Writin', editin', drinkin' 'n' KILLIN... with me old bud, David Barber...

Mean 'n' moody crime writers love Killin...

Spent five wonderful days with my long time writing buddy, David Barber, and his lovely family, up in Crieff, Scotland. We supped some ale, I'll tell yer! I really needed to recharge the old batteries, and Dave and Lisa were perfect company to relax with.  The bonus that our kids get on great, made the break one to remember.

Although the day trip on the train from Dunblane to Edinburgh was enjoyable, the highlight of the holiday, scenery-wise, was definitely a little village in a valley, named KILLIN.  The name is intriguing in itself, but in no way reflects the place, as it's simply stunning.  Dave bumped into Matt Hilton there earlier this year, and I can see the attraction - it's a writer's dream.  If me numbers ever come up, then that's where I'm heading!  I'm not at all envious of Dave working up there, and he never sends me picture-texts rubbing it in with the tag line: 'my view from work!'

Killin is a writer's dream ...

Once our families retired to beddy-bo's, Dave 'n' I mixed our drinks and discussed all things writing (plus, a bit of football, of course), including, our novels, our ezines, deadlines and ideas for the future. If we'd have had more time we'd have spoken about time management. Anyway, I think we're both more focused now.

On our way up from Manchester, then on our way back down, we dropped in at The Mill in Gretna Green to see popular Crimesquad reviewer, Graham Smith, at the family hotel (for weddings), where he works.  Graham's certainly an expert on crime fiction, devouring a couple of novels a week.  Plus, he attends the crime events and festivals, where he regularly interviews authors old and new.  Coincidentally, he's just reviewed Matt Hilton's latest novel, Dead Men's Harvest.  Since Matt's 'author of the month', there's a nice interview with him too.

With Crimesquad's Graham Smith at Gretna Green.

Graham's also writing a crime novel and has joined Dave and my-good-self in the race to hit our respective first draft deadlines! Nowt like a bit of stiff competition to kick you up the arse, eh?

So now, I've returned to claustrophobic city life totally inspired... but I can feel the walls closing in already...

Thanks to Dave 'n' Graham and their lovely families for making us feel so welcome.

COL BURY'S BEST OF BRIT GRIT BLOGS...

The popular 'Brit Grit' series rolls merrily on, and I'm honoured to feature this week. To read about my top twenty 'Best of Brit Grit Blogs' over at Elaine Ash's cool website, go here.

(S)HIT COUNTER...

No, I've not been lining up me dog's number twos 'n' counting them. Just noticed my hit counter has packed up, 'n' so has TKnC's. WTF? Is it blogger playing up again, or have so many people been visiting that it's seized up? (Yeah, right). Can anyone shed any light on it? Cue the torch jokes...

'BRIT GRIT' is live... and a forthright 'CHIN WAG' coming soon...

Unfortunately, it's not crime fiction, but real crime that's dominating my thoughts at the moment. Dark, metaphorical clouds hang over England, including my beloved city, Manchester. I won't ramble on about it here - I'll just say, "sub-human scum" and leave it at that. However, I've been having a 'Chin Wag' with a good friend about this and other stuff, where I do say a lot more, including my endeavours with agent, Nat Sobel.  It'll be a 'warts 'n' all' affair, so watch out for that soon!

I'm also honoured to be involved in the new 'Brit Grit' series, which started last Sunday with Alan Griffith's superb short, 'Two Fingers of Noir'. Thanks to writer/editor, Elaine Ash for setting the whole thing up over at AshEdit. As you can see, my name didn't quite make the promo poster, but I'm in good company with Ian Ayris... One day, Ian, one day... :-)

In other news... Paul Brazill's 'Drunk on the Moon' series rolls merrily on... Dave Barber's back from his jollies, now editing again at The Flash Fiction Offensive... Matt Hilton's latest Joe Hunter thriller is out... and I had the pleasure of publishing a crackin' short by a reviewer who can actually write! Luca Veste's 'Time' is over at Thrillers, Killer's 'n' Chillers.

God, am such a name-dropper, aren't I? :-)

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! :-)

Clarity of Night Contest - read some crackin' entries, plus my 'adult flash'...!!!

If you missed it, The Clarity of Night Contest is run by American attorney and writer, Jason Evans. It's become a very popular competition, as the 100+ entries testify.  The photo (left) is the prompt, and it's fascinating how differently the entrants interpret it in the allotted 250 words.

There's a whole new writing community over there and a helluva lot of hidden gems. I spotted a couple of friends' stories too - belters from Jodi MacArthur and Chris Allinotte.   

Oh, 'n' my story's called TILL DEATH DO US PART... it's a bit naughty, but I enjoyed writing it as it stretched me from my norm. The first draft was nearly 500 words, so I had to cut, edit and tighten, which is all good practice.

I would really appreciate it if you'd take a look and maybe even leave a nice comment. Pretty please with sugar on top! :-)

BTW, the contest is now closed (sorry), but Jason will be running another later in the year. I'm gonna have a trawl through the list of the stories here.

Cheers,
Col

Ps. Missed out, that my bud, Michael J. Solender, also has a crackin' entry too!

A 100 thank yous, a clingy dog 'n' finding balance... (dunt that just roll off the tongue?)

Great to see my 'followers' officially hit '100'. A heartfelt thanks to you all, including email subscribers and those who follow privately.

Since I'm editing at Thrillers, Killers 'n' Chillers a lot, I can't post here as much as I'd like. Especially as I'm endeavouring to write a crime novel series too. Add demanding full-time shift work, two children and a clingy dog to the mix (Riley's like my shadow, even follows me into the bathroom!), and you can probably appreciate I'm forever battling for that elusive 'balance'.

How do you find your balance? Or, like me, are you constantly striving for it?

BLOGFLASH... Thrillers, Killers 'n' Chillers has a new 'Guest Editor'...

...LILY CHILDS!

Find out more here...

Crime novel by 26 authors... whadderyereckon...?

I know this has been done before, but in NO REST FOR THE DEAD, according to Guardian Online, each writer wrote a chapter not knowing what the previous one had written. Don't know about you, but I can't see how this could possibly work.

Quite a few 'names' have taken part, including: Peter James, Kathy Reichs, Faye Kellerman, Tess Gerritsen and Jeffery Deaver.  Lots of sarcasm and cynicism in the comments section of the article too. Have a nosey here, then kindly pop back and let me know what you think.

Cheers, Col

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