Monday, November 23, 2015

EDLINGTON LIBRARY VISIT

Libraries have always been very important to me, and I think they're particularly vital in communities where there isn't much else available.

Edlington, near Doncaster, is a former coal mining area which is said to be one of the most deprived areas in England.

However, it now has a very nice new library located in the Martinwells Centre, a community facility which also includes doctors' surgeries, a dentist's, a pharmacy and a cafe. 

I'll be there this Wednesday (25th November, 2pm) to talk to readers about the Cooper and Fry series, with copies of the books on sale. Tickets are just £2, refreshments included. 

To be sure of a place, phone Edlington Library on 01302 736470, or just turn up on the day.

Tuesday, November 3, 2015

NOTTINGHAM CRIME EVENING


Don't miss 'The Line-Up' - an evening of crime fiction coming up at Waterstones Nottingham on Friday 6th November.

Suspect number one: Steven Dunne

Steven's explosive and gripping self-published debut in 2008, 'The Reaper', dropped a bomb on the crime scene and led to a string of thrillers starring the troubled DI Damen Brook. He presents Eexhibit A: his latest novel 'A Killing Moon'.

Suspect number two: Glenis Wilson 

Already a celebrated author of literary fiction Glenis has turned her talented hand to crime, 'Dead Certainty' was released earlier this year to widespread acclaim. She will bring Exhibit B: her second crime novel set in the hidden underbelly of the world of horse racing, 'Dead On Course'.

Suspect number three: Stephen Booth

Derbyshire's grand master, the multiple award-winner has a rap-sheet 15 novels long, starring his contrasting characters, Cooper and Fry. Exhibit C is the latest Cooper & Fry novel 'The Murder Road'.

Tickets are just £3 from Waterstones. Call now to reserve your place!

Tickets and further details on: 0115 947 0069

https://www.waterstones.com/events/the-line-up-with-steven-dunne-glenis-wilson-and-stephen-booth/nottingham

Sunday, October 25, 2015

BLACK DOG 99p OFFER

In the UK, the ebook edition of the first Ben Cooper and Diane Fry novel BLACK DOG is currently available to download at the special offer price of just 99p!

Ebook editions are available in all formats: 
Amazon Kindle
Kobo
Nook
Apple iBooks 
Google Play 
and 
eBooks from Sainsbury's 

You can also purchase BLACK DOG directly from HarperCollins UK:
http://www.harpercollins.co.uk/9780007370689/black-dog/

Why not take the opportunity to introduce a friend to the Cooper and Fry series? They'll thank you for it!

Read further details of the 99p ebook offer from Book Perk:


http://links.harpercollins.mkt5882.com/servlet/MailView?ms=MTIzNTg3MzgS1&r=NTY3OTczMjg0NDMS1&j=NjAzNjQyMTI0S0&mt=1&rt=0

Monday, July 27, 2015

BOOKS IN THE CASTLE - WITH PETER ROBINSON


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In August, Nottinghamshire hosts a new literary event when the first Newark Book Festival is held. It boasts a fantastic venue in the grounds of the historic Newark Castle (hence the festival's tagline 'Books in the Castle'). 

The castle's long history includes its important role in the English Civil War and its fame as the place where King John died after issuing Magna Carta and suffering a disaster crossing The Wash. The castle stands right alongside the River Trent, and Newark has many other attractions to make it well worth a visit if you've never been before.

This festival came about following an event I did at the Storytellers Bookshop in Tuxford, Nottinghamshire, earlier this year. During a chat with the owner, Paul Trickett, he mentioned that he lived in Newark and that he'd always thought the town should have its own book festival. I thought so too, and added "someone ought to organise one". And Paul went off and did it! 


He's done an amazing job putting it all together and getting some fantastic authors to take part over the two days (Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th August). Please come along and support it if you're in the area. 


Full details of the festival are on the 'Books in the Castle' website here:

http://www.booksinthecastle.co.uk/

And I'll be there, of course. On the Saturday I'm doing a special event with one of our top crime novelists - the wonderful Peter Robinson (pictured left), author of the Inspector Banks series (now DCI Banks on TV). I've been reading Peter's books for years, and I'm thrilled to be sharing the stage with him (or a marquee, at least). 

Our crime fiction event will be on Saturday 8th August at 4pm, when we'll be chaired by Hull crime writer Nick Quantrill. 

Though admission to the castle grounds is free for the festival, places for our event are limited and tickets are £8 each. Tickets are available from WH Smith 38 Market Place, Newark (phone 01636 677518), or from the Secret Garden Cafe, 6 Stodman Street, Newark (phone 01636 676999) or can be booked online here:

http://www.etickets.to/buy/?e=12869

Don't forget - the capacity of the marquee is limited, so don't delay in reserving your places! 

Books will also be available to buy and get signed on the day, of course.   

Sunday, July 5, 2015

COUNTDOWN TO THE MURDER ROAD

The 15th novel featuring young Derbyshire police detectives Ben Cooper and Diane Fry will be published in the UK on 16th July. 

THE MURDER ROAD explores the consequences on a tiny Peak District community when a lorry which becomes jammed under a railway bridge is found to have a blood-stained cab and a missing driver. 

For residents in the hamlet of Shawhead, there's only one way in and one way out. And some of them may never go out at all.  Detective Inspector Ben Cooper is on the scene with his team from Derbyshire E Division. But the one person who may hold the answers to the mystery is found hanging from a walkway high over the river in the nearby town of New Mills. 

With the arrival of a new sergeant, Cooper is unsure of his position in E Division. So who will he turn to when his case takes a dramatic turn?

