4 Nov 2009 The perfect gift from BIGfib Books
What better to give this holiday season than than a beautifully packed set of books? Support me, BIGfib , and your local bookshop with a great offer: all five of my novels, complete with ribbon and giftcard for only £34.75, a saving of £14.69!
Available from Prowler brighton, Prowler Soho, or direct from BIGfib here: www.bigfib.com

30 Oct 2009 Another novel finished
So I have just finished my sixth novel! Who would have thought it?
For the moment I'm afraid it all has to remain top secret, suffice to say that with a female central character, it's rather different to my other novels. But don't worry guys, you'll love her! Anyway, I'm thrilled to bits with the result. Watch this space...


25 June 2009 BIGfib Books Publishes Anthony McDonald's Blue Sky Adam BIGfib Books is very proud to have published Anthony McDonald's novel Blue Sky Adam this month.
Blue Sky Adam is the sequel to McDonald's novel, Adam - which was one of the best selling novels ever published by Gay Men's Press.
"The durability of a teenager's first real love, the ebb and flow of romantic friendship, the perplexities of maturing from boy to man, and the puzzle of how to fit gay self into a straight world: these eternal queer questions are explored with astute insight - and bracing erotic interludes - in McDonald's stellar, thoughtful sequel to Adam." - Richard Labonte - Books to Watch Out For

23 June 2009 A roundup of reviews of Better Than Easy
So the reviews are all in... here's what some of the press thought.

Richard Labonte - Books To Watch Out For
"Can love last? Can gay men find domestic contentment? Alexander asks and answers pesky questions central to the homo condition in this perceptive, entertaining novel that showcases his warm wit, his wry insight, and his commendable knack for crafting queer characters with real dimension. Gay fiction doesn't get much better than Better Than Easy."

Paul Burston - Time Out
"Better Than Easy is my favourite of Nick Alexander's novels so far. It's sweet, sexy, funny and tender, and I'm not ashamed to say I laughed and cried."

Rob Dawson - Gay Times
"Nick Alexander does something quite exceptional with words... It's touching, funny, and damn sexy at times, causing a stir in more ways that one. I loved 13:55 Eastern Standard Time, I loved the last three volumes of the 50 Reasons series, and I loved this book. Rob Dawson.."

Blaze magazine
"Better Than Easy is very readable - unlike so much gay fiction - and Alexander successfully paints a series of characters self-absorbed and full of human frailties. Like all of us really... ... A touch of W.H Auden perhaps? This reviewer now wants to read the first three books as well...

Melbourne Community Voice
"There’s enough spice to keep the story moving along and Alexander has the Dickensian knack of using accidental meetings and coincidences to advance his plot. The real beauty of the writing is in the carefully observed comings and goings of the relationship between Tom and Mark.

Gscene Brighton
"The message of the story is about not settling for what’s comfortable but, instead, striving for what’s ‘better than easy’. The issues in regards to Tom and Mark’s relationship are quite realistic, showing that the underlying doubts we have about a person are usually justified. But it gives a positive message that long-term relationships are achievable, no matter what your sexuality – it’s all to do with your own beliefs."

30 April 2009 Could this be My Best Review Ever? Time Out Magazine, April.




04 March 2009 UK Event Dates.
I will be reading/signing/chatting at the following events:
Thurs 19th March 7pm, London. Gays The Word Bookstore, 66 Marchmont Street
Weds 15th April, 7pm, Polari, Freedom Bar, 66 Wardour Street. (Ooh noo - too many sixes - its a sign).
Fri 17th April, The White Hart pub, 7pm, Wolverhampton
Come along and say, "hello!"

04 March 2009 Better Than Easy launched in the UK tomorrow.
Better Than Easy is released on the 5th of March in the UK, and will be in stock immediately from Gay's The Word, Prowler Soho and Brighton, many branches of Waterstones (their website tells you where you can pick up a copy), and of course Amazon.co.uk.

03 March 2009 Rave Review in the March issue of Gay Times.
"Nick Alexander does something quite exceptional with words, achieving two very distinct pleasures. Firstly, he successfully wraps the reader in the lives of his characters, allowing you to drift voyeuristically into the unfolding plot. Secondly, he forces you to analyse your behaviour as you recognise elements of your own life in his stories. One minute you're in a cocoon of escapism, the next, reality bites you on the arse. His novels remind us that, while we're revolving around the centres of our own universes, the complexities of our actions and thoughts ripple out with dramatic consequences, just as we are influenced by the actions of others. Better Than Easy is the fourth novel in the 50 Reasons series, continuing Mark's search for his elusive love. He's about to embark on a life-changing project – to buy a remote French gite with his lover, Tom – but will it be a change for the better? As suspect dealings fracture their plans, Mark starts to question the path he's on. With a hunky Latino fireman further upsetting the boat, Mark navigates the troubled waters of deceit, doubt, and betrayal, searching for something tender to make his life complete. Following Mark as he negotiates the obstacles before him provides a fulfilling and gratifying read. It's touching, funny, and damn sexy at times, causing a stir in more ways that one. I loved 13:55 Eastern Standard Time, I loved the last three volumes of the 50 Reasons series, and I loved this book. Rob Dawson.

