All Blog Posts (673)

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…

Continue

Added by John Dean on March 13, 2024 at 11:09 — No Comments

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…

Continue

Added by John Dean on February 27, 2024 at 9:00 — No Comments

Tickets still available for crime fiction events

Traditionally, events featuring crime writers are very popular at Kirkcudbright Book Week in Dumfries and Galloway and tend to sell out. However, with just three weeks to go until the beginning of the event, there are still plenty of tickets available for the three crime fiction offerings.

Crime writers due to appear…

Continue

Added by John Dean on February 15, 2024 at 15:19 — No Comments

Writer’s debut novel tells a dark tale of murder

I am delighted to have played a small part in this book making it into print

Castle Douglas writer David L Haigh has had his first novel published, telling a  tale of murder in a rural community.

Crime novel Land Kill, which has been published by Michael Terence Publishing, tells the story of a former stockbroker turned pheasant farmer,…

Continue

Added by John Dean on February 8, 2024 at 13:45 — No Comments

Getting it right from the beginning

I have just started writing my next crime novel for my publishers The Book Folks and as with every new book, that blank first page is at once exciting and daunting.

The excitement comes because it takes all that planning that I’ve been doing over recent weeks…

Continue

Added by John Dean on February 7, 2024 at 11:00 — No Comments

Giveaway treat for audience at crime fiction event

Audience members attending a specially-organised night of crime fiction during Kirkcudbright Book Week will be given a free copy of a 100-page deluxe brochure exploring crime fiction across the British Isles.

The brochure has been put together by the expert team at publisher The Book Folks, which has four of its authors attending the…

Continue

Added by John Dean on February 4, 2024 at 16:47 — No Comments

Why not book your spring break to take in some crime fiction events?

Contemplating a spring holiday/short break? Then why not choose the stunning scenery of Dumfries and Galloway and combine it with your love of crime fiction and choose Kirkcudbright when the town’s annual Book Week is on between March 4-10? I will be chairing one of the events.

You can check out the details at…

Continue

Added by John Dean on February 1, 2024 at 16:30 — No Comments

A thousand reasons to get the editing right

I have been editing the working draft of the latest Jack Harris crime novel before sending it off to my publishers The Book Folks at the end of the month.

For me, as I have mentioned in previous blogs, this is the most intense and most enjoyable stage of the writing process and it’s worth recapping why all writers need to give the process due…

Continue

Added by John Dean on January 23, 2024 at 10:23 — No Comments

Box-set hits the top of the chart

I am absolutely delighted that my recently-released DCI John Blizzard Kindle box-set of crime novels (The Book Folks) has hit Number One in three of Amazon's crime anthology charts, earning the coveted Orange Bestseller Logo.

Thank you to everyone who bought the box-set and has supported me down the years…

Continue

Added by John Dean on January 22, 2024 at 18:30 — No Comments

Fancy writing a besteller?

Ever thought about writing a bestseller? Well, if you have, the talk to be given by author Ryan Stark during Kirkcudbright Book Week is well worth attending.

Ryan moved from IT Specialist to full-time novelist eight years ago. The learning curve was steep and, with no knowledge of the writing process, it was quite a journey. Yet from a…

Continue

Added by John Dean on January 17, 2024 at 14:02 — No Comments

Author added to panel

Crime writer James Davidson has been added to the panel for an in-conversation evening staged by publisher The Book Folks during Kirkcudbright Book Week.

He has agreed to appear following the recent death of author James Andrew, who was due to appear.

Event details: Wednesday March 6 In Conversation with the Book Folks Crime Writers…

Continue

Added by John Dean on January 13, 2024 at 22:10 — No Comments

All the author has to do is the typing

The process of writing continually teaches the author new lessons. It also reiterates the wisdom behind old ones. The truth of that statement has been proved to me yet again as I write the final chapters of my latest DCI Jack Harris novel for my publisher The Book Folks.

I have found myself struggling with pulling together the threads of the…

Continue

Added by John Dean on January 3, 2024 at 10:02 — No Comments

Publisher to host crime fiction event during book week

 

I am really looking forward to being part of this event as part of Kirkcudbright Book Week, which runs in the Dumfries and Galloway town between March 4-10 2024.

Wednesday March 6 In Conversation with the Book Folks Crime Writers Selkirk Arms High Street Tickets £8 7pm - Publisher The Book Folks presents an evening with some of its…

Continue

Added by John Dean on January 3, 2024 at 10:00 — No Comments

Blizzard storms the best-seller charts

The latest DCI John Blizzard Kindle box set (the first seven in my series of Blizzard crime novels published by the Book Folks, for just 99p) is storming the Amazon best-selling charts!…

Continue

Added by John Dean on December 12, 2023 at 13:05 — No Comments

Crime writing award launched with new format

I am proud to have been part of the team that has revamped the Crime Writers' Association's (CWA) prestigious Dagger in the LIbrary award for crime writers.

