Jim McGrath's Blog, page 2
May 17, 2018
Publication on 1st June
Happy to say that the first two books in the Collins and Clark series will be published on the 1 June, in both softback an ebook format. Available to pre-order now from Amazon and other websites. Hope you enjoy them.
Take care,
Jim
Take care,
Jim
April 2, 2018
On sale On Sale now: A Death in Summer: 1965
Hi Folks,
I've just put an advert on ebay for signed copies of A Death in Summer: 1965 at £8.99. If you are interested in getting your hands on these author's copies just search ebay using the full title.
The book itself will be formally published on 1 June 2018.
I hope you've had a good Easter, even if the weather has been pretty awful.
Take care,
Jim
I've just put an advert on ebay for signed copies of A Death in Summer: 1965 at £8.99. If you are interested in getting your hands on these author's copies just search ebay using the full title.
The book itself will be formally published on 1 June 2018.
I hope you've had a good Easter, even if the weather has been pretty awful.
Take care,
Jim
March 1, 2018
It's blooming cold
Hi Folks,
It's been a while since I last wrote a post, but I do have a good reason for my tardiness. I've been working on preparing the new book A Death in Summer: 1965 for publication. That's now been completed and the book will appear on Amazon, to buy, as a paperback from early June.
Indeed I hope that a Death in: Winter 1963; Summer 1965 and Spring 1968 will all be published as paperbacks on Amazon during June 2018.
It's been a lot of work for both myself and my new publisher's, J-View. However, it' will all be worthwhile when all three books are finally published as paperbacks.
On the home front I'm speaking at Lichfield Writers Festival tomorrow night along with a friend, Hugh Ashton, who writes Sherlock Holmes stories and thrillers. The event is entitled Crime Writing Ancient and Modern. We've sold out the tickets but if the weather get's much worse I'm concerned that most people will stay at home in the warm - which is what all sensible people should do.
It's the first time I've done a public presentation about my writing and although a bit concerned that my voice won't hold up, I'm looking forward to it. Anyway I'll let you know how it goes.
Stay warm,
Jim
It's been a while since I last wrote a post, but I do have a good reason for my tardiness. I've been working on preparing the new book A Death in Summer: 1965 for publication. That's now been completed and the book will appear on Amazon, to buy, as a paperback from early June.
Indeed I hope that a Death in: Winter 1963; Summer 1965 and Spring 1968 will all be published as paperbacks on Amazon during June 2018.
It's been a lot of work for both myself and my new publisher's, J-View. However, it' will all be worthwhile when all three books are finally published as paperbacks.
On the home front I'm speaking at Lichfield Writers Festival tomorrow night along with a friend, Hugh Ashton, who writes Sherlock Holmes stories and thrillers. The event is entitled Crime Writing Ancient and Modern. We've sold out the tickets but if the weather get's much worse I'm concerned that most people will stay at home in the warm - which is what all sensible people should do.
It's the first time I've done a public presentation about my writing and although a bit concerned that my voice won't hold up, I'm looking forward to it. Anyway I'll let you know how it goes.
Stay warm,
Jim
January 19, 2018
A Death in Summer: 1965
Hi Folks,
A Death in Summer: 1965 is the second book in the Collins and Clark Series and replaces A Death in Spring: 1968 which will now be published as the third book.
A Death in Summer is about the psychotic arsonist Mr Tubbs who is not a nice man at all. But he is a near genius when setting fires be they in commercial properties or in the homes of young women.
The book will be published soon as both an E-book and paperback on Amazon and other selected sites. I'll let you know the date when I have it.
I hope that you will enjoy reading it, as much as I enjoyed writing it.
A Death in Summer: 1965 is the second book in the Collins and Clark Series and replaces A Death in Spring: 1968 which will now be published as the third book.
A Death in Summer is about the psychotic arsonist Mr Tubbs who is not a nice man at all. But he is a near genius when setting fires be they in commercial properties or in the homes of young women.
The book will be published soon as both an E-book and paperback on Amazon and other selected sites. I'll let you know the date when I have it.
I hope that you will enjoy reading it, as much as I enjoyed writing it.
December 27, 2017
Some very sad news.
I regret to say that my publisher has died. It's not clear at the moment if the company she formed and ran will continue in business. So I have no way of knowing if my books will be published or not.
What I can say is that Jo was a remarkable woman and showed great interest in me and my work and that helped my writing enormously. I'm really sorry that she has gone. I've not met anyone in publishing like her. She was a diamond of a person.
I will miss her.
I'll let you know what's happening as soon as things become clearer.
Best wishes,
jim
What I can say is that Jo was a remarkable woman and showed great interest in me and my work and that helped my writing enormously. I'm really sorry that she has gone. I've not met anyone in publishing like her. She was a diamond of a person.
I will miss her.
I'll let you know what's happening as soon as things become clearer.
Best wishes,
jim
December 6, 2017
Getting back to work
Hello Folks,
Having spent two weeks correcting A Death in Winter: 1963 for publication and finishing the first 50,000 words of A Death in Autumn: 1968 I've done no writing for over a month. Time to rev up the engine and start to re-engage.
So having killed off all possible suspects in A Death in Autumn: 1968 I now need to write the second half of the book and find some way to keep the readers interested and the action flowing. Easy I hear you say.
Well I've got no ideas. Therefore, I'm either in the best possible place imaginable or totally stuffed. You and I will discover which over the next couple of weeks.
Take care.
Jim
Having spent two weeks correcting A Death in Winter: 1963 for publication and finishing the first 50,000 words of A Death in Autumn: 1968 I've done no writing for over a month. Time to rev up the engine and start to re-engage.
So having killed off all possible suspects in A Death in Autumn: 1968 I now need to write the second half of the book and find some way to keep the readers interested and the action flowing. Easy I hear you say.
