I’ve changed my website for the first time in five years (I hope you like it!) and even I couldn’t help noticing that my last blog post was an August 2015 update! I do a lot on Facebook, of course, but even so, the prospect of a new website with a blog that was three years out of date was too horrible to contemplate. So, here goes…
Looking back at the 2015 news, a lot has happened since then. Dead Level (March 2016) and Death Sentence (October 2016) were the result of the two book deal announced in that post, and there has since been another two book deal, resulting in Heads or Tails – out now – and Dead Lock – out 31st May 2018.
As many of my Facebook friends will know, the series passed the one million copies sold mark this summer too, which is a truly humbling milestone to have reached.
What else?
I’ll be appearing at the inaugural Weston-Super-Mare Literary Festival on Sunday 25th February, which is very exciting.
I’m also beginning to understand what a minefield television can be. For the many of you asking when Nick Dixon might be televised, I have always dodged that question – sorry – but the answer is that discussions are ongoing. Sadly, I can say no more at this point, but yes there is interest and negotiations are taking place.
It’s a slow process though (and I say that as a former solicitor) and any number of things could go wrong before it reaches your screens. Getting it right will not be easy either and I’m mindful of the words of Peter James, who said that he’d rather his Roy Grace series was not televised at all, than televised badly.
I feel the same, and I’m sure you would agree, but securing any form of editorial consultation, let alone control, can be very difficult. Anyway, we’ll see. Watch this space!
In other news, work has begun on Dixon 9 and I am most grateful to EDF Energy for the guided tour of the Hinkley Point C construction site — I’ll say no more on that for now 🙂
Dixon 8 – Dead Lock – is due out on 31st May 2018. Heads or Tails seems like a hard act to follow, but my editors have been most kind about Dead Lock, which helps to calm my nerves in the run up to publication.
Finally, a word about the photo attached to this post. I took it just before Christmas (at Dawlish Warren if I’m honest) and really did think it was Nick and Monty wandering along down by the water line.
With best wishes for a happy and healthy 2018,
Damien
Hi Damien,
Just wanted you to know that my Mom, a diabetic nurse educator here in the US, co- authored a paper about 20 years ago that showed injecting insulin through clothing was acceptable. So I smile a little whenever Nick thinks he’s going to be in trouble for doing his jab through his clothes. You’re on the cutting edge!
Pat
Thank you, Pat!
I get all my diabetic research from my wife, who’s the diabetic in the family.
With very best wishes,
Damien
Have just started Beyond the Point and have loved all in this series so know I will love this one too. I’m addicted to Nick & Jane and of course the long suffering Monty.
I’m sure I’ve mentioned this in a review but will say again how I love your descriptions of Burnham on Sea. My husband and I and our dog Rocco have spent many hours on Berrow and Brean. We caravan at Hurn Lane Caravan and Motorhome Club site and Covid 19 permitting we hope to be back in 2021 …as we’ve been nowhere like most in 2020.
I see Nick as slim, well he is fit, although not as much as in his climbing days. I see him as dark haired, attractive but not overly handsome and around 5’10. Then again I had Jane as a very dark haired in my minds eye until I read something about her blonde hair in one of the series.🙈
I’d love to know how you see him but I don’t suppose you will want to share that.
I don’t mind Nick & Jane wandering off to Manchester and the like, so long as they always come back to Burnham on Sea.
Hello Pat
Thank you for your email and for your kind comments. I’m glad you’re enjoying the books and hope they bring back some fond memories of trips to Berrow and Brean. I was out on Berrow beach only yesterday oddly enough, although it was a bit windy and cold so we didn’t hang about.
I’ve quite deliberately never described Nick and Jane and have left it to the reader to form their own pictures of him. Your description isn’t far off as it happens; a bit taller, maybe 5’11”, but apart from that you’re spot on.
I’m often asked at events who would play Nick and Jane in a television series and my reply is always the same: Arnold Schwarzenegger and Dolly Parton!
