Blog posts
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“I know that some novelists do not plan, just start writing and see where the story takes them, but in my experience that often takes them into a cul-de-sac and things can become horrendously convoluted as they try to write themselves back out. I am one of the many novelists who do plan and I…
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One of the central themes of Kirkcudbright Book Festival is the opportunity which it offers authors to sell some books. To help with that, the team behind the festival has put out this appeal, which is designed to help authors and also bring in some income to the festival, which takes place between March 5-8:…
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Kirkcudbright is becoming known as a town that likes its crime writing – indeed, the introduction to the town in the Google search engine says as much. Various organisations stage crime writing events during the year and Kirkcudbright Book Festival is one of them. This year is no exception, starting on Friday 6th March, 2.30pm…
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A book written by best-selling novelist John Dean, in which he examines the craft behind fiction, has been published. In On Writing, John, who is best known for his crime novels, 26 of which have been published, sets out to help emerging writers who are learning their craft and also to give readers an insight…
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One of the great strengths of the Kirkcudbright Book Festival programme is how it takes stories which are known to their audiences and brings them to the attention of those who were perhaps not aware of their full significance. That is certainly the case with one of the events on the final afternoon of this…
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A question which I am sometimes asked by readers is ‘what do you think is your best book?’ The answer may come over as glib but is absolutely genuine. ‘The next one,’ I say. That is because I genuinely believe that an author never stops learning, however many books they sell and however positive reviews…
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Author Carol Dean has become one of the foremost writers on Native America over recent years with eleven books on the subject to her name. Her Native American history series has covered everything from the Apache and Chief Sitting Bull, to a biography of the last Comanche chief, the little-known Quanah Parker, her account of…
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Kirkcudbright Book Festival will bring the 2026 event to a close in style. Its closing Party will mark the final event in of more than 20, on Sunday March 8 at 7.00pm: in Kirkcudbright Pipe Band Hall in Daar Road’ You are invited to join musicians Susi Briggs and Adam Blake an event which will…
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The Society of Authors is among the creative sector organisations that have launched a report showing the potentially devasting impact on the sector of Artificial Intelligence (AI). AI has been heralded as the next industrial revolution, promising an age of innovation, limitless productivity and economic growth, but the reports says that such change comes at…
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I am constantly gratified that so many readers take the time to write reviews of my books and I read the positive ones but also those from readers who do not appreciate the stories. All I ask is that they be honest and fair and, thankfully, they are, for the most part I am pleased…
John Dean - Crime Writer 