HARROGATE HERE WE COME...

Way too much to catch up on over the last year, so just a quick post to say Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival beckons and I'm honoured to be reading a short story along with nine other far more talented authors at Harrogate's first ever 'Noir at the Bar'. I'll also be 'starring' in the North v South crime writers' footy match. Should be fun. Hope to see you there.

Guest post: Col Bury – Keep Dreaming

Guest post: Col Bury – Keep Dreaming

MY KIND OF JUSTICE - BOOK LAUNCH & PRE-ORDER DETAILS...

At long last the launch of my debut crime novel MY KIND OF JUSTICE is upon us. I'm naturally both nervous and excited. A big thank you to Urmston Bookshop for helping with the arrangements and to Matt Hilton for asking the questions. Here are the details...
(Note: the launch is at Urmston Library, not the bookshop.)

It would be great to see you there, but if you can't make it then here are some links to order...

Amazon UK (ebook & print)     


Amazon US  (ebook & print)    


Caffeine Nights Publishing (print)


Kobo (ebook)

Cover and Blurb of Debut Novel, MY KIND OF JUSTICE - out June 2015.

Out June 2015 via Caffeine Nights Publishing

Newly-appointed DI Jack Striker, of GMP’s Major Incident Team, has a dark secret, one that would land him in prison. 
Striker’s first case seems a straight-forward gang-on-gang slaying, until a notorious youth is found hanged. Before any chance to investigate, bodies begin stacking-up.
With the hot breath of the brass burning his neck, including hard-faced DCI Maria Cunningham who’s onto him, Striker knows this case will make or break him. 
The media-dubbed ‘Hoodie Hunter’ mixes MO’s, leaving few leads, and Striker recognises the work of a highly-skilled vigilante killer.
When Striker’s nephew is put into a coma, it becomes personal. Desperate, he runs an unofficial op’ with trusty colleagues, stunning DC Lauren Collinge and un-PC DC Eric Bardsley, placed in the line of fire.
The killer’s trail leads Striker into his own shady past, but will he catch the Hoodie Hunter before he or a colleague becomes the next victim?

If you can't wait till June, DI Jack Striker and the Hoodie Hunter feature in the short story, MOPPING UP in the ebook collection, THE COPS OF MANCHESTER. 

I'm over at BRIT GRIT ALLEY... "SEEKING THAT VALIDATION OF A ‘YES’: THE ROAD TO PUBLICATION…"

Noir-man, writer extraordinaire and all-round good egg (or all-oval), who is everywhere all the time, Paul D. Brazill kindly asked me to share my thoughts on how I (finally) got published. So, I'm over at the salubrious(ish!) BGA spilling the beans...

IT'S BEEN A LONG OLD JOURNEY AND I'VE FINALLY REACHED THE START...

After years of trying to be published traditionally, and several false dawns and near misses, I finally bagged a book deal. It's the boost I needed at the perfect time as it's been a somewhat frustrating experience and my head was turned numerous times by the successes of some self-published friends. However, I resisted because deep down I yearned for that validation of a "Yes" from a publisher.

I'd just like to thank my many supportive friends and the readers who offered feedback, which spurred me on in dark times. And, of course, a big thanks for the faith shown in my writing by Darren Laws, the head honcho at Caffeine Nights Publishing, who will publish my first novel, MY KIND OF JUSTICE, later next year.

Now, with impeccable synchronicity, the sun is shining in 'rainy' Manchester and I'm off to Harrogate Crime Festival to celebrate!  

R.I.P. mate...

It was an honour to know and meet you, AJ Hayes (Bill).

Tributes over at Thrillers, Killers 'n' Chillers...

HELLO, BLOG! LONG TIME NO SEE. UPDATES & NEWS OF A FREEBIE FOR YOU...

(If you wanna skip my ramblings to snag the FREEBIE and run, then scroll down).

