Simon Wood

Male

United States

Profile Information:

Hometown:: Taplow, England
About Me:: I'm a California transplant from England . I used to be a competitive racecar driver and I am a licensed pilot. I share my world with my American wife, Julie. Our lives are dominated by a longhaired dachshund and four cats. In the last seven years, I've had over 140 stories and articles published. My stories have been included in “Best of” anthologies and I've written for Writer’s Digest and I'm an Anthony Award winner. I'm the author of Working Stiffs and Accidents Waiting to Happen, Paying the Piper and We All Fall Down. My current thriller Terminated hits bookshelves in June.
I Am A:: Writer
Website:: http://www.simonwood.net
Books And Authors I Like:: Writers: Richard Stark, James Herbert, Raymond Chandler, Dashiell Hammett, James M. Cain, David Morrell, Agatha Christie. Books: Love on a Branch Line, The Long Goodbye, Black Evening,
Movies And TV Shows I Like:: In no particular order: Movies: The Thing, Farewell My Lovely, In The Mouth of Madness, Below, Pitch Black, Bortherhood of the Wolf, Unbreakable, The Usual Suspects, Blade, Prince of Darkness, Quatermass and the Pit, Dog Soldiers, Dead End, Inherit the Wind, The Great Escape, The Ipcress File, You Only Live Twice, From Beyond, The Italian Job (1968), The Haunting (1963), The Changling. Filmmakers: Hitchcock, John Carpenter. X-Files, John Doe, Prison Break, 24, The Shield, Coupling, Teachers (UK Version), Green Wing, Dr. Who, Star Trek TNG, The Loop, The Smoking Room, Peep Show, League of Gentlemen, Nip/Tuck, Twin Peaks.

Comment Wall:

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Donna Moore

Simon - just because I don't cry doesn't mean that I don't feel the pain in my heart. In fact, the hurt goes deeper if I actually can't squeeze out a few tears :o)
Your friend

Apr 19, 2007
Jan Long

Simon,
Got your info. Sorry I haven't been in touch - bad week here. Will get hold of you by this weekend to work out details.

Apr 19, 2007
Brian Thornton

Hi Simon-

Thanks for the kind words. I think the same way about you.

Yer Pal-

Brian

Apr 27, 2007
Amanda Stevens

Thanks for the add, Simon. I saw you on here a few days ago, but I didn't send a request because I didn't want you to think I was stalk...er following you over here.

May 22, 2007
Amanda Stevens

I haven't heard back on the taglines yet, but I'll let you know. I'm hoping they go with one of yours and not one of theirs.

May 23, 2007
Steven Torres

Congrats on the nod from Oline Cogdill. Hope I'm next.

May 29, 2007
Jordan Dane

Great cover, but I'm reporting you to Yogi

May 30, 2007
Jordan Dane

You and Boo Boo are just jealous 'cause Yogi has got the cool hat.

May 31, 2007
Jordan Dane

He's not afraid to show his bear assets. I kinda dig it.

May 31, 2007
Jordan Dane

Bet you had to google Yogi like I did--to know he did the cuffs thing. We're a sorry pair.

May 31, 2007
Jordan Dane

LOLOLOLOL---Okay, I'm crying, "UNCLE" I give up. You aced me with the furry bummed uncle thing. I'm calling my Mom.

May 31, 2007
Jordan Dane

Weakling? I just needed a nap--and to lull you into a feeling of bear superiority. Well, Pooh on you, sucker. I'm bringing in a heavy hitter. Smokey is gonna report you AND your furry bummed family. You can't kill iconic teddy and display him on your cover, expecting to get away with it. What kind of new US citizen are you?

And BTW---My Mom used to like you.

May 31, 2007
Amanda Stevens

Thanks! Now if I could just finish the next one. I've resorted to moving scenes around instead of actually writing. Never a good sign.

Jun 14, 2007
Amanda Stevens

Revision blues and self doubt. A truly terrible combination.

