The blurb says that I have written fifteen mystery novels set in the south of England from the 1920s to the 1960s. However, my recent work has focused on the earlier part of the period. It is the 1920s and 30s where I feel most at home. I was born in 1951 My choice of detective fiction (and I am quite picky about the boundary between detective stories and the crime novel) was inevitable. John Creasey's Hammer the Toff was the first adult book that I read (when the village librarian allowed me to borrow the book with my pink 'Junior Reader' ticket). Since then, buying, selling, reading and writing detective novels has been an important part of my life. Most of all, I like talking about them. When, last month, a customer was browsing around my bookshop, we realised that we were detection enthusiasts and talked, for far too long, about the good and bad in the genre. Through that discussion, with surprising little disagreement, we moved towards defining what made a truly satisfying detective novel. We realised that readers who come to the genre in retrospect - like us - are probably more critical than those who had…
“Lessons Learned from Radio”
I recently heard my first play produced on the radio, an experience as nerve racking as the publication of my first book some twelve years ago. The project taught me so many lessons which I will apply to my novel writing that I thought I could usefully share them here. Before I submitted my proposal, I was lucky that a retired professional theatre producer visited my bookshop and complained that he was asked to read so many well written plays that remained uncrafted. He emphasised the distinction between a play-writer and a playwright, implying a craftsmanship comparable with cartwrights and wheelwrights. I began to think of a sculptor who starts with a fully shaped form and posture, be it angry or meek, overpowering or tear-jerking, and then works on every inch of the detail. My visitor, who left without knowing that I had ever put pen to paper, reminded me that the audience has no second chances. Readers may choose when, where and even the mood in which to open a book; they may reread a section, take time to consider it, put it aside for later or even…
Most Shared Posts
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Most Discussed Posts
- Sharing a wonderful romance book with friends - and a yummy Peach Cobbler!
- Grab a cup of tea, homemade raisin bread and a Mystery perfect for Valentine's Day!
- Drift away to Montreal in the 1950's and enjoy a French delight!
- Spend the day with Lavender Fantasy!
- Yummy Spinach-Cheese Pockets - without all the trauma Mirra had to go through!
- Can you imagine anything better than a good mystery and sweet rolls?
- A Proper English Lunch and a Great Mystery!
- A Great Thriller and Apple Tarts - Oh My!
- IT’S YOUR BOOK LAUNCH…PARTY IF YOU WANT TO
- More Thoughts on the Newsletter Rage-
- Author Newsletter vs. Author Blog: Five Reasons I Prefer a Blog, and Six Reasons You Might Not
- Another Tasty Idea and a Great Book!
- It’s a Tough Market for Authors
- A Thriller & a Burger (Vegan) - Perfect!
- Author Janie Dempsey Watts- In Praise of indieBRAG!
- Author victoria Thurman - In Praise of indieBRAG!
- A Wonderful Book, A Lovely Playground and a Snack- what could be more Fun!
- Make a Cosmo, put up your feet and enjoy Been Searching for You!
- Helen Hollick visits with Dr. Daniel M. Walker
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