14 March 2024
I'm now an award-winning author for Pilgrimage: Lessons Learned from Solo Walking Three Ancient Ways. More details here.
2 February 2024
I'm back from my research trip to Vienna, Nuremberg, and Cologne, where I was able to work on the plot for Spear of Destiny, ARKANE thriller 13. It will launch in June 2024, click here to be notified on launch.
21 Dec 2023
Beneath the Zoo is out now, and I'm working on ARKANE 13, Spear of Destiny, coming in summer 2024.
27 November 2023
I'm currently editing a short story, Beneath the Zoo, coming soon — and I'm also working on ideas for the next ARKANE thriller which will open in Vienna, Austria.
7 September 2023
My next book is non-fiction but is based on elements of my fiction writing. Writing the Shadow: Turn Your Inner Darkness Into Words with my editor now and I'm launching it on Kickstarter 9 – 25 October 2023.
24 July 2023
Catacomb is out now. Walker Kane didn't believe in monsters … Until they came for his daughter. A stand-alone horror novella.
16 June 2023
I've almost finished Catacomb, which is a stand-alone monster book. My inspirations include the movie Taken with Liam Neeson, and the myth of Beowulf, and it's set in the catacombs under Edinburgh. Coming in late summer 2023.
2 May 2023
I spoke in Seville in southern Spain a few weeks ago, and it was lovely to get some sun, and also to revisit the incredible Moorish architecture of the region, which inspired Gates of Hell. Here's picture of me at the Cathedral, and click here for more pictures on Instagram.
I'm currently working on Catacomb, a stand-alone dark fantasy novel. Pilgrimage: Lessons Learned from Solo Walking Three Ancient Ways is out now on all stores in all formats.
15 March 2023
My new short story, With a Demon's Eye, is out now. How far would you go to see again?
23 Jan 2023
Pilgrimage: Lessons Learned from Solo Walking Three Ancient Ways is out now on Kickstarter (23 Jan – 5 Feb 2023). It will be available on all stores in May.
Click here to check out the Kickstarter
16 Dec 2022
I'm in the final formatting stage for Pilgrimage: Lessons Learned from Solo Walking Three Ancient Ways, and the Kickstarter is ready for prelaunch signups. Click here to register your interest for the launch in late Jan 2023.
20 November 2022
I've just finished the first draft of Pilgrimage: Lessons Learned from Solo Walking Three Ancient Ways, which I'm planning on publishing in February 2023. Then it's back into fiction! You can listen/read my solo episode on A Pilgrim in the Path of History: walking the Camino de Santiago here.
30 Sept 2022
I'm just back from walking the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage along the Portuguese Coastal route. 14 days back-to-back walking carrying my own pack, and I'm pretty tired! I've posted day-by-day photos of the route, as well as gear recommendations on my Books and Travel blog, and I will also be writing a book about pilgrimage as my next project.
It was great to (finally) see the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela and the relics of St James as well as the Botafumeiro, which feature in Stone of Fire.
19 August 2022
Soldiers of God, An ARKANE short story is out now. When ARKANE Archivist Martin Klein joins the Vatican digital archiving project, he finds an ancient letter mistakenly scanned along with the medieval papal decree Militia Dei, Soldiers of God.
It points to a dark secret the Knights Templar once tried to erase from existence, hidden in a medieval fortress under the heart of Paris for almost a thousand years.
As Martin follows the trail to the hidden Templar crypt, aided by biblical scholar Camara Mbaye, they discover something unspeakable in the vaults below Paris.
Who are the Soldiers of God and why must they rest until needed?
5 Aug 2022
I've been working on non-fiction this summer, with How to Write a Novel out now. I've also built my own online store so you can buy books directly from me, including ebooks, audiobooks, and paperbacks — CreativePennBooks.com.
I'm working on an ARKANE short story, sparked by the digital archive project at the Vatican, so that will be out soon. I'm also preparing to walk my next pilgrimage in September, pics will be on Instagram @jfpennauthor or Facebook/jfpennauthor
13 April 2022
I've finished the rewrites of my first three ARKANE thrillers, Stone of Fire, Crypt of Bone, and Ark of Blood. If you buy them, please check that you're reading the 2022 edition on the copyright page.
I also attended the London Book Fair last week, which was a shock to the system after pandemic solitude — but well worth going to! I spoke at several panels and had lots of meetings. I'm now back in Bath and working on my next non-fiction book, How To Write a Novel, and after that, I'll be working on the next ARKANE thriller.
11 March 2022
I'm fascinated by the possibilities for creativity using AI generative art, blockchain and NFTs. It might be early days, but I'm dipping my toe in!
I just minted my first NFT generative art image, Rain Soaked The Ashes Of The Dead. I used the first line of my first novel, Stone of Fire, and a photo I took in Varanasi, India where the first scene is set.
9 March 2022
I'm currently re-issuing my first three novels, written a decade ago. Stone of Fire, 2022 edition, is out now. Crypt of Bone and Ark of Blood will be out before May.