Just a wanted to say that I'm not ignoring you and that I'm still bang at it, as I endeavour to chase that elusive breakthrough. I've recently been floored by a bout of vertigo that has had me in and out of work. I'm hopeful it will settle, but I know people who've had it on and off for years.

Anyhow, back to writing.  My second crime novel manuscript is out there, via my agent, being read by editors. After the encouraging feedback received with the first one a couple of years ago, there's still hope.  However, this is tempered by concern that they just might not 'get it', since I took a calculated gamble with the plot twist, making it a 'crossover' novel.  The responses have been sluggish, at best, so it doesn't look too good.  I can't say that it's not been frustrating, but no one said it was easy!  Nothing worthwhile is.

Anyway, we'll see.  Of course, I've started a third, something of a change of tack, but less of a gamble, and still a crime thriller.  To be honest, I'm bursting to unleash my novels on the public, though I'm trying my best to remain patient and to not become too exasperated at the slow-turning traditional publishing cogs.  I can see why so many writers self-publish their novels these days.  It's very appealing on so many levels, but I still have faith in the traditional route, albeit at a particularly uncertain time for the industry.

In the meantime, my eBook collections are serving their purpose and being consistently read.  The positive feedback from readers has kept me going.  It feels like I'm getting closer, knocking on the door... and soon I'll be kicking the damn thing down (hopefully)!

After resisting this on principle up until now, in a 'shift of mindset' (aka 'selling out'?), I've decided to run a FREE promo (until Sunday 27th October 2013) on my short story collection, MANCHESTER 6.  After all, writers should give their stuff away shouldn't they? I mean, it's not like they've sweated blood and tears creating their masterpieces, while everyone else is watching telly and chillin' out, is it?

You're welcome to spread the word about the freebie, which would help ensure that it wasn't a complete waste of time!  I wonder if Kindles the world over are now filled up with eBooks that will never see the light of day...?  I also wanted to see if these types of promos worked on short story collections as opposed to novels.  To be honest, I couldn't see myself doing a free promo on a novel that has taken a year, or more, to develop.

In other news, I got my hat-trick! Three years on the bounce, having stories accepted for Maxim Jakubowski's brilliant MAMMOTH BOOKS OF BEST BRITISH CRIME.  This time EYES WIDE SHUT from charity anthology, OFF THE RECORD 2: At the Movies, was selected.

I will have some more 'Fat-Chews' with crime authors for you soon, once 'things' settle down a bit.

Finally, I'll update you with the result of my free promo 'experiment', once results are in, but a day and half into it the five days and the signs are promising...

US downloads = 155 & UK = 313. US rank = 1,299 (#2 in mystery short stories). UK rank = 119 (#1 in short stories).

NAB YOUR FREE COPY...

AMAZON US

AMAZON UK

You take care and keep soldiering on (unless it's driving you insane, in which case, take a break).
Ever determined.
Col

CHEWING THE FAT with... Richard Godwin...

Apostle Rising is a dark, psycho-logical and moody novel. One Lost Summer sounds lovely, suggesting sun and flowers, but I suspect I'm wrong. Tell us about it.

Despite the fact that it is set in a heat wave One Lost Summer is a dark seductive novel about identity loss and reality. And it is about why we want to be seduced.

Rex Allen meets his beautiful next door neighbour, Evangeline Glass, when she invites him to one of her summer parties, and he becomes convinced she is someone other than the person she is pretending to be. He sets about spying on her and asks her to act out the part of Coral, who may be a figment of his imagination or Evangeline’s alter ego. His obsession leads to disaster. It is a psychological portrait of obsession set in a heat wave.

Despite being on your third novel (Mr Glamour being the second), unlike many novelists, you still find the time to write short stories for the ezines. Why?

I like short stories. I think they are an excellent way to explore fiction in shorter form. I also enjoy contributing to the magazines. And they bring exposure to a new audience.

