I like: reading, thinking, writing songs, painting, wearing hats, burning things, playing guitar, walking my dogs, talking to my dogs, losing at chess, laughing at things, sleeping, football, boxing, physics, cowboys, cheese, cartoons, animals, toys, stationery, words.
I dislike: worms, telephones, cars, mince pies, God.
Music
Joy Division, The Jesus and Mary Chain, The Fall, The Clash, My Bloody Valentine, Velvet Underground, Iggy Pop, Primal Scream, Eminem, The Coral, Young Marble Giants, Senser, T Rex, Cockney Rebel, Sensational Alex Harvey Band, Westworld, Marilyn Manson, Killing Joke, Public Image, The Wedding Present, Galaxie 500, Sid Vicious, Stone Roses, Sixteen Horsepower, Deus, Colorblind James Experience, Mott the Hoople, Sepultura.
Movies
Hombre, Lost Weekend, Tombstone, The Outlaw Josey Wales, Rio Bravo, Project ALF, Robocop, Crocodile Dundee, Terminator 2, Doc Hollywood, Falling Down, Starman.
Television
The Simpsons, 24, Waking the Dead, CSI, BBC News 24 & Sky News, local news, football, boxing, darts, Harry Hill, The World at War, Mighty Boosh, Less Than Perfect ... plus anything else that happens to be on, as long as it doesn't involve cooking, dancing, or wobbly singing.
Books
I've been in love with books all my life. I love everything about them – how they feel, how they look, how they smell. They're the best things in the world. I've always read all kinds of stuff – from science fiction and comics to poetry and physics – but the genres I always go back to are crime fiction and Westerns. My favourite authors include: Lawrence Block, Martin Amis, Michael Connelly, Michael Marshall, John Updike, Dennis Lehane, James M Cain, Charles O Locke, JT Edson, Elmore Leonard, Dashiell Hammett, James Lee Burke, John Katzenbach, Zizou Corder, Joseph O'Connor, ee cummings, Richard Brautigan, Nelson De Mille, Ray Bradbury, Raymond Chandler, Philip K Dick, Thomas Eidsen, Stephen King, Jack Kerouac, Louis Sachar, Don Winslow, Robert Cormier, Jack London, Ken Kesey, Cormac McCarthy, BS Johnson, Norman Mailer, Melvyn Burgess, John D MacDonald, John Steinbeck, Jack Gantos, T Jefferson Parker, JD Salinger, Arthur Rimbaud, Meg Rosoff, Catherine Forde, Leif Enger.
Heroes
Richard P Feynman, Richard Dawkins, Sherlock Holmes, Philip Marlow, Droopy, Loncey Dalton Ysabel.
About me: I write books for/about young people. My first novel – MARTYN PIG – was published in 2001, and my eighth - called KILLING GOD (extract now available on my blog) - is published 25 June 2009. Other books I've written include: LUCAS, KISSING THE RAIN, CANDY, THE ROAD OF THE DEAD, BLOODLINE, I SEE YOU BABY (co-written with Catherine Forde), BEING and BLACK RABBIT SUMMER. They're books about real things, real lives (with occasional touches of other stuff), and although I wouldn't describe them as crime fiction, they often have crime fiction/thrillery elements in them. I like to write about the darker side of things, and I'm not known for my happy endings.
I've been lucky enough to win a few prizes for my books, such as: the Canongate Prize for New Writing, the Branford Boase Award, Kingston Youth Book Award, North East Book Award, Deutschen Jugendliteraturpreis Jury Prize, Buxtehude Bulle, Golden Bookworm, Stockport Schools Book Award.
Before becoming a full-time writer, I spent years and years writing, performing and recording music. I also painted for a while. I've had lots of jobs I'd like to forget – post office clerk, civil servant, hot dog seller at London Zoo, crematorium handyman¸ railway ticket office clerk, customer services person ... aaaahhhh!!!
I live in North Yorkshire with my lovely wife Susan and our dogs Shaky and Jess.
You are the only author i can rely on. ever since i read Martyn pig, every time i went to get a new book of yours, i wouldn't even read the back cover. because i knew it would be amazing, and amazing they all were.
Just thought I would thank you for all the amazing books you have written. You are by far my favourite author and have been ever since i first read one of your books which was Lucas. It made me laugh, smile, fall in love with Lucas and after i finished it had me crying for weeks on end. I have never read books that are anything like yours or nearly as emotionally moving. The characters are so real!!! I have read all your books and can't wait until you bring out something new :D Im sorry that im going on and on and on and on about it but you have no idea how much your books mean to me.
I do have just one question though... at the end of Kissing the Rain was there some obvious ending that i missed that you were hinting at? Or was it meant to be left open? It has just been annoying me ever since cause i dont know whether he does it or not so i thought i would ask.
Anyways sorry for this rather long comment i just really wanted to say thankyou for everything.
I reread "The Road of the Dead" and "Lucas" recently, and every time I read those books, it's like reading them for the first time. There's always something I missed the last time, and I just love the stories. I've been reading your stories since I was 15, and being 20 now, I'm still extremely in love with all of them. You made me want to go into publishing, you know. So, thanks for writing awesome books. I'll keep reading your work, as long as there's work to read! <3 Alia
Hey, you've got some great books! I love to read, basically anything and everything! I noticed you like Ray Bradbury. "Something Wicked This Way Comes" isd one of my favorites. My favorite book of yours is probably "Being", but "Kissing the Rain" is a close second.
Thank you, i cant wait to go get the ones i dont have! My sons middle name is Kole after Cole from TROTD lol he is one of my favs. I just finished Lucas last night, ahhh i cried i couldnt believe it, my husband thinks im nuts lol he keep saying its only a book. Anyway thanks cant wait till your new one comes out!
yes, i see where you are coming from. I think that is whats best about your stories, after you read them, it just makes you keep wondering incessantly. Which you know its a good book if it does that to you. :)
Lucy eh? ok well i can't wait. and idk if this matter ..but Lucas looks JUST like an ex of mine. lol thank you for writing back Kevin. and Happy belated bday.
Hello Mr.Brooks! you are my favorite author! im truly addicted to your books! When i finished Candy for the first time i went the next day and bought all your books! and i haven't put them down!AS i was looking for a list of your books i found your website it says you have wrote seven and i was just wondering if thats update because on line i keep finding other books it says u have wrote. i know u r busy and all, but if it was possible i would love to know so i can get them all! thank you!
Is it BRS that's up for NETBA? I hope so. 'Cause then me and my sisters would all have read one of your books for it xD
I Martyn Pig/Film still on the shelf? I think your books, if made in to film/feature/drama would rather suit the current media scene. But it'd never work with Lucas, it's too magical a book for that.
I can't wait until June! I'll have something new to read over and over.
AND WHAT HAPPENED TO RAYMOND? Yeah, I read it again.
