Author Conrad signs three-book deal (From Warrington Guardian)
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Orford Green author Conrad Jones signs three-book deal
9:00am Monday 24th September 2012 in News
Conrad Jones with his first novel
YOU would normally expect a writer who has sold more than 120,000 copies of his novels to already have a book deal.
But Orford Green writer Conrad Jones has done it the other way round after signing his first three-book deal with Thames River Press.
The 44-year-old has picked up crime thriller book fans from around the world after self-publishing his series of fiction tales.
The former carpet cleaner swapped his old career for writing in 2006 and in the past 18 months released his books for sale on e-reader systems – helping him reach a new audience where his stories have sold in their thousands.
He said: “Off the back of my eBook sales I have managed to acquire the services of a literary agent, who has secured a three-book deal with London-based publishing house Thames River Press.”
His books, The Child Taker, Criminal Revenge and Criminally Insane, are due to be launched on October 1 as paperbacks and digital books.
“Obviously taking my first steps into the traditional publishing world has been a daunting experience and there is no guarantee of success but a three-book deal straight off is a great indication of the publisher’s confidence in the titles.”
The three books chosen to be published follow Detective Superintendent Alec Ramsey, who tries to solve three crimes.
Conrad initially penned a series of novels based on an anti-terrorismn unit in the north west.
He was inspired to write about the subject after witnessing first hand the fall-out of the Warrington Bridge Street bomb when he was manager at McDonald’s on the day.
In The Child Taker five-year-old twins are abducted from a tent in the Lake District and the hunt for a dangerous paedophile ring begins.
Criminal Revenge sees DS Ramsey investigate a bombing outside the first mosque built in the UK. Criminally Insane follows police as they inspect a murder scene to find clues that suggest others may have been killed at the same spot.
And with more books in the pipeline Conrad is hoping to inspire other budding writers looking to take their first steps in publishing.
He added: “I think my story has been a great one to encourage aspiring authors to keep going no matter how long it takes. If you can build a readership on your own then the industry will listen eventually.”
