I’m over the moon, gobsmacked, stunned, and so happy to hear from my fabulous publisher Bookouture that The Girl in the The Ice has now sold ONE MILLION copies.

This time last year I was nervously gearing up for the book launch, and worrying how readers would take my change of direction from writing romantic comedies to crime thrillers.

I never dreamed I would sell so many books in such a short time. The Erika Foster Series: The Girl in the Ice, The Night Stalker and Dark Water have now sold over 1.4 million copies and will be published in 25 languages. Now people are surprised to hear that I also write romantic comedies.

I have so much to be thankful for, and I know I say this over and over, but thank you. YOU the readers are the most important people. When I started out as a writer and self-published my first book, I saw just how powerful word-of-mouth can be. There was no money for marketing, and no one outside my twenty-five followers on Twitter knew who I was, but slowly I saw my books being talked about and recommended.

So I’d like to take this opportunity to thank you all, readers new and old, and to make a solemn promise that I will continue to write the best books I possibly can for you all. If I keep doing that, I know I can’t go wrong.

Rob x

I want to thank everyone who has contributed to the success of The Girl in the Ice, The Night Stalker and Dark Water and for making 2016 such an incredible year.

I never dreamed that I would publish three best selling crime thrillers in one year, that I would have a number one bestseller in the USA, hit number one on the Wall Street Journal best seller list. That I would sell a million copies, that I would win an award at the Harrogate Crime Festival, be a 2016 Goodreads Choice Award Nominee, or that I would see my books translated into 24 languages.

I’ve thought of myself as a writer for the past twenty years, but being able to do it as my full time job has taken just as long. I’ll never take for granted the support of all my incredible readers, and all the equally incredible reviewers and book bloggers who give up their time to write so passionately about books.  Thank you, and I wish everyone a very Happy New Year, and a safe, healthy and prosperous 2017!

I’ve just heard that The Girl in the Ice and The Night Stalker are the #1 and #10 best selling titles on Kobo UK for 2016!

Thank you to everyone who has bought copies and recommended my books to their friends who use Kobo e-readers. Thank you also to the fabulous team at Kobo!

I’m pleased as punch to tell you that my romantic comedy, Miss Wrong and Mr Right is being re-issued by my fabulous publisher, Bookouture. It’s the same novel, no additions or subtractions, but it has a fabulous new cover, and it will now be sprinkled with a little Bookouture magic… It will also be available via all retailers, a first for one of my romantic comedies, as well as in paperback and audio.

I originally self-published Miss Wrong and Mr Right in 2015, and went on to hit the top #10 position in the UK Amazon store. It also reached the number one spot in Amazon Australia. I feel like I say this all the time, but it needs to be said as much as possible. THANK YOU to all the wonderful book bloggers and readers who took a chance and read this book and helped to spread the word 🙂

Miss Wrong and Mr Right is inspired by the time I spent living in London as an actor, it also asks the question, Can you have a second chance at first love?

I first met my future husband Ján at a time when I was in another relationship, and he was living in another country. I remember how devastated I felt when I thought I had lost him and missed my chance. Thankfully, the wheels of fate kept turning and our paths crossed a few years later when the time was right. I wanted to explore this in a novel, and Miss Wrong and Mr Right was born. There is also a comedy grandmother, the type of character I love writing too! Anyway, I will stop rambling now. Here is the brand new cover and product description – Rob x

‘Will have you laughing your head off…an excellent romantic comedy.’ Rachel’s Random Reads

‘This is men,’ said Gran. ‘When they vant you, but you don’t vant them, they stay. But let them know you vant them, they no longer need you, and they go! It’s like that movie, Nanny McPhee.’

Natalie Love has worked hard to have it all. She runs a successful London theatre that’s about to host one of Hollywood’s leading stars, Ryan Harrison. She’s pretty sure she’s found her man in yoga boyfriend Benjamin, despite his annoying habit of saying Namaste! every time he speaks. And her eccentric, glamorous Gran is always on hand to offer sage advice and steaming bowls of goulash.

