JMF Though I had been due to spend December working my way up the Rhine through France and Germany and finishing up in Belgium, a last-minute cancellation scrapped that plan completely and I put my time to good use in cutting a swathe across England. Starting with a visit to the magnificently baroque Castle Howard in North Yorkshire, I travelled down through that county and into Derbyshire, where I visited some more favourite places and some new ones too – spending time at, amongst others, Chatsworth House and Haddon Hall. Before returning home for Christmas itself, I spent some time in Cambridge, the delights of which hardly need my endorsement, welcome to it as they are.

JMF In early December I returned to the Assembly Rooms in Norwich to give a talk on the traditions of the Christmas ghost story and to present the results of a correspondingly themed competition I’d set up some months previously. Allow me to offer once more my congratulations to the succesful writers, and my thanks for the entertainment they provided! Full results of the competition: 1st place - Sally Newton, 2nd place - Neil Walker, joint 3rd - Victoria Bartlett and Mickey Dann. Honourable mentions to Alex Sykes and Joanne Watkins. This evening also saw the last of my official duties for the year, which meant – for me – that the holiday season could begin in earnest!

JMF Autumn really began with ‘As The Nights Draw In - An Evening With Joseph Freeman’, my first event at the Assembly Rooms in Norwich. I spoke about my life in horror, with various readings throughout, and afterwards engaged in a lively question and answer session with the enthusiastic audience. Thank you to all who attended! Then followed plenty of travelling around, fetching up in the usual array of ruined castles, gothic churchyards, lonely beaches, fantastic restaurants and bars, and elegant country houses. I’ve been doing a lot more readings than usual this year, particularly recently, and learning to enjoy the whole performance aspect of it once more. Somewhere in the midst of this was a week-long birthday celebration, and I saw October out with a fantastic joint Halloween/launch party for my two new paperbacks, ‘Those Left Behind’ and ‘The Lost & The Lonely’ (you can read more about it here). Sales of both books have been terrific so far, and I’m hugely appreciative of anyone who puts their hand in their pocket to support me and my work.

JMF The latest words on my publications for this year: both ‘Those Left Behind’ and ‘The Lost And The Lonely’ will see paperback releases this Halloween, timed to coincide with the aforementioned talks. The new, illustrated edition of ‘This Is My Blood’ will now most likely appear early 2012, when we’ll also see the long-awaited (and long-promised) release of a brand new collection, details of which should appear on my books page before this year is out.

JMF ‘As The Nights Draw In’ is the title of a series of talks I’ll be emabarking on throughout the autumn and winter, starting at The Assembly House in Norwich on October 4^th. I’ll be talking about my life and work and giving various readings throughout, which might go some way towards a glimpse into my fractured and shadowy mind. I’m sure I’ll see some of you there!

JMF A wedding should be one of the happiest times of one’s life, and I’m pleased to say that my own certainly was. At the height of summer in a vast and stunning Victorian hall in Yorkshire, I set about this new stage of my life in a very proud and uplifting ceremony. Afterwards we celebrated with close friends and family in an equally impressive and stylish dining room, resplendent with floor-to-ceiling wood panelling, a fine fireplace and a vast chandelier. I also took the opportunity to enjoy the culture and nightlife of this beautiful part of world, where I have so many happy memories, not least these latest ones.

JMF I’m interviewed about ‘The Lost And The Lonely’ and a good deal else by Sue Phillips here.

JMF One of my intentions this year was to ease up a little to give myself more time for a personal life, and the enjoyment of it, and despite my deep-rooted drive to be constantly working on something, I’ve managed to – sporadically – do just that. The summertime (in terms of weather) started early and was long and glorious, giving me the opportunity to enjoy time at home, out on the road, and exploring near and far. Amongst my explorations on my home turf were Felbrigg Hall, with its picturesque haunted library, and Orford Castle, an enchanting building whose walls are honeycombed with passageways leading to the various chambers, where a merman was once kept prisoner and where Vincent price met his bloody death in ‘Wicthfinder General’.

JMF I've enjoyed some good launch parties for my books over the years, but my favourite so far must be the masked ball I held this March at my Suffolk country house for my latest release, 'The Lost And The Lonely'. Once I started planning this event, it spiralled out of control into some form of luxurious madness, and the biggest problem I had was how to come up with the wording on the invitation. But everything went wonderfully, and when darkness fell and the candles around the great hall were lit, fabulous costumes sparkled, as did the champagne, baroque music filled the air, tables were laden were the finest of foods, and the conversation, dancing and general mischief went on well into the night. There were even some books to be seen, somewhere...

JMF Thirty years ago, five children were preyed upon by a monster - a man who was charged with the duty of looking after them, of protecting the innocence that he instead corrupted and used to his own dark purposes. But now he is long gone, or is he? As an icy winter falls upon the country, the adults that these children have grown into become increasingly haunted by their unfortunate legacy, by the horrors that their past has left them with, and by glimpses of something else - something that seems to be finding its way out of the past and into their present. Something that wants revenge, and will stop at nothing to finish what it started all those years ago.

My eleventh book, 'The Lost & The Lonely' is officially released March 25th. Copies are now available for sale through this website and please keep an eye on the book's page in the 'writing' section, as various related features, interviews and excerpts will be added in coming weeks.

JMF It gives me great pleasure to officially announce my upcoming marriage - this summer - to my dear Kelly. For the best part of four years I have been gifted with a very fun and loving relationship, which has been a huge support in both my personal and my professional life, as witnessed by my increased productivity in that time and my happiness and good fortune. I consider myself highly fortunate in having her in my life, a very prized and meaningful part of a whole with which I am never less than totally grateful. These past years have been an incredible adventure filled with love and excitement and interesting times, and I look forward to an endless amount of the same in our future together. My eternal love and thanks then, to Kelly, and to all our valued friends who wish us well.

JMF I trust you all had a great Christmas and New Year period. I saw 2010 out and 2011 in with a suitably decadent party at home, after which I only had an hour's sleep before I was up and about and ready for everything that lies in wait for me, some of which I can let you in now and some of which you'll have to wait for. Let me start by telling you some of what's on my agenda for coming months. My novel 'The Lost And The Lonely' will be published in hardback this March, with a paperback release next year. Also published this year should be a brand new collection of stories, as well as a new edition of  'This Is My Blood', illustrated by my old friend Desmond Knight. At some point we'll also see the paperback release of 'Those Left Behind', but already it's quite a schedule. And that's not even mentioning all the new stuff I'll actually be at my desk working on, or the exciting things I'll be up to when I remember to have a personal life. Stick around.

News Archive: 2010 / 2009 / 2008 / 2007