Slowness and Ebooks

All right, I know, I’ve been slow to get back to the blog. What with the time spent writing, there’s just not been enough time to write regularly. I’m hoping that will change a little soon, but there are still too many distractions, culminating last month in the death of my lovely old Bernese. The house … Continue reading

Lovely New Operating System. Shame about the software …

There are times when you just want to despair. Take a for instance. Last week, hit with a slight glitch on my iMac, I had a brilliant thought. Rather than messing about with a slow system, surely it was time for me to update the operating system. Now, I used to work in computing. I’m … Continue reading

Review of RENEGADE by Robyn Young

I am not having a good time just now. I have a huge amount of work to get through, and at every turn something goes wrong. That’s why it was such a relief to find a new writer. We all know that feeling of finding a new author – one whose writing style just feels … Continue reading

Review of ROME: THE EAGLE OF THE TWELFTH by Manda Scott

This is the first of a series of reviews I’ll be putting up here. They will tend to be books by friends, and an exercise in log-rolling. They are the books I want to read, rather than those which I am given to review. I hope you enjoy them! Anyway, there are times when you … Continue reading

The Most Crucial Writing Tools

I’ve already had a few enquiries about how easy it is to put new works up on the internet, so thought I’d add a few comments. First, you obviously need a piece of software that will help you to create your work. And most authors will leap to Word immediately. Well, you can use Word. … Continue reading

Book Sales

Books, books and more books! Yes, it’s that time of year. A new Jecks book, CITY OF FIENDS, which means that there are one or two lucky folks who can buy copies for family or friends. This one is a return to my roots, so to speak. The action begins with the sudden death of … Continue reading

Orange Prize

Today I heard that the Orange Prize – well, it’s not. Not any more. A pleading, sad-sounding Kate Mosse was on the Today Programme making a case for how good a bargain the prize was, and any sponsor would make a fortune. She has my sympathy. When I was Chairman of the Crime Writers’ Association … Continue reading

Olympics

No, I don’t like the Olympics. Today, the ‘torch’ is near to home, in Okehampton. Because of that, large numbers of people are thronging the streets (I imagine – obviously I’m here at my desk). It’s a ‘once in a lifetime’ experience, I am told. It’ll never happen again, I am told. Good. The Black … Continue reading

Writing Tips: In Praise of Editors – or – Where to Research?

OK. This is a subject I’ve moaned about before, but still, here goes. It’s more interesting in so many ways than the latest grief to hit the Eurozone. Research is always a hot button. ‘Can you help me? I’m looking for …’ is one of the most common questions I get – at least once … Continue reading

Testing Times – Writing for the Web

It was a while ago I decided that I’d have to test the digital waters. At present a few of my books are up there on the web. I’ve the first six or so titles available through the HarperCollins imprint Avon Books in the US, and the more recent books are all on the internet … Continue reading