Short version - I've published two books on Amazon today. One a detective novel, set in 1900 London, and the other a collection of short stories (some of which first appeared on this very blog!). If you can't be bothered to read the long version, and just want to rush out and buy them then you can find them (dependent upon your location in the world) at one of the following links:
To Catch A Ghost
http://amazon.co.uk/dp/B07JLVK441
http://amazon.com/dp/B07JLVK441
http://amazon.nl/dp/B07JLVK441
Mystery Train and Other Stories
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07JL124W9
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07JL124W9
https://www.amazon.nl/dp/B07JL124W9
But, if you don't read the long version, I should warn you that you'll miss out on a chance to get the short story collection for free...
And so, the long version...
About five years ago, I had an idea for a cool (and hopefully clever) detective novel set in the heart of Victorian London, and featuring a genius detective matching wits with an equally genius criminal. Armed with a clear idea of the story from beginning to end, I spent one summer holiday in a coffee shop in Breda (thank you Inspire Coffee!) writing several hours a day. And, by the end of the holiday, as well as having consumed about 73 gallons of latte, I had managed to write the thing.
I read it immediately and only saw flaws in it. But, I've heard this can happen and that one needs to put it aside for a few weeks and come back to it again. So I decided to do just that.
The only problem was, when I came back in a few weeks time, I'd lost it. Yes, seriously.
I'd been working on one computer, transferred it on a memory stick to another. Only to get rid of the first computer, have a problem with the second, and lose the memory stick.
The novel was gone.
I was upset. However, fortunately, I was way too busy to get too upset. I figured I'd write it again one day; but of course I never did...
And then, a few months ago, I stumbled across a pile of old hard drives. It turned out I'd had the wisdom to remove the hard drive from the first computer before I got rid of it. And there, sitting quite happily, was my novel.
So, I reread it. And couldn't understand why me of five years ago didn't like it. I really enjoyed it, especially because I could hardly even remember writing it - it was almost as if reading something by someone else! I therefore decided that I'd edit it, tweak a few bits here and there, and then make it available on Amazon.
And, while doing that, it occurred to me that maybe it would be a good idea to collate some of the stories that I've written over the years - here and on reddit - and so I started looking through them and found 37 that I liked enough to republish. So I did.
Now comes the curious part of whether anyone but me likes them! I guess we'll see..
Oh, and if you've got this far then - between 00.00 Pacific Standard Time and 23.59 Pacific Standard Time on Monday 22nd October - Mystery Train and Other Stories will be available free. I wanted it to let people who've enjoyed my stories over the years to have a chance to nab it without paying if they should so wish!
Hopefully a few of you will read both books. Hopefully a few of those few will even like them. I would be eternally grateful, if you do like them, if you could leave a review on Amazon.
So, that's the long version. Hope you like them!