Nigel Bird and his stories have appeared in so many places that it's about time the best of them were brought together in one collection.His work has also received so much praise that this collection should be a must for the fan of the short story, particularly those fans with a taste for noir, crime or unusual fiction.
Praise for his work and, indeed, for some of the stories collected here includes:
'A tremendous writer.' Donald Ray Pollock (The Devil All The Time)
'A rare talent.' Allan Guthrie (Bye Bye Baby)
'I was surprised by every story. These are short, punchy, thoughtful, hard as a punch, but sometimes they dig in and squeeze. It's dirty stuff, done beautifully." Anthony Neil Smith (Yellow Medicine, Psychosomatic, Hogdoggin')
'It won't take long to realise he is also one of the best writers out there on the noir scene' Ian Ayris (April Skies)
'So nice to read a story with this much heart in it.' Patti Abbott (Discount Noir, Monkey Justice)
'Great Stuff.' Charlie Stella (Charlie Opera, Johnny Porno)
'Brilliantly razor-sharp, jagged slice of life.' Paul D Brazill (Guns Of Brixton, Roman Dalton)
'I sought out everything I could from him. I dare you to read and not do the same.' Chris F Holm (the Michael Hendricks series)
'Took my breath away...Powerful.' Kathleen A Ryan (Playing With Matches, Women Of Mystery)
'Nigel Bird continues to amaze, ' Naomi Johnson (The Drowning Machine)
'Nigel Bird screamed onto the crime scene with his story "Beat on the Brat," winner of last year's Watery Grave International competition. And with good reason. It's a sharply written tale about the cost of loyalty.' Chris Rhatigan (Watch You Drown)
'Grim, but really good.' Ian Rankin (Inspector Rebus)
The work here has found homes in some of the finest places around and has passed through the gates of many great editors. It's a stunning collection that deserves to be savoured over and over again.
About the Author: Nigel Bird's work has been included in some of the biggest and best anthologies and magazines around (Mammoth's Best British Crime; Crimespree; Protectors; Speedloader; Crimefactory; True Brit Grit; Both Barrels; Off The Record; Grimm Tales) In those collections, he's appeared alongside such greats as George Pelecanos; Kate Atkinson; Stuart MacBride; Alexander McCall Smith; Bateman; Val McDermid; Peter James; Mark Billingham; Seamus Heaney; Ian Rankin; Joe Lansdale; Scott Wolven; Zoe Sharp; Allan Guthrie; Reed Farrel Coleman; Ray Banks among a list of other notables. As well as writing, he's a Support For Learning Teacher the proud father of 3 young children. Nigel Bird Bibliography Novels: 2013 How To Choose A Sweetheart 2012 In Loco Parentis Novellas: 2013 The Rocks Below 2012 Mr Suit 2012 Smoke Short Story Anthologies including my work: 2013 Lee (the Lee Marvin anthology) published by Crime Factory 2012 Nightfalls (story Greene Day) published by Dark Valentine Press 2012 Both Barrels (story, The Rhythm Of Life)published by Shotgun Honey 2012 Protectors (Stories To Benefit Protect) (story, Baby's In Blue) published by Goombah Gumbo Press 2012 Crimefactory 11 (story, Horse) published by Crime Factory 2011 True Brit Grit (story, Stones In Me Pockets) published by Guilty Conscience 2011 Off The Record (story, Super Trouper) published by Guilty Conscience 2011 Grimm Tales (story, Sing A Song Of Sixpence) published by Untreed Reads 2011 Pulp Ink (story, A Whole Lot Of Rosie) published by Needle Publications 2011 Speedloader (story, You Dirty Rat) published by Snubnose Press 2011 Mammoth Best British Crime 9 (story, Sisterhood) published by Robinson 2011 Mammoth Best British Crime 8 (story, An Arm And A Leg) published by Robinson 2010 Caught By Darkness (an anthology of Dark Tales) published by Pill Hill Press Short Story (Individual) 2012 Sleeps With The Fishes 2011 Into Thin Air published by Untreed Reads Short Story Collections (Individual) 2011 With Love And Squalor 2011 Beat On The Brat (and other stories) 2011 Dirty Old Town (and other stories) Poetry Collections (Individual) 2011 The Day My Coat Stuck On My Head 2011 Busted Flat Magazines 2011 Voluted Tales (story, Fisher Of Men) 2010 Needle Magazine (story, Beat On The Brat) 2010 Crimespree Magazine (story, An Arm And A Leg) 2010 Dark Valentine Magazine (story, Silver Street) 2009 The Reader Magazine (story, Into Thin Air)