I have another short story out! Blood, Sweat, and Flame, inspired by the Netflix glassblowing show, Blown Away. It's ebook only and I have also narrated the audio version. You can listen here on YouTube, and it will also be coming out soon on your preferred audiobook app.
I'm also working on ideas for the next ARKANE thriller, which will be set, at least partially, in Vienna.
If you like dark Christmas short stories, A Midwinter Sacrifice is out now. At the edge of a blood-stained, ancient spring, a pagan goddess awakens from a long sleep thirsty for sacrifice…
When down-on-his-luck busker, Evan, arrives at the Christmas market, he expects to play tunes of festive cheer for the merry crowd — and to reap the reward for his music. But when an icy winter storm blows in and disaster strikes, Evan must make a choice that can only end in… A Midwinter Sacrifice.
I'm in Auckland, New Zealand, visiting family after several years away. The Covid restrictions are pretty tough but we're it's lovely to be warm in the southern summer! I'll be sharing photos on Instagram and Facebook @jfpennauthor
Tomb of Relics is out now in ebook and print editions, coming soon in audio.
Tomb of Relics is finished and about to go to my audiobook editor, so that will be out on 1 December. I hope Morgan and Jake will travel more for ARKANE 13!
I'm also just back from a week in Northumberland in the northeast of the UK. I walked the St Cuthbert's Way from Melrose to Lindisfarne, Holy Island — which I wrote about in Day of the Vikings. It was a challenge but I made it — so I am definitely over Covid! I'll be doing a solo podcast episode about it on Books and Travel in the next few months, and I'm also planning to write a travel memoir in 2022.
I'm in the last few chapters of Tomb of Relics, so that is coming along well. I still have some residual fatigue post-Covid, but slowly recovering! I did make it up Solsbury Hill last weekend, which is the steepest I've managed since before getting sick. On the mend!
I just released a solo episode on my Books and Travel Podcast about London: A Personal History, which includes some of the settings that inspired the Brooke & Daniel Crime Thrillers. You can listen or read the transcript and see the pictures.
I got Covid in the delta surge here in the UK, so I wasn't able to do much for a few weeks. I was vaxxed, so it was a ‘mild' case. No breathing issues, no hospitalization, no death. Hooray! But it still knocked me for a few weeks.
I am now back into writing Tomb of Relics, which will be out 1 Dec 2021. I also made it out for a day to Bristol to visit my mum and popped into the cathedral. You can see pictures on my Instagram @jfpennauthor
I've about 20K words into Tomb of Relics, ARKANE #12. It was called Day of the Martyr, but it has expanded scope way beyond the medieval martyrdom of Thomas Becket.
I've also had a trip to London as restrictions ease further. You can see pictures on my Instagram @jfpennauthor
We've just returned from a week's cycling holiday from Oxford to Bath through the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in England. It's not far from our house, but it's an appropriate outside holiday for pandemic times!
You can read about the journey and see my photos here.
The weather has been improving and I'm in training for my next ultra-marathon. To be honest, after the year we've all had, it's just good to get outside and walking further now the lockdown is almost over.
I finished my short story and submitted it to a competition. I'm deep into research for Day of the Martyr, and I've got a ticket to the British Museum exhibition on Thomas Becket in a few weeks time, after which I will start writing. I hope to have that out in October.
Spring (and hope) is in the air and the lockdown in the UK is slowly coming to an end.
I've been working on a short story and a non-fiction project, but I intend to get back to Day of the Martyr in the next few months. There is a Thomas Becket exhibition at the British Museum so hopefully I will go to that when lockdown ends and no doubt I will find some more inspiration.
While we can't travel in person, I've been focusing on my Books and Travel Podcast which inspires thoughts of future adventures!
The pandemic continues and we are back in lockdown here in the UK, although there are shoots of hope alongside the snowdrops and crocuses that are just beginning to emerge. I'm trying to stay positive with writing, reading, and walking the (chilly) canal! Here's me with my husband, Jonathan on one of our freezing jaunts.
I'm working on Day of the Martyr, ARKANE #12, which is partially based on my pilgrimage walk to Canterbury. I've also (finally) managed to process my thoughts about the trip, which I share in This Too Shall Pass: Thoughts from the Pilgrims' Way on my Books and Travel Podcast.
The Mapwalker trilogy is now out in audio, available on all your favorite audio platforms, or you can buy direct from me.
Tree of Life, ARKANE thriller #11, is out now! I hope you enjoy the escape since we can't travel in person right now.
We've just come out of lockdown here in the UK and there is hope in the air as the rollout of the vaccine begins.
24 Oct 2020
I'm just back from walking the Becket Way, or the Pilgrim's Way, from Southwark, London, to Canterbury and the site of the martyrdom of St Thomas a Becket. It was a 6-day walk through a mix of urban and natural landscape, full of interesting places. The highlights included both Southwark Cathedral and evensong at Canterbury, both historic and beautiful.
