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 Subscribe to John's mailing list to receive emailed news and information concerning new books, ghost stories, book signings, websites of interest and any other updates. This mailing list is private—your e-mail address will not be shared. 
Dear Folks, Just a quick word at the end of the year to wish you all a very happy holiday season, and say thanks once again for all your support. It's been an unusually busy year, what with the two releases of HELL'S BELLS/THE INFERNALS six months apart, and the publication of THE BURNING SOUL around the English-speaking world in September. It feels as if I've spent most of the year on the road, and I'm very grateful for the warm welcome I got from readers, booksellers, and librarians along the way. Fair warning, then, that I plan to spend most of next year a little closer to home. In fact, I'll be keeping a very low profile indeed for the next three months, as I make headway on the next Charlie Parker novel, to be called THE WRATH OF ANGELS. I know it's really Charlie you want to see, anyway...
In addition to THE WRATH OF ANGELS, I'll also be co-editing a non-fiction anthology, of which more in the New Year. For now, it's just fun to tease you with the promise of things you can't have yet. Still, you're all adults, and you should be comfortable with delayed gratification by now. If you're not, you're probably reading this in jail...
Coming Up in 2012: Did I say I'd be staying closer to home next year? Well, I won't be entirely missing. If you have a new calendar, you can mark a few dates:
March 30 - April 1
April 12-19
July 19-22
October 4-7
ABC to XTC: The Year-End Special Thanks to everyone who wrote in to suggest songs for my special year-end edition of my radio show, ABC to XTC. Congratulations to Cathy Howe, the randomly selected winner of a Burning Soul t-shirt for her recommendation of Bonnie Raitt's "Love Me Like a Man." The shows featuring your choices of the best songs of the 1980s, will air on January 3/7 and January 10/14 on RTE 2XM, although as the list is quite long the specials may extend into a third week. In the meantime, a really nice festive edition of the show goes out for the first time on December 20, featuring Durutti Column, Kate Bush, Tom Waits, Galaxie 500 and all kinds of other seasonal goodies. Regular editions of ABC to XTC air online on RTE 2XM at 10:00 am GST on Tuesdays, and again at 9:00 pm on Saturday nights. If you're not near your computer at either of those times, you can now listen back at any time with the RTE Player, which can also be downloaded to your mobile device. Just choose "2XM," search for "ABC to XTC," and the past month of shows will be available for your listening pleasure!
And an Apology . . . Like almost every other author these days, I have a presence on Facebook—in fact, as I discovered not too long ago, rather too much of a presence. Somehow or other I wound up with two personal pages in addition to the Official Fan Page, which I encourage you all to "like." (Like me! Please like me!) One of those personal pages had been sadly neglected, and in fact overtaken by the other personal page, so we've deleted it. It doesn't mean we're not friends anymore! But the truth is that I have very little time to spend on Facebook, or even on keeping up with email. (My nearest and dearest will tell you it's hard enough to get a response out of me in person when I'm writing.) If you've sent me a personal message via Facebook, chances are good that I have not responded to it in a timely manner, or at all. I'm very sorry about that, but I can't promise that I'll do any better in the future. It's much easier for me to respond to quick comments on the fan page wall, or via Twitter, where you can find me at @jconnollybooks. Thanks for your forbearance and goodwill! That's all I have for now, except to say that I hope the God of your choice continues to bless you all on Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or whatever holidays you may be celebrating in your part of the world. A very happy 2012 to all of you, and special best wishes to the lovely Jayne, whom many of you know as my longtime forum administrator (and now administrator of the Facebook fan page), who is recovering from some surgery at the moment. I feel very fortunate to be able to make a living doing what I love, and it's all because of you. And you. And you. And especially you . . . okay, well, maybe not you. So thank you very much, and I'll see you next year.
Best wishes,
Dear Folks, Me again . . . yes, yes, I know, but after this newsletter I promise I'll leave you alone for a while. No, really. No restraining order necessary. But hey, what can I say: I missed you. Really. Feel the love. Not literally, obviously. That would just be odd . . .
Thanks to all the booksellers and readers in the U.S. who offered a warm welcome to THE BURNING SOUL and its author last month. Signed copies are still available at many of the stores I visited. If I didn't make it to your town, keep reading, because I'll be back for a longer tour for THE INFERNALS at the end of this month. This Library Police podcast touches on several of the topics I talked about on this tour—or if you'd prefer video, check out this interview with Sarah Swistak of central Pennsylvania's WTAJ or this live appearance from Portland's own Great Lost Bear, with Kathleen Shannon of WCSH.
But First! Two Nights with M.R. James Before I head back across the Atlantic, I'll be doing two special events in Belfast and Dublin in honor of that master of the ghost story, M.R. James. My good friend, the wise and witty Dr. Darryl Jones of Trinity College Dublin, has edited the definitive collection of M.R. James' ghost stories, and to mark the occasion we'll spend two evenings discussing M.R. James' lasting influence on many modern authors and filmmakers, including myself. Both events will feature a screening of some kind; details are pending for Dublin, but in Belfast the evening will include a screening of the classic 1968 BBC adaptation of "O Whistle and I'll Come to You," directed by Jonathan Miller and starring the late Michael Hordern. Lovely hardback first editions of the anthology will be available to be signed on each evening, suitable for Christmas gift-giving or your own collection (because no home should be without one).
Thursday, October 20 at 8:00 pm
Friday, October 21 at 7:00 pm
THE INFERNALS: Coming to the US soon!
Americans have many fine and admirable national traits, but even the most ardent patriot will admit that patience is not one of them. Thus I am glad, not to say relieved, to announce that their long wait for the sequel to THE GATES ends on October 18, when THE INFERNALS arrives in stores everywhere. This is the same book, barring some minor additions, that was released earlier this year in Ireland, the UK, and Australia as HELL'S BELLS. There's a nice new cover, too, and you can play "spot the changed cultural allusion" if you're bored. (Americans, for example, are unfamiliar with "wine gums.") For those of you who skipped over the description in an earlier newsletter, THE INFERNALS continues the adventures of young Samuel Johnson and his faithful dachshund, Boswell, as they flee the wrath of the demonic Mrs. Abernathy, still nursing her wounds after the events of THE GATES. In fact, this time around, Samuel and Boswell wind up within the vast wastelands of Hell itself, along with two confused policemen, an ice cream truck, and some very obnoxious dwarves.
Early reviews for the book have been more than generous; in fact, I'm two-for-two from Kirkus Reviews this year, which makes me a bit nervous. They called THE INFERNALS "brilliantly funny, often touching, with enough action to keep adventure fans on the edges of their chairs, this novel combines top-notch writing with cutting wit." And the discerning critics at Publishers Weekly said THE INFERNALS was "a joy to read . . . Despite the terrors of Hell, this highly enjoyable, often funny adventure is buoyed by optimism and the possibility of grace." Much obliged, with perhaps a little blushing, and some abashed shuffling of feet. Readers who come to events for THE INFERNALS will receive special souvenir packets of buttons with designs from the book. A limited number of these will be available at each store on the tour, so if you pre-order a book, ask whether they can send you a packet of buttons as well. We'll also be raffling one limited edition THE BURNING SOUL t-shirt at each of the formal events, because we just can't stop giving.
Wednesday, October 26 at 12:00 noon—Seattle, WA
Thursday, October 27 at 12:30 pm—Portland, OR
Thursday, October 27 at 7:00 pm—Portland, OR
Friday, October 28 - Sunday, October 30—San Diego, CA
Monday, October 31 at 7:00 pm—San Diego, CA
Wednesday, November 2 at 1:00 pm—Thousand Oaks, CA
Thursday, November 3 at 7:00 pm—San Mateo, CA
Friday, November 4 at 7:00 pm—Scottsdale, AZ
Saturday, November 5 at 4:30 pm—Houston, TX
Sunday, November 6 at 4:00 pm—Austin, TX
Monday, November 7 at 5:30 pm—New Orleans, LA
Tuesday, November 8 at 7:00 pm—Alpharetta, GA
Thursday, November 10 at 7:00 pm—Asheville, NC
Friday, November 11 - Saturday, November 12—Muskego, WI
Sunday, November 13 at 1:00 pm—New York, NY
Tuesday, November 15 at 7:00 pm—Portland, ME
Wednesday, November 16 at 7:00 pm—Milford, NH
Friday, November 18 - Saturday, November 19—Miami, FL
Oh, and One More Thing . . . The episode of "Celebrity Masterchef" featuring five Irish authors as part of the celebration of Dublin's status of a UNESCO City of Literature will air on BBC1 on October 19 at 2:15 pm. Episodes are available online after the airdate in some regions, so you can see John Boyne, Eoin Colfer, Cathy Kelly, Sinead Moriarty and myself eat and drink and act like gourmets with the City of Dublin's Jane Alger at your leisure. ABC to XTC, my weekly celebration of all things New Wave, punk and synth, continues on RTE 2XM on Tuesday mornings and Saturday nights. In fact, in preparation for my year-end show, a question: what's your one favorite song from 1977-89, and why? Send your choice to contact@johnconnollybooks.com before October 31, and we'll draw one name at random at the end of the month for a special, limited edition THE BURNING SOUL t-shirt. Thank you! Thanks, as always, for your support, and your messages and comments on the Facebook fan page and Twitter. Hope to see many of you in the weeks ahead. Be well—and happy Halloween!
