Wide

For the first time since 2008, when Lockdown sold at auction, I have a book going out wide to publishers on both sides of the Atlantic. So far I'm remarkably relaxed, although I will admit to a degree of apprehension when I first sent it to my agent in New York because it's a total departure from the Lock series – a middle grade novel set in Scotland, Oxford, and London.
   It was one of those rare times when a book springs forth seemingly fully formed. From start to finish, I wrote it in under six weeks, and had an absolute blast. It was just sheer unadulterated FUN.
   Best of all, my daughter absolutely loved it. She pestered me to read it once it was done, and to be honest I was hesitant because she is not a young lady who pulls her punches, especially with Dad. However, not only did she declare it better than Jacqueline Wilson or Judy Blume, but one night I passed her room to hear sobbing. Worried, I went in to see what was wrong. She had reached a poignant part of the book where the main female character reveals a bit of painful back story.
   I have to say I have never been prouder than at that moment. And that my friend explains the difference between a writer and the rest of the population - we're delighted when we make children cry.
   So, we shall see if any publishers agree. And if they don't, not to worry, because with e-book and POD publishing it can see the light of day in any case.
   In the meantime, I am writing the next novel in the Lock series, and re-writing a brand new standalone thriller, which will go to my existing UK publisher in a few months.

Lock & Load

Thanks to everyone who took the trouble to buy and read Lock & Load, the long short story/novella, I published before Christmas. It was a great success and I know lots of people had fun reading it. In a few weeks it will be rolling out to Apple, Barnes and Noble, and Kobo. For now you can buy it here, both in e-book, and paper. If you have read it, enjoyed it, then please take a few moments to post a short review. Online reviews are immensely helpful to authors.

I have been busy on two fronts. Most importantly I have been writing a new thriller, which I should finish next week. Also, before Christmas I wrote a children's book. It was a story I have been thinking about for a while but had never got round to tackling. I wrote it in a little under five weeks, and I have to say that time was perhaps the most enjoyable I've ever had as a writer. I have no idea what route I'll take with it but it's been huge fun.

So, two books in under six months after the travails of the summer. Shortly, it will be back to Ryan and Ty, as I start work on the fifth novel featuring those characters.

After a lot of hard work, and support from my terrific readers, and fellow authors, the Lock series is really getting some traction in the United States. Lockdown spent Christmas Day on the top 100 ebook bestseller list on Amazon. Here it as at No. 32 alongside some people you may have heard of.

Last month, Gridlock repeated the same feat on Amazon and also made the top 20 on Barnes and Noble, my first time hitting the B&N bestseller list.

In other news, Ekscom, Russia's largest publisher, recently bought rights to The Devil's Bounty, and will be publishing the entire series. Translations are also coming in French (Lock & Load - L'envers du décor), and there will be a Spanish edition of The Devil's Bounty, with Italian translations of some of the series also pending.

If you are a publisher in an unsold territory you can either contact me directly or Scott Miller at Trident Media in New York to discuss.

Thank you again to all my readers for their continued support.