Alison Bruce

Female

Cambridge

United Kingdom

Profile Information:

Hometown:: Fordham near Cambridge, England
About Me:: I live with my husband who's a musician - I've loyally added a couple of his songs to this site - and our two really cool children, Lana 8 and Dean 3.

I have been writing for quite a while, mostly developing a series featuring my detective Gary Goodhew.

My first book, Cambridgeshire Murders was published by Sutton Publishing in October 2005.

Since working with my agent, Broo Doherty, things have really started to come together and this year I will have two books published.

The first is with Constable and Robinson, it's called Cambridge Blue and features my series character Gary Goodhew. I'm thrilled that my detective will at last be getting his big break!

The other is a non-fiction book called Death in the Family which is being published by the History Press. It is the biography of the Billington family of hangmen, who conducted executions between 1884 and 1905. In total they executed 235 people.

I am also a script writer - check out my home made B-Movie SCREAM!... There is a crime in it! I'm currently working on the script for a zombie movie - www.killerweedthemovie.com.
I Am A:: Reader, Writer
Website:: http://www.myspace.com/cambridgedetective
Books And Authors I Like:: Harlan Coben, RJ Ellory, Ed McBain, Simon Kernick, Mark Billingham, Linda Barnes and more.
Movies And TV Shows I Like:: Old black and white thrillers.

Gaslight
To Kill and Mockingbird
Night of the Hunter.

Humphrey Bogart, Doris Day, Veronica Lake, Johnny Depp, Mary Stuart Masterson, James Stewart.

Ed Wood. Fried Green Tomatoes, Twin Peaks (the first series), Stand by Me, 24, Life on Mars, Sixth Sense, Paperback Hero, Rosanna's Grave, Some Kind of Wonderful, It's a Wonderful Life, Stir of Echoes, Shrek, Enchanted and Die Hard.
... and oddly Neighbours.

Comment Wall:

Ali

Hi Alison -

Good seeing you here - hope you check out www.shotsmag.co.uk and www.therapsheet.blogspot.com - keep you informed on the genre

Best

Ali

Jan 26, 2008
Michelle Gagnon

Hi Alison-

Thanks! Although I'm ashamed to say the photo isn't of me, I just love the 40's glam thing...

Michelle

Jan 26, 2008
Michelle Gagnon

Veronica Lake was definitely something else, wasn't she? Hoping my book will be released in the UK soon...and that I can persuade MIRA to send me there!

Jan 26, 2008
eve seymour

Hi Alison,

You have some very interesting looking friends... E.V.

Jan 28, 2008
Lee Lofland

Hi Alison. Sure, send a message anytime.

Jan 28, 2008
Lyn Bailey

Hi Alison,

Thanks for the link - I have set myself up but will sort out my page properly when I am at home and have an explore round,

Jan 28, 2008
JackBludis

The first person to list "Ed Wood" Great movie. Wood's "Plan Nine From Outerspace," is arguably the worst movie every made. The worst big-budget movie ever I just saw on TV--"Barbarella."

Jan 28, 2008
JackBludis

Alison, for what it's worth, they used to call those sweaters "Angora" whatever the heck that means.

Jan 29, 2008
Pippa Macallister

Thanks for the link. Trying to finish my tax form so will give more thought to it all when I have recovered!

Jan 29, 2008
Otis Twelve

Congratulations on the book, Alison. I know that anyone represented by Broo must be worth careful notice as a writer. I think the world of her..

Jan 30, 2008
Steven Craigh

Hi, Alison. I like your movies and TV list. Stir of Echoes was really under appreciated and it's good to see it on someone's list.

Jan 30, 2008
Otis Twelve

In Re: Broo - We'll I'm flattered the esteemed Ms. Doherty would give the likes of me a second thought. It's only through an odd series of mistiming, happenstance, and fate that she and I haven't worked together. As I said, I consider her one of the best agents going.

Jan 30, 2008
eve seymour

Phew - At last!

Glad to be your friend (God, that does sound creepy!) Looking forward to hanging out with you at Harrogate later in the year... E.V.