Best wishes,
Dear Folks,
Just a quick note between the UK and US legs of THE BURNING SOUL tour, to say thanks to everyone who came out to the events in Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England, and special thanks to the booksellers who welcomed me along the way. Thanks to their support (and yours), THE BURNING SOUL hit the Sunday Times bestseller list last week at No. 3, and went straight to No. 1 in Ireland. The reviews, too, have been very kind: the notoriously fastidious Kirkus Reviews called it "an intelligent, plausible thriller, both harrowing and memorable." Let the celebrations begin! In fact, I have no doubt that celebrations will occur in St. Louis late this week, as Bouchercon (the World Mystery Convention) starts on Thursday and runs through the weekend. If you're there, please keep an eye out, and say hello if you see me.
Congratulations to Elizabeth Kavanagh of Arklow, County Wicklow, and Joe O'Leary of Maynard, Massachusetts, who were the lucky winners of signed copies of THE BURNING SOUL because they knew that Charlie Parker's dog was named Walter. Almost 90 people knew the answer to that question and took the time to write in—so thanks very much to all who entered the contest, and we'll obviously have to come up with a more difficult question next time... I managed to lose my phone on tour in the UK, but thanks to all who Tweeted and left kind messages on the Facebook fan page, and apologies for not being able to respond in a timely manner. When I do have my phone, Twitter and Facebook are really the only way to communicate with me, so I'm replacing the little machine, and will do better in future if I can. To save us all some time, however, I'm posting the most common question I've gotten in the last two weeks—apart from "Does it make your hand hurt?", which, frankly, can be taken any number of ways—with the answer:
Q: Are you coming to [my hometown]? We'll post reminders to Twitter and the Facebook fan page page as I go, but this is the whole tour. I'll be back in the US from late October through mid-November for THE INFERNALS, and we'll send that schedule out at the beginning of October; but in the meantime, I'm not keeping anything secret, so if you don't see your town on this list, I'm sorry! Until I master the art of bilocation, I can only be in one place at a time...but if you'd like a sample, you can listen to my radio interview with John McCarthy on BBC Radio 4's Excess Baggage program here, or watch my chat with the lovely Siobhan and Mark on Ireland:AM here. There's even a free sample of the US audio recording of THE BURNING SOUL, read by George Guidall, here.
Thursday - Sunday, September 15-18
Monday, September 19 at 7:00 pm—Denver, CO
Tuesday, September 20 at 7:00 pm—Longmont, CO
Wednesday, September 21 at 7:00 pm—Chicago, IL
Thursday, September 22 at 7:00 pm—Minneapolis, MN
Friday, September 23 at 7:00 pm—New York, NY
Saturday, September 24, 10:00 am - 5:30 pm—New York, NY
Monday, September 26 at 7:00 pm—West Chester, PA
Tuesday, September 27 at 7:00 pm—State College, PA
Wednesday, September 28 at 7:15 pm—Portland, ME The last U.S. event for THE BURNING SOUL will be a celebration at www.greatlostbear.com, the bar that employs Charlie Parker when he needs the extra income. Books signed there will have a special GLB stamp, and everyone who buys a book at the event will receive a free BURNING SOUL/Great Lost Bear t-shirt. While supplies last, these shirts will also be available with books ordered in advance from Portland's Longfellow Books, 207-772-4045, which will serve as bookseller for this event. Quantities will be limited, so place your order early! The full US tour schedule for THE INFERNALS will be posted to the website later this month, and will go out in a newsletter at the beginning of October. Stay tuned! Finally, don't forget the October events in Dublin and Belfast to celebrate the publication of the Oxford University Press's definitive edition of the collected ghost stories of M.R. James, edited by the erudite, and all round good egg, Dr. Darryl Jones of Trinity College Dublin. Each event will include a screening of the classic 1968 BBC adaptation of "O Whistle and I'll Come to You," directed by Jonathan Miller and starring the late Michael Hordern, followed by a chat about ghosts and ghost stories between Dr. Jones and my good self. If you've never seen "O Whistle...", you must, and if you have seen it, then you'll want to see it again. In Belfast, I believe there will also be the option of attending a further screening of "Night of the Demon," Jacques Tourneur's 1957 film of the James story "The Casting of the Runes." Lovely hardback first editions of the anthology will be available to be signed on each evening, and they'll make fantastic Christmas presents. Every reader should have an anthology of M.R. James in his or her house. You have been warned! Thanks, as always, for your support, and I hope to see many of you in the US in the weeks ahead. Well, most of you. Okay, some of you. You know who you are . . . Best wishes,John
 August 2011
Dear Folks, 
While those of you in the Northern Hemisphere enjoy summer—unless, like me, you live in Ireland, in which case you simply coat yourself in waterproof sealant and hope for the best—here in my writing garret it's just work, work, work, and it's all for you. Just when I think I can't give any more, I somehow find another reserve of givingnessitude upon which to draw (hey, if Shakespeare and Sarah Palin can make up words...). I just have too much love for you all. It's a blessing and a curse.
So, as I beaver away on the as-yet-untitled 11th Parker novel, and another project about which I cannot yet speak for fear of jinxing it, preparations are underway for the release of the tenth Parker book, THE BURNING SOUL, in stores in Ireland, the UK and Australia on September 1, and in the U.S. and Canada on September 6. That starts what promises to be a very busy autumn indeed, with short tours of the UK and the US, several special events, a conference or two, and maybe even some giveaways along the way. Much to convey and much to discuss, so keep reading... 
THE BURNING SOUL 
Twelve years ago, Charlie Parker left the New York Police Department after the murder of his wife and daughter, and began a journey that has uncovered things he couldn't have imagined about the world and himself. Those revelations continue in THE BURNING SOUL, which the kind and discerning souls at Kirkus Reviews have called "an intelligent, plausible thriller, both harrowing and memorable."
As a teenager, Randall Haight and a friend murdered a 12-year-old girl. Tried and sentenced as an adult, Haight got a new name and a new life upon his release. He wound up in the small coastal town of Pastor Bay, Maine. Now, almost 30 years later, another young girl has disappeared... and someone knows Randall Haight's secret. Parker reluctantly agrees to look for the blackmailer, but can't help being drawn into the larger search for 14-year-old Anna Kore. He doesn't want to keep Randall Haight's secrets—but he doesn't know all of those secrets himself. I'm hoping THE BURNING SOUL will reward longtime readers, while being accessible to readers who are new to the series. It's similar in tone, perhaps, to THE UNQUIET, but I very consciously set out to write a book that used violence very sparingly, and relied more on a sense of threat and unease. It's a book about identity, I suppose, and you can read an excerpt from it here.
BUT FIRST! You read more than two books a year, don't you? Of course you do. And because you do, you will be interested to know that I'll be at the Gutter Bookshop on Wednesday, August 10 at 6:30 pm to help launch ABSOLUTE ZERO COOL, the new book by Declan Burke, man-about-town and host of the essential Crime Always Pays blog. Mr. Burke, who edited the fine anthology DOWN THESE GREEN STREETS (about which more anon), describes ABSOLUTE ZERO COOL as "a whimsical black comedy about blowing up hospitals," and the brilliant Scott Phillips called it "A harrowing and yet hilarious examination of the gradual disintegration of a writer's personality." Come along and say hi. There'll be wine! If you can't make it to the launch, you can order a signed book directly from the Gutter Bookshop. They ship all over the world. John will also be in Norway for the release of the Norwegian translation of DARK HOLLOW. Tuesday, August 16 at 7:00 pm John Connolly in conversation with Jo Nesbø Litteraturhuset, in Amalie Skram Wergelandsveien 29 Oslo, Norway 22 95 55 30 www.litteraturhuset.no
THE NEVERENDING TOUR, IRELAND/UK The Irish launch of THE BURNING SOUL will happen at Easons, O'Connell Street, Dublin at 7:30pm on Monday August 29th. This will be the ONLY Irish event for the book due to its near-simultaneous publication worldwide, and may take the form of a public interview. Easons have been great supporters of my work ever since EVERY DEAD THING, and this is the first opportunity I've had to do an event like this for them. As always, if you're not able to get to any of the tour events, your best source for signed copies of THE BURNING SOUL will be my two "home" stores: The Gutter Bookshop in Dublin and No Alibis in Belfast. Both have already begun to accept orders, both will have hardback first editions and, as always, we'll include a little extra something with their books as a thank you for supporting independent booksellers. Oh, and do check out details of the special event in Maine on Wednesday, September 28th, should you happen to be in that part of the world, or fancy bagging a t-shirt!
