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Short story: In 2008 I signed the contract for my first novel, a satirical murder-mystery set behind the scenes of a thinly-disguised X-Factor. It was all set to go… and then the publishers went out of business six weeks before it was due out.
The Amazon listing haunts me to this day.
Then last year, the magnificent Eye/Lightning Books bought Beneath The Streets, my 1976-set thriller which weaves a murder mystery through several real-life political scandals, and the sleaze and corruption of Soho’s vice trade in that era.
Publication date was set for April 13th. Finished copies arrived at the end of February, to my enormous over-excitement.
It was finally happening! What could possibly go wrong now? Oh.
Still, there’s always Amaz… oh.
This is not in any way a whinge. God knows, other people have got real problems in the world right now. But it does make launching and selling a debut novel… a bit more challenging. Thankfully, my brilliant publishers are pressing ahead undaunted. http://eye-books.com
(little bit of booktrade in-joke comedy in that last tweet, ladies’n’gentlemen)
And one of the best independent bookshops in the country has come on board too. Fun fact: a member of anarchist band Crass once recommended me a very nice Lake District campsite in their shop – you really do get an all-round service. https://booksellercrow.co.uk/shop/beneath-the-streets/
All this is by rather long-winded way of explaining that this Twitter account is likely to become pretty mono-focussed over the next couple of weeks as I basically shriek “BUY MY BOOK! TELL OTHER PEOPLE TO BUY MY BOOK!!” at you. Feel free to mute if you like.
But if you do you’ll miss a whole bunch of interesting stories about the real-life people and places who feature in the book, as well as the legal challenges of putting them in fiction (warning: may contain references to a law firm popularly known as Carter-Fuck).
Plus, I want to invite you to a PARTY! A virtual one, of course: we're going to attempt to hold the launch we were going to have in a suitably seedy Soho bar online instead, on 22nd April at 8pm, here: https://www.facebook.com/Beneath-the-Streets-by-Adam-Macqueen-109335790728863/?modal=admin_todo_tour
It'll mostly be me attempting to master the technology, then squinting squiffily into a screen and trying to read bits of the book out while members of my family heckle me in the comments. Join me, it won't be awkward at all!
In the meantime, please do consider buying the book: it is a cracking read, and you don't just have to take my word for it.
To help, we’ll even give you 30% off, plus free P&P in the UK: simply order direct from the publisher at the link below and enter the code RINKA at the checkout. http://eye-books.com/books/beneath-the-streets
If you prefer e-books, Amazon will still sell you one of those for just £3.99, guaranteed uncontaminated by human hand:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Beneath-Streets-Adam-Macqueen-ebook/dp/B08574SNBJ/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=adam+macqueen&qid=1585756261&sr=8-1
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Beneath-Streets-Adam-Macqueen-ebook/dp/B08574SNBJ/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=adam+macqueen&qid=1585756261&sr=8-1
Thank you for listening.
