6 Secrets of The Spotlight, My New Mystery-Thriller
Mark your calendars, because my new novel, The Spotlight, is set to land in a whirl of confetti in just over six months. Here’s everything you need to know about it: 1. It’s about a popstar who bears a resemblance to Taylor Swift Love her or loathe her, Taylor Swift…
Grilling Thriller Authors: Q&A with Catherine Cooper
In this series, I carry out hard-hitting interviews with psychological thriller authors, where I ask them… just a bunch of silly questions, actually. This month, it’s Catherine Cooper’s turn in the hot seat. 1. Which emoji do you use most often? Eyeroll, probably by quite a long way. 2. If…
Grilling Thriller Authors: Q&A with Valerie Keogh
In this series, I carry out hard-hitting interviews with psychological thriller authors, where I ask them… just a bunch of silly questions, actually. This month, it’s Valerie Keogh’s turn in the hot seat. 1. Which emoji do you use most often? The smiling face with blushed cheeks or the one…
How to Promote Anything Without Seeming Sleazy
There comes a time when everybody has something they want to promote. Maybe it’s an event you’re running or a charity where you volunteer. Maybe you’re an author and it’s your own book you’re promoting. Maybe the thing you’re promoting is… YOU. You’re trying to get more visible in your…
8 easy tips for reading more books (and spending less time staring vacantly at a screen)
We’re all trying to cut down on our screentime, aren’t we? Most of us would like to read more books, whether to boost our depth of knowledge or as a way to unplug and relax. I’m as guilty as anyone of spending too much time on screens (I say, as…
My 10-step process for planning unputdownable mystery-thriller novels
Writing a novel is a bit like sighting Everest on the horizon and saying, “Sure, OK, I’ll climb that.” The struggle to reach the summit can be so overwhelming that I’ve learned to do a lot of preparatory work up front. Here’s what my novel planning process looks like: Step…
Grilling Thriller Authors: Q&A with Becca Day
In this series, I carry out hard-hitting interviews with psychological thriller authors, where I ask them… just a bunch of silly questions, actually. This month, it’s Becca Day’s turn in the hot seat. 1. Which emoji do you use most often? It’s the sleepy emoji… which I think just about…
5 thrillers to read on the beach (or at home under a blanket)
It’s holiday season and perhaps you’re jetting off somewhere exotic. Alternatively, you may be trudging to work as normal through the drizzle. Regardless, it’s a good time to pick up a beach-read to pass the time. Here are five of my recommendations for fast-paced, fun, and crime-y reads. The Kind…
3 Real Caribbean Destinations Featured in The Getaway
Grab a painkiller and settle back for a virtual vacation to some of the dreamy locations featured in my mystery-thriller The Getaway. 1. Virgin Gorda Virgin Gorda is the third-largest and second-most populous island in the British Virgin Islands, a British overseas territory in the Caribbean. It doesn’t have an…
4 Things that Inspired The Getaway
The Getaway is a novel that had a long gestation period. I was thinking about it back when I was still writing (and rewriting) my first novel, Dead Ringer. I abandoned an early draft of it that wasn’t working. I probably should have given up on it altogether, but… it…
How to Use Storytelling To Improve Your Presentations and Pitches
Whether you’re giving a work presentation, delivering a training session, or pitching your business, you need your audience to actually listen to you! The solution to a boring, unmemorable presentation lies in using your own personal stories. You are a storyteller, whether you realise it or not. For example, when…
4 Essential Things to Know About The Getaway
My next mystery-thriller is out in just one month, so here’s a rundown on what to expect from The Getaway. 1. It’s set in the Caribbean The Getaway is set in the British Virgin Islands (BVI), a string of islands located in the Lesser Antilles. It’s one of those places…
Lights, Camera, Keyboard! 5 Tips to Make Your Novel More Cinematic
A couple of years ago, when I was battling through yet another draft of The Getaway, my forthcoming mystery-thriller, my literary agent gave me a piece of feedback: “Make it more cinematic.” My heart sank. I thought my novel was cinematic. It was set on a private island in the…
Almost Time for The Getaway: publication date, description, early reviews
In a few short months, my newest mystery-thriller, The Getaway, is going to be published by Raven Books. Here are some of the key details. What’s it about? The official description: Welcome to Keeper Island, the private Caribbean paradise where the cocktails are chilled, the guests are not, and new…
Killing Your Darlings is Hell. Here’s How I Edited My Novel.
I’ve been suffering some body dysmorphia recently – not for my own body, but for the size of my novel. A year ago, it was a voluptuous 120,000 words (440 pages); now it’s a skinny 90,000 words (350 pages). The Getaway, a murder-mystery set in the Caribbean, comes out in…
Signing a two-book deal with Bloomsbury Raven
I’ve neglected my blog over the past two years, but I’m back, baby. Yes, blogging has a ring of 2003 about it, but I always enjoy hearing from other authors, which has inspired me to resume posting regularly about writing and books and what’s new with me. My big news…
Dead Ringer wins fiction prize at Lakeland Book of the Year Awards
I bumbled up to Penrith last month for the 2021 Lakeland Book of the Year Awards, the very picture of “I’m just glad to be nominated”. After all, there was no way my debut thriller, Dead Ringer, with its doppelganger vs. doppelganger showdown on the sinking sands of Walney Island…
5 things I learned about writing from Succession
Succession isn’t only the most twisted-funny show on TV, it’s also a masterclass in great writing. Here are a few tips I’ve picked up from Jesse Armstrong and his team of writers: 1. Characters should walk into scenes fully-formed ‘Establishing character’ is often something we think we should do, either…
Dead Ringer longlisted for Lakeland Book of the Year
I’m delighted that my debut novel, Dead Ringer, has been recognised in the 2021 Lakeland Book of the Year longlist. This award, sponsored by Cumbria Tourism, showcases literary talent inspired by the landscapes, history and culture of the Lake District, Cumbria. Cumbria was always at the (dark) heart of Dead…
How overcoming my fear of public speaking inspired my short story in this week’s The People’s Friend
Two years ago, I would’ve rather taken my chances before a firing squad than got up in front of an audience for public speaking. I know I’m not alone. Public speaking regularly ranks as the nation’s biggest fear. It even ranks as scarier than death. Like most people, I dealt…