Pauline Rowson's Blog, page 63
November 14, 2013
DI Horton, A Killing Coast, now in paperback and as an audio book
A Killing Coast, the seventh in the DI Andy Horton series has been published in paperback and as an unabridged audio book. Already available in hardcover and as an e book, published by Severn House, it has been released as an unabridged audio book by Isis publishing, read by Gordon Griffin who also reads the others in the DI Horton series.
Published in the UK, Commonwealth and America, A Killing Coast has received some great reviews.
'Meticulous police work leads Horton to a particularly callous and ruthless killer as well as theft and blackmail…includes a few unexpected twists.” Publishers Weekly
'Multilayered, twisted, and complex...a surprising conclusion and a satisfying read.' Booklist
'If you like police procedurals with a twist, plenty of red herrings, and a strong sense of location, you'll like these.' Mysteries in Paradise (Australia)
Gordon Griffin, narrator of Dead Man's Wharf, the fourth in the DI Horton series, also received a glowing review from Audio File Magazine in the USA.
"Gordon Griffin speaks with an educated British accent, differentiating each character in this mystery through a slight alteration in pitch and cadence. His pace is measured, and his tone is grave... Gordon Griffin's delivery also enhances the story's setting, the Solent area of the south coast of England, with its atmosphere of mist and the scent of the sea... Griffin makes us feel the pain and terror of hidden violence. It's a moving portrayal."
A Killing Coast is set in the Solent area on the South Coast of England and features the flawed and rugged detective DI Andy Horton.
When a body is found floating in the sea off Portsmouth harbour, Detective Inspector Horton initially judges it to be an accidental death. Soon though, to his dismay, he discovers he’s got it very wrong. With no clear motive for the murder, Horton is sucked into a baffling investigation that he is determined to resolve despite the odds. Not only does he need to find a brutal killer, but Horton now has to prove to himself, and others, that he is still up to the job.
Death Lies Beneath,the eighth in the DI Andy Horton series, will also be released as an unabridged audio book later this year and as a paperback in February 2014.
A Killing Coast
Published in the UK, Commonwealth and America, A Killing Coast has received some great reviews.
'Meticulous police work leads Horton to a particularly callous and ruthless killer as well as theft and blackmail…includes a few unexpected twists.” Publishers Weekly
'Multilayered, twisted, and complex...a surprising conclusion and a satisfying read.' Booklist
'If you like police procedurals with a twist, plenty of red herrings, and a strong sense of location, you'll like these.' Mysteries in Paradise (Australia)
Gordon Griffin, narrator of Dead Man's Wharf, the fourth in the DI Horton series, also received a glowing review from Audio File Magazine in the USA.
"Gordon Griffin speaks with an educated British accent, differentiating each character in this mystery through a slight alteration in pitch and cadence. His pace is measured, and his tone is grave... Gordon Griffin's delivery also enhances the story's setting, the Solent area of the south coast of England, with its atmosphere of mist and the scent of the sea... Griffin makes us feel the pain and terror of hidden violence. It's a moving portrayal."
A Killing Coast is set in the Solent area on the South Coast of England and features the flawed and rugged detective DI Andy Horton.
When a body is found floating in the sea off Portsmouth harbour, Detective Inspector Horton initially judges it to be an accidental death. Soon though, to his dismay, he discovers he’s got it very wrong. With no clear motive for the murder, Horton is sucked into a baffling investigation that he is determined to resolve despite the odds. Not only does he need to find a brutal killer, but Horton now has to prove to himself, and others, that he is still up to the job.
Death Lies Beneath,the eighth in the DI Andy Horton series, will also be released as an unabridged audio book later this year and as a paperback in February 2014.
A Killing Coast
November 12, 2013
Using time frames when writing a crime fiction series
Time frames in novels, and particularly when writing a series, as I do with the DI Andy Horton novels, are a tricky thing. There is ‘real time’ and there is ‘fictional time’.