After this weird pandemic year of repeated lockdowns and cancellation of travel, I needed to get out of the house for my sanity and doing a long walk was a good way to travel safely as I walked on my own. I also found some ideas for a new book! You can find more pictures on my Instagram @jfpennauthor and also on Facebook.com/jfpennauthor. I will be doing an episode on my Books and Travel Podcast at some point when I've had time to process.
Tree of Life is off to my editor tomorrow and I'm super happy with the book! It will be out in December.
In between writing and editing, I walked a 50km ultra-marathon through the Chiltern Hills north-west of London — all COVID-secure, of course! Here's me at the finish line after just over 11 hours of walking. (Mask pulled down for the photo!) You can find more pictures on my Instagram @jfpennauthor.
I also talk about my love of long-distance walking with Holly Worton on my Books and Travel Podcast if you're interested in hearing about why it is so great for physical and mental health — especially in pandemic times!
I'm about half way through Tree of Life, ARKANE #11 which is about the hunt for the Garden of Eden. Morgan and Jake are back, traveling around the world once more — which is great, because we are all still staying at home. It's weird writing an international thriller in a pandemic year, but luckily, I have a few trips that I can weave in — Lisbon and Amsterdam both feature, and I am adding lots of places to my list as part of my research!
If you'd like to know about the city of Bath, where I live and where Mary Shelley wrote Frankenstein, then check out my personal episode on the Books and Travel Podcast: Druids, Freemasons, and Frankenstein: The Darker Side of Bath, England.
Autumn has just started to creep in but I can still enjoy the sunflowers, even on a cloudy day! You can always find my pictures on Instagram @jfpennauthor
11 August 2020
As things start to ease here in the UK, we went to Oxford yesterday for our 12th anniversary. It was quiet and empty of tourists and students, but still a lovely day out. You can see more pictures here on Instagram.
The next ARKANE thriller, Tree of Life, is now available for pre-order. An ancient manuscript that leads to the Garden of Eden. A seed that can restore the world to nature … but only by destroying humanity in its wake.
Map of the Impossible is out today! The trilogy is complete and although I will likely return to the world of the Mapwalkers, I'm looking forward to spending some time with Morgan and Jake at ARKANE. I've written the first few thousand words on Tree of Life, so that's my next focus.
Even as the world still wrestles with the pandemic, there are signs of life emerging. Yesterday, I saw my Mum for the first time in 4 months and we had a hug, all masked up, just in case! It was good to start getting out and about a bit more, but I have no travel plans for now. Strange times, indeed!
The world is emerging from lockdown and although my writing cafe is not yet open here in Bath, the bookshop is! I have been shopping for books and started the research for Tree of Life, ARKANE #11. Map of the Impossible is finished and will be out 21 July 2020.
I'm really enjoying my Books and Travel Podcast. The interviews have been keeping me sane — a form of virtual travel while we are all staying at home. The latest episode is on Pilgrimage routes of Europe and specifically, the incredible architecture along the way.
It's day 63 of lockdown here in the UK. Things are starting to open up — I even managed to get a takeaway flat white the other day!
Map of the Impossible is now with my editor, and is available for pre-order. It will be published on 21 July, 2020 and is available for pre-order on all the usual stores. I'm now starting to plan out the next ARKANE thriller, Tree of Life.
I also made a video recently answering the most common question I'm asked: Where do you find your ideas?
It's day 40 of lockdown here in the UK, and it feels like the new normal. We are living a quiet life — walking along the canal or up nearby Solsbury Hill most days, making soup, reading and watching TV, and generally laying low. Strange times, indeed.
I'm now editing Map of the Impossible, which will go to my editor in a few weeks, and I have started plotting for ARKANE #11. I also have an idea for ARKANE #12, so I might even have both of those done by Christmas. Maybe more if this lockdown continues and my travel is curtailed!
If you're hankering after some travel, check out my latest interview on the Books and Travel Podcast with Caro Feely about vineyard life in France. It will transport you to a sunny day under the vines with a glass of sauvignon blanc in your hand …
It's the third week of lockdown here in the UK, and it's very quiet on my daily walks along the canal with only the sound of birdsong in the air. Strange times, indeed!
I have managed to carve out a new creative routine, so I am back into writing Map of the Impossible, which will complete the Mapwalker trilogy. I'm listening to the Game of Thrones soundtrack while I write. It's pretty atmospheric!
What a difference a few weeks make! I'm hunkering down in Bath as the country starts to shut down. Schools are closing and restaurants, bars, pubs and many shops are also shutting. Strange times, indeed.
I'm struggling to continue with Map of the Impossible, so I wrote and recorded this piece about Sanctuary, Retreat, Belonging: The Importance of Home. I hope you and your family are safe and that you also stay sane as we all shelter in place. Here's a picture from the snail colony down the road from me that I pass on my daily walks.
