Michael Coolwood
OUT NOW:
Not In My Name
Praise for Not In My Name:
This book has a bit of everything, a bit of romance, some adventure and mystery, I even welled up at one point.
I found I flew through the book, it kept me engaged throughout, and I surprisingly enjoyed it, despite it not being my typical read. I would definitely read something like this again, and recommend it if you’re looking for something very different.
Phoebe is a well rounded character and the story is tense and compelling. If you like your political thrillers realistic and biting, then you will love Not In My Name.
There are twists and turns throughout the whole book… I had absolutely no idea who Cassie’s murderer would be and the ending was a complete curveball!
A Democracy and Dissent Mystery
In an alternate 2003, the UK holds a referendum to go to war with Iraq and splits the nation with a 52% to 48% yes vote. A young activist is beaten to death after a demonstration. The police say her murder was random.
It wasn’t. More activists will be murdered. The activists only trust each other. Maybe that trust has already been betrayed.
Witty, political and provocative, this cosy mystery is based on real events, and keeps the reader guessing to the very end.
Three Arachnids in a Warship
(to say nothing of the human)
Jay is an aristocrat, a philanthropist, and a giant spider. She also has only two years to live, which is disappointing. Her doctor has ordered rest and relaxation, so a spin around the galaxy in the old warship seems ideal.
For the next week, Jay must try to relax in spite of her friend Oliver, who may or may not be a smuggler, her human companion Sarah who cannot resist playing practical jokes and her intense but extremely attractive friend Bainbridge.
On her way she will encounter bigoted venomous snakes, vicious pirates and a very rude serial killer. Thankfully, these are easy to deal with. The real trick will be keeping the secret behind her treatment from her companions.
The stand-alone sequel to the cult hit Confessions of a Gentleman Arachnid is out now.
DROWN THE WITCH
A Young Adult cosy mystery… with witches
Susan Fletcher has been hired to infiltrate a secret society of witches. Her contact promises fame, fortune, and protection from the fallout. Now, Susan’s contact is dead, murdered by one of the people she threatened to expose.
Can Susan uncover the murderer, escape the mansion of monsters, and above all, keep the witches from discovering she’s not one of them?
Drown the Witch is a Young Adult cosy mystery with witches.
Insights – Fifteen Stories Exploring Disability, featuring a story by Michael Coolwood.
Inspired by author Sarah Gray’s ability to creatively harness her experience of Motor Neurone Disease, Claret Press sponsored a short story competition. It called for entries that dealt with mental or physical disability in innovative ways. With Sarah, Katie Isbester PhD (editor-in-chief of Claret Press), and Dr James Scott (an orthopedic surgeon) as judges, the competition offered prizes of £250, £150 and £50.
Over 70 stories flowed in. The quality was exceptionally high, and the stories were, without exception, moving. The best of a great selection have been collected here. Some stories are hilarious, some heartbreaking. They include sci-fi, romance, satire and memoir. All challenge us to see mental and physical disability through a different lens – one infused with humanity.
This beautiful full-colour book includes fifteen original photographs by internationally renowned artist, Tansy Spinks, whose photography can been seen in the Museum of Fine Art in Houston, the National Media Museum in Bradford, and now at the V&A.
“This is an elegantly written and extremely funny slice of surrealist fantasy from a writer who obviously loves the genre and has the ability to turn even giant spiders into sympathetic comic characters. Arachnophobes and arach-not-phobes rejoice! This is a darn entertaining read, no matter how many legs you’ve got!”
OUT NOW – Michael Coolwood’s latest book, Confessions of a Gentleman Arachnid, combines thrilling space battles, original world-building and razor sharp wit.
Follow well-meaning fop, Milligan Clodthorpe, on an adventure of world-building and word-play.
Milligan faces the social challenges of any modern Gentleman Arachnid and more than a few particular to his current situation – namely trying to pass as Human with only a half-forgotten degree in Human Culture (BA) to rely on.
The Audio edition is available now.
In Coolwood’s first book, The Suicide Machines, Lt Carlson, Medic Isolde and Engineer Lucy come to terms with the end of society as they know it. As their civilisation crumbles under revolution and fanaticism they face difficult decisions.
What is the future of humankind? Can Humanity ever trust help from extra-terrestrials again? What makes a human, human? What makes you, you?
It’s tough to survive the apocalypse without a sense of humour and Coolwood’s writing brings fun, absurdity and irreverence to his characters and plot-lines alike. With Coolwood’s confident, clean, writing style the end of humanity makes for a very compelling read.
Michael Coolwood writes feminist cosy mysteries, science fiction and fantasy. His work is deeply political and his characters are driven by a desire to make the world a better place. This is partly due to a respect for passionate, caring people, and partly because cuts to the health service in the UK have ensured he can barely leave the house due to his swamp of health problems.
Coolwood Books 