2008
JMF The aforementioned Christmas ghost story can found in the latest issue of Estronomicon. Dim the lights, pour yourself a glass of something nice and let me introduce you to my brand of festive spirit... Get your copy for free here.
JMF Another successful year nears its close and allows me time to reflect on the story so far... The tales for my latest collection are now complete. Finishing just last week with a wonderful festive ghost story, this book will be published in 2010. Next year sees me working on a new novel, which should take me through til the late summertime, and also publication of another 2 books. More about one of them nearer the time, but I'm pleased to report that the other one will be my most recent novel 'The Lost And The Lonely', which was newly accepted for publication. I celebrated this fantastic news - and much else - over dinner, wine and fine conversation with my good friend Peter James. Therefore 2008 has seen me publish two books, write a further one, and have one accepted - not a bad count! There's also been my long-awaited return to my adored Suffolk coast, and all the love and happiness I could wish for along the way. It now remains only for me to prepare to get next year's work off to a blazing start, and of course to find some time to have a marvelous festive season, and wish you all the same. As I sit at my desk writing this, the snow is already falling. My thanks to everyone who's supported me this year, and I hope to see you all again in 2009.
JMF October is always a busy month for me, and this year has been particularly good fun. On the 11th was a joint celebration: the launch party of my latest book 'This Is My Blood', which had been published the previous day, and my birthday - which was a day later! The party was held at a suitably atmospheric venue: the moated, 13th Century St. Peter's Hall in Suffolk. You can read more about the evening here. The following morning, instead of resting from all that fine food and drink, it was an early start and out into an appropriately foggy day for a publicity photo-session in a ruined church. After that, I could get back to the celebrations! Some traveling about the countryside followed over coming days, a period of flaunting myself at bookstores across the British Isles, and towards the end of the month I had the good fortune to meet up with the one and only Sir Roger Moore, and his wife Lady Kristina. Despite an age gap of 52 years, it seems we have a great deal in common. Both got new books to promote, both recently celebrated our birthdays (2 days apart), and Sir Roger describes himself as 'a suave, modest, sophisticated, talented, modest, debonair, modest and charming individual' - why, he could have been talking about me! All of this, and I've still got Halloween to look forward to.
JMF Apologies for the lack of updates over recent months - something which seems to be becoming a Summer tradition! I've been busy writing a whole host of new stories since finishing 'The Last Light of Day', for a collection due in 2010 (but a novel will be taking up next year for me). I debuted one of these tales - 'What Lairs Within' - at a reading in July and it went down very well. Work on these stories will now resume after a couple of weeks break in which I threw all my energies and attentions into the final details (proofs, layouts, cover designs etc) of 'This Is My Blood'. All work on that book is now finished and I'm pleased to say it's looking fantastic, and I'm looking forward to receiving the first finished copy in the next couple of weeks. Advance orders are being taken. Though not released until October 10th, roughly half the limited edition hardbacks have already been reserved but you can get yours by contacting me here. Keep checking the book's page for more interesting features and news over the coming months.
JMF A part of the year I always enjoy is spending some time in Brighton to catch up with my dear friend Peter James. This June I fired up the motor and drove down to help Peter celebrate publication of his latest bestselling crime thriller 'Dead Man's Footsteps', at the new beachfront nightspot The Honey Club, guarded by almost the entire Sussex police force, and even with a unique Peter James police car parked outside! The wine flowed endlessly, and when the hordes of screaming fans, tv cameras and press photographers got too much we spilled outside and continued imbibing beneath a beautiful, calm sunset at the end of a nice summer's day. It was also good to see Jim Herbert and his wife Eileen again. After the event we dined at the rightfully highly-regarded Latin in The Lane restaurant, an elegant venue with classic Roman marble decor, pleasant staff and food to die for.
JMF It gives me great pleasure to officially announce my full-time move back to the Suffolk coast. I'm now nicely settled into my beautiful new residence, roasting myself in the sun, and enjoying everything life has to offer, oh - and doing some writing too! The move went fairly smoothly (despite being hectic and more hard work than I ever wish to even see from a great distance in the future!), and was achieved - in true horror-movie "who's that stranger moving into the empty house?" fashion - at night. It's great to be back. Previously, I lived in Suffolk for some time, until the end of 2001 when I relocated to the Peak District, but I missed the area more than I realised, and it haunted me ever since. Those vast, open skies, the endless expanses of unspoilt countryside, the charming and smart towns and villages, the serenity of the beach and sea... Anyone who knows my work will see quite plainly how much of an effect it's had on both my writing and my photography - and people who know me have usually been able to see my pining for the area. I've spent as much of my free time there as possible, holidays and long weekends, and it's enlivened my good times and comforted me through bleak ones. I never had any doubt that I was making the right choice when I decided to return, and finding a beautiful property that seemed heaven-sent was the last wonderful touch. This is undoubtedly the start of a fresh and exciting stage for my life, and I embrace it with huge enthusiasm and gratitude.
