Time For An Old-Fashioned Computer – The Freewrite from Astrohaus
Today I am writing on a new device. It is a machine that has polarised opinions. I have read that it is “the Ultimate” word processor, that it is a waste of money, that it is “impractical and overpriced”, an example of how “not to do software”, that it is the best writing environment for … Continue reading
What’s in a Name?
It’s now a week and two days since I picked up our puppy. When I was a youngster, my parents always had a lot of dogs. When I say a lot, I mean a pack. We had four or five all the time while I was at home. I think my mother counted once and … Continue reading
Not All Keyboards Are Equal!
I am in the middle of an edit just now. I do not need distractions. I do not need disturbances. No, I need time to sit and concentrate on the flow of this story. But I’ve just received something. The nice man from the delivery service came and handed me a heavy parcel. Not a … Continue reading
A MURDER TOO SOON: A Jack Blackjack Tudor Mystery by Michael Jecks
Originally posted on Books, Books and More Books!:
Jack Blackjack is ordered to eliminate a spy in Princess Elizabeth’s household in this engaging Tudor mystery. June, 1554. Former cutpurse and now professional assassin Jack Blackjack has deep misgivings about his latest assignment. He has been despatched to the Palace of Woodstock, where Queen Mary’s half-sister…
Keyboards and Tools of the Trade
It is a rare thing nowadays to find a specialist company that is, in the mind of the general population, taking a retrograde step but which serves a specialist market. I was mentioning to my wife recently that I thought I needed a new keyboard. ’Oh, another gimmick,’ she said – somewhat unsympathetically, I have … Continue reading
‘The origins of The Vintener Trilogy’ – guest post by Michael Jecks
Originally posted on For winter nights – A bookish blog:
Last week, Simon and Schuster published Blood of the Innocents, the final part of Michael Jecks’ Vintener Trilogy, a series of books that takes us back in time to that most troublesome of centuries – the 14th – and the Hundred Years War. To celebrate…
Sean O’Callaghan – RIP
It was about twenty years ago that I attended a meeting of the Crime Writers’ Association in a rather run-down little club in West London. At the time I had published, I think, five novels. My main stories were the Templar series, based on a renegade Templar who escapes after the destruction of his Order, … Continue reading
Distraction Free Writing
I have to be quick with this. I only have fifteen minutes. Okay, for the last few days I’ve had a busy time of it. I’ve a friend who’s become ill at an inconvenient time for him. He has a job, you see: periodically he is asked by a local railway to help them by … Continue reading
The Prophecy Of Death by Michael Jecks
Originally posted on In Search of the Classic Mystery Novel:
1325, and England is not the safest place to be. Edward II’s hold on the throne, and, in particular, his territories in France, is weakening and Sir Hugh Despenser, the power behind the throne, is becoming increasingly desperate. Edward turns towards a prophecy that just…
Writing Methods
Many years ago I remember chatting with David Hewson about writing tools. Indeed, it was David who persuaded me that it would be a good idea for me to ditch Word and instead start to write using Scrivener. I have never regretted that move. However other approaches always fascinate me. David at the time told … Continue reading
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