05 Feb 2009 BIGfib Books Launches iPhone compatible Ebook Editions
BIGfib Books today started to provide Ebook editions of all of my novels.
I still prefer paper myself, but if you want all four books with you on the metro, then the iPhone (or Windows Mobile) is the way to go.
Checkout the iPhone/Palm/Windows/Mac editions of our ebooks, here.

01 Feb 2009 The first Australian Reviews trickle
Better Than Easy was released in Autralia on the first of February, so the reviews are coming out there first.
These are my first ever Ozzy reviews, so I'm quite chuffed that they liked it!

Blaze magazine says:
"Better Than Easy is very readable - unlike so much gay fiction - and Alexander successfully paints a series of characters self-absorbed and full of human frailties. Like all of us really...
Where he shines- and unexpectedly so - is in three set pieces of sex action. Writing about graphic sexual activity is not easy. Describing physical action is one thing; bringing erotic and emotional stimulation to it is another, more difficult task. Alexander brings all these elements together in a, ah, stirring fashion. A touch of W.H Auden perhaps?
This reviewer now wants to read the first three books as well...
Read the whole review here Warning! Contains Plot Spoilers.

Melbourne Community Voice says:
"There’s enough spice to keep the story moving along and Alexander has the Dickensian knack of using accidental meetings and coincidences to advance his plot. The real beauty of the writing is in the carefully observed comings and goings of the relationship between Tom and Mark.
Read the whole review here Warning! Contains Plot Spoilers.

01 Feb 2009 First published UK review.
Gscene Brighton has just printed the first UK review of Better Than Easy.

"The message of the story is about not settling for what’s comfortable but, instead, striving for what’s ‘better than easy’. The issues in regards to Tom and Mark’s relationship are quite realistic, showing that the underlying doubts we have about a person are usually justified. But it gives a positive message that long-term relationships are achievable, no matter what your sexuality – it’s all to do with your own beliefs."
Read the whole February issue of Gscene here Warning! Contains Plot Spoilers.

4 Dec 2008 SHIPPING NOW! Advance copies of Better Than Easy.
Better Than Easy has just been added to the BIGfib Online Bookstore.
UK Orders: http://www.bigfib.com/bfb-uk.html
Euro Zone: http://www.bigfib.com/bfb-euro.html
USA: http://www.bigfib.com/bfb-usa.html (and rest of world)
This latest volume in the 50 Reasons Series won't be coming out until March 2009 - but a limited pre-order print run has just been delivered and is shipping NOW.
If you would like to be amongst the first to get your hands on Better Than Easy, place your orders quickly - copies are limited.
Shipping is reasonable and flat rate (so more books doesn't mean more shipping).
Pricing is a little lower than the standard future retail price ie UK: £9.99 (RRP 10.99) USA: $15.99 (RRP 16.95) EUROZONE: €14.99 (RRP €15.99)
BIGfib Books have also added a great deal for anyone wanting to buy the full four-book package as a gift. Many thanks for your support. Times are hard for everyone, so your continued support is essential to me!

10/10/2008 Copies of Better Than Easy in time for Xmas!
Better Than Easy will be released in the UK, the USA and Australia in February/March 2009, but for those who simply can ’t wait, BIGfib books will be taking pre-orders in November for dispatch at the beginning of December – just in time for xmas! You can check out the first five chapters here:
http:// www.nick-alexander.com/BTE-excerpt.pdf
Let me know what you think.
If you already know that you want a copy, you can simply reply to this email and I will add your name to the list. RRP will be £10.99 in the UK (It’s my fattest book yet – lots of words per penny ;-) but pre-order copies will be offered at UK- £9.99 plus P&P. Thanks as ever for your support – it’s the only thing that lets me do this thing that I love.

8/10/2008 The first reviews trickle in
The first reviews of Better Than Easy are trickling in, and they are good, thank god.
Richard Labonte – editor of many, many anthologies and the author of the respected Books To Watch Out For review – loved the book and provided a fabulous cover quote. What a relief!

