Members of the Media:
Looking for high-quality photographs to download?
Need information for an interview or article?
Would you like to arrange to meet and speak to Peter May? please click here to visit Peter
May's online Media Room
USA TOUR, March - May 2010
The dates are starting to come together for the US Tour check here for details.
SECOND LIFE TV APPEARANCE
February has another live (in pixels at least) interview in Second Life, where Peter will be talking about Virtually Dead: February 14th (Sunday)
Second Life Television "Tonight Live with Paisley Beebe"
at 6pm PST/SLT (for anyone living in UK or Europe this airs in
the early hours of Feb 15th Monday morning: UK 2am and Central Europe
3am)
The URL to watch the show live IN Second Life is: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Northpoint/207/143/32
The URL to watch the show live broadcast over the internet is: http://streams.treet.tv/live.mov
The URL to watch a recording of the show (any time from 15th February onwards) is: http://archive.treet.tv/
SCOTTISH NIGHT FRENCH BOOKSTORE
Peter will be in Montauban for a Soirée Ecossaise hosted by Le Scribe on February 11th details on his French website.
INTERVIEW WITH ITW - THE BIG THRILL
Read the latest interview with Peter in the International Thriller Writers magazine.
January
2010
Virtually
Dead
The standalone
thriller Virtually Dead is published this
month in the USA. Flick Faulds,
Private Eye, has the lowdown on Peter's latest activity... and here
is the book trailer...
In other news, planning for Peter's US tour in April/May 2010 is
already underway.
November 2009
Coming
Up...
The publication
in French of Peter's latest book, "L'Ile
des Chasseurs D'Oiseaux"
is creating a lot of excitement. When Peter's French publishers
read it, they liked it so much that they insisted on buying world
rights, and so the book - set in the Outer Hebrides - was published in
French before it came out in any other language! Several European
publishers became involved in bidding wars when it was unveiled at the
Frankfurt book fair in October and it will shortly be published in most
European languages. French speakers may be interested to check
out the
reviews on Peter's
French website,
and English speakers will be pleased to know that they won't have to
wait too much longer to read it. Watch this space for more
info...
October 2009
PPWebCon...
Here's
a repeat of Peter's webcast for PPWebCon, the world's first online
crime and mystery convention, which was hosted by Poisoned Pen Press.
September 2009
Bumper
Crop...
Just looking at
the proposed list of Peter's books scheduled for publication this
winter and discovered that there will be...
FOUR
HARD COVER and SEVEN PAPERBACK
editions published in the USA between October 2009 and February 2010!
Peter
will arrive in the US again in March 2010 for a Spring tour, so it
looks like he will have plenty to talk about, including...
The brand new standalone:
Virtually Dead
January, 2010
(hardcover and paperback simultaneously)
The brand new 4th Enzo File (latest in the series):
Freeze Frame
March, 2010
(hardcover and paperback simultaneously)
The 3rd of the Enzo Files:
Blacklight Blue
March, 2010
(paperback)
And a flurry of China Thrillers in hardcover and paperback...
The Firemaker
October, 2009
(paperback)
Chinese
Whispers
October, 2009
(hardcover and paperback simultaneously)
The
Killing Room
February, 2010
(paperback)
The
Runner
February, 2010
(hardcover and paperback simultaneously)
So with The Fourth Sacrificeand
Snakehead which
came out in Feb 2009 - that means by next Spring, all the China
Thrillers paperbacks will be available for the first time in the USA.
AND ONE MORE...
There will be one more new book by Peter out in October 2009...
L'ILE DES CHASSEURS
D'OISEAUX
(English title: The Blackhouse)
A brand new novel set in the remote Outer Hebridean Isle of
Lewis, will be published in France in October. Editions Rouergue
bought the world rights and so the book will be available in French
before it is published anywhere else in the world in English!
June 2008
Peter's
Broadcasts Available now...
Blacklight Blue
Playlist
Snakehead Playlist
April 2008
New
Live Internet Broadcast...
Details
of the broadcast follow, but first, have a look at author Carl
Brookins' interview with Peter. You can find it here... Carl
Brookins talks to Peter
LIVE BROADCAST
Join Peter for more videos, excerpts, and live Q&A by clicking:
http://www.mogulus.com/petermaylive If you click
on the above link at the moment you'll find some video clips of the
last broadcast. And if you miss next Sunday's broadcast, you'll
be able to catch repeat viewings afterwards - you'll just miss the live
Q & A.
February 2008
Busy
Month...
