Tuesday 25 January 2011

The secret's out... I have a new website...

Not much of a secret, I know, but below is a 'Bury Bonus' for all aspiring crime writers so read on...

I was gonna keep the site under wraps, until I'd completed its construction, but a few beady-eyed sleuths spotted it! (Typical crime writers, eh?).

I wanted something, easy(ish) to manage, more like a website, to complement my blog, and Wordpress.com seemed ideal. So thanks to fellow writer, Jeanette Cheezum, for inadvertently introducing me to Wordpress.

I'm well pleased to have had permission from top notch writers, Lily Childs, Al Griffiths and Paul D. Brazill to re-publish a cracking story apiece, under the 'Guest's Stories' tab. And that's just for starters! Be sure to check out their quality fiction, comment, and rate them out of 5-stars.

Oh, 'n' I've uploaded ten of my own shorts for you to devour if you're hungry.

And the 'Bury Bonus'... My American agent has subscribed to the site and will be reading the short fiction on there and offering comments now 'n' then. He's informed me he enjoys short fiction, but is actually on the lookout for 'crime driven novels'.

So, if you get an invitation from me asking your permission to showcase one of your shorts in the future... who knows...?

Pop over for a nosey here... http://colburysnewcrimefiction.wordpress.com/

Monday 24 January 2011

Preditors & Editors 'Best of 2010' Polls... update...

Well, with only two days of voting to go, the clock is ticking, and we're extremely proud to announce that out of the 51 nominated fictionzines for 2010, Thrillers, Killers 'n' Chillers is a very respectable 4th at the moment. Up to January 26th, you can vote for your fave here.

Also, I'm both stunned and ecstatic, that from the 31 zine editors on the list, I sit proudly in 3rd place. Wow! There are many deserving editors of some cracking ezines to choose from - cast your vote here.

Browsing through the categories I spotted many of my online friends, especially in the short story sections... Paul D. Brazill, Anthony Cowin and Jodi MacArthur, to name a few. If you have time, have a nosey here, and for the current standings go here.

Many thanks to those of you who have taken the time to show your support.

Regards,
Col

Thursday 20 January 2011

Guest's Crime Fiction Choice - Chris Rhatigan...

I'd like to welcome Chris, who's the first to join me in this new feature...

Chris Rhatigan's Crime Fiction Choice.

Too Beautiful by Patricia Abbott - in the winter issue of Dark Valentine Magazine.

If you haven’t checked out Dark Valentine yet, you’re missing out. This newish quarterly is always packed full of top shelf short fiction and gorgeous, colorful art.

Patti Abbott is known as one of the best crime fiction short story writers around right now and Too Beautiful highlights her many talents. The story concerns the perfectionist ice queen, Natalie, and her thoughtful, neurotic husband, Paul. They have a complicated relationship, which appears to be heading south when Natalie falls off a train platform and is killed. Or did she fall? Or was she pushed?

Instead of taking the tried-and-true whodunit track, Abbott primarily deals with Paul’s reaction to his wife’s death. (Don’t want to give away too much more, as there are a couple of a nice surprises in here.) This proves to be a perfectly paced, well-plotted piece with convincing characters and a satisfying conclusion. It’s everything a short story should be.


Chris Rhatigan is a writer based in Iowa City, who reviews crime fiction and blogs at Death by Killing.

Thursday 13 January 2011

'Preditors & Editors Readers Poll'... TK'n'C nominated... & little old me ... jeez!

TK'n'C, sure... but ME...? Anyway, voting is open until January 26th 2011. If you wanna vote for Thrillers, Killers 'n' Chillers - or any of the other fine sites listed - as the best fiction e-zine of 2010 go here... http://www.critters.org/predpoll/fictionzine.shtml

And if you really think I was last year's best e-zine editor (then keep taking the tablets!) - vote here... http://www.critters.org/predpoll/zineeditor.shtml

You have to scroll down a tad to reach the list and you do have to verify each vote with your email address, but 'Critters Workshop', who run the poll, is a trustworthy site and doesn't send spam.

Note: If there is another site/editor you feel should be on the list, then you can nominate them too (Matt Hilton & Chris Grant are pretty damn good).

Regards,
Col

Wednesday 12 January 2011

Col Bury's Crime Fiction Choice... with a twist!

This time I've chosen my top five shorts from 2010, but the punchy reviews aren't here. Why? Chris Rhatigan kindly invited me to join his series, 'My Top Five for 2010', over at his cool blog, Death by Killing. So I thought, 'Two birds, one stone...' 'n' all that. They're all crackers, I promise - the link is below my choices.

Col Bury's Crime Fiction Choice #13 - THE WATCHER by A.J. Humpage

Col Bury's Crime Fiction Choice #14 - CARPACCIO by Lily Childs

Col Bury's Crime Fiction Choice #15 - AN URBAN MYTH by David Barber

Col Bury's Crime Fiction Choice #16 - UNITED WE FALL by Sean Patrick Reardon

Col Bury's Crime Fiction Choice #17 - THE LIARS OF THE LAUGHING CITY by Richard Godwin

http://death-by-killing.blogspot.com/2011/01/top-five-for-2010-col-bury.html

Ps. If you fancy reading all my Crime Fiction Choice's to date, then click here.
NEXT TIME THERE WILL BE ANOTHER EVEN TWISTIER TWIST! :)

Monday 10 January 2011

BLOGFLASH... And the new Flash Fiction Offensive editor is...

Fellow Mancunian 'n' all round good egg, DAVID BARBER! This is fantastic news, since my old school mate has only really been on the scene for about 18 months. What an impact he's made, and what an achievement!
I'm so proud of you, Dave. CONGRATS and GOOD LUCK!

Read Dave's own take on things here.

Friday 7 January 2011

Pretty please with sugar on top !

I'm on me own for a couple of weeks over at Thrillers, Killers 'n' Chillers, so I asked our contributors to go easy, using one of my favourite quotes: Harvey Cartel in Pulp Fiction...

Sunday 2 January 2011

Do Some Damage 'Christmas Noir Challenge' featuring my new short... SNAKES 'N' LADDERS...

Over at cool crime fiction site, DO SOME DAMAGE, there are some 'Christmas Crackers' (sorry) in their Christmas Noir Challenge.

Never one to shirk a challenge, I came up with SNAKE 'N' LADDERS, and I'm honoured to be included. If you fancy a nosey, here's the link.

Ps. All feedback welcome, unless it's negative! :)