Distractions All the Way
One of the hardest aspects of writing is the fact that there are so many damnably attractive alternatives. You sit at the desk and try to focus on the day ahead. That involves thinking about the coming scenes, planning, plotting, getting the mind into the right frame for envisioning bloody murder or a battle scene, … Continue reading
Interview with Karen Maitland
I was lucky enough to meet Karen Maitland some years ago at the Lincoln Festival, and we hit it off immediately. We had a great afternoon with a large audience, and at the end of it, I invited her to join Medieval Murderers. Since then, she’s been a hugely popular member of our group. However, … Continue reading
Big Data!
I was reading in a magazine an article by the excellent Simon Brett earlier today. It was an obituary for Phyllis James and mentioned that some time ago, while talking about writing, they discussed the worst questions authors are asked. My own favourite worst is, “Where do your books sell?” It’s a natural question. It’s … Continue reading
Marketing for Authors
For those who weren’t aware, I have a YouTube channel on which I discuss many aspects of writing. If you haven’t seen it, look at this one, all about marketing your books – whether you’re an indie or published author! See the latest video here.
Review The Raven’s Head
I first met Karen some ten years ago now, at a literary festival in Lincoln, and I was delighted to do so. Only a few weeks before I had read her stunning and evocative book THE COMPANY OF LIARS, and it had blown me away. I was fascinated by her depiction of a … Continue reading
Author incomes – when does the money come in?
This is a quick post to answer the question I have been asked several times recently, which is: how soon are authors paid for their work? Oh, boy, I remember the day Marion Donaldson called me to confirm that Headline wanted to buy my first book, and that she wanted another two titles in the … Continue reading
An Interview with Tom Harper
I have been a writer for over twenty years now. In that time I’ve been enormously fortunate to meet many great people who have become firm friends. Tom Harper is one of those. We don’t meet terribly often, sadly, but he is a lovely bloke. It was good to have a chance to chat to … Continue reading
Review: Zodiac Station by Tom Harper
I first met Tom Harper when he had a different name. Well, many of us do, don’t we? He was appallingly young, and had been a student actuary, like me, but had decided to leave that profession and take up an infinitely worse paid job as an author. Basically, he was not one of those … Continue reading
Time. It’s only time.
I have some bright, intelligent men as brothers. And they may read this, so I won’t go into their foibles here. Well, not all of them. I am the youngest of four brothers. And I am inordinately lucky with my choice of family, since authors don’t always have smooth and easy lives. Having brothers who … Continue reading
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