Monday, August 29 at 7:30 pm
Thursday, September 1 at 6:00 pm
Friday, September 2 at 12:30 pm
Friday, September 2 at 6:00 pm
Saturday, September 3 at 12:00 noon
Saturday, September 3 at 7:30 pm
Sunday, September 4 at 12:00 noon
Sunday, September 4 at 4:00 pm
Monday, September 5 at 12:30 pm
Monday, September 5 at 7:00 pm
Tuesday, September 6 at 11:00 am
Tuesday, September 6 at 1:00 pm
Tuesday, September 6 at 7:00 pm
Wednesday, September 7 at 12:30 pm
Wednesday, September 7 at 7:00 pm
Thursday, September 8 at 12:30 pm
Thursday, September 8 at 5:00 pm
Thursday, September 8 at 7:00 pm
Friday, September 9 at 12:30 pm
Friday, September 9 at 6:00 pm
Sunday, October 2 at 11:00 am
THE NEVERENDING TOUR, USA The US tour for THE BURNING SOUL is quite short, but will be followed by a longer stay in October—November, after the publication of THE INFERNALS (the sequel to THE GATES, published elsewhere as HELL'S BELLS.) Details of that tour will be posted to the website in September, and will be included in a later newsletter. 
Note that I'll be part of "Down These Green Streets," a day-long showcase of Irish crime writing at New York University's Glucksman Ireland House on Saturday, September 24. This is a program dear to my heart, co-sponsored by Glucksman Ireland House and Imagine Ireland, an initiative of Culture Ireland. Several of the contributors to DOWN THESE GREEN STREETS will discuss various aspects of Irish crime writing; confirmed participants will include Declan Burke, Declan Hughes, Arlene Hunt, Stuart Neville, and Professor Ian Ross of Trinity College, as well as myself. We're confirming a couple of other Irish authors, and more details will be coming in September's newsletter.
Thursday—Sunday, September 15-18
Monday, September 19 at 7:00 pm
Tuesday, September 20 at 7:00 pm
Wednesday, September 21 at 7:00 pm
TWO SPECIAL EVENTS: HALLOWEEN WITH M.R. JAMES When people ask me—as they sometimes do—about my influences, a name that always comes up is M.R. James. Then people say, "Elmore James?" and I have to explain that no, it's M.R. James, the Oxford scholar who is now best remembered as the author of some of the creepiest ghost stories ever written. M.R. James' short stories were a direct influence on several of the pieces in my own NOCTURNES, and the stories are just as frightening now as they were when he first read them aloud on a Christmas Eve at the turn of the last century. My friend Dr. Darryl Jones, a gentleman and scholar in his own right, has edited the definitive COLLECTED GHOST STORIES by M.R. James, to be published in October by Oxford University Press, 528 pages of sheer shudder-inducing wonderfulness. To celebrate, I am delighted to join him for two special Halloween events to celebrate this book, each of which will include a screening of the classic 1968 BBC adaptation of "O Whistle and I'll Come to You," directed by Jonathan Miller and starring the late Michael Hordern. If you've never seen it, you must, and if you have seen it, then you'll want to see it again. In Belfast, I believe there will also be the option of attending a further screening of "Night of the Demon," Jacques Tourneur's 1957 film of the James story "The Casting of the Runes." Lovely hardback first editions of the anthology will be available to be signed at each event, and they'll make fantastic Christmas presents. Every reader should have an anthology of M.R. James in his or her house. You have been warned!
Thursday, October 20 at 8:00 pm
Friday, October 21 at 7:00 pm
THE ONLINE CONVERSATION Several years ago, back in what seems like the early days of the Internet, I set up a discussion forum on my website so readers could talk to each other—and to me—about my books, other books, and anything else they liked. We were on the cutting edge, right up there with 8-track tape and Betamax, or so it now seems. Over the years the forum has been a lively place, moderated with grace and humor by the wonderful Jayne, and I'm not the only one who's made lasting friends there. Since the forum's creation, however, the rest of the world has discovered how much fun it is to chat online, and now we have a rather bewildering array of choices about how we do that. Although several stalwart members have stayed loyal to my forum, the vast majority of readers are now hanging out in places like Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, Google Circles, LinkedIn and other places I don't even know the names of. All of this presents a serious dilemma for an author such as myself, whose computer time is devoted, as much as possible, to writing. I'm not revealing any secrets when I say I love to talk to readers. After all, I spend about a third of the year on tour, meeting readers in bookstores and at conferences and other events. But that makes it even more important that I get my writing done when I'm at my desk. There's a certain irony in the fact that the electronic message I get most often, by Facebook, Twitter, email, etc., is "When is the next book coming out?" My only possible response is, "I'm writing as fast as I can." Since I am, I have to be pretty strict with myself about the time I spend online. Twitter works well for me, since the 140-character limit allows for speedy hit-and-runs; Tweet at me and you're likely to get a response, short and sweet though it may be. The Facebook fan page, too, has been an easy place for me to check in, respond to quick questions and see what everyone else is talking about. The fan page includes a tab for discussions—so I've made the decision to shut down my own website forum, in hopes that the lively debate that once flourished there will be revived on the Facebook fan page. Jayne will serve as moderator there as well. As the Facebook fan page becomes more active, I'm going to spend less and less time on my personal Facebook page, with the goal of phasing it out altogether over time. That page is getting very close to the "friends" limit Facebook imposes, and if you've sent me a message through that page, you know how long it can take to get a response. I'm simply not able to keep up with it, and rather than delegate that task to a minion—as some authors do—I'd rather be honest about my own limitations, and communicate with you directly when I can. For now, the ways I feel best able to do that are on tour, through the fan page, and on Twitter. You'll occasionally see items on both the Facebook fan page and the Twitter feed that aren't posted by me. These will always be identified by the initials of the poster—either Jayne [JD], or my US publicist, Clair Lamb [CL], or, on rare occasions, my webmaven, Maddee James [MJ]. These are most likely to be administrative in nature: announcements of events, reminders about the radio show, and so forth. Otherwise, you can be confident that the wild-eyed rants and indiscreet mutterings are all my own. Thank you all for your patience and goodwill as I navigate this process. Your reward, I hope, will be a steady, uninterrupted stream of new books to read—and isn't that what you really want, anyway? Thanks to Jayne for having taken such good care of the forum, and to all the members who have visited over the years. I hope you'll all come over and continue the conversation on the Facebook page.
AND IN OTHER NEWS: NEW EDITIONS 
I always say that THE BOOK OF LOST THINGS is a children's book for adults, rather than really a book for children, but young people find their own truths in it. That pleases me very much, and I'm delighted that my U.S. publishers are issuing a new paperback edition, especially for children, at the end of this month. It's the first time the book has been available in the U.S. in a mass-market paperback edition, so if you've been waiting for a more affordable copy, here's your chance. The cover art is quite wonderful, too.
Simon & Schuster's Children's Books will also be releasing a new mass-market paperback edition of THE GATES, just to give American readers one last chance to read the first Samuel Johnson adventure before the sequel, THE INFERNALS, comes out in October. There will be a quiz...
DON'T SAY I NEVER GIVE YOU ANYTHING And now, just to make sure you still like me, a giveaway. I'll give away signed first editions of THE BURNING SOUL to two lucky readers, chosen at random, who can tell me the name of Charlie Parker's dog. Send your responses to contact@johnconnollybooks.com before August 31, and please don't enter if you've won something from me in the past 12 months, because you're just too darned lucky and you should really be spending your time filling out lottery tickets instead. And that's all I've got for now. Well, it's not all I've got, but this newsletter's already nine pages, and did I mention I was writing a book? Hope to see many of you next month, and if you can't get there in person, you can find me online (as above) on Twitter and Facebook. The radio show continues as well—ABC to XTC, Tuesdays and Saturdays on RTE 2XM. RTE will shortly be introducing a playback option that lets you listen to shows you've missed, but in the meantime you can check out the archived shows here. Thanks, as always, for your support, and I hope the rest of the season—summer or winter, as the case may be—treats you well. The sun's always shining somewhere or, if you live in Ireland, the sun is always shining somewhere else... Best wishes, John
June 2011
Dear Folks, 
The official tour for HELL'S BELLS ended on Friday, with a last appearance under the Big Top, appropriately enough, at Listowel Writers' Week. Thanks to everyone who came out to say hello, and to the valiant booksellers and reps who smoothed my path along the way—and most of all to Kerry Hood, who has publicized my books for Hodder since the very beginning, and without whom, as I have said more than once, I would be very lost indeed.
If you missed the tour, signed copies of HELL'S BELLS (with button badges!) are still available from these fine booksellers: Goldsboro Books 23-25, Cecil Court London WC2N 4EZ| Tel: +44 (0) 207 497 9230 www.goldsborobooks.com Gutter Bookshop Cow's Lane, Temple Bar Dublin Tel: +353 (0) 1 6799206 www.gutterbookshop.com No Alibis Books 83 Botanic Avenue Belfast BT7 1JL Tel: +44 (0) 28 9031 9601 www.noalibis.com BUT WAIT—THERE'S MORE!
While I think people have seen just about enough of me for a while, I will be making one last appearance tomorrow at The Gutter Bookshop at 6:00 p.m. for a very special event: the launch of DOWN THESE GREEN STREETS: Irish Crime Writing in the 21st Century, a collection of essays edited by Declan Burke and including contributions from just about every important name in the Irish mystery world. Tomorrow night's event will feature Eoin Colfer, who's officially launching the book (and has just written his own mystery novel for adults, PLUGGED), as well as Mr. Burke and contributors Tana French, Ken Bruen, Arlene Hunt, Declan Hughes, Gene Kerrigan, Alan Glynn, Alex Barclay, Eoin McNamee, Brian McGilloway, Niamh O'Connor, Jane Casey and Gerard Brennan. Oh, and me. We'll all be signing softcovers and a very limited number of hardcover copies of the book. Softcovers are €19.99, hardcovers are €25 while supplies last.