Poisoned Pen
Press are publishing the 4th China Thriller, Snakehead in hardback
and the 2nd China Thriller, The
Fourth Sacrifice in Paperback.
LATEST EDITIONS: THE FOURTH
SACRIFICE #2 in the China
Thrillers series Buy
now from Amazon...
...were an
experience! The first broadcast went incredibly smoothly.
Too smoothly. The second made up for that when Peter lost his
internet connection 2 minutes before the broadcast was scheduled.
Re-setting the modem and re-booting proved useless. So a
telephone call from France to New York resulted in Peter's
brother-in-law logging on, taking control of the online studio,
locating the pre-recorded segments and getting the show on the air only
3 minutes after the scheduled time! That gave Peter 27 minutes to
locate someone with hi-speed internet that was working, and persuade
them to let him come and use it... Another 4 telephone calls later he
was away with his laptop, driving through narrow country roads in the
dark, through France. Across a long ridge, and through a jumble
of stone buildings, he came to a converted 18th century barn where an
artist/photographer friend has his studio with internet
connection. After all the required French formalities: kisses,
handhakes, pleasantries, some hasty explanations (what's French for
"live internet broadcast"?!), trying to remember forgotten security
passwords for modem, giving up on Wifi, finally locating the ethernet
cable, Peter slumped into a seat with his laptop camera online and cued
up, just in time to hear himself say "So if you have any questions,
I'll be happy to answer them..." End of recorded segment. Cue
live camera... Action!
You can now view the recorded part of the show, which is running on a
loop on the station, here...
In the meantime to whet your appetite, here are the first reviews of Blacklight Blue...
"A
cerebral, chilling tale bound to burnish May's reputation.” Kirkus Reviews "May's dark, intense third mystery
to feature Scottish forensic scientist Enzo Macleod... an unusually
compelling ongoing saga” Publishers Weekly "This complicated tale weaves
threads of the past into the present... An
engrossing
mystery" Library Journal
To get your copy...
(In the USA, Click
here to support
your local independent mystery store by ordering Peter's books from one
of them)
or order from:
But
this isn't just a one-way show! The broadcast will include a
Question and Answer session, in which you will be able to participate,
by sending questions to him, live by text or by E-mail in advance from this form.
Peter will be giving you all his news live, and talking about his new
Enzo File...
Blacklight Blue
Blacklight Blue,
the latest in The
Enzo Files series was published on November 10th 2008, by
Poisoned
Pen Press.
"A cerebral, chilling tale bound to burnish May's reputation.” Kirkus Reviews "May's dark, intense third mystery
to feature Scottish forensic scientist Enzo Macleod... an unusually
compelling ongoing saga” Publishers Weekly "This complicated tale weaves
threads of the past into the present... An
engrossing
mystery" Library Journal
September 2008
Peter
live
from France by video link
at Bettendorf Public Library, Iowa USA
From his home in France, Peter will be
present via Skype live video link
at a discussion with readers and members of the public in Iowa,
USA. The discussion will be led by librarian Hedy Hustedde in the
Bettendorf Public Library’s
Malmros Conference Room,
Saturday, October 11,
from 9:30-11:00 a.m. and will centre on
the first book in Peter's China Thrillers series,
“The Firemaker”.
New members are always welcome.
More information: Bettendorf Public Library
May 2008
VIDEO
and AUDIO developments
A
new page on the website is an archive of all things video and
audio. As well as the videos which can be found on Peter's Youtube page, you'll
find podcasts and TV interviews in English
and in French!
Peter has two new channels
where he will be able to broadcast worldwide live. Right now he's
busy writing his next book
(well, it has to be done sometime!)
but
we'll let you know as soon as there will be a LIVE broadcast where
you will be able to put your comments by E-mail or text to him live
during the transmission. For a preview of the channels, which are
running some tapes of talks and interviews right now, click on the
links below...
Peter arrived back from the USA tour to
find that the French edition of "Chinese
Whispers"
(L'Eventreur
de
Pekin) has been shortlisted for the PRIX INTERNATIONAL at the Cognac
"Polar & Co" Literary Festival! Winners will be announced in
October.
ARTICLES
Two interesting newspaper
pieces about "The Critic"
and Peter by San Diego wine critic and journalist, Mathew Lickona can be found
The third book in The Enzo Files
series will be published later this year and Peter is already thinking
about book #4. To whet
your appetite for more of Enzo, click on
the "play" button on the video below to catch a glimpse of Enzo's home
town, Cahors. Visit Peter's YouTube pagewhere you can find more of his
research videos from France and China.
