John Dean's Blog (675)

Blizzard is back!

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…

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Added by John Dean on November 23, 2021 at 9:30 — No Comments

In profile

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…

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Added by John Dean on November 15, 2021 at 11:07 — No Comments

A question of emotion

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…

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Added by John Dean on November 2, 2021 at 13:13 — No Comments

A writer's life

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…

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Added by John Dean on October 28, 2021 at 12:11 — No Comments

Last Man Alive on the up

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 21st crime novel to appear, Harris is on the trail…

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Added by John Dean on October 21, 2021 at 14:30 — No Comments

Where it all begins

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…

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Added by John Dean on October 19, 2021 at 14:20 — No Comments

The intricacies of editing

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…

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Added by John Dean on September 20, 2021 at 11:00 — No Comments

Crime writers speak out in support of libraries

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…

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Added by John Dean on September 19, 2021 at 9:34 — No Comments

Author announces 2022 weekend workshops for writing groups

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…

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Added by John Dean on September 3, 2021 at 14:16 — No Comments

A reason to kill

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…

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Added by John Dean on August 12, 2021 at 13:46 — No Comments

Daggers winners announced

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

Added by John Dean on July 29, 2021 at 13:39 — No Comments

Film offers insight into the writing process

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…

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Added by John Dean on July 23, 2021 at 9:00 — No Comments

A chance to learn more about crime writing

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

Added by John Dean on July 20, 2021 at 11:06 — No Comments

New novel is well received

 

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

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Added by John Dean on July 20, 2021 at 10:40 — No Comments

Advice from an expert

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…

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Added by John Dean on July 15, 2021 at 13:58 — No Comments

How authors play with the reader's emotions

I am returning to my theme of how writers evoke reactions in their readers for this blog. Good writing is about triggers with the author using words, phrases, images, places and sensations that reach deep into the reader’s mind.

That reaction will be based on something that the reader has actually experienced, or may be something that the…

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Added by John Dean on July 15, 2021 at 9:20 — No Comments

A little conflict goes a long way

I have just written a chapter for my latest Blizzard novel in which my detectives fall out with witnesses then with each other, all of which allows me to come back to one of my familiar themes for my blogs – conflict.

I find that writing becomes easier if there is conflict in the air. Why? Because stories need things to happen and conflicts…

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Added by John Dean on July 1, 2021 at 11:58 — No Comments

Latest Ian Robinson crime novel is published

I have just ordered the paperback version of Shots Fired, the latest in the Nash and Moretti crime fiction series written by Ian Robinson and published by The Book Folks.

I thoroughly enjoyed the first two in the series so am looking forward to this one as a shooting leads the Metropolitan officers into an investigation taking in…

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Added by John Dean on June 18, 2021 at 9:30 — No Comments

Why fictional characters have to fight for the right to exist

I am returning to a familiar theme for this blog, namely the right of a character to exist. The subject comes to mind because I am working on the latest DCI John Blizzard novel and, although some of my regulars appear, there is a cast of new characters as well.

The key to creating characters is not to confuse the…

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Added by John Dean on June 17, 2021 at 10:36 — No Comments

New Jack Harris novel is published

I am delighted to announce that Last Man Alive, the latest book in the series featuring Detective Chief Inspector Jack Harris, has been published by The Book Folks -  my 21st crime novel to appear.

In the book, Harris is on the trail of a missing man whom he suspects of having dementia and being at grave risk, when he makes a…

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Added by John Dean on June 8, 2021 at 9:00 — No Comments

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An exciting character

Author Ian Robinson has a new crime novel out - and it’s attracting plenty of glowing reviews. Criminal Justice (The Book Folks) introduces undercover police officer Sam Batford, a man who walks the narrow line between successful detective and corrupt cop. The novel sees him sent to work with a serious crime team in London in an investigation which sees him play the good…See More
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Authors highlight different ways of starting to write a book

I have just started writing my next crime novel and I have more time to concentrate on it now that Kirkcudbright Book Week, which I help organise, has come to an end for this year.In fact, the subject of how best to begin a story cropped up during Book Week, not least when I chaired an in-conversation event at the Selkirk Arms, featuring crime writers Traude Ailinger,…See More
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Ann Bloxwich is now a member of John Dean Crime Novelist
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Tackling the dreaded blank first page

 I am working on a new DCI John Bizzard crime novel for my publisher The Book Folks, and that means being faced with the dreaded blank first page.So, how do writers get going under such circumstances? How do they start writing their story? Well, in this hectic world, I have always felt that there is a lot to be said for holding back and allowing myself a little time to…See More
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