In ‘real time’ I write two DI Horton novels a year whereas in ‘fictional time’ the current novels are set over a period of sixteen months, which means there are an awful lot of murders in Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight, making it worse that Midsomer Murder on a good day!
DI Andy Horton was thirty nine when I created him in Tide of Death in 2006 and should now be forty six in ‘real time’ but in fictional time he was forty in September. It's said that Agatha Christie regretted making Hercule Poirot sixty when she created him because by the time she finished writing about him he would in ‘real time’ have been about a hundred and eight! In ‘fictional time’ Poirot stayed more or less the same age. I'm not saying that will happen to DI Andy Horton, he may age yet.
Although DI Horton first appeared in 2006 I haven't used that particular year as a benchmark, in fact, as the novels have progressed I've tended to set them in a later year but not specifically the year they have been published. In ‘fictional time’ I have tried to avoid mentioning the actual year they take place.
Following 'fictional time' allows the author to develop the back story. In my case - or rather DI Andy Horton's - it allows me to chart his marital break up, his fight to gain access to his daughter, and the search for the truth regarding his mother’s disappearance over thirty years ago. These are themes that currently run through the series.
One problem when writing police procedural crime novels is that the powers that be i.e. the government in the UK, keep tinkering with the police departments, merging and changing the names and their remits so that it becomes increasingly difficult to keep up with the changes and by the time the novel is published some of the the police departments mentioned could no longer exist in that format.
In the early DI Horton novels the departments mentioned are all correct but as 'real time' has passed some of these departments have changed their names. I could change them and bring them bang up to date but because I have chosen a tight time frame I have decided to leave them for the moment. If, after writing number twelve in the Horton series which I'm currently working on, I decide to leave a gap and jump forward in time then I will change the police departmental names and structure. But you can bet by the time I do that and the novel is published they'll have changed again!
Death Surge, the tenth in the DI Andy Horton series was published in the UK and Commonwealth in September 2013 and will be published in the USA on 1 January 2014.
Death Surge
In ‘real time’ I write two DI Horton novels a year whereas in ‘fictional time’ the current novels are set over a period of sixteen months, which means there are an awful lot of murders in Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight, making it worse that Midsomer Murder on a good day!
DI Andy Horton was thirty nine when I created him in Tide of Death in 2006 and should now be forty six in ‘real time’ but in fictional time he was forty in September. It's said that Agatha Christie regretted making Hercule Poirot sixty when she created him because by the time she finished writing about him he would in ‘real time’ have been about a hundred and eight! In ‘fictional time’ Poirot stayed more or less the same age. I'm not saying that will happen to DI Andy Horton, he may age yet.
Although DI Horton first appeared in 2006 I haven't used that particular year as a benchmark, in fact, as the novels have progressed I've tended to set them in a later year but not specifically the year they have been published. In ‘fictional time’ I have tried to avoid mentioning the actual year they take place.
Following 'fictional time' allows the author to develop the back story. In my case - or rather DI Andy Horton's - it allows me to chart his marital break up, his fight to gain access to his daughter, and the search for the truth regarding his mother’s disappearance over thirty years ago. These are themes that currently run through the series.
One problem when writing police procedural crime novels is that the powers that be i.e. the government in the UK, keep tinkering with the police departments, merging and changing the names and their remits so that it becomes increasingly difficult to keep up with the changes and by the time the novel is published some of the the police departments mentioned could no longer exist in that format.
In the early DI Horton novels the departments mentioned are all correct but as 'real time' has passed some of these departments have changed their names. I could change them and bring them bang up to date but because I have chosen a tight time frame I have decided to leave them for the moment. If, after writing number twelve in the Horton series which I'm currently working on, I decide to leave a gap and jump forward in time then I will change the police departmental names and structure. But you can bet by the time I do that and the novel is published they'll have changed again!
Death Surge, the tenth in the DI Andy Horton series was published in the UK and Commonwealth in September 2013 and will be published in the USA on 1 January 2014.