If you can, come along and
hear Peter talk about his two latest books published in the US, "The Critic" (#2 in the Enzo Files series) and "The Killing Room" (#3 in the China Thrillers series. At
some events, you can even get a chance to tast the wines mentioned in "The Critic"!
Click here
for all the confirmed dates on the tour
THE
CRITIC
THE KILLING ROOM
January 2008
CHEVALIER
de l'ORDRE de la DIVE BOUTEILLE
Peter
was made a Chevalier de l'ordre de la Dive Bouteille as a result of all
the research he did on Gaillac wines for his latest book. Read
all about the experience on his blog at http://petermaylive.blogspot.com
NEW ENZO FILES BOOK
The latest in the Enzo Files series THE CRITIC has just been published
by Poisoned Pen Press. (read
the
latest reviews here)
The book takes place in the vineyards of Gaillac in South West France,
and involves the death of a world-famous wine critic. On this
year's tour Peter will not only talk about the book, but will also be
able to let readers taste
it!
The wines that he mentions in the book will be available for the first
time in the USA and on Peter's tour, many of the venues have been able
to arrange for him to do a wine-tasting with readers. So come
along and get a "taste" of Peter's books...
Peter won the 2007 PRIX INTRAMUROS at
Cognac's annual Festival of Crime Writing "Polar&Co" on October
19th.
He found himself facing all-French competition in the final shortlist
of seven writers for France's most unusual literarly award. The
PRIX INTRAMUROS - literally "within the walls" - is decided by juries
made up of inmates of French penitentiaries, and the shortlisted
authors had to arrive a day early at the book festival to present
themselves at various French jails for interviews with the detainees.
After deliberation, the prisoners awarded the prize to Peter for
“Snakehead” (Cadavres Chinois à Houston) the fourth in the China Thrillers series of books,
which was published in France this year. "Snakehead" will be
published in the USA in 2008.
This is the second time that Peter's books have been honored in his
adopted homeland. French Elle
Magazine shortlisted the first of his China Thrillers series, "The
Firemaker" for their "Grand Prix" of Literature two years ago.
Summer 2007
Festival
Inter-Celtique
in Lorient
The summer has been devoted to the
writing of Peter's third book in The Enzo Files series.
However Peter had to take a break in the middle of writing when he
received an invitation he couldn't refuse from Maëtte Chantrel and Rachid Oujdi. Both
are respected book critics and radio presenters who regularly host live
events at the major French book festivals. They are huge fans of
his China Thrillers and have previously invited Peter
to speak at events such as The Paris
Book Fair and Saint-Malo's "Etonnant
Voyageurs" book festival. Peter says, "They're a
pleasure to be with and always do their utmost to make me feel at
ease on stage with them. They even manage to make it look as if I
can
actually speak French."
Maëtte and Rachid
invited Peter as Guest of Honour to
the
"Bistrot Litteraire" in
Lorient, Brittany as
part of the Inter-Celtic Festival in August.
Lorient is a Breton port town, a favourite with sailors and pleasure
cruisers. The last time Peter had been there was for the Celtic
Film and Television Festival in the early 90s, when the Gaelic drama
serial Machair, which he
co-created and produced, was nominated for an award.
This
Festival Inter-Celtique was mainly centred around music and for once
Peter wasn't alone in France in his kilt. Scottish and
Irish singers and musicians filled the streets of the Breton
port. The Guinness flowed in the beer
tents and
Rachid provided some fine Scotch malt whisky in the "Bistrot
Litteraire". One whole side of the harbour was taken over with
tents of bookstalls (pic above), where authors signed their works for
the public in the sunshine.
One
rather bizarre event occurred while Peter was there. The festival
in Lorient coincided with a fete day at Bretenoux, the small town close
to Peter's home in South West France. Artzimut, an arts
organisation, had decided to conduct a tour of the hamlet where Peter
lives and had wanted him to give a talk about his work. When they
discovered that he would be at the other end of the country, they
insisted that there had to be some other way of having him
"attend". To that end, they set up an internet link so that he
could give his talk by video.
...
So on the Saturday afternoon, Peter got connected from his computer via
the Lorient hotel's WIFI to a computer set up by Artzimut in the garden
of his
home.
Peter was expecting a group of 15 or so people, but he discovered that
it would be more than that when the organisers asked if he would
deliver his talk twice, as they had split the tour into two groups. They then announced that each group would
contain around 150 people! They had arranged to project his image on to a large screen and had set
up loudspeakers so that everyone would be able to hear him. In all, more than 300 people ended up
coming to Peter's garden to hear him talk about his writing.