With very best wishes,
Damien
Hello Damien, What terrific stories you tell. I have all you have written so far and have read them all twice bar the latest.
I am also diabetic so it interests me greatly how Nick manages his blood sugar levels doing such a high stress job, but it lets people realise that bring diabetic is not the end of the world.
Thank you for the pleasure you are giving your fans, long may we be reading about Nick, Jane and Monty.
Thank you, Mavis. Most kind!
With best wishes,
Damien
Just finished the latest book read it in two days which is good and bad as I have to wait now for the next one!
It’s so much fun reading about Nick and the team he is building around him, I’m surprised he’s not had the call upstairs but now Chard (boo) is out of the way it’s hard to see why it’s not DCI Dixon?
Please crack on with the next book as train journeys and holidays need Dixon and co.
Thank you, John. Glad you enjoyed it!
Working on number 10 now…
With best wishes,
Damien
I just finished dead lock and loved it, I’m eagerly awaiting book 9 + I don’t use or trust Facebook so never find out what’s happening so I hope there are more books on the way. How did the w-s-m lit Fest go? I used to live in Weston so love all the local knowledge.
Thanks for writing the books
Glad you enjoyed Dead Lock!
Yes, plenty more on the way. Book 9 – Beyond the Point – is scheduled for release on 23rd May and I’m just getting going with number 10 now too.
The Weston Lit Festival was great fun and went well, I think. I don’t think I put my foot in it anyway. The events were well attended and there’s another this February too. It’s well on the way to being an annual event.
With best wishes,
Damien
Hi Damien. Love this series. (I’ve read them all having just finished Dead Lock.) I now live in Cornwall but lived in The Grove BOS from 86 to 92 and really enjoy the local references. Have spent many a pleasant evening in the Zalshah! Beautiful part of the world and your local descriptions bring back a lot of fond memories. Looking forward to the next one. Richard.
Thank you for your kind comments, Richard. I’m glad you’ve enjoyed the series thus far!
Ah, the Zalshah…pleased to bring back some happy memories too.
Plenty more to come…
With best wishes,
Damien
Hi Damien, I have loved reading all of your books and sometimes books are better left as they are. The Harry Potter series for example, when filmed, was not as good, in my opinion, as the books themselves as you loose some of the content and meaning behind within the book and the characters themselves.
I, as I am sure many other readers are looking forward to book 9 and Hinkly Point C is obviously going to play a part in this story line. One point I would like to make though is that part of the attraction to your books has been the location setting. Don’t go too far out of the area as it detracts from the main ethos of the book.
Still love them though and long may they continue.
Thank you, John! I’m glad you are continuing to enjoy the series.
I do take Nick and Jane a little further afield from time to time; Manchester in Heads or Tails, for example. But they always come home…
Remember that HPC would be on Nick’s patch as a Bridgwater officer too. And, as the crow flies (pardon the pun!), it’s only a few miles away 😉
Yes, plenty more to come…
With best wishes,
Damien
Glad to hear that many more are to come. Enjoyed reading all 8 books and can’t wait for number 9. Thank you!
Thank you, Jo!
Best wishes,
Damien
Just finished Dead Lock. Read the previous 7 as a kindle binge read. I am so grateful to the friend who recommended your books. Whilst waiting for 31st May I started to read something else (no names, no packdrill). Downloaded Dead Lock on Thursday but continued with said other book. By 1st )uni I could put it off no longer, abandoned other book and got stuck into Dead Lock. Such a satisfying read. Thank you for the pleasure your writing has given me.
Thank you for your kind comments, Glennys! Plenty more to come 🙂
With best wishes,
Damien
Just finished listening to Dead Lock and once again it’s brilliant. I’ve really enjoyed them all, first reading them and also on audible. The only problem is waiting until you write the next one. I would really love seeing them as tv series, although don’t let them change them!!
Thank you, Alexis!