JMF Work on my art book 'The Last Light of Day' is now complete, and I raised a glass or two in celebration at the charming Wherry Hotel on the snow-covered Norfolk Broads at the end of March. The book is officially published on April 18th, though advance orders are being taken now. This book will so far be appearing only as a limited edition hardback, each copy will be signed and come with a numbered 8x10 print. More details are available on the book's own page on this site, and further information, interviews etc will be added to that page in due time. Previously, my photography and visual art has always been more a relaxing hobby than anything like real work, and something which I've tended to do in my spare time. It's therefore been a strange experience to set myself down at the desk every day and approach it in such a different - and more strict - manner. But I'm pleased with the finished product, a book which is full of personal and beautiful images, atmospheres and places. Having said that, I'm looking forward very much to returning to work with the written word!
JMF A couple of fun horror-related events I've arranged and urge any readers in the North of the country towards: On Wednesday April 30th Peter Crowther launches his latest book upon an unsuspecting public. 'The Land at The End of The Working Day' will be published by Humdrumming books, and will be celebrated in suitably sober style. Thursday May 15th is a double-bill - the legendary Ramsey Campbell lurches forth to bring out the paperback of the fantastic 'The Grin Of The Dark' and also his latest novel 'Thieving Fear', and will be joined by Conrad Williams with his award-winning novel 'The Unblemished'. Both events take place at Waterstone's, Manchester. Anybody interested in tickets should contact the store via events@manchester-deansgate.waterstones.com, or call 0161 837 3000 and ask for Mr. Nick Lewis.
JMF My good friend Thomas Western lured me back to my old home town of Glossop recently to show my face at the first of his 'Quiet Nights', a monthly musical extravangaza which will be taking place at the renowned Globe Inn on the high street. Thomas launched the proceedings with a strong performance of his own, being skilled not only at writing but also singing and playing the guitar - and was even joined at one point on stage by his charming girlfriend Stacey. Also entertaining the mostly well-behaved crowd were Benjamin Wetherill and The Big Eyes Family Players. The boy Western did good, and any music-lovers in the Peak District area should join him for his next event!
JMF The following weekend - the chilly, windswept winter's evening of January 26th - I was delighted to catch up with some old friends, Ramsey Campbell, Simon Clark, Mark Morris and Peter Crowther for some good conversation and an evening of telling ghost stories. As the venue we gathered in was York Brewery, we also had the proverbial. Ramsey borrowed my copy of 'Dark Companions' to read his beautifully nasty festive tale 'Calling Card', which I also had the privilege of publishing in the winter issue of 'Scared to Death' way back in 1998. I've enjoyed visiting York three times this past year, and as well as being an enchanting city it was a fitting venue for this gathering of horror heavyweights, as it was also named the most haunted city in the world by The Ghost Research Foundation International.
JMF I had a wonderful time on our weekend investigation around Pendle Hill this January - not least when I found a sale in a splendid formalwear shop in one of the many small, picturesque towns in that area! We visited a whole host of haunted and legendary sites, including Newchurch which is now home to a charming little witch-themed shop and the atmospheric and memorable church on the hillside, from whose graveyard the witches dug up various unsavoury items for use in their spells. One thing worth noting is how many of the narrow, spooky country lanes seemed only to lead us in a circle back to where we'd started from, as though we'd become unwittingly trapped in some otherwordly loop, and the trees across this beautiful part of the land are some of the creepiest forms I've had the pleasure to see - especially when one is wandering amongst them after sunset! I'm pleased to say the rain held itself at bay for us, though there were chills not related to the weather, as this picture reveals...
JMF Welcome to 2008, and what promises to be another adventure-filled and successful year ahead! First of all, the website is back up and running after floundering in the wilderness for far too long, but I'm now set up with a new host and we should be here to stay this time! There's a good deal of new stuff on here already, but do keep checking back over the coming weeks for much more of the same, and of course this news section will be regularly updated.
I'm currently at work on three books - there's an as-yet unnamed book of my landscape photography which should appear in the Spring time. Following that - at last! - will be a large book of my collected stories from the past 10 years, 'This Is My Blood'. And last but not least there's a new collection of original stories. All of this is just some of what I'm bringing into the new year with me, I'm certain there'll be plenty more exciting things ahead. Keep watching, keep in touch and I hope you all had a great festive season. Thanks for your support!
