Audible’s Animal Instinct, Human Zoo

The importance of audio in publishing cannot be underestimated as our lives become more time constrained - reading often suffers. Some may mutter “…..but are novels relevant in these days of online streaming of entertainment?”

I would assert that reading imaginative work, be they novels, novellas or short fiction is more important now than ever, due to the rising levels of anxiety in society. It is widely known that the reading of fiction [aka Biblio-Therapy] is a very useful method of reducing stress and anxiety. In fact, Stephen King in his work “On Writing” said –

“Life is not a support system for the arts, it’s the other way around”

Recently I have become evangelical about the Audio Dramatizations, from Audible Studios. I wrote about audiobooks last year, when Audible announced their Audio New Writing Award, steered toward the Crime and Thriller Genre – Read More Here

I always have plenty of Audio books, loaded on my Iphone and Laptop, for my car and for traveling by train, as it helps manage my time and my thoughts; allowing me to escape my problems by becoming lost in someone else’s’ problems. It also keeps my mind occupied and I learn about life, and how some of us cope with existence. And is there any better pleasure in life than being read to, before the arms of sleep comfort us? The audible app for Iphone has a sleep-timer, so you can have a chapter read to you before you succumb to slumber.

I am huge follower of Audible’s original content, the dramatizations, such as The X-Files, Aliens, and Stephen Fry’s extraordinary vocalisation of the complete Sherlock Holmes among many others.

And so it was a delight to discover the remarkable audio-drama Animal Instincts, Human Zoo written by Simon Booker, and performed with a cast which includes Fehinti Balogun, Pippa Bennett-Warner, Ed Bluemel, Imogen Church, Brendan Coyle, Laurence Dobiesz, Victoria Hamilton, Rebekah Hinds, David John, Harry Lloyd, Brigid Lohrey, Joseph Marcell, Michael Shon, James Smith, Jo Stone-Fewings, Niky Wardley, Sarah Whitehouse and Lia Williams.

The recording is evocatively realised with three-dimensional sound, complete with echoes and effects as we follow a former British Cop [who, still suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder] agrees to help a friend, not realising what he will have to confront.

Here’s a sneak preview of what to expect

Ex-policeman Joe Cassidy has a keen interest in animal behaviour and how it can have a bearing on some of the most heinous of human crimes - a talent that has heavily informed his detective work over the years. Although until now, he thought that he had left detective work behind....

Suffering from PTSD and wracked with guilt and failure after a grisly discovery in a particularly disturbing case, Joe lives in a lonely shack in the shadow of the nuclear power station at Dungeness. But when the daughter of an old friend goes missing, the investigation centres on the wealthy family's animal park.

Owing the owner a favour from years past, Joe is drawn further and further into the enquiry - hoping to solve the riddle of the disappearance amid the family's increasing dysfunction and desperate to find redemption for himself in the process.

And here’s a behind the scenes peak on the production of this engaging drama –

So if you haven’t discovered Audible Original Productions, then Simon Booker’s Animal Instincts / Human Zoo is a good place to start

More information from www.audible.co.uk

Exclusive to Shots: Cover Reveal of Simon Booker's WITHOUT TRACE



A gripping psychological thriller for fans of Gone Girl and The Girl on the Train.
For four long years, journalist Morgan Vine has campaigned for the release of her childhood sweetheart Danny Kilcannon - convicted, on dubious evidence, of murdering his 14 year-old stepdaughter.

When a key witness recants, Danny is released from prison. With nowhere else to go, he relies on single mum Morgan and her teenage daughter, Lissa.

But then Lissa goes missing.

With her own child now at risk, Morgan must re-think all she knows about her old flame - 'the one that got away'. As the media storm around the mysterious disappearance intensifies and shocking revelations emerge, she is forced to confront the ultimate question: who can we trust...?

Introducing Morgan Vine, Without Trace is Simon Booker's debut thriller.