Death Surge
November 8, 2013
Marine and serious organised crime on afternoon panel at CSI Portsmouth 2013
The afternoon session at CSI Portsmouth 2013 began at 2pm on Saturday 2 November, following a highly successful morning panel session which focused on drugs and drug related crime with crime experts Mick Ellis from Hampshire Police and Dr Alex Allan a forensic toxicologist from Triple A Forensics along with myself as crime author and moderator and crime author Kerry Wilkinson.
Joining CSI Portsmouth in the afternoon were crime authors Natasha Cooper and Sharon Bolton and crime experts Sergeant Tony Birr, from Hampshire Police Marine Unit and Brian Chappell, former DCI New Scotland Yard now a lecturer at the Institute of Criminal Justice Studies University of Portsmouth.
I stepped down from the stage to act as a moderator and put questions to the panel. Natasha Cooper explained how her work in publishing before leaving to write her first novel made her appreciative of how tough it is to be a publisher especially in one of the most fiercely competitive genres, that of crime fiction. Four of Natasha's many novels feature forensic psychologist Karen Taylor who is based on the Isle of Wight. I suggested that perhaps Karen Taylor and DI Andy Horton ought to get together!
Like me, Sharon Bolton studied ballet and tap and spent her early career in marketing and PR which we both agreed was a tremendous help when it came to the discipline of writing, editing and meeting deadlines. Even though our crime novels vary in style we both approach our writing in a similar way by starting with a basic plot line and character sketches before beginning the creative writing and letting the characters develop further.
Brian Chappell joined the Institute of Criminal Justice Studies at the University of Portsmouth as a senior lecturer in April 2011 following completion of a highly successful thirty year career with the Metropolitan Police, New Scotland Yard reaching the rank of DCI. Brian was asked about his work as a DCI where he assisted on many major national and international criminal investigations. As a DCI he enjoyed working in a team directing and overseeing operations.
Sergeant Tony Birr is the officer in charge of the Hampshire Police Marine Unit whose work includes counter terrorism patrols, the reduction and detection of marine crime, investigation of marine incidents and policing large events. Tony talked about how he had been a detective for many years in Leicestershire before getting his dream job as head of the Marine Unit in Hampshire Police.
The Solent, where my crime novels are set, is a major shipping route for passengers, freight and military vessels making it one of the busiest in Europe if not the world. It is an important recreational area for water sports, particularly yachting. Tony and his team are kept busy investigating crimes such as marine theft in and around the area as well as co-operating with other agencies such as Border Control and he told how he had assisted in the recovery of a major haul of drugs discovered in the bulkhead of a motorboat coming in through the Solent.
The panel also debated and questioned the validity of the falling crime figures whether this was actually so in an economic depression and how serious a risk the cut backs to the police service were along with the introduction of civilian investigators which raised questions about the possible demise of the traditional professional police detective.
There were again, as with the morning panel, lots of interesting questions from the audience and a book signing to follow where the audience got to talk to the individual panellists.
CSI Portsmouth 2013 closed at 4.30pm. It was a highly enjoyable, entertaining and informative day with lots of food for thought for individuals to take away.
I'm already looking forward to CSI Portsmouth 2014 on Saturday 8 November 2014.
You can follow CSI Portsmouth on Twitter and on Facebook.
Undercurrent
Joining CSI Portsmouth in the afternoon were crime authors Natasha Cooper and Sharon Bolton and crime experts Sergeant Tony Birr, from Hampshire Police Marine Unit and Brian Chappell, former DCI New Scotland Yard now a lecturer at the Institute of Criminal Justice Studies University of Portsmouth.
I stepped down from the stage to act as a moderator and put questions to the panel. Natasha Cooper explained how her work in publishing before leaving to write her first novel made her appreciative of how tough it is to be a publisher especially in one of the most fiercely competitive genres, that of crime fiction. Four of Natasha's many novels feature forensic psychologist Karen Taylor who is based on the Isle of Wight. I suggested that perhaps Karen Taylor and DI Andy Horton ought to get together!