Signed books, including a limited number of hardcovers, will also be available from the fine No Alibis bookstore in Belfast, which is hosting its own launch on June 18 at 6:00 p.m.. If you want to attend that event, book your spot in advance, as they expect it to fill up. I won't be there, sad to say, but many of the book's contributors will be, including a few who won't be able to get to Dublin. DON'T MISS ME... And that's it for me for a couple of months, while I get a real start on the next book. But chin up! You can catch me every week on RTE's digital radio station RTE 2XM, where ABC to XTC, my celebration of the music of the 1980s, airs on Tuesday mornings at 10 a.m. BST and again on Saturdays at 9:00 p.m. BST. Keep an eye out, too, for the episode of "Celebrity Masterchef" featuring several prominent Irish writers and myself, celebrating Dublin's designation as a UNESCO City of Literature. Not sure yet when that will air, but I will announce it on the Facebook fan page, Twitter, and the website forum. Those three places are, in fact, the best way to keep up with any new appearances, interviews, etc. Finally, apologies to anyone who turned up at the Hay-on-Wye Festival expecting to see me. There was some confusion over dates, and the organizers should have removed me from the programme, but didn't. Any inconvenience or disappointment caused is very much regretted. Have a wonderful summer, folks—or winter, as the case may be—and don't forget to do your summer/winter reading. I'll quiz you when I get back... Best wishes, John
April 2011
Dear Folks, It's summer, when most people's thoughts turn to holidays, and warm days spent with glasses of cheap plonk on the patio. On the other hand, my thoughts turn to children's events in Leicester, and how much wine Londoners can drink over ninety minutes. A lot, I suspect. Anyway, only a few days until HELL'S BELLS hits the shelves in Ireland, soon to be followed by appearances in stores in the U.K., Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and anywhere except Canada and the US, where all you nice people will have to wait until October for the slightly different THE INFERNALS. To make it up to you, we'll have a special little gift just for you. Because we love you. Really. You're lovely . . . Until then . . .
Where to Buy HELL'S BELLS
Keep reading for a list of places I'll be making appearances and signing books—but you can always order signed or inscribed copies from the very fine Gutter Bookshop in Dublin and No Alibis in Belfast. In the U.K, Goldsboro Books will also have signed copies and the special bonus giveaway items, while supplies last. Independent bookstores are great, so keep them in mind.
For UK and Irish readers wishing to buy HELL'S BELLS, it will be available in some but not all Waterstone's, in their children's sections. It's very much down to the discretion of the individual shops and their children's books specialists, so please do ask them if you can't find it. Otherwise, you can buy it through Amazon or another online retailer; or you can support the independent booksellers who have taken the book to heart. They're listed on the tour schedule, and all will be happy to secure a signed or dedicated copy of the book for you, complete with the limited edition set of badges, and mail it to wherever you are. I'm very fond of HELL'S BELLS, by the way. It's a little darker than THE GATES—well, it is set in Hell, after all—and a bit more epic in scale, insofar as a book that features a band of dwarfs masquerading as elves while traveling through the infernal wastelands in an ice-cream van that permanently plays "How Much Is That Doggy In The Window?" can be considered epic. So, not very epic then, but still . . .
Special Bonus Giveaway Items! What's that? Caught that mention of "special bonus giveaway items," did you? Free stuff? I could be advertising free contagious diseases and some of you would still sign up, as long as you were sure they were free. Nevertheless, while supplies last, I will be giving away sets of four custom-designed button badges, featuring images inspired by the book.    
No, I'm not going to explain the ice cream cone with devil's horns. You'll just have to read the book. Quantities of these badges are very limited, and once they're gone, they're gone . . .
Where I'll Be (with the Bonus Giveaway Items) Events for HELL'S BELLS begin in Dublin, continue in the UK, and conclude with an appearance at the Listowel Writing Festival at the end of the month. IRELAND, NORTH AND SOUTH Thursday, April 28 at 6:00 p.m. A Series of Unfortunate Events, No. 1 Featuring John Connolly and Derek Landy Eason & Co. 40 Lower O'Connell Street Dublin 2 01 858 3800 info@eason.ie Friday, April 29 at 6:30 p.m. Event with Brian McGilloway No Alibis 83 Botanic Avenue Belfast 028 9031 9607 david@noalibis.com Saturday, April 30, 2:00—3:00 p.m. Informal signing—bring the kids! Gutter Bookshop Cow's Lane, Temple Bar Dublin +353 (0) 1 6799206 info@gutterbookshop.com Tuesday, May 3 at 7:30 p.m. Peregrine Readings Series with Kevin Barry and Alex Barclay Irish Writers' Centre Parnell Square Dublin 1 +353 1 8721302 info@writerscentre.ie Wednesday, May 4 at 1:00 p.m. Waterstone's Bookstore 69 Patrick St. Cork +353 21 4276522 manager@cork.waterstones.com Wednesday May 4 at 7:00 p.m. Peregrine Readings Series with Kevin Barry and Alex Barclay The City Library John's Quay Kilkenny +353 (0) 56 7794160 Thursday, May 5 at 7:30 p.m. Peregrine Readings Series with Kevin Barry and Alex Barclay Shannon Oaks Hotel St. Joseph's Road Portumna, Co. Galway +353 (0)90 974 1777 There will also be quick drop-in signings on the 5th and 6th at O'Mahony's Bookshop, Limerick; Eason, Limerick; The Ennis Bookshop, Ennis, Co Clare; Hughes & Hughes, Ennis, Co. Clare; Dubray Bookshop, Galway; and Eason, Galway. If you'd like to reserve a signed or dedicated copy, just let the bookstore in question know and the staff will do the rest. You'll also get your button badges! Thursday, June 2 at 6:30 p.m. Listowel Writers' Week The Arms Hotel Ballroom Listowel Arms Hotel Listowel, Co. Kerry +353 68 21500 Admission: € 15/€ 12; registration information Friday, June 3 at 10:00 a.m. Listowel Writers' Week—Children's Programme John Connolly presents HELL'S BELLS "Big Top," Fossett's Circus, Market Place Listowel, Co. Kerry Free of charge—no booking required! ENGLAND & SCOTLAND Friday, May 13 at 6:30 p.m. Goldsboro Books 23-25 Cecil Court London +44 (0) 207 497 9230 Saturday, May 14 at 3:00 p.m. Waterstone's 153-157 Sauchiehall Street Glasgow 0843 290 8345 Sunday, May 15 at 2:00 p.m. Blackwell's 52-63 South Bridge Edinburgh 0131 622 8222 Monday, May 16 at 6:30 p.m. Seven Stories Ouseburn Valley Newcastle upon Tyne 0845 2710777 Tuesday, May 17 at 6:30 p.m. Carlisle Library 11 Globe Lane Carlisle, Cumbria 01228 227310 Wednesday, May 18 at 5:00 p.m. Waterstone's 91-93 Deansgate Manchester 0843 290 8485 Thursday, May 19 at 6:00 p.m. "The Killer Inside You: Horror in Crime Fiction" A Twisted Tales event with John Connolly, Steve Mosby and Charlie Williams Tickets #2, redeemable against the purchase of a horror or crime novel that night Waterstone's Liverpool One 12 College Lane Liverpool 0151 709 9820 manager@liverpoolone.waterstones.com Friday, May 20 at 7:00 p.m. Waterstone's Unit 32-33 Castle Quay Centre Banbury 0843 290 8127 Monday, May 23 at 7:30 p.m. Swindon Central Library Regent's Circus Swindon 01793 463238 Tuesday, May 24 Waterstone's 1/5 Bridlesmith Gate Nottingham 0843 290 8525 Thursday, May 26 Jarrolds 5 London Street Norwich 01603 660661
A Look at THE BURNING SOUL While HELL'S BELLS is foremost in my mind, I know that some of you are already tapping your fingers, just waiting for the next Charlie Parker novel. You'll have to wait until September, but in the meantime, my UK publishers have come up with a rather stunning cover...
Randall Haight has a secret: when he was a teenager, he and his friend killed a 14-year-old girl.
Randall did his time and built a new life in the small Maine town of Pastor's Bay, but somebody has discovered the truth about Randall. He is being tormented by anonymous messages, haunting reminders of his past crime, and he wants private detective Charlie Parker to make it stop. But another 14-year-old girl has gone missing, this time from Pastor's Bay, and the missing girl's family has its own secrets to protect. Now Parker must unravel a web of deceit involving the police, the FBI, a doomed mobster named Tommy Morris, and Randall Haight himself. Because Randall Haight is telling lies... THE BURNING SOUL will be available in Ireland, the UK and Australia on September 1, and in the US on September 6.
The Radio Show My tribute to the music of the 1980s, ABC to XTC, continues on RTE 2XM on Tuesdays and Saturdays—and through the miracle of technology, the show plays even when I myself am not in Dublin. Tune in on May 10/14, when author, playwright and legendary man-about-town Declan Hughes may drop in to make the case for why Rush should not be denied an entry visa into Ireland. That's if we can work it into his busy schedule. Our people are talking to his people at this very moment, so it'll go to the wire, I'm afraid. If he can't make it, though, I'll try to find something suitably fantastic with which to replace him, but it won't be the same. It's Hughes or nothing, really. The show airs online at 10:00 a.m. GMT on Tuesdays and 9:00 p.m. GMT on Saturdays. If you miss it, playlists are available shortly after the rebroadcast on the Radio Show page.
