June 2023 Blog Posts (5)

Breaking through the brick wall

I have just started work on my latest DCI Jack Harris crime novel for the good people at The Book Folks. Although I have a strong idea about the plot, there have been times when I have run up against brick walls and am not sure how to break through. It’s a situation with which most writers are familiar.

One of the methods I have always used to…

Continue

Added by John Dean on June 28, 2023 at 11:25 — No Comments

Series just keeps getting better

My latest book review - Impunity by Ray Clark (The Book Folks)

 

Ray Clark’s hugely enjoyable series of crime novels featuring Yorkshire detective DI Stewart Gardener go from strength to strength, combining inventive, thought-provoking plots and a cast of believable characters led by the detective inspector himself.

The…

Continue

Added by John Dean on June 14, 2023 at 9:31 — No Comments

Novel continues to attract strong sales

My recently-published crime novel continues to sell well. Thank you to everyone who has bought and/or reviewed it. Your support is much appreciated.

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, my twenty third crime novel to be…

Continue

Added by John Dean on June 14, 2023 at 9:30 — No Comments

A question of backstory

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…

Continue

Added by John Dean on June 7, 2023 at 10:57 — No Comments

Second book in series to be published

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…

Continue

Added by John Dean on June 2, 2023 at 9:00 — No Comments

Monthly Archives

2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

Latest Activity

John Dean shared their blog post on Facebook
Oct 14
John Dean posted a blog post

Injecting energy into your crime novel

I am currently 43,000 words into my latest DCI Blizzard crime novel for The Book Folks and key to getting the process right is to ensure that the story continually benefits from injections of energy to maintain its momentum - and increase it, where necessary.But how do you do that? It’s not as simple as the old crime writers adage that if you want to inject momentum into…See More
Oct 14
John Dean shared their blog post on Facebook
Oct 2
John Dean posted a blog post

A challenge for the reader

Crime writer Ian Robinson has a new novel out, marking the return of renegade police officer Sam Batford in his latest undercover assignment for the Metropolitan Police.In Lines Crossed (The Book Folks), an armed gang is robbing cash vans in North London, and Detective Sergeant Batford’s bosses want his help catching them. That’s not all that they want, though.…See More
Oct 2
John Dean shared their blog post on Facebook
Sep 27
John Dean shared their blog post on Facebook
Sep 18
John Dean posted a blog post

How far is far?

As I have said in past blogs, the wise author listens when the story speaks to them and if that means changing the original plan then so be it.But how far should the author be prepared to change the story that they originally decided to write? I mean, it was the author’s idea long before those pesky character stuck their oar in, wasn’t it? There has to be a limit,…See More
Sep 18
John Dean shared their blog post on Facebook
Sep 13
John Dean posted a blog post

Festival announces top quality line-up

Each year, Raworths Harrogate Literature Festival in North Yorkshire welcomes a stellar line-up of bestselling authors and celebrated speakers to the Harrogate stage and this year these include Theresa May, Victoria Hislop, Ros Atkins, Peter Reid, Monty Panesar, Alison Weir, William Hanson and many more.In association with Yorkshire Life Magazine, the organisers are …See More
Sep 13
John Dean shared their blog post on Facebook
Sep 3
John Dean shared their blog post on Facebook
Sep 3
John Dean shared their blog post on Facebook
Aug 13
John Dean posted a blog post

Getting the little grey cells working

Writing has the capacity to continually surprise the author who is doing it, and that can often take them somewhere unexpected.Sometimes that means a nod to the past, which is why I have found myself using an Agatha Christie technique without setting out to do so.What was planned for my latest DCI John Blizzard novel was a series of disparate plot lines with no obvious…See More
Aug 13
John Dean shared their blog post on Facebook
Jul 29
John Dean posted a blog post

The right **** at the **** time?

The other day, I was surfing the web seeking inspiration for my latest blog when I came across a number of articles on the vexed subject of profanity in fiction.I, like most authors who use swear words in their writing, receive the occasional review from readers for whom profanity is an issue. For some of them, it is reason enough not to buy a book.I tend to use swear…See More
Jul 29
John Dean shared their blog post on Facebook
Jul 25

Videos

Members

© 2024   Created by John Dean.   Powered by

Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service