Sunday 23 August 2020

Book Review and Q&A: Noir from the Bar

Welcome to the bar. 

Whether you're after a quick shot of something strong or a cocktail to seduce the senses, you'll find something you like here. 

But don't expect it to be pretty. 

If you follow me on Twitter, you'll have probably noticed every Wednesday night my timeline is littered with Virtual Noir at the Bar chat. VNatB is a free online weekly event run by Vic Watson and Simon Bewick, where crime authors read their work via live video. Based on a physical event, the aim of this digital version was to recreate a slice of what that experience was like. 

But, as the saying goes, all good things must come to an end, and the final (for now) VNatB is on Wednesday 26th August (I'm not crying, you are). However... not only can you catch up on all the episodes here, but you can bring the bar to your own bookshelf because Vic, Simon and a whole host of VNatB readers have released Noir From The Bar, an anthology of crime fiction that's available in paperback and on Kindle. 

I finished this last week. What a collection! I love dipping into short stories during my lunch breaks and this is just perfect, as each story takes less than ten minutes to read, which gives me time to stuff my face go for a quick walk. Brimming with dark, twisty and thrilling tales, Noir From The Bar is an unputdownable collection, compiled by a smashing group of authors with talent bursting from their seams. 

There's a little bit of something for everyone, including locked room mysteries, gritty noir, cosy capers, psychological thrillers, twist-in-the-tales, revenge dramas, shocking shorts and longer dramas to savour. The theme of bars and alcohol trickles cleverly throughout each story, and what's not to love about that? With an average rating of 5 stars on Amazon, and all profits generously donated to our fabulous NHS, you'd be mad not to own a copy. I know, I know. We're all mad here. 

I caught up with Vic and Simon to find out a bit more about their joint venture... pull up a stool and grab a drink with us.


We all think you're both brilliant for doing this, but whose idea was it originally?

Vic: It’s a bit of an odd one, that. I was on my daily lockdown walk a few weeks into VNatB and I thought it would be pretty cool to put an anthology together and then told myself I was being silly. It would be an incredible amount of work and that, being mum to a ten-month-old baby was a big enough job in itself never mind running VNatB with Simon and doing an anthology. But when I got home from said walk, Simon had emailed saying “tell me if you think this is mad but what about putting a collection together?”

Simon: I’d mentioned it to Vic as a ‘shoot this down’ by-the-by comment and she said she’d been thinking along the same lines…

Vic: It seemed somewhat serendipitous!

Great minds certainly think alike! And did it become everything you hoped it would be?

Simon: When we sent out the initial query, we did so without too much expectation: perhaps a few authors might dig out some old stories we could use. The fact so many authors said yes, and actually wrote new stuff specifically for the project was more than we could have hoped for.

Vic: I was completely right in terms of it being a giant job – a job I couldn’t undertake because of my son but Simon ran, in fact flew, with it. I think what he and the writers involved achieved is beyond anything I could have imagined, especially given the time frame. 

It was a massive achievement! Pulling together an anthology in such a short amount of time is bloody impressive. How the hell did you manage it?

Vic: I feel a bit of a fraud being in this interview as Noir from the Bar was entirely Simon’s baby from conception to publication. He worked tirelessly with authors, editors and designers to pull this amazing collection together in just six weeks. 

Simon: Lockdown helped! As a freelance consultant I suddenly had a bit more time on my hands… in truth though, it was the willingness of everyone to pitch in.

Everything happened very quickly. From sending the first enquiries to authors, to receiving their stories, through Vic’s SOS for editors, all the way through to edit requests. The authors were amazed at the speed we worked at, and we reflected that amazement in their willingness to collaborate.

It would have stalled if it wasn’t for the fact we had a designer who put together multiple choices for the cover and was prepared to answer demanding requests at most hours of the day (the fact she’s married to me helped), and the brilliant Zoe Sharp, without whom it wouldn’t look anywhere near as professional as it does.

You've been a big supporter of emerging writers, both through VNatB and this anthology, and we love you for it. But have you had any 'pinch me' moments with any famous authors you've worked with? 