While
in Lorient, Peter took the opportunity to visit the island of Groix
where he found the beaches surrounded by white painted houses with
steeply-sloped slate roofs very reminiscent of those in the Western
Isles of Scotland.
Spring 2007
French
Festivals
March/April 2007
Just back from a successful two months
spent touring the United States.
Now Peter has been invited to appear at several book festivals in
France. First is the Salon du Livre in Paris (23-27 March) the
biggest in France, then on to Limoges, (30 March - 1 April) another
festival just south of Limoges (14-15 April) followed by a special
event in Rodez (17 April). More details can be found on Peter's French website.
Then Peter will go into hibernation to write the third book in The Enzo Files series - with all
this touring, talking and signing there's no time for writing!
The second book in The Enzo Files
series is finished and is the hands of Poisoned Pen Press. It
will be published in November 2007. Details of title to follow.
Winter 2006/7
2nd
USA
TOUR - February/March 2007
Peter
will be visiting bookstores all over the USA, talking about
EXTRAORDINARY PEOPLE, the first of his new series set in France - The
Enzo Files. Also, THE FOURTH SACRIFICE, the second of his China
Thrillers will be published by St Martin's Press in time for his
tour.
For the latest list of confirmed locations and dates, click here.
To visit the new website for The Enzo Files and EXTRAORDINARY PEOPLE, click here.
EXTRAORDINARY PEOPLE - EXTRAORDINARY REACTIONS
Buy the book from Amazon Now by clicking on the link below...
Autumn 2006
2nd
USA
TOUR IN THE PLANNING STAGES
Peter
will be visiting the USA in February and March of next year.
Starting in Seattle at the Left Coast Crime conference, he plans to
visit West and East Coasts, with some stops in between! Watch
this space for further details. So far he has confirmed events in
Seattle WA, San Mateo CA, San Francisco CA, Thousand Oaks
CA, Los Angeles
CA, San Diego CA, Scottsdale AZ, Denver CO, Boulder CO,
Minneapolis MN, Pittsburgh PA, New York NY.
The first reactions to the Advance Reading Copies of "Extraordinary People" have started
to come in. Here are a selection:
"Read
an astoundingly good book the other day. Just outstanding. ...As
much an examination of
French intellectual culture as a thrilling and tension-filled mystery,
the novel is filled with multi-dimensional flawed individuals.
The author's examination of society and the human condition is
fascinating and enthralling. The
conclusion is as exciting and entertaining as one could ask for. A dynamite novel and a fine beginning to
what promises to be an
outstanding crime fiction series." Carl Brookins (Author
of
THE CASE OF THE GREEDY LAWYERS, OLD SILVER, A SUPERIOR MYSTERY and
INNER PASSAGES)
“Intelligent, ever-moving and beautifully written, it is the best book
I have read this year. I highly recommend it!!” Barbara
Douglas,
Murder By The Book.
"...an excellent novel that
will keep you in suspense all the way ... Hopefully Peter May will
follow-up this book with future adventures of Enzo MacLeod." Patricia
Reid,
BooksNBytes.com
"Peter
May's
"Extraordinary People" is an extraordinary novel ... Action
escalates at every turn and becomes breathtaking at the denouement." Mary
Ann Smyth Bookloons
"brisk and thrilling ... the layers of complexity bode well for
future installments." The
Baltimore
Sun
"Lots of twists and turns.
Fast-paced. Lots of energy throughout the book." Ollie’s
world of books
"the
intriguing first book in a series of thrillers set in modern France by
talented author Peter May ... The presumed premise for this series,
celebrated unsolved murders, is a captivating one" Hidden
Staircase
Mystery Books
"This taughtly written thriller
moves from the catacombs under Paris through the countryside
surrounding this great city. I found it hard to put down." Linda Walonen,
Bay Books, San Ramon CA
"Twists,
turns and a whirl wind tour of France ... smart and engaging ... Peter
May does a wonderful job ... This is an intelligent story that every
mystery fan should read." Sondra
Fowler
for ReaderViews.com
"As a fan of forensics, this
reader finds the interpretation of the clues a highlight to the
high-paced adventure." Jen
Oliver for MyShelf.com
"The climax is a fabulous
finale that will leave readers clamoring for more inquiries by the
Professor and his team." Harriet
Klausner,
Midwest Book Review
"action-packed second half and
rather thrilling denouement in the catacombs of Paris" Entertainment Weekly
"this travelogue–cum–murder mystery makes for a fun puzzle"
Publisher's Weekly
"a throughly engaging puzzle
mystery"
Library Journal
EXTRAORDINARY
PEOPLE
The first in Peter's new series - The Enzo Files - entitled"Extraordinary People" will be
published by The Poisoned Pen Press in November 2006.