9 Feb 2020
I've just returned from a short trip to Bilbao and San Sebastian, the Basque country in the north of Spain. We enjoyed pintxos, txakoli (the local wine), modern art at the Guggenheim and a beautiful day on the beach by the Bay of Biscay. Very unusual hot weather for the first week of February! More thoughts and pictures here.
I found some story inspiration in a painting, Anselm Kiefer’s The Land of Two Rivers, where the Tigris and Euphrates meet. It looks unremarkable in the photos, but in real life, it is more like a sculpture that draws you into the rusting, salted water. I am just starting to consider where it might fit into my next ARKANE thriller but the seeds have been sown … In the meantime, I have been working on a non-fiction project over the last few months but I am back to Map of the Impossible now, so that should be ready before the northern hemisphere summer.
22 November 2019
Winter has set in here in Bath so I'm wrapping up warm for my walks along the canal. I've started writing Map of the Impossible, Mapwalker #3, and I've been doing some research around places to set the adventure.
My fiction writing has taken a backseat to some other work-related travel. I was in Las Vegas for a conference recently, and you can check out my thoughts and pictures from The Strip here.
We're just back from a long weekend in Lisbon researching the history of the Portuguese Jews who fled the city after expulsion and persecution. We also found mummies in a library behind a ruined convent, as well as the best pastel de nata in the city! This will all tie in (somehow!) to my next ARKANE thriller which is based around the Portuguese Age of Exploration.
You can read about the trip and see pictures here on my blog, Books and Travel.
2 August 2019
Map of Plagues is out now!
A city threatened by an ancient plague. A love across borders. A desperate choice that could break their worlds apart forever. Join Sienna, Finn, Mila and the Mapwalker team as they hunt for the Map of Plagues across the Borderlands and into the Uncharted.
I had a couple of gin and tonics to celebrate 🙂 and I'll be back to writing soon. Map of the Impossible will complete the trilogy and I have some ideas for that, but first, I have some research to do for the next ARKANE thriller which will be around the Portuguese empire. We're heading to Lisbon in September so watch out for pictures from there.
3 July 2019
I've just got back from Spain where I was at my Dad's 70th birthday along with my (many) siblings. Sun and sangria on tap 🙂 plus a short trip to the medieval city of Girona. You can see all the pictures on Instagram @jfpennauthor
Map of Plagues is edited and with my proofreader. Now out on pre-order – will be available from 1 August 2019.
I'm also now blogging and podcasting at BooksAndTravel.page. In a recent episode, I talked about my time at Oxford: Decadence, Discipline, and Dreaming Spires.
I've just moved house so life has been a little crazy!
I finished the first draft of Map of Plagues just before moving in, so I'm about to start my edits … as well as enjoying the beautiful views across the valley.
(Bath, Somerset, UK).
9 April 2019
I'm still working on Map of Plagues, and have also started thinking about the next ARKANE thriller. I spent last week in Amsterdam doing book research. Click here for my album on Flickr.
I've also launched my new site, www.BooksAndTravel.page, where I have a new podcast and blog sharing stories from my own travels and also those of other authors.
I'm 25,000 words into Map of Plagues, the next Mapwalker Dark Fantasy thriller. You can find some of the images inspiring me on Pinterest here.
A Thousand Fiendish Angels, narrated by me (!) is now available in audiobook, and I've also recorded my short story, The Dark Queen as well. We've had some beautiful spring weather recently. The picture right is from a walk along the canal near where I live. More pics here on Instagram @jfpennauthor.
After the launch of Valley of Dry Bones, I needed a break! I spent December in New Zealand and the Gold Coast, Australia for some family events.
Now I'm back in Bath and have been recording A Thousand Fiendish Angels in audiobook format, so you can expect that soon. I'm planning on starting the next Mapwalker book in February.
An ancient prophecy.
An occult secret.
The power to raise the dead.
Valley of Dry Bones is out now in ebook, print and Large Print editions. Coming soon in audiobook and Hardback editions.
Valley of Dry Bones is just back from my editor! I have some changes to make before it goes to some expert beta readers to check the details around New Orleans and San Francisco. It's available for pre-order and now begins the preparation for publishing on 23 October, 2018.
21 August 2018
I'm just shy of 50,000 words for Valley of Dry Bones, ARKANE #10 and heading towards the finish line for the first draft! Then I'll be onto editing.
I've just written a scene at the library of the San Francisco monastery and basilica in Lima, Peru, where the Spanish Conquistador, Pizarro, set up his city.
I'm 25,000 words into Valley of Dry Bones now, and weaving together the Catholic history of New Orleans and San Francisco, with the Hand of Ezekiel relic and ideas around voodoo, zombies and raising the dead. It's a lot of fun to write, and as usual, I am finding some fascinating history that ties into a story I thought I was making up 🙂
For now, click here for my Pinterest Board where I collect pictures of my research as I write.
