Blatant Self Promotion

Well, as if the recent Scottish Parliament, local council, and AV referendum didn't supply us with enough electiony goodness, voting for the Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year has just kicked off.

It's a good list this year (as always), very strong... But it's nice to be back in the running again - I'm already practicing my 'Of course I don't mind losing, it's an honour just to be nominated' grimace as someone else staggers off with the hand-crafted barrel-O-fun. Assuming, of course, that I manage to wriggle through to the shortlist, which is far from definite.

You can vote to get your favourite book from the longlist to the shortlist by going to the Theakstons website and working your clicky mouse-type magic. Non-shortlisted books will be made to stand in the corner and think about what they've done. And no, you don't have to vote for mine (though, obviously, I wouldn't complain if you did).

In other news* I'm doing a live chat show thing on Thursday evening hosted by Hardeep Singh Kohli at the Lemon Tree. Which should be ... I have no idea, actually. I know it involves curry, so I'm going to take a chance and not eat beforehand. And if things get too grumbly I'm planning to club one of the other guests to death and eat them.

That'll teach them to invite me on things.

* Taking a very lose interpretation of the word 'news'.