I’m proud that A PERFECT TIME TO MURDER, the third of my Kember and Hayes mysteries published by Thomas and Mercer (Amazon Publishing crime imprint), was released on 22nd February 2023. I do hope readers enjoy it and I’m excited to hear what people think because I believe it to be the best yet.
The first, A QUIET PLACE TO KILL, came out on 1st September 2021, and A SILENT WAY TO DIE was published on 26th April 2022. All three are available to buy here and can be ordered from any online or physical bookshop.
If you can stand to watch and hear me waffle on about books and writing, my UK Crime Book Club chat with Caroline Maston (2022) and Unusual Sleuths panel with Karen Huxtable, Hannah Hendy and Kat Ailes (2023) are still available by clicking on the links below. Also, you can check my events page for details of where I shall be either appearing or just attending.
Having won over an agent who then worked hard to find me a publishing deal, my goal of becoming a published author of historical crime novels has been realised. I took the plunge in 2018 to join the Three Month London-based Creative Writing Course with Curtis Brown Creative, taught by Charlotte Mendelson, which not only gave me a supportive group of like-minded scribes but also the confidence to enter the 2019 Blue Pencil Agency First Novel Award where I achieved Highly Commended. My elation then doubled when Nelle Andrew, now of the Rachel Mills Literary agency, offered me representation!
Hooking an agent is only ever half the battle and I still believe in Anita Shreve’s assertion that “The only difference between a published writer and an unpublished writer is the published writer never gave up.” Stephen King in his book On Writing said, “If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot.” It’s true, the hard work never stops.
I do hope you enjoy your visit here and I thank you for dropping by.
Neil