Like me, Sharon Bolton studied ballet and tap and spent her early career in marketing and PR which we both agreed was a tremendous help when it came to the discipline of writing, editing and meeting deadlines. Even though our crime novels vary in style we both approach our writing in a similar way by starting with a basic plot line and character sketches before beginning the creative writing and letting the characters develop further.
Brian Chappell joined the Institute of Criminal Justice Studies at the University of Portsmouth as a senior lecturer in April 2011 following completion of a highly successful thirty year career with the Metropolitan Police, New Scotland Yard reaching the rank of DCI. Brian was asked about his work as a DCI where he assisted on many major national and international criminal investigations. As a DCI he enjoyed working in a team directing and overseeing operations.
Sergeant Tony Birr is the officer in charge of the Hampshire Police Marine Unit whose work includes counter terrorism patrols, the reduction and detection of marine crime, investigation of marine incidents and policing large events. Tony talked about how he had been a detective for many years in Leicestershire before getting his dream job as head of the Marine Unit in Hampshire Police.
The Solent, where my crime novels are set, is a major shipping route for passengers, freight and military vessels making it one of the busiest in Europe if not the world. It is an important recreational area for water sports, particularly yachting. Tony and his team are kept busy investigating crimes such as marine theft in and around the area as well as co-operating with other agencies such as Border Control and he told how he had assisted in the recovery of a major haul of drugs discovered in the bulkhead of a motorboat coming in through the Solent.
The panel also debated and questioned the validity of the falling crime figures whether this was actually so in an economic depression and how serious a risk the cut backs to the police service were along with the introduction of civilian investigators which raised questions about the possible demise of the traditional professional police detective.
There were again, as with the morning panel, lots of interesting questions from the audience and a book signing to follow where the audience got to talk to the individual panellists.
CSI Portsmouth 2013 closed at 4.30pm. It was a highly enjoyable, entertaining and informative day with lots of food for thought for individuals to take away.
I'm already looking forward to CSI Portsmouth 2014 on Saturday 8 November 2014.
You can follow CSI Portsmouth on Twitter and on Facebook.
Undercurrent
November 5, 2013
Drugs and poisons on the morning panel at CSI Portsmouth where crime fiction meets crime fact
Over 130 people gathered at the National Museum of the Royal Navy in the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard on a blustery day, punctuated by the occasional shower, on Saturday 2 November to listen to two panels of crime authors, crime experts and police debate crime fiction and crime fact. It was great to see so many people there and to welcome back those who had attended the previous CSI Portsmouth events.
CSI Portsmouth was first launched in 2010 from an idea I had about bringing crime fiction and fact together. I organise the event with Portsmouth City Council Library Service and the Hayling Island Bookshop. It is part of Portsmouth BookFest and is now an established fixture in the crime fiction festival calendar.
Along with the panel events also present throughout the day were the Hampshire Police Fingerprint Bureau team. Emma Bright and Heather Foster were on hand to offer delegates the opportunity to have their fingerprint taken and pressed into a keepsake key ring to take away.
There was a mock up crime scene, complete with a body ‘Victor’, provided by students from the forensic science course at South Downs College
And a forensic display provided by the Institute of Criminal Justice Studies, Portsmouth University on Entomology (maggots, flies) finger mark development (chemical treatments), trace evidence, and DNA. The Hayling Island Bookshop were also there with a selection of the participating crime authors books.
I opened the event by welcoming everyone to CSI Portsmouth with the announcement they were in for a treat, a prediction that proved justified as the day progressed, and by thanking the supporters and sponsors of CSI Portsmouth 2013, Bello Books, an imprint of Pan Macmillan, which brings lost classics back to life, and the National Museum of the Royal Navy for allowing us to use their superb venue.
Crime author Kerry Wilkinson and I debated the crime fiction side while crime experts Dr Alex Allan Forensic Toxicologist from Triple A Forensics and Mick Ellis, Hampshire Police Drug Expert talked about their experiences with drug related crime. I put the panel under the spotlight for an hour then it was the turn of the audience to grill them for half an hour. This was followed by a book signing and the chance for the audience to chat to the experts and crime authors on an individual basis.