I thought I'd finished the research for Valley of Dry Bones, but then I visited Palma on the Mediterranean island of Mallorca. I discovered that Junipero Serra, a 13th century Franciscan monk whose relic I saw in Mission Dolores, San Francisco, was born and educated there. I ended up visiting the village of Petra, where he was born and now I have a whole lot more for Morgan Sierra to do! The picture (right) is a statue of Junipero with a First Nation child outside the 13th century church of San Francisco in Palma. Very cool synchronicity as I was there for a yoga retreat with no idea of this until I discovered this statue!
I'm just back from Madrid and Toledo in Spain, where I (finally) finished the research for the next ARKANE thriller, current working title, Valley of Dry Bones. I'll be tying together medieval Spain, New Orleans and San Francisco on Morgan and Jake's next adventure which should be out Fall/Winter 2018. Click here for my photo album on Flickr.
I've just spent a (rather wet) week walking on the Amalfi Coast in Italy. I finally got to visit the Duomo where the relic of St Andrew is kept – and which featured in Stone of Fire when Morgan Sierra has a motorbike chase in the winding streets. You can find all the photos here on Flickr or a selection on Instagram.com/jfpennauthor. I'm back into the screenplay for Map of Shadows, so a busy few weeks ahead.
I finished the draft of the screenplay and am going on a screenwriting course next month when I will finish it and then submit it to agents. Exciting!
In the meantime, I have just published The Dark Queen, a supernatural thriller short story. It's based on an exhibition about sunken Egypt that I visited a few years back. You can see all the pictures that inspired the story here on Pinterest.
I'm currently adapting Map of Shadows into a screenplay, which is a fascinating process. The big difference is that on the screen, you can't see inside the character's head, so you can only ‘show' what's happening in the exterior world. The character must be revealed through action and dialogue, not interior thoughts. I've been considering similar feature films, and I think it shares similarities with coming of age fantasy thrillers like Divergent, along with the magical aspects of a split world and the importance of friendship like the Harry Potter books and films. Once the script is finished, I'll be looking at the next ARKANE novel.
Map of Shadows is out now! I'm really thrilled with the book and you can see lots more pictures of Bath here. I've also collected images for the book on Pinterest here.
I'm back from my travels – San Francisco was great, and I then had a week on the wild and windy Oregon Coast at a writer's conference. Suitably moody, misty picture to the right! I got my proofreading edits done on Map of Shadows though and it is available for pre-order now. It will be out in ebook and print on 12 Dec 2017. Not long now! I've been collating ideas for the next ARKANE novel and also some more short story-starters. Lots of fiction planned for 2018!
I'm in San Francisco researching the next ARKANE thriller. You can see all the photos here. Pic left is me at the Grace Cathedral outside their replica Ghiberti doors. The original are in Florence. In writing news, Map of Shadows is with my proofreader so that will be out before Christmas.
A short story of mine, The Dark Queen, has just been published in Feel The Fear, an anthology of dark stories out now. The story opens as an archaeologist scuba diver descends to a sunken city off the coast of Egypt in search of the statue of an ancient goddess …
I've just got back from the Dolomites in northern Italy, where we had a walking holiday in the mountains. I was thrilled to find a jewelled skeleton in the local catholic church, presumably one of the martyred saints. My fascination with relics is amply explored in Crypt of Bone, and I'm always interested in what I find in obscure churches! Click here for the whole Dolomites photo album.
11 August 2017
I've finished the first draft of the Map book (working title), a dark fantasy novel based around the themes of cartography and the meaning of borders. It opens in Bath at an antique map shop just around the corner from me and some of the main action occurs in The Circus, a circular Georgian terrace near where I live and one of the most famous locations in the city.
I'm really pleased to have the draft done, as it's been a hard book to write. The first in a new series and really expanding into a different world, so a lot more to make up! I'll be editing the draft in the next few weeks and then sending it to my editor. I'm planning to have it out before Christmas, and will have a title and cover in Sept/Oct.
I've just got back from NYC where I attended Thrillerfest, the biggest international conference for thriller writers. I met lots of great authors and also managed to do some sightseeing. You can see some of the pics here on Flickr. I was a finalist in the Best Ebook Original award but (unfortunately) I didn't win. Maybe next time! I'm now happy to be back in Bath and will get on with writing the Map book. A fun trip but good to be home.
12 June 2017
I've (finally) started writing my new series, working title Map Book 1. As I write, I'm collecting ideas and images in Pinterest. Click here to see the Board. I'm excited to be delving into new topics and learning new things, and creating a fantasy world just off the edges of our own.
American Demon Hunters: Sacrifice is out now in ebook, print and in audio. It's a fast-paced supernatural thriller set on the train from Chicago to New Orleans … yes, the very one we took as four authors traveling together! Our experiences make up a good part of the book's plot, except perhaps for the demons and the cursed skull!