I was involved because I am one of the CWA's UK Libraries Champions (I am our representative in Scotland) and one of the main aims of the revamp is to increase the number of library staff…

Continue

Added by John Dean on December 5, 2023 at 15:00 — No Comments

Revealing some of the crime fiction secrets

I am really looking forward to this event, which is part of Kirkcudbright Book Week, which runs in the Dumfries and Galloway town between March 4-10 2024.

 

Monday March 4   Ryan Stark Selkirk Arms High Street 2pm Tickets £6

Ryan Stark is a Midlands-based thriller writer and publisher. His Aidan Beckett and Daley & Whetstone…

Continue

Added by John Dean on November 8, 2023 at 16:46 — No Comments

Crime writer to appear during book week

I am really looking forward to this event, which is part of Kirkcudbright Book Week, which runs in the Dumfries and Galloway town between March 4-10 2024.

 

Thursday March 7 An evening with Simpson Grears Selkirk Arms High Street 7pm £5 Supported by Scottish Book Trust through its Live Literature programme

The crime writer talks…

Continue

Added by John Dean on November 8, 2023 at 16:41 — No Comments

An excellent start to a new series

Book Review The Ferry Port Mystery by David Pearson (The Book Folks)

What do you do if you are the author of a couple of popular crime fiction series but fancy a change? The answer is to create a new series with a new cast of characters, which is exactly what David Pearson has done with The Ferry Port Mystery.

The first in a new series…

Continue

Added by John Dean on November 8, 2023 at 13:34 — No Comments

Sense of place works its magic

Some of you may know that I was one of four crime writers who appeared recently at an in-conversation event during the inaugural Kirkcudbright Fringe festival (along with Jackie Baldwin, Ann Bloxwich and fellow Book Folks author Ian Robinson).

To feed the conversation, each of us selected a facet of writing to talk about and I chose the way…

Continue

Added by John Dean on September 15, 2023 at 11:15 — No Comments

An enjoyable read

Book Review - Nothing But Smiles by Linda Hagan (published by The Book Folks)

A truly enjoyable novel which sees Linda Hagan returning to Belfast for the seventh book in her popular Northern Irish crime series.

Characterised by the author’s customary economical style…

Continue

Added by John Dean on September 15, 2023 at 8:54 — No Comments

Monthly Archives

2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

Latest Activity

Tom Southern is now a member of John Dean Crime Novelist
Thursday
John Dean shared their blog post on Facebook
Wednesday
John Dean shared their blog post on Facebook
Wednesday
John Dean posted a blog post

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
Wednesday
Ann Bloxwich updated their profile
Mar 7
Ann Bloxwich is now a member of John Dean Crime Novelist
Mar 7
John Dean shared their blog post on Facebook
Feb 27
John Dean posted a blog post

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
Feb 27
John Dean shared their blog post on Facebook
Feb 16
John Dean posted a blog post

Tickets still available for crime fiction events

Traditionally, events featuring crime writers are very popular at Kirkcudbright Book Week in Dumfries and Galloway and tend to sell out. However, with just three weeks to go until the beginning of the event, there are still plenty of tickets available for the three crime fiction offerings.Crime writers due to appear include: Monday March 4   Ryan Stark Selkirk Arms High…See More
Feb 15
John Dean shared their blog post on Facebook
Feb 8
John Dean posted a blog post

Writer’s debut novel tells a dark tale of murder

I am delighted to have played a small part in this book making it into printCastle Douglas writer David L Haigh has had his first novel published, telling a  tale of murder in a rural community.Crime novel Land Kill, which has been published by Michael Terence Publishing, tells the story of a former stockbroker turned pheasant farmer, who was the last known person to…See More
Feb 8
John Dean shared their blog post on Facebook
Feb 7
John Dean posted a blog post

Getting it right from the beginning

I have just started writing my next crime novel for my publishers The Book Folks and as with every new book, that blank first page is at once exciting and daunting.The excitement comes because it takes all that planning that I’ve been doing over recent weeks (mostly on my walks with the…See More
Feb 7
John Dean shared their blog post on Facebook
Feb 4
John Dean posted a blog post

Giveaway treat for audience at crime fiction event

Audience members attending a specially-organised night of crime fiction during Kirkcudbright Book Week will be given a free copy of a 100-page deluxe brochure exploring crime fiction across the British Isles.The brochure has been put together by the expert team at publisher The Book Folks, which has four of its authors attending the event.In Conversation with the Book…See More
Feb 4

Videos

Members

© 2024   Created by John Dean.   Powered by

Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service