-
‘Writers can create the finest landscapes, devise the greatest plots and produce the most remarkable prose but they cannot make their narrative truly come to life unless they have devised effective characters. It is your characters who tell your stories, who bring your ideas to life, who engage the reader’s imagination, who make them laugh…
-
The latest in the series of my free pieces of advice for emerging writers can be found in Handy Hints General, including Editing, accessed off the menu at my website. Actually it starts with advice from novelist Sarah Waters, who said: ‘Cut like crazy. Less is more. I’ve often read manuscripts – including my own…
-
Where would you find a chance to learn about the craft of crime writing while enjoying a convivial weekend at a Kirkcudbright hotel, the story of a serial killer whose confession nobody believes, the chance to enjoy ‘cheese, wine and crime’ with three authors, the background to one of the great crime novels which is…
-
Joffe Books, which I am proud to call my publisher, continues to go from strength to strength. The company, which was recently named Trade Publisher of the Year at the Independent Publishing Awards (IPA), has filled a gap in its provision by launching its own audio books operation. Joffe Audio titles are available through https://www.audible.co.uk…
-
It is gratifying when reviews of your work ask when the next book in the series is due out. Quite a few reviewers have asked recently about the next one in the series featuring DCI John Blizzard. Well, the countdown to publication is very much on. The main edits are done and now we move…
-
As part of National Crime Reading Month, North-East crime writers Laura Buckley and Pam Plumb are hosting Sinners at the Speakeasy on June 13 at Stockton-on-Tees’s Deep Grain Studios, a Noir at the Bar style event for crime writers to read to an audience. Sign up if you are a crime writer who would like…
-
The shortlist has been announced for the Dagger in the Library award, run by the Crime Writers’ Association and based on nominations from people working in libraries and borrowers. The winner will be announced, with the other winners, at the Daggers Awards in July and will be an author who is popular with readers and…
-
The Bloody Scotland crime writing festival in Stirling has named the first all-women shortlist for its Scotland Debut Prize, including Dumfries and Galloway author May Rinaldi, author of the psychological crime novel Liar Thief, her first published novel. The others shortlisted authors are Frances Crawford, Linda Duncan McLaughlin, Kirsty Lockwood and Zoe Rankin and the…
-
I have always been supportive of the review facility on the likes of Amazon. Readers have the right to express their views of a book and I respect that. Indeed, an author can learn from negative reviews. I am fortunate in that most of my reviews are complimentary and even if a review is less…
-
The Book Folks, a Joffe Books company, has decided to re-issue the first four books in the Nash and Moretti series by Ian Robinson, prior to the fifth being released on June 15. They are terrific books from one of my favourite authors and the series by Ian, who is from South West Scotland, will…
-
Subscribe
Subscribed
Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
John Dean - Crime Writer 