A Rinky Dinky Linky Post

This first link's all about me! My story, Hard Rock, has just been published in issue 29 of Thug Lit. Won't ya go on over? I'm proud of this story, but I feel obliged to warn you; there's quite an ick factor at work in it. The premise is not one bit pretty.

I just noticed the other day that the BBC has put this excellent collection of video interviews on their Get Writing web page. Funny how most of them are Norn Irish crime fiction writers, eh? By the way, Ian McDonald is a master in the science fiction genre. If you read beyond crime, do yourself a favour and pick up one of his books. Start with Sacrifice of Fools.

And Dec Burke wrote a very thought-provoking post over at Crime Always Pays last Saturday. Who's to blame for the state of publishing right now? The publishers, according to Dec. Oh, and the writers too. Daring statements from our Mister Burke? Whatever next? If you're wondering who's side the scallywag is on, go read the post.

Stuart Neville's in writer heaven right now. The proofs for The Twelve thumped his doormat this week. Great news, as it means we're all a step closer to reading the much anticipated debut.

And finally, Verbal Magazine have revamped their website. It's gone all php and there's a handy search feature. Tap in my name and three of my reviews pop up. I think they've still a little content to add, but I hope that eventually you'll also be able to find my story, Bouncer, on there as well as an opinion piece I did a while back.

So, that'll keep you busy while I finish up reading Walking the Perfect Square. You should get a review of that at the end of this week or the start of next.

Peace.

Millar Crime

Sam Millar has recently launched a new website running under the delightfully tongue-in-cheek title, It’s Millar Crime. Have a wee shuftie and read a little about his crime books, including his most recent Bloodstorm, and his memoir, On The Brinks.

And you’ll also find an article by Sam’s in issue 21 of Verbal Magazine. Check out pages 20 and 21 for his musings on the Brian Moore Award and some advice on trying to make it as a writer, including his ‘seven commandments of writing’:

1) Never ever show your manuscript to family and friends (they’ll always tell you what you want to hear).

2) Type each and every day – even when your fingers have fallen off (use toes).

3) All excuses are inexcusable.

4) Never handwrite a manuscript. It isn’t right.

5) Never tolerate writer’s block. It’s for blockheads.

6) Avoid vanity printing. You might love it, but no one else will.

7) Avoid self-publishing. The writing fraternity will despise you for taking the coward’s way out. Fight the good fight of self-belief and eventually you will win. We all had to do it, and have the bruises to show for it.

You can read the rest if you download the issue 21 PDF on the Verbal Magazine website. Just click the link on the left of the page et voila.

A Wee Read - Bouncer by Gerard Brennan

If you fancy a wee read with your afternoon tea, why not jump over to the Verbal Magazine website? The pdf of their latest issue is now available, and they've published a story by yours truly in the New Writing section. You'll need to download issue 17 from the list on the left as they're currently updating the website and it won't appear in html format until they've sorted that out. But there's the added bonus that you'll be able to see the lovely illustration by David Campbell that accompanies it.

And sure, let's have a wee bit of fun while we're at it.

A COMPETITION!

There's a mistake hidden in the story's text. The first to identify it and post the answer as a comment here wins a free copy of my horror-comedy chapbook, Possession, Obsession and a Diesel Compression Engine. Just make sure you include your email address in the comment so I can contact you for you meatspace address.

Finking About Fings On Friday

Been an excellent reading week for Gerard “Bookworm” Brennan (a wee nickname I’m trying out – dashing, eh?) as I’ll now explain.

I’m taking a half day at the aul dayjob so I can swoop home, pick up the missus and make my way to No Alibis for the Connolly-Hughes event. But in a rare moment of peace, I’m contemplating the Norn Iron crime fiction scene and how little attention it gets. No taking away from the hugely accomplished and talented Dublin boys, but they sure are whipping up a media frenzy round here. Well, I recycled the post the other day, but for a one man show, that’s a frenzy, okay?

Anyway, at the minute I’m reading Dead I Well May Be by Adrian McKinty. And I’m loving it. What bugs me is I tried to buy it from four or five high street bookshops in Belfast, Newry and Lisburn cities and came back empty handed each time. In the end I snagged a copy at the Belfast Central Library’s Irish and Ulster Studies Department. I’m sure I’d have gotten it from No Alibis, but the last time I was there, Dave Torrans was overrun by a bunch of unruly Glen Patterson fans and I didn’t want to add to his stress by asking him to shift a display of Patterson’s recently released work. I might have to today though. The book’s a blinder!

I’m closing in on the denouement at a nice pace, and I have The Bloomsday Dead (courtesy of Serpent’s Tail) waiting to be read after this one. Expect some McKinty reviews soon. I don’t want to be straying from my point.

So listen, right? WHY AREN’T WE PROMOTING THE HUGE TALENTS FROM THIS PROVINCE?! Well, I am, and so’s Verbal Magazine and a good number of starving stalwarts such as Declan Burke and Critical Mick (and they live south of the border too); but come on the high street. Make it a bit easier for us scamps out buying books on our criminally short lunchbreaks. Same thing happened a few years ago when I was set to meet SF superstar Ian McDonald. Couldn’t get a hold of one of his books for love nor money so I don’t think it’s because McKinty fecked off to live in another country.

Who do I see about this?

Oh, and just so I’m not ending this on a ranty note, Declan Burke’s book, The Big O, thumped the doormat this week too. I had a peek at the first couple of chapterettes, and unfortunately it looks like the CAP GV isn’t going to be held up to ridicule here. Of course, he might drop the ball in later chapters... we’ll see.

Verbal Magazine - Articles of Note

Verbal Magazine is a top quality publication. So I'm delighted that they've published an article by yours truly.

Also in this issue, a short and snappy interview with CSNI regular Sam Millar (temporary problem with link) and an extended interview with the annoyingly, young, successful and smoking hot Lucy Caldwell.

Stop by, and tell 'em who sent ye!