A.A. Abbott

GREAT CRIME STORY WRITER

newsletter

Thank You!

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Happy New Year! As we race into 2016, it’s time to thank everyone who’s made 2015 great for me. Most of all, I owe a debt of gratitude to the readers who bought my latest crime thriller, The Bride’s Trail. From your reviews, it seems you liked it! Please tell your friends!

Thanks also to…

…the 20 readers who gave me feedback on the draft book. It’s a much tighter, colourful and interesting read because of you. Special thanks to Liz Ascott, RIP and much missed.

…Katharine D’Souza for her skilful and diplomatic editing.

…Pete Sutton for his fantastic Bristol Litfest events – it was a pleasure to take part in two of them.

…Foyles Bookshop, Brewsmiths, the Grosvenor casino, the Haggerston Tearoom, the Happy Heart Café, Waterstones and others who hosted live fiction events and book launches – they were brilliant.

…Donna Marie Finn of Twitter’s #TheCultureHour and Dave Massey of #BrumHour for their faith, support and inspired ideas. Teamwork is dreamwork after all (take a look at this guest blog I wrote for authorpreneur Amy Morse).

…Glenn Richardson, who suggested the secret tunnels under Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter as the setting for action scenes in The Bride’s Trail – and local librarian Jackie Molloy, who took a cameo role in the book.

…New St Authors, Pigeon Park Press, Simon Fairbanks, Suzanna Stanbury and other writers who helped me out. I love your work too!

…all the authors whose fabulous fiction I enjoyed in 2015 – too many to mention!

…my newsletter subscribers. I hope you liked your free e-book, Something In The City.

Wishing you all great things in 2016!

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I’m a British crime thriller writer, author of full-length crime thrillers The Bride’s Trail, After The Interview and Up In Smoke. My New Year’s Resolutions boil down to read, write and be nice! More in my last but one blog.

My Writing Resolutions for 2016

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While still enjoying a whirl of festive celebrations, it’s never too early – or too late – to set goals. You’ll probably suspect my top goal for 2016 is to write another crime thriller, but can you guess the rest?

Studies show that the most successful New Year resolutions are those that begin after 1st January, and it’s best to concentrate on achieving a few key objectives. These, then, are mine.

#1. Write a sequel to The Bride’s Trail. I’ve written one book a year as well as many short stories, and I’ll do the same in 2016. Until now, each of my three crime thrillers has been a stand-alone story, with a completely different cast of characters. Although writing a series will be a change in direction, I think cunning Kat, awkward Amy and arrogant Ross are worth it. The biggest challenge will be shaping the book into a story in its own right, so first-time readers can pick it up from scratch. I’m looking forward to it – starting in mid-January once the parties are over.

#2. Write more short stories. They’re a great way to relax – I find them fun and fast to write, and I hope readers love them too. After all, in the frantic world, it’s great to grab five minutes for a coffee and an entertaining tale or two. There are plenty on this website, and you can receive more by subscribing to my newsletter. Also…if you are or know of a publisher for short crime stories, please get in touch!

#3. Do (at least) one good deed every day. Sounds trite, perhaps, but over the year that’ll be 366 rays of sunshine in the lives of others. Whether it’s a compliment, a contribution to the local foodbank or helping another British writer out – I’ll be smiling, and so will someone else!

#4. Read, read, read. Hardly a resolution, more a way of life. As much as I love writing fiction, I adore reading it too. (Last week’s 12 Books of Christmas rather hint at that).

What are your resolutions for 2016? Tell me on Facebook!

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I write crime thrillers, mostly set in the British cities of Birmingham and London, but watch this space – the sequel to The Bride’s Trail may travel further afield!