It’s just over two weeks since The Closer I Get was released on ebook and my feet have barely touched the ground. On publication day, the book went straight to the top of the Gay Mystery chart on Amazon. Since then, I’ve taken part in five author events, signed over a hundred books and enjoyed the best reviews of my career. Thanks to all the bloggers, Amazon and Goodreads reviewers and to my fellow crime writers for their extraordinary support. It’s often said that the crime writing community is the most generous and supportive group of writers around. This has certainly been my experience. Thank you, one and all. It hasn’t all been plain sailing. Yesterday in Birmingham I had to host an event and perform with crippling sciatica. I stumbled and fell climbing onto the stage and had to be helped off afterwards. Not a good look for a master of ceremonies! Thanks to Lynne Armstrong, who lived up to her name and took such good care of me. Today I’m heading off to Nottingham where tomorrow night I’ll be performing at Waterstones with authors Fran Dorricott, Russ Thomas and my partner in crime VG Lee, to whom The Closer I Get is dedicated. And on Saturday we’ll be at Waterstones in Bristol with Jeremy Dixon, Sarah Hilary and Tom Marshman. Of the many highlights so far, last week’s Polari In Heaven is an event I’ll remember for the rest of my life (see photo above). Over 250 people came to enjoy five fabulous performers - Adele Anderson, Neil Bartlett, Barbara and the Brownskirts, Alexis Gregory and Paula Varjack - as we marked Heaven’s 40th anniversary and paid tribute to the importance of club culture to the LGBT community. I also read and signed 30 books afterwards. And danced. And danced. Still to come, I have author events at Brixton Library (June 6), Stoke Newington Lit Fest (June 8), the Southbank Centre (June 10) and in Winchester (June 20), Norwich (July 9), Hastings (July 17) Senate House Library (July 18) and more. I’ll also be headlining at Polari at Southbank on July 26. Paperback publication day is July 11 but copies will be available at all of these events.
I hope to see some of you along the way. I also have some very exciting book news - but that will have to wait until next time. Sorry!
More soon - and thanks again for all your support. It truly means the world to me.