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Paul Finch

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Paul Finch
Paul Finch at Liverpool One's Waterstones, 13 March 2015
Paul Finch at Liverpool One's Waterstones, 13 March 2015
BornLancashire, England
OccupationAuthor, screenwriter, former policeman and journalist
NationalityBritish
EducationGoldsmiths, University of London
GenreCrime, thriller, horror, science fiction
Notable worksThe "Heck" novels, Doctor Who
SpouseCatherine Finch
ChildrenEleanor and Harry
Website
Walking in the Dark

Paul Finch is an English author and scriptwriter. He began his writing career on the British television programme The Bill.[1] His early scripts were for children's animation. He has written over 300 short stories which have appeared in magazines, such as the All Hallows, the magazine of the Ghost Story Society[2] and Black Static.[3] He also edits anthologies of Horror stories with the overall title of Terror Tales.[4][5] He has written variously for the books and other spin-offs from Doctor Who.[6] He is the author of the ongoing series of DS Mark Heck Heckenberg novels.

Early life and education

Finch is the son of British television scriptwriter and dramatist Brian Finch.[7] He was a police officer with the Greater Manchester Police until 1988[8] and later a journalist.[9]

Children's animation

In 1998 Finch wrote one episode of Little Hippo: Hippos Ahoy and one episode of Fix and Foxi: A Knight to Rembember for Siriol Productions.[10] In 2002 he worked on fifty 6½ minute episodes of an animated TV series for children called Nora and the Magic Tree for Hogg's Back Films.[10]

Movies

Filming The Devil's Rock at Wrights Hill Fortress, Karori, Wellington, New Zealand

Finch wrote additional material for the 2005 film Spirit Trap and co-wrote the 2011 film The Devil's Rock with Paul Campion and Brett Ihaka. Tony Lee of Black Static magazine wrote that the interrogations featured in The Devil's Rock made it "often appear to be a filmed play". In addition, Lee suggested the big finale is too reminiscent of traditional Gothic Dennis Wheatley (plus modern splatter!). However, "Although it's a Kiwi production, 'The Devil's Rock' feels like a more worthy successor to the Hammer Film Productions studios ethos than actual new Hammer-label product such as 'The Resident'".[11]

Finch wrote the screenplay for War Wolf, which is in pre-production at Amber Entertainment, with Paul Campion attached to direct.[12]

Doctor Who

Arthur and Mordred in combat, from Le Morte d'Arthur

Abaddon Books

Paul Finch writes for Abaddon Books who publish a number of books with similar themes or in a shared universe.

  • Stronghold is in the Tomes of the Dead series, with the linked theme of zombies; each book has an unusual twist on the theme. This story is set in mediaeval Wales, where druids summon an army of the undead to attack the stronghold of the title. (2010, ISBN 978-1907519109)
  • Dark North is in the Malory's Knights of Albion series about the knights of King Arthur. The stories come from a fictional sequel to Thomas Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur. (2012, ISBN 978-1907992889 )

"Heck" novels

Red Sands Fort - the scene of the finale of Stalkers
  • Stalkers (Avon Books 2013) ISBN 978-0-00-749229-9
  • Sacrifice (Avon Books 2013) ISBN 978-0-00-749231-2
  • The Killing Club (Avon Books 2014) ISBN 978-0-00-755125-5
  • Dead Man Walking (Avon Books 2014) ISBN 978-0-00-755127-9
  • Hunted (Avon Books 2015) ISBN 978-0-00-749233-6

Detective Sergeant Mark Heckenberg, or "Heck", is a British Police Officer and a member of the fictional National Crime Group based at New Scotland Yard. The other constant character in the series is his immediate superior Detective Superintendent Gemma Piper, with whom he has an on and off romantic relationship. In the first book - Stalkers - they investigate the "Nice Guys Club"; a highly secretive organised crime group that provide highly unpleasant sexual services to the very rich. Stalkers became a number one e-book bestseller, selling almost 150,000 copies across e-book and paperback.[14] The second book - Sacrifice - concerns a group that is killing people in a highly graphic way on particular days of the year, such as being burned alive on Guy Fawkes Night. Sacrifice was the most pre-ordered ebook in HarperCollins’ history, with more than 12,825 pre-orders.[15]

Buttermere in the Lake District - renamed Witch Cradle Tarn in Dead Man Walking

The third book in the series was to have been Hunted and the first two chapters of this appear at the end of Sacrifice. However Paul Finch's publishers Avon Books wanted the return of the "Nice Guys Club" sooner than he had intended. Accordingly, they do in The Killing Club.[16] At the end of this book Heck transfers out of the National Crime Squad. The fourth book in the series is now Dead Man Walking, which is now followed by Hunted. Dead Man Walking is set in the Lake District.

The books are published as eBooks and paperback originals by Avon Books. In 2014 The Sun newspaper gave away free eBooks of Stalkers to its readers.[17] The first 6 chapters of The Killing Club were made available free to download onto Amazon Kindle.