5 April 2017
I'm super excited to announce that Destroyer of Worlds is a finalist in the International Thriller Writer awards for Best Ebook Original! This means a lot to me as it is recognition for writing and judged by a number of big-name thriller authors. I'll be going to New York in July to the Thrillerfest gala dinner and (hopefully) will collect the award 🙂
I'm on a writing trip in New Orleans right now! I took a train with 3 other authors from Chicago and this week, we have co-written a book together which will be out in April 2017, American Demon Hunters: Sacrifice. It's set on a train from Chicago to New Orleans 🙂 I've also done some fun tourist stuff in New Orleans including lots of cemeteries and a voodoo tour, the House of the Rising Sun, an airboat and then separately, a kayak, into the bayou. There were lots of ‘gators out, and I even got to hold a baby one. So cute (at that size!). I'll be doing an ARKANE book around my research here too. Heading back to Bath today. You can see all my photos from the trip here.
I'm currently in New Zealand, warming up with some much-needed sun after a chilly winter in England. You can see my pictures on Instagram here.
I'm not doing too much work, to be honest! But I am still working on the outline and research ideas for the Map series. End of Days is out now in ebook and print, and coming soon in audiobook.
I'm still in the thinking and research phase for the Map series – not sure what it will end up being! I'm also preparing for the launch of End of Days. Coming soon!
Here's a wintery Bath shot from my regular walk along the canal.
I've started researching a new series idea around maps and cartography which is fascinating! I've been buried in gorgeous print books, some shown right, and writing copious notes and ideas. Those stories will be a while off, but in the meantime, I have finished the edits on End of Days, so that will be ready for publication 31 Jan. We also made some videos of Israel – here's a walk around the Old City of Jerusalem, and here's a video montage of the longer trip including the Dead Sea, Bethlehem and Megiddo.
8 Nov 2016
I've been away for a month in the US for conferences and then in Israel for a book research trip. I re-visited many of the places that feature in the ARKANE books and also found some cool new locations for End of Days, which I'm currently editing. Progress has been slow because of all the traveling, but it will be all the richer for the extra material. Here's the full album of the Israel trip.
I'm currently writing the last few chapters of End of Days, which definitely features snakes 🙂 You can see some of the pictures that inspired the story here on Pinterest. I'm also heading to Israel in the next few weeks and will be doing some research to add to the book, as well as taking lots of pictures, which of course, I'll be sharing here! I'll also have the book cover ready to reveal soon too.
4 Sept 2016
I spent Friday at the Wellcome Collection library in London, researching the plot for End of Days. I had a lot of fun with story ideas and I start dictating the first draft tomorrow. I'll also be working on cover designs as I am now more sure of the major locations. The Ishtar Gate, shown left, originally from ancient Babylon and now in Berlin, is definitely in the short list 🙂 This is going to be one kick-ass adventure!
Just a quick update to say that the ARKANE box-set 1, featuring Stone of Fire, Crypt of Bone and Ark of Blood, made #121 on the USA Today Bestseller list! Thanks so much for your support 🙂
12 August 2016
Very little work being done 🙂 But it's been wonderful weather so we had a few days down in Devon on the south coast of England. Walking, kayaking, lots of ice cream! (More photos here).
August is the month when English people stop work and make the most of the summer, before September brings conkers (horse chestnuts) and blackberries and a return to work … back then with an update on the next book!
I've started working on outlining End of Days, ARKANE #9 and also considering ideas for how my various series will continue. I'm also currently recovering from the Race to the Stones, 100km walk over a weekend along The Ridgeway, one of England's oldest tracks. It was amazing but also very painful! You can see more pics here. In terms of reading, I've just devoured Daniel Silva's latest, The Black Widow, and also Susan Ee's Penryn series, which reminded me of Laini Taylor's Daughter of Smoke and Bone, which I also loved.
I finished the short story based on Sunken Egypt – it's called The Dark Queen and you can see the pictures that inspired it here on Pinterest. Apologies though, as it won't be coming out until end 2017 in an anthology. Now that's done, I'll be starting the research for End of Days, and I also have some ideas around a pagan trilogy. Now I live in the west country of England, I feel the pull of the area to that type of writing …
This week I went to an exhibition on the Sunken Cities of Egypt at the British Museum, which was fantastic! I've been commissioned to write a short story on fear and I'll be setting it under the sea at the sunken city, amongst the dead … The British Museum has now featured in several of my books. Blake Daniel works there in the London Psychic series, and Day of the Vikings is set there, inspired by an exhibition on the Vikings in the UK. It's a fantastic place and highly recommended if you visit London. In the next few weeks, I'll be working on a screenplay adaptation of Deviance, and also writing this short story.
13 May 2016
I'm just back from 2 weeks in southern Spain, a much needed rest after the launch of Destroyer of Worlds. We had a few days relaxing in Malaga and then a week's walking in the Alpujarras, south of the Sierra Nevada mountains (as I am in training for 100km walk in July), then a few days in Granada, the capital of the old Moorish kingdom. You can see all the pictures here on Flickr. I've already written about Granada and Cordoba in Gates of Hell, as I have been before, but it was good to visit with new eyes. I am always fascinated by Spanish Catholic churches and the graphic depictions of martyrdom that form part of the altars. Ideas sparked and you may see some of these emerge in End of Days, ARKANE #9.
