My writing talisman
My writing talisman is a beautiful painting by artist, Elaine Jones. It’s of Cornwall – have a look to see why I love it so… Read More »My writing talisman
Corvus Books
How I write
The Royal Literary Fund has recorded a mini -podcast with me on how I write – with a black coffee, and some dark chocolate and… Read More »How I write
How to write a thriller
In a few days time I’m heading to Ted Hughes’ old house, Lumb Bank, in Hebden Bridge, to teach an Arvon Foundation course on how… Read More »How to write a thriller
Becoming a coach
I’ve just returned to working for charity, First Story, this month. First Story’s aim is to change young people’s lives through writing, particularly those… Read More »Becoming a coach
Diversity in Fiction
I’ve written as a Jesuit priest in Outer Mongolia, a nine-year-old in inner city Bristol, a child abductor, an angry teenager, a man in his… Read More »Diversity in Fiction
My Mother’s Secret: Stories within the Book
I’m delighted to welcome Tasha Locke to my blog this week. Tasha graduated from Bristol University this year with a degree in English Literature. I… Read More »My Mother’s Secret: Stories within the Book
One Year Later
As My Mother’s Secret has been wending its way into the world, I’ve been working on another psychological thriller. It’s called One Year Later… One… Read More »One Year Later
My Mother’s Secret – Launch party!
It’s hard to believe, for me at least, but after doing little else but think about the characters in My Mother’s Secret for a year and… Read More »My Mother’s Secret – Launch party!
My Writing Toolkit
Book blogger and health journalist, Victoria Goldman, asked me to tell her what my essential writing toolkit is for her blog, Off-the-Shelf Books. Here goes: Office… Read More »My Writing Toolkit
In a thriller, nowhere is safe…
This is a blog post I wrote on the importance of setting for The Asian Writer, and I thought would be most appropriate as I’ve… Read More »In a thriller, nowhere is safe…
How to tell a good plot
My seven-year-old daughter is teaching me how to plot. She’s drawn a story mountain for me, which shows the start, build up, climax, solution and… Read More »How to tell a good plot
The octopus and the pirates
I’m giving a talk on plot at Novel Nights on Wednesday 23 Many. This is a wonderful monthly event, organised by writer, Grace Palmer, in… Read More »The octopus and the pirates
My Mother’s Secret & Cake!
There are 25 different kinds of cake name-checked in My Mother’s Secret, from Daim cake bought over the counter in Ikea, to scones with cream… Read More »My Mother’s Secret & Cake!
My Mother’s Secret – Book Club Questions
I love reading and writing – obviously! And I then love meeting up with people to chat about what I’ve read, maybe over a… Read More »My Mother’s Secret – Book Club Questions
My Mother’s Secret is out now!
My Mother’s Secret is out now! It’s available to buy in bookshops or from Amazon. You can read some extracts from it if you’d like… Read More »My Mother’s Secret is out now!
Hiking for writing II
Happy Earth Day! Today, we’re celebrating our extraordinary planet, and trying to end plastic pollution. In a month I’ll be heading to one of my… Read More »Hiking for writing II
In praise of the National Trust
It’s perhaps no surprise that two of the settings in my third thriller, My Mother’s Secret, are based at National Trust sites. For me, the… Read More »In praise of the National Trust
Party like a writer!
I’d love you to come to my book launch party if you can make it! It’s 7 p.m. Friday 11 May at Waterstones, Bristol. There’ll… Read More »Party like a writer!
In conversation with Sanjida Kay
It’s one month until my next thriller, My Mother’s Secret, is going to be published! I thought I’d share a Q&A with you on… Read More »In conversation with Sanjida Kay
My Mother’s Secret – What other writers are saying
Six weeks to go until My Mother’s Secret comes out! For an author waiting to see how her book will be received, this is a… Read More »My Mother’s Secret – What other writers are saying