To blog or not to blog

Once again, I am beginning my post with an apology, because I have been remiss, failing to post here for a while. Here's why: Life is crazily hectic right now... I know I always use that excuse...
Yesterday I went to a Society of Authors Conference in Bristol, which was interesting and useful. It was good to catch up with a few familiar faces there: Felix Francis, Andrew Taylor, Michael Jecks, Liz Fenwick, to name just a few. I also met Luana Lewis who is joining the crime panel at Uxbridge Library tomorrow, along with Barbara Nadel and Zoe Sharp. On Saturday I'm off to Watford to sign my books at WH Smith, and Monday evening is the CWA Dagger Dinner. Add to that dinner with a group of friends tonight, and going out for a posh tea on Sunday (I'm not allowed to know where) and you will hopefully agree my excuse is anything but fatuous.
Next week we're going away for a few days before the next round of activity begins with more library talks and signings, and Harrogate Crime Festival at the end of July, The Writers Lab for two weeks in Greece, and a week in France for a Literary Festival in August, and then a two week tour of York for the launch of Race to Death in October, when I'll be signing the book at York Races! There are a lot of other events in the diary for this year, including a panel with James Runcie and Ben Aaronovitch. All the details are on my website http://leighrussell.co.uk under 'Events'.
So with all this going on, what has happened to the writing? Well, I'm pleased to tell you that I have finished the first draft of the seventh in my Geraldine Steel series, and have a cracking idea for the third Ian Peterson book. I'll be starting on that in July, once I've finished rereading and polishing the seventh Geraldine Steel manuscript, ready to go off  to The Editor.
I've not been blogging, but I haven't been idle!
In the meantime, the list of topics I want to blog (comment/rant) about is growing. The whole book industry seems to be in meltdown at the moment. No one quite knows what is going on, or where we are heading.

• ebooks vs print books - ?
• amazon vs physical books stores - ?
• traditional vs self-publishing - ?

So much to say, I don't know where to begin! For now, it's back to Geraldine, in my new office...

Visit to Birmingham

A few photos from a weekend in Birmingham. Thank you to W H Smith's in Birmingham and Solihull for inviting me along, and to all the readers who stopped for a chat and bought copies of my books. Particular thanks to fans who came especially to meet me, and travelled to Birmingham or Solihull for signed books. I hope you enjoy reading them!

Visiting Bristol

I've just come back from a fabulous weekend in Bristol, packed with friends and events. Before catching the train from London to Bristol I found Dead End at number 70 on the WH Smith's chart at Paddington station. On the left I'm signing a copy of Dead End in one of the stores at Paddington, and on the right is a photo with a customer for whom I signed a copy in the other branch of WH Smith's at the station.

Meeting Ruth Dudley Edwards, Ailene Templeton and Linda Regan before our panel (left). Pauline Rowson hadn't arrived yet but we're all there at the event (right and below).

After the panel I went for a live interview on BBC Radio Bristol with Graham Torrington.

After my interview, we took a short detour to take a look at the amazing Clifton suspension bridge before returning to CrimeFest to catch a panel with Chris Carter, Tim Weaver, Howard Linskey and NJ Cooper talking about the thrills of crime writing.
By then it was time for the CWA reception where some of the 2011 Dagger shortlists were announced, we met up up with writing friends old and new, and shared a glass or two, courtesy of the CWA.

I spent Saturday at Waterstones Bristol Galleries where the staff were friendly and helpful, as always in Waterstones. I met lots of local readers who bought 65 copies of my books. Dead End sold really well, as expected, with its great cover.
Then it was back to CrimeFest to get changed for the Mulholland Reception (and more wine).
On the left you can see a few happy faces (photo courtesy of the unflagging Ali Karim) Matt Hilton, Ali's beautiful daughter Sophia, and a little person who forgot to pack any heels at the Mulholland Reception. Then it was on to the Gala Dinner where we heard Christopher Brookmyre, Lindsey Davies, Deon Meyer and Peter James. At least I'd remembered to pack my best frock to announce the winners of the Mystery Woman short story competition for 2011.
Returning home after such an exciting weekend, the programme for Harrogate Festival had arrived in the post. It was a thrill to see my name in it!