Questions 2023

To email me, click the envelope at the bottom of any page.

January

Hey Shaun. Good evening. I’ve been reading a lot about your history on your website, to do with your music, your football etc. your football following and going to and from every home and away games.
I just wondered why you got rid of your entire Liverpool collection? The programmes. The match shirts. The tickets in every away day programme and all the photos etc. that go along with it?
Or was it that you just fell out of love with the game and got rid?
Would love to hear back!
Thanks,
Tyler

Hi Tyler, thanks for the message. I loved going to Liverpool matches and everything that went with them but, things happened in my life that meant I couldn’t keep all the things I’d collected to do with so many wonderful memories and experiences. It broke my heart having to let them go but I’m not going to bore you by going into detail about it. I still love the game even though I’m just an armchair fan now but, having been every single week for 20 years, I feel I’ve done my apprenticeship lol. All the best.

As someone new to your work and looking to explore your "horror" novels, what would be a good starting point? (Although I'm not limited to your "horror" output - so perhaps 2-3 suggestions).
Thanks Looking forward to digging in!
-don

Hi Don and thanks for getting in touch. Whenever anyone asks where they should start I usually say RENEGADES. That then allows me to also recommend the other four novels with Sean Doyle in lol. However, I’d say start with SPAWN, then RELICS or maybe EREBUS and then ASSASSIN. They really sum up my style (well, the early style anyway) and the ferocity of my writing. Then move on to HEATHEN, RENEGADES and DEADHEAD. I suppose I might as well have recommended everything I’ve written lol but you want to start with 2-3 don’t you... Not 38 or 39. That, I hope, will come eventually.

Hi Shaun,
Have you ever been likened to Clarke's shoe shop? I sit with one of your books and the tone is like the best pair of well-worn slippers you've ever owned. You just never want to chuck them out.
Then I open your books. The plots are like fookin' school sports day! Egg and spoon, javelin, fookin' wheelbarrow. I race in a pair of go-faster trainers trying to find out what happens.
What's your Hutson of Hutson's, Mr. Hutson? Which of your books fires your starting gun?
Back in the early '90's, I remember dragging my Ma into WH Smith's and walking away with about 8 of your paperbacks (I paid for them, of course). The rest of my Army leave was spent reading 'Slugs' and 'Breeding Ground'. I was gripped and very sober.
Fast forward to yesterday, or around 2 months ago, and I've rediscovered your books. Can't believe 'Spawn' went under the radar.
You've got my reading habit back on track - thank you. I've just bought 27 of your books on Kindle. I'm hoping the notable omissions - Captives, Erebus and Shadows et. al. will be released soon. Really looking forward to 'Incisions: Cuts 1 and 2.'
My question, please: If you were a flower, what flower would you be - and why?
Finally, you need a pair of wellies when reading Hutson to wade through all the blood, excrement and gore.
Thank you for the sunny guts,
Mark Anthony Smith
HULL, East Yorkshire

I’ve been described as many things in my life, Mark, but never as a fucking shoe shop... Lol... Love that. Many thanks for your message. I pissed myself reading most of it (not literally obviously…)…I should have realized you were a squaddie. You have my respect, Mark. Respect also to your mum for buying you so many of my books when you were a youngster. A fine woman obviously. Erebus and Shadows are certainly listed as the next ones for re-issue and Kindle so that’s two more to get. Captives will follow in due course I’m sure. If I was a flower I’d probably be a Venus Fly Trap... Lol... Make up your fucking mind!!! I’m either a shoe shop or a flower…Many thanks for the message, Mark. Take it easy.

Hi Shaun
Look at the website regular not seen a new rant for ages but also awaiting the collaboration of short stories you were bringing out. Anyway, looking forward to a new read and wishing you a merry Christmas and a successful New Year and there are plenty of Rose’s chocolates in my local Morrisons 😊
All best mate
John Elliott

Hi John, you’re right I haven’t ranted for a while... I must get back to it lol... Sometimes I actually start off to go bloody crazy and then realize I haven’t got anything new to rant about lol... It’s the same kind of shit that’s been pissing me off for years. I’ll go for days at a time without getting wound up and then some worthless fucking celeb appears on TV and I’m off... Well, come to think of it, nearly everyone ON TV is a worthless fucking celeb but you know what I mean. The short stories are out, at least the first volume is. Let me know what you think. I always get nervous when a new book is released and I’m more nervous than usual about these. I hope you had a good Xmas and a Happy New Year to you too, John. I did finally manage to get Roses by the way... Lol... Take it easy, mate.

Hello Mr the fucking dog’s bollocks of an author and blog writer Hutson,
I have just had my 14-year-old son in absolute hysterics reading your Christmas blog. Safe to say he loved it as much as i enjoyed reading it out to him.
I'm a 30 year long fan of yours having read Victims at the tender age of 13ish (my best friend handed me your book open at chapter 35 and said read this, you will know if you want to start it from the beginning. I did. That was when I fell in love with reading). Your style of writing and the way it reads keeps me hooked page after page and I can't really big you up any more than that.
I noticed in the fan page on Facebook everyone has got a signed copy of Incisions and i was gutted to have missed out on that opportunity.
I live in Arlesey so not too far afield from you and I would love it if I could get the opportunity to get a copy of your book signed, if it should so arise. I am trying to find somewhere that has the hardback (as that's how books should always be!).
I have just handed over my very well and often reread copy of Victims to my 14-year-old son. I'll know when he's reading it from the giggles it will envelop him in 🤣
Being a recovering addict, I can safely say my addiction for a lot of things are curbed but the reading of your material will never be cured for as long as you keep them coming.
Wishing you all the very best this Xmas and for 2023.
Jenna Albon-Jones
(Ps. If you could name a character Jenna in one of your books i would go mad with happiness knowing you have read this email 😂)
-X-

Hi Jenna, I’m still chuckling at your message. So glad your son is a possible disciple lol... I’m always happy when parents say that they’ve got their kids into my books. Thank you. I also love the idea of you reading my rants to him. I’m even happier that he enjoys them. So I ensnared you when you were young too, eh? Lol... It’s re-issued by Caffeine Nights this year so grab a new copy, read my introduction and then give it to your son lol. On the recovering addict side, good luck with that, Jenna. I’ve got a very addictive personality myself so anyone who gets addicted to anything has my sympathy. Anyone who then beats that addiction has my admiration. Many thanks for the message. And give my regards to your son too.

p.s. I will definitely name a character Jenna in the next book. Keep your eyes peeled…it’ll be out in 2024. Xx

Right then you wonderful lot, that’s it once again. I just want to apologize for the lack of rants on the website as some of you have pointed out. Maybe I’m mellowing... Yeah, right. I hope you all had a great Xmas and New Year. Let’s hope this coming year is even better. On a personal front, the film of CHASE starts shooting this year. INCISIONS CUT TWO is to come in April and also re-issues of EREBUS and the paperback of PROGENY. I hope you like them all. Oh, and just one other thing, people have been asking if the release of two collections of short stories means I’ve finished with novels... Not a chance. It might be of interest to you all to know that the next new novel from me and Caffeine Nights (probably in 2024) will feature someone you all know well... I think you can guess who I mean...