BIGGER, BETTER, LEANER & MEANER THAN BEFORE - MANCHESTER 6 RE-RELEASED!!!

I'm proud of this. Really proud. Put a lot of effort into ensuring the reader gets good value.  Re-reading and re-editing it felt like I was reading someone else's work, and the satisfying thing was, I thoroughly enjoyed it! Never been one to blow me own trumpet, but I'd buy it!!! :-)

I admit, I kinda rushed in last time, but if things hadn't panned out the way they did, I probably wouldn't have reached this point, and learned so much.

And here's a paradox... despite Manc 6 being much leaner, it's also fatter! I've added a few little bonuses for the reader - which I won't spoil here - as well as bringing on board a top photographer in Nigel Maitland to do the covers (yeah, there was an 'S' in covers!). You did a crackin' job, Nige - thanks.  Check out his work here.

NOTE: I kept the same title as it's the same (re-edited) six stories and, more importantly, so that people weren't inadvertently duped into buying the same book (even though I know it's much better than before).

You can preview it or buy it here (UK) or here (US).

The great thing is Amazon put back up my 23 reviews without asking, which was jolly decent of them. Do me a favour though, even if you don't buy it, agree with the tags and 'like' if you'd be so kind.

Col Bury's Crime Fiction Choice... resurrected!

A little over a year ago I started punchy reviews of short stories and flash fiction I'd enjoyed around the net. However, with my own novel writing, added to hectic family life, a demanding full-time job, plus co-editing Thrillers, Killers 'n' Chillers, although I enjoyed doing it, I had no 'choice' - pardon the pun - and it was placed on the proverbial back burner.

Well, it's back! But this time I'll be including crime thriller/mystery novels. Check back later in the week for Col Bury's Crime Fiction Choice numbers 10, 11 & 12.

If you can't wait (yeah, right!), see the first nine here. And remember, I only choose stuff I really loved reading and want to recommend to friends.

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