In life, there are many frustrations and 'failures', so tis nice to celebrate wee 'wins'. I've had a fab week, eg feature in Canvas Magazine on DDDU2; got asked to chair a Kiwi author at a London event in May; spied my first book FF in @wimblestones along with David Heska Wanbli Weiden (writing! semi-hiatus) & Murakami

As it so often does with bookshops thru my life, my Waterstones Wimbledon visit lifted me, esp seeing so many cool authors I've read, interviewed, hung out with, highlighted in various ways. Here are two of my top reads of past year, from two top people, Liz Nugent & S.A.Cosby

From a Kiwi & Ngaio Marsh Awards perspective, twas cool to see some superb, fresh #yeahnoir tales featured, not only face-front but with bookseller recommendations. Tom and Mike were #2023Ngaios finalists, have won and been shortlisted for several other awards. Highly rec reads

Ngaio Marsh Awards Tom Baragwanath Text Publishing Grove Atlantic Simon & Schuster UK SimonSchusterANZ Katherine Armstrong Waterstones Baskerville Alfred A. Knopf Jade Chandler Also fab to see the marvellous Elly Griffiths and #MickHerron ff & recommended too. Both have provided readers with so many superb books, plus they're fine people, whether chatting in interviews, dancing at FunLovinCrimeWriters gigs, or posing for Miss 9's photog duties at Bute Noir

Lots of other great reads highlighted at @wimblestones too, including Kiwi Booker Prize winner Eleanor Catton's latest, a slow-burn thriller that's Ockham NZ Book Awards-shortlisted and #2024Ngaios entry, and really terrific crime reads from Femi Kayode, William Hussey JERICHO’S DEAD out now! and others.