The morning session closed at 12.30pm when delegates went off to enjoy their lunch in one of the cafes in the Historic Dockyard. The afternoon session began at 2pm. More about that in a later blog.
There is more information about CSI Portsmouth on my official website at http:www.rowmark.co.uk
You can follow CSI Portsmouth on Twitter and on Facebook.
CSI Portsmouth 2014 is on Saturday 8 November. Tickets go on sale in September 2014.
Undercurrent
CSI Portsmouth was first launched in 2010 from an idea I had about bringing crime fiction and fact together. I organise the event with Portsmouth City Council Library Service and the Hayling Island Bookshop. It is part of Portsmouth BookFest and is now an established fixture in the crime fiction festival calendar.
Along with the panel events also present throughout the day were the Hampshire Police Fingerprint Bureau team. Emma Bright and Heather Foster were on hand to offer delegates the opportunity to have their fingerprint taken and pressed into a keepsake key ring to take away.
There was a mock up crime scene, complete with a body ‘Victor’, provided by students from the forensic science course at South Downs College
And a forensic display provided by the Institute of Criminal Justice Studies, Portsmouth University on Entomology (maggots, flies) finger mark development (chemical treatments), trace evidence, and DNA. The Hayling Island Bookshop were also there with a selection of the participating crime authors books.
I opened the event by welcoming everyone to CSI Portsmouth with the announcement they were in for a treat, a prediction that proved justified as the day progressed, and by thanking the supporters and sponsors of CSI Portsmouth 2013, Bello Books, an imprint of Pan Macmillan, which brings lost classics back to life, and the National Museum of the Royal Navy for allowing us to use their superb venue.
Crime author Kerry Wilkinson and I debated the crime fiction side while crime experts Dr Alex Allan Forensic Toxicologist from Triple A Forensics and Mick Ellis, Hampshire Police Drug Expert talked about their experiences with drug related crime. I put the panel under the spotlight for an hour then it was the turn of the audience to grill them for half an hour. This was followed by a book signing and the chance for the audience to chat to the experts and crime authors on an individual basis.
The morning session closed at 12.30pm when delegates went off to enjoy their lunch in one of the cafes in the Historic Dockyard. The afternoon session began at 2pm. More about that in a later blog.
There is more information about CSI Portsmouth on my official website at http:www.rowmark.co.uk
You can follow CSI Portsmouth on Twitter and on Facebook.
CSI Portsmouth 2014 is on Saturday 8 November. Tickets go on sale in September 2014.
Undercurrent
October 20, 2013
The chance to grill police, experts and crime authors at CSI Portsmouth
Five internationally acclaimed best-selling crime authors will be appearing alongside police and forensic experts at this year’s CSI Portsmouth on Saturday 2 November so it's a great opportunity to grill both on aspects of their work and get the inside gen.
Taking part in CSI Portsmouth 2013 are crime authors S. J Bolton, Natasha Cooper, M.R. Hall, Kerry Wilkinson and myself. I will also be acting as a participating moderator so I'll have plenty of questions to put to the panels.
There will also be bags of time for the audience to interrogate the panelists so if there is a question you've always wanted to ask a drugs intelligence officer, a former DCI of Scotland Yard, a police marine officer, forensic toxicologist or a crime author then now is your chance to do so. All you need to do is purchase a ticket and come along for the day.
This one day event discussing crime fiction and fact takes place at The Princess Royal Gallery at the National Museum of the Royal Navy in the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard.
Also on hand will be the Hampshire Police Fingerprint Bureau Team, a mock up crime scene provided by students from the forensic science course at South Downs College and a forensic display by the Institute of Criminal Justice Studies, Portsmouth University on Entomology (maggots, flies) finger mark development (chemical treatments), trace evidence, and DNA.
Visit CSI Portsmouth for full programme.
