‘Residents’ Journal’ article…

June 4, 2014

Here’s an article that my local London magazine, ‘Residents’ Journal’, kindly ran this month, talking about the fact that my wife and I have recently converted a kiddie’s bedroom into my study (mean, I know), and also spreading the word about the Spike Sanguinetti books…   —  Click here to read the Resident’s Journal Interview

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Hollow Mountain — redux…

May 6, 2014

Here’s an article I contributed to Miles Orchard’s excellent books’ blog, ‘Milo’s Rambles’.  It reveals that HOLLOW MOUNTAIN is not the first novel I’ve written with (roughly) that title… ——————————————————————————————————– Character development – the early years…   I blame Kingsley Amis. In my early twenties, my favourite novel was ‘Lucky Jim’. Drunken escapades, silent fury […]

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All the big names — Le Carré, Rowling… Mogford

May 1, 2014

A thrilling moment to see ‘Sign of the Cross’ shortlisted for a CrimeFest award alongside books by John Le Carré, Robert ‘JK Rowling’ Galbraith, George Pelecanos and Val McDermid. Chances of winning less than zero, particularly as the unstoppable Derek B. Miller appears  again in my category (the ‘eDunnit’ award), but terrific to be there nonetheless. As I […]

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Planning ahead…

April 23, 2014

Here’s an article I wrote for The Writers’ and Artists’ Yearbook online. Hopefully gives a sense of the plotting process. Take the pain early, I say! ———————————————————————————————————————————————– Last year, I had the good fortune to be shortlisted for a CWA ‘Dagger’ award for best debut crime novel. Having never won a prize in my life […]

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Publication day — and birthday…

March 21, 2014

I’ve always been a bit perturbed by the paucity of notable people born on April 10th. I used to try and counter this by the fact that I was born on Easter Sunday (1977), but the baffling movability of lunar and solar cycles meant has meant that Easter has never fallen on the 10th since, so […]

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Crime Thriller Awards

March 17, 2014

My sister-in-law found that she still had this recorded on her set-top box, and kindly (sadistically?) decided to video the section featuring me. Brings back some interesting memories. In particular  the moment at 1 min 36 secs. As Barry Forshaw has already documented — http://www.thecra.co.uk/reviewers-diary-barry-forshaw-2/– the camera picked him up instead of me; the footage here has been […]

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This is Illyria, Lady…

February 5, 2014

Albania. The name alone conjures a sense of distance and mystery. Secretive Communist past. Curious obsession with Norman Wisdom. Patronising football commentators cooking a snook as England eke out a 1-0 qualification win in Tirana. Even Shakespeare was troubled by the place — when he needed an isolated setting for Twelfth Night he shipwrecked his characters in […]

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Kiddie illness… and writing

January 10, 2014

No one ever tells you that a minor illness in a minor can cause such chaos. The last week has seen tonsillitis in a 1 year old, a double ear infection in a 2 year old (leading to an impressive perforated eardrum) and a deadline to finish the final edit of Spike Book 3 (HOLLOW […]

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Gibraltar Literary Festival — memories…

November 20, 2013

It was a curious experience to be in Gibraltar for their inaugural literary festival. On the one hand, it was fantastic to see the Rock put on show — buffed up like a gem —  for people to appreciate that there was a great deal more to the place than border queues, apes and military […]

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Crime Thriller Awards…

November 6, 2013

Having read the other shortlisted books for the CWA John Creasey ‘New Blood’ Dagger, I have to admit that expectations of ‘Shadow of the Rock’ coming home with the trophy were, shall we say, realistic — all three were mesmerising — but an excellent night was nonetheless had at the glitzy ‘Specsavers Crime Thriller Awards’ last week. I […]

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