‘…Wyatt’s got some serious competition now’

Sometimes one just has to do a bit of shameless self-promotion.

It’s been nearly three weeks since the release of my second novel, Gunshine State, my heist thriller set in Queensland, Melbourne and Thailand, and the reviews so far have been very positive.

My favourite of the crop so far is from Karen Chisholm, Australia’s most consistent and rigorous non mainstream media crime reviewer, who helms the site, Australian crime fiction:

‘What Gunshine State does as well is avoid the trap of style over substance. For all the lean and mean styling and strong characterisations, there is also a very solid plot. Believability again being the key here. There are all twists and turns you’d expect when the people on your side are as bad as the ones you’re up against, and there’s a certain type of person that does not take being screwed over – literally or figuratively – quietly… There’s room in Australian crime fiction for two lone-wolf anti-hero types, and Wyatt’s got some serious competition now.’

Those are terrific sentiments, given how much of a fan of Garry Disher and his creation, the character of the master thief Wyatt, I am. You can read the full review on Karen’s site here.

The other reviews so far have also been good:

‘… a comprehensive love letter to the genre’s rough hewn roots.’ The Big Issue magazine

‘Of the heist novels I’ve read recently, this one stands out as the best example, with modern criminals and a modern edge.’ Crime Fiction lover

‘The pace is fast, the narrative momentum steady. He tells us just enough about the characters’ pasts to give them weight as people, and he interweaves this exposition with the forward action smoothly.’ Criminal Element

You can read  ore about the book and, if you are so inclined, how you can get your hands on a copy, on the 280 Steps site here. Review copies are available by contacting 280 Steps directly.

If you have read Gunshine State and enjoyed it, it would be great if you’d consider leaving a short review on Goodreads or Amazon.

As part of publicising Gunshine State, I’ve done a number of guest posts and interviews on various sites. One of my favourites was this post I did for Hardboiled Wonderland, the on-line home of Jedidiah Ayres, a crime writer based in St Louis, Missouri, on the film influences that found their way into Gunshine State. You can read the post in full here.

Last, but by no means least, in addition to my on-line presence, I’ll be appearing live at a couple of events as part of a little trip I am planning to the US over the next few weeks.

I will be reading, along with writers Tom Pitts, Joe Clifford, Dietrich Kalteis at Oakland’s Octopus Literary Salon on from 7pm. More details here.

I’m also reading at the Noir at the Bar as part of the biennial NoirCon, from 6.30pm at the Pen & Pencil Club, 1522 Latimer Street, Philadelphia, hosted by the inevitable Philly crime fiction identity, Peter Rozovsky.

So any, if by any slight chance, there are any Pulp Curry readers San Francisco or Philadelphia way, I would love to see you.