News and Events
Schalk goes home: Present Tense to be published in South Africa
I'm delighted to announce that Penguin Random House is going to publish Present Tense in South Africa. South Africans haven't been able to get hold of the book yet, and I'm glad that it will soon be read in its 'home country'.
Murder, Mayhem and Long Dogs – and an excellent review of Present Tense!
The round-up of May reading in the Crime fiction site Murder, Mayhem and Long Dogs gives Present Tense a great rap and a four-star review, and puts it in great company. Read the review here:...
Sherlock – upside down!
The Only One in the World is an anthology of stories imagining Sherlock Holmes and his off-sider, John Watson, in different places and times, even as different genders. My story, The Adventure of the Disappearing Village, is set in the world of folk-tale Chelm,...
THE ONLY ONE IN THE WORLD: Sherlock Holmes (and Watson) – as you’ve never seen them before
Last year I was invited to submit a story for a new Sherlock Holmes anthology. The brief was to imagine Sherlock in another time, another gender, or another place. The wait is nearly over - the book is coming out in April. It's titled The Only One in the World, and...
Present Tense features in prestigious international journal
Last month, I was interviewed by South African journalist and author Joanne Hichens. The interview's in this months edition of The Big Thrill, journal of The International Thriller Writers. It's a great piece - thank you very much, Joanne!...
Present Tense chosen as one of 2020’s best books!
Robyn Walton, crime critic of The Australian, has chosen Present Tense as one of her best reads of 2020. The article's in today's Weekend Australian (12-13 December, 2020). There's a paywall so I can't insert a link, but here are her international and local...
Crime Fiction – South African Style
My crime novel, Present Tense, is set in Cape Town, South Africa. Since it was published, many readers have wanted to know more about crime fiction in that country, and asked me to recommend some good crime novels set there. So here’s a brief rundown, and...
Don’t Write What You Know: Go Hell-for-Leather Into the Unexplored
From time to time, Atlin Merrick (author and redoubtable editor of Improbable Press) and I write joint blogs. We often disagree, but not this time. Here's our latest, on writing what you know:
PRESENT TENSE WINS NED KELLY CRIME FICTION AWARD!
I am thrilled to announce that Present Tense has won the 2020 Ned Kelly award for best debut crime novel. These awards (we call them the Neddies) are given by the Australian Crime Writers Association. Here's the announcement:...
Favourite supporting females in TV crime shows
Here's a piece I did for Sisters in Crime Australia. Like many of us, Sydney author, Natalie Conyer, has been watching a lot of TV crime during the pandemic and it has prompted her to reflect on the wonderful women appearing in supporting roles. Read more here
Present Tense shortlisted for Ned Kelly Award – debut crime fiction!
I'm thrilled! Present Tense has been shortlisted for the 2020 Ned Kelly Awards, for debut crime fiction. This clip has the full list
The Only One in the World – A Sherlock Holmes Anthology
What if Sherlock Holmes were Polish? What if he and/or John Watson were Indian or Irish or Australian or Japanese? How would their worlds look if one or both was from a completely different background? That's the brief I was given when I was asked to contribute a...