The
series features Scottish/Italian university professor Enzo Macleod who
lives and teaches in South West France.
Rising to a challenge
from the local police chief, Enzo accepts a bet to prove that the
latest science and technology could bring cold case killers to
justice. His quest takes him on a journey through French
landmarks and the Paris catacombs on the trail of one of France's most
notorious
unsolved mysteries.
For an advance taster, a chance to meet
Enzo and his clan, visit Enzo's website at: http://www.enzomacleod.com
Author Carl Brookins had this
to say about "Extraordinary People": "Read an astoundingly good book the other
day. Watch for it when the issue date comes
(November) it's called EXTRAORDINARY PEOPLE by Peter May from Poisoned Pen Press. Just outstanding. Remember the title. Read the book."
Try
your hand at amateur sleuthing! Enzo lets you in on the first set of
clues which turn up in "Extraordinary People". Solve the puzzle,
decode the message which they contain, and you could win a peronalised,
autographed copy of the book. You'll find all the information on
the website:
After
the
French version of The Firemaker
(Meurtres à Pékin) was shortlisted by Elle magazine for
their Grand Prix, this summer Peter found himself nominated for both a Barry and Macavity Award for The Firemaker,
but had to withdraw himself from both shortlists.
Why?
He'd
been
nominated in the category of "first" novel. It was an easy
mistake for people to make. Due to the years he spent writing and
producing drama serials for Brirtish Television, The Firemaker was
the first novel he'd had published in the US for a very long time, but
the truth is, he had been published there before, so he had to let the
organisers know and take his name off the shortlists.
Peter
spent February in California researching his latest book and came back
to a busy month of March in France with the French editions of The
China Thrillers, so there is a lot of news to catch up with...
MEURTRES A PEKIN ("The Firemaker")
has been selected by readers of the French ELLE Magazine as their Crime Book of the Month and is a
finalist in this year's GRAND PRIX
- the winner will be announced in May.
LE QUATRIEME SACRIFICE
("The Fourth Sacrifice") was launched at the Paris Book Fair last
month, and Peter was invited to spend a couple of days signing books at
the Editions Rouergue stand. He also participated in a forum at
the fair where he and two other crime writers were interviewed by a
journalist on stage in front of an audience... entirely in French.
The sixth book in the series L'EVENTREUR
DE
PEKIN ("Chinese Whispers") will be published by France
Loisirs, the biggest book club in France, in June.
Peter has been invited to appear at book fairs and bookstores in France
all across the summer. He'll be going to Saint
Céré, Toulouse, Rion Des Landes, Figeac, Saint Malo,
Frontignan, Vaucluse, Montauban and Marseille. Details can be found at
his French website... http://www.petermay.fr on
the "quoi de neuf" page.
After CHINESE WHISPERS Peter
began researching and developing a new series of books. This series is a move away from China and
will introduce a whole new group of characters.
Peter is delighted to announce that US publisher - Barbara Peters' Poisoned Pen Press will be
publishing the
first book in this series, EXTRAORDINARY
PEOPLE, in the US and the UK
this autumn, in November, 2006.
The
second
book in
the series, which Peter is currently researching, has been commissioned
and Peter says that working with Barbara has been "an absolute joy".
We'll be bringing you more information about these new books in the
very near future. So check back on the website soon, or write to
Peter and ask to be put on his "latest news" list, by clicking here.
After
the successful launch of MEURTRES A PEKIN at the Brive Book Fair,
requests for Peter to visit other Book Fairs in France are now coming
in. He visited Cressensac Book Fair in December.
He will be at the Paris Book Fair (the biggest in France) from March 17
to 22, where LE QUATRIEME SACRIFICE will be launched.
He has been invited to take part in a debate at Rion de Landes Festival
of Mystery and Crime books in May. And he's also been asked to attend
the St Malo Book Fair in June.
MEURTRES A PEKIN was featured in this month's French PRIMA magazine,
and it has been selected for ELLE magazine's readers in March.
France's biggest book club, France
Loisirs
will be bringing out the last in the series, CHINESE WHISPERS,
soon. Details of French title and publication date will follow.
