Looking Back On 2016
Well that’s another year nearly over with, where did 2016 go?
It has been a manic writing year for me. I spent the first six months finishing off Satan’s Beckoning, and getting it ready for the publishers. Book2 was finished in July, and the Beta Reader team were eagerly waiting to cast a critical eye over things and give their valuable feedback.
As I continue to work on Book3, The Wharf Butcher climbs up the Amazon Top 100 Crime thriller charts. It reached #4 in the US, #2 in Canada, and finally made it to #43 in the UK’s top 100 all kindle books. Who would have thought a year ago it would be ranked amongst such prolific crime writers as Peter James, Ian Rankin and Peter Robinson?
I’ve really enjoyed the book signings with W.H. Smith this year. Meeting up with readers and discussing the ins and outs of where the future lies for DCI Jack Mason, and criminal profiler David Carlisle. I’ve met so many wonderful people along the way, including a 96 year old lady who thought I should introduce a little more blood and guts to my writing. She was such a charming lady, but too scary to meet with on a dark winters night.
June saw the first of my author talks, which was held at the Newcastle City Library. That was followed by Consett, Chester-le-Street and Stanley library reader group talks. The thing is, it’s great to see so many North East people still supporting their libraries – without them where we be?
What about 2017? Well, in April I’m a guest speaker at the Newcastle Phil & Lit Noir at the bar. I’m certainly looking forward to that. In June I will be doing book sign talks with U3A, which by the sounds of things is going to be a whole lot of fun. Then there’s book3, of course, which promises to be a real blood bath. The pre-launch date is set for September, but there is still a lot of research work to do.
This being the final blog of the year, I would like to wish you all a happy Christmas, and all the very best for 2017. Well that’s it for now – Gan canny.
Michael
Check this out! https://youtu.be/7mrskEv4Vus