Tickets cost £15 for the day which includes a FREE paperback book from the mobile bookshop provided on the day by The Hayling Island Bookshop.
Telephone the Box Office on 023 9268 8037, Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm
Or The Hayling Island Bookshop Monday to Saturday 9am - 5pm 023 9246 6620
CSI Portsmouth is part of Portsmouth BookFest a festival of popular literature organised by The Hayling Island Bookshop and Portsmouth City Council and runs from October 19 to 3 November. Its aim is to promote reading for pleasure and enthusiasm for literature in the city of Portsmouth.
CSI Portsmouth 2013 Saturday 2 November 2013
Taking part in CSI Portsmouth 2013 are crime authors S. J Bolton, Natasha Cooper, M.R. Hall, Kerry Wilkinson and myself. I will also be acting as a participating moderator so I'll have plenty of questions to put to the panels.
There will also be bags of time for the audience to interrogate the panelists so if there is a question you've always wanted to ask a drugs intelligence officer, a former DCI of Scotland Yard, a police marine officer, forensic toxicologist or a crime author then now is your chance to do so. All you need to do is purchase a ticket and come along for the day.
This one day event discussing crime fiction and fact takes place at The Princess Royal Gallery at the National Museum of the Royal Navy in the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard.
Also on hand will be the Hampshire Police Fingerprint Bureau Team, a mock up crime scene provided by students from the forensic science course at South Downs College and a forensic display by the Institute of Criminal Justice Studies, Portsmouth University on Entomology (maggots, flies) finger mark development (chemical treatments), trace evidence, and DNA.
Visit CSI Portsmouth for full programme.
Tickets cost £15 for the day which includes a FREE paperback book from the mobile bookshop provided on the day by The Hayling Island Bookshop.
Telephone the Box Office on 023 9268 8037, Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm
Or The Hayling Island Bookshop Monday to Saturday 9am - 5pm 023 9246 6620
CSI Portsmouth is part of Portsmouth BookFest a festival of popular literature organised by The Hayling Island Bookshop and Portsmouth City Council and runs from October 19 to 3 November. Its aim is to promote reading for pleasure and enthusiasm for literature in the city of Portsmouth.
CSI Portsmouth 2013 Saturday 2 November 2013
October 18, 2013
Sharing the secrets of crime writing at Neath Library
The final talk of my mini book tour of South Wales on the 3 October 2013 on the publication in the UK of the tenth in the DI Andy Horton crime series, Death Surge, was at Neath Library.
The town of Neath is situated in the principal area of Neath Port Talbot located on the River Neath. It was a market town that expanded with the arrival of the Industrial Revolution in the 18th century with the new manufacturing industries of iron, steel and tinplate. But just as with the other towns in the valleys of South Wales, it suffered from the decline of those industries, and the economic downturn in recent years. There is however a thriving library community and a magnificent Public Library building opposite Victoria Gardens, laid out in 1897.
Here I met with many interesting and friendly readers who were offered tea, biscuits and chocolates on arrival. I talked about my crime novels and my rugged and flawed detective, DI Andy Horton.
I also answered some searching questions and signed copies of my crime novels after my talk.
I enjoyed my trip to Neath and my thanks to Paul Doyle for organising it and hosting the event.
Death Surge
The town of Neath is situated in the principal area of Neath Port Talbot located on the River Neath. It was a market town that expanded with the arrival of the Industrial Revolution in the 18th century with the new manufacturing industries of iron, steel and tinplate. But just as with the other towns in the valleys of South Wales, it suffered from the decline of those industries, and the economic downturn in recent years. There is however a thriving library community and a magnificent Public Library building opposite Victoria Gardens, laid out in 1897.
Here I met with many interesting and friendly readers who were offered tea, biscuits and chocolates on arrival. I talked about my crime novels and my rugged and flawed detective, DI Andy Horton.
I also answered some searching questions and signed copies of my crime novels after my talk.
I enjoyed my trip to Neath and my thanks to Paul Doyle for organising it and hosting the event.
