Books for Christmas!
Well, I hate to remind you, but it is coming close to that time of year again. Christmas. Now, of course, I mean that it’s time to go out and make someone happy. Giving presents is a heart-warming thing. It produces a feeling of well-being, an atmosphere of happiness, a sense that all is right … Continue reading
Refreshing old stories
Today I have the joy of starting to write one book I first thought up ten years ago, while also looking at an edit of a book I wrote at about the same time. I have been a writer for an appalling twenty years now. It’s shocking to think of all those years having … Continue reading
A Winter Kill – Review
One of the really great things about travelling to the US and Canada is having the chance to discover new writers I’d never usually meet. And the last trip to Canada was one of those opportunities I couldn’t miss. Although it’s not easy to carry home roughly twenty books, I did manage it. I’ve already … Continue reading
Quick Tips: Goals
I keep having people ask how I work: how do I get my ideas down on paper? How do I write so quickly? Well, I work one hour at a time. In 50 minutes I can type 1,000 words, and that is most of a scene, usually. Then I’ll take a ten minute break, during which I … Continue reading
Day Jobs
There is a different mindset in Britain compared with more entrepreneurial nations like America. In Britain we have always been pigeonholed at an early age. Men would learn a trade, serve an apprenticeship with a leatherworker, cordwainer, butcher or smith, or perhaps, if he was lucky, he might get a post with a bank and … Continue reading
The Research Into Author Incomes
I’ve mentioned this before, but it’s worth reconsidering this week. The Authors Licensing and Collecting Society is a marvellous organisation that helps authors by collecting odd amounts of money. For example, I recently had some few pounds because someone in Germany had been copying pages from one of my novels for use in classes in … Continue reading
REVIEW: SHE DEMONS by Donald Hauka, published by Dundurn Press
REVIEW: SHE DEMONS by Donald Hauka, published by Dundurn Press ISBN: 9781554887637, £6.99 While I was cavorting in crime with the Crime Writers of Canada in Toronto a couple of weeks ago, I was fortunate to be given books in my goody bag by a number of authors I’d never heard of. This is always … Continue reading
Complaints and Reviews
I’m just back from a trip to Belstone, talking on video about BELLADONNA AT BELSTONE. And while talking about BaB, I was struck by some of the things that stick in my mind. It’s not the usual old rant. There are people, generally, who love to point out errors in an author’s research, for example. … Continue reading
Conferences – and other ways to waste time!
Yesterday I went all the way up to Bristol to attend a conference with the Society of Authors, all about the weird and wonderful brave new world we inhabit. The main thing was, the Society wanted to brief we authors on how to sell our books more efficiently and achieve better sales. A praiseworthy ambition! The … Continue reading
A Very Belated Apology to America!
This is a terrible confession: after writing a nice piece about America in my newsletter, I completely forgot to put this version up on the web. So, with profuse apologies to all my American friends – here it is at last! America There are times when certain friends of mine make me wince and … Continue reading
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