Simon Maltman Blogs

  Hello all! HUNTED is 99p on Kindle for 1 week. I have a new competition starting today. Just share one of my social media posts about it, download the book for 99p & screen-grab a pic. You can win a signed bundle of Hunted & 4 other books sent to your door.  Amazon

Hello Everyone, I hope you’re doing well!   I’m excited to share that my new book- ‘The Wolf Is At Your Door’ is now live!  Here’s the blurb about it-  New York, 1987. Rory is a likable career thief originally from war-torn Belfast, planning out his next big score. A serial killer is murdering women in the city. But no bodies are ever found; just missing girls and cryptic plaques left on benches in Central Park. When the killer strikes too close to home, Rory becomes unhealthily obsessed with tracking him down. The cops begin to suspect Rory due to his lengthy criminal history, the press just want a sensational story, Rory’s partners in crime don’t want any heat, and the killer flourishes in the chaos.  ‘Sometimes it takes a thief to catch a killer’ It’s not officially out yet… but it’s already in some local bookshops and is live on Amazon for paperback and ebook here-  Amazon As always, music is a book part of the book and in particular references to Howlin Wol...

I’m really pleased for book number 5 to now be ‘out there!’  Buy Here  Here is a short reading from the first chapter and me telling you a little about the set up for the novel-  I also took the opportunity to record a wee promo tune- Lastly, here is a new interview I took part in about the new book-  Interview Take care everyone! 

This week- the governor! ... Raymond Chandler Watch on UTV  HERE Order The Mark  HERE

I've 3 more terrific local reads for you this week.  This time I'm looking at books from Brian McGilloway, Claire McGowan and Stuart Neville. Watch Video Pre-Order Here

I was approached by UTV (ITV) to provide some book content for these strange, isolated times. Watch on ITV   HERE I thought it would give me a great opportunity to promote the amazing NI Crime writing scene. Here's the first episode- they're all going to be super short- about 2 mins. I've copied in below the reviews that I had previously written for the featured books. I hope you find these little videos introduce you to some cool new books to keep you company, Take Care! Simon. For Info on my own books click   Here Kelly Creighton The Sleeping Season Someone going missing is not an event in their life but an indicator of a problem. Detective Inspector Harriet Sloane is plagued by nightmares while someone from her past watches from a distance. In East Belfast, local four-year-old River, vanishes from his room. Sloane must put her own demons to bed and find the boy. Before it’s too late. Steve Cavanagh Fifty Fifty  Just finished an early copy...

I like to occasionally put up a lighthearted ‘noir’ inspired parenting short story- here’s a bit of flash fiction ...  After The Big Sleep: A Parenting Noir The clock said that it wasn’t quite 8am. The atmosphere was already hostile. The temperature had been dropping rapidly. The three of us sat there in a rare moment of silence, the toast and porridge cooling on the table. Rain beat noisily against the window.  “I don’t like butter,” announced the six year old gruffly.  I didn’t react right away, composing myself.  “You liked it okay yesterday,” I replied evenly.  I picked up my coffee, drinking deeply, keeping my eyes set ahead. She was agitated. Her face contorted as if she was being forced to eat glass.  “Meow!” Screeched the cat from beside the table, demanding his own breakfast. “This is yucky,” broke in the three year old, spitting and spraying her porridge out all over the table.  I set my mug down, my hand ...

It was great craic to be part of the Noireland festival this year, taking Crime Fiction fans on our Belfast Noir tour. Great to have people along not only from various parts of the UK, but the likes of USA and Germany too. The festival had a great atmosphere about it and was a really class weekend. Last week I had a Tourist Board tour, taking international buyers on Belfast Noir too. I love introducing people to Belfast and in particular to writers who they haven't read before. Finishing  up in No Alibis Bookstore is always a great way to end, so folk can have a good old riffle through some awesome books. I've found it's really true that writers aren't competitive with one another, and like nothing more than bigging up other authors  that they enjoy- and that's certainly how I feel. The local scene really is thriving. What about talking about our own books?  It's a well discussed contradiction that introverted writers have to get out there and...

