David Goodman's Blog, page 9

Capital Crime 2025 - my first ever panel

This past weekend I was lucky enough to be on stage for my first ever panel at a literary festival. I was on a debut panel called 'The One You Least Suspect', all about ethical dilemmas and hidden intentions. It was excellently chaired by the crime writer Brian McGilloway and I was on stage with S.M. Govett and Remi Kone, both fellow debuts whose books have either only just come out or are about to.

Backstage in the green room. From left to right, S.M. Govett, Remi Kone, myself and Brian McGillow...

The Bloody Scotland 2025 programme launch

Last Thursday I was honoured to attend the Bloody Scotland 2025 Programme Launch in Stirling. As a shortlisted author for the Bloody Scotland Debut Prize, I was invited to come along, meet the other shortlistees and find out what else the festival has in store for crime and thriller fans this September.

We started the morning by having our photos taken on Stirling High Street, along with a group shot of all the authors who were able to make it to the programme launch.

Yes, that's me at the back, s...

Daynote - Thu 12 Jun

No walk this morning because I hate being late for things, especially things that are a) important and b) that I'm really excited about. So I'm on a train to Stirling.

ON DECK: It's the launch of the Bloody Scotland programme this morning, and my first time meeting many of the other shortlistees for the Bloody Scotland Debut Prize. Lots of photographs and chatting to other writers await. I'm really excited. Before and after that I'll be working on the outline for PROJECT DRIFT on various trains ...

Daynote - Wed 11 Jun

It was a beautiful morning today, but I didn't get out - late to bed after a podcast interview and general farting about, writing packing lists and getting excited for my trips to Stirling and London this week.

ON DECK: 406 words on the PROJECT DRIFT outline this morning. It's a bit chaotic still. I started writing a detailed treatment, got a bit bogged down, then re-started writing a bullet-point outline, but that also got bogged down in detail, so I've pulled back a bunch and I'm writing the b...

Daynote - Tue 10 Jun

Pouring with rain first thing this morning, so I got some extra sleep (still recovering from Cymera) then got a bit of outlining done this morning.

I was really delighted yesterday to get a message from a bookseller I met at Harrogate last year, the wonderful Andreas from Waterstones Wimbledon. He told me he'd arranged a promo table and window spot for A RELUCTANT SPY, then sent photos. It's so incredible to get support like this from booksellers and it absolutely made my day.

View this ...

Daynote - Mon 9 Jun

Well, back to the routine and the quiet of the woods (briefly) after a heck of a weekend at Cymera Festival, which is always an absolute hoot. I wasn't on the programme this year, which was actually quite nice - it was great to just turn up when I wanted, go to some panels, chat with friends and enjoy the (fleeting) sun in the courtyard. Given I wasn't actually doing anything except hanging out, it was still quite exhausting. Three days on the trot is a challenge, and even then I still felt like...

A Reluctant Spy shortlisted for the Bloody Scotland Debut Prize

I am very, very happy to announce that my debut novel, A RELUCTANT SPY, has been shortlisted for the Bloody Scotland Debut Prize, an annual award given by the amazing Bloody Scotland crime writing festival.

I'm incredibly honoured to have been shortlisted along with books by four other amazing debut authors: Claire Wilson, Foday Mannah, Richard Strachan and Natalie Jayne Clark. The crime and thriller world in Scotland is packed with talented, awesome authors and I'm so pleased that the Prize judg...

Daynote - Fri 6 Jun

Well, yesterday was quite the day for good news. But we're not stopping there!

Today I'm off to Cymera Festival via half the bookshops in Edinburgh to hunt down and sign every paperback I can lay my hands on, but first I'm dealing with the news that A RELUCTANT SPY has been shortlisted for the Bloody Scotland Debut Prize!

I honestly don't know what to say. I'm just delighted that my book has found so many passionate readers and got me here. It's amazing. Lots more details in the post above.

ON DEC...

A Reluctant Spy shortlisted for the McDermid Debut Award

I am still slightly gobsmacked and very much excited and delighted to announce that A RELUCTANT SPY, my debut novel, has been shortlisted for the Theakston's Old Peculier McDermid Debut Award!

The McDermid Debut Award is named in recognition of Val McDermid, celebrated Scottish crime writer and co-founder of the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival held each year in Harrogate. Val has been a strong voice for debut authors since the beginning of the festival through the 'New Blood' panel ...

A Reluctant Spy is out now in paperback

It's launch day for A RELUCTANT SPY, my debut novel, although I have confirmation that it was out on tables at booksellers and arriving in people's letterboxes yesterday.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by David Goodman (@davegoodmanauthor)

I got my author copies on Wednesday and I keep taking them off the shelf and looking at them - for me, a paperback book is really the final proof that my debut novel is really out there in a big way. I love hardback books (incl...