Review: THE DA VINCI FRAUD, by Jack Dunn and Jonathan Coad, published by Silvertail Books

Phew. Where to start with this one? Okay. When I wrote THE LAST TEMPLAR, back in the far-distant days of March 1994, not only did I know that this would be the start of a glittering literary career, I also knew that my research had been impeccable, the characterisation superb and the plotting without fault. … Continue reading

Quick Tips: Goals

I keep havingĀ 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 minutesĀ 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

Drugs again

Drugs – Yet Again Ach, I really, really dislike returning to this, but really, what is the point of the anti-drugs policy? I saw this today http://chapman.dailymail.co.uk/2011/11/your-best-friend-calls-you-and-tells-you-heshes-really-sick-how-do-you-show-you-care-1.html and felt the irritation rising again. A nice picture needed to calm me down now. Let’s see. Ah, water. That’s good. Is there a purpose to our ā€œWar … Continue reading

More Money Musings – and Publishing

A little more about money, since apparently everyone is interested in authors and their incomes. First, although people seem to understand the simple principle that ā€œadvancesā€ are only interest free loans against future income, there is still confusion about how much authors get paid. I think itā€™s fair to say that the vast majority of … Continue reading

Musings on Writing – and Money

It is so tempting, having heard that a second very senior policeman from the Met has decided that his career is better off curtailed, even though he doesn’t see that he did anything wrong, to launch into a long spiel about the newspapers. But I won’t. I have interests in the story, which I’ll explain … Continue reading

A Moderate Moorland March

There are few things better than getting away from the desk and enjoying a ramble over the moors. That’s what I’ve been doing this weekend. My brother Keith and I left on Friday to go for a little wander over Dartmoor, hoping that the weather would be kind to us. It certainly wasn’t last time. … Continue reading

I Hate Losing Friends …

I am a pleasant guy. Honest. Look at me. Not terribly shifty, am I? And all I do is write books, after all. I am a very nice fellow. So why have I just ditched several hundred friends and friend requests from Facebook? It is a weird thing, that whereas in the past, authors were … Continue reading

Hacks and Hacking

Down here in Dartmoor, Hacking means taking the horse out. Not in London. There are all too few journalists who are trusted. I wonder why? They always show up as being less wholesome than estate agents – or even, God help us – ruddy politicians. I know a few journalists. Generally my own opinion is … Continue reading

Amazing reviews

The thing is, you see, I never trust reviews. Why would anyone trust them? I have reviewed a lot of books in my time. With some, such as the absolutely superb Lincoln Lawyer, or Angel’s Flight, both by Michael Connelly, I was rigorously honest and said I loved them. Good. But there were plenty which … Continue reading