A Stroll Along Ebury Street - Heartman's Final 6 Day Journey To Publication & The First Reviews

I'll make no bones about it; I'm a big Ian Fleming fan. Fleming's James Bond novels have been my literary best buddies for as long as I can remember and I've reread them over and over again these past 35 years. I simply adore them. For those of you who may not know, Ian Fleming, before finding his feet as a writer worked as a banker and journalist before being recruited by British Naval Intelligence to work for the Admiralty, his code name was 17F – and it was a role he performed throughout World War ll. It was while working for the London banking firms Cull & Co, and then Rowe and Pitman, before the War, that Fleming became a resident of Victoria, London; at 22b Ebury Street.
 
Now I tell you all of this with a strong sense of joyful serendipity flowing through my head and if I'm honest, more than a little excitment coursing through my veins too. Next Thursday, July 3rd 2014 I shall be travelling down to London to attend the Heartman launch party which is being held at the wonderful book shop; Belgravia Books. Belgravia Books is situated at 59 Ebury Street, W1 just a few yards from where Ian Fleming once lived. Never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined that one day I'd be celebrating the publication of my own debut novel only a stones throw away from the home of the creator of 007. For me, it really is the quite unbelievable.
 
But, believe it I must because as I write we are 6 days away from publication. Our first Heartman launch kicks off in Bristol at 6pm on Tuesday July 1st at Foyles Book store, Cabot Circus, in the heart of the city which is the adoptive home of my Bajan detective; Joseph Tremaine Ellington. On Thursday we come to the capital for the London launch party and on Saturday 5th July I'm back here in my home county of Leicestershire where I'll be launching and signing the book at Waterstones in the High Cross shopping centre in Leicester city. During the Leicester signing we'll offering up a sample drink of the Dem Bones Brewery's Black IPA bitter, 'Ellington's Ale' in store (Surely a first for a book launch and for Waterstones) before all shooting off to the Salmon Inn on Butts Lane where I am Writer In Residence for a Heartman 'shin dig'. There we'll be premiering at the bar, both 'Ellington's Ale and 'Vic's Tipple' a new summer ale, again created by Lance & Claire Sullen and Steve Jackman of the Dem Bones Brewery. We'll also have a live performance of 'Heartman Blues' (Joe Alone) which was written by the great singer/songwriter Dan Britton. It'll be great to see as many of you as possible there on the day.
 
The past six weeks has seen a hive of activity behind the scenes from some fantastic folk. My publishers; Black & White Publishing have been amazing and the support I've received from the team there; Ali MacBride, Janne Moller and my wonderful editor, Karyn Millar has been first rate. Nothing has been to much trouble. The same has to be said for my London publicists, Emma Draude and Sophie Goodfellow at EDPR - They have pulled out all the stops and got Heartman out into the 'big, wide world.'I cannot thank them enough for all their hard work and commitment. My agent, Phil Patterson and the guys at MARJACQ Scripts have continued to offer great support and the kind words of expressed by fellow writers, bloggers, readers, family & friends that I have received via email and on Twitter and Facebook has been overwhelming.
 
Today has seen two new reviews for HEARTMAN go online. I've copied the links to the reviews if you'd like to dip into them. Also I've just heard from EDPR that HEARTMAN has been chosen as 'Book of The Month' in the Bristol Magazine and the Bristol Evening Post has chosen the book as its 'Book of The Week'. All exciting stuff!
 
During the next month I'll be posting a series of blogs up dating everyone on how the HEARTMAN UK Book tour is going and offering a writers insight into the journey to publication day and beyond. Thanks for joining me on this amazing ride, It wouldn't be the same without you by my side.
 
Cheers Guys
 
M P
 
http://crimethrillerfella.wordpress.com/
 
http://www.crimefictionlover.com/2014/06/heartman/
 
http://www.pukaarnews.com/book-review-heartman-by-m-p-wright/10162/
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrpKvN9jcFs