Can love last? Can gay men find domestic contentment?
Alexander asks and answers pesky questions central to the homo condition in this perceptive, entertaining novel that showcases his warm wit, his wry insight, and his commendable knack for crafting queer characters with real dimension.
Gay fiction doesn't get much better than Better Than Easy.

01/06/2008
Shorts For All
Issue Two of the BIGfib Literary newsletter is now out, with stunning short stories from Hugh Fleetwood, Paul Mann, Anthony McDonald, and a great article about homo-erotic comic strip characters from David Llewellyn. I myself have a little rant as well.
Issue One if you missed it, is still online and has amongst other gems, one of the most in depth interviews with Armistead Maupin you will ever see – by Yours Truly.


01/06/2008
A new address for gay lit
The new BIGfib.com web

site is online and it has metamorphosised from a satire site to a gay literature magazine.
The first issue features an in depth interview with Armistead Maupin and content from myself, Hugh Fleetwood, David Llewellyn and Anthony McDonald and personally I think it looks fabulous!
Check it out here and please let me know what you think.


20/01/2008
A new address for gay lit
The new BIGfib.com web

site is online and it has metamorphosised from a satire site to a gay literature magazine.
The first issue features an in depth interview with Armistead Maupin and content from myself, Hugh Fleetwood, David Llewellyn and Anthony McDonald and personally I think it looks fabulous!
Check it out here and please let me know what you think.

15/12/2007
A Christmas Story for you
So here's a little ditty with a Christmas theme for you - I hope you enjoy it. I'm sorry to announce that there won't be any physical gifts dropping through the letterbox this year - I just don't have the cash. Still, if you all buy copies of 13:55 for your friends for Christmas then maybe next year your luck will be better;-) Have a great holiday everyone. Love Nick.

Cold Turkey
It never ceases to amaze him, that thing that life does, how quickly it can switch from one state to another. A year ago, for example, he had been happily married - and that was no cliche: he had been married, and happy with it. And then one Friday evening he came home, and life did that thing that it does. He had fish and chips under one arm, and a bottle of Fitou in his hand, and he was jangling his keys and Melissa was waiting for him on the couch - as expected - only Tony, the guy from over the road - his squash partner - was there too.
<more here>



5/11/2007
Four new shorts
So I finally managed to stop knocking walls around for a moment and do some writing. Amazing how hard it is to get down to writing after such a long break. Amazing how much willpower it takes to actually sit and pick up a pen!.
Anyway, the beast is back in gear and lurching somewhat hesitantly down the road again - and here's the result, a few little ditties wot I wrote.
Do tell me what you think!

Story 1: Californian Haggis
It is colder up here than he had thought it would be. Of course, he knew that the Poconos were gonna be cold in winter. He had those photos of he and Gina with the snow-capped mountains in the background to remind him of that. But he had somehow romanticized the idea of the cold and in doing so had reduced it to crisp glittering frost and whisky nightcaps and log-fires - images which have nothing to do with the dirty melting sludge outside his doorway, or the fact that he can see his breath as he tries to get the damp kindling in the fireplace to light.
<more here>

Story 2: A Million Years Of Evolution
“Cute,” he had said - it was true, that was the word he had used - and it would probably haunt him to the grave. The gay guy who thinks the dormice are, “cute,” would be his handle for evermore, at least within the bounds of this tiny village.
Certainly, he couldn't seem to cross paths with anyone these days without one of them saying the word cute, in some context or another. “Oh, the cottage will be so cute when you've finished,” or “it used to be so cute when Annie lived here - she had roses around the door,” or sometimes, less subtly, “how are you getting on with the cute dormice?”
And the truth was that he wasn't getting on with them at all. And he wasn't finding them cute anymore.
<more here>

Story 3: Cold And Dry
Kelly lowers the final bag of shopping into the boot of the car and stretches her back which - at the mere thought of unloading at the other end - is starting to ache. She turns to the caddy for the wine. The shopping is heavy, but it is the wine - four bottles in each mini-crate - that she hates carrying the most. And she's sick of shopping which is unusual for her, but Christmas, well, the list just goes on and on.
<more here>

Story 4: That Thing that Life Does
It never ceases to amaze him, that thing that life does, how quickly it can switch from one state to another. A year ago, for example, he had been happily married - and that was no cliche: he had been married, and happy with it. And then one Friday evening he came home, and life did that thing that it does. He had fish and chips under one arm, and a bottle of Fitou in his hand, and he was jangling his keys and Melissa was waiting for him on the couch - as expected - only Tony, the guy from over the road - his squash partner - was there too.
“We have something to tell you,” she had said, and he had known immediately what it was.
<more here>

