Blog posts
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Two popular crime writers and one of the genre’s most respected editors will help authors develop their craft when a hotel in Dumfries and Galloway hosts a specially-organised weekend of events later this year. Entitled Crime Fiction at the Selkirk Arms in Kirkcudbright, the event will take place at the four-star hotel in High Street…
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It’s always exciting when a new crime fiction event is added to the calendar, particularly when it is in Scotland, where I live. So welcome to the Heart of Stone Crimewriting Festival being held in the old fishing town of Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire, on May 29-30. In its pilot year of 2026, the spotlight will fall…
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A website has been created to celebrate Kirkcudbright’s developing links with crime writing, which stretch back to the 1931 novel Five Red Herrings, written by legendary crime author Dorothy L Sayers, in which her investigator Lord Peter Wimsey investigated the murder of a local artist. The town in South West Scotland has a track record…
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There’s nothing like an insider’s searing expose of the greedy corporate world to grab the reader’s attention and this is nothing like…you can complete the punchline yourself. The story dates back five years to when the business world was vaguely shaken to its core by the publication of the account of corporate big business The…
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You don’t have to look far if you are an emerging writer for authors offering advice. I’m one of them with the free Handy Hints sections on this website and my recently-published book on fiction, entitled On Writing (available on Amazon). And do you know what? Whoever you choose to learn from, it’ll be good…
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It’s always an exciting time when the Crime Writers’ Association (CWA) announces its longlists for the Dagger awards. I am particularly interested in the Dagger in the Library because I help promote it in my capacity as CWA Libraries Champion in Scotland. It’s a very strong list. You can find out all the longlists at…
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An interesting development is under way in the world of books, namely that readers are increasingly looking to read stories that are set outside London. There was a time when the Capital was the favoured location for so many genres but, listening to a number of publishers, authors and tourism and literary organisations, that is…
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A reminder that the latest anthology of short fiction by new Glasgow-based publisher Tantallon Tir will be published on May 1, 2026, and can be pre-ordered at https://tantallontir.com/call-of-the-islesCall of the Isles comprises more than 30 pieces of short fiction, including I am pleased to say, one from myself and all examining the unique quality of…
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It’s good to see the reviews starting to come in for my book on writing fiction. The latest, complete with a five-star rating on Amazon, is from Davey, who says: “Packed with valuable insights and tips, John’s easily readable book has taken its place in my office where it will be a regular source of…
John Dean - Crime Writer 