I've also been reading a lot – books on eschatology (the end of the world), both religious and scientific, as well as a history of Babylon. I have pages of notes that will eventually turn into a book. For fiction, Jonathan Maberry's latest, Kill Switch, which is based on HP Lovecraft's Cthulu mythology, and Broken Monsters by Lauren Beukes.
21 April 2016
Destroyer of Worlds is out today in ebook and print editions. A launch day is always a roller-coaster and I am always thrilled to see the first reviews coming in. The core idea for this book started way back in 2006 when I visited India for the first time and saw a statue of Shiva Nataraja in Delhi Museum. Sometimes a story takes a while to emerge … but I'm thrilled this one is finally here. We have a video this time – click here to see it on YouTube.
I was back in London for the Book Fair this week, which was a whirlwind of speaking and industry meetings. To be honest, for a travel junkie, I am a little over hotels! I only got back from Austin a few days before heading off again … but hey, I loved being in London! You can find pics from the trip on the Facebook page. The image left is Southwark Cathedral and the Shard, both of which appear in Deviance, with a modern statue of a Roman soldier in the foreground, a nod to the original roots of the area.
I haven't done much writing, but I have been reading. I can recommend John Connolly's latest, A Time of Torment, and also The Teacher by Katerina Diamond. I also found some cool books coming later this year at the Book Fair – Jerusalem by Alan Moore and a hardback version of Atlas Obscura, which gives me a lot of ideas for my books! I'm also excited about the launch of Destroyer of Worlds, which will be available in ebook and paperback on 21 April 🙂
29 March 2016
I'm in Austin, Texas for a writer's conference but also getting some tourism in. I visited James Michener's memorial at Texas State Cemetery on my first morning. His book, The Source, is one of my favorites and still inspires my love of Israel. It was gloriously sunny and I ended up walking for almost 20km around the city, taking photos of the great street art. You can see all the pics here.
18 March 2016
Edits are all done on Destroyer of Worlds and the book has gone to my proofreader 🙂 It's now available for preorder as an ebook on all stores (links here). It was my birthday last week and we went back to London to see some friends. I think the addiction of the big city has finally worn off, and I am really enjoying living in a place where I can get some solitude. I'm in training for the Race to the Stones, and have been doing some big walks along the canal. Here's a glimpse of some recent sun … spring has arrived … I'm heading to Austin, Texas over Easter for a conference so I'll post some pics there in the next few weeks.
8 March 2016
Just back from a weekend in Edinburgh. It was freezing but gothically beautiful 🙂 Here's a pic from the Castle walls to the city. I'm starting research on a new trilogy based on Pagan England. Lots of fun! I'm waiting to get Destroyer of Worlds back from my editor and then will get that ready for release. Also exciting, Risen Gods is now available on audio, and the narrator did a great job with the Maori pronunciation!
Celebrating today as I just sent the manuscript of Destroyer of Worlds to my editor 🙂 I'm very happy with the book, lots of adventurous fun 🙂 so hopefully you will love it too … coming mid April …
15 Feb 2016
A little late on this as I'm sick again, which is a pain! But last week was great as I finished the first draft of Destroyer of Worlds and also attended a 2 day workshop in London on adapting novels to screenplays. So my first screenplay will either be Deviance or One Day in Budapest. Into editing this week for Destroyer. Reading this week, Hotel Arcadia by Sunny Singh and Ashley Bell by Dean Koontz.
5 Feb 2016
Almost finished the first draft of Destroyer of Worlds, and this week I wrote a scene in Fort Kochi, down in Kerala, where one of the oldest population of Jews in India live. They also have these amazing triangular fishing nets (as pic left). We cycled around that area in 2014 and visited the synagogue which makes an appearance in the book. I'll have the draft done by the end of next week and will then start the edits.
I've been listening to some Sanskrit chanting of the Rig Veda as I write, which is strangely relaxing. [Listen here on YouTube]. I've also been reading a personal memoir of India, In the Land of Shiva by James O'Hara, which has given me a lot of great local descriptions.
29 Jan 2016
I'm back into writing hard on Destroyer of Worlds although I'm still trying to shake off a night cough … and it's still raining! There are hints of spring in the early crocuses and daffodils but it's too early for warmth. I've written a scene at the Taj Mahal this week, a place I visited back in 2006 and I found my old diaries and used some of my descriptions from back then in the story. After all, Morgan Sierra is really just my alter-ego 🙂
This week, I've read Curfew by Phil Rickman which is about a small town on the English/Welsh border threatened by an ancient evil that is only held back by the ringing of the town bells every night. But what happens when the bells can't be rung … I've actually had a story whirling around about English occult things so perhaps that will be next on the list after Destroyer …
It's freezing cold and raining in Bath, and I've been ill this week. Still ill with a fuzzy head so I haven't written very much. Although I did write a scene set in the Ellora Caves, which are amazing! (see left)
I read Hitler's Angel by Kris Rusch, on the Nazi theme as we've been watching Man in High Castle on Amazon Prime. Both excellent. Also related to Destroyer of Worlds as Himmler was fascinated with Indian culture so there may be an edge of Nazi stuff in the book 🙂
15 Jan 2016
I'm deep into writing Destroyer of Worlds now, at 21,000 words and I've been researching Mumbai and Goa on the west coast of India for some of the settings. I haven't been to either place but I really want to just jump on a plane and go there now! You can find the latest Pinterest images here, which is where I store my inspiration as I write. This week I read Written In Fire, the final book in the Brilliance trilogy by Marcus Sakey, a futuristic thriller.
