John Dodds, a Scottish writer, now living in Bulgaria, has received a two book contract for his first crime novels from the USA's leading independent audiobook company, Blackstone Audio, Inc.

The audiobooks are released on 1 August and 1 September this year, he said in an email statement.

BONE MACHINES and KALI'S KISS are volumes one and two in John Dodds' gritty crime series based in Glasgow, The Kendrick Chronicles.

They are narrated by British actor, Robin Sachs, who has appeared in many popular films and television programs, including Babylon 5, Torchwood and Lost World: Jurassic Park.

The statement says that John Dodds, a former arts publicist in Glasgow, and who worked in the communications department of Communities Scotland, has moved from the small presses straight into the major league with these audio exclusives.

"I never imagined something this big could happen with my work. Especially when you consider that Blackstone can call on A-list Hollywood actors like Robin Williams and Val Kilmer to record for them," he is quoted as saying.

He explains that the Kendrick Chronicles features DI Tom Kendrick, though, unusually for crime thrillers, he is not always the main character. Bone Machines, for example, has as its protagonists journalist Ray Bissett and serial killer, Stephen Morrell. While in the second novel, Kali's Kiss, forensic anthropologist Elizabeth Bell and petty criminal Suyahl Ackhbaar feature heavily.

"My chief interest is psychological drama rather than whodunits," adds John. "Which is why I give as much attention to the bad guys' points of view as I do to the people who are trying to bring them to justice."

"I drew on my background in the arts as inspiration for my artistic serial killer in the first book, though I don't claim Morrell is based on anyone I met. That's my story, and I'm sticking to it," he jokes.

John Dodds is the author of numerous short stories in addition to the Kendrick Chronicles books. Several stories received honourable mention in The Year's Best Fantasy and Horror anthology (St. Martin's Press); one was selected for the Scotland on Sunday/Macallan short story competition anthology, Shorts V; and a monologue he wrote was performed at The Traverse Theatre's Monday Lizard event. Some of his work is available in podcasts, such as Crimewav, Starship Sofa and (forthcoming) Tales to Terrify. Under a pseudonym, JT Macleod, he has a collection out from Melange Books, USA of historical/paranormal/romance stories called WARRIORS AND WENCHES. John has completed the first draft of a new YA steampunk series called The Mechanikals, and has further Kendrick books planned. John was born in Stornoway, Isle of Lewis. He currently lives in Bulgaria.

Blackstone Audio, based in Ashland, Oregon, is America's largest independent audiobook publisher. The company has received numerous awards, including 16 prestigious Audie awards, and has twice been nominated for Grammy awards. Their audiobooks are made available as CDs, MP3 disks, and downloadable formats for mobile devices.

BONE MACHINES and KALI'S KISS are available direct from www.blackstoneaudio.com, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Audible and iTunes and numerous other online retailers, as well as in bookshops.

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