The Discussion Forum—New! Improved! Coming Soon! Forum members may already have noticed a few changes to the format—the addition of my Twitter feed, for example, and some tweaks to the template that go along with much-needed security updates. More changes are coming within the next week or two, as we consolidate the number of discussion topics and archive old threads to make the forum easier to navigate and possibly less intimidating to newcomers. The archives will still be available, and no private messages should be lost. New features to come will include giveaways, a possible revival of the book club, and maybe even some visits from other authors. Thanks again to everyone who made suggestions, and to everyone who participates in the forum.
These People Have Just Eaten Well . . . As part of the celebration of Dublin's status as a UNESCO City of Literature, the BBC's "Celebrity Masterchef" came to Dublin and challenged three celebrity chefs to feed five demanding authors and the lovely Jane Alger, director of Dublin's UNESCO activities. Unfortunately, I can't tell you anything more prior to transmission of the show this summer or I'll be killed, but contemplating a bit of a lie down, and maybe a small brandy to settle their digestion, are (from left) Jane Alger, John Boyne, Sinead Moriarty, yours truly, Eoin Colfer, and Cathy Kelly.
But Wait! There's More! DOWN THESE GREEN STREETS, a book of essays, interviews and one or two pieces of short fiction, edited by Declan Burke with an introduction by Michael Connelly, and published by Liberties Press, will be formally launched in June with two events. The first will be at The Gutter Bookshop, Dublin on the evening of June 7. The second, with a stronger emphasis on contributors from Northern Ireland, is scheduled for No Alibis in Belfast on June 18. We're hoping that most of the authors involved will be in attendance at one or both of the events. As the book is being released in hardback, it really represents a lovely collectible, and a rare chance to pick up a book signed by most of the major figures in Irish crime fiction. Both stores will be taking advance orders for those unable to attend in person, but if you're free on either night, come along and say hi. More details here. If you can't make it to either of those events—or even if you can—we'll be giving away a copy of the book to one lucky person who sends their name and mailing address to greenstreets11@yahoo.com between now and May 31. Good luck, one and all.
And to Top it All Off . . . No, that's it. I've got nothing. Really, wasn't that enough? Well—if you must have more, check out a couple of recent interviews on the Australian TLC Books blog and the My Bookish Ways blog, where there's even a giveaway. Another giveaway? Even the St. Vincent de Paul Society doesn't give away as much stuff as we do. You're killing us, I'm telling you. We'll be reduced to penury at this rate. Hope to see many of you in the weeks ahead. Until then, be good, and if you can't be good, cover your tracks well— Best wishes, John
March 2011
Dear Folks, How you doing? I'm doing quite well, thanks for asking, especially since I'm just about to hand in the manuscript of The Burning Soul, with the usual misgivings about whether I've managed to fool most of the people most of the time once again. Other, lesser authors might take a little time off after such an event, but you know I am not such an author. No, March is a busy month, and as always, it's all for you.
On the Radio
"On the Anatomisation of an Unknown Man (1637) by Frans Mier," my short story for Amnesty International, will air as a radio show on BBC Radio 7 on Tuesday, March 15. The producer, Lawrence Jackson, is a friend who was responsible for the excellent BBC radio readings of stories from Nocturnes a few years ago. The story will air three times over the course of the day, but you should be able to listen online, both on the 15th and for some period of time afterward. My own radio show, ABC to XTC, continues on Tuesdays and Saturdays on RTE 2XM. I'm excited about the March 15/19 show, which introduces the new feature of guests, starting with the fine mystery novelist and rock-and-roll veteran Paul Charles. Besides writing the Christy Kennedy books, Paul has been tour agent for a galaxy of musical icons, including The Blue Nile, Christy Moore, Elvis Costello, Robert Plant, Tom Waits, Jackson Browne, Crosby Stills Nash, The Waterboys, The Stranglers, Human League and many more. He's a great storyteller and a lovely man, so don't miss it—the show airs online at 10:00 a.m. GMT on Tuesdays and 9:00 p.m. GMT on Saturdays.
Live and In Person My March schedule looks like a science experiment designed to disprove the impossibility of being in two places at once. Those of you with your own jet-packs can follow me from one place to another, but those without may be able to catch me at an event near you. On Tuesday, March 8, I'll be interviewing the Norwegian novelist Jo Nesbø at Eason's on O'Connell Street in Dublin, at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are required; call 018583815 to see if any might be left. On Thursday, March 17, if you're in New York City, keep an eye out for volunteers handing out free books (free! books!) in honor of the first Irish Arts Center Book Day. I won't be there myself, but free copies of THE GATES will be distributed, along with dozens of other titles by other Irish authors, in celebration of St. Patrick's Day. Details are on the Irish Arts Center's website here. Thanks very much to my U.S. publishers, Atria, for participating so enthusiastically. The festival circuit starts on Friday, March 19 in Charlottesville, Virginia, for the Virginia Festival of the Book. My panels are free, but other events require tickets; see details at www.vabook.org. Friday, March 18 at 8:00 PM "Death Knows No Boundaries" A panel discussion moderated by Andy Straka Panelists: Louis Bayard, John Connolly, Lee Goldberg & Jenny White Albemarle County Office Building 401 McIntire Road Charlottesville, VA Saturday, March 19 at 10:00 AM "Death: Another Time, Another Place" A panel discussion moderated by Clifford Garstang Panelists: John Connolly, Alan Orloff, Deanna Raybourn & Paul Robertson Omni Hotel, Ashlawn-Highlands Room 235 W Main Street Charlottesville, VA Saturday, March 19 at 12:00 NOON "YA Books: Great for All Ages" A panel discussion with John Connolly, Jacqueline Kelly, Tammar Stein, Valerie Patterson & Steve Watkins Village School 215 E High Street Charlottesville, VA From there I go to New York, to do an event under the auspices of Imagine Ireland, an initiative of Culture Ireland, at the New York Public Library. Tuesday, March 22 at 5:30 PM Author @NYPL Presents John Connolly 67th Street Library 328 E. 67th Street New York, NY 10065 212-734-1717 Then it's on to New Orleans, for the Tennessee Williams Festival, where I'm also participating as part of the Imagine Ireland program. Tickets are required, either in advance or onsite at the event; details are online at www.tennesseewilliams.net. Friday, March 25 at 1:00 PM Writers Read: John Connolly, Declan Hughes & Gerard O'Donovan read from their works Regal Suite, Royal Sonesta Hotel New Orleans, LA Festival panel pass required Sunday, March 27 at 1:00 PM The Lure of the Irish: Crime and More Crime A panel discussion with John Connolly, Declan Hughes & Gerard O'Donovan, moderated by Diana Pinckley Muriel's Jackson Square Restaurant New Orleans, LA Festival panel pass required Sunday, March 27 at 2:30 PM 10 Mystery Novels You Must Read Before You Die John Connolly & Declan Hughes present their "must read" list Muriel's Jackson Square Restaurant New Orleans, LA 
Finally, I'll head to Ferndale, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit, for the end of Ferndale Reads, a monthlong, citywide program focusing on a single book—this year, flatteringly, THE BOOK OF LOST THINGS. The Ferndale Public Library is giving away copies of the book, and has scheduled an entire month of events related to the book and its themes. They've also put together a series of their own takes on some of the fairy tales referenced in the book, which you can watch on YouTube. Their videos may be funnier than my own stories, which I've spoken to them severely about.
Tuesday, March 29 at 7:00 PM John Connolly discusses and signs THE BOOK OF LOST THINGS Ferndale Reads 222 E. Nine Mile Road Ferndale, MI Tickets are required, but free; contact the library for details 248-546-2504
And on the Subject of Schedules . . . It's getting a little complicated around here, what with two new books coming out in various parts of the world between now and the end of the year, and new editions of a few older titles. As much for my own benefit as yours, here's the current list of publication dates: Late April—Mid-May (date to be announced) DOWN THESE GREEN STREETS, edited by Declan Burke; a collection of essays, interviews and short fiction on the subject of Irish crime fiction. Contributors include John Banville, Alex Barclay, Tana French, Declan Hughes, and myself, among others.
May 12: HELL'S BELLS in hardcover and paperback (U.K. & Australia)
June 28: THE WHISPERERS in paperback (U.S.) August 30: THE BOOK OF LOST THINGS and THE GATES in new trade paperback editions (U.S.) September 1: THE BURNING SOUL in hardcover and paperback (U.K. & Australia) September 6: THE BURNING SOUL in hardcover, e-book and e-audio (U.S.) October 18: THE INFERNALS (U.S. title of HELL'S BELLS!) in hardcover (U.S.) Got all that? I'll be testing you. No, not saying when. Just be ready . . .