8 Jan 2016
This has been my first week writing with dictation and it's gone a lot better than expected, although I look like a crazy person walking around the park talking to myself! I have 10,000 words done on Destroyer of Worlds and the cover is being done as I write this. My aim is to get fitter as I write in 2016, so I'm pleased with progress so far. I also put out an audio (with transcript) about my creative process.
It's still really warm, with crocuses, daffodils and snowdrops out in the park near my house in Bath – very early spring. The house left is in the park where I walk.
I'm reading Harmony Black by Craig Schaefer, as I really enjoyed his Daniel Faust books. It's an FBI thriller with supernatural twist.
1 Jan 2016
Just returned from Prague after a quick break in between Christmas and New Year. My holidays usually revolve around interesting things that might end up in books 🙂 We visited the Jewish graveyard and synagogues, as well as Sedlec ossuary at Kutna Hora, which I used in my book, CRYPT OF BONE. It was great to finally see it in person after researching online for that book. You can see lots of photos here.
I've been reading a lot of thrillers by Indian authors and trying to get my head around the Hindu pantheon – it's complicated 🙂 But I'm getting there and aim to start writing Destroyer of Worlds next week. I am also moving to dictation because of increasing problems with RSI, so initial word count is likely to be slower, but could improve 🙂
18 Dec 2015
It's really mild here in Bath so we've been doing some walking, along the canal and up into the hills around the city. Any excuse for a roast dinner and a pinot noir afterwards! I also discovered that Charles Dickens lived just around the corner from me back in 1840. The plaque is on the left 🙂
I've started writing down research notes for Destroyer of Worlds, ARKANE #8. I'm watching a number of DVDs as well – Sacred India, Ganges and Story of India with Michael Wood. Although I've been to India twice before – once in the north around Delhi, Agra, Varanasi and once to the south west through Karnataka and Kerala – my history knowledge is patchy and I'm also immersing myself in Hindu gods and mythology. I love to start my books with real places and real culture and religion and then spin the story off from there. I find the story in the research and this deep dive is one of my favorite bits of writing.
I've just finished James Rollins' Bone Labyrinth – he is one of my favorite writers, blending science and action adventure. This one wasn't one of my favorites, but still a good read.
11 Dec 2015
I'm in one of those thinking phases where plot are ideas are swirling around. I'm waiting for that moment when it bubbles over so much that I have to write it all down! I sent my short story in for the Stephen King competition. It's over by end Jan, so I can share the story after that.
We've just booked to go to Prague between Christmas and New Year, and I am super excited about that. I've been once before, years ago, and it's one of those places that sticks in your mind. I'm looking forward to doing some research for Destroyer of Worlds and of course, I'll post my photos. [Photo right is Flickr Creative Commons Misty Prague]
I've been reading some old Daniel Easterman books this week, including The Seventh Sanctuary – the author now writes as Jonathan Aycliffe and I just finished The Talisman, which features a Babylonian statue of a horned god that is transported back to the British Museum … Super reading if you enjoy some archaeology and ancient religion in your thrillers!
27 Nov 2015
Risen Gods is out now and I'm pleased with the initial reviews. It is very fast-paced and I'm glad to get it out of my ‘writing system.' That volcano story has been brewing for many years, since I first walked over the Tongariro Crossing in New Zealand back in 2001.
I've written the first draft of the short story for the Stephen King competition. It's inspired by the Christmas market over the pagan spring of the Celtic goddess Aquae Sulis and right next to the medieval Abbey in Bath. It also features this angel, which crawls down the front of the abbey in quite a demonic fashion! I'll get it through some edits next week and then submit it. As it's in a competition, I can't publish it myself until that's over. I'll let you know how it goes 🙂
I also started writing down some initial ideas for Destroyer of Worlds, researching some cool places for settings and starting on the first scene plotting.
20 Nov 2015
I'm finishing the final edits and design on Risen Gods, a dark fantasy thriller, to be published 1 Dec.
I went to the Bath Abbey today and took some pictures in preparation for a short story I am starting next week, to be submitted to a competition in the UK Guardian, judged by Stephen King, my writing hero! Click here to see the pics on Flickr.
I'm also starting to think about Destroyer of Worlds, the next book in the ARKANE series.
Save
Save
Save
Save
Save
Save
Save
Save