Yet another week, yet another Irish crime fiction writer … Sean Black’s debut LOCK DOWN is published by Transworld Ireland in July (smashing cover, right), and already it’s attracted some heavyweight big-ups. To wit: “Sean Black writes like a punch in the gut. Funny, tough, and furiously paced, LOCK DOWN explodes off the page.” – Jesse KellermanMmmmm, nice. So what’s it all about, then? Quoth the blurb elves:
“A thrilling debut that locks you in and loads up the tension.” – Simon Kernick
It may be Christmas in New York, but for ex-soldier turned elite bodyguard Ryan Lock it’s business as usual: his mission is to protect one of America’s most ruthless businessmen. A bloody shoot-out - suddenly gunshots ring out. People run for cover. Innocent people are mown down. Amid the chaos, Lock’s hunt for the killers turns into an explosive game of cat and mouse. A deadly secret - Lock’s search for the truth takes him from the rooftops of a New York skyscraper to a heavily fortified warehouse on the Hudson where he confronts one of the world’s most dangerous women. As the clock ticks towards midnight on New Year’s Eve, all routes into and out of Manhattan are sealed, and Lock realizes that not only is his own life in terrible danger but so are the lives of millions of others ...Sean Black isn’t actually Irish, as it happens, and he isn’t even ‘Sean Black’, but he lives here, he sounds as if he could be Irish, and we’re not overly fussy and / or pedantic about such things, especially since the Good Friday Agreement pretty much says you can be Irish if you close your eyes and wish to be Irish whilst clicking your red kitten-heels together.
Anyway, that’s Sean Black, Benjamin Black and Ingrid Black … all Irish crime writers, and all pseudonyms. Isn’t it time we had a pseudonymic White? Eh?
You clearly know who Sean Black is - spill the beans! Is it Benjamin Black?
ReplyDeleteInteresting.
ReplyDeleteJesse Kellerman's name is linked in at the bottom of this entry. Is that purely coincidental?
:)
I'm surprised your blogging software hasn't self destructed by now. I had a hard time trying to email child's teacher called Mr White. Blocked by the school's PC filter at every step, since it's a bit racist to use the word white.
ReplyDeleteErm, it's definitely not Benjamin Black ... and Jesse Kellerman is in the links because of the big-up Jesse gave to LOCK DOWN ...
ReplyDeleteHere's more ...
"Sean Black grew up in Scotland, studied film in New York and has written the screenplays for many of Britain's best-known TV dramas. While writing Lockdown, he undertook a gruelling 24-day close protection course encompassing two weeks in an army camp in the UK, followed by firearms training in the Czech Republic. To research his next novel, Lock Up, he has 'done time' in Pelican Bay Supermax prison which is home to some of America's most violent inmates. Lockdown, the first in a major series featuring Ryan Lock, is his first novel."
Cheers, Dec
You can't fool me. Having also buffed up my CV, I can read between the lines of this: for 24 day close protection course read went camping as a Boy Scout, for 'done time in Supermax prison' read received several parking tickets and a severe scolding from a traffic warden, and for screenplays for Britain's best known dramas, read Hollyoaks. My money is still on Mr. Blanco. Did I mention that I trained as a Nasa astronaut and sprayed Windowlene on the Hubble telescope while researching the backstory of Orpheus Rising?
ReplyDeleteColin, pllbt. I thought your forename had been excised! What're you at, convening with the plebs?
ReplyDeleteDon't worry, my wife still calls me Colin, amongst other things. Actually, I should admit it's all a double bluff. I am Sean Black. Or Black, as I will shortly be re-christened. I am Black.
ReplyDeleteAs long as its not Julian bloody Barnes I dont care.
ReplyDeleteNice try at subtle book promotion, Colin. But we all know that Sean Black is the love child of Ben and Ingrid. No, wait a minute--if there names are both Black, that doesn't quite work. How about this? Sean Black is to Ingrid and Benny as Jesse Kellerman is to Faye and Jonathan?
ReplyDelete