NEWSLETTER JUNE/JULY 2006
These are truly strange times. Volcanoes erupting in Java, extinct hobbits discovered in the Philippines and to top it all off, an Australian team is playing in the World Cup for the first time since 1974.
The mighty Socceroos have done us proud, refusing to go down without a fight, (or at least a few suspect tackles). They’re a physical bunch with no room for namby pambies who wear sarongs and advertise cologne.
World Cup Fever has certainly gripped the nation, but it’s a real bugger when you live in this part of the world. The first games each day began at 11.00 p.m. Australian time, which isn’t too bad. Then you have a 2.30 a.m. and 4.30 a.m. Sleepless nights are the norm.
For those of you who aren’t interested in the beautiful game might I suggest a perfect way to spend your free time. Curl up in bed with a good novel. Sadly I can’t offer you new one of my own until early next year, when THE NIGHT FERRY is published in the UK, Australia and America, but LOST is now available in paperback (THE DROWNING MAN) in the UK.
For any of you who want a sneak preview of THE NIGHT FERRY, I’ve included a link to the opening chapter. Click here. (pdf format)
While you’re on the website, take a look around and let me know what you think. It has been spruced up with some new features. Some of the differences you hopefully won’t notice. For instance, there is now a separate web site for the US , UK and Australia , with software that automatically redirects people to the site they should be viewing. This will hopefully prevent confusion over my books having different names in different countries.
Finishing a novel is a rather post-coital experience, without the cigarette, or the cuddle or the obligatory excuse to get home to wash my hair ( what little of it remains). After I finished THE NIGHT FERRY, I felt completely shagged out but have since recharged and are well into a new story, this one featuring my original main character, clinical psychologist Joe O’Loughlin.
Joe has moved out of London with his family and is living Somerset and lecturing at the University of Bath . My past novels have all had their chilling moments and a high degree of suspense, but I have a feeling this one will be truly terrifying. It’s scaring me. I keep wondering if I have to have a sick mine to come up with some of the twists and turns.
It’s not all work. I’m off to the UK for most of July to research the new one and launch THE DROWNING MAN. The trip includes four days in Northern Spain for Semana Negra, the ‘Black Week of Gijon’, which is a literary festival. I’m also making an appearance for the first time at the Harrogate Crime Writing Festival which is held from July 20-23 in Yorkshire . Mark Billingham is the toastmaster this year and has invited a wonderful array of talent including P.D. James, Jeffery Deaver, George Pelecanos, Val McDermid, Andrew Taylor and Ian Rankin.
I’ll let you in on all the gossip in my next newsletter, who got drunk, who slept with who, and who challenged Val McDermid to an arm wrestle.
You can check out the program at: http://www.harrogate-festival.org.uk/crime/
OK, what else has been happening? I am really chuffed to be shortlisted for the 2005 Barry Award for the Best British Novel published in the US . Deadly Pleasures Magazine sponsors the award and the shortlist includes, Mark Billingham, Arnaldur Indridason, Rennie Airth, Simon Kernick and Denise Mina. The winner is announced at late September at Boucheron 2006, North America ’s premier crime writing festival, which this year is being held in Madison Wisconsin.
I’ll be a there for the first time, yes a virgin, so anyone sees
me looking lost or lonesome please come and rescue me.
http://www.bouchercon2006.com/
WHAT I’M READING:
‘The Power of the Dog’ by Don Winslow.
A huge, sweeping, violent, brilliantly told novel spanning 30 years and
dealing with one agent’s fight against Mexican drug barons.
‘Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close’ by Jonathan Safran
Foer
A whimsical and poignant story narrated by nine-year-old Oskar, who is
trying to come to terms with his father’s death on 9/11.
WHAT I’M WATCHING:
‘ Boston Legal’.
I’m a late starter on this one, having missed the first series.
Denny Crane has to be one of the most loathsome, funny, heartbreaking
TV characters ever conceived. And William Shatner has such fun playing
him.
I haven’t seen any films worth mentioning, but this could change in the next month or so. I know it’s never ideal catching a film on a plane flight, but sometimes I am pleasantly surprised.
WHAT I’M LISTENING TO:
I’m still going through my retro phase, trying to recapture my teenage years by listening to stuff by the Eagles, America and Crosby , Stills, Nash and Young. If I can steer clear of the flares I might come out the other side with my self-esteem intact.
Happy Reading .
Michael
PS. If any of you feel our relationship is going too far too fast, feel free to e-mail me and I’ll take you off the mailing list.
You can now view old newsletters as well from here. Just click away...
March 06