November 2005
PODCASTS
Peter has produced a
30-minute talk about THE FIREMAKER on audio which will is available on
iTunes as a podcast.
The Book Fair at Brive La Gaillard was an extraordinary experience,
with more than 500 authors, elbow to elbow, signing their books for
upwards of 120,000 visitors over the weekend.
Danielle Dastugue and Michèle Blanc of Editions du Rouergue were
very pleased that over 100 copies of MEURTRES A PEKIN were sold.
Apparently an author who is "unknown" to the French might expect to
sell only one or two copies! Plans are in place for more signings
in other French cities. Watch this space for information.
NOW
THE
FRENCH TOUR.... The first dates for the
promotion of the French version of The Firemaker, (MEUTRES A PEKIN)
have been announced with the publication and launch of the book at the
prestigious Brive Book Fair at the beginning of November.
On
Friday November 4th at 6pm
Peter will be at The Librairie De Trois Epis
9, avenue de Paris
Brive La Gaillarde
19100
On Saturday and Sunday, November 5th and 6th
he will be at the Editions du Rouergue stand at the Brive Book Fair.
To
celebrate
the launch of the French editions of his China thrillers, he
now has a French website. Click here to visit it.
September 2005
THE
U.S.
Tour is now underway! See full list of dates
under "August" entry, below.
Come along and meet him if you can, or tell friends and relatives
across the USA about his bookstore talks and signings.
BLOG
Peter has decided to keep everyone up to date with what is happening
through and online weblog.
You can find it at: http://petermaylive.blogspot.com
FRENCH PUBLISHER TO PUBLISH
THE CHINA THRILLERS
Great news, at last, the books will be translated into French and
published in the country which Peter has made his home. Editions
Rouergue will be bringing out MUERTRES A PEKIN (THE FIREMAKER) in
November. More about that, and Peter's French Tour later!
Peter is planning a U.S. tour, to introduce himself and The Firemaker
to American readers, and will be visiting the following cities...
CHICAGO, IL: 1st - 4th
September (Bouchercon)
5th September - Labor Day
ROCHESTER, NY - 6th September
MINNEAPOLIS, MN:7th September (Once Upon A Crime,
7pm)
BOULDER, CO: 8th September
(High Crimes, 7pm)
DENVER, CO: 9th
September
ATLANTA: 10th -11th September
HOUSTON, TX: 12th September
(Murder by the Book, 6.30pm)
AUSTIN: 13th September
SCOTTSDALE, AZ -
14th September (The Poisoned Pen, 7pm)
SEATTLE: 16th September
(Seattle Mystery Bookshop, Noon)
SACRAMENTO,
CA:
Sunday 18th September
Book Launch Party (Invited Guests)
DAVIS,
CA: Monday 19th September (The Avid
Reader,7.30pm)
SAN MATEO, CA: Tuesday 20th September (M
is
for Mystery, 7pm)
NEWPORT BEACH, CA:
Thursday 22nd September
Book Launch Party (Invited Guests)
SAN DIEGO, CA: 23rd September
EAST COAST: 24th - 30th
September
including
BOSTON,
WASHINGTON DC,
PHILADELPHIA,
NEW JERSEY,
NEW YORK.
These are provisonal dates, for the latest - constantly updated -
information regarding his tour schedule, visit Peter's new MEDIA ROOM
website at http://www.petermay.info
If you would like information about his tour E-mailed to you, or if you
would like to suggest a venue for Peter to visit and give a talk,
please send a message to Peter via the form on his contact page
March 2005
U.S.
PUBLICATION
OF THE FIREMAKER
The Firemaker will be
published in the U.S. by St Martin's
Press (Minotaur) this year. Peter is hoping to arrange a tour to
introduce himself and his China Thrillers series to American readers.
Watch this space for all news about this as we get it!
August 2004
FRENCH LAUNCH PICS: Some pictures of Peter and the
50 or so guests gathered at the annual party in France to celebrate
Peter's latest book, CHINESE WHISPERS....
AND...
For all of Peter's fans in the USA - there will be some exciting news
soon....
July 2004
THE RUNNER
MAKES IT TO FINLAND and HUNGARY READERS DIGEST are now to translate THE RUNNER for their
Finnish and Hungarian editions.
CHINESE WHISPERS AUDIO BOOK
Isis Audio books have released CHINESE WHISPERS as an audio book.