Out in ebook on 28^th January (£4.99, Twenty7) and release in paperback on 16^th June. You can buy the ebook here 

And read the feature by Simon: To Research or not to Research

Crime - North of the UK border Plus One

 According to the Scotsman newspaper, Scotland’s most successful authors have global sales far exceeding the population of their homeland. Dozens of well-known fiction writers live in Scotland, but which occupy the best sellers’ lists more than others?

JK ROWLING (Estimated global sales: 400 million)

 The story of how a single mother living in Edinburgh began writing the children’s books which would become the biggest publishing phenomenon of modern times in two southside cafes has passed into legend. The Harry Potter series of fantasy novels came to an end in 2007, but the books continue to sell in huge numbers and inspire a generation of young readers. “We cannot sing the praises of Rowling high enough,” Charlie Griffiths, director of the National Literacy Association, told the Scotsman in 2003. “Anyone who can persuade children to read should be treasured and what she’s given us in Harry Potter is little short of miraculous. To see children queuing outside a store, not for concert tickets or computer games, but for a book, is brilliant.” Rowling has since published four novels aimed at adults, including three under the pen name Robert Galbraith.

 IAN RANKIN (30 million)

 The first Inspector Rebus novel, Knots and Crosses, was published in 1987 and the most recent, Even Dogs in the Wild, hit the shelves last week. Rankin (55) was raised in Cardenden, Fife, and was a postgraduate student at the University of Edinburgh living in Marchmont when he first had the idea of writing a crime novel based in his adopted city.

 ALEXANDER McCALL SMITH (20 million)

 McCall Smith is Emeritus Professor of Medical Law at the University of Edinburgh and an authority on medical law and bioethics. Not content with reaching the top in one profession, he has since become a globally successful author. The first book in The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series was published in 1999 and was soon a best seller. Set in Gaborone, Botswana, it has been followed by 15 more books - a rate of one per year. McCall Smith has also written a number of children’s novels, as well as the 44 Scotland Street series, which was first published as short stories in the Scotsman.

VAL McDERMID (10 million)

 Kirkcaldy native McDermid began her working life as a journalist and published her first novel, Report for Murder, in 1987. She began writing fiction full-time in 1991 and is now one of the most successful crime writers of modern times. Her series of novels featuring psychological profiler Dr Tony Hill was adapted by ITV as the hit drama Wire in the Blood.

IRVINE WELSH (2 million)

 Welsh grew up in Muirhouse, Edinburgh, and worked in a variety of jobs before the publication of his first novel, Trainspotting, in 1993. That title has now sold more than one million copies in the UK alone, thanks in part to the success of the 1996 film adaptation by Danny Boyle. Welsh’s 10th full length novel, A Decent Ride, was published in April.

CHRISTOPHER BROOKMYRE (2 million)

 Brookmyre’s debut novel, Quite Ugly One Morning, introduced the world to investigative journalist Jack Parlabane in 1996 and was followed by the best seller Country of the Blind a year later. Brookmyre, who grew up in Barrhead, has since published 18 further works of fiction. He can call upon a variety of singular protagonists in his novels, which are known for their gripping narratives, black humour and social comment.

Read more: http://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/culture/books/who-are-scotland-s-most-successful-living-authors-1-3951657#ixzz3s1Tupyld

 

TWENTY7 SIGNS DEBUT CRIME THRILLER SERIES

BY SCREENWRITER SIMON BOOKER

 Bonnier Publishing Fiction's new imprint Twenty7 has acquired two crime novels from screenwriter Simon Booker. Booker's TV credits include The Inspector Lynley Mysteries and The Mrs Bradley Mysteries for BBC1 and ITV thrillers The Blind Date and The Stepfather.

Without Trace is the first in a series of psychological thrillers featuring single mother Morgan Vine, an investigative journalist who specialises in miscarriages of justice. Without Trace will be published as an ebook in January 2016 and as a paperback in June.