Yes, plenty more to come 🙂
Got close with a TV deal earlier in the year but it’s a real minefield. Maybe one day.
With best wishes,
Damien
Hello Damien. I love your books. You keep me guessing and I am so sad when I have finished a book but always get the next one from our local library. I live in Weston-super-Mare and visualise where you are going on your travels. We love The Red Cow at Brent Knoll and know the staff there. I take a group of blind and partialy sighted people there for lunch or evening meals and they always make us so welcome, especially the Guide Dog. Keep safe and well and keep writing your wonderful books. Aileen Milsom
Thank you, Aileen!
Left a comment on your blog. This is extra! Re tv possibly, the Welsh productions of Hinterland and others have fine dramatics and photography. Worth considering?
Regards, Roger.
Definitely, Roger.
I’ve sent them an email. Thank you!
Just can’t tell you how much I have enjoyed all of the 7 to date books, Even if for the first time in my life I have met a fictional character with my own maiden name, whose husband is moidered!!, For that matter I haven’t met any real people with my name either…….,!
Do we have to buy tickets for your talk at Weston? I want to come!
A friend asked me if I was being paid commission by you as I persuaded her you were so good , she bought all 7 books in one go and sent them to her sister in Australia!.
Best wishes…..
Thank you very much, Mary! Glad you enjoyed the books 🙂
I’m afraid the Weston Literary Festival is sold out, but I am doing a ‘meet the author’ event at Burnham Library on 30 May, if that’s any good for you? It’ll be a talk followed by a Q&A.
I’ve been trying to work out which character might have your maiden name…
With very best wishes,
Damien
TV can be fraught – I’m a reader, with multitudinous books on shelf, Kindle and from the library, but few of the TV version have been as good as the books. None of Val McDermid’s ones are a patch on the books, but Caroline Grahame’s ones (I have all of hers and read them years ago) did well as Midsomer Murders, as have the Shetland series (which even husband likes – he’s never understood my passion for detective novels). So be careful – I’m perfectly happy with fairly ordinary heroes (ie not psycopaths or alcoholics) with terrier instincts and brains that are good at research and making connects to unpeel an interesting story, but in TV land, especially USA, they seem to prefer the over the top unbelievable. And they can’t do quirky – they did try with a couple of Australia’s more eccentric series (such as Rake – look it up, it might remind you of people you’ve known). In any case, good luck, and good wishes for the new year.
Thank you, Jennifer!
Few TV series live up to the books, except perhaps Morse, but then I watched the TV programmes before I read the books. It’s when you’ve read the books first, and have a clear idea in your mind of what the characters look like, that TV can be tricky.
I’m sure everyone has a different idea of what Nick looks like too 🙂
With best wishes,
Damien
Both of us ( husband and I) have now pre ordered it!
Hope you both enjoy it when the time comes, Ann!
I’m so looking forward to 31st May 2018!
My husband and I have not found anything to match Nick Dixon.
I do congratulate you on all the hard work which goes into them but hope it’s enjoyable as well?
Thank you, Ann! Most kind 🙂
Yes, very enjoyable. The research is invariably fascinating and sometimes great fun too: caving, going out in the lifeboat…
No plans to stop it either!
With best wishes,
Damien
Hi Damien
I’ve only just discovered the Nick Dixon series and read As The Crow Flies on one sitting, finishing it at 2.30am! The story was gripping, well-executed and the characters well developed and likeable. Have now ordered the rest of the books in the series and can’t wait for them to arrive.
Keep up the excellent work and good luck for 2018.
Thank you for your kind comments, Sarah! My apologies for the late night 🙂
I do hope you enjoy the rest of the series too.
Yes, plenty more to come…
With kind regards
Damien
Hallo Damien,
I have never heard of you till my ex neighbour write and said “Jane, you will love DB books. They are based in Somerset, DI Nixon has a Staffie like you and a girlfriend called Jane!” She knows I love Peter James who lives near where I was born and having lived not long ago near Frome, said I would love your books! So now planning to get some from Amazon. All the best for book 9!
