Well, here it is - the revised cover for After Goya - now available as a Kindle ebook.

Yes, that's right, the Kindle edition went live on Sant Jordi (Saint George's Day).

If you want to buy it in Euroland for only €2,32 inc. tax, go HERE (the Amazon Germany site).

If you'd like to buy it in Poundland for only £2.06 inc. VAT then go HERE (the Amazon UK site).

And, if you'd like to purchase this "intelligent literary thriller" for only $2.99 in U.S. currency then go HERE (the Amazon U.S. Kindle store ).


I had hoped to be able to offer you a FREE copy of the ebook, by way of celebrating Sant Jordi, in all popular ebook reader formats (e.g. Nook, EPub, Sony reader, Kobo etc), via Smashwords, however, such was not possible.

The print version is on schedule to be available in the U.K. during the first week of June, priced at ₤7.99.  I'll let you know as soon as I know.

Within four hours of going live in the States I'd sold a copy. The reader downloaded it to their i-Pad via the kindle app. The reader, from Durham in North Carolina very kindly sent me a message:
"I stayed up too late reading last night, really enjoyed it so far and got quickly sucked into the plot, well done! As for format issues on the kindle, none encountered so far. I am reading it on an iPad with the Kindle app."

Not owning a Kindle, nor an iPad, I cannot download a copy myself so I was relieved, and pleased, to learn that there appear (so far) to be no formatting issues.

So, there you go, what are you waiting for? Head over to your preferred Amazon store and sample a few pages before you buy.

REAL LIFE IMITATES ART?

After Goya's core premise is built around the re-emergence of two miniature paintings by Francisco José de Goya y Lucientes
74 years after having been presumed destroyed or looted following an air-raid on Madrid during the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939).

You may scoff, or be unconvinced, at the conceit.

However, the air-raid, on November 19^th, 1936, really did happen (SEE Antony Beevor's The Battle for Spain page 203), and did cause extensive damage to the Duke of Alba's Palacio de Liria, and artworks were destroyed, damaged and went missing.

In 2008 three drawings by Goya re-emerged after 130 years of being presumed lost.

In 2010 the three drawings on paper fetched a total of £4,010,150 at auction in London.
Go HERE to read the background on how the three drawings, last seen in a Paris exhibition in 1877, re-appeared in 2008.

And, just last week, (no, I'm not making this up) a painting by Goya (and a painting by El Greco) was discovered in a house in Alicante, 14 years after disappearing during transit from the United States to Spain after an exhibition in New York. The UK Independent covered the story HERE and, for more detail, go  HERE.

I find it uncanny how not only was the Goya re-discovered at this time, while review copies of After Goya are being distributed to magazines and blogs, but how there is a Barcelona connection. Yes, the re-discovered Goya once belonged to Catalan businessman, Julio Muñoz Ramonet, who owned properties on Carrer Muntaner and Carrer Avenir. Muñoz Ramonet's surviving family are currently involved in litigation with Barcelona City Council over ownership. Go HERE to read the background.

This story of re-discovery, happening as it does, combined with the spooky coincidence of After Goya being published on Goya's birthday, would be mannah for an adept and able book publicist. But, other than tell you about it, I'm  really not sure how best to exploit these coincidences.

I didn't know of either instance of re-discovery during the writing of After Goya. I first came across mention of the Alicante Goya on William Newton's fascinating blog - go HERE and scroll down.

The FORD MADOX FORD TEST

The novelist, critic and editor, Ford Madox Ford once famously said, “Open a book to page ninety-nine, and the quality of the whole will be revealed to you.”

Well, at the risk of public humiliation, but in the spirit of transparency and sharing, here is Page 99 of After Goya:

     ‘Asking you to interview the bank manager in Madrid was not a little errand.’ Cotelo tapped the table with an emphatic finger. ‘And the reports? Well, that’s just bullshit isn’t it? Didn’t think you’d be interested in the paperwork. Thought you wanted action. Thought you wanted to be out there, on the streets, tracking our man. And, as for belittling your suggestions, well, we’re here aren’t we? You said they were heading for Córdoba and here we are – in Córdoba.’
     He looked at Cotelo, trying to read his expression. He couldn’t tell whether he was being sincere or not. He hesitated, wavering on the edge of feeling chastened. He allowed him the benefit of his doubt and continued eating his soup.
     ‘For what it’s worth, I think you’re doing a good job.’ Cotelo wiped his chin with a napkin. ‘These surveillance jobs are never easy. They’re frustrating. You just want to get in there and get your man, or woman. S’only natural. We all want to do what we’re paid to do – catch crooks and lock ’em up. But, well, when there’s a bigger catch, and it means taking time, watching, waiting, laying a trap, then ...’ Cotelo shrugged, pushed his empty dish aside and poured himself a glass of red wine.
     ‘So, what do you think he’s up to?’ he asked.
     ‘As I’ve said before, that’s not our job. We watch, we observe, we allow our observations–’
     ‘Yes, I understand that, but you must be curious. You’re a detective!’
     ‘I have my ideas, of course, but–’
     ‘I don’t think the Boss would have sent you to just watch. Sooner or later he’s going to ask you to close in and close it down, whatever it is.’
     ‘Maybe. But maybe the Boss is just keeping me out of the way, sending me on a little errand.’
     ‘And, why would he do that?’
     ‘Stop me following up a case I’ve been working on.’
     The waiter arrived at the table with their second courses.
     ‘Which case?’
 .....

So, what do you think?

There are a couple of little niggly things in there that I'd change if writing it again. And, it's a bit dialogue heavy and light on speech tags, but ... I think it's fairly clear what's going on and who is talking to who. And, there's some intrigue:  "... close in and close it down, whatever it is." What is the it that is being referred to?
And, why would Cotelo's boss prevent him from following up a case he's been working on?
Well, you'll have to turn the page to find out. 

What do you think? All comments gratefully received.

GOYA'S BIRTHDAY

Incredible - but true! 
The very same day I received news that my novel AFTER GOYA is now published was the anniversary of Goya's birth. 
Goya was born on March 30th, 1746.
Spooky or what?

And, no, this is not an April Fools stunt.