The Reaper

New Year, New Novel

2012-01-31T13:14:00.002Z

Happy New Year to all my readers. The cover of the new DI Brook thriller, DEITY, is on the front of the website. I hope you like it as much as I do. I've received a definitive date for the release of DEITY. The hardback will be available from April 26th, presumably the Kindle version will be out at the same time. However, the paperback is released on June 21st, brought forward from August because my good friends at Waterstones have decided to include DEITY in their summer promotion. Great news. So you can be reading a copy of the novel on your sunbed in whatever version you prefer.

I'm excited about DEITY because everyone at Headline who's read it was thrilled with it and very enthusiastic about its prospects.

2011-09-02T09:36:00.002+01:00

Oh joy and desolation. My new novel DEITY is in the can and after two weeks pushing myself to the brink of heart failure and insanity it's winging its way to the publisher. Now I've got my life back, as usual I don't know what to do with it. I suppose I could start the next one. Ideas anyone?

2011-08-03T15:54:00.001+01:00

Deadline day approaches and the frenzy to add value to the manuscript will soon reach fever pitch. As soon as the test series is finished.

2011-06-21T08:35:00.004+01:00

Thanks for all the nice comments still trickling in, in appreciation of The Reaper, which was published all of two years ago now. It still confers a childish kick to read good wishes from around the globe, so thanks Trevor in New Zealand and happy reading.
I spent a very enjoyable evening in the Brunswick pub, Derby last night, meeting and talking with members of Derby Scribes, a community of writers who meet twice a month to discuss their own writing projects and anything of interest in the literary world. It's heartening to know the written word is in the safe hands of such enthusiasts who write the full gamut of genres from graphic novels through horror and fantasy, to my own genre, crime fiction. All writers, or those hoping to start writing, are welcome.
Anyone interested in joining them in their twice monthly meetings can contact Chris Barker on christopher.barker@gmail.com

2011-04-15T16:28:00.002+01:00

Time to take a break from writing Deity. There comes a point in every creative act when you just have to leave it alone completely and return to it refreshed and reinvigorated. And this is that time. Happy Easter everyone.

New Directions

2011-02-17T16:20:00.007Z

Hi folks

I thought it was time to reveal that Harper Collins and I have parted company after two novels together, The Reaper and The Disciple. I now have a new publisher, Headline, and a new novel entitled Deity set for release in July 2012. The reason for revealing this is because my third novel will not now be the final part of The Reaper trilogy for reasons partly beyond my control.

The final instalment of the trilogy is called The Resurrection and I began writing it after the release of The Disciple. However, although The Disciple got great reviews and did good business, it didn't hit the heights of The Reaper and in their wisdom, Harper Collins decided that they were not going to commission The Resurrection. Instead they wanted to skip straight to my 4th novel Deity, the synopsis of which they loved.

At this point, I was prepared to reject a new offer from HC and return to self publishing to finish the trilogy because in my opinion one of the reasons for The Disciple's performance was Harper's inability to republish The Reaper to stand alongside it. New readers were hardly likely to take a chance on a sequel to a book which was no longer available and this omission seemed to me to be unforgiveable.

Instead of self publishing however, Headline entered the fray, and impressed me greatly with their commitment to DI Brook as a character. Unfortunately, although enthusiastic about both Reaper and Disciple, they were unable to commision the third part of a trilogy when another publisher had control over the first two books. So, after much soul searching, I signed a 2 book deal with Headline for two new Inspector Brook novels, which will hopefully put the series on the map and allow me, eventually, to revisit the final episode of The Reaper trilogy. I hope you'll stick with me through his new cases and not lose faith that the trilogy will be completed at the earliest opporunity.

Breast Cancer Campaign

2011-02-03T08:24:00.002Z

Thanks to all who attended last week's Breast Cancer Day at Makeney Hall Hotel near Belper. The day was a great success and people gave generously as well as sampling the different life enhancing treatments and body regimes available.

Nice to get out of the house and away from the computer occasionally. But back to the bread and butter. Deity, my next novel, is starting to shape up and I'm beginning to feel that same excitement (and terror) bubbling under as I did at the same stage with The Disciple. I'd say fingers crossed but I guess luck is nothing to do with it.

2011-01-21T11:07:00.002Z

For anyone like Alison, who has just discovered The Reaper series, and would like to have a chat about the books or perhaps get their copies signed, I will be attending a charity day at Makeney Hall Hotel in Makeney near Belper on Saturday 29th January from 12.30pm until about 3pm. The event is in aid of Breast Cancer Reasearch and Queen's Hospital Scanner Appeal - very worthy causes. I hope to see you there.

2011-01-10T13:49:00.002Z

A big thank you to all fans and new readers of The Reaper and The Disciple for coming to see me and chat at Derby Waterstone's just before Christmas. The weather was a bit bleak and many of you made a big effort to get there so thanks again and my best wishes to all for a Happy New Year.

The Disciple at Christmas

2010-12-13T10:21:00.002Z

Hi folks
Thanks to all those who came in to say Hi in Nottingham on the 4th. It was a bit of a struggle to get there with the poor weather but I'm very glad I made the effort. Waterstone's was surprisingly busy - people who were clearly trying to find that special present - and sales of The Disciple were excellent so thanks to all those who made a purchase and trusted my sales patter.
The final book signing for The Disciple will take place in Derby Waterstone's on the 18th and it promises to be pretty manic, as it's the last Saturday before Christmas. I'll be there early and staying late to maximise sales and hopefully there'll be another few dozen new readers of The Reaper series at the end of the day. Hope to see you there. Happy Christmas to all my readers and blog followers.

2010-11-30T10:20:00.002Z

Hi folks
As Christmas draws near I'll be heading back to Waterstone's hoping to spread some Christmas cheer and promote The Disciple to gift hungry readers. I'll be in Nottingham Waterstone's on Saturday 4th December from 10.00 and Derby Waterstone's on Saturday 18th December from 09.30. If you're in the vicinity pop in and say hello and if your book haven't already been signed, bring them in and I'll be happy to oblige. Happy Christmas to all my devoted readers and followers.

Book signing Nottingham

2010-09-21T16:28:00.002+01:00

I'll be signing copies of The Disciple this Saturday (25th September) in Nottingham Waterstone's from 10.00am. I hope to see some of you there - it's always great to chat with my modest army (more of a squadron really) of hardcore fans.

2010-09-10T08:42:00.000+01:00

http://www.lep.co.uk/lifestyle/the_disciple_by_steven_dunne_1_1327565

Hi folks

Some of you out there may have noticed some of your comments have disappeared. My fault entirely. I'm still getting used to the modern world and am blundering around on the site trying to post things and generally deleting them. Sorry. It's not a lack of appreciation so keep those comments coming. And Linda, sorry about your late night but I'm glad you found the ending so addictive. Meanwhile here's a link to the Lancashire Evening Post who seemed to like The Disciple as much as you.

2010-09-09T12:40:00.002+01:00

It's a busy month coming up as I am signing copies of The Disciple in various parts of the country. After successful events in Derby and Burton-on-Trent, I will be signing copies for customers in Waterstone's in the Trafford Centre Manchester this Saturday 11th and in the same store in Nottingham on September 25th. In addition I'll be signing books at Burton-on-Trent library on Saturday 18th all from 09.30 onwards. I'll also be at Sinfin Library from 7.30pm on Thursday 16th September to sign books and answer questions and give a reading. Hope to see you there.