Hi All
If you fancy hearing a bit about the inspiration for the setting and the psycho-geographical tone of The Absence then head on over to BBC Radio 3 where on the Listen Again service you can hear me chatting away about Tennyson and reading from ‘The Miller’s Daughter’ - a poem that makes a sinister appearance in the book… My bit starts in 7 minutes in
Add comment August 18th, 2009
Just a reminder that the Horror Reanimated Tour starts this week!
If you’re in and around London this Wednesday and Thursday (6th & 7th May) you can catch us (Bill Hussey, Joseph D’Lacey and Mathew F. Riley) at:
The Big Green Bookshop (Weds from 6.30pm) - there is a map and directions at the site.
Borders, Oxford Street (Thurs 6.45 pm) - again, map and directions at the site.
Then, after the Borders event, join us for drinks at…
The White Horse, Newburgh Street - map and details here
We’ll be reading extracts from The Absence, Garbage Man and from Horror Reanimated’s brand new chapbook, Echoes. Numbers permitting, those attending the London venues will receive a FREE copy of Echoes! There will be a bit of horror writing chat and a Q & A at each venue.
Further tour itinerary is as follows:
Looking forward to seeing you on the road!
9 comments May 4th, 2009
A few quick pieces:
I’m going to be on BBC Radio Lincolnshire tomorrow as a guest on the Melvyn Prior Show from 3.30pm. We’ll be talking about the new book and about the local influences at work in the plot, plus the exciting plans for promotion that will be kicking into high gear from 6th May.
Plus - on Thursday from 10.30am and on Saturday from 11am I’ll be at WHSmith Skegness (Hildreds Centre) signing copies of ‘The Absence’, drinking tea and having a nice chat with anyone who fancies popping down.
New reviews for ‘The Absence’ have come out in the last few days but I’m going to wait and collect into one complete review-a-rama post!
4 comments April 21st, 2009
I’m really honoured to be the inaugral interviewee over at Dark Fiction Review! Sharon Ring, the grand high priestess of DFR, challenged me with some very entertaining questions about research, writer’s block, my reading habits, taboo subject matter and writing outside the horror genre.
In other news, two new reviews have appeared for ‘The Absence’. The first comes from the wonderful Speculative Fiction Junkie, who was so kind last year about TAGD that his quote found its way onto the back cover of The Absence. That being the case I was anxious to hear his thoughts… They’re pretty darn good! A snippet -
‘The Absence is a masterpiece, every bit as worthy of the praise being heaped upon it from all quarters.’
The second review comes from Monster Librarian (Bret Jordan) and, again, the word is good -
‘The Absence is a must have for anyone who likes horror.’
Add comment April 17th, 2009
Update - these reviews have now been posted at Amazon UK, here and here. In other news: following a swift re-printing Through A Glass, Darkly has now been re-stocked at all online stores!
Kevin Lucia has just reviewed both The Absence and Through A Glass, Darkly for the really rather brilliant Shroud Magazine. The full reviews will be published in a future issue of Shroud and should be on the blog shortly, but here are a few snippets:
Through A Glass, Darkly -
‘Bill Hussey’s debut is a work of startling imagination… he writes with a literary sensibility that elevates horror to an art form.’
The Absence -
‘Bill Hussey crafts another winner… [his] prose is lyrical and flowing.’
Add comment April 14th, 2009
Hi all - a brief news item. I’ve been contacted by a number of people in recent weeks about low stock levels on Amazon, Waterstones, Play and other online sites for TAGD. Bloody Books have just reassured me that a new print run has been ordered and these sites will be fully re-stocked by next week. Thanks for your patience, guys!
Add comment April 8th, 2009
Update - Amazon have now come up with their own launch offers on The Absence & Through A Glass, Darkly!
Just a quickie - Waterstones are currently promoting both ‘The Absence’ 
and ‘Through A Glass, Darkly’ in bargain offers! Firstly, today is the official start of Waterstones in-store 3 for 2 promotion that includes ‘The Absence’. Secondly, at the on-line Waterstones store ‘The Absence’ is being offered at a credit-crunch busting £4.79!!! (RRP £7.99) and ‘Through A Glass…’ on their new £5 or less offer!!!
