As I’ve not popped in to my Unbound project for a while, here’s an ‘Update’. Note: Sadly the Shed was demolished after being found unconducive to late night scribbling.

Lots happening lately, so I will attempt to be concise :)

Recent book events

I organised a crime author panel at Crouch End Waterstones last week which went wonderfully well, with only one person deterred by the…

Hello everyone, especially all you wonderful people who supported my book and helped to get it published. It's been a while since you've had the pleasure of a shed update from me, so thought I'd remedy that pronto :) Now there's a mass of stuff I could tell you about since the last update, such as more splendid reviews and a huge spike in sales over Christmas, when Blind Side was on sale at a reduced…

First of all I want to thank all the wonderful people who've put mouse to screen and found something to say about my book. I really appreciate your generosity and the effort taken to post an Amazon or Goodreads review. From my own recent reviewing attempts I know how difficult it can be to say something half sensible about a novel, especially a thriller, without giving away too much of the plot! 

By now most of you will have noticed that my book has come out. Yes, it actually happened! The publication date was brought forward at the last minute so the book would be available during the blog tour - more on that later. Thanks again for helping to make it happen, I’m waiting here in suspense to find out what you think of it! 

If you enjoy reading Blind Side...  it would be TOTALLY BRILLIANT…

In a tizz here with 1001 things to do now that Blind Side's release date has been moved forward to 23 July. That's this Saturday! *wipes brow, collapses onto keyboard*

Everyone who isn't a Blind Side supporter will then be able to buy it via Amazon, Kobo and iTunes at the retail price, which I still don't know but should be under £5. Anyone in a desperate rush to get their hands on an ebook on…

A brief update on the fortunes of my book-in-progress:

1. Title Chosen
2. Cover Coming

In case that's a bit too brief, here's more:

Title

The search for the right title these past few weeks has been responsible for many finger-chewing, hair-pulling moments. As Ghosts of Chechnya doesn't sound like a thriller and may make people think the book is some kind of ghost story/documentary…

The day before yesterday (11pm actually, was up late making last-minute tweaks) I handed in my final version of my book-in-progress to Unbound. Hooray, hurrah, hallelujah and jolly gobstoppers!

I’ve now had two editorial reports back from editor Rachel Rayner and have been working very hard to implement her suggested changes (or at least considering doing so – some changes I haven’t made but most…

All supporters, friends and relatives of supporters, along with anyone remotely interested in my book are cordiallly invited to a celebratory book reading on 16 June 2016. By this time fingers crossed my book should be nearly ready with all the editing, cover design and other big things done. This date may also be the actual publication date of Ghosts of Chechnya should the book be totally ready by…

This really will be a short post as I'm in full-on Edit Mode. I've had a very thorough report back from my editor and yesterday I discussed the changes I'm going to make with her. She's made lots of excellent points which I've been considering for the past week, with only one extremely unwelcome thing. (Past to present tense - frustrating as I had lots of present tense in an earlier version before…

10, 9, 8... Countdown to launch has begun. Everyone is strapped in, the lights are flashing and there's plenty of fuel on board.

Ghosts of Chechnya will be published by Unbound early this summer, I'm delighted to announce. Hopefully in June, before everyone goes on hols and good for launch parties (thinking I'd better do something) though it's possible there will be delays.

My novel has…

The story continues... Second reading from Ghosts of Chechnya with actor Gavin Mitchell. Georgie has returned to the pub near Kings Cross where she met Nikolai, hoping to see him again.

At Hillhead Library, Glasgow on February 21st for a ‘double book launch’ organised by fellow Unbound author Ian Skewis. Here am I reading the first of two extracts from Ghosts of Chechnya with actor Gavin Mitchell. (I know, my acting skills need some polishing... just concentrate on Gavin!)

The action starts in a pub near Kings Cross. Nikolai, standing alone with a pint after his imprompu keyboard…

Or is my mind playing tricks? My project page has a bright orange disk with 101% on top and "This book is fully funded" beneath it. And this morning my progress report said

Amount to raise:

(cue habitual stab of anxiety)

0

(swiftly turning to relief bordering on euphoria)

OK, I haven't won Lotto, been rescued from a stormy sea, discovered a galleon of gold ingots or finished…

Just one final gut-wrenching slog and I will be galloping along the home straight towards the finish line, forgetting that I'm feeling as knackered as my mud-splattered old Adidas trainers and everything aches and my throat is dry as a camel's you-know-what and all the spectators have gone to watch that guy who overtook me ten miles back... All those hours and days and weeks of pledge-gathering…

It’s make or break time for my Unbound book. As of today (Friday 12th) Ghosts of Chechnya is 49% funded. I have raised around £1900 - but I must raise the same amount again in order to reach 100%.

I have until 22nd February to get there, or a significant part of the way - if not, the pages of my half-materialised book will be scattered unceremoniously/consigned to the deepest vaults at the Unbound…

With Russia and Britain once again exchanging blows in a battle of words over the Russian state's involvement in the killing of an exiled former KGB officer, the BBC has been doing its bit to salvage relations between the two nations. (I for one have been avidly consuming each episdode of Andrew Davies' adaption of Tolstoy's War and Peace.) Given last week's onslaught of Russian-related drama…

First, I’d like to warmly welcome my most recent supporters, and welcome back all you wonderful people who first stepped on board with me to take this journey into the unknown. Thanks to you all, and I hope you’ll enjoy the ride - also that our little shed will survive the winter storms. Anyone else who’s slipped in for quick nose around, make yourself at home. No heckling though and go easy on the…