Life in the bright lights of London has always been Natalie’s escape from her chaotic country family in rural Devon and Jamie, the childhood sweetheart she left at the altar fifteen years ago. Until he turns up at her theatre door…

Jamie is in town producing a West End show and with rivalry suddenly clouding old feelings, this isn’t quite the reunion Natalie was expecting.

Will Benjamin prove to be Natalie’s perfect match? With Ryan turning her head, Natalie is more confused than ever. And what about Jamie – could he be her second chance at first love?

Charming, hilarious and totally unputdownable, Miss Wrong and Mr Right will put a huge smile on your face and keep you guessing who Natalie’s ‘Mr Right’ is until the very last page.

What people are saying about Miss Wrong and Mr Right:

‘I just love Robert Bryndza’s writing. He creates great characters and the funniest situations which could well have you laughing aloud! For all its humour, there is a lot of emotion in this book too…I felt that these were totally believable characters who I’d love to read more about and many of the funny situations could actually happen.’ Portobello Book Blog

‘When it comes to writing about family life and all the palava, Robert does this very well. They feel like real people…He writes great romantic comedy that you want to read again and again.’ Books and Authors UK

‘I found myself smiling continually…Robert Bryndza brings a wonderful turn of phrase to some of this characters, and Natalie’s Hungarian gran is a real tonic, and one of my favourite characters…some of what she comes out with will have you laughing your head off…an excellent romantic comedy.’  Rachel’s Random Reads

‘One of my favourite things about Robert’s writing is how he creates these bold, hilarious and massively entertaining characters…When I had Miss Wrong and Mr Right in my bookish hands I was PROPERLEY LAUGHING. His writing is just so funny, yet natural at the same time which I think is all part of its appeal.’  Bookaholic Confessions

‘I really enjoyed Robert Bryndza’s writing style, it was so easy to fall into the story and forget about reality for a bit…thoroughly entertaining, wonderfully well-written and simply great romantic comedy that I can recommend to any chick lit fan looking for their next read; you won’t be disappointed!’ A Spoonful of Happy Endings

‘Charming, engaging, and clever! This is a really great contemporary romance…a story about friendship, family, self-identity, and happiness. The writing is precise. The plot is smart, flirty, laugh-out-loud funny, and full of spirited hijinks and mishaps. But most remarkable of all is the extraordinary characterization. The characters are unique, quirky, lovable, and the witty banter and dialogue between them is exceptional.’ What’s Better Than Books

‘The perfect read to bring lightness and laughter into your life.’ By The Letter Book Reviews

I’m thrilled to say that The Girl in the Ice won the 2016 The Papercut Award for Best Page Turner at the Dead Good Reader awards at the Harrogate Crime Festival. This was an award decided by reader’s votes, which makes it all ht more special. Thank you to everyone who voted! I made a short video below. Rob x

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aRHWrZoRb0o]

I’m so proud and excited to announce that the first two Erika Foster novels, The Girl in the Ice and The Night Stalker have sold over a million copies! I heard from my editor last week, with the precise figure of 1,003,000!

I never dreamed I would be lucky enough to sell so many copies of my debut crime novel and its sequel. A massive THANK YOU to all my amazing readers, to all of the book bloggers and reviewers who have been instrumental in making this happen, and to the brilliant team at Bookouture!

I’m just in the final stages of editing Dark Water, the third Erika Foster novel, which will be published on October 20th, and there is nothing like hearing you’ve sold a million copies to spur you on to write the best book that you can!

Thanks a million, literally 😉 Rob xxx

It’s two weeks since The Girl In The Ice was published, and I’ve been overwhelmed with the response to the book and my new female detective, Erika Foster. The kindle edition has gone into the top 100 in America, Australia, Canada, France and Spain, and is currently sitting at number 2 in the UK Kindle store. SO close!

After being an indie author for the past few years, this has been my first book with publishing house Bookouture, and I have loved the experience working with their wonderful team. For the first time my books are available in the Apple Books and Kobo stores, and there is also an audiobook version.

