FORUM OF FURY gets top review at EASTERN STANDARD CRIME..

The ripples I mentioned in the last post created by my short story, FORUM OF FURY - which featured on both Thrillers, Killers n Chillers and A Twist Of Noir before being mentioned at The Tainted Archive - have now graduated into waves.

Over at EASTERN STANDARD CRIME Geoff Eighinger reviews mystery and crime fiction then rewards fedoras to each chosen story: one being dull and five being fantastic. Just to see what his rating of my story actually meant I had a quick trawl through probably 100+ stories and couldn't see a five fedora review. The common range was two to three.

I must say that I was both pleased and surprised that the story was actually selected in the first place. Anyway, the link's below if you wanna have a nosey at Geoff's review and not wanting to give the game away I'll just say after reading it I tipped all four of my hats to him!!!

Regards,
A well chuffed, Col.

http://easternstandardcrime.blogspot.com/2009/04/forum-of-fury-by-col-bury.html

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

A surge in popularity for sister website, Thrillers, Killers N Chillers!

Over at Thrillers, Killers N Chillers we've had seven new stories in five days, including three yesterday alone, and the promise of imminent submissions, as the site gains in popularity throughout the writing fraternity with over 1400 hits in less than three weeks!

There was also an unexpected, but very welcome, mention over at The Rap Sheet earlier this week for two of the stories: Paul Brazill's eerie tale containing nuances and all, THIS OLD HOUSE, and my very own, FORUM OF FURY, addressing the fact we're often unaware of exactly who we're communicating with on the net.

http://therapsheet.blogspot.com/2009/04/bytes-and-pieces.html

I'm also chuffed that two American writers now feature over at TKnC, namely, Mike Whitney, with his adept use of letters in, IT HAS COME TO MY ATTENTION, and Michael J. Solender with his short, and equally adept, humorous piece, HOMEGROWN TOMATOES.

There's also a cheeky debut, LOST CAUSE, from the mysterious alter-ego Vallon Jackson!

And I'm pleased that my friends over at Writers News Talkback are submitting stories, too. Following Bill Haddow-Allen is Dorothy Davies with her chilling tale, BEATERS, as well as, CIRCUS, which is refreshingly different in style from earlier posts.

Hey, instead of reading me rambling, why not pop over there and take a look for yourself? You won't be disappointed!

Better still, if you fancy your chances then why not have a stab (pardon the pun) and submit a story yourself.
(Guidelines on the right of the site - link below.)

http://thrillskillsnchills.blogspot.com/

FORUM OF FURY

As I work shifts and have children I find it difficult to regularly attend a Writers' Group so I often chat to like-minded virtual friends on Writers News Talkback - a friendly and informative Writers' Forum. This is my convenient alternative to a Writer's Group and I love the banter on there, as well as the empathy and instant responses to writing problems.

However, I recently changed from 'Col B' to my full name of 'Col Bury'. This got the old cogs turning and inspired a new short story: FORUM OF FURY.

I dedicate this story to my fellow Talkbackers as a thank you for their friendship and advice over the last couple of years.

Enjoy...

http://thrillskillsnchills.blogspot.com/2009/04/forum-of-fury-by-col-bury.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

Thrillers, Killers n Chillers...

Some of you may already be aware from previous posts that my good friend Matt Hilton began a site for up and coming writers to showcase their short fiction over at Thrillers, Killers n Chillers, a site I'm proud to say that I co-edit.

There's certainly an ongoing debate running among the writing forum fraternity regarding the merits of non-paying sites, like TKNC, A Twist Of Noir and many others, whereby fiction is 'published.' Nearly all of what I've read has been positive, though on a crime forum I recently read a comment which pricked my senses and with which I wholeheartedly disagree. It read: 'I think short, online fiction should be looked at like those free samples they give away in the supermarket.'

Biting my lip till it bled and trying not to shout the B-word describing male genitalia at the top of my voice, I opted to write sensibly about it instead. I don't know what this guy has been reading online, but for some reason he sounds a tad cynical and blinkered as he shouldn't pigeon-hole all online fiction like that. He's obviously not read TKNC!!! I think it can depend on the editors of the site, too, but on TKNC it does have to be of publishable standard. Most, if not all, the sites of this ilk appear to me to be professional with some excellent stories so I suspect this man is being frivolous, or maybe even envious.

Personally, I can't see a downside. And here's why: I received quite a lot a feedback from my short story, The Handshake, on TKNC, which is probably one of the main reasons Matt started the site in the first place; that is, to bring newer writers on. As a consequence of the feedback I rejigged the story, adding a line here and restructuring there, yet maintaining the basic story core, until I came up with a much more polished version.

I've now entered The Handshake into Word Magazine's 'Murder' short story competition. It doesn't really matter if it doesn't win (there are usually hundred's of entries), the fact that an aspiring writer is continuing to improve and learn the craft is paramount.

Sites like TKNC also give the new writer a small taste - after perhaps years of writing without reader-acknowledgement - of what it's like to see their work in print knowing someone out there may just like it, which is the recognition all writers crave and that which spurs us on.

So to that bloke and his 'Supermarket' comment: I suggest he pops into his local supermarket and purchases a large cucumber...
...I don't think I have to tell you where he can shove it!!!
(Sorry, my sensible time has expired.)

Regards,
Col

Ps. tenacity is key.

http://thrillskillsnchills.blogspot.com/

As promised, an interview with Crime Novelist, Chris Simms.

