Chris Nickson's Blog - Posts Tagged "creative-content"

I'm very pleased to say that I'm a signing a contract with Creative Content for a three book series of novels. These will come out as ebooks.

They'll all be set in Seattle, where I lived for 20 years, and set around the music scene. The first, Emerald City, takes place in 1988 as the local music scene that will become known as grunge, is crystallizing and involves the investigation of a musician's supposed heroin overdose by a local music journalist.

That one's written, and will receive a final polish. We've yet to sort out a publication date, but it will be available worldwide.

You probably missed it. I was amazed - there it was on Booktrade and Bookbrunch. And here it is now - the press release for my deal with Creative Content. All the words, no filler.

Creative Content, the specialist digital publishing company, has signed a 3-book deal with Chris Nickson, author of the popular Richard Nottingham historical crime series .
Changing country, century – and the gender of the protagonist – Nickson's "Emerald City" is a trilogy of crime novels set in Seattle during the evolving grunge music scene of the 1980s and '90s, featuring music journalist Laura Barton.

Ali Muirden of Creative Content said "We were really excited when we read Chris's manuscript, as it encapsulates Seattle during the period. Chris lived and worked there for many years and it really shows in the way he writes. His evocative descriptions of Seattle and the surrounding Pacific North West coast area really made me want to visit the city. "

Chris Nickson said "I'm thrilled to be working with Ali and Lorelei again – we've collaborated on a couple of projects before. They're knowledgeable and enthusiastic – and complete professionals. Bringing Laura and Seattle alive with them will be an absolute joy."

The first novel in the series will be published later this year as a simultaneous eBook original and audio book to be read by Lorelei King, recently voted Audible's 'Narrator of the Year'. She said, "I've long been a fan of Chris Nickson's writing, and I'm so thrilled he's doing a book set in America. I can't wait to record this one."

For more information, or to request a review copy, please contact Ali Muirden at ali@creativecontentdigital.com or visit our website at www.creativecontentdigital.com

For more information on Chris Nickson, please visit www.chrisnickson.co.uk

www.creativecontentdigital.com

For my new Seattle Emerald City series of books, my main character was a male music journalist – something I did myself in that city. I say was quite advisedly: the company that’s publishing the books (simultaneously as ebooks and audiobooks) suggested making the protagonist female. It wasn’t a demand, by any means, and I understood the practical rationale behind it (one of the women behind the company is American and an award-winning ebook narrator and actress – Lorelei King). But it appealed to me. I’m male, think like a man. Now I’m changing the character’s sex and it’s proving to be a wonderful, deep challenge.

It affects every dynamic in the book, every interaction with every character, male and female. More than that, I have to get into her head and learn to think, and more especially feel, as a woman. What writer wouldn’t relish? Seattle in the late 1980s was far more feminist than most parts of the US. Gender politics were rife, as were gay politics, which were interlinked. That has to be part of it, and it’s made me think and become more aware of the sexism inherent in everyday life. It was more so then, and quite casual, but it still exists. It was even there in the music scene, not too bad but still there. There were some female music journalists around, but men remained in the majority and they made up most of the musicians.

A woman writer said to me that women feel more. That might not always be exactly true, but in general women are more aware of their feelings, and they’ll discuss them, with partners and friends, so that has to becomes part of the equation of character, too.

Add to that the fact that I’m inserting this character into a story that’s already written, although there will be some changes and it becomes even more interesting. Am I enjoying it? Absolutely. Will it succeed? I hope so, but you’ll have to read for yourself to decide. That’s your challenge…