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I am delighted to see quite a few posts recently on the various social media sites of which I am a member, cautioning against the effect of AI on the industry we all love. I am extremely concerned about its impact on the likes of authors and editors and the like. To that end, I…
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I am fortunate in that I don’t really suffer from writer’s block but that is not to say that it does not happen on occasion. My solution? It’s turning to my characters, starting a dialogue that will allow them to come up with suggestions. But how do you do that? Well, you need to adopt…
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I first encountered Darlington author Paul Hodgson more than twenty years ago through his excellent autobiographies based on the life and times of a wheelchair-bound football fan, which were poignant, thought-provoking and humorous. Now, he has a new novel out. John‘s Journey tells how, in the blood-soaked trenches of World War One, Private John Wray…
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Some of the most exciting new talent in the crime fiction genre has been named in the shortlist for the McDermid Debut Award, whose winner will be revealed at the opening ceremony of the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival in Harrogate on Thursday July 24, 2026 The judges say that the six authors on…
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I have posted another free Handy Hint for authors, this time dealing with the dangers of entering the comfort zone. You can find it in the Handy Hints – General page
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Joffe Books has announced that it is working on an initiative designed to increase its hardcopy sales. With ebooks and Kindle Unlimited so dominant in many genres, Joffe is working to build up a print channel in the UK ‘non-trade space’, such as garden centres. Working with sales partner John Waters, it has offered a…
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The latest free gratis Handy Hints for emerging writers deals with dialogue and can be found at Handy Hints- Characters/Sense of place accessed off the main menu. Enjoy!
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Writing starts with creativity, with a flash of imagination, an idea for a story, a character around whom a plot can be built, a place which could be the backdrop for a cracking yarn. But that’s just the beginning and, if they did not know it already, the emerging writer will realise the scope of…
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Dates have been announced for the Bloody Scotland crime writing festival which will be held in Stirling between September 18-20, 2026.Headlining the festival will be Lee Child, creator of Jack Reacher, on the evening of Friday September, 18, 2026 in conversation with crime writer Denise Mina. Other big names due to attend and released ahead…
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Author, actor and activist Cerrie Burnell has been announced as the keynote speaker for the Society of Authors’ Awards and Summer Party in June. More than £100,000 will be awarded for novels, non-fiction, children’s books, short stories and poetry. The winners of nine prizes will be announced at an event at Southwark Cathedral in London…
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John Dean - Crime Writer 