In addition,TAGD has just received a new Book Buyer review at Waterstones. Jo Rowles at Waterstones Brentford says - ‘ This was an enthralling read that I cannot recommend highly enough. Though not a book for those of a nervous disposition, it is definitely one for fans of good writing and horror novels alike.’
Add comment April 2nd, 2009
Reviews have started to flood in for ‘The Absence’, and I’m pleased to report 
that the word is very, very positive! Check out the links below for the full reviews.
First up we have Fatally Yours - ‘…no amount of words could ever adequately describe the masterpiece of horror that Hussey has created with ‘The Absence”.
Next, Dark Fiction Review - ‘… a master craftsman of horror.’
Bookgeeks - already quoted on the back cover!
Highlander’s Book reviews - ‘Reminiscent of “The Shining”… there have been previous claims for Britain’s answer to Stephen King but on the strength of his work so far Bill Hussey richly deserves the comparison.’
Jason ‘the Bonebreaker’, at Mad Ravings of an Entertainment Junkie - ‘So far, the best book of 09!’
Novelist Peter Mark May at Novelblog - ‘a fine teller of English ghost stories.’
And Simon Kurt Unsworth - ‘This is a smart, literate piece of horror fiction.’
These great reviews come on top of previously published pieces by Geoff Nelder (’Bill Hussey is the new MR James’) and Garry Charles.
I’d like to thank all these reviewers for taking the time to consider the book and posting up their thoughts.
In other news: there are now signed copies of ‘The Absence ‘ in the following London stores: Waterstones Picadilly, Foyles on Tottenham Court Road and Waterstones Holborn.
4 comments April 1st, 2009
Hey all - just popping in to let you know that my new book - ‘The Absence’ - has 
been released ahead of schedule! I hope this is good news for anyone who enjoyed ‘Through A Glass, Darkly’! The book is now available via Amazon, Waterstones, Borders, Play and other online retailers, as well as being stocked in bookshops throughout the country. I’m going to be in London next week and will be running around signing copies - I’ll post a list of bookshops with signed copies as soon as I get back. By the way, this early release won’t affect the Horror Reanimated Tour or the launch events at The Big Green Bookshop at Wood Green at 6.30 pm on 6th May and Borders Oxford Street on 7th May.
I can only apologise to those reviewers who were told to hold off on their reviews until April. I’m guessing this means you can go ahead and post ‘em up! We’ve already received some great comments from the likes of:
Sarah Pinborough (author of ‘The Taken’): ‘Bill Hussey is the new Clive Barker’.
Bookgeeks: ‘Bill Hussey deserves to sit alongside Ramsey Campbell as one of the UK’s finest spinners of ghost stories.’
Geoff Nelder: ‘Bill Hussey is the new MR James.’
‘The Absence’ has already been spotted in Brighton Waterstones by Graeme Hills - the dedicatee of the book - and several people have received their Amazon copies. Happy days!
3 comments March 23rd, 2009
On top of the exciting news of the Horror Reanimated Tour and the Borders launch on Oxford Street for both The Absence and Garbage Man (more news on this coming soon), I’m pleased to announce that a few early reviews for The Absence have started to roll in.
The first comes from writer and filmmaker Garry Charles, who last year said some very nice things about Through A Glass, Darkly. I’m pleased to say that the trend continues with his very complimentary review of The Absence. Check it out at Garry’s site.
Geoff Nelder is a writer and critic whose generosity knows no bounds. Not only has he given The Absence a very positive review but was kind enough to forward a number of very useful notes which helped out during the editorial process. In a very considered review, Geoff has been kind enough to call me ‘the new MR James’! Any horror writer would be proud of such an accolade but, as a life-long devotee of that grandfather of the ghost story, I find it particularly humbling. With this book I have tried my best to capture the atmosphere of the Fens as accurately as I can. It is the landscape in which I grew up and where I spent many happy years with my grandfathers. Therefore it is particularly gratifying that Geoff marks the sense of place out as a strong feature.
The full review can be found here.
Add comment March 5th, 2009