The Discussion Forum Thanks to everyone who submitted suggestions for changes to the website forum. We've taken them all to heart, and will be unveiling a new, improved forum sometime around the beginning of April. Congratulations to Shane Mawe, who won the signed copy of CINEMA FUTURA—and if you submitted a suggestion and have not yet received your Charlie Parker/Great Lost Bear bumper sticker, please send your name and mailing address to contact@johnconnollybooks.com posthaste, so that Minion Clair can apologize appropriately and take care of that. Whether it's spring or fall where you are, I hope the winds blow gently and the sun shines warm. Thanks for all your support, and be well. Hope to see several of you soon— Best wishes, John
February 2011
Dear Folks, It's a little late to wish everyone a happy new year, and a little early for Valentine's Day, although that does not mean that each and every reader is not beloved. Well, most of you are beloved. Some of you I've met and, well, I'm sure you'll understand when I say that I don't love you as much as the other readers. Don't get me wrong: you're lovely people, but I just don't feel that way about you. Can't we just be friends? It's not you, it's me. Actually, no, it is you . . . A few items to report . . .
WHISPERERS in Paperback! 
THE WHISPERERS is now out in paperback in the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Australia, and you may have seen an advertisement for it on television. Unless, of course, you are the kind of person who records television programs in order to skip the advertisements, in which case, you can watch the advertisement right here.
I'm sorry, but American readers will need to wait until June 28 for THE WHISPERERS in paperback—although you can still buy the hardcover in the meantime, should impatience overcome you. There is probably a downloadable thingy too, but that's not really a book. Sorry, it just isn't.
New US Paperbacks of THE BOOK OF LOST THINGS and THE GATES
American readers will finally be able to buy THE BOOK OF LOST THINGS and THE GATES in mass-market paperback editions on August 30. Both books have been available in trade paperback, but these new editions will be smaller, and the new edition of THE BOOK OF LOST THINGS won't include the supplemental material that's now part of the trade paperback version.
It'll be good to have these books available in a less expensive format, especially for younger readers. And I very much like the new cover art for THE BOOK OF LOST THINGS.
THE INFERNALS!!!! HELL'S BELLS!!!! You can choose your favorite!!!! Buy both!!!! And get four exclamation marks free!!!!
The sequel to THE GATES will be published under two different titles in the UK and the US. In the UK, it will be known as HELL'S BELLS, and will be published in May. In the US, meanwhile, it will be called THE INFERNALS, and will appear in November. I quite like both titles, and THE INFERNALS was one of the working titles for the book. We'll let you see cover artwork for the US edition after we've seen it ourselves. Meanwhile, the first chapter of HELL'S BELLS/THE INFERNALS will go up on the website in the first week of February.
THE BURNING SOUL: Charlie Parker returns The next Charlie Parker novel, THE BURNING SOUL, will be published in the UK and in the US in the first week of September. I'm still in the process of rewriting it at the moment, but here's a little teaser . . . Randall Haight has a secret: when he was a teenager, he and his friend killed a 14-year-old girl. Randall did his time and built a new life in the small Maine town of Pastor's Bay, but somebody has discovered the truth about Randall. He is being tormented by anonymous messages, haunting reminders of his past crime, and he wants private detective Charlie Parker to make it stop. But another 14-year-old girl has gone missing, this time from Pastor's Bay, and the missing girl's family has its own secrets to protect. Now Parker must unravel a web of deceit involving the police, the FBI, a doomed mobster named Tommy Morris, and Randall Haight himself. Because Randall Haight is telling lies . . .
DOWN THESE GREEN STREETS: A very nice signed edition DOWN THESE GREEN STREETS, an anthology of essays and stories by Irish crime writers about Irish crime writing edited by the wonderful Declan Burke now has a publisher, Liberties Press, and will hit the shelves in April, initially in a rather nice hardback edition. To coincide with publication, we'll be organizing signing events in Dublin and Belfast, to be attended by as many of the contributors as we can possibly round up with the promise of cheap booze. Those contributors include: Declan Hughes, Arlene Hunt, Niamh O'Connor, Tana French, Gene Kerrigan, Eoin McNamee, Adrian McKinty, Ruth Dudley Edwards, Brian McGilloway, Stuart Neville, Alex Barclay, Ken Bruen, Cormac Millar, Professor Ian Ross, Cora Harrison, Paul Charles, John Banville, Ingrid Black, Colin Bateman, Kevin McCarthy, Jane Casey, my good self, and more. We'll give you further details as soon as the signing dates are confirmed. Incidentally, the introduction has been written by Michael Connelly, who is a gentleman of the highest order, if you didn't already know that.
ABC to XTC: Taking Fandom to the Next Level ABC to XTC, my digital radio tribute to the music of the 1980s, continues on RTE 2XM on Tuesdays at 10:00 a.m. GMT, with a rebroadcast on Saturdays at 9:00 p.m. GMT. My goal for 2011 is to bring live guests on to the show, and I'm hoping that among them will be one of my favorites, Wang Chung. If you'd like to add your own invitations, they're on Facebook, Twitter, and have their own website at WangChung.com. Be polite, please; no harassing, as I want them to like me, and come on my show to reward my many years of fandom. Thanks for helping make a young man's dreams come true. Additionally, if you've got other suggestions for guests or would like to request a song, send your hopes and dreams along to contact@johnconnollybooks.com, or leave your requests on the "Radio Show" forum thread. I make no promises, but am a benevolent despot. Meanwhile our first guest will be the lovely Paul Charles who, as well as being a rather good mystery author, has been responsible for touring everyone from The Buzzcocks to Elvis Costello, and Jackson Browne to Tom Waits. He'll be discussing his adventures on the show on March 8th, with luck, but we'll send out a gentle reminder once it's all confirmed.
The Forum My website has an online discussion forum for people of like minds to chat about books, music, and whatever else may capture their attention. It's become a little slow over recent months, as people chat on Facebook and Twitter, but I'd like to restore it to past glories. It's overdue for some security updates and general rehabilitation, so while we're planning these changes, I'm asking for feedback. Are you now, or have you been, active on the forum? If so (or even if not), what changes would you like to see? What categories should we keep, and which should we avoid at all costs? Send your ideas to contact@johnconnollybooks.com with the subject heading "Forum suggestions." As an incentive and thanks for your help, everyone who includes their name and mailing address with a suggestion before February 15 will get their very own "TELL THEM CHARLIE PARKER SENT YOU/Great Lost Bear" bumper sticker, and one lucky person, chosen at random, will receive a signed copy of CINEMA FUTURA: Essays on Favourite Science Fiction Movies, which includes my essay on the 1958 film The Voyage of Sinbad. Thanks!
The Festivals of March Virginia Festival of the Book Events
March 16-19
Friday, March 18 at 8:00 PM
Saturday, March 19 at 10:00 AM
Saturday, March 19 at 12:00 NOON
March 23-27
Friday, March 25 at 1:00 PM
Sunday, March 27 at 1:00 PM
Sunday, March 27 at 2:30 PM
March 2011
Tuesday, March 29 at 7:00 PM Besides all these, I may be doing an event or two at branches of the New York Public Library, sometime the week of March 21. More information as events develop.
And that's all for now. Back to work, as there is no rest for the wicked or their minions although, admittedly, minions do have to work harder. There really is no point in having minions otherwise. Be well, and if you need any ideas for Valentine's Day, I refer you to an old article I wrote on the subject, here.