Well I've got no ideas. Therefore, I'm either in the best possible place imaginable or totally stuffed. You and I will discover which over the next couple of weeks.
Take care.
Jim
December 3, 2017
Delays with paperback
Hi Folks,
It was my birthday this week and I was looking forward to seeing my first novel A Death in Winter: 1963 be published as a paperback on my 'special day' (I'm not telling you how old I was but it was a special birthday). Alas, it wasn't to be. The company responsible (not my publishers Inknbeans) for loading the book to Amazon and other distributors only set up the e-book version. Very disappointing. However, it should only be a temporary delay and the paperback version should be available very soon.
What's more worrying is that all the great reviews that you lovely people submitted to Amazon have not been loaded with the new e-book. This is annoying, but I've got a copy of them and I have asked that they be added.
Stay warm,
Best wishes,
Jim
It was my birthday this week and I was looking forward to seeing my first novel A Death in Winter: 1963 be published as a paperback on my 'special day' (I'm not telling you how old I was but it was a special birthday). Alas, it wasn't to be. The company responsible (not my publishers Inknbeans) for loading the book to Amazon and other distributors only set up the e-book version. Very disappointing. However, it should only be a temporary delay and the paperback version should be available very soon.
What's more worrying is that all the great reviews that you lovely people submitted to Amazon have not been loaded with the new e-book. This is annoying, but I've got a copy of them and I have asked that they be added.
Stay warm,
Best wishes,
Jim
October 28, 2017
Depiction of realistic violence in books and films
Just been watching Tin Star which isn't bad. The writers are trying to be down and dirty in their depiction of violence but they don't appear to have a clue about the effect that a single punch can have on a man's face. In one scene the hero (?) lies down on the floor and curls up allowing a group of bikers to kick the s*** out of him. The next day he's fully recovered.
Well I was on the receiving end of such a kicking by a group of football fans and I can assure you that pulling your knees up and covering your head with your hands does not protect you from concussion, broken ribs and extensive bruising to face, chest, back and legs. Furthermore, there is no way that you are up and about the following day as if nothing had happened.
I'm all for a bit of brutal violence when the story calls for it. However, If you write a film/book with realistic violence in it you must also be realistic when it comes to showing the after effects of such violence. (If you check out Ian Fleming you'll see he always described in detail the slow recovery that Bond went through after being tortured/beaten.)
Cheers
Jim
Well I was on the receiving end of such a kicking by a group of football fans and I can assure you that pulling your knees up and covering your head with your hands does not protect you from concussion, broken ribs and extensive bruising to face, chest, back and legs. Furthermore, there is no way that you are up and about the following day as if nothing had happened.
I'm all for a bit of brutal violence when the story calls for it. However, If you write a film/book with realistic violence in it you must also be realistic when it comes to showing the after effects of such violence. (If you check out Ian Fleming you'll see he always described in detail the slow recovery that Bond went through after being tortured/beaten.)
Cheers
Jim
October 16, 2017
A Death in Autumn: 1968
Hi,
Just clocked up 30,000 words on A Death in Autumn: 1968,
For some reason the first twenty thousand words always take more time than any other segment of a book. Now that I'm over 30,00 words things will speed up and I hope to finish the book early January.
Everyone gets a mention in this book gangsters, crooked politicians and the IRA. Let's hope Collins and Clark survive.
Cheers,
jim
Just clocked up 30,000 words on A Death in Autumn: 1968,
For some reason the first twenty thousand words always take more time than any other segment of a book. Now that I'm over 30,00 words things will speed up and I hope to finish the book early January.
Everyone gets a mention in this book gangsters, crooked politicians and the IRA. Let's hope Collins and Clark survive.
Cheers,
jim
October 15, 2017
Lichfield Writers Festival
Pleased to say that Hugh Ashton and I will be appearing at the Lichfield Writer's Festival on March 2nd 2018.
The following outlines what we are aiming to do in our session:
Crime Writing Ancient and Modern
with
Hugh Ashton and Jim McGrath
Lichfield writers Hugh Ashton and Jim McGrath aim to provide the audience with a real insight into crime fiction in the 21st Century; using presentations, readings and a Q&A session to achieve their aim.
Jim and Hugh’s critically acclaimed books, published by Inknbeans Press California, couldn’t be more different. Set in 1960s Birmingham, Jim’s non-procedural police novels see Michael Collins and Clive Clark use humour, dogged determination, nous and violence to defeat their enemies. Hugh goes further afield recreating the world of the world’s most famous consulting detective Sherlock Homes in the fog filled world of London in 1890.
In addition to our presentation, The Lichfield Writers Group will also be appearing at the Festival for the first time.
Should be a good few days. And even if it isn't maybe I can build a plot around A Death in Lichfield. Who knows.
Take care.
Jim
The following outlines what we are aiming to do in our session:
Crime Writing Ancient and Modern
with
Hugh Ashton and Jim McGrath
Lichfield writers Hugh Ashton and Jim McGrath aim to provide the audience with a real insight into crime fiction in the 21st Century; using presentations, readings and a Q&A session to achieve their aim.
Jim and Hugh’s critically acclaimed books, published by Inknbeans Press California, couldn’t be more different. Set in 1960s Birmingham, Jim’s non-procedural police novels see Michael Collins and Clive Clark use humour, dogged determination, nous and violence to defeat their enemies. Hugh goes further afield recreating the world of the world’s most famous consulting detective Sherlock Homes in the fog filled world of London in 1890.
In addition to our presentation, The Lichfield Writers Group will also be appearing at the Festival for the first time.
Should be a good few days. And even if it isn't maybe I can build a plot around A Death in Lichfield. Who knows.
Take care.
Jim