When you kindly put me up on my London visit, you still got up at 7.00 am and did a couple of hours writing. Rather than thinking, 'ignorant bugger', I admired you for it!  This made me realise that you are a true pro' and have the self-discipline to get the job done.  Have you always been so steadfastly organised?

Not always. When I was younger probably not, but discipline is necessary.

So far, your novels are 'standalones'. Any thoughts on creating a series character?

Yes. I am writing the sequel to Apostle Rising. For those of you who have read it, the novel, while complete, remains open for a sequel, and that should be out next year.

Any words of wisdom for the writers out there who want to fulfil their dream of becoming a full-time novelist? 

Keep writing.

You can buy One Lost Summer here, Amazon UK or Amazon US.

Richard Godwin is the author of critically acclaimed novels One Lost Summer, Apostle Rising and Mr. Glamour.  One Lost Summer is his third novel. He is also a published poet and a produced playwright. His stories have been published in over 29 anthologies, among them his anthology of stories, Piquant: Tales Of The Mustard Man. 

Apostle Rising is a dark work of fiction exploring the blurred line between law and lawlessness and the motivations that lead men to kill.

Mr. Glamour is about a world of wealthy, beautiful people who can buy anything, except safety from the killer in their midst.

Richard Godwin was born in London and obtained a BA and MA in English and American Literature from King's College London, where he also lectured.

You can find out more about Richard at his website  www.richardgodwin.net, where you can also read his Chin Wags At The Slaughterhouse, his highly popular and unusual interviews with other authors.

Soul Destruction: Unforgivable by Ruth Jacobs - Sample & FREE eBook, if you're quick...

(FREE here MAY 26th to a.m. of 28th)
Ruth Jacobs writes a series of novels entitled Soul Destruction, which expose the dark world and the harsh reality of life as a call girl. Her debut novel, Soul Destruction: Unforgivable, was released on 29 April 2013 by Caffeine Nights. Ruth studied prostitution in the late 1990s, which sparked her interest in the subject. She draws on her research and the women she interviewed for inspiration. She also has firsthand experience of many of the topics she writes about such as posttraumatic stress disorder, rape, and drug and alcohol addiction. In addition to her fiction writing, Ruth is also involved in non-fiction for her charity and human rights campaigning work in the areas of anti-sexual exploitation and anti-human trafficking.

Soul Destruction: Unforgivable

Enter the bleak existence of a call girl haunted by the atrocities of her childhood. In the spring of 1997, Shelley Hansard is a drug addict with a heroin habit and crack psychosis. Her desirability as a top London call girl is waning.

When her client dies in a suite at The Lanesborough Hotel, Shelley’s complex double-life is blasted deeper into chaos. In her psychotic state, the skills required to keep up her multiple personas are weakening. Amidst her few friends, and what remains of her broken family, she struggles to maintain her wall of lies.

During this tumultuous time, she is presented with an opportunity to take revenge on a client who raped her and her friends. But in her unbalanced state of mind, can she stop a serial rapist?

The Stranger, the Coke Can and the Futuristic Street Installation taken from Soul Destruction: Unforgivable by Ruth Jacobs.

Shelley found herself squatting on the dirty floor of a public toilet in Camden Town, trying to avoid the sparkling streams of urine under the dim light. Twenty minutes earlier, she’d plucked a young man from the street. He’d been sitting on the pavement by the Tube station, begging, appearing to be homeless. She had a knack for picking them – the junkies – and she was rarely wrong.

She entrusted him with one-hundred and twenty pounds to score sixty brown and sixty white. He both scored and brought back the drugs – the latter not being a given when strangers score for strangers, especially when buying heroin and crack. With that action, sadly, he proved more reliable and perhaps more deserving of her trust than the majority of people with whom she associated.

Although in her cigarette packet she still had the crack from The Lanesborough, she needed more. And she needed the heroin to come down, but before coming down, she wanted to get as high as she knew how. Speedballing. The superlative combination of heroin and crack. The transportation to Shangri-la.

