Ending the Year with a Big Bang

My 2015 as a writer has ended with a bang. My short story ‘Chaos Theory and the Dregs of the Primordial Ooze’ has been published in Issue 1 of Oval Magazine. Check it out here.

And here’s a quick taster:

Chaos Theory and the Dregs of the Primordial Ooze, by A. J. Kirby  

Started on the last train. Exeter to Lyme Regis. One Lewis generally avoided because its name was Trouble. Jurassic hot in the carriage and most folk removing their jackets and sweating beer, or wine. Hum of conversation, the compsognathus chirrup of mobile phones. Sighs of relief: those late-runners hadn’t been left to camp out on the station platform overnight, or else haunt the tarpit streets, waiting for the first train in the morning. Tyrannosaurean yawns and creaking seats as people settled down for the journey. Some people cracked cans of beer. 

There was a loud, hydraulic hiss and the double-doors at the end of the carriage sighed open. A hunting party of young lads boistered inside. They were all baseball caps and low-slung jeans, moon-boot trainers and slouching, hooded tops. They gave off their own steam.

‘Small Man Syndrome’ features in New Writing North Weekend Bulletin

Small Man Syndrome featured in the weekend’s New Writing North bulletin (see pics below). You can find out about New Writing North here and you can find out more about Small Man Syndrome here.

Small Man – Big Bookend

The first top of my whistlestop blog tour to promote Small Man Syndrome takes me to the Leeds Big Bookend blog, where I’m shooting the breeze about all things location. You can read the guest blog here. And you can buy the book here. All aboard!

 

Exclusive Audio of an Extract from ‘Small Man Syndrome’

I’m delighted to be able to link you up to an exclusive audio recording of yours truly reading an extract from Small Man Syndrome which is hosted on the Soundcloud site. You can listen to the 15 minute excerpt from Chapter 3 by following this link.

Festive Freebie! The Sleep of Reason Produces Monsters by A.J. Kirby

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas… And here’s my gift to you, dear readers: a FREE copy of my 2015 novel The Sleep of Reason Produces Monsters. That’s right. Free. From 15th to 19th December, you can download the ebook of this novel for absolutely zip. Squat-diddley.

In order to get your hands on a copy, please go here.

And to find out more about the book read this.

Otherwise, Merry Christmas, one and all!

Five Star! First Review of ‘Small Man Syndrome’

It’s only been out since the weekend but already Small Man Syndrome has its first review. You can read it and purchase the book here. Thanks Monique Lomino!

‘Small Man Syndrome’ OUT NOW!

Small Man Syndrome is OUT NOW. You can purchase the ebook from Amazon by following this link.

Here’s the gen:

From the best-selling author of Bully and Paint This Town Red

“cinematic imagery” (The Reading List)
“astonishing prose” (The Guardian)
“naturalistic, boisterous dialogue” (Leeds Student Newspaper)
“genuine intensity” (Gorezone Magazine)
“constantly keeps you on your toes” (Speculative Book Review)

What Dale Lightwood lacks in inches he more than makes up for in attitude. Dale’s misanthropy manifests itself in his poor relations with his family, a persecution complex at work, a conviction that the rest of the world is talking down to him.
All his life Dale Lightwood has been searching for that ultimate comeback. He longs to come up with the ultimate retort which will force the world to shut up about his size once and for all.

When Dale finds himself stuck behind a cyclist on a lonely road in France one obscene gesture is all it takes for the monster inside him to be released.
This one snap decision is all it takes to send the lives of Dale Lightwood and his family into a terrifying downward spiral.

SMALL MAN SYNDROME explores the consequences of his fateful action – for Dale and his family; it journeys into the heart of darkness of Dale’s guilt as he tries to cope with what he’s done as sinister external agencies try to force his hand.

‘Like’ the ‘Small Man Syndrome’ Facebook Page to find out about news, competitions and special offers

‘Like’ the Facebook page here.

Sneak Preview of the Cover of my new novel…

NEW FROM WILD WOLF PUBLISHING, FROM THE AUTHOR OF BULLY AND PAINT THIS TOWN RED…

Find out more here…

Festive Freebie! The Policy of Truth by A.J. Kirby

The goose is getting fat but you’re thin on funds. Therefore what could be better than a festive freebie to warm the cockles? I’m delighted to announce that the ebook my novella The Policy of Truth is FREE on Amazon for the next five days (from 10th to 14th December).

You can get your sticky paws on a copy by going here.

And you can find out more about the book here.