The Leigh Russell Thread

Welcome to our thread dedicated to our resident published author Leigh Russell, whos debut novel is being released in July 2009. This is the place to come and discuss everything Leigh Russell - we all know how hard it is to get published, but its even harder to get a readership! So come here and show your support

Heres a little bit more about . . . .

Cut Short



Author Biography:

Leigh Russell studied at the University of Kent gaining a Masters degree in English and American literature. A secondary school teacher, specialising in supporting pupils with Specific Learning Difficulties as well as teaching English, Leigh Russell is married and has two daughters.

A Writer is Born. . .

For Leigh Russell, the author of Cut Short, inspiration for his gripping psychological thriller occurred in the most mundane of places - his local park. In the time it had taken for a stranger to walk past Russell on a wet dull January day, the idea which the book revolves around was born.

Intriqued about the psyche of a serial killer, Russell took to writing with a passion which saw him both complete his first novel Cut Short and have a three book deal with ‘No Exit’, leading publishers in the genre of crime fiction, in the space of 6 months

Leigh Russell says, "I was gratified when my publisher said she didn’t understand how I can sleep at nights. As it happens, I sleep very well, but I know what she meant. I write about normal people in normal situations, encountering crimes of violence. Crimes that could happen to anyone. For a day or two after reading Cut Short I’d like my readers to be startled by unexpected noises, look nervously over their shoulders on the street, and think twice about going out alone in the dark, before returning to normal, with a sense of relief. After all, real life isn’t as frightening as fiction . . . is it?"

About ‘Short Cut’:

In the tradition of Ruth Rendell, Lynda la Plante, Frances Fyfield and Barbara Vine, Cut Short is a gripping psychological thriller that introduces D.I. Geraldine Steel, a woman whose past is threatening to collide with her future.

D.I. Geraldine Steel expects the quiet town of Woolsmarsh to be dull. She quickly discovers she is wrong.

The park is a place where children play, friends sit and gossip, people walk their dogs or take a short cut to avoid the streets. But in the shadows a predator prowls, hunting for victims.

A woman sees the killer and comes forward as a witness – someone whom the killer must stop at all costs.

For D.I. Geraldine Steel, it is a race against time to find the killer before he strikes again, as public pressure mounts with the growing death toll.

Release Date: july 2009

Available to buy @ :

Amazon.com

or

London Books

Note: Not available at amazon.co.uk at the moment - but will be soon - watch this space.

Author Links

No Exit Press Author Page

CrimeTime Magazine, p15

Bibliography Details:

ISBN: 9781842432716
Price: £6.99
Casing: Paperback
Format: A (178 x 111mm)
Extent: 352pp
Rights: World
Pub. Date: July 2009

Wow, that's awsome! Congrats!

I have a question Leigh:

have you always wanted to be a writer? or was it something that you came to decide on later in life? Basically when and why did you decide to sit down and write?

Congrats on your debut novel!

Congratulations Leigh - It's good that you're working on promotion in advance of the release. I missed out on that opportunity as I was working in Chicago for 3 months leading up to the launch of my book.

Have you discovered that you now have a bunch of "new best friends" coming out of the woodwork? (Very annoying.)

There is a certain amount of satisfaction when the naysayers hear the news that your dream became a reality.

I know I sound awful. I didn't tell many folks that I was writing - Most of those that I did confide in were less than supportive.

I like anything scary - so I'll keep an eye out - though it sounds like this is being released in the UK & probably not available to us Yanks for a while.

I wish you well.

Dave

Congratulations on a most thrilling endeavor!
The bookstore my friend owns orders most books from the UK, so you know that their will be a copy in my hands too!

Congratlations, Leigh! I love the cover - really striking and atmospheric, wth its simple colurs, and the typewriter lettering is very eye-catching, too.

Best of luck with it!

Rosy

I have to say I'm in love with the cover! I am completely opposite of the saying, "don't judge a book by its cover" because I do that all the time! If I saw your book I would definitely pick it up!
Congrats on getting published, and I'll be in a bookstore in July to get my copy!

I'm happy to tell you that Cut Short is now available on amazon.co.uk as well as all other online suppliers and bookshops in the UK and around the world. Many readers have ALREADY ORDERED AND RECEIVED THEIR COPIES! It's out there so start ordering! (Yes, I am a tad excited.)

I hope you'll place your order and check out my blog, leighrussell.blogspot.com. Please email me on leighrussell2009@live.co.uk , for a personalised message and scanned signature. You can read more about Cut Short on my publisher's website www.noexit.co.uk where you can also find a schedule of my book signings and author events around the UK over the summer. I hope to see you there!

I'm grateful to Emily of the Writers' Chroncile for her support.

If you enjoy Cut Short, I would be seriously grateful if you would consider writing a review on amazon.

Hi Leigh, i moved your topic so it was on your assigned page.

This sounds great! Congratulations and I'll keep my eye open for the debut in July.

Congratulations to Leigh on the Debut of his first novel 'Cut Short' which is released today!!!

Congrats Leigh! That's awesome work!

Congratulations, Leigh!

Congratulations, Leigh - and best of luck with sales!

Rosy