Mark Sutton's Blog

... I'm having a quick reflection on the year that has passed. It marked my first as an indie author; this time last year, I had two completed manuscripts gathering dust ('Jeremy and the Summer of Stalking' and 'The Round Guide to Morality'). If it hadn't been for the encouragement of my wife, who was a huge Jeremy fan, the manuscripts would probably have languished in limbo forever. Alas, neither book has particularly flourished, but they did pave the way for my biggest success thus far, 'Grandad Miller, Serial Killer' (and when I say 'success', I'm only talking a few hundred sales here, but for me, that it is a huge achievement of which I'm very proud, especially as I value and appreciate every single sale that I make).


So, this year has had its ups and downs, but definitely more of the former rather than the latter. For next year, I have high hopes for 'Cuthbert Flopper, Psycho Copper', which I've literally commenced working on today. I also want to keep pushing the 'Jeremy', 'Dead Winter Mountain', and 'Bingo and Bullets' series. 'Grandad Miller' seems to have his own momentum, but the story of Brian Miller, or, rather, the alcoholic, drug-addled, thespian, un-named imposter who has continued to act in Brian's name, still has a long way to go. I'd also like to revise the original GM books (and correct one very valid criticism from a reviewer, concerning my misuse of apostrophes... I'm afraid it's just one of those things that I've always struggled with). I'm also keen to have a bash at a 'serious' fiction novel, though whether or not I get around to it in 2015 remains to be seen.


So, all in all, it's been a great year, and here's hoping for more of the same for 2015. Merry Christmas and a happy new year to all!


Mark C Sutton   

After what seems like forever, I've finally completed (and published) 'The Dead Winter Mountain Murders - Part Zero: The Runaway', which is a short prequel/ sequel to the original Dead Winter Mountain trilogy. It's taken forever because I've been distracted, courtesy of a new Sony PS4, not to mention 'Driveclub', 'GTA 5', 'Far Cry 4', and the amazing 'The Last of Us'. Next on the 'to-do' list is a short Jeremy Christmas story called 'Jeremy's Swollen Balls', and then it's on to a new character called Cuthbert Flopper, Psycho Copper, which I'm really looking forward to. After that, the new 'Curse of Grandad Miller, Serial Killer' trilogy will be wrapped up, and then it's back to 'Bingo and Bullets' for the third instalment, 'The Trojan Horse'. Phew, it never stops! Merry Christmas everyone!

'The Curse of Grandad Miller, Serial Killer - Act One: Death' isn't far from completion now, but it's been one hell of a tough book to write, and there's a reason for that... which I can't really tell you about. All I can say is that anyone familiar with the first six books (seven, if you count the short prequel, 'Murder on Skerrow Hill') are going to be completely perplexed by certain elements of this new story, and will be wondering what, exactly, is going on (when taken in the context of the last book in the series). Hopefully, the pay-off that will be seen in 'Act Two' of the new trilogy will be worth it... 

For the very first time, here is the cover for my next book, which is now titled 'Bingo and Bullets: Book One - The Borzelliero Bunch'. I'm about half-way through the story, and it's been an absolute joy to write so far. The story of 'The Borzelliero's', an army of elderly women who, for unknown reasons, have turned into a 'mini-Mafia' and have taken over the small seaside town of Crabley-on-Sea, will span four or five full-length books. There's some lovely characters emerging, who I hope you'll read about and grow to love too... here's some names of those that you're about to meet... Nellie 'Angry Angina' Aucciello, Li'l Lil Petrocino, Bed-Sores Gaccini, Prolapse Sgambati... you get the picture. The first book should be out in October, and will be accompanied by a short prequel called 'Bingo and Bullets' - The Ballad of Fat Gary Jenkins. This short promotional book will be bundled in with part one of 'Grandad Miller, Serial Killer', and part one of 'The Dead Winter Mountain Murders', as I don't like charging a quid for just a twenty page story. Look out for an announcement on the 'Latest News' page for when these two 

'The Dead Winter Mountain Murders' are all done and dusted. I'm going to miss Stephen Hartley, but that's the way it goes. His story is over. Now it's just the anxious wait for reviews, to gauge what the reading public think of such a character... will he be a relative success, like 'Grandad Miller'? A 'marmite' character, like 'Jeremy Felliwell'? Or a total failure... I'm thinking 'Gilbert and Sulliman' here in particular. Shame on that last one. I re-read the book recently, and enjoyed it. But some things just don't capture people's imagination... again, that's the way it goes.


And so, the future lies ahead. Next on the list is 'Cuthbert Flopper, Psychotic Copper'... hopefully I'll be commencing that one this week, and it'll probably be written in unison with 'Bingo and Bullets - The Birth of Edna Borzelliero', which I'm really looking forward to getting stuck into...


Laters...

