I recently led my first ‘in-person’ writing workshop for a group in Dumfries and Galloway, where I live. It was the first such session I had taken for two-and-half years due to the restrictions which came about due to the covid pandemic and I took as my theme one of my favourites, backstory. I thought that the notes I sent round to group members…

The latest novel by Dumfries and Galloway crime writer Ann Bloxwich will be published on June 10, 2023.

Goodnight, God Bless is the second book in the DI Alex Peachey series written by Ann, who was one of the writers who appeared at the recent Kirkcudbright Book Week in March, and is being published by  Red Dragon Publishing.

It tells…

National Crime Reading Month  begins tomorrow (June 1), including the Scottish launch in Edinburgh tomorrow night with guest speaker Professor Jim Fraser, a leading forensic scientist and author. You can find out more (including what's happening in your area) at…

I am looking forward to appearing during the Crime Writers’ Association’s National Crime Reading Month (NCRM), run in conjunction with The Reading Agency, in June. I will be giving a talk about the inspiration for my novels, my first talk in two and a half years due to covid lockdowns etc.

During NCRM, authors will be taking part in events in…

The latest crime novel by Jackie Baldwin, who appeared at the recent Kirkcudbright Book Week, is due out on Thursday May 18.

Murder by the Seaside is published by Storm Publishing and begins when dawn breaks over the empty beaches of Portobello and Grace McKenna emerges from the icy water after her daily swim, her loyal dog Harvey by her side.…

I am ten thousand words into the latest DCI Jack Harris novel for The Book Folks, which means that plotting is very much at the forefront of my thinking.

To make a plot work, you need a strong story and in crime fiction that comes from watching characters overcome challenges – a murder, a mystery etc.

My initial plots tend to be very…

Thank you to everyone who took the time to review my latest crime novel The Name on the Bullet, published by The Book Folks.

You can find out what the reviewers thought of DCI John Blizzard's latest outing, and buy the book in ebook, paperback and hardcover format, at…

Leading forensic scientist and author Professor Jim Fraser will be the guest speaker at the Scottish launch of the Crime Writers’ Association’s National Crime Reading Month (NCRM) in Edinburgh.

National Crime Reading Month runs throughout June and is organised by the CWA, which is celebrating its 70^th jubilee year, in partnership…

It might not be true that you can entirely judge a book by its cover but you can certainly judge it by its opening pages and this novel is a perfect example of how to get it right from the off. Fast-paced and tension-filled, they plunge the reader straight into the story and the narrative does not loosen its grip, keeping the reader hooked until the…

As you will have become aware from my blogs on the subject over the years, an author’s use of back story carries with it many perils, namely the temptation to pack in far too much information.

Back story refers to the characters’ history and one of the most common mistakes I note when I’m called upon to offer comments on inexperienced…

I have written blogs before about the importance of characters in the writing process and I have just experienced another powerful example of the role that they can play.

I am 5,000 words into the new Harris crime novel and was writing a scene in which I had ground to a halt. I knew what I wanted the scene to achieve but seemed to have hit a…

I am pleased to announce that I have a new crime novel out. The Name on the Bullet has been published by London-based The Book Folks and is the latest in the series featuring DCI John Blizzard.

In the book, which is my twenty third crime novel to be published, a high-profile detective on a reality television cop show is killed and Blizzard…

Tributes have been paid to publisher John Hale, who has died aged 92.

John ran Robert Hale for more than 50 years, and many authors, myself included, had good reason to appreciate his wisdom and patience.

As my first publisher, he taught me so much about the craft of writing and the publishing industry and I shall be forever grateful…

Did you miss out on an event at the recent Kirkcudbright Book Week? Or maybe you attended an event and would like to re-live it all over again? In which case, why not visit their podcast site and do exactly that?…

As the Crime Writers' Association Libraries Champion in Scotland (one of three UK Champions), I am…

With my most recent DCI John Blizzard crime novel having been submitted to the team at my publisher The Book Folks, my attention has turned to the new DCI Jack Harris story.

But what does a writer need when beginning such a large project? Well, there’s a lot to think about but, above all, the author needs an idea that is strong enough to…

A packed room enjoyed one of the early events of Kirkcudbright Book Week on Monday night (February 27) when four crime writers entertained the audience at Broughton House.

In an event entitled A Walk On the Dark side, Jackie Baldwin, Ian Robinson, Ann Bloxwich and John Dean talked about everything from how they create murderers and develop…

These are exciting times for crime author Ann Bloxwich with a new publisher, a new book and a forthcoming appearance at Kirkcudbright Book Week to celebrate.

Ann talks about her writing career in the latest in the series of podcast interviews by Book Week Society chair Chris Walker and author Gerry Hassan, who will also be appearing during…

I have been carrying out the final edits on the latest John Blizzard crime novel before sending it off to my publishers The Book Folks and an insight into my thought process might prove interesting.

I love the intensity and focus involved in going through every page, every line, every word, to make sure that each one is as good as it can…

A publisher and an organisation which helps promote authors have joined the list of sponsors of Kirkcudbright Book Week.

One of the UK’s leading independent publishers, The Book Folks, specialises in crime fiction, mysteries and thrillers, although they dabble in other genres, too. They publish three authors who live close to…