Stay well,
ABC TO XTC My radio show on 2XM, ABC TO XTC, which mines the coal seam of the seventies and the eighties in the hope of turning up the odd diamond, will continue in 2011. The last show of the year is a two-hour 'ALBUMS OF THE EIGHTIES' special, with all of the songs coming from albums nominated by listeners. There will also be a festive special on Christmas Day, replacing the usual rebroadcast, at 21.00 GMT/4:00 p.m. EST. Further details HERE. That's it. Another year over, a new one about to begin, to paraphrase John Lennon. I'd like to wish you all a very happy Christmas, and peaceful and prosperous New Year. We'll talk again in 2011. Stay well, John
November 2010
Dear Folks,
The new Charlie Parker novel, to be published in September 2011, will be titled THE BURNING SOUL. It's a very different beast from THE WHISPERERS, and probably has more in common tonally with THE UNQUIET. I'm still working on it at the moment, and am likely to continue doing so until March, but I'll post more details about it early in the new year. HELL'S BELLS HELL'S BELLS, the sequel to THE GATES, has been received favourably by my publishers, which is great. For those of you who don't know, the books that don't fit into the Charlie Parker series, including THE BOOK OF LOST THINGS, NOCTURNES, THE GATES, and HELL'S BELLS, aren't written to contract. Instead, I take a bit of time out to try something new, and then present it to my publishers. I feel that it gives me the freedom to experiment, but there's also the possibility that my publishers could conceivably reject what I've done. Thankfully, that's never happened, and neither have my publishers tried to guide me in particular directions for commercial reasons. In other words, I'm very fortunate to have the publishers that I do. I have finally bowed to the inevitable, and am now on Twitter, which I'm rather enjoying, to be honest. It's a means of reminding readers about stuff, as well as getting the odd rant off my chest, although I am going to try to use it in constructive ways, as you'll see below. Basically, I'm just trying to reassure you all that you won't be getting Tweets along the lines of "Colonoscopy going well", or "Just had a bun. Bit stale." After all, there's information, and then there's too much information. TWENTY MYSTERY NOVELS THAT YOU SHOULD READ At the recent Bouchercon, Declan Hughes and I presented a list of ten mysteries that we both felt all serious mystery fans should read, but there were some on which we disagreed, and others that only made an extended list. So, again from next week, I'm going to post one book a day to Twitter, with a little note about each. At the end of the twenty days, I'll put the list on the website, along with additional recommended books by the authors in question. Please feel free to comment, or even disagree, although if you disagree you'll be wrong, obviously. The list will then form the basis for . . . THE NEW BOOK CLUB Once the list is posted, it will form the basis for a book club discussion for the next 20 months or so. One or two may have been part of the earlier book club incarnation, though, so I might give people the option of reading that book again, or choosing another book by the author. I'll have to think about that one. ABC TO XTC My radio show on 2XM, ABC TO XTC, seems to be going surprisingly well, especially given the fact that I'm hosting it. RTE, the broadcaster responsible, is currently examining the possibility of a "Listen Back" option for the show, which would allow listeners to access the show anytime they wanted to for a limited time after broadcast. For now, though, it's still only twice weekly, but I welcome requests, kind comments, general speculation on the whereabouts of lost 80s icons, and other such amusements. Hey, it's what Facebook and Twitter and the forum are for! Actually, I've been having great fun choosing songs with it. Yesterday, in my car, I was listening to "Hey You (The Rock Steady Crew)" and wondering if I could get away with playing it. I suspect that I might . . . SIGNED BOOKS Recent visitors to the website will notice that we've changed elements of it, with more improvements to come, including a revamped forum. Readers now have the opportunity to buy signed or dedicated copies, using a couple of carefully selected bookstores. I'd been getting a lot of requests to dedicate books for birthdays, etc., and I just couldn't fulfill them all myself, so this seemed like the best option. In addition, a number of US bookstores should still have signed copies of THE WHISPERERS and THE GATES on hand, and I signed recently at Toadstool Books in Milford, NH; Kennebooks in Kennebunk, Me; USM Bookstore, Portland, Me; and the Mysterious Bookshop in New York. All of these stores also have copies of the LOVE & WHISPERS CD. THE GREAT LOST BEAR In association with The Great Lost Bear, the wonderful bar in Portland, Maine, that occasionally features in the books, we've come up with a specially designed bumper sticker that will be given out at signings from next year, and to fans who visit the bar. If you bring one of the stickers to the Bear, we guarantee that they will let you buy any drink in the bar, and won't charge you extra. Can't ask for fairer than that, can you?  'CHINATOWN' SCREENING Just a reminder that I'll be introducing a screening of Roman Polanski's CHINATOWN, recently voted the best film of all time by the Guardian newspaper, at the Ormonde cinema in Dublin on Wednesday November 24th at 8pm. I'm not sure that I completely agree with the Guardian, although CHINATOWN is as good a choice as any, but it's a chance to see an unarguably great film on the big screen surrounded by people who are likely to appreciate it, and who won't kick the back of your seat. Further details are available at www.ormondecinemas.ie. RECENT PUBLICATIONS My copy of CINEMA FUTURA, an anthology of essays by various authors on sci-fi and fantasy movies, was waiting for me when I returned from the United States, and I've been enjoying reading it. I contributed an essay on The 7th Voyage of Sinbad, but the films chosen extend from Metropolis, the earliest film chosen, to Avatar, the most recent, taking in movies as varied as Aliens, The Wasp Woman, Brazil, and The Purple Rose of Cairo along the way. Edited by Mark Morris, it's a handsome volume. Meanwhile, THE GATES has recently been published in paperback in the US, and THE WHISPERERS will be published in mass-market paperback in the UK on January 20th, 2011. So that's it. Just keeping you posted on developments so that you know I care. Because I do care. Sometimes, I even care too much. Because that's the way I roll, as the kids say. Best to you all, John
October 2010
Dear Folks, I hope you missed me as much as I missed you. Because I did miss you. A lot. I'm really a very sensitive man, you know. Here's what I've been doing while I've been trying not to miss you, along with some stuff that I will be doing so that I don't miss you more . . . ABC TO XTC: THE BEST OF NEW WAVE, POST-PUNK, SYNTH, AND MUCH MORE . . . From next week I'll be hosting a weekly hour-long radio show for RTE's digital station, 2XM. The show, entitled ABC to XTC, allows me to indulge my love of music from 1977 until the mid - to late eighties, along with some related modern stuff. It will be available to listen to on digital radio and online on Tuesdays and Saturdays, and the first show goes on Tuesday 19th at 10am, with a repeat on Saturday evening at 9pm. To kick off, in addition to the titular ABC and XTC, you'll hear Squeeze, The Beat, Simple Minds, Foo Fighters covering Gary Numan, and lots of other stuff. Further details will be available over the coming days on the 2XM website at www.rte.ie but we just thought you'd like to know first. Once the show is up and running, we'll sort out ways of putting playlist links on the website, and contact details for requests, comments, and the like. Do give it a listen, and let me know what you think. US EVENT ANNOUNCED—THE ONLY ONE! As most of you will be aware, I didn't tour in the US for THE WHISPERERS due to touring commitments elsewhere. Sorry about that. In an effort to make up for it in some small way, I will be doing one formal US signing at the lovely Kennebooks bookstore in Kennebunk, Maine on Thursday October 28th from 7.00-8.00 pm. Everyone who comes along, or who orders a book from the store to be signed, will receive a copy of the LOVE & WHISPERS CD, and we'll try to throw in something else as well to make it even more special. Also, as it coincides with the Halloween weekend, it will be the first chance for US readers to hear an extract from HELL'S BELLS, the sequel to THE GATES, which will be published next year, of which more below. Further details about the signing are available from www.kennebooks.com. HELL'S BELLS HELL'S BELLS, the sequel to THE GATES, will be published next May in the UK and the US. An extract will appear on the website in the coming weeks, but for now... Samuel Johnson is in trouble. Not only is he in love with the wrong girl, but the demon Mrs Abernathy is seeking revenge upon him for his part in foiling the invasion of Earth by the forces of Darkness. She wants to get her claws on Samuel, and when the Large Hadron Collider is turned on again, she is given her chance. Samuel and his faithful dachshund, Boswell, are pulled through a portal into Hell, there to be hunted down by Mrs. Abernathy and her allies. But catching Samuel is not going to be easy, for Mrs. Abernathy has reckoned without the bravery and cleverness of a boy and his dog, or the loyalty of Samuel's friend, the hapless demon Nurd. Most of all, she hasn't planned on the intervention of an unexpected band of little men, for Samuel and Boswell are not the only inhabitants of Earth who have found themselves in Hell. If you thought demons were frightening, just wait until you meet Mr. Merryweather's Elves... JOHN TO INTRODUCE SCREENING OF 'CHINATOWN' IN DUBLIN On November 24th at 8pm, I'll be introducing a lovely 35mm print of Roman Polanski's CHINATOWN as part of the annual Classic Movies Season at the Ormonde Cinema in Stilorgan, Dublin, in association with the Irish Film Board. Tickets are £9, and can be booked through the Ormonde's website at www.ormondecinemas.ie. Other films in the season include THE MAN WHO WOULD BE KING, LET THE RIGHT ONE IN, ANATOMY OF A MURDER, and IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE. The highlight of the season occurs on Wednesday October 13th, when director John Boorman introduces a screening of his classic 1960s revenge thriller, POINT BLANK. I wish I could be there instead of on a plane somewhere over the American mainland. Enjoy it in my stead, if you can make it.
The US paperback edition of THE GATES has just been published by Washington Square Press, and makes an ideal Halloween or Christmas gift, as well as being the perfect size for propping up uneven table legs, and badly designed chairs. THE GLASS RAINBOW BY JAMES LEE BURKE I've written the introduction to the Scorpion Press edition of James Lee Burke's latest novel, THE GLASS RAINBOW, which was an honour. I wouldn't be writing now without Burke's influence, and THE GLASS RAINBOW is a fine edition to the Robicheaux series of novels. Further details are available from www.scorpionpress.clara.net. CINEMA FUTURA My essay on The 7th Voyage of Sinbad can be found in CINEMA FUTURA, a volume of essays by various authors on their favourite science fiction movies, edited by Mark Morris and published by PS Publishing. Copies can be ordered from the publisher's website at store.pspublishing.co.uk. AND, FINALLY, CHARLIE PARKER . . . It's likely that I'll publish two novels in 2012: HELL'S BELLS in May, and the next Charlie Parker novel in September. At the moment, I'm still juggling titles, but I thought you'd like to know that there is another one on the way. So that's it. It's not like I haven't been busy. Still missed you, though. Best wishes, John
August 2010
Dear Folks, I know, I know: it's been a while, and you thought that I no longer cared. But I do, honest I do. It's not you, it's me. I didn't want time off from you, and I didn't want you to see other writers. Oh. You mean, you did, and you are. How could you? I'm hurt. I thought we had something special . . .
The Whisperers has recently been published in the US, following its earlier UK publication in May. Most of the independent mystery stores, and a small number of favored chain stores, are giving away a copy of the LOVE & WHISPERS CD with every copy of the book purchased. A list of the participating stores can be found here, and thanks to all of the booksellers who agreed to participate. THE PENGUIN BOOK OF CRIME STORIES, VOLUME II The recently published Penguin Book of Crime Stories II, edited by Peter Robinson, contains the first printing outside Ireland of my short story On The Anatomisation of an Unknown Man (1637) by Frans Mier. 
