Peter's Blog

“ Keep up-to-date with Peter’s regularly-updated Blog ”

Oxfam Talk

Just a quick note to let you know I'll be giving a talk and signing in aid of Oxfam on Thursday July 16 in Brighton.

The talk is at 6.30pm at Brighton Jubilee Library, Jubilee St, Brighton BN1 1GE. Talk and signing. Tickets are £5 - all proceeds to Oxfam. Tickets areavailable from the local Oxfam Bookshop (30 Kensington Gardens) Tel 01273-698093 and online from www.hayfestival.com/oxfambookfest

If you live in Brighton, I do hope you'll be able to come along.

Vote For Peter!

I'm delighted that I have been shortlisted for two awards this summer, the Crime Writers Association "Dagger In The Library" which is voted for by librarians and the Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Novel Of The Year, for Dead Man's Footsteps.

The Old Peculiar award is the only one in the UK voted for by the public. If you would like to see the full shortlist and perhaps cast your vote, you can do so by visiting The Old Peculiar Award polling webpage .

Oulton Crash Part 2

Many thanks to Debbie Roberts for sharing these photos she took of my high speed crash at Oulton Park (mine is the yellow car) - looking at them, I really do feel lucky that I barely suffered a scratch!

Peter's Crash

Photo: Debbie Roberts

Peter's Crash

Photo: Debbie Roberts

Peter's Smash At Oulton Park

Had a high speed smash in the second lap of my race at Oulton Park in Cheshire, yesterday. It was definitely one of those "oh sh*****t" moments, particularly in the seconds after impact when I found myself careening along on my side, before the car righted itself.

The chain of events leading to the accident was a spillage of petrol or oil on the track, causing several cars to spin or slide off, as we all entered one of the fastest corners on the circuit, at about 85mph. Before you see me, I had slid off onto the wet grass, was holding the car steady and about to get back onto the track, still travelling at very high speed, when a car spun right across my path. I swerved to avoid hitting it, went sideways, and then struck a car that had spun in the middle of the track. Watch the white car come off, then the blue car spin, then wait for the yellow car - that's me folks!

This is the film clip, taken by chance by a spectator, now up on YouTube.

You may also enjoy the selection of before and after photos below, including the one of blue car 93 which I struck.

Happily, and miraculously, no one was injured, although I am somewhat bruised and sore today.

One veteran driver came up to me afterwards and said that now I had had a major shunt, I could call myself a proper racing driver!

Then a wag came up to me, looking at the 'DEAD TOMORROW' posters plastered on each side of the car and said, "I think you should change the title of your book, mate, to "ALMOST DEAD TOMORROW".

Peter James Car Smash

PJ and car before the race

Peter James Car Smash

The Rescue Team

Peter James Car Smash

Ambulance arrives on the scene

Peter James Car Smash

The Aftermath

Peter James Car Smash

Number 93, Which I Crashed Into

An Author For All The Family!

Thought I would share with you this wonderful photo sent to me by a fan, Carolyne Michael, taken on a family holiday in Cyprus last year - look carefully at their choices of beach reading!

The Michael Family

One of the real joys of being an author is receiving fan mail, and a wonderful email such as this always gives me a real boost. Even more so around a nerve-wracking time like this with my new book just out - and struggling as ever against a deadline to finish the next!

So a huge thank you to Carolyne Michael and family, and to all those of you who have written to me over the years.

And now back to the grindstone....!

Today Is Publication Day For Dead Tomorrow!

Today is publication day of Dead Tomorrow in the UK - I'm excited but nervous!

Yesterday I was on Irish AM breakfast television in Dublin talking about the book. If you would to see it visit this page on the TV3 website, then click on the image to start the video.

Get A Phone Call From Roy Grace!

As part of the promotional campaign for Dead Tomorrow which comes out on June 11th, you might have already seen these adverts in the press where you can text a number and get a phone call from Roy Grace himself! Simply text GRACE to 60300 and you will hear from Grace for yourself. Standard network rates apply.