Posting the other day about my next book coming out made me realise I have a bunch of other news to catch y’all up on, so here it all is below:

1. SALES!
There’s no easy way to talk about books selling well without sounding like a bragging moron, but I’m going to do it anyway. I just learned that I have sold over 300,000 books across all seven novels. Amazingly, two thirds of those sales are for GONE AGAIN, which just seems to keep on keeping on. HIT & RUN is also no slouch at 75,000 and counting. Believe me, no one is more surprised by this turn of events than me. Not complaining, likes!

2. I’M INVADING AMERICA!
Not quite. But my UK publisher Faber & Faber are moving into the American market, and are publishing two of my novels, GONE AGAIN and THE JUMP, in paperback in the US later this year. I’ll also be attending the Bouchercon crime writing convention for the first time, in glorious New Orleans in September. Can’t wait!

3. THE JUMP IN PAPERBACK!
My most recent novel, THE JUMP, is being published in a lovely new paperback edition with a new cover on May 5th. Look out for it.

4. BOOK FESTIVALS!
I’m going to be at various festivals around the place this year, but annoyingly none of the line-ups have been announced yet, so I can’t tell you exactly where and when. More soon.

5. TENTH ANNIVERSARY OF TOMBSTONING!
August this year is the tenth annivesary of my debut novel, TOMBSTONING, hitting the shelves. I will mostly be celebrating by raising a wee dram and shaking my head wondering where the time has gone. Join me in wondering about the passing of the years!

6. ROYAL LITERARY FUND!
I’m still RLF Fellow at Queen Margaret University and loving it. I’m also taking part in the RLF’s Bridge project, giving academic writing workshops in schools, and training to be an RLF Consultant Fellow, which will involve doing the same in universities.

7. NEW MUSIC!
I have a ton of new songs accumulated, and plan to record a new EP or album this year if I can find the time. Which I will. Honest.

8. TUTORING AT MONIACK MHOR!
I’m doing two stints up at Moniack in the Scottish Highlands this year, tutoring creative writing to aspiring writers. February and November. It’s a beautiful place run by amazing people, so if you’re looking for a writing retreat I can heartily recommend it.

9. MANUSCRIPT ASSESSMENT FOR THE LITERARY CONSULTANCY!
Not strictly news as such, but I’ve been assessing manuscripts for The Literary Consultancy for a few years now and I can definitely recommend them as a great service for aspiring writers. Just a wee plug!

10. EGGHEADS!
I recently took part in an episode of Eggheads with fellow crime writers Val McDermid, Mark Billingham, Chris Brookmyre and Martyn Waites. It was tremendous fun. I can’t tell you the outcome, but it’s due to be aired sometime in September apparently.

That’ll do for now, eh?

Cheers, Doug