So yesterday was my last day as Royal Literary Fund Fellow at Queen Margaret University. I was there for two years, helping students and staff with all aspects of academic writing. I’m still going to be working with the RLF on other projects, but that’s my time up at QMU. I’ll miss the students, staff and cool campus (see pic) – good luck to all with their studies!
Doug
It’s the book that keeps on rolling. Here’s a brand new lovely review of Gone Again by Sarah Hardy over at By The Letter blog. Thanks, Sarah!
illustration by Dom McKenzie
Here are a bunch of new book reviews that I wrote for The Big Issue. Enjoy!
In Her Wake (Orenda) by Amanda Jennings
The Sunlight Pilgrims (William Heinemann) by Jenni Fagan
Dodgers (No Exit) by Bill Beverly
Patience (Jonathan Cape) by Daniel Clowes
Dog Run Moon (Granta) by Callan Wink
Treats (Freight) by Lara Williams
Quicksand (Harvill Secker) by Henning Mankell
Nobody Told Me (Blackfriars) by Hollie McNish
So after nine years of writing for them, this is likely my last book review in the Independent on Sunday. A lovely and very funny novel by Kevin MacNeil. Enjoy!
Dx
I’ve reviewed six books in The Big Issue recently. Namely:
The North Water by Ian McGuire
Dinosaurs on Other Planets by Danielle McLaughlin
Shame and Wonder by David Searcy
If He Hollers Let Him Go by Chester Himes
So while I’m in an info-dump kind of mood, here’s my Indy on Sunday review of Gold Fame Citrus by Claire Vaye Watkins, a dystopian doo-dah I didn’t really dig.
I’ve been insanely busy recently, and only just spotted this amazing review for THE JUMP over on Lizzie Hayes’ Promoting Crime Fiction blog. The review was written by Marsali Taylor: ‘A strong psychological thriller with characters whose emotions haunt you long after you’ve finished reading.’ Thanks!
Dx
In case you don’t know, The Janice Forsyth Show is BBC Radio Scotland’s flagship daytime arts programme. It’s cracking, and she’s lovely. Anyhoo, I was on it today, as part of their regular Tuesday Review.
Alongside TV critic Paul Whitelaw and playwright Sophie Good, we talked about the new second series of Happy Valley starring Sara Lancashire, Henning Mankell’s posthumous book of essays Quicksand, and Elton John’s new album. A good time was had by all. Except for when we listened to the Elton John album. Tune in from 1hr 25mins onwards. Enjoy!
After hitting three ‘best book’ lists of 2015, The Jump has started 2016 in fine fettle, picking up a couple of cracking blog reviews. First up, Nigel Bird rates it highly over on Sea Minor: ‘Johnstone pulls no punches in his delivery.’
Then, from the other side of the world, Aussie blog Reactions to Reading has a good old rave about it: ‘The Jump is not the kind of book you should start when you only have a few reading minutes at hand. Once begun you’ll want need to finish it quickly.’
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
Doug Johnstone 