Jun 15, 2007
Jan Long

I see that someone who shall remain nameless (*cough* YOU *cough*) conveniently forgot to mention the statue of Larky. Since you failed so miserably with the fruit machine or whatever it was at the minigolf place here, let's see if you can do better in your own neck of the woods.

Jun 22, 2007
Naomi Hirahara

Got it, Simon!

Jun 28, 2007
Ken Isaacson

Hello Simon...Thanks for the invite. All the best.

Jul 26, 2007
Ken Isaacson

Simon:

Congrats on the Anthony nomination for "My Father's Secret"!

Hope to meet you in RL at Bouchercon!

Jul 28, 2007
Harry Shannon

Simon!

Jul 28, 2007
Terri

Hey Simon,

Thanks for the note. All is as it usually is in my world....frustrating as Hell! But, here's hoping it works out for the best.

Hope you're doing great!

Chat at ya later,

Terri

Aug 2, 2007
Kelli Stanley

Likewise, Simon! I thought I might have inherited your internet gremlins last night, but I eventually managed to rid myself of them.

Are you ready to rumble in Alaska? ;)

Best,

Kelli

Aug 2, 2007
Kelli Stanley

Of course you'll be ready, Simon ... you're the man of a thousand pages! :) Compared to everything else you've been doing (at once, may I remind you), preparing for this--which is pure fun--will be cake. With chocolate icing. ;)

Kelli

Aug 2, 2007
Kent Gowran

Yep, though I probably shoulda stuck with one of those other board avatar things. Heh.

Aug 2, 2007
JackBludis

Simon--

I don't think you will regret reading *The Road.* Although it might frighten you a bit.

Jack

Aug 2, 2007
JackBludis

Opps, I forgot ... and a public congrats for your nomination for "My Father's Secret." (You've already got the private congrats.)

Aug 2, 2007
Donna Moore

Simon - I have always felt oppressed :o) Huge congrats on the nomination by the way. I take it you will be at Bouchercon? And I'm having my bathroom done and the plumber is a 'small plumber'. Every time I saw him I just thought of you and Reed.

Aug 3, 2007
Peter James

Hi Simon

I was going to come but unfortunate my US publishers who were flying me out, Carroll & Graf have been taken over and their crime list closed down. I won't have a new publisher in place in time. It was looking forward to coming, although it was awkard timing as it is in the middle of a major European tour I'm doing in Sept and Oct. But it is still possible I may come for a couple of days - will let you know. Hope all is well.

Aug 3, 2007
Mary Saums

I always say nice things about you in public. :) Congrats on your nomination!

Aug 4, 2007
Peter James

Thanks!

Aug 6, 2007
Karen J. Laubenstein

Many congrats deserved all around - from the books to the citizenship! I just bought a slew of the eBooks yesterday and have already gone through three - you certainly have a talent and we're really looking forward to having you here next month for B'con!

Aug 6, 2007
Donna Moore

Hello Citizen Simon. No - the little plumber said nothing of the sort. I look forward to seeing you in alaska. I will try and summon up a few tears in anticipation.

Aug 7, 2007
Merrill Young

Simon, did you know hat someone nominated you in the Crimespace sexiest author poll??!!
Wasn't me,you'll be relieved to know, but were I you ,I'd look askance at the folks you see in Alaska. Watch your back.

Aug 16, 2007
Clea Simon

Hi Simon!
Congrats on the passing the exam! And as an author of mysteries with cats in them, I can deeply appreciate your concern that readers might worry about the bear. (I also do an odd variety of projects, so curious to hear how that works out as it progresses.)

Aug 29, 2007
Clea Simon

Hey, I am consulted about my covers... but I don't think my input ever gets anywhere near design. C'est la vie.

Sep 5, 2007
Merrill Young

Oh conga-rats, Simon!
Just heard you won an Edgar for your short story!
Are you in Alaska? If so, are you dry yet?(Assuming Donna cried all over you!)