Awards and nominations

  • Nomination: 2000 British Fantasy Award Ordeals, Inc. Best Short Fiction
  • Nomination: 2001 British Fantasy Award The Day After the Day the War Ended Best Short Fiction
  • Nomination: 2001 British Fantasy Award The Wayside Woods Best Short Fiction
  • Win: 2002 British Fantasy Award After Shocks Best Collection Ash Tree Press ISBN 1-55310-021-2[18]
  • Nomination: 2002 Bram Stoker Awards Cape Wrath for Best Long Fiction Telos Publishing ISBN 1-903889-60-X[19]
  • Nomination: 2002 Bram Stoker Awards Long Meg and Her Daughters Superior Achievement in Long Fiction
  • Nomination: 2003 British Fantasy Award Cape Wrath Best Short Fiction Telos Publishing ISBN 1-903889-60-X[20]
  • Win: 2006 International Horror Guild Award The Old North Road Best Mid-length Fiction[21]
  • Win: 2007 British Fantasy Award Kid Best Novella[18]
  • Nomination: 2007 International Horror Guild Award The Tank Best Short Form[22]
  • Nomination: 2011 British Fantasy Award Sparrowhawk: A Victorian Ghost Story Best Novella Pendragon Press ISBN 978-1-906864-25-5[23]
  • Nomination: 2011 British Fantasy Award Walkers in the Dark Best Collection Ash Tree Press ISBN 978-1-55310-125-3[23]
  • Nomination: 2011 British Fantasy Award One Monster Is Not Enough Best Collection Grey Friar Press ISBN 978-1-906331-20-7[23]

Critical reception

John Pelan in a review of After Shocks said, "I'll go out on a bit of a limb here and say that I think that Finch owes far more to Sheridan Le Fanu than to M R James. A main strength of Finch's work is his deft portrayal of classic supernatural creatures of myth such as the pooka, goblins and dandy dogs, and the incorporation of local legends and mythology was one that certainly served Le Fanu well."[24]

Dan Howarth in his review of Sparrowhawk for the website This Is Horror said, "One of the principal triumphs of Sparrowhawk is how the story captures the sense of Christmas. The images of deep snow drifts and produce on display in the markets are brilliantly festive, yet Finch still manages to create a sense of terror that holds true to the Victorian spirit of the Christmas ghost story. The scares in the book are sharp and perfectly accentuate a measured and believably atmosphere of dread."[25]

David Marshall[26] wrote about Dark North, "The chase away from the battlefield and into the foothills of the Alps is a magnificently sustained piece of writing."[27]

Personal life

Finch and his wife Catherine live in Standish, Greater Manchester;[28] he has two children, Eleanor and Harry.[29][30]

References

  1. ^ Onatade, Ayo. "Paul Finch on 'Stalkers' and 'Sacrifice'". Shots Crime & Thriller EZINE. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  2. ^ "GSS Regular Publications Index". ash-tree.bc.ca. 2014. Retrieved 23 November 2014.
  3. ^ Martin, Thomas L. (5 January 2011). "Black Static 14 Dec 2009/Jan 2010". SF Crowsnest. Retrieved 23 November 2014. Issue 14 of 'Black Static' opens well with the excellent story "We, Who Live In The Wood" by Paul Finch.
  4. ^ Finch, Paul. "Edited Anthologies". Paul Finch. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  5. ^ "Catalogue". Gray Friar Press. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
  6. ^ Finch, Paul. "Doctor Who". Paul Finch. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  7. ^ "Brian Finch - Telegraph". The Daily Telegraph. London: TMG. ISSN 0307-1235. OCLC 49632006. Retrieved 25 November 2014.
  8. ^ "Wigan writer's delight at Cannes debut film premiere". BBC. 16 May 2011. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  9. ^ Mcleod, Jim. "Paul Finch: Part I » This Is Horror". This Is Horror. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  10. ^ a b "Paul Finch Page". Blake Freeman. Retrieved 23 November 2014.
  11. ^ Lee, Tony (Aug–Sep 2011). "Blood Spectrum: DVD/Blu-ray Reviews". Black Static: 36.
  12. ^ "In Pre Production: War Wolf - Paul Campion". Amber Entertainment. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  13. ^ "1.03. Leviathan - Doctor Who - The Lost Stories - Big Finish". bigfinish.com. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  14. ^ Farrington, Joshua (14 June 2013). "Avon signs five from Finch". thebookseller.com. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  15. ^ Bean, Richard (10 July 2013). "Author makes history with biggest ever pre-order". Wigan Today. Johnson Publishing. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  16. ^ Finch, Paul (19 December 2013). "Old enemies return in 'The Killing Club". Paul Finch. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  17. ^ "Free Paul Finch ebook for Sun Readers!". Blake Friedmann. 1 May 2014. Retrieved 23 November 2014.
  18. ^ a b Theaker, Stephen (3 March 2009). "The British Fantasy Awards: A Short History". The British Fantasy Society. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
  19. ^ "2002 Bram Stoker Award Nominees & Winners". Horror Writers Association. Retrieved 25 November 2014.
  20. ^ "Paul Finch". Science Fiction Awards Database. Mark R. Kelly and the Locus Science Fiction Foundation. Retrieved 26 November 2014.
  21. ^ "IHG Award Recipients 2006". International Horror Guild. Retrieved 25 November 2014.
  22. ^ "The International Horror Guild Awards for Works from 2007". International Horror Guild. Retrieved 25 November 2014.
  23. ^ a b c Coleborn, Peter (27 June 2011). "BFS Fantasy Awards 2011: Shortlist". The British Fantasy Society. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
  24. ^ Pelan, John (June 2001). "After Shocks". All Hallows (27). The Ghost Story Society: 109.
  25. ^ Howarth, Dan. "Sparrowhawk by Paul Finch". This Is Horror. Retrieved 23 November 2014.
  26. ^ Marshall, David. "About". Thinking about books. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  27. ^ Marshall, David (7 June 2012). "Dark North by Paul Finch". Thinking About Books. Retrieved 23 November 2014.
  28. ^ "'Heck' of a time for author Paul". Wigan Today. 24 November 2014. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  29. ^ "Wigan author puts a chill in Cannes". Manchester Evening News. Chadderton, United Kingdom: Trinity Mirror. 6 May 2011. Retrieved 26 November 2014.
  30. ^ Finch, Paul. "Paul Finch - Author and Screenwriter". About.me. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
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