None of her friends took heroin. The only two heroin dealers she knew – Jay and Ajay – weren’t answering their phones. That was why she had to follow her usual Plan B, which she imagined was no more jeopardous than working.

The stranger had suggested shooting up in the toilet on Inverness Street. She didn’t want to wait to walk back to her car so had accompanied him inside the futuristic street installation. Though the outside was modern, inside it was rank. One of the worst public conveniences Shelley had ever used for a hit. The stench of stale urine permeated every cell in the depths of her nasal cavities and from there, travelled down her throat like post-nasal drip. Even though she kept her mouth shut, she could taste it on her tongue. It was making her gag.

The spoon he cooked up in wasn’t a spoon at all. Neither of them had one, so he used the bottom of a coke can as a substitute. Shelley hoped the boiling would sterilise the metal. She would have preferred her own clean spoon, but it was in her glove box.

She wondered if that was everything he owned, bundled into the small rucksack on his back. She didn’t ask. She didn’t say anything. And neither did he. Why was she dressed for the office when she was shooting up in a public toilet? Not that it would have been difficult to conjure an alternative to what happened at The Lanesborough, but she wasn’t there for conversation. She was there to forget. In her own way. Not by the falsehoods Marianne tried to peddle. 

She rolled up her sleeves to choose a vein. Her arms were clean. So far, she’d managed to evade the track marks, lumps, scabs, bruises and abscesses that would have been tantamount to commercial suicide. To charge upwards of two-hundred and fifty pounds an hour, her clients could never know she was an injector. So injecting had to be organised, alternating numerous veins in her arms, hands, legs and feet. If she was messy, she’d only be able to solicit clients on the street, and streetwalking came with far more risk and a far lower financial reward.

When the heroin had dissolved, she added a rock of crack. With the young man holding the can steady, she used the plunger end of her syringe to grind the white stone into the brown water. She hurried, craving to feel the warm safe-danger, her body pulsating, and her head pumping like it was pumping out every tormenting memory it stored. Soon, the relentless playback of those pictures and scenes would stop. She would have her reprieve. Her respite. And although earning the money to pay for it created new images, as abhorrent as they were, what she was originally escaping from was worse. 

Shelley proffered her gold twenty-pack. He took a cigarette and, using his teeth, tore off a chunk of filter. He snatched it from his mouth with his thumb and index finger then dropped it into the concoction. Shelley noticed the scabs on his lips and the dirt under his fingernails. The filter wasn’t clean. She needed the hit.

 “You first.” A gentleman, he held the can out in front of Shelley, letting her draw up her shot before him.

“Pass it here.” Shelley positioned her filled syringe between her teeth and reached for the can to reciprocate.

Once his barrel was full, she delicately placed the empty can on what seemed like a dry area of the floor, saving the filter for the next fix. If she was taking one hit from the dirty filter, what difference would a second make? 

She wrapped one hand around her wrist. She squeezed. On cue, her pulse thumped and the map of blue veins rose from the back of her hand. She let go, swiped the syringe from her mouth, removed the orange cap with her teeth and inserted the needle into a sinking vein at the base of her hand. Pulling back on the plunger, blood swirled into her medicine. Inside, her rush was brewing. She pushed it all in.

 

Soul Destruction: Unforgivable was released 29 April 2013. Available worldwide from all major online retailers in paperback and e-book. Also available direct from Caffeine Nights. 

Further information and contact details:

Ruth Jacobs’s Amazon author page - UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ruth-Jacobs/e/B008OJ0ZMC and US: http://www.amazon.com/Ruth-Jacobs/e/B008OJ0ZMC

Soul Destruction website: http://soul-destruction.com

Author Website: http://ruthjacobs.co.uk

Ruth’s Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/rujacobs

The Soul Destruction Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/SoulDestructionSeries

Ruth on Twitter: http://twitter.com/RuthFJacobs

Join Ruth’s mailing list here