I also heard some cracking news: many of you know I was one of the judges for the Irish Writers Centre Novel Fair. Today I learned that one of the authors, Susan Lanigan, whose book I adored, has landed herself an agent! Big clap for Susan, you heard it here, expect big things from this lady, BIG.

Next month I’m off to- hopefully sunny- Kerry with Andrew. We plan to turn The Chosen, or ‘Blutwald’ as the Germans insist on calling it, into a script.  Leaving aside the work aspect and my hatred of driving anywhere, I’m actually looking forward to a creative break in one of the most beautiful places in Ireland. And as if I need any more reasons to be excited, Dingle seafood. That’s all I’m saying, Dingle seafood. * drools*

September: I’m off to NYC to do research for a whole new series of books set stateside, about the black sheep son of a powerful Irish American family with criminal ties.

My new novel, The Outsider, is out in October and we have three new amazing books in the pipelines. But more about that later.

So, are we caught up? Excellent!

I won’t leave it so long the next time. Hope everyone is well, take care.

On a less sombre note, I would also like to announce our latest publication, ‘Deepest Red, a Manchester United Anthology’. Despite not being a Manchester United fan myself, I found myself reading some of the stories with a lump in my throat, particularly the essay on the horrific Munich crash that cost so many tragic lives. I hope those of you with United fans in mind buy a copy, I think it is a worthwhile addition to any library and we are very proud of it.

Draft two of Feral is underway, now entitled, The Eight; and I have a second project in the pipeline, but more on that later.  It’s all systems go here in Casa Portnoy, which also explains my lack of blogging to some extent, it’s hard to find enough hours in the day sometimes – a 1st world problem of course, hardly worth mentioning, but there you go.
I hope everyone is well, talk soon

Arlene

If you would like to hear John Banville and me talk about our pick of authors for inclusion in Books To Die for, please click on link.

Tonight I am off to The Secret Society in the Powerscourt Town Centre, where Sliver Threads of Hope is being launched in aid of Console. Edited by my brilliant friend, Sinéad Gleeson, it’s a wonderful collection of short stories and available in shops now.

http://www.rte.ie/tv/theworks/index.html

BOOKS TO DIE FOR is a unique, must-have anthology for any fan of the mystery genre, featuring personal essays from 120 of the world’s most beloved and renowned crime writers on the mysteries and thrillers that they most admire, edited by two of their own—John Connolly and Declan Burke.

Tana French on The Secret History by Donna Tartt; Jo Nesbø on Jim Thompson’s Pop. 1280; Kathy Reichs on The Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris; Michael Connelly on Raymond Chandler’s The Little Sister, and Charlaine Harris on Geoffrey Household’s Rogue Male: these are just a few of the 120 internationally bestselling mystery writers showcased in this collection—a book every reader of crime fiction should own.

In the most ambitious anthology of its kind ever compiled, each author pays a deeply personal tribute to one mystery that means the most to them, explaining why that book affects them and how it has influenced their own work.  This collection presents a treasure trove of works in the mystery genre by the people who know it best, and is an essential guide for all readers and writers.

Thursday, August 30 at 6:30 p.m.
Belfast, Northern Ireland
Belfast launch of THE WRATH OF ANGELS, BOOKS TO DIE FOR, and SLAUGHTER’S HOUND by Declan Burke
The Ulster Museum
Botanic Gardens, Belfast
Tickets Available from No Alibis Bookstore—free event!
44 (0) 28 9031 9601
Email: david@noalibis.com

Thursday, September 6 at 6:30 p.m.
Dublin, Ireland
Dublin launch of BOOKS TO DIE FOR
Dubray Books Grafton Street
36 Grafton Street
Dublin 2
(01) 677 5568
dublinbookshop@dubraybooks.ie

As you can imagine, the galloping looney in the photo above takes up a considerably amount of my spare time. His name is Archer and he’s part angel, part brat.  He is fifteen-weeks-old and likes chewing, running, chewing, water, chewing and annoying the cats, neither of whom are overly impressed with this new addition. They tolerate him in that magnificent way cats have of tolerating lesser beings.  We, on the other hand,  think he’s super.

In book news: I am putting the finishing touches to the latest book, working title, Feral. It’s a pretty hard-hitting story about two sisters who run away from an abusive home and find themselves in the middle of a drug war. All going well it should be in the shops in March.

In Portnoy Publishing news, I’m delighted to tell you we’re on the verge of signing our first author, and publishing his remarkable book. I can’t tell you more about the book just yet, but Andrew and I were blown away by it. Very exited we are! I’m also reading a number of submissions right now, and feel the future of crime fiction is very healthy indeed. We also another sports book coming out before Christmas, more on that later.

Summer: This Saturday I will be taking part in Publishing Day with the wonderful Dublin Writers’ Centre. If you’re in town do come along as I think it will be a cracking event. I’ll be on RTE’s Arena later today to talk about it. (I’ve recently finished teaching a crime-fiction course at the centre, and I have to say I was so impressed with the level of talent on display).

Later in the month (14th), I will be heading to Donegal to take part in the Earagail Arts Festival- The chat will be on the rise of crime fiction. I’m very much looking forward to this as I have never been to Donegal and I am told by everyone it is spectacular. Hope the weather is nice.
So that’s it, sorry it’s been a while. I assure you all is well, if incredibly busy. Hey, I ran the Edinburgh Marathon at the end of May.  I got serious sunburn too- in Edinburgh of all places! It’s a fabulous city though, I can’t wait to go back. Definitely going to run Dublin in October now, no point in wasting the fitness.
Hope everyone is well; now, time to go wrestle a puppy.
Arlene

April 25th I will begin teaching a six-week course on crime writing; all relevant information can be found – here.  Hopefully by then I will have had time for a haircut and won’t look quite so wild and woolly.

In other news, the official release date for The Chosen, paperback version, is May 1st, which naturally means another round of publicity and so forth. To that end it was terrific to find a review of The Chosen in The Irish Central this morning.
Review can be found – here.

In between teaching and attempting to seduce the media I have been working on the new book, working title, ‘Feral’. It started off one way, veered another and is currently a real heart-breaker. I’ve genuinely had moments where I need to get up and take a trip around the garden to give my my mind a break, not because it’s hard work or anything, but because I’ve found myself feeling very protective of one of the characters and her plight is upsetting. Does that sound strange? I mean her destiny is in my hands after all, but also it’s not: her path has been set, her decisions are almost hers and hers alone.
Pah, maudlin, must be the weather.
Take care everyone, hope the sun comes back out. That better NOT have been summer the other week.
Arlene

I’ve been to this festival before and it’s always terrific fun with lovely people, should you get a chance to stop by and say hello, please do.

Here’s an interesting artice– I think– on ebooks and price. See you guys tonight at H&F!