Biography & Awards
About the Author
Bryan wrote his first novel, Shaking Hands With The Devil in the late 1980’s, but when he and his agent failed to get it published, he decided that he was a failed writer. However, rediscovering and redrafting it years later it was finlly published 30 years after the first draft.
He has worked as a financial investigator, a mediator and made sound effects for BBC Radio. He is now a full time writer, also contributing regular theatre reviews for StageTalk and Bristol 24/7 magazines. He is a member of the Crime Writers Association and Society of Authors.
An Old Tin Can is the first in a new black comedy crime series set in Northern Ireland during the Troubles. Future titles are Dead On to be published later in 2025 and Never A Happy Ending. The recurrent themes are identity, murder and … biscuits.
He lives in Bristol with his wife and has two children in their twenties.
He likes nothing more than hanging around in a graveyard, which he thinks might come in handy one day.
Media And Posts
The latest Posts and Media from Bryan
Posts
GALLOWS HUMOUR -crime writing in the time of the troubles
Bryan wrote the following article for the Crime Writers Association magazine ‘Red Herrings’ about applying black comedy to serious subjects Writing historical crime fiction can
Questions asked at Launches:
Q: What connection do you have to Northern Ireland? A: I first visited Northern Ireland in the 1990s but I am an outsider. However, so
Media
Bryan in the Belfast Telegraph
This is my interview with Matt Wilson from the Belfast Telegraph Please click here to read the full article
Biscuits and the Troubles – irish news
I had a great chat with journalist Sophie Clarke from the Irish Times. Read the article here. https://www.irishnews.com/entertainment/biscuits-and-the-troubles-why-bristol-author-bryan-j-mason-decided-to-set-his-black-comedy-in-belfast-5PZLEOGUO5HLLERYWLFG6ALQTU/
Recent Events
crimefest may 15 - 18
Clifton Literary Festival
17 November
Film/TV Option for An Old Tin Can
talks and panels
I am delighted to be part of two panels during CrimeFest in May 2025 in Bristol. https://www.crimefest.com/
On Friday 16th I am a participating moderator for a fabulous panel right up my street named, appropriately enough, ‘Walking The Mean Streets: Brit Grit’ with C V Chauhan, Tim Franks, Caro Ramsay and H J Reed.
I follow up the next day with another exciting panel moderated by my chum Orlando Murrin called ‘Shafts of Light: Crime Fiction’s Shades of Grey’ which will focus more on humour and I am honoured to be joining Cathy Ace, Ajay Chowdhury and A J Hill.
This is very sadly the last ever CrimeFest in its current format, but it is billed as the friendliest festival around so I hope to see you there.
I am also appearing on 7 June at the Warminster Book Festival where I have a solo slot so expect readings and some laughs. https://www.warminsterbookfestival.co.uk/
I was part of a ‘Scene of the Crime‘ panel at the prestigious Clifton LitFest in November 2024. I joined the very talented, and best-selling authors, Emily Koch (If I Die Before I Wake), Gilly MacMillan (The Fall) and the wonderful Jade Chandler from Baskerville publishers.
As well as cracking a few jokes, we discussed the importance of place, which is fundamental to my Harry and The Squad novels set in Northern Ireland.
And I am looking forward to returning to Northern Ireland in 2025 for a working holiday.
Finally, I am pleased to announce that I have signed a Film/TV option with a screenplay writer for An Old Tin Can. this is exciting news and I will share news of progress.