Betrayal, by Julian Stockwin
There are books I try to avoid, and books I have to buy. To my great shame, there are also books which I haven’t read – mainly, in my defence, because I don’t have that much time to read. I have a lot of books to read before I can write my own ones, and … 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 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
First Attempt at Epublishing.
At a time when publishing is in such a state of turmoil, the last thing that an experienced author wants to do is set off in a different direction. Which is what I am doing. Still, there are good reasons for it. I want to sell more books. And what is irritating is, I have … Continue reading
Pens, Pencils, Computers – Guess My Favourites
Writing – again. The last few weeks have been really fun. Hard, but fun. I am in the middle of the next book for Simon & Schuster, which is to be an action story based on the Hundred Years War, with the campaign that finally led to Crécy, and I am enjoying it enormously. However, … 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
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
Scams and Thieves
It’s always good to hear from people. A phone call is a wonderful thing. Yesterday, while aimlessly reading about some aspects of history (I won’t bore you) my phone rang, and I picked it up. There was a silence. Now, OK, the silence lasted perhaps five or six seconds, but when you’re thinking of detailed … Continue reading













