Just a quick reminder that best-selling crime novelist and creative writing tutor John Dean has launched an online Crime Fiction Course.…

As part of my teaching of aspiring authors, I am often asked what they need to consider when writing a novel. I always say that, if…

My DCI Jack Harris crime novel The Vixen’s Scream, published by the Book Folks, is on special offer of just 99p/99 cents for a short…

As I have mentioned in a previous blog, I have just started work on a new DCI Jack Harris crime novel and, yet again, the process has focused my thoughts on beginnings.

The first rule of opening lines is that they should possess most of the individual elements that make up the…

I have had a few reviews from readers on Amazon lately that praise the way my characters feel like they are real people. I am greatly gratified by such comments. It’s what all writers seek to achieve.

I guess those readers can make such comments because, although they are fictional, my characters are also real people, comprising bits taken from people I know. A wisp of hair here, a jacket there, a prejudice from someone else.

I take a lot of time developing my characters but always…

I have a growing number of readers in Canada so I am delighted that Canada-based crime fiction reviewer Jim Napier has featured The Secrets Man on his award-winning Deadly Diversions website.…

I have just started work on a new DCI Jack Harris novel. I have a strong idea and a strong setting but, as always happens in writing, I get stuck from time to time. The cursor hovers over the page but nothing happens.

How do I get over the problem? Simple. I close my eyes and imagine myself there with my characters. What can they see, what can they hear,…

I have written before about reviews. As I said last time, if a review has useful points to make I always take them away with me, think them over and address them in my writing if I feel it is necessary.

However, they can sometime…

Delighted to say that, as of today (September 6, 2018), I have five titles in the Amazon Kindle Top 100 British Detectives chart, including The Railway Man. You can find the full Top 100 at …

I am delighted to have been named one of the CWA's Libraries Champions - here is the full story

The Crime Writers’ Association has appointed new Libraries Champions based in England,…

Pace is so important for writers to achieve. I have worked over the years with several writers who created pace, who kept the story moving, drawing the reader in, then damaged it by putting in unnecessary detail, descriptions, back story etc.

The result is chapters when the story starts to gather pace then slows down again, which interrupts the narrative flow so that when we return to the story it’s like going from a standing start.  Do it too many times and the reader loses…

I’ve been doing a lot of teaching recently  on the idea of ideas, as well as delivering talks on the subject.

I am fascinated by the way that the germ of an idea grows into a fully-fledged piece of work.…

Looking for insights into the crime writing world, everything from authors’ thoughts on their work to new title news? Then why not join the Crime Readers’ Association which will give you everything you need to know? You can find out more at…

Writers must make a major decision before they start writing: which viewpoint do they use?

Most authors go for the conventional…

Following on from my previous blogs on creating characters, a word about minor characters and the care you need to take when creating them.

But why spend unnecessary time on insignificant characters in the first place? Some may be so negligible that they won’t even get names: the…

The Wigtown Book Festival is nearly upon us with loads of brilliant events and some big name authors making an appearance at the Dumfries and Galloway town in late September - check it out at http://www.wigtownbookfestival.com/

Tickets have gone on sale for the Crime Writers’ Association’s dinner on October 25 when all ten winners of this year’s CWA Daggers will be revealed. The event is at the Grange City Hotel in Cooper’s Row, London at 6.30pm for 7pm.…

There is a debate within writing circles about what has become known as ‘show and tell’.

No, this is not about small children excitedly showing manky things found on the beach to their classmates, rather an important writing technique.

The argument goes like this: for you to truly engage your reader, you must make them feel that they are there when the action is happening, rather than someone telling them about it later.

It matters because if you fail to draw your reader…

The programme has been announced for the excellent Durham Book Festival. The festival takes place in and around the beautiful city of Durham each October.

Events are held in a range of iconic venues including the historic Durham Town Hall, Durham…