE TAINTED ARCHIVE, appears to like the story as he's mentioned its presence on a TWIST OF NOIR under the title: A TWIST OF BURY!

http://tainted-archive.blogspot.com/2009/04/twist-of-bury-new-story-at-twist-of.html

If you've not read the story yet...beware...as you may never log on again!!!

Regards,
Col

High praise indeed from the Editor re' FORUM OF FURY, now up at A TWIST OF NOIR...

I've now completed my hat-trick over at A Twist Of Noir!
I received a very encouraging email from the Editor, Christopher Grant, which I thought I'd share with you...

'Col,

FORUM OF FURY is now up at A Twist Of Noir.
Frantic, insane and over the edge. All of these describe Joe in this story. Fun little story about mistaken identity and what someone can do when they get paranoid.
I saw this thing play out in my mind as I read it and that's the nicest compliment anyone can get about their writing.
Excellent stuff.

Christopher'

As us Northerners say, 'Am well chuffed!'

http://a-twist-of-noir.blogspot.com/2009/04/forum-of-fury-col-bury-you-just-never.html

Another of my Short Stories, 'THE BREAK IN,' at A Twist Of Noir...

I broke from the novel writing (and screaming kids - school hols!) last night to pen another short story that had been crying out to be written.
And now I'm chuffed to say that 'The Break In' not only appears on our very own Thrillers, Killers N Chillers, but also at A Twist Of Noir.
It's not for the faint-hearted, but I do hope you like it.

You can read it by clicking on my short stories link on the right for TKNC or follow the link below for ATON.

http://a-twist-of-noir.blogspot.com/search/label/Col%20Bury

My Short Story, 'Domestic Hated,' now appears on website, 'A Twist Of Noir.'

(Image: Sarah Meek - starring in 'Domestic Hated.')

A Twist Of Noir is the brainchild of American writer, Christopher Grant, and includes over fifty short stories encapsulating the theme of crime and noir fiction. The concept is not too dissimilar to Thrillers, Killers n Chillers whereby if the writing's good enough it is then showcased.

Having read a few excellent pieces of fiction on there I thought my story 'Domestic Hated' might stand a chance of a slot on ATON. Chris must have liked it as it now has a second home there: http://a-twist-of-noir.blogspot.com/2009/03/twist-of-noir-057-col-bury.html
Regards,

Col