THE MURDER ROAD is set around the towns of New Mills and Whaley Bridge, in the north west corner of Derbyshire. Locations range from the Torrs gorge under New Mills, with its spectacular Millennium Walkway (above), to the recently restored canal complex at Bugsworth Basin (below). 







Launch events are coming up soon for THE MURDER ROAD. 

I'll be doing two evenings around publication time - one at Chesterfield Library (Wednesday 15th July) and a second at Spring Bank Arts in New Mills (Friday 17th July) - followed by signings at bookshops in Retford, Cromford and Chapel-en-le-Frith.

To make sure of a place at the launch events, book your tickets now. Details of how to book are below: 

WEDNESDAY 15th JULY, 7pm
Chesterfield Library Theatre, New Beetwell Street, Chesterfield, Derbyshire S40 1QN - launch event for THE MURDER ROAD, in conjunction with Waterstones Chesterfield. Tickets £5. To book a place, visit the Chesterfield Library help desk, or phone the library on 01629 533400.

FRIDAY 17th JULY, 7.30pm
Spring Bank Arts, Spring Bank, New Mills, Derbyshire SK22 4BH - launch event for THE MURDER ROAD. Tickets £6 (including a glass of Pimms) are available from Spring Bank Arts, from High Street Books in New Mills, or online at: http://www.wegottickets.com/event/324352

SATURDAY 18th JULY, 10am - 12pm
Bookworm, 1 Spa Lane, Retford, Nottinghamshire DN22 6EA - signing for THE MURDER ROAD. Phone 01777 869224 or email: sales@bookwormretford.co.uk

SATURDAY 18th JULY, 2.30 - 4.30pm
Scarthin Books, The Promenade, Cromford, Derbyshire DE4 3QF - signing for THE MURDER ROAD. Phone 01629 823272 or email: nickscarthin@gmail.com

SATURDAY 25th JULY, 10.30am - 12.30pm
Reading Matters, 48 Market Street, Chapel-en-le-Frith, High Peak, Derbyshire SK23 0HY - signing for THE MURDER ROAD. Phone 01298 938166 or email: readingmatterschapel@gmail.com

Meanwhile, THE MURDER ROAD can be pre-ordered in hardback and ebook editions here:

Amazon UK:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Murder-Road-Cooper-Fry/dp/0751559946/

Waterstones:
http://www.waterstones.com/book/the-murder-road/stephen-booth/9780751559941

The Hive:
http://www.hive.co.uk/book/the-murder-road/20630776/

Or call in at your local independent bookshop to get it on order! 

Monday, May 11, 2015

COOPER & FRY EBOOK BUNDLE FOR $1.99

Warning: reading this ebook bundle may result in a Cooper & Fry addiction! Today's Top Deal at BookGorilla - three novels for just $1.99!

http://bookgorilla.com/deals

The Cooper and Fry Mystery Collection #1 is on offer for US readers to download until 18th May. 

Get the first three books in the Ben Cooper and Diane Fry series - Black Dog, Dancing with the Virgins and Blood on the Tongue - all together in one volume:

Amazon Kindle:
http://www.amazon.com/Cooper-Fry-Mystery-Collection-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B00N81I6TU/

Barnes & Noble Nook:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-cooper-and-fry-mystery-collection-1-stephen-booth/1120303526?ean=9780062390431

Eleven more titles in the series are also available. 

Saturday, May 2, 2015

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, COOPER & FRY!



A happy birthday to Ben Cooper and Diane Fry.

Yes, May 2nd 2015 marks exactly 15 years since the first appearance in the world of the Derbyshire detective duo. This was the date my debut Cooper and Fry novel BLACK DOG was originally published in the UK by HarperCollins. 

Many more editions have followed in succeeding years - not to mention at least 14 more books in the Cooper & Fry series.

Along the way, BLACK DOG has sold many thousands of copies around the world, and continues to sell in substantial numbers 15 years later. It's the book which many new readers start with, as it gives an insight into the characters of Ben Cooper and Diane Fry and their complex relationship.

When it was first published, BLACK DOG won the Barry Award for Best British Crime Novel of the Year in the USA, and was a finalist for the Anthony Award for the Best First Mystery Novel. In the UK, it was named by the London Evening Standard as one of the six best crime novels of 2000 - the only book on their list by a British author. It's no exaggeration to say its publication changed my life. :)

To give you an idea of the history of this title, below are the covers of 24 different editions. Some of them are from the UK and USA, but there are also a number of translations, including five versions in German, plus editions from the Netherlands, France, Italy, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Norway, the Czech Republic, Romania, and Japan. The range of interpretations is amazing!

Many of these editions are still available, of course, and there are even more to come. I hope the history of BLACK DOG will continue well into the future!






Wednesday, January 14, 2015

COULD YOU MURDER A GOOD BOOK?

Murder is on the menu this Saturday (17th January) at Storytellers Bookshop in Tuxford, Nottinghamshire.

This is a recently opened independent bookshop, and I'm delighted to be supporting their 'Murder a Good Book' promotion.

I'll be at Storytellers from 3pm for a public signing, followed by a talk at 4pm, when I'll be chatting about crime fiction and the Cooper & Fry series. If you're in the North Notts area, come along and spend an hour or two with fellow book lovers and enjoy a glass of wine at the same time!

Tickets for the talk are £5 including a glass of wine. To book a place, phone Paul Trickett on 01636 684672 or 07517 386350, email: paultrickett@hotmail.com 
or call in at the shop in Eldon Street, Tuxford. 

More confirmed dates for 2015 are on my website: