I’m celebrating today as my second Cambridge mystery, One Dark Lie, is now available across all ebook platforms. It’s set in the run-up to Christmas: cue lots of snowy pics! Writing a novel can be a bit of a long, slow process, and encouragement along the way truly helps, so it seems like a … More The making of a novel – inspiration & method
Last weekend I had a thoroughly self-indulgent time attending a talk by Sophie Hannah and Jill Dawson. Hannah has recently written Closed Casket, her second Hercule Poirot mystery, commissioned by Agatha Christie Limited. Meanwhile Dawson’s latest book, The Crime Writer, is about novelist Patricia Highsmith, and according to The Guardian “achieves a wonderful blurring of … More Sophie Hannah and Jill Dawson at the Cambridge Literary Festival
I know a lot of writers get fed up with having their work labelled. I can see it’s limiting to have your novel firmly dumped into one category, and books vary so much that using any of the standard classifications can only be a very blunt instrument. That said, I’m still busy trying to find … More I want a label of my very own…
There are all sorts of things that go with having a new novel out. Making a book trailer is an optional extra, but it’s a lot of fun, so I’ve put one together for A Stranger’s House. (I had a little help from the rest of the family when it came to the night-time photography … More Playing with Windows Movie Maker (again)
Many months ago, I entered the EPIC eBook Awards, and promptly forgot all about it. Then, whilst wallowing slightly in the post-Christmas, going-back-to-work blues, I received an email, saying You Think You Know Me has made the finals! It’s a lovely boost, and the second time the novel’s been placed in an award. If you … More Competitive crime…
So, the edits for my second novel are finally finished. Once again, it’s been a really thorough process, making me feel that every aspect has been considered, to make the book the best it can be. Here’s how the system works for those published by Choc Lit: The Tasting Panel Choc Lit has a panel … More My experience of the editing process
I attended the RNA Conference for the first time this year and it was fantastic. I was only around for the Saturday, but I still managed to catch up with a lot of friends and the talks were fascinating too. One of the huge learning curves for me since getting published has been self promotion. … More Highlights from #RNAconf15
I’ve loved crime fiction since I was a child, and wrote about my first encounter with the genre – through Stephen Chance’s Septimus and the Danedyke Mystery – here. The hero of that book is a police-officer-turned-vicar. Over the years I’ve enjoyed mysteries with all sorts of protagonists, from police detectives like Ian Rankin’s Rebus and Donna Leon’s Brunetti, … More Mystery fiction – selecting a sleuth
Today marks the sixth birthday of my publisher, Choc Lit, and we’re all celebrating. There’s a birthday round robin story to follow on Choc Lit’s blog and you can also join in by checking out #choclitparty on Twitter. And in a tenuous birthday link, I’m sharing the six bits of writing advice I’ve found most useful over the years. … More Six top writing tips (& Happy Birthday Choc Lit!)
I’m in that in between stage at the moment. I’ve just submitted a novella to my publisher, Choc Lit, and I’m having a nice time, mulling over the story I might write next. I’ve been working on books featuring two sets of characters – one lot based in London and one in Cambridge. The novella I’ve … More Inspiration for romantic suspense
