At the Sharp End . . .
News from Zoë Sharp and Charlie Fox

Autumn 2010

. . . if not in spirit. I think we're more likely to suffer wind- or rain-burn than sunburn at the moment. Let's hope for a nice autumn. Meanwhile . . .

The biggest piece of news is that Twentieth Century Fox TV have bought an option on the TV rights to the Charlie Fox series. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that this means Charlie will make the giant leap from page to screen, and I'll keep everyone informed of future developments.

The TV deal is splendid work by my agent Jane Gregory and Alan Nevins of Renaissance Literary & Talent in Beverly Hills. The press release speaks of "all-action, high-octane adventures in the world of close protection." Watch this space!

With the publication of the new Busted Flush Press trade paperback of the very first Charlie Fox novel, Killer Instinct, at the end of June, I was absolutely over the moon to get this review from Marilyn Stasio in The New York Times:

"Charlie Fox came on strong in Zoë Sharp's early novels but, like a lot of tough girls, softened up with time. Now, thanks to an enterprising small press, we can catch Charlie in the rough. Originally published in 2001, KILLER INSTINCT (Busted Flush, paper, $15) finds this army-trained martial-arts expert on her first job, working security for a club in an English seaside town. Charlie looks like a made-for-TV model, with her red hair and motorcycle leathers, but Sharp means business. The bloody bar fights are bloody brilliant, and Charlie's skills are both formidable and for real."

I'm also delighted to tell you that the next in the Charlie Fox series will be out in the UK in spring 2011 from Allison & Busby. The new book − currently called Fifth Victim, but that's a working title at the moment − involves Charlie bodyguarding the über-wealthy on Long Island while still battling the after-effects of what happened in the Fourth Day California cult, three months before. It could be a real turning-point in her life . . .

The book jacket [left] for next spring's US edition of Fourth Day is in from New York publishers, Pegasus Books − and looks stunning − although I still love Allison & Busby's UK cover, too [right].

In this tale, Charlie Fox goes undercover into the California cult calling itself Fourth Day. A fast covert job that should be no problem for someone with her mindset and training. But she is unprepared for the ease with which the cult's enigmatic leader, Randall Bane, will pinpoint her weaknesses . . .

In July, I attended the prestigious Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival in Harrogate, where Second Shot was one of only two featured titles in the Readers' Book Group event, hosted by Martyn Waites. I also took part in the panel 'James Bond, Eat Your Heart Out' with Sean Black, Jeremy Duns and Jo Nesbø, chaired by Meg Gardiner. A great fun event.

Next on the cards is Feva, Knaresborough's annual Festival of Entertainment and Visual Arts. I'm doing a joint event with fellow Curzon Group thriller writers Matt Lynn and Richard Jay Parker, on Thursday, August 19th, at Knaresborough Library, starting at 7.30pm.

After that, I'll be appearing with The LadyKillers − Lesley Horton, Priscilla Masters and Carla Banks/Danuta Reah − as part of the Saltaire Festival, on Thursday, September 16th.

I'm also looking forward to appearing with fellow Curzon Group thriller writers Elizabeth Corley and Richard Jay Parker at Reading Festival. The event is 'The Return of the Great British Thriller' at Reading Town Hall at 3pm on Sunday, September 19th.

More details on my page on BookTour

Earlier this year, I was asked to help put together a short story competition for Lancashire Libraries. I've come up with the opening line, for which contestants have to provide the remainder of the story. It can be a short story or flash fiction. The opening line is:

"I swore, if ever I came back to Lancashire again, I'd kill him."

This can be as dialogue or narrative, and the 'him' in the opening line could be 'her'. It's up to individual authors to have fun with it.

I've also been invited to be one of the judges for this young writers' competition next year, organised by The Brewery Arts Centre in Kendal, and I very much look forward to reading the entries.

For those of you who have read the Busted Flush Press US paperback edition of Killer Instinct and are waiting for the next in the series, there's been a slight delay in publication. Riot Act should now be out in early October.

Here, Charlie Fox is house- and dog-sitting on a notorious crime-ridden housing estate when an Asian boy is murdered and tensions rise to boiling point. This is the book where Charlie reunites for the first time with a spectre from her past − her old army training instructor, Sean Meyer.

Read an excerpt from Killer Instinct and Riot Act

As always, for anyone who wants to get hold of signed copies of any of my books − including some of the early, hard-to-get editions − I've teamed up with local internet booksellers, Loads-A-Books, who are close enough for me to call in and sign or personalise a book as you wish. Contact Chris on loadsabooks@googlemail.com

www.zoesharp.com