RESPECT - by Col Bury, for your pleasure on Thrillers, Killers N Chillers...

I've just done something on a whim. Probably shouldn't have, but time will tell. After necking a full bottle of Blossom Hill Rose the creative juices flowed and I wrote a new short story, RESPECT, based on characters from my ongoing novel.

It's now 5.00am and I'll probably wake up, read it and think, holy $£*%..!

If you wanna read just click on the title above.

My short story, The Handshake, now up on Thrillers, Killers N Chillers...

Apart from allowing new writers to showcase their talent, one of the other main reasons Thrillers, Killers N Chillers was created was so the said writers could also get constructive feedback.

With this in mind, I've rejigged one of my original stories, The Handshake, over on TKnC. If you fancy a nosey just click on the title above.

My Review of debut Joe Hunter thriller, Dead Men's Dust, by Matt Hilton

Just a quick heads up to all you avid crime thriller fans that I've reviewed Matt Hilton's debut novel, Dead Men's Dust, over at Amazon. The book's the first in a five book series featuring the dynamic vigilante, Joe Hunter, and if you've not read it yet then I suggest you get your hands on a copy pronto as you'll soon fall behind because the books are out every six months - next one, Judgement and Wrath, this October.
Click on the title of this post for the link to the review.

My latest short story, MR CURLY TOP, over at TKnC...

I fancied writing something a little bit different to reflect my current mood. So I did!

Over at Thrillers, Killers N Chillers the stories have taken on a 'noir' twist. There are some absolute belters, too. Why not take a look? You won't be disappointed.

To check out my latest offering just click on the title of this post.
Enjoy!

Regards,
Col

Matt Hilton's 'Dead Men's Dust' book launch at Waterstones Carlisle

I've just got back from Carlisle where I surprised my good friend - Thrillers, Killers 'n' Chillers creator and co-editor - Matt Hilton, after I'd originally told him I couldn't make the 250 mile round trip for his book launch.

It was standing room only at Waterstones with over one hundred and fifty people gathered as Matt did a Q&A and read from Dead Men's Dust, the first of five crime thriller novels published by Hodder in the dynamic Joe Hunter series.

The Waterstones rep' said they'd never had as many attend, even for top sportsman! All 100 copies of Matt's first published novel were signed and sold, and more had to be ordered - and the book's not officially hitting the shelves until today when Matt travels to London. (Click the title of this post for Matt's full itinerary.)

It was a pleasure to share Matt's special night with him and his equally down-to-earth family and friends. My kinda people.

And I'm sure DMD is gonna be one helluva bestseller - it couldn't have happened to a nicer bloke. Good on yer, Matt.

Ps. It appears my maths isn't as good as my England (joke): other reports suggest there were well over 250 in attendance!

My Review of SWITCH by William Bayer at THE RAP SHEET's 'Forgotten Book Series'.

When the editor of popular crime fiction site THE RAP SHEET, Jeff Kingston Pierce, invited me to review a book of my choosing for his 'Friday's Forgotten Books' Series, two words popped into my head...
...'Yes,' closely followed by 'EEEK!'
The latter because, apart from writing the occasional 'comment' about books on various sites, I'd never really written an official book review.
Well, I have now!
Instantly I thought of the book which played a huge part in my obsession with the crime genre: Switch by William Bayer.
If you fancy a nosey of the review of Switch then click on the title above for the link and, as always, I'd be interested to hear what you think.
Cheers,
Col

My latest short story, THE OAK TREE, over at TKnC...

My latest short story entitled, THE OAK TREE, has been brewing for a long while and is extremely personal to me. I chose the first person point of view - a rarity for me - for immediacy and because it was so very close to home. It's more a mystery tale than my usual crime.

If you fancy checking it out then just click on the link to my short stories on the top right or the Thrillers, Killers N Chillers link from the website list, bottom right.

I do hope you enjoy it - let me know...
Regards,
Col

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