February 2004
DUTCH FEATURES The recent publication of HET VIERDE OFFER (The
Fourth Sacrifice) in Holland led to Peter making a trip there at the
end of January. Dutch and Belgian readers should look out for
forthcoming features in:
Tag
Metro
China Nu
Asie *
Nieuw * klik hier voor onze pagina's over de Nederlandse uitgaves
THE RUNNER MAKES IT TO NORWAY READERS DIGEST are planning to translate THE RUNNER for
their Norwegian edition.
NEW CHINA THRILLERS PAGES FOR DUTCH READERS *
Nieuw
* klik hier voor onze pagina's over de Nederlandse uitgaves
Welcome to all the Dutch readers of Peter's books. With The Firemaker
recently published in The Netherlands under the title of de Vuurmaker,
and The Fourth Sacrifice coming out in January under the title of Het
Vierde Offer, we are pleased to be able to introduce Pages in Dutch on
the website, with extracts from the books.
HOLLAND VISIT Peter will be making a trip to Holland January 27/28.
Dutch fans... watch this space!
CHINESE WHISPERS published in UK and Commonwealth "beautifully written and very
evocative" (Tangled Web)
Get your copy of NOW!
The paperback edition will be published at the same time
as the hardback, in January 2004.
July 2003
SIXTH CHINA THRILLER ANNOUNCED The sixth book in Peter May's CHINA THRILLER series will
be published in hardback in January 2004
BEIJING WEEKEND Peter had a full page photo and article written about him
in Beijing Weekend under the title; "WRITER FINDS THAT CRIME PAYS". If
you'd like to read the text of the article, click
on
this link.
FRENCH LAUNCH The annual French Launch of Peter's latest paperback will
take place at 4pm on Sunday 27th July. This year it's THE RUNNER.
Peter
will be bringing everyone up to date with stories and video from
his latest research trips and sharing some of the behind-the-scenes
secrets of the book.
Peter at the launch of THE RUNNER in London, recently
June 2003
READER'S DIGEST take THE RUNNER Reader's Digest will be producing a condensed version of THE
RUNNER in their November edition of Condensed Books.
DUTCH PUBLISHER BZZToH TAKE MORE OF THE CHINA
THRILLERS THE FIREMAKER will be published later this year, and
Dutch publisher, Uitgeverij BZZTOH, has just announced they intend to
follow it up with THE FOURTH SACRIFICE and THE KILLING ROOM.
March 2003
THE RUNNER
The first of the reviews for THE RUNNER...
"a tense and atmospheric thriller with a
heart-stopping ending"
AMERICAN DEMAND FOR THE LATEST CHINA THRILLER
Although not yet published in America, some American bookshops are
going to extraordinary lengths to stock The China Thrillers. This month
another huge box containing copies of THE RUNNER arrived in France to
be signed by Peter. The books were then to travel all the way back to
Britain from whence they would be shipped to The Poisoned Pen Bookstore in
Arizona USA to satisfy Peter's growing army of collectors and fans.
With people prepared to go all this trouble, surely it won't be long
before an American publisher realises the potential...
February 2003
THE RUNNER
The fifth in the China Thrillers series, THE RUNNER, was
published by Hodder & Stoughton in hardback on January 6th, 2003.
This latest in the series sees Li Yan and Margaret Campbell back in
Beijing attempting to solve a series of murders which threatens the
future of international athletics as the city begins its preparations
to host the Olympics. The "Talking Books" rights have already been
snapped up by Isis.
CHINA THRILLERS GO DUTCH Dutch publisher, Uitgeverij BZZTOH, has bought the
Dutch rights to THE FIREMAKER, and will publish in 2003
CHINESE PUBLICATION The first book in the series, "The Firemaker", has
been translated into Chinese and is being serialised in 20 instalments
from January 2003 in a Chinese crime magazine called "Detective World".
The publisher is currently negotiating to buy the Chinese translation
rights in the first four books to publish in paperback over the next
two years.
CHINESE TV SERIES A Chinese production company based in Beijing is
negotiating the buy the rights in the first four of the China Thrillers
to adapt for TV audiences in China - which can be as big as 600 million
people.
NEW COLUMN CONTEMPORARY WORLD POLICE, a magazine published by
the Chinese police, has commissioned Peter May to write a monthly
column in 2003, describing his experiences during research into the
workings of the Beijing and Shanghai police forces, and providing a
westerner's view of the criminal justice system in China.
WORK IN PROGRESS Work on the sixth China Thriller has already begun. CHINESE
WHISPERS is due for completion in the Spring of 2003, and should
appear in the shops in January 2004.