Jan 31, 2008
eve seymour

Unlikely I'm going to make the 'Daggers'... E.V.

Jan 31, 2008
Allan E. Ansorge

What; no chocolate?

Feb 4, 2008
Allan E. Ansorge

Yup that laugh thing was the plan. It is great to start a week knowing something went right. Thank you Allan

Feb 4, 2008
Ian Gosling

Hi Alison

So Mike Barton has beaten Gary Goodhew to the streets of Cambridge by several months then. Although in The Puppet Master he only lives there - Duxford actually - as a device to set him up for future books, and the book has nothing whatsoever to do with Cambridgeshire. Something that was rather lost on the journalist from the Hunts Post - but never mind any press publicity is good; I'm learning that accuracy is a bonus. I hadn't realised that your first book was non-fiction. I'm going to buy a copy as it may come in handy for future reference. Part of my 'formula' is that all of my crimes will have roots somewhere in the past. I am desparately trying to finish off the first of my series set in Cambridgeshire, but I am spending a huge amount of time promoting the Puppet Master at the moment - press interviews, arranging book signings etc. I have a book signing every weekend until the end of April. Also spending time on the internet - facebook, my space, you tube etc - these were all totally alien territory to me until a few weeks ago and I'm still working out how to use them. I don't know where you live, or what you do during the day, but maybe we could get together sometime and compare notes. As you say there is plenty of room for two detectives in Cambridgeshire - but it might be a bit embarrasing if they turned up at the same crime scene!! Look forward to hearing from you. Best Wishes Ian

Feb 7, 2008
L.J. Sellers

Hi Alison
Writing scripts is a nice break from novels, every once in awhile. Congratulations on your breakthrough year.

Feb 20, 2008
L.J. Sellers

I've always lived in two worlds at the same time. I believe with all my heart that someday I'll be a successful novelist. Yet I make decisions, career-wise, assuming that I won't and that I'll be fine anyway. It's odd, but it works.

Feb 20, 2008
L.J. Sellers

Thanks, for both comments. I'm certainly tenacious,
and, without luck, that is what it takes in this business.

Feb 20, 2008
Mari Sloan

I love your Scream video! It was fun to watch, looked like it was fun to make. VERY well done!

Mar 23, 2008
Mari Sloan

I laughed, the pacing on it was great and it was wonderful finding someone else having fun creating with their husband. My husband and I are involved in all of our projects as a team, and it bonds us, even when disagree on something. I feel bad for couples who can't work on things together without damaging their relationship. A little friction makes warmth, and sometimes sparks are GOOD! :-) Mari

Mar 28, 2008
Craig McDonald

Night of the Hunter is a favorite, Alison; both the film and the Davis Grubb novel...

Mar 28, 2008
HELI COP

Hope you had a nice day, Thanks for being a friend. enjoy your evening.

Apr 22, 2008
Julia Buckley

Thanks, Alison--good luck to you as well.

Apr 30, 2008
Tom Cooke

Great B movie. You scream like a star. Tell your hubby I really like the sound track too. It sounds like he has just a touch of rock a billy somewhere in his background. I was really a little surprised to hear that East Texas/Louisiana phrasing in the lyrics.

Hope your projects are going well.
Tom Cooke
San Antonio, Texas

May 14, 2008
carole gill

Hi there, thanks for the invite! it's a pleasure.

Jul 7, 2008
roger smith

Hi Alison. Thanks for the response.

Feb 10, 2009
roger smith

No problem. I imagine you were either writing or doing your Jean Harlow impersonation. Or is it Mamie Van Doren?

Feb 10, 2009
roger smith

Not so sure it would be flattery. They used to call her Moronica Lake . . .

Feb 10, 2009
roger smith

I'd like to look like Robert Mitchum (circa 1948) and write like Pete Dexter (circa 1984)

Feb 10, 2009
roger smith

Taken in Cannes. I have it on the wall beside my computer! Enjoy your dinner.

Feb 10, 2009
Matt Rees

Glad you like my profile photo, Alison. But unlike you I needed a prop to catch the eye!

Mar 6, 2009