Vic: Well, I think anyone who watched episode 12 of VNatB will have seen how delighted and disbelieving I was to host my hero, Linwood Barclay. I felt the same when Ann Cleeves was gracious enough to join us quite early on, and Dorothy Koomson in July. It’s incredible how approachable everyone has been. We’ve been lucky that, despite working with some huge names, we haven’t encountered many egos. As a crime fiction fan, every week there have been writers on VNatB who I’ve looked up to for years. And every time, I get hideously tongue-tied and shy! 

Simon: My ‘pinch me’ moment came in late April. Up to that point we’d been using free-to-use library music for VNatB. We have an expression in the North East: ‘shy bairns get nowt’ – which could be translated as shy children don’t get anything, or, ‘if you don’t ask, you don’t get.’ I reached out to Martin Stephenson – one of my favourite musicians since I was sixteen – and asked if we could use a couple of tracks. He came back immediately, with the generosity and humbleness he’s always had and said, ‘no problem.’

Within an hour, I’d put a post on social saying who my top five authors to appear would be. Within an hour of that, we’d had Lawrence Block and Joe R Lansdale say they’d be interested… that was a surreal afternoon for me.

Seeing as you smashed it out the park with these projects, can you share some nuggets of wisdom for anyone thinking about undertaking something like this?

Simon: In starting a virtual event, I think it helps to have some idea what you’re doing with the tech. There are a lot of events out there – especially enforced due to recent circumstances. With a bit of research, effort and help you can put something together that looks professional: that’s what we’ve always tried to do with VNatB.

Vic: The lovely thing about Noir at the Bar is that it began in Philadelphia with Peter Rosovsky in 2008 and has been hosted in lots of different places in varying formats. From Philadelphia, it spread across the US and then to the UK. I’ve run the Newcastle and Harrogate chapters, Jacky Collins does Edinburgh, Jay Stringer and Russel D McLean have done Glasgow and there’ve been events in London, Carlisle and Manchester.

I’ve been approached by a few people wanting to do NatB events in their own hometowns and my advice is the same as I was given by Graham Smith and Jay Stringer: find a pub with a separate room if possible, pick a quiet night and approach them to see if they are open to it. My events have made a lot of money for the bars, and, because NatB is not-for-profit, they’ve been happy to waive a room hire fee.

Simon: Regarding creating a book? Just have a go. It’s easy to do with things like Kindle Select nowadays. I released four self-published books before Noir from the Bar – the first is not well edited or formatted, but hopefully the essence of the passion came through. With each book I’ve published, they’ve got a bit better in look and feel. I’ve also edited a best-selling non-fiction book for a third party, which I wouldn’t have dared do without ‘messing up’ a bit myself first.

Approximately how much alcohol was consumed during the creation of Noir from the Bar, and what drinks will I be buying you at Harrogate?

Vic: Speak to Simon, the contributing authors and the editors! In terms of drinks, I’m a fairly cheap date. I love pop and on occasion have been known to stick some vodka in there.

Simon: I did get through a lot of Bewdog Punk AF and half of Colombia’s coffee supply. But I don’t drink, so I’m a cheapish date in any bar, virtual or otherwise!

Noted! Following the success of the anthology, will we be seeing any more publications from you in the future?

Simon: When we finished this one, I would have said ‘never again’ – not because it was unpleasant, just a huge amount of work. But you know… you get a few months down the line and you start to get a few ideas.

Vic: Who knows…? I’ve brought out some anthologies with members of my writing group in the past so I’d never rule it out. 

You guys just keep bringing us the good stuff. Will we be seeing any more VNatB in the future?

Simon: So, while VNatB has closed down for a renovation and clean up, it’ll be back with a couple of one-off specials: we’ve already got dates in the diary for a Halloween-themed evening (where I’m happy to say we’ve just had agreement from Britain’s greatest living horror author to appear), and a Christmas crime special.

Vic: Make sure you put 28th October and 16th December in your diary! 

