Oi, what's with this 40-something stuff? 3months, 3 months still left in my 30's. Sob.

Nice to cyber meet you, Tom, your book sounds fascinating, have definitely added it to my wishlist. Thanks too for your blog entry. As a member of the big-pile-of-unpublished-manuscripts club, "standing on the verge" was highly inspiring and I hope The Accident Man makes it as big as it sounds it might.

I think I was just running out of grains after a while there with the Housewives ... I think it was the arrival of Kyle Machlachlan that finally tipped me over the edge. What was it about the guy that attracted supermodel Linda Evangelista? Beats me ... which is probably just as well, really.

I agree with you on Crichton. Andromeda Strain and Jurassic Park (book and movie) are some of my all-time favorites. I've described Freezing Point as "Jurassic Park on ice" because of the rats. *big grin* Hopefully, water issues will be a big deal a year from now . . .

I'm glad you're book's coming out in the States! Have you applied to become a member of Killer Year 2008? If so, we might be classmates.

Your UK cover looks fabulous. No cover design for me yet, since my pub date is so far away (10/2008). Although I do think that graphic my daughter put together for my website could do the job! It'll be interesting to see what Berkley comes up with.

Good luck with your launch!

Thanks for your message, Accident Man is due out in the States in early 2008 ... they've already got the finished manuscript and have designed the cover and page-layout (which is stunning, BTW). As for Crichton, people knowck his characterisation - or lack of it - but there's no getting away from the fact that he just knows how to spot an issue or debate and turn it into a thriller. Should have been a journalist! (Assuming he wanted to end up poor, drunk and embittered, of course ...)

Thanks for the nice words you left on my page about my novel, Tom. David and the others are very kind, but I don't think anyone can really assume Crichton's mantle, do you? He pretty much set the gold standard.

Your novel sounds GREAT. Is it going to come out in the States?

Can't make it this year because I'll be in the middle of the UK launch of The Accident Man. But I definitely wanrt to get over next year, by which time the book'll be out in the US - at last!

That Ali Karim .. he gets everywhere!!

Welcome, Tom. Ali Karim has me primed to read The Accident Man.

Thanks for the comment. Good reading list you have there. I have a similar background, but It was 15 years before I got into mysteries fully.

West ham is a footbnall thing .. but for ****'s sake, don't get me started about them on here as well!

West Ham... I think I've heard of them... no, don't tell me... lemme guess... FOOTBALL! It's a football thing, isn't it!

Something else they'll likely turn out to have in common - they'll both cost ya. The list of books to buy I have now... sheesh! Several season tickets' worth!

Hi Tom, good to meet you! Looking at my blog posts, monkeys are a recurring theme. My calendar at work has monkeys on it, too. Your book sounds interesting, I'm looking forward to that. Very best of luck with it. Oh, and as you'll no doubt find out, Crimespace is great fun - but be warned, it's addictive. See you in Harrogate!

Good to see you here, Tom, and good luck with the launch. See you in Harrogate.