I’ve been hard at work, writing the next book in the Erika Foster series, which is called The Night Stalker. It is now written and going through the editing stage. I wanted to shake things up with the second book. I can’t go into to too much detail, but the story involves a killer who breaks into people’s houses at night… In contrast to the first book, this is set during a heatwave in the summer, when people leave their windows open. The crazy thing is that when I wrote The Girl In The Ice, it was during a heatwave last summer, and now I’m writing about a heatwave, the weather here has been minus 10. There has been deep snow and the lake where we walk our dogs has been frozen – talk about timing.

The boy on the ice – standing on the frozen lake

The girl on the ice – our puppy Lola with us on the frozen lake

Thank you for all your messages, tweets and reviews. I have loved hearing all your feedback on the first book, and it has really helped to know what you liked about Erika as I’ve been writing the next book, and the planned release is May/June 2016 so I will keep you posted.

I’ve been working on an audiobook edition of Miss Wrong and Mr Right and I’m thrilled to say it’s now complete.

I’ve had a great time working with the audiobook narrator, Jan Cramer who is fantastic and has brought the characters to life in ways I hadn’t imagined. Jan trained at The Central School of Speech and Drama in London, and as well as narrating audiobooks is an experienced Actress and Voice Over artist. I caught up with her recently for a chat…

The fabulous Jan Cramer

Rob: Hello Jan. I’ve had a wonderful time working with you, and hearing you bring the characters from Miss Wrong and Mr Right alive in the audiobook version. Who was your favourite character to play?

Jan: I loved Gran, she made me laugh so much – she has all the best lines – but I always find that there’s a smaller character that really appeals to me, and this time it was Xander. He’s sweet and innocent when he arrives at the beginning, but you get the sense he grows into himself as he gains confidence. I really warmed to him.

Rob: You certainly brought him to life in a way I hadn’t imagined. He grows up a lot during the book, and I hadn’t realised this until I heard your reading. You have a very versatile voice, and you are great at all kinds of accents. Did you know you could do this from an early age? Is there any accent you find hard?

Jan: Yes most actors that sing are good at accents. Its all part of the same territory. It’s a listening skill more than anything and one I’ve always enjoyed. I don’t think there’s an accent I wont try. Perhaps there should be.

Rob: Let me know if you ever read a Star Trek novel. I’d love to hear your take on a Klingon accent! After going through the recording process with you on Miss Wrong and Mr Right, the audio version is almost eight and a half hours long. I realise now that narration is a very specific art and it’s very demanding. How do you protect your voice? Do you record in bits, or all at once?

Jan: I like to record over a few days, recording in no longer than 2 hour sessions. I then go back and listen and edit out my ridiculous mistakes, and sometimes re-record sections when I think I can do better. It can take three times as long to record the book. I make sure I walk or dig my vegetable patch before recording so that physically the energy is there and the sinuses are clear. I’m also quite strict about diet. I don’t drink coffee or tea when recording but drink lots of water.

Rob: What advice would you give to actors who would like to pursue audiobook and voice over work?

Jan: I think narrating audiobooks is something you do when you have some experience in a recording studio doing lots of voiceovers and radio plays, so that you’re comfortable in a studio, knowing how the microphone can work in your favour. Once you’re not afraid of the technical side, you can immerse yourself in a book. But it’s a lot of work and I know it’s not for everyone. Personally I absolutely love it.

Rob: Is there a book out there you would love to narrate – if you like, your fantasy narration?

Jan: I can’t think of one. Sometimes a favorite book to read might not be the one to narrate. For me a good writer is what you need. Whatever the genre. And I enjoy changing from one genre to another, it keeps things interesting. When you get a book like Miss Wrong and Mr Right it’s hard work not to laugh out loud when recording. Even though you’ve read the book twice before. It was a joy to record. honestly. Mind you, I’ve never narrated a vampire romance yet. Or read one come to think of it. So maybe that would be something to look out for…

Rob: Maybe I should write one! Thanks so much Jan, it’s been great to talk to you.

You can download the Miss Wrong and Mr Right audiobook via the ‘Robert’s Books’ tab above.

Rob Bryndza x