Blog posts
-
Ok, so you are an emerging writer seeking to get your first manuscript accepted but you need to know what publishers and their staff look for in the books they sign up and also what they dislike. In short, you need to get inside their mind. Not easy but it is if you check John…
-
Business people seeking an insight into the corporate world, looking for flashes of insight into the chief executive mind, searching for nuggets of golden advice for managers, will find none of them in the Diary of Ridley Pinstripe. It’s the book nobody was waiting for but he needs the money so why not check him…
-
If you’re a new writer who is not quite sure what genre to tackle in your attempt to have your first manuscript accepted, you will find some of the important things to consider in the formats section in John Dean’s new book on creating fiction. From fantasy to crime fiction, surreal comedy to children’s books,…
-
The Society of Authors (SoA) has welcomed news that the Government is moving away from a proposed copyright exception for AI training, a move which will protect authors’ rights. For what it’s worth, so do I. The SoA is one of the organisations that is concerned about the use of pirated books to train AI…
-
Writing can be a complicated business but if you approach it in the right way, it becomes much less daunting – that’s the message from best-selling crime novelist John Dean in his book On Writing, which focuses on the art of fiction. It’s packed with useful information. For instance, here is the opening to the…
-
I am delighted to hear that Joffe Books, which publishes my books, has been shortlisted for Independent Publisher of the Year, part of the prestigious British Book Awards 2026. The shortlisting is acknowledgement of a year which saw Joffe continue to grow rapidly, publishing both establishing authors and exciting new talent. It also saw the…
-
You can check out my latest book reviews in the Review section which can be found on the menu of this website They are Liar Thief (Black Spring Press) – the stunning debut crime novel by May Rinaldi And Sparky my Barn owl story (Cinnamon Press) – the compelling new novel from Tracey Iceton
-
The Crime Writers’ Association has announced that the 2027 Daggers awards are open for submission. The Daggers, which have been synonymous with quality crime writing for more than half a century, are judged by independent expert panels. CWA Chair Nadine Matheson, said: “Each year, the Daggers celebrate the very best in crime writing, recognising established authors…
-
I would suggest that any writer who tells you that the craft behind writing fiction is easy is not being entirely honest with you. Although it relies on the relatively simple process of creativity it’s also incredibly technical, and that’s complicated, embracing everything from the right point of view to judging how much description is…
-
A series of events have been organised across Northern England to mark the launch of the remarkable new book written by author Tracey Iceton. Sparky: My Barn Owl Tale (2026, Cinnamon Press) is the bird’s account of life before, and since, she and Tracey met in 2022. Hatched in the UK in August 2017, Sparky…
John Dean - Crime Writer 