A bumper edition!
You may have noticed (although it’s slightly worrying if you did…) that there was no March newsletter. I was waiting for various things to come together, and now they have. There’s something to enjoy whichever of my writing strands you prefer. Read on to find out more…
Casanova Street is here!
…sort of, anyway. It’s up on Amazon and available for ebook pre-order here. Launch date is 27 April, and the paperback will be there shortly after.
Catfish Alley is still available, too, of course. Both ebooks are 99p.
Return of a cult classic
This is using both ‘cult’ and ‘classic’ very loosely - but hey, it’s my newsletter, who’s going to stop me? - but the rights to my first novel, the futuristic crime The Zael Inheritance, have reverted to me and I’ve taken the chance to reissue it, with a new cover, some fresh editing and an afterword. I started writing this around 1997, so we’re reaching a long way back into the past. It’s not the novel I’d write now, but I hope you’ll think it’s fun anyway. Pick up your copy here if you don’t already have one.
UNRAVELLING THE TRUTH IN A GALAXY OF LIES
In a world where wealth and power reign supreme, investigator Geir Lamarck is thrust into a dangerous game of deception when he must track down the elusive spaceliner heiress Taslana Zael. As the stakes soar into the billions, Lamarck's quest takes a perilous turn when a mysterious doppelgänger emerges, claiming to be the missing woman.
Amidst opposition from his own colleagues, Lamarck plunges deeper into the labyrinth of lies, unearthing secrets that blur the lines between truth and betrayal. But as the dangers mount, Lamarck must confront not only the shadows of corporate intrigue but also unwelcome echoes of his own past.
Part mystery, part love story, and part satire, The Zael Inheritance is a gripping tale that will captivate readers from start to finish. Join Lamarck on a thrilling journey where trust is scarce, alliances are fleeting, and the price of truth may be higher than he ever imagined.
Fantasy Promo Week
Last time you’ll remember (or nod along as if you do) that I was running a free promotion on the first two of my Fractured Empire series. I was impressed with the results - nearly 2,000 free downloads over that week, and, barely believably, a coveted ‘Amazon Bestseller’ status. This doesn’t make me any money (the clue’s in ‘free’), but as a way of getting new readers, who may go on to buy other books, it’s a very effective marketing tool. (Like I know what I’m talking about…).
But anyway, ‘BESTSELLER’:
What I’m working on
Writers with a backlist and more than one genre often find their time pulled in different directions, and I’ve been focused mainly on the new releases over the last couple of months. Some fallow time is often helpful, and while I’ve been sketching out some new ideas in crime, fantasy and historical fiction, none of them could even charitably be described as ‘works in progress’. Watch this space.
What I’ve been reading
I have got through a lot of fresh reading this year, much of it excellent work from writers I know in real life or through social media. To avoid exciting jealousy among this group, I’ll single out a title from a writer I don’t know: Nick Harkaway’s stupendous Titanium Noir. It’s a bleak, immersive detective novel built around a science-fictional premise. If Raymond Chandler were writing SF today, this is what it would be.
Cat Pic of the Month
Anyone who’s read this far is only here for the cat content, and I’m the last person to say that’s a bad thing. Here, then, is Magnus sleeping; but sleeping with his claws out.
Until next time
It’s just over a week until Casanova Street is finally on your Kindles - so happy reading! I’ll see you in the reviews.
Frannie approves of Magnus.