... being an indie author, according to what I've been reading on t'internet tonight. Maybe, especially when you're just starting out; it's not the writing that's difficult, that aspect is a piece of piss, but the other stuff, the marketing, promotion... I concur, it's fucking horrible, time-consuming, and most importantly takes you away from what you should actually be doing, which is writing. But it's all worth it, as far as I'm concerned. Yes, if you want to get your book actually read by anyone, then you can't just sit there and wait for it to be discovered; it probably won't be, it'll just end up being buried underneath all of the other zillions of pieces of work out there. But as much as a pain up the arse promotion is, it's rewarded many times over when I see that I've sold a book... I don't think that I will ever stop getting a buzz when I see a sale on my report sheet, that someone considers my work worth investing in. That's what it's really all about, for me, just having the chance for my stories to be read by others, and when they do, well, it's a mighty fine feeling (especially when they give you a glowing review, but that, as they say, is another story)...

I've been very hard at work this weekend on the fifth instalment in the 'Grandad Miller, Serial Killer' series, in fact, I've blitzed the bugger over the past few days, and I'm nearly finished. The sun is out and the sky is blue, and we're into the last few weeks of summer now, I really should be outside, but no! I'm ploughing ever onwards with good old Brian Miller's story instead. I'll regret that when the autumn comes, and the weather goes all shitty again. Anyway, this new instalment has turned out completely different to how I envisaged, and I am very, very pleased with the storyline and its fast pace. The way that this part of the story has evolved has also helped shape the plot for the sixth and final instalment... and I'm really looking forward to getting started on that too. I'm hoping to bring a new villain forward who is even more annoying than good old Jack Lovett from the first book. Fingers crossed...

I had a busy day yesterday. The new e-book, 'The Dead Winter Mountain Murders - Part One: Stephen' was finally published. In addition to that, I've now published three paperbacks of previous works on Amazon; 'Grandad Miller, Serial Killer', 'Jeremy and the Summer of Stalking' and 'Gilbert and Sulliman and the Curse of the Red Spider'. A fourth one is on it's way, too... 'Jeremy and the Winter of the World-Wide Stalker'. 


I'm looking forward to getting my hands on a physical copy of one of my own books; I only ever started writing for a bit of fun, and never, ever intended for any of my works to be published (you have my wife to thank, or detest, for that, depending on your viewpoint). I haven't actually ordered one of the paperbacks of 'The 'Zon' yet... will do though, but first things first; I'm off to the motorbike racing over at Cadwell Park this weekend. The books can wait... for now!

'The Dead Winter Mountain Murders' is coming on nicely, I'm pleased to report. Stephen Hartley really is turning into a prize prick of the very highest calibre, which was always the intention. What I do have a few problems with is the lack of linearity (is that an actual word?) in the novel, again, that's entirely intentional, but, cor blimey, it's difficult keeping track of stuff at times, what with the story flipping and flopping all over the place.


If everything stay on track, then I reckon, at a push, that the first part of Stephen's story will be out by the end of the month. Not sure yet. I don't even know how long the entire story will stretch out to... I know where it's going, but not quite how it's going to get there. I'll just go with the flow and see what happens. After part one of 'TDWMM' is complete, it's back to good old Grandad Miller, Serial Killer, for his penultimate adventure in 'The Return of Grandad Miller, Serial Killer - Part Two: Hell-Ride.


Happy trails!

I'm just about to start work on my next novel, which I'll probably release in three parts. It's already got a title, indeed it has done for a very long time... 'The Dead Winter Mountain Murders'. I'm working on the story plot and outline at the moment, though, to be honest, as with my earlier novel 'Grandad Miller, Serial Killer', I'll probably just start writing and see where it goes. I know how the book will be presented, it's format, and the themes that it will follow. There will be, I hope, some pretty gruesome murders on the way, but really, this story is about one person; Stephen Claymore Hartley... one of the most boring people on the planet.


Stephen is the person who bores you to death at a party, droning on and on about his medical ailments. I met someone exactly like that, just two nights ago. I've met countless others, exactly the same, over the years. Stephen is the person who dresses up like a twat for sci-fi conventions. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy a bit of sci-fi, but I draw the line at dressing up like a fucking Klingon. Stephen is a man who enjoys boring music, which is fine in itself, but then he inflicts it on those around him, the people that he's supposed to love (if he's actually capable of that emotion). Stephen will bore you about his hobbies - golf, his illnesses, trains, his 'club-tie' collection - and then batter you to death with a concrete slab, and then throw up afterwards, due to his delicate stomach and all-round squeamishness.


If there's one thing more boring than Stephen, it's his girlfriend, Emma. I've not quite worked out her character yet, other than her general drabness. She's going to be awful. I've known lots of 'Emma's' over the years. We can all be boring bastards, every single one of us; I can bore the crap out of someone all night, if I'm in the mood. However, I want to take both Stephen and Emma to a completely different level... and with lots of blood and guts thrown in, just for good measure.


More soon!