Death Surge
October 16, 2013
Elvis Presley, a man walking a ferret and a thunderstorm on the second day of my book tour
The second day of my mini book tour of South Wales on 3 October 2013 on the publication in the UK of the tenth in the DI Andy Horton crime series, Death Surge, started with a coffee and a lovely walk along the delightful seafront in Porthcawl (town by the sea) where I picked up some amusing and interesting ideas for characters and possible locations for a crime novel.
A new small marina is being built - mmm wonder if DI Andy Horton ought to sail in there - there is a rugged coastline, sand and surf - ideal locations for a body - an Elvis Presley Festival for thousands of wannabe Elvis Presleys' and I met a man walking a ferret...
Bobby the Porthcawl Ferret, was an enchanting creature although I avoided getting too close in case he decided to take a snipe at me with his very sharp teeth.
Porthcawl is also host to the Elvis Presley Festival (are you getting a flavour here) where thousands of wannabe Elvis Presleys congregate. I liked Porthcawl, it had some great walks, friendly, chatty people (as they all seem to be in South Wales) and a touch of off-beat humour and eccentricity. It even provided a dramatic thunderstorm and a torrential downpour to add to its air of mystery and there are some great places to put a body in a crime novel.
After the heavens decided to open up and a spot of light lunch in the Bakerboy cafe in the small centre of Porthcawl it was off to the Pyle Life Centre Library, Bridgend to give a talk. I didn't think anyone would show up given the torrential rain but perhaps they're more used to that kind of weather in Wales than we are in the south because I was so very wrong. Almost forty people turned out to hear me talk about my crime novels and crime writing.
Bridgend Libraries did a fantastic job and my thanks to Helen Pridham and the library staff for organising and hosting the event.
I met some lovely people who were very keen to learn about my crime novels, my rugged and flawed hero, DI Andy Horton, and the writing process.
I hope to return to Bridgend in the not too distant future to give more talks and of course to Porthcawl, not only for pleasure but also for research for a possible crime novel and of course another encounter with Bobby, the ferret. Maybe I should invest in an Elvis Presley outfit?
Death Surge
A new small marina is being built - mmm wonder if DI Andy Horton ought to sail in there - there is a rugged coastline, sand and surf - ideal locations for a body - an Elvis Presley Festival for thousands of wannabe Elvis Presleys' and I met a man walking a ferret...
Bobby the Porthcawl Ferret, was an enchanting creature although I avoided getting too close in case he decided to take a snipe at me with his very sharp teeth.
Porthcawl is also host to the Elvis Presley Festival (are you getting a flavour here) where thousands of wannabe Elvis Presleys congregate. I liked Porthcawl, it had some great walks, friendly, chatty people (as they all seem to be in South Wales) and a touch of off-beat humour and eccentricity. It even provided a dramatic thunderstorm and a torrential downpour to add to its air of mystery and there are some great places to put a body in a crime novel.
After the heavens decided to open up and a spot of light lunch in the Bakerboy cafe in the small centre of Porthcawl it was off to the Pyle Life Centre Library, Bridgend to give a talk. I didn't think anyone would show up given the torrential rain but perhaps they're more used to that kind of weather in Wales than we are in the south because I was so very wrong. Almost forty people turned out to hear me talk about my crime novels and crime writing.
Bridgend Libraries did a fantastic job and my thanks to Helen Pridham and the library staff for organising and hosting the event.
I met some lovely people who were very keen to learn about my crime novels, my rugged and flawed hero, DI Andy Horton, and the writing process.
I hope to return to Bridgend in the not too distant future to give more talks and of course to Porthcawl, not only for pleasure but also for research for a possible crime novel and of course another encounter with Bobby, the ferret. Maybe I should invest in an Elvis Presley outfit?
