Blog posts
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As people who read my blogs may be aware, I am optimistic about the future of publishing, an optimism driven in a large part by the rapid growth of ebooks and audiobooks, online sales, the performance of bookshops small and independent or in a high street chain, and ever more proficient software which allows self-publishers…
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There’s a half-serious/half-jokey crime writers’ adage that, if your novel starts to lose momentum, it’s time to murder another victim. Of course, it’s not that simple, although a murder would certainly do the job in the right place. I mention it because I have just dropped a murder into my latest novel and it has…
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Joffe Books, winner of Trade Publisher of the Year at the 2026 Independent Publishing Awards, has opened submissions for the 2026 Joffe Books Prize, which sees a talented writer of colour awarded a prize package that includes a two-book contract, a £25,000 Audible audiobook contract for the first book, a £1k cash payment and a…
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Authors who are writing series of novels, like myself, face all sorts of challenges but particularly how do you accommodate new readers while making sure that you do not slow down your storytelling by dumping the same information on readers who have followed your stories from the beginning and don’t require telling again? The answer…
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As someone who used to be heavily involved in the cultural scene in the south Durham town of Darlington, with a particular interest in railways, I reckon that this event should be excellent, helped by the atmosphere of the unique venue. Revenge on the Railways: A Murder Mystery Evening will take place in Hopetown, the…
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I have been asked by several readers recently which themes drive my work and some subjects do spark my imagination more than others and keep coming back to me time and time again. One is isolation and I find myself writing about people who live in areas like the North Pennines valley in the DCI…
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Meet the author’s secret weapon. These are our dogs and they play a crucial role in helping me keep my stories moving, particularly if I’m stuck for the next stage in the plot. If an author sets out to have an idea, I can pretty much guarantee that it will not happen. The author’s mind…
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My latest free Handy Hint for emerging writers deals with the important role of detail in writing and can be found in the characters section on my website.
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We’ve added more events and books to discover – and rediscover – to our new website celebrating crime writing in Kirkcudbright and the wider Dumfries and Galloway, including an exploration of the work of novelist Evelyn Hood. It can be found at https://kirkcudbrightcrimewriting.com/
John Dean - Crime Writer 