28/8/2007
Any Angels in America?
If you live in the states or you know anyone who does, I really need your help.
My wonderful book distributor (sorry, distributor!) Bookazine, has taken a whole pile of my books in the hope that US sales will at least equal UK sales. The market there, is, after all, five times bigger. But despite all of the rave reviews that 13:55 EST got in the UK, I have so far been unable to get a single mention in any US newspaper/magazine. They just don't seem interested in a new English writer.
The result is that sales so far in the US have been truly pitiful - and we're talking single digits here!
The big problem for me is that if things don't pick up Bookazine will have no choice but to send the stock back to me! Eek.
So please, if you know anyone in the US please tell them about my books.
They are available from Amazon and can be ordered from any bookstore in the US/Canada.
And if you live in the US, please tell your friends, the library, and the local bookstore (or even buy a copy!).
And if you work for a magazine, well... I will, as they say, do anything for a mention ;-)
Help!

7/6/2007
13:55 Eastern Standard Time released into the wild.
In order to be able to write I have to temporarily suspend judgment about what I'm doing. It's just not possible to sit down and create something from scratch with that nagging devil on the shoulder saying, “Hum, this isn't very good, is it?” so I have to shut him up. It's a bit like the process they teach you for Zen meditation - you hear the distraction, acknowledge it, and gently tell it to shut up before pulling your mind back to the task in question. (I didn't stick at Zen meditation for very long - the local group seemed overly obsessed by burning innocence, ringing bells and strutting around in flapping robes which, though fun, didn't strike me as very Zen…)
So the process is - silence the devil, write the chapter, and repeat until the book is actually finished. Of course once the book is finished, the devil springs back to life with a vengeance. “What a waste of time - its crap,” he invariably says. It paralyses me and makes me totally incapable of judging my own work, so I have to turn to trusted friends to see if the egg that I have laid is a viable one. Amazingly, only once others start to tell me what is good about a work am I able to begin to see it myself.
After months of polishing and corrections, the book of course has to go out to a far wider audience - including book reviews. And that is a whole different level of stress. So far, thanks be, reviews of 13:55 Eastern Standard Time have been extremely positive (check them out here). After endless frustrations trying (and failing) to get a book review in The Guardian, (I only ever seem to get reviews in the gay press) I recently got involved in a fairly heated Guardian discussion about straight attitudes to gay fiction- you can check it out here. And one of the criticisms that was thrown at me (there were many) was my “obsession” with reviews, as though this demonstrates some failing on my part. Of course, it does demonstrate a failing - a lack of confidence, an over-eager desire to please, but are these really such bad faults to have? I think about the alternative - writing in a void, disinterested in what anyone else thinks about my work, and I truly wouldn't want to be that person.
Copies of 13:55 Eastern Standard Time are available now from all major bookstores or from BIGfib direct.

23/4/2007
Some Good News....
The print problems with, 13:55 Eastern Standard Time, appear to have been solved, and a big box of books is winging it's way towards me care of UPS. So I should be posting copies to everyone who ordered on the BIGfib website by the end of the month.
What's more, I got an email from Time Out magazine telling me that the reviewer loved the book and that they are printing a full, and glowing review. So that's great news.
Now all I need is a review in The Times and The Guardian, and I might even be able to pay the electricity bill....

12/4/2007
If anything can go wrong....
Initial copies of my new book, 13:55 Eastern Standard Time, arrived today - printing errors and all. For some bizarre technological reason - as yet unexplained - there are random italic letters throughout the text, most irritating. So, you guessed it, they won't be shipping as promised by April the 15th. The extra delay shouldn't be more than 10 days though, so I still hope you'll have them by the end of the month. Sorry! Order your copy now... here.

30/3/2007
Shipping by the 15th of April! 13:55 Eastern Standard Time.
My new book, 13:55 Eastern Standard Time, a collection of interlinked short stories will be available from major bookstores in June. Advance, signed copies will be shipping by the 15th of April - learn more, read excerpts, or better still (!) order your copy now... here.


5/12/2006
Roll Up, Roll Up, Get your cheap copies here.
I recently donated three dedicated copies of my novels to the World Aids Day auction organised by Prowler UK. Unfortunately, due to lack of publicity, or maybe lack of interest, there have been no bids whatsoever on my three novels... Whatever the reason, it's not very flattering!! Anyway, if you want to pick up all three books for two quid, and help the Terrence Higgins Trust at the same time, just click here. If you don't want them for yourself, why not get them as a holiday gift for someone? It's all for a good cause, after all. But be quick. The auction ends today!!


