Paul O'Brien's Blog, page 3

1st Video Blog

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New Cover, New Title

Here it is folks! The mock up of my new cover. You’ll notice that it’s called Volume 2 thanks to the competition where readers voted to name the sequel. Congratulations to Matthew Miller from Ohio, whose name will name be used by a character in the book! I’d love to know what you think of the cover so far (my photo is only a placeholder for now.) Use the red contact me button over there or use the new plugin down below!

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Feck TV

I got a nice write up on Feck TV this week. Check it out:

Wexford writer Paul O’Brien’s latest work ‘Blood Red Turns Dollar Green’ keeps on receiving accolades. An endorsement from Artemis Fowl creator and fellow local author Eoin Colfer, and more recently the book was selected by Spinetingler Magazine as one of their favourite crime fiction novels of 2012.

Perhaps the ultimate pat-on-the-back for a story where the crazy world of professional wrestling is the setting came last last year from a man who knows all there is to know about the sport and has written a few hugely successful books himself: Mick Foley. The American wrestler raved over O’Brien’s novel in 2012.

You can read the rest here.

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Competition, Competition, Competition

Congratulations to our two competition winners recently. Matt Pitt from Kentucky won a copy of Blood Red Turns Dollar Green in the Monday Night Mayhem competition. Also, Bryan Jack from Edinburgh won a first print run edition of Blood Red Turns Dollar Green signed by both myself and WWE Legend, Mick Foley. I want to thank both men for entering and I hope they enjoy the book. Also, don’t forget our ongoing competition right now, where you can win a character in the sequel. Check it out. It only takes a second to enter. Good luck!

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Spinetingler Magazine 2012

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What a surprise and an honour it was to be selected by Spinetingler Magazine as one of their “Best Crime Fiction of 2012.”

Here’s what their editor, Brian Lindenmuth had to say about Blood Red Turns Dollar Green:

-Blood Red Turns Dollar Green by Paul O’Brien – Blood Red is set in the territory days of professional wrestling, a time when a small and secretive group of men controlled all of the action across the country for decades under a sworn veil of secrecy. Sounds like organized crime doesn’t it? In a way it was and O’Brien explores this in a way that appeals to long time wrestling fans and those with no prior knowledge. The key thing about Blood Red is that it is firmly grounded in the recognizable humanity of its characters first and foremost and is a wrestling story second.

I had no idea that my novel was even in consideration for any such nod with so many more wonderful novels out there. I can say only one thing to everyone who bought a copy and sang it’s praises -

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2012

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The truth is, I didn’t know what to expect. I’d been writing for a long time but writing that first novel has pressures of its own. Especially when the setting is a little different that usual crime novels. Personally, I love different worlds - and I don’t mean planets either. I think that’s where we should go when you decide to watch/read/listen to or play with fiction. Take me somewhere I don’t know. Make me catch up on the world you’re writing about. Help me understand why the thing that’s happening is such a huge event in your world.

That’s what I tried. And judging by the feedback, I seemed to have succeeded.

I have received the coolest, most passionate thankful emails, tweets, facebook posts and DM’s this year. All from you guys. All wanting more of this world. Some were crime fans only. Some were wrestling fans only. Some were neither. And some were both. Either way, the reception to this world, this collection of people has truly blown me away.

I thank you all. Sincerely. I will work harder on the next instalment. It will be darker, more fine tuned. And bloodier than the first. Not for any gimmicky reason either. I have three instalments in mind so far for this world. Book one builds up the world and the characters and ends with a completely new and different direction taking form. And book two follows that pathway to retaliation and revenge - all the while cultivating the relationships that matter. Not death for the sake of death. But death for the lack of other options.

This first book has really come out of the gates quickly and made a name for itself. As you all know by now, WWE Legend Mick Foley read it early on and offered to endorse it. It has also attracted the eye of people in TV. Hopefully more on that soon. It was also picked for the crime Storybundle this year and now it seems that there’s people voting for it to be the Wrestling Observer Book of the Year too!

Someone might happen from all of that and nothing might happen. I know how it all works. But one other thing I know for sure - there’s nothing like a good story told well. I hope to keep trying to do just that.

Thank you for making 2012 a great year.














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It's Alive!

When I sat down to write Blood Red Turns Dollar Green Vol. 2 I knew there was a certain scene I had to write. It was the scene that would make the book credible and give it a heartbeat. It was didn’t arrive until three quarters into the novel and what that meant for me is a huge leap of faith. I had to write three quarters of my novel to find out if it was even worth writing. So two days ago I finally came to that scene. The scene.

I don’t know what it is about writing novels but I like to write them in chronological order(even though the chapters themselves aren’t laid out as so.) I like to start at the beginning of my story and work my way through every single spot that leads to the finale. I like to do that in order helps me keep the same ‘feel’ throughout the book. I like to do that until I reach the scene. That scene isn’t necessarily the last scene, but the scene where you realise why all the characters do what they do and it’s the time in the story where things can never go back for them.

In Vol. 2 that scene is a violent and emotional scene that puts both Volumes into perspective. And for the first time in my writing life I felt emotional after it. I haven’t got the balls to go back and read that scene yet, just in case it’s terrible, but, the one thing I do know is - this novel will have everything I have in it.

And I hope you truly enjoy it.














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Starting to Mock Up Book Two

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I’ve just stripped the artwork for Blood Red Turns Dollar Green in preparation for the sequel. I don’t want to give too much away but here’s the bare bones before the blurb and artwork goes in. I really hope you like this one as much as the first. I’ve been working really hard to get this one right. Coming soon, folks!

Monday Night Mayhem Audio

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Many thanks to Big Mosh, The Chairman of the Board and Mick Foley for a great interview. I had a ball and I hope you can understand my accent. Please head on over to Monday Night Mayhem’s page on the Wrestleview Network to hear about Mick Foley’s new book - A Most Mizerable Christmas, Blood Red Turns Dollar Green, how Mick first earned some cash, and a possible WWE HOF induction!

What a night.

Paul D. Brazill Review

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Continuing on a great run of reviews - another one today. This time from crime writer/reviewer/editor, Paul D. Brazill!

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“Lenny is a ‘mark’ A long time wrestling fan who wants ‘in’. Paul O’ Brian’s fantastic debut crime novel opens with Lenny in a more than somewhat dazed and confused state after being involved in a car accident.