Oct 1, 2007
Merrill Young

OOOOOPS!
No you didn-t- it was an Anthony.
Tony, Eddie- what's the dif?
(A-hem)
Leaving now...........

Oct 1, 2007
Patricia

Simon...big congrats!

Oct 2, 2007
Morgan OReilly

I'm glad to hear the bear on your cover was a stunt teddy. Otherwise there'd be trouble. Teddys are people too, ya know.

So glad to have met you at Bcon, though it was under a different name. I'll leave it up to you to figure it out...

Thanks for adding me.

Oct 4, 2007
Karen J. Laubenstein

Hey Simon, looks like you survived the GOH at Silicon?! Your Anthony award pic has been in demand -- stay tuned to see it soon in several published venues. And yeah, we're still in recovery mode. Just got back from Homer on Monday. The Kenai Natl Wildlife Refuge bought almost all of Jessica's books and were thrilled we brought her by. I've been finding out how to describe a moose-trampled body from the local Fish and Game moose expert, so the MOOSE MURDERS is progressing at a great rate this week now that I could work on it. Life hasn't slowed down yet, but it's gotten much colder! And my dog has moved East -- NY no less! Jessica Speart took her home (permanently) and so no foot warmer with the Alaskan temps dipping down into the 20's and high teens. Had snow that remains on lawn and roof, and thick frost mornings. Brrr... so drastic change to be dogless in Anchorage! I'll have to put a dog in the MOOSE MURDERS to feel more human??? Looking forward to reading the PIPER (I think). I'm a little hesitant to dig in -- your writing does cause some gut reactions that few others do. Anyway, I better get back to describing that body in a town that in real life has not had one murder on record over the past decade! By the way - Anchorage has the 7th highest violent crime rate in the nation - that in the paper yesterday. Helps explain some of the activity we saw around the convention center/Hilton area, huh? Well, back to the body...
-Karen

Oct 12, 2007
Carola Dunn

Hi, Simon,
I'm heading to Calif next week--I hope I-5 through the Tehachapis will be clear by the time I get there! And could you please call up some nice cool weather in the valley for my drive home beginning of Nov?

Oct 19, 2007
Patty G. Henderson

Greetings, Simon. This is so different from MySpace! LOL. Good to find you here..

Oct 25, 2007
Karen J. Laubenstein

Hi Simon! Wondering how life's continuing to change for you (so much in so little time - citizenship, retiring from day jobs to be a full-time author, etc., etc.) and you're jetsetting around for all these conferences??? I downloaded more of the short shorts on the eBook, but have Diana Gabaldon's on there and it might be awhile before I can read something else. Also saw that you're getting a new site set up on your name domain and that's great! Will Paying the Piper also be available as an eBook?

Oct 29, 2007
ed goldberg

Hi, and happy to be your friend.
E.

Oct 31, 2007
Bill Cameron

Is that where you're hiding the photos? ;)

Nov 15, 2007
Bill Cameron

Thanks, Simon! See ya in Denver!

Jan 11, 2008
L.J. Sellers

Congratulations on your publishing contracts!
I also enjoyed James Cain, but forgot about him until seeing your list.

Feb 28, 2008
L.J. Sellers

Maybe it's time to revisit some stories from the past.
I almost forgot to put Rex Stout on my list too.
It's probably the late hour at which I find time to get on this site!

Feb 28, 2008
Daniel Hatadi

Thanks man!

Mar 13, 2008
Lee Weeks

Hi Simon
you sound really interesting. thanks for inviting me to be a friend would like to accept. am going through a manic patch right now with the second book deadline looming next month and crimefest in the UK, but please break my routine and drop me a message at will.

May 18, 2008
Elizabeth Zelvin

Hi Simon! Janet Rudolph just announced our At Home in Berkeley on June 23. I look forward to meeting you f2f. :) Liz

Jun 16, 2008