4/12/2006
Great review in Time Out.
The current Time Out Magazine (london issue) printed a lovely review of Good Thing, Bad Thing. If you don't mind knowing the plot of the book (the review contains numerous plot spoilers) you can read Paul Burston's lovely words online here, or you can buy it in kiosks until Wednesday.

17/10/2006
Good Thing, Bad Thing released early.
Good Thing, Bad Thing, is now available through general distribution (ie from Amazon etc) and I am assured that even though the official launch date is in December both Amazon UK and Amazon USA are now shipping copies. For purchasing options please click here.
Good Thing, Bad Thing, is now also available in Ebook format - A PDF file for immediate download.

17/06/2006
BIGfib Books announces new Hugh Fleetwood novel.

We at BIGfib books are very proud to announce the imminent publication of Hugh Fleetwood's new novel, The Dark Paintings.
The Dark Paintings is Hugh's 21'st published title which tells the gripping and creepy story of Luigi Teramo.
The Dark Paintings is the first of a series of six interrelated novels which BIGfib Books will be publishing over the next two years. For More information please check out www.bigfib.com/bfb.html


30/04/2006
BIGfib Books Publishes its first Independent Author.

BIGfib Books published its first novel that isn't-by-me this month. A reedition of Anthony Mcdonald's Adolescent classic, "Adam".
Adam went out of print due to the sad demise of the UK's main gay imprint, Gay Men's Press (GMP), so BIGfib Books is proud to be able to resuscitate poor Adam who deserved nothing less. Copies of the book are available retail from all major online stores, as well as from many branches of Waterstone's, WH. Smith, and most gay bookstores (Prowler, Clonezone, Lambda Rising,...). Stores can get hold of the copies through Ingram Book in the USA and Turnaround UK.
BIGfib books aims to become a permanent player in the LGBT publishing world. We have some fabulous new titles coming up over the next few months by old and new authors alike, not to mention the follow on to Sottopassaggio by myself, coming soon. (Well, soonish.)

15/12/2005
The BIGfib Book Of Bollocks hits the shelves

So we finally did it... After many years talking about printing an annual containing the best of the satire site BIGfib.com we actually put our noses to the grind-stone and did it.
Editing and formatting the book (it's laid out like a newspaper) was a huge amount of work, but I think it's all worth it... The result looks great.
As this is the first ever annual and the first ever book to be published by BIGfib Books, we decided to donate the usual author royalty to the UNICEF Pakistan/Kashmir fund, a human tragedy in the making that for some reason the world has chosen to ignore. (Now could that be because they are muslims I wonder??)
Now we just have to wait and see how the critics and the public will receive the outrageous BIGfib Book Of Bollocks. If you're still wondering what do give those difficult-to-buy-for friends this xmas, then maybe the BIGfib Book Of Bollocks is just the thing. For more info, click here.

15/12/2005
And BIGfib Books Is Born
The BIGfib Book of Bollocks is just part of a much larger project to create a new publishing house - BIGfib Books.
Publishing my own novels has revealed just what a dreadful and inpenetrable state the book industry has got itself into, and made me hunt for a solution.
The problem is that the publishing houses have merged and merged again, finally being snapped up by monolithic media groups. These groups aren't interested in literature of any genre, they are interested in product. Unfortunately the qualities for product aren't the same as those required for "art" even of the most common-or-garden variety. The qualities needed for "product" are USP's, advertisability, media-shock factor, universal appeal and above-all these days cross-media capability.
In a nutshell, book editors will not even read the first page of anything that they don't think Hollywood will want to make a film of. Even this, of course, depends on the ability of the "readers" to choose future film-able hits, and frankly, as far as gay lit is concerned they just have no idea. A classic example is traditional publishing's refusal to publish short story collections which makes no account for the ADHD lifestyles we gay readers have.

BIGfib Books - New technology, New press, New Selection Criteria
BIGfib books is a brand new publishing house set up by myself to exploit the latest POD technology to print and distribute niche-market books with minimal outlay. Many "gems" slip through the nets of the publishing corporations and I believe that their selection policies are narrow-minded and ignorant of market specifics, particularly in niche markets such as GLBT publishing.
I want BIGfib Books to build a reputation for publishing extraordinary gay/lesbian fiction and cutting edge humour.
We want people to know that by choosing a BIGfib book they will be getting much more than the run of the mill pulp that passes for fiction these days.
BIGfib books is open for author submissions for its 2006/2007 catalogue. For more information click here.