The recently-published 100 Ways to Write a Book, which comprises author interviews about the craft of creating stories, is now available on Kindle, having previously been in paperback only.

The book started life as a small lockdown project with editor Alex Pearl asking authors for interviews and the project rapidly developed into what is a…

I am delighted to have had a piece accepted for a new book that celebrates the way that Kirkcudbright in Dumfries and Galloway inspires writers.

Kirkcudbright Encounters started life as a fightback against the dismal days of Covid and features local writers.

It is published by The Stewartry Writers and Friends, who include members of…

One of the challenges with writing a series of novels is the need to keep them fresh so that the readers do not become bored.

There are various ways to do that, including developing facets of the recurring main characters and continually coming up with inventive storylines, but also important is the creation of new characters, either to appear regularly or as one-offs.

I am always interested in what triggers a new character for a writer. When and how do they burst into life? I…

I am delighted to be one of the authors to be featured in a new book that examines the craft of writing.

Titled 100 Ways to Write a Book, the publication  comprises author interviews initiated by Alex Pearl during the Covid epidemic and which started life as a small lockdown project. Before long, Alex’s requests for interviews elicited an…

I have always been interested in the way that characters evolve during the writing process. For me, it proves that a story is alive and I am experiencing that sensation the more I write of the latest DCI Jack Harris novel.

Central characters tend to fall into two categories – rounded (also known as changing or dynamic) who change throughout the…

DCI John Blizzard is back as The Vengeance Man becomes the latest of my crime novels to be published by The Book Folks.

In the novel, a teenager gets the fright of his life when he sneaks into a local graveyard for a crafty smoke and is chased away by a man dressed in black, screaming dire threats.

Rumours of such a local…

My publisher Erik Empson, at The Book Folks,has recently been writing profiles of some of his stable of authors and I am flattered to be among the latest subjects. Should you be interested, you can read the article at…

I have just started work on the latest DCI Jack Harris novel and my thoughts are dominated by emotion.

Why? Because you can be the best technical writer in the world, with perfect use of grammar and immaculate sentence construction, but if your stories do not engage your readers on an emotional level, you are in trouble.

The reason I am…

I thoroughly enjoyed doing an interview for Alex Pearl’s excellent website featuring chats with a range of authors.

You can see the result as we delve into my life as a writer, everything from childhood influences to plotting, at…

I am pleased to say that Last Man Alive, the latest book in the series featuring Detective Chief Inspector Jack Harris, is climbing the Amazon sales charts again, having attracted positive reviews and ratings following its publication by The Book Folks in the summer.

In the book,  my 21^st crime novel to appear, Harris is on the trail…

I have just started writing the next Jack Harris crime novel and, as with every new book, it’s at once exciting and daunting. Exciting to find out where the planning I’ve been doing over recent weeks takes me, daunting because a lot of work lies ahead and a blank computer screen is a scary thing.

I’m only 700 words in but they are words which…

I am carrying out the editing of the latest DCI Blizzard novel before sending it to my publishers The Book Folks and, as I may have mentioned in previous blogs, for me this is the most enjoyable part of the writing process.

I know that some writers detest editing and love the creative process of filling blank pages but I am one of those authors…

I have written an article explaining how the Crime  Writers' Association is supporting a campaign in favour of libraries which has been launched by the Scotland on Sunday newspaper. at a time when many libraries are threatened by cutbacks.

You can read the published article at…

Novelist John Dean has announced a series of weekend workshops to be held specifically for writing groups in Spring and Summer 2022 at his home in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland.

John, author of 21 crime novels and currently published by London-based The Book Folks, is the creator of the popular DCI John Blizzard and DCI Jack Harris series and…

I am currently working on the next DCI John Blizzard novel and, as such, my mind is very much occupied by the idea of motive.

A crime writer has always to think deeply about the nature of evil. My novels very often have career criminals among their cast of characters but, mostly, they feature ‘ordinary’ people driven to extraordinary acts such…

The Crime Writers' Association has announced the eagerly-awaited winners of this year's Daggers awards - well done to all those who were successful. You can find out who won at 

thecwa.co.uk

I am delighted to have been asked to make a short film for Dumfries and Galloway Libraries Service, my local library service, in which I answer questions about writing from some of their Facebook followers.

Work like this is particularly close to my heart because I am one of two Libraries Champions for the Crime Writers’ Association, with…

Want to learn more about crime writing? Then this online course could be for you

I am pleased to say that Last Man Alive, the latest book in the series featuring Detective Chief Inspector Jack Harris, is selling well and attracting positive reviews and ratings, having been published by The Book Folks.

In the book,  my 21^st crime novel to appear, Harris is on the trail of a missing man whom he suspects of having…

Bestselling crime writer Leigh Russell joins interviewer Sara West to talk about her books, the success of her Geraldine Steele series (more than one million sales) and her top tips for writers in the latest instalment of the free Tall Tales Mysteries Mug Shots series of films. Tune in onto their Youtube channel at…