Done! Can you spill any beans on what lies on the horizon for you next? 

Vic: We’ve certainly got some ideas in the pipeline but we’re kicking stuff about and don’t want to be too premature on the announcement. As many writers who’ve worked with us during VNatB know, we try to make everything as good as it can be so we’ll keep it close to our chests for a little longer. But if you want to be the first to know what’s happening, sign up to our newsletter

Simon: We think it’s going to be bigger and, dare we say it, better than anything we’ve done so far. We’ll make sure you’re the first to know when we’re ready!

A big thanks to you both for keeping us all sane during lockdown, and for introducing us to some brilliant authors!


Well... I don't know about you, but I'm excited! Keep your eyes peeled for more news, and in the mean time, grab your copy of Noir From The Bar today.

Roxie Key

@RoxieAdelleKey

Saturday 15 August 2020

Book Review: A Bowl of Cherries by F E Birch

 There's nothing cosy about these crimes...



Recently, I've taken a bit of a shine to short stories. Don't get me wrong, I bloody love a full-length novel. But there's something satisfying about a gripping piece of flash fiction or a pacey short story you can devour during a coffee break, or that meeting you are most definitely paying attention to, honest.

Enter F E Birch. Writer, ex-cop, badass. When I heard about this launch, I had to get my hands on it. Promising me succulent rich stories of the dark and unknown that might terrify, horrify, or deliciously delight... well, reader. If you know me at all, you'll know that's right up my weird little street. I attended the digital book launch yesterday, and very much enjoyed being in the company of similarly twisted folk (you know who you are). 



A Bowl of Cherries is brimming with thirty-two short tales of death, destruction, abuse and emotion. I lapped it up in a day. Skillfully crafted, these stories are dripping with drama and intrigue, with a cast of unforgettable characters, and stunningly-written description. Packed full of twists and turns that'll make you kick yourself when you realise you didn't see them coming.

My personal favourites from the collection is On The Beach, one of the more emotional stories in the book, and A Way With The Kids, which was all kinds of dark. When you've read it, please share yours in the comments!

If you like your fiction delectably dark and terribly twisted, then A. we should be friends and B. you should buy this book.

You can snap up your paperback or eBook copy of A Bowl of Cherries today. But if you're faint-hearted, please step away from the cherries.

Consider yourself warned.

Roxie Key

@RoxieAdelleKey

Sunday 9 August 2020

Book Review: The Storm by Amanda Jennings

 Doesn't every marriage have a dark side?

Guys, I've got that feeling again. You know, that feeling when you stumble upon a book you just know you'll be recommending to anyone who will listen for months to come. 

Back in October, I watched the lovely Amanda Jennings on the Killer Women panel (Is Crime Fiction a Problem for Feminists?) at Capital Crime, and then she popped up again during episode 16 of Virtual Noir at the Bar, reading from her latest novel, The Storm. Suffice to say, I was hooked and immediately bought the book, and it rocketed straight to the top of my ever-growing TBR pile. 

The Storm is a twisty psychological thriller set in a Cornish fishing port, following the story of Hannah and Nathan Cardew, and their picture-perfect marriage... or so it seems. But Hannah is a prisoner in her own home. A home (it appears) she can leave any time she wants, a toxic, coercive relationship that surely she could wriggle her way out of. Nathan choose her clothes, controls her finances and manipulates her with his words... but he doesn't lock her up. She's unhappy, so why does she stay? 

As the past threatens to catch up with her, the dark secrets of Hannah's past soon begin to unravel. What happened that night, and why didn't she stay with Cam, the love of her life? There's more than one storm brewing in this compelling story... just you wait until the thunder cracks

Amanda's gripping style of writing draws you in like a fishing reel, only to fling you back into the storm with a big reveal that'll leave your mind whirling. It's dark and clever, with a sense of foreboding that'll delight any fan of atmospheric fiction with sinister undertones

This powerful, emotive and stunningly-written story is out now in paperback and ebook.

Roxie Key

@RoxieAdelleKey