The anthology also contains rare stories by Sue Grafton, Jeff Deaver, Ruth Rendell, Lee Child and others, and further details can be found here. The short story will also be broadcast on BBC Radio as part of a series of readings entitled A Sting in the Tail. The reader is the wonderful Irish actor Jim Norton, and the producer is Lawrence Jackson, who looked after the NOCTURNES readings for the BBC. We'll let you know as soon as the broadcast date is confirmed.
HELL'S BELLS The sequel to THE GATES, entitled HELL'S BELLS, has just been delivered to my editors, and, assuming all goes well, will be published either later this year or early in 2011. It will be followed by the 10th Parker book either late in 2011 or early in 2012. In a month or two we'll pubish an early chapter from HELL'S BELLS on the website, and there will, as usual, be a competition to win an early signed proof copy, so do keep an eye on the site. CINEMA FUTURA CINEMA FUTURA, a collection of essays by various writers on their favourite science fiction movies, will be published later this year by PS Publishing. My essay covers The 7th Voyage of Sinbad, while other contributions include Joe R Lansdale on Invaders From Mars, Alastair Reynolds on Silent Running, and Paul Magrs on The Wasp Woman. Further details are available here. For those of you who stay in touch with me via Facebook, an apology: because of touring commitments, I've fallen a bit behind on my mail, but I'm working my way through the backlog and everyone will receive a reply. Sorry about that! TOURING I'll be attending the Festival Internacional de Literatura de Buenos Aires (FILBA) in Buenos Aires from September 1st-5th 2010, for which I'm currently trying to improve my rudimentary Spanish. Programme details are available from the FILBA website at www.filba.org.ar. I'll also be in Paris in late September/ early October to coincide with the French publication of THE GATES on September 29th. We'll post details of French events as soon as they're available. Finally, I'll be attending Bouchercon in San Francisco from October 14th-17th, with further details available from the Bouchercon website at www.bcon2010.com. That's it. Now that HELL'S BELLS has been delivered, I'll try to return to regular blog postings, just so that we don't fall out with one another. These things are important, you know . . . Best wishes, John
May 2010
As the Neverending Tour (© Bob Dylan, but he won't mind) prepares to move on to the UK, Australia, New Zealand, and the Far East, and I struggle to pack for three seemingly disparate climates, it seemed appropriate to send out a short missive to inform you of all that's happening in my little world. You know, I think about you all. A lot. But not in a weird way . . . THE WHISPERERS The Whisperers is formally released in the UK next Thursday, May 13th. The UK tour schedule is available on the website, and all copies of The Whisperers bought at formal signings, or ordered in advance, will come with a copy of the LOVE & WHISPERS CD. If you do miss the signings, we'll leave some signed stock and CDs in each store on the tour, but once the CDs are gone, well . . . The Whisperers will be published in the US on July 20th, and we're currently compiling a list of independent stores at which the CD will be given away with copies of the book. That list will be posted on the website over the coming weeks.
Some of you social media types may have noticed some odd emails and friend requests from apparently fictional characters (Herod_the_Great, Charles_Parker1, Louis_or_die Ange1_666) arriving in your inboxes lately. It's part of a game relating to the new book that includes additional material—blogs, e-mails—written by me, short films, newspaper articles, all of which give new perspectives on The Whisperers, as well as offering the chance to win a prize. To find out more, make friends with Karen Emory on Facebook, or go to my blog. I've actually had a lot of fun helping to put it together, so give it a try and see what you think. TOUR DATES By now, the Australian, New Zealand and Hong Kong tour dates are on the website, with the New Zealand dates to follow this week. Again, the LOVE & WHISPERS CD will be given out with copies of The Whisperers purchased at events. Details of South African events will be posted later this month. THE NEW DAUGHTER The film of THE NEW DAUGHTER, starring Kevin Costner and Ivana Baquero, comes to DVD in the US on May 18th. No news of a European release date as yet, but we'll keep you posted. That's it: short and sweet. Have a great summer, and I look forward to meeting some of you over the coming months. Best wishes, John
April 2010
Dear Folks, The bulk of the Irish and UK tour dates have just been posted to the website, giving details of where, and how, you can obtain both signed copies of The Whisperers and the limited LOVE & WHISPERS CD that will be given away with each copy of the new book purchased, but only while stocks last. Events for Australia, New Zealand, and Hong Kong will follow shortly, as will a list of independent bookstores in the US that will be including the CD with their copies of The Whisperers. Best wishes, John
March 2010
Dear Folks, Okay, we've a lot to get through, so pay attention. What? You have to go now? Well, hold it in. You should have gone earlier. And you at the back: put that down and wash your hands . . . JOHN CONNOLLY: OF BLOOD AND LOST THINGS The RTE documentary Arts Lives documentary, John Connolly: Of Blood and Lost Things, will be shown in Ireland on RTE 1 television at 22.15 on Tuesday March 23rd. Produced by Yvonne Nolan, and directed by Maurice Sweeney, it was filmed last year in Ireland and Maine. I've seen it, and I think it's wonderfully done. Further details are available at www.rte.ie. The documentary will also be shown on the big screen in Belfast on Monday, May 3rd as part of the Belfast event for The Whisperers, and as an element of the Cathedral Quarter Arts Fest. Details of that screening will be available on the festival's website, at the end of March, and No Alibis bookstore will be on hand to sell books.
THE WHISPERERSThe new Charlie Parker novel, The Whisperers, will be published in Ireland in the first week of May, to be followed by publication in the UK, Australia, and elsewhere on May 13th. The US edition will be published on July 13th. In The Whisperers, Parker is asked to investigate the circumstances of a young soldier's death following his return from Iraq. The investigation leads him to a group of disenchanted veterans, and attracts the attention of the sinister, fatally ill Herod. Despite the background of the conflict in Iraq, it's not a novel that takes a position on the rights or wrongs of that war: rather, its interest lies in the aftermath of war, and it references sources as varied as the writings of the Vietnam veteran Richard Currey, and the historians of the Trojan Wars. The prologue can be read here. TOURING I'll be touring extensively for The Whisperers. Irish dates will take place in late April and early May, to be followed by a UK tour from May 12th-20th. The Australian tour will include dates in Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane from May 25th-29th, to be followed by events in New Zealand and Hong Kong. The South African tour will coincide with the World Cup in late June and early July. Full details of dates and times will appear on the website next month. There is unlikely to be an American tour, due to pressure of time, but to make up for that . . . LOVE & WHISPERS: A SOUNDTRACK TO THE NOVELS OF JOHN CONNOLLY, VOL III To coincide with publication of the new book, I'm putting together what will probably be a final compilation CD, Love & Whispers, which will include music that to which I was listening during the writing of both The Lovers and The Whisperers. At the moment, we're still engaged in the process of clearing tracks, but we've confirmed songs from Shack, De Rosa, Piano Magic, and a number of others. In the UK, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and Hong Kong, the CD will be given out with the new book at events and signings, or to those who order books from those stores hosting signings. In Ireland, something similar will be done, although we'll probably also find a way to include the CD with books in other stores. I'll keep you posted on that. In South Africa, I think we may also have found a way to bind a certain number of CDs into the book, so it should be available in those cities that I don't manage to visit. In the US, the CD will be given to independent mystery bookstores to include with their copies of the book. The CD will also be given out with copies of the translated versions of The Whisperers in certain territories over the next year. Whatever happens, we'll do our best to post on the website an extensive list of bookstores at which the CD will be available. 
THE GATESThe Gates will be published in paperback by Hachette on April 1st, 2010, and later in the year by Atria in the US and Canada. At present, I'm working on a sequel to that book, although it doesn't have a confirmed title as yet, or a publication date. See, that was suitably vague, wasn't it. THE NEW DAUGHTER—AND A COMPETITION! The film of The New Daughter, one of the short stories from Nocturnes, was released in the US shortly before Christmas, although I don't have details yet of a worldwide distributor. In the meantime, we've added a section to the website relating to the film, where you can view stills, the poster, and read a series of columns I wrote for Something Wicked magazine about the making of the film, along with a final, previously unpublished column tying up some loose ends. Oh, and if you'd like to win a poster from the movie, which will almost certainly be signed by both Kevin Costner, its lead actor, and me, then simply answer the following question: Which young Spanish actress plays the title role in The New Daughter? Answers, along with your name and e-mail address, to costnercompetition@gmail.com before March 31st, please. We'll announce the winners on the website in April. 
THE NEW DEADThe New Dead: A Zombie Anthology, edited by Christopher Golden, has just been published in the US and the UK, although the British title is Zombie: An Anthology of the Undead. It contains my short story, "Lazarus", which hasn't been published anywhere before. CINEMA FUTURA I've contributed an essay for Mark Morris's volume, Cinema Futura, which will be published in the UK by PS Publishing in September 2010. It contains 60 essays in which an array of writers each talk about a favourite science fiction film. I nominated The 7th Voyage of Sinbad, but a full list of contributors and their chosen films can be viewed at www.markmorriswriter.com. Best wishes, John
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