Category Writing
#Highlands #BookFair, & changes in book lengths
I’m one of the Scribblers! If you live anywhere within range, I’d love it if you’d pop in and say ‘hi!’ Here’s some background to the Scribblers: “The Kilted Scribblers, set up by V.J. Cooper Writer, and Claire Walsh Author, who met online, only to discover they both live in the Highlands of Scotland. Kilted […]
Update to the #Scam
By far the most popular post on my blog in the last 18 months has been my sharing of the approach I recieved from PRIME SEVEN MEDIA and my subsequent investigation into their ‘offer’ of a television interview to promote my book. I say ‘book’, singular, because they hadn’t even bothered to notice that I […]
Thoughts on #InfoDumps anyone?
First, what is an infodump? If you aren’t familiar with the term, that probably means you aren’t an author! There are a number of structural issues within stories that it’s advisable for authors to avoid, and infodumps are one. Infodumping is when an author gives lots of information in too short a space of time, […]
#BookReview ‘MURDER AT THE VILLAGE FETE’ by Catherine Coles #1920s #Whodunnit #MurderMystery
I’m really loving this series, dubbed ‘Downton Abbey crossed with Murder, She Wrote…set in a Yorkshire village!‘ which describes it very nicely. The language used, and the attitudes of the characters, reflect the era very nicely, which adds to the period ambiance. I am already onto book #6 (of 8), so that will tell you […]
#Author Newsletters – do you have one?
For a number of years now, the author newsletter has been touted as the most important piece of unpaid marketing we can do for our books. I’m interested to know how many of you have a newsletter, how often you send, and if you really feel it’s worthwhile. I do have a newsletter, but with […]
#BookReview MURDER AT THE MANOR (Tommy and Evelyn Christie #1) by Catherine Coles #periodcozymystery #cozymystery
I only realised I hadn’t reviewed this book when I finished #2 in the series, so I’m going back to address that oversight. I do adore the elegance of the 1920s setting, and enjoy this sort of rather gentle murder mystery which doesn’t take much effort to read. So without further ado, please meet Evelyn […]
February #funnies #Scotland
It’s a busy week with teaching and judging at the Scottish Regional Dressage Championships, so rather than miss out on a post this week, I thought I would do another collection of funnies – it’s been a while, and funny is always good! Thought I would share some Scottish themed memes this time… And to […]
#BookReview WHAT THE CAT KNEW by P.D. Workman #ParanormalCozyMystery
Or, to give it it’s full title: What the Cat Knew (Reg Rawlins Psychic Investigator (Paranormal Cozy Mystery) Book 1) Having decided to trend back in the direction of fantasy, but still keeping with my current cozy mystery reading binge, this one turned out to be a good choice. Blurb Reg Rawlins, professional con, has […]
Do your characters take over? #AmWriting #WritingProcess
This topic comes to the forefront of my mind every time someone mentions ‘writing process’. Having covered it before, this post is a mash up of a previous one, and more recent thoughts in the light of several more books under my belt. If you are like me, your process changes and develops with each […]
#BookReview THE LAST DEVIL TO DIE (Thursday Murder Club #4) by Richard Osman #CosyMystery #DarkHumour
#4 in this series is as fabulous as the previous volumes. There is humour (as expected), but also this time, sadness. Hardly surprising really, when the cast are all elderly and living in a retirement village, but it’s still a funny read on so many levels. If you’ve not come across this series yet, see […]
deborahjay 