Keith Jacobsen's Blog

I have now put copies of this book into the post for those who won the giveaway. If you are one of these, especially in US, Canada and Australia, please be patient. The parcel traffic at this time of the year is huge and they may then get held up in customs at your end. But you can be assured your copy of the book is on its way.

'Sisters of Fury' will now be published on 26 November 2015. I will be arranging a giveaway.

This novel's route to publication has been long and difficult, but I have now signed a contract and expect it to be published later this year.

My dispute with my former agent now settled out of court.

All credit to Penguin for reissuing the full Maigret series. Despite some eccentricities of editing and translation the mastery of the writing comes through. Better read the original French if you can. And for those of us who try to explore the pathways of the human mind under stress Simenon will always be the master. He does in 130 pages what others struggle to do in 500. Also worth remembering that most of his novels were not Maigrets, or even genre crime stories, and the best of his writing is to be found outside the genre.

In January one disaster followed another. After a dispute with my publisher, Thames River Press, which led to the contract for 'Sisters of Fury' being cancelled, I parted with my agent and am now taking legal action against him. So there will be no 'Sisters of Fury' unless I can find another agent and publisher.

I was rather surprised to see that 'Sisters of Fury' is already available for pre-order on Amazon, and that the publication date has been brought forward to 1 April. No significance in the date I hope. I'm still checking the proofs! Never mind, if you get your orders in now that will be an incentive to finish the job.

Have at last pressed the send button to Thames River Press with the manuscript of my next novel, 'Sisters of Fury', the second of the 'Furies' trilogy - 'Place of a Skull' was the first. Fans of vampire books beware, the sisters are not vampires! In this series the Furies, a concept derived from Greek mythology, are bred within the consciences of evil-doers, driving them to self-destruction. Sometimes they are just phantasms, sometimes, as in this book, they take human form. 'Sisters of Fury' is scheduled for publication next Spring.

A typical Southport downpour on Saturday did not deter the crowds at the flower show (hardy types us Northerners). Many sought shelter in the book festival marquee, occupied by long-established Southport indie, Broadhurst's. About six of us did signings, including local authors Carys Bray (winner of many short story prizes) and crime and TV writer M H Baylis (who also gave a talk). But the most successful signer on the day was someone who had written a book about lawnmowers!! (Unfortunately the signing at the Scroll Bookshop in Kirkham this coming Saturday had to be cancelled, because of a serious illness which threatens the whole future of the shop. Indies are vulnerable in so many ways, not least when they depend on a tiny number of stalwarts and illness strikes).

I will be doing two further signings of 'Place of a Skull' at indies in the North West this month. Broadhurst's of Southport, a lovely shop, has a space at the book festival within the Southport Flower Show on 17 August - I will be there from 1.00. The following Saturday, the 24th, I will be at the Scroll Bookshop, Kirkham, from 10.30. Kirkham is a small town between Blackpool and Preston, but something of a mecca for bibliophiles, apparently. There are two flourishing indies there, which these days is something of which they can be proud. let's continue to support those indies!