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IT'S...
http://www.markbillingham.com
July 2009. With this being newsletter number 13, I was going to begin by making a waspish comment or three about superstition and those whose lives are ruled by it. Having thought about it however, I realise that I have become more than a little superstitious myself. There is a thin line between habit and superstition of course and it may just be that I’ve simply become dull and predictable, but as far as writing a book goes, there are certain things I simply have to do each time and I can only put this behaviour down to superstition. I always buy the same notebook from the same shop. I always start on the same day. I always write the first word of a new chapter, even if I’ve just finished a chapter and I’m going to bed. Some superstitions are simply borne out of common sense. Not walking under ladders has always seemed perfectly sensible to me, as opposed to all this lucky/unlucky black cat and ‘Good morning Mr Magpie’ tomfoolery. Others develop out of an irrational fear of things going wrong if you don’t do them in exactly the same way that you did them the last time! I wrote a book and it turned out OK, so if I change the way I work, even in a small way, the next one is bound to bomb and only be bought by three people and everyone will mock me forever and ever… So, there you have it. I’m a superstitious fool. Except when it comes to the theatre of course, where, like any normal person, I take great delight in winding up actors by saying “good luck” and “Macbeth” as often as possible. Somebody must have been saying these things quite a lot recently as it’s been quite a few weeks for celebrity deaths. There was the King of Pop of course, and Farrah Fawcett, but for those in the UK whose childhood was spent watching tacky innuendo-filled sitcoms and variety shows presented by men dressed as women, the saddest news will surely have been the deaths of Danny La Rue and Molly Sugden. They are perhaps a little further down the celebrity alphabet than Farrah and Jacko, but for anyone who grew up giggling at talk of ‘Mrs Slocombe’s pussy’ or watching a grown man prance about in a feather boa, these are figures who will be sadly missed. Neither has yet merited a tribute wall such as the one outside HMV in Piccadilly Circus that is now emblazoned with tributes to Michael Jackson. I’m sure that most of these messages are heartfelt and sincere but my personal favourite (and I’m not kidding) is: “Michael Jackson – Beating It In Heaven!” You may now begin making up your own jokes… So, now the headlines… • Bloodline – Sneak an early peek at the new Tom Thorne novel!
One of the above headlines may not be entirely true… The new Tom Thorne thriller is now only three weeks away, going on sale in the UK on August 6th. I’m as fired up as I’ve been about any book and hope that readers will think Tom is back rejuvenated after his year’s sabbatical. For anyone interested in looking at the spanky jacket (oooh, blood…), reading a précis of the plot or even getting all technically fancy and downloading the first chapter of the book, all these things can be done here: http://www.markbillingham.com/bloodline.html The book will also be available as an audiobook, a download to your iPod, an e-book and in all manner of other formats. Probably. For anyone who enjoys doing things differently and has ten thousand pounds in used notes to spare, my publishers will arrange for a specially made lightweight edition of the novel to be delivered to your home address by a squadron of carrier pigeons. I will then come round with cocoa and home-baked muffins, read the book to you and tuck you up in bed afterwards. You don’t get THAT from James Patterson!
The Harrogate Crime Writing Festival returns at the end of this month (July 23-26th) with what may well be its best line-up yet. For anyone interested in mystery fiction, this has become an unmissable event in the calendar and this year’s programming chair, Laura Wilson has put a wonderful programme together. I am delighted and hugely honoured to be a special guest, not least because of those with whom I share that honour this year: Lee Child, George Pelecanos, David Simon, Reginald Hill and John Banville. As if that lot were not reason enough to get there, you can also catch the likes of Chris Brookmyre, Denise Mina, John Harvey, Martyn Waites, Laura Lippman, Val McDermid, Peter James, Andrew Taylor, Allan Guthrie etc etc. And anytime you’ve had enough of blood and guts, you can always sneak off to Betty’s tea room for an incomparable Fat Rascal! What’s not to like? Aside from my Special Guest interview at 9.00 on the Friday morning, I shall also be hosting Secrets & Lies, a version of the panel game I did alongside Laura Lippman and others at the Bouchercon in Baltimore last year. Laura will be returning alongside the likes of Stuart MacBride, Denise Mina, Val McDermid and others as we attempt to lie our asses off on Friday evening at 10.00. Saturday evening will see myself and Ms McDermid presenting the infamous Harrogate Quiz. Fiendish fun as ever, with a few changes this year… The full line-up can be found here: http://www.harrogate-festival.org.uk/crime/ * For soft southerners/Americans etc, this may be translated as “I implore you to get yourself immediately to the north of the country…” YOUR LAST CHANCE TO VOTE! The Harrogate Crime Writing Festival will also see this years’ Theakston’s Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year awarded and I’m delighted that Death Message is among the shortlisted books. Voting ends this week (July 22nd) so you only have a day or two left to cast your vote. It’s a simple process, just click, fill in your email and submit. Takes but a few moments… I’m in some pretty fine company and don’t let the fact that this is MY newsletter sway you in any way, shape or form. Clearly I’d be very happy if you voted for me, but it’s a free country, right? So, no pressure. If you are undecided though, save yourself some time and just vote for the first book on the list… Go here to demonstrate your commitment to democracy! http://www.harrogate-festival.org.uk/crime/award/polling-page/
There are a number of events already lined up in support of Bloodline and I’ll be shamelessly be tarting myself about at every opportunity. No change there then. Dates will be added to the itinerary as they come in so please keep checking on the website. As things stand, I shall be turning up and tarting at the following fine events in the UK:
Please check the NEWS page of the website for full details of times, addresses, contact details for tickets etc. AND CURRENTLY… I’m well into the next Thorne novel – FROM THE DEAD – and can tell you that for the first time, a good portion of the action will take place outside the UK. This will obviously necessitate a very important research trip to sunnier climes, where I will clearly have to sample a selection of fine local food and drink. Well, you have to get these things right, don’t you? Once the book is finished, I shall be starting work, alongside my good friend Peter Cocks on the first in a second trilogy of Triskellion books for older children. We’re very excited as it will give us a chance to jump back in time (the books, not us) and have some fun with witch-finders, freak shows and the like. There will still be bees of course, and spooky children… Meanwhile…the website’s forum is still a great place to hang out and talk books, movies, football; anything you fancy. All this and more at: http://www.markbillingham.com/talk If you wish to be struck from this mailing list with immediate effect, I shall be extremely upset, but you may do so here: mail@markbillingham.com You can use the same address to contact me about pretty much anything you fancy. You can check out (as the young folk say) my official book-related Facebook page here: http://www.facebook.com/markbillingham1961 Or my personal Facebook page here: http://www.facebook.com/markbillingham2
Mark www.markbillingham.com |
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