Nov 2002
TALKING BOOKS Isis have announced their intention to turn both SNAKEHEAD
and THE KILLING ROOM into 'Talking Books'. These unabridged
versions will be available soon, read by American actress Laurence
Bouvard. Details of release dates will be given as soon as we have them.
THE FOURTH SACRIFICE TO BE PUBLISHED IN GERMANY AND ITALY Following the success in Germany of CHINESISCHES
FEUER (The Firemaker) THE FOURTH SACRIFICE has now been
published in Germany under the title of DAS ROTE ZEICHEN.
The Italian translation of THE FOURTH SACRIFICE is due to be
launched this autumn with a major promotional campaign in the
Mediterranean country THE FIREMAKER is already available there
under the title, SETTE NOTTI DI SANGUE.
July 2002
FRENCH LAUNCH The, now annual, French launch of Peter's latest
paperback will take place at 4pm on Sunday 21st July. This year it's SNAKEHEAD.
As
well as telling some of the stories behind the the book, Peter will
be showing some interesting video clips from his research trips to the
USA and China.
April 2002
SNAKEHEAD - CRIME BOOK OF THE MONTH SNAKEHEAD (coronet £5.99) the latest in
Peter May's China Thriller series, has just been released in paperback
and has been chosen by Ottakar's as their 'Crime Book of the Month' for
April 2002. Ottakar's say:
'The action is fast, the love story painful and tender, and the result
is a gripping and compelling mystery.' read more at: http://www.ottakars.com/Internet/werecommend/default.jsp
BOOK SIGNING IN LONDON
Peter will be in London at Crime in Store, 14 Bedford Street, Covent
Garden, London at 6.30pm on Thursday 18th April 2002. If you're in
London at that time, why not come along and see him? http://www.crimeinstore.co.uk/
LIVE ON RADIO SCOTLAND (and worldwide on the
internet)
He will also doing an interview on Radio Scotland on the Gary Robertson
Show sometime between 11 AM and 12 NOON on Friday 19th April 2002. You
can listen in from anywhere in the world via the internet if you have
QuickTime Player or RealPlayer. Just go to: http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/radioscotland/
In East Coast US it'll be between 6 AM and 7 AM on Friday 19th April
In China it'll be between 7 PM and 8 PM on Friday 19th April
March 2002
HONG KONG COMPANY INTERESTED IN TV ADAPTATIONS
Peter received a surprise invitation to return to China last month. He
was asked to speak at a press conference in Hong Kong launching
TOM.COM's new broadband service "China Interactive TV" and its flagship
programme "China Police Report". TOM.COM were also keen to discuss the
possibility of TV adaptations of Peter's China Thrillers and the
publication of his novels in Chinese. Read their full Press Release
with mention of Peter at... http://corp.tom.com/about/en/press/20020311.shtml
Dec 2001
SERIALISATION OF THE FIREMAKER FOR CHINESE
DETECTIVE MAGAZINE
While Peter was in Beijing and Shanghai in December on a research trip
for his next China Thriller, he met the Chinese translators who are
currently working on THE FIREMAKER which is due to be
serialised in China's 'Detective World' magazine. The contract was
signed under the auspices of a Supreme Court judge (who also happens to
be a writer of crime stories) at a large banquet which the Chinese
Crime Writers had arranged to celebrate Peter's birthday. It took place
in the Hall of Longevity in one of China's oldest Restaurants with a
menu of traditional specialities including sea slugs, jelly fish and
"Five-Flavoured Stuffed Intestine".
Maëtte Chantrel and Rachid Oujdi. 
Maëtte and Rachid
invited Peter as 
This
Festival Inter-Celtique was mainly centred around music and for once
Peter wasn't alone in France in his kilt. Scottish and
Irish singers and musicians filled the streets of the Breton
port. The Guinness flowed in the beer
tents 
One
rather bizarre event occurred while Peter was there. The festival
in Lorient coincided with a fete day at Bretenoux, the small town close
to Peter's home in South West France. Artzimut, an arts
organisation, had decided to conduct a tour of the hamlet where Peter
lives and had wanted him to give a talk about his work. When they
discovered that he would be at the other end of the country, they
insisted that there had to be some other way of having him
"attend". To that end, they set up an internet link so that he
could give his talk by video. 
While
in Lorient, Peter took the opportunity to visit the island of Groix
where he found the beaches surrounded by white painted houses with
steeply-sloped slate roofs very reminiscent of those in the Western
Isles of Scotland.
