Blog posts
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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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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…
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I have just had a complimentary review on Amazon – thank you Kindle CustomerMichael – in which he says that the Jack Harris series of crime novels would make a good film or television series. The review is for the first nine novels in the Harris Kindle boxset (for £3.99, if that’s not an offer…
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Author Carol Dean has published the life story of one of the most colourful figures in the American Old West – and readers may be in for a surprise. The reader may think that they know Buffalo Bill’s story already but Carol’s meticulous research adds immeasurably to our knowledge of the great showman for her…
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Exciting plans for a new centre dedicated to writing and publishing are taking shape. New Writing North and Northumbria University are to create the centre in Newcastle and it will be a public building. It will host programmes, courses, and events for professional and aspiring writers, for those who write purely for the love of…
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One of the most prestigious honours in the crime writing world has been awarded to Mark Billingham, in recognition of his twenty-five year contribution to the genre. The author, whose debut novel Sleepyhead was abestseller, the first of many, has been awarded the Diamond Dagger by the Crime Writers’ Association. Mark was born in Birmingham…
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I keep a close eye on trends in fiction, not least because it allows me to suggest new genres worth trying for unpublished writers. One of the most notable new genres is what has rapidly turned into one of the hottest areas of publishing, namely the mixing of romance and fantasy to create ‘romantasy’, which…
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The next twelve months offer hope for all those unpublished writers out there who are seeking that all-important breakthrough as opportunities open up like never before. You will hear some writers, both published and non-published, coming up with gloomy prognostications about the book trade but I beg to differ. These are exciting times, boom times…
John Dean - Crime Writer 