I'm back from my holiday (yes, even writers need rest) and have loads of things happening, so this could be a long one!

First up, there was a great review of Monsters of Men in the Times last week, and another in the Mail.  There was also a great preview of the US release in the Wall Street Journal.

I can also announce that, starting next week, a free mini-book of the opening pages of Monsters will be available to Starbucks card holders at UK Starbucks in support of the National Literacy Trust.  You might remember that they did the same for Knife and it was brilliant!

And in the US again, Knife was announced as this year's Red Hot Rebel Read, a brilliant programme out of Champlin Park High School in Minnesota.  I'll be travelling there in Sept/Oct for a whole bunch of events, can't wait!

There's loads more that'll just have to wait, though a quick reminder that I'm at the Hay Festival this Friday and Saturday, that I've got a brand new short story in the Keith Gray-edited Losing It out in July (more on that soon), and other goodies to come.

Finally, a HUGE thanks and welcome to the nearly 50 new commenters while I was away, including some old friends (like Tom, who of course I remember) and some very welcome students who are reading my books for class or for Carnegie Shadowing.  I'm overwhelmed by your responses to Monsters of Men.  Thank you all very, very much.  More soon!