Best wishes,
Jane Webber now in Norfolk! PS Do YOU have a Staffie?
Hello Jane
Thank you for your comment and I hope you enjoy the books!
I’ve got a Westie and Tibetan Terrier. You’ll occasionally see photos of them on Facebook…out on the beach 🙂
With best wishes,
Damien.
Great Blog!
Good photo; not sure Nick would have a daysack unless climbing.
Didn’t realise you were always two novels away from losing your book deal; Book 7 was good but I have Death Sentence as the finest one of the series to date.
“A very contemporary novel that has a range of interesting asides but never makes assumptions or jumps before the reader can make the connection.
A real pleasure to read, no slight of hand just old fashion police work testing ideas and doing the work. A solid team of detectives doing the graft and the inspirational leader in Dixon to link it altogether.
The star though is the author who is relevant and can tell a good story. However Monty the dog perhaps steals the show. ” Part of my review.
Book 8 sounds good and 9 quite fascinating. It is pleasing that you seem to incorporate the sounding local geography and history to make each novel fresh.
Have you got scope for a stand alone or will your publishers continue on a 2 book deal – pressure!
Keep up the excellent writing – wishing you continued success into 2018
Thank you very much for your kind comments, Richard! I have been following your reviews on Goodreads and am delighted that you are enjoying the series. Plenty more to come…
I’m hoping Thomas & Mercer will continue on a rolling two book deal, although there may come a point when I slot in a standalone. I have several ideas on the back burner. I’m also thinking about starting another series and alternating them, but the likelihood is that I will keep going with Dixon for the time being at least.
You’re quite right, of course. Monty does steal the show!
Thank you again for your comments and reviews. They are much appreciated.
With best wishes,
Damien.
Late comer to your books, but loving the first one. Living in Uphill, it’s great to have local references.
Hope you enjoy the rest of the series, Barry!
With best wishes,
Damien
Happy New Year, Damien. To you and your family and the fur kids, too. Take care.
Happy New Year Damien to you and your family.
Thank you, Sue!
The experiences of proposed dramatisations reminds me of a story Terry Pratchett used to tell about a Hollywood producer who wanted to do Mort. His anthropomorphic Death is the central character but the producer, after saying what a wonderful story it was and how he admired the concept, said they wanted to “get rid of the skeleton.” As Terry put it “I told him to keep taking the tablets.”
This all looks and sounds so exciting! I’m really looking forward to the Weston Literary Festival event and indeed all your future books.
All best wishes for the New Year and beyond!
Thank you, Eleanor!
All good news Damien. Many congrats.
I don’t subscribe to Facebook so any news via your website is welcome.
Thank you, Christine! Most kind 🙂
I must try to remember that not everyone does Facebook!
With best wishes,
Damien
fingers crossed for Nick on the tv x and roll on May xx wishing you and the family a very happy and healthy and prosperous 2018 xx 😆
Sounding good
I certainly like the update to the website Damien.
You`ve certainly whetted the appetite of a fan with the thought of No 9 being on the horizon – thats fabulous to hear.
Congratulations on passing the 1 million mark, its a mark of your ability as an author that you should be extremely proud of.
With regard to Nick Dixon on the small screen, this is another exciting prospect that I personally cant wait for, but, the thought of a single part be it location, characters or for that matter anything else is unthinkable were it to be changed. The whole concept of Nick, Monty and Co come as a package not be be broken.
I have read and re read all of your books so far as they are so well written and the characters so believeable plus identifying the locations in and around Somerset is fascinating as well.
Long may Nick Dixon reign supreme.
Thank you, John! Most kind 🙂
Thanks for info & hours of good reading. Please don’t let TV companies change a thing…just look at Jack Reacher!
Wishing you and your family a happy new year Damien. Looking forward to the next Dixon 😊
Thank you, Sheena!