Death Surge
October 10, 2013
Second stop on Pauline Rowson book tour in South Wales takes her to Pontarddulais Library
The second stop on my book tour of South Wales on the publication in the UK of the tenth in the DI Andy Horton crime series, Death Surge, was at Pontarddulais, a town situated just under ten miles to the north west of the Swansea City. Pontarddulais in English is translated as Bridge on the Dulais, with Dulais meaning black stream, probably on account of its journey through the coal measures.
Once a busy and prosperous place with two mills and two factories powered by the River Dulais, the railways and tin plate works, Pontarddulais suffered when in 1950 a new and modern tinplate works was built in nearby Trostre and Felindre and rendered the old works in Pontardulais obsolete. Over the latter half of the twentieth century many jobs were lost and the town has fallen victim to the economic downturn.
However, on my arrival and talking to the people who came to hear my talk Pontarddulais to me looked and felt very much like a small town on the up. It is indeed one of nine towns that will benefit from Welsh Government funding as part of its Western Valleys Regeneration Area programme. This is being matched by funding secured from Tesco under a planning agreement.
Some well-known literary figures have associations with Pontarddulais, including Edward Thomas and Dylan Thomas, who had several aunts and uncles in the town. So I was in good company both figuratively speaking and literally.
The evening also raised money for Macmillan Cancer Support charity with the small admission charge for my talk going towards the charity.
It was a pleasure to meet everyone and my thanks to Julie Clement and Sarah Loud for making the evening so successful.
Death Surge
Once a busy and prosperous place with two mills and two factories powered by the River Dulais, the railways and tin plate works, Pontarddulais suffered when in 1950 a new and modern tinplate works was built in nearby Trostre and Felindre and rendered the old works in Pontardulais obsolete. Over the latter half of the twentieth century many jobs were lost and the town has fallen victim to the economic downturn.
However, on my arrival and talking to the people who came to hear my talk Pontarddulais to me looked and felt very much like a small town on the up. It is indeed one of nine towns that will benefit from Welsh Government funding as part of its Western Valleys Regeneration Area programme. This is being matched by funding secured from Tesco under a planning agreement.
Some well-known literary figures have associations with Pontarddulais, including Edward Thomas and Dylan Thomas, who had several aunts and uncles in the town. So I was in good company both figuratively speaking and literally.
The evening also raised money for Macmillan Cancer Support charity with the small admission charge for my talk going towards the charity.
It was a pleasure to meet everyone and my thanks to Julie Clement and Sarah Loud for making the evening so successful.
Death Surge
October 7, 2013
South Wales book tour kicked off at Abertridwr Library
My recent book tour of talks in South Wales on the publication in the UK of the tenth in the DI Andy Horton crime series, Death Surge, kicked off in Abertridwr Library.
Abertridwr is a village in the borough of Caerphilly, Wales in the Aber Valley. The English translation is ‘The Meeting Place of Three Streams.' You can read more about Abertridwr and my talk at the library on my blog on my website
Abertridwr is set in between rolling hills - or should that be mountains - and the spirit of the residents remains undaunted despite the difficult economic climate. It was a delight to be on the receiving end of some great Welsh hospitality and humour and to visit a lovely library with friendly and dedicated staff.
Death Surge
Abertridwr is a village in the borough of Caerphilly, Wales in the Aber Valley. The English translation is ‘The Meeting Place of Three Streams.' You can read more about Abertridwr and my talk at the library on my blog on my website
Abertridwr is set in between rolling hills - or should that be mountains - and the spirit of the residents remains undaunted despite the difficult economic climate. It was a delight to be on the receiving end of some great Welsh hospitality and humour and to visit a lovely library with friendly and dedicated staff.
Death Surge
September 30, 2013
Death Surge Video Trailer
You can watch the short video trailer for Death Surge, the new DI Andy Horton crime novel, now on sale in the UK and Commonwealth, and on loan from UK Public Libraries on my website or on my You Tube Channel
Death Surge will be published in the USA on 1 January 2014, when it will also be released as an ebook.
Death Surge
Death Surge will be published in the USA on 1 January 2014, when it will also be released as an ebook.
Death Surge