Chris Simms is the author of the DI Jon Spicer crime novels and, in my opinion, soon to be right up there with Simon Kernick and Mark Billingham. I'm in good company with this prediction as when professionals within the book industry announced their 'Top 25 Authors of the Future,' Chris made the list!

I absolutely love his work and I'm so pleased that he's agreed to this interview.

Enjoy...

Hi, Chris, and thanks for agreeing to do this Q & A.

So when did you first start writing and what motivated or inspired you to really go for it?

I’ve always enjoyed coming up with stories – and I remember how disappointed I was at school when English began to move away from creative writing toward literary criticism. With the aim of eventually building up to some kind of novel, I wrote various, unpublished, ghost-stories in the tradition of MR James during my twenties. But it wasn’t until turning thirty and becoming a father for the first time that I said to myself, ‘If I don’t start on a novel now, it’s never going to happen.’

Could you please enlighten us as to how you achieved your first book deal? Did you try to acquire an agent? Were you rejected much? And how did you feel about the process of being accepted for publication?

Not knowing a soul in the publishing industry, I found an agent by following the advice laid out in my local library’s copy of the Writers’ and Artists’ Yearbook. I started sending off a covering letter and first few chapters to four agents at a time, waiting for all their rejection letters to come back, then sending off to another four. I was picked up on my fourth round of letters, roughly one year after sending out my first batch. I reworked certain aspects of the book at my agent’s suggestion and she got me a publishing deal within weeks. I thought that was it: I’d reached the summit. Little did I know, I had merely strayed into the foothills of the publishing industry; there were - and still are - many higher hills to climb.

There's a lot of unrealistic talk of huge book deals. Can you provide us (me!) with a reality check, Chris?

Well, they do occasionally happen – but those six figure sums are usually paid in stages dependent on handing in several novels that meet with the publisher’s approval. Therefore, the money is paid over a series of years, and once you account for the endless hours actually writing a novel takes, you’re not earning a lot more than the minimum wage. Sorry to shatter the media-myth. There’s a saying in the industry that makes me smile: everyone makes money in publishing apart from the authors.

Your novels appear to be extremely well researched, Chris. Having four children and a job as a copywriter, it must have been hard to organise and sustain the writing. How did you manage this?

Research is the part of the writing process I love most, along with actually plotting the story out. Writing it all down is just a slog and then typing it up is even worse! Unfortunately, no one else on the planet can read my handwriting. When it comes to writing, I have to be very disciplined – I only get two mornings a week when I’m completely on my own. During that time, I lock myself away in a glorified shed with no internet access, phone or music. I sit facing a blank wall and, generally, get around three and a half thousand words down before hunger forces me back into the house.

I believe that you switched publishers after your second novel was published. Why was that?

Back to those hills I mentioned. My first publisher rejected my idea for a third novel, but only after allowing me to research and plot it out. I knew Orion liked my work, so my agent showed them a synopsis for the third novel and they snapped it up. I was lucky because many writers don’t have the option of jumping to another publisher when asked to place their proposed novel in the circular filing cabinet.

‘Shifting Skin’ is a great read, but very dark. Are all your books as dark as this?

Afraid so. Don’t ask me why – probably something to do with watching films like The Omen and American Werewolf in London at far too young an age. I like to think the odd flash of humour provides some light!

Five of your novels include the dynamic and determined DI, Jon Spicer. What was your thinking when considering the attributes and character traits of your protagonist?

I knew that, in order to cope with the plot lines headed his way, DI Spicer would need a certain cosy familiarity with violence. I didn’t want to go down the well-worn ‘ex-soldier haunted by memories of combat’ route so, instead, I made him a rugby player. The type of one used on the pitch as an enforcer, there to deal with the opponent’s best players by any means necessary. I’ve played the game all my life and I’ve met many people with the mentality and physicality that allows them to punch another person in the face. Several times and with great force.

Why did you opt to use real locations in and around Manchester for your stories as oppose to fictional ones?

Well, what better location for dark and gritty crime novels than Manchester? The city has endless dramatic possibilities. Primarily, there’s the juxtaposition between the shiny re-developed city centre and the narrow backstreets, derelict warehouses and abandoned factories that surround it. Not being born in the area, I find all these details fascinating.

You have seven novels published to date, so what’s next for you, Chris?

Number eight is around two thirds written. Next comes the dreaded typing, but I’m well ahead of my late-summer deadline. After that, I’m not too sure. I have a couple more ideas for DI Spicer novels, but I’ve also got an idea for something completely different. Maybe it will be breaking news on your blog in another year’s time!

What advice would you offer any wannabes out there?

There’s no point pretending that getting published is anything other than a long, hard, lonely slog. Bear in mind my ever-steepening hills analogy. I tell people to treat it like a hobby: don’t aim to have a deal by a certain date, don’t treat it as something your life depends on and don’t, under any circumstances, give up the day job! Having said all that, writing novels is wickedly addictive and I wouldn’t swop it for anything else.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us, Chris. I look forward to reading more of your gripping work soon, and of course reporting on the exclusive of the 'breaking news' next year!

To learn more about Chris Simms and his top notch crime novels go to:

http://www.chrissimms.info/

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

A mention at 'The Rap Sheet' for my blog.

The Rap Sheet is a popular and established blog which sprung from January Magazine. It focuses on author interviews and all things crime-related.
I'm chuffed at the mention and that the word's spreading.
It's all good.
Here's the link: http://therapsheet.blogspot.com/2009/03/bullet-points-cake-and-candles-edition.html
Regards,
Col