Rain Dogs This was the second McKinty I had read and both are part of the Sean Duffy series. First thing to say is- I'm hooked! Sean Duffy is a Northern Irish detective, working during The Troubles in the 1980's. There are of course a gazillion modern police procedurals out there to choose from. I generally prefer other forms of crime fiction or even a PI opposed to an actual police officer story as a personal preference. I only enjoy the ones that really grab me and the Sean Duffy series certainly has! The last series to do so was Jo Nesbo's Harry Hole. This installment includes a locked room murder, conspiracy, lots of music references, Northern Irish settings and international intrigue. My recent novel included a locked room mystery, conspiracy, lots of music references, Northern Irish settings and international intrigue. I honestly hadn't read any McKinty before that and mine is nowhere near as good! Northern Irish crime fiction has so much great stuff go...

😎🏆🍸    Competition time!     😎🏆🍸      Win a free ebook copy of Bongo Fury 2! Every correct answer a winner! This is for any both music and crime fiction fans! Just PM me your answer.  What does the title of the book and all the new main characters (including Merritt, Timmons and Morgan) have in common?? http://amzn.to/2fm7iME 

Hi all- my new book A KILL FOR THE POET is out now and my first book A CHASER ON THE ROCKS is free until Sunday. If you want to check them out- have a look  HERE Thanks!

Was having a wee think about my favourites from 2017- here they are!- Music- The Afghan Whigs- In Spades Books- Stuart Neville/ Haylen Beck- Here and Gone T.V- Mindhunter Film- Manchester by the Sea  -Loads of great stuff this year :) 

Below are samples from each of my Bongo Fury books.  Currently book 1 is 99p and Book 2 is £1.99. Bongo Fury Chapter 1 So, first thing’s first; I didn’t expect things to get as fucked up as they did. But it happens, so that’s life I suppose. I just don’t want people getting the wrong impression about me. I’m not just some hard-nut wanker who came out of the estates. Yeah, I’m a Prod, from an estate in Northern Ireland- but that doesn’t define me. I’ve got a fucking literature degree- I’ve read Mansfield Park- okay? I actually quite liked it too. Anyway, I suppose I’d better go back to the start. Two years ago, life was pretty normal. If you’re reading this, then I suppose you already know I’m Jimmy Black, I’m forty two and I come from Ards in Northern Ireland. You’re bound to have read about me in the tabloids. I’m the one covered in tats, pretty well built, short black hair, and I admit not the prettiest you’ll see in the papers. If you’ve never heard of Ards...

Hi, my new novella is out on paperback now and pre-order for e-book. You can order a copy HERE It’s a gritty black comedy set in Northern Ireland and you can view the trailer   HERE If you would like to read a sample, please keep on reading- thank you! (Warning- contains bad language!) To my surprise, I actually had a few customers early on. They all spent less than a tenner, but cash is cash. The morning was uneventful and I closed up for an hour at lunch and went round to ‘The Diner’ café’. They did an amazing Ulster fry and chips. Two fucking plates full! Anyway, when I got back to the shop, I found the door ajar and the shitty lock had been broken off. I couldn’t see anyone inside, as I eased in around the door, my fists ready. Two men then casually sauntered out from my back room. “Hello Jimmy,” leered the first one. He was around my age, thinning on top, a thin face and a thin smile. The second was about twenty, still a little puffy ...

- What will this mean for Indie authors? Personally I favour 'real' books over e books. I've never actually bought an e book, I don't think, but I own hundreds of books. I spend a lot of time encouraging others to buy my e books though! Today it was announced that sales of physical books have increased by 8% and e book sales have gone down by 3%. This is similar to the reversal we have also seen in vinyl vs. mp3. Yeah- I collect vinyl too! I think this is great in a way. We all know the aspects to love about a physical book, but what does it mean for authors, and in particular indie authors? For huge bestselling authors with major publishers, it will probably mean very little. However, most indie authors rely on e book sales and if habits change, this could have serious consequences. Many smaller publishers concentrate on e book sales and that is true certainly of my publisher. I sell very few physical books. The majority of small publishers use the Amazon co...