All Blog Posts (682)

Second collection is published

The DCI Blizzard Murder Mysteries Books 4 to 6 is out.

This is a collection containing the second three books in the DCI John Blizzard…

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Added by John Dean on August 1, 2019 at 13:59 — No Comments

Some hints on crime writing

Since we are running an online crime fiction course, I thought it would be useful to look at some of the rules of how to write a good crime story:

* The story should be strong and have plenty of depth (most crime stories are novels) * Create a strong sense of place - the reader must be able to visualise where the action happens

* Create…

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Added by John Dean on July 30, 2019 at 11:17 — No Comments

Holiday reading

Just a quick reminder that a collection containing the first three books in the…

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Added by John Dean on July 29, 2019 at 15:32 — No Comments

Places left on weekend writing course



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Added by John Dean on July 29, 2019 at 11:00 — No Comments

Chart success

Delighted that two of my novels published by The Book Folks, the DCI Jack Harris mystery Error of Judgement and the DCI John Blizzard book Strange Little Girl, are both in the Amazon Kindle Top 100 best-sellers in Organised Crime. You can see the list at…

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Added by John Dean on July 25, 2019 at 13:23 — No Comments

Anthology to be published

I am delighted that Flame Tree Publishing have agreed a deal with the Crime Writers’ Association to publish the latest anthology of stories by CWA members, to be edited by Martin Edwards.

Vintage Crimes will be a CWA anthology with a difference, celebrating members’ work over the years. The book will gather stories which members have contributed to CWA anthologies from the mid-1950s until the twenty-first century. Publication is scheduled for summer 2020.

Martin said:…

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Added by John Dean on July 25, 2019 at 11:47 — No Comments

Taking the first steps as a fictional entity

I am always interested in what triggers a new character for a writer. When and how do they burst to life and take their first steps as a fictional entity? I am thinking of this because I am working on a new novel and, although some of my regulars will appear, I’ll need some new ones. Keeps the reader interested, keeps me interested.…

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Added by John Dean on July 17, 2019 at 13:32 — No Comments

Writing with pace

I have noted quite a few comments on blog sites recently, complaining about ‘slow’ stories. As a writer down the years, I have learned the hard way about the need to write with pace, through watching where my editors have deleted text. Each time they do it, it improves me as a writer.

As a creative writing tutor, I have been in the same position, working with several writers over the years who create pace, who keep the story moving, draw the reader in, then damage it by putting in…

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Added by John Dean on July 9, 2019 at 15:30 — No Comments

Places left for final writing course of the summer

There are still places left on the summer’s final weekend course run for writers by best-selling crime novelist John Dean at his home near Castle Douglas in Dumfries and Galloway.

John, author of 18 novels and currently published by London-based The Book Folks, is the creator of the popular DCI John Blizzard and DCI Jack Harris series.

He will run the course based around sense of place from his 19th Century home set in rolling countryside on the weekend of August 24/25, 2019.…

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Added by John Dean on July 8, 2019 at 10:00 — No Comments

Nine up....





Delighted to have nine books in the Amazon Kindle Top 100 Organised Crime book charts,…

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Added by John Dean on July 4, 2019 at 14:30 — No Comments

All is well

I have given a couple of talks on crime writing recently in which the same question cropped up in the Q and A afterwards – ‘Is it important to you that your detectives solve the crime?’

It’s a good question. Of course, in real life many crimes go unsolved, even murders (for which…

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Added by John Dean on July 4, 2019 at 9:08 — No Comments

Online crime fiction course

Best-selling crime novelist and creative writing tutor John Dean has launched an online Crime Fiction Course.

John, author of 18 novels and currently published by London-based The Book Folks, is the creator of DCI John Blizzard and DCI Jack Harris. He also runs Inscribe Media Ltd, which is based near Castle Douglas, Dumfries and Galloway, through which the course will be administered.

The online course, which runs in eight parts and can begin at a time and date to suit the…

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Added by John Dean on July 4, 2019 at 8:39 — No Comments

Talking of love...

Delighted to say that The Inkers…

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Added by John Dean on July 2, 2019 at 15:15 — No Comments

Want to learn the tricks of the trade?

Added by John Dean on July 2, 2019 at 10:49 — No Comments

Loads of Blizzard

Just a quick reminder that a collection containing the first three books in the DCI John Blizzard series of murder mysteries (The Book Folks) has been published in e-book format.…

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Added by John Dean on July 2, 2019 at 9:41 — No Comments

School librarians are honoured

As one of the Crime Writers’ Association’s Libraries Champions, I am delighted to share the news that …

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Added by John Dean on July 1, 2019 at 10:56 — No Comments

Selling well

I am delighted that the latest DCI Jack Harris mystery Error of Judgement (The Book Folks) continues to do well in the various Amazon Kindle best-seller charts. You can find out more at…

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Added by John Dean on June 28, 2019 at 11:20 — No Comments

Meeting old friends

I have just finished the first draft of the latest DCI Blizzard novel for The Book Folks and, as is my wont, I will now leave it for a few weeks then come back to edit it with fresh eyes.Only then will I know for sure if it's achieved what I hoped for it and how much remains to be done.

That means that, in the meantime, I can start work on a new novel in my other series, featuring DCI Jack Harris. A different setting, rural against city, a different cast of characters, a different…

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Added by John Dean on June 28, 2019 at 11:10 — No Comments

Mentoring for writers

Best-selling novelist John Dean is running an online mentoring and writing workshop programme for aspiring authors.

John, who is based in Dumfries and Galloway, has had eighteen crime novels published and is with London-based The Book Folks. He is a co-director of Inscribe Media…

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Added by John Dean on June 28, 2019 at 8:56 — No Comments

Writing award winners are named

New Writing North has announced the winners of the Northern Writers’ Awards 2019.…

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Added by John Dean on June 27, 2019 at 11:03 — No Comments

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Crime writing couple to talk about the challenges of writing as one

Crime fiction enthusiasts – and I know from my experience at Kirkcudbright Book Week that there are plenty of them in Dumfries and Galloway – will be interested in a  fascinating event to be staged in the area in May.The Mill on the Fleet at Gatehouse of Fleet, in conjunction with Bakehouse Community Arts, will present an evening with husband and wife team Chris…See More
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Taking the reader into the heart of the action

Review: Murder at the Caravan by David Pearson (The Book Folks)Authors are driven to write by a range of inspirations, everything from compelling character to mysterious plots, from the need to write with pace to an instinctive feel for landscape, from powerful themes to sharply political points that emerge from their stories. For many of the very best crime writers, a…See More
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