Goal!

Well, I did it! The draft of my next novel which I promised myself I would finish, is tucked away until after the Christmas break, ready for re-reading and revising. I must try not to think about it now so it's fresh when I next take a look...

There's lots to look forward to in the new year but for now, it's time to switch off the old Write Brain and let it freewheel.


Meanwhile I can get into the Christmas mood and catch up with family and friends.

Merry Christmas to all and a very Happy New Year!

Here's to an exciting 2014...

NaNoWriMo... Or not

A writer friend (newly cometh to the writing life) asked me if I was an 'Edit As I Go Along' writer, or of the 'Write, Then Edit' camp. I'm definitely the latter. For some writers going over what they've written the day before works for them but for me, it would inhibit me to the point where I'd fret so much about what I'd already written I wouldn't make any progress at all. Get it down then get it edited, is my mantra.

This is one of the ideas behind NaNoWriMo,  - National Novel Writing Month, to the uninitiated - which ends today. Write every day in November and rejoice in what you achieve by the end. Many contributors have posted during the month, fretting or otherwise, about their daily word counts. And well done to all, whatever achieved!

I, meanwhile, I've been engaged in a different version of the NaNoWriMo concept and I've called it LoNoWriMultiMo - Local (my desk) Novel Writing Multiple Months.

Although I didn't give myself the end of November as a deadline, it seemed like a good idea to 'join in' and use the occasion to focus on completing the draft of my current novel before succumbing to the festive season.

So far, I'm holding my own (the evidence of all that hard work must be in the fact that I've done a post since 8th November!) and I dare to hope that by Friday 13th December (unlucky for some!) I'll have reached my goal.

Best of.. Worst of.. A Tale of Two Couriers

The Worst of...

Excitement! Books due for delivery! No problem - in all day.

Wait in anticipation, and wait, and wait. No delivery. Ah well, road works nearby, weather rough, hold ups... Message received. Re-delivery promised for next day.

Wait in. Again. Wait, wait, wait. Again. No delivery... Miffed! Phone call, complain. Grovels received. Promises for the NEXT day (Saturday).

YES!!! Box of books arrive, delivered by Saturday delivery man with a few disparaging words about his colleague for whom he's had to 'mop up' week-day left overs before!

But at least they're here... bit battered, though. Looks like the box has come open and they've been shoved back in... mmm. Not impressed. Complain again! At least the books seem to have survived their ordeal. Just...

The Best of...

Excitement! Bookmarks due for delivery! Email received: "your delivery has been dispatched and will arrive tomorrow." Hooray! No problem - in all day.

Second email the next morning: "Your delivery will arrive between 2.00 pm and 3.00 pm with Darren." Wow! Never had a time before.

Later, about 1.30 pm, notice it also says: "Click here to see where Darren is now." Give it a go... "Darren is here (mark on map!) currently delivering parcel number 36. You are parcel number 38. Darren will be with you in about an hour." Hey, impressive stuff!

Less than an hour later, a van pulls up. 'You Darren?' I call from the doorstep. 'Yep,' he replies, jauntily. 'And I'm 7 minutes early!'

Hands over box with a smile and is gone. That's what I call a service!

I won't mention the name of the Worst courier on this occasion, in case it's a mere blip but I'm happy to applaud the quality service of the Best.. .

Thank You Interlink!

Dead Man's Folly

Last night I watched David Suchet as ITV's Hercules Poirot, in Dead Man's Folly, filmed at Agatha Christie's holiday home Greenway, near Dartmouth, a place I was lucky enough to visit soon after it was opened to the public in 2009.

Agatha Christie's Greenway

Owned by the National Trust, Greenway is in a stunning location approximately 3 miles up river from Dartmouth. To add to the sense of 'stepping back in time' you can reach the property by steam train on the Dartmouth Steam Railway or by paddle-steamer on the Kingswear Castle.

Sadly, the series currently being shown on ITV, the thirteenth, is to be Hercules Poirot's final outing. So it seems fitting that this episode was filmed at the house which once belonged to Agatha Christie herself. Although she never actually wrote here - she would often visit having recently completed a novel - she entertained her guests by reading an extract from her latest book.

Dead Man's Folly was filmed in June this year and, amazingly, the house and its grounds remained open to the public throughout. Visitors were more than happy to alter or curtail their tours to accommodate the filming schedule. And why not? It must have been a wonderful sight to see the house and garden inhabited by residents dressed in 1930s costume - like a window into the past.

In the story, Zoe Wanamaker plays the mystery novelist Ariadne Oliver who has written a 'Murder Hunt' for the summer fete (treasure hunts having been deemed to be too old-hat). At one point, she tells Poirot that she was greatly relieved to be at 'Nasse House', as it has enabled her to get out of an Author Talk. "I have an idea, I write a book," she says to Poirot. "That takes care of the first minute. So what am I supposed to say for the next 59?"

Ha! If only it were that easy! Ms Christie's little joke, perhaps? Or maybe not...  She was one of the world's most prolific writers, after all.

October - news - October - news - October - news

Please allow me to announce news of the paperback edition 

and e-book of my mystery novel 

Blood-Tied!

The paperback is OUT ON MONDAY...

The e-book is available to download NOW!

A desperate crime, kept secret for 60 years... but time has a way of exposing the truth…

Esme Quentin is devastated when her sister Elizabeth is beaten unconscious, miles from her home. Two days later Esme discovers that Elizabeth has a secret past.

Desperate for answers which the comatose Elizabeth cannot give, Esme enlists the help of her friend Lucy to discover the truth, unaware of the dangerous path she is treading.

Together they uncover a trail of unresolved bitterness, blackmail and dubious inheritance and, as the truth emerges, Esme exposes evidence of a harrowing and pitiful crime.

Realising too late the menace she has unwittingly unleashed, Esme is caught up in a terrifying ordeal. One that will not only test her courage and her sanity, but force her to confront her perception of birth and family.

You can read an extract on my website or on Amazon.

Wannabe part 2...

Jane Wenham-Jones

The second part of the pilot of Jane Wenham-Jones's excellent idea for a TV show based upon her book Wannabe a Writer?, is now available to view.



Delphine Lever, the brave novice writer acting as guinea-pig for the pilot, goes to meet best selling author, Katie Fforde, who has lots of advice to give.





Katie explains to Delphine the importance of starting the story in the right place and reads an extract from her own very first novel, Living Dangerously, to demonstrate how to draw the reader in.

The clip is full of useful and practical information, particularly for those writers who are just beginning on their literary journey.


After their meeting, Delphine went home and, taking Katie's advice, re-worked her writing piece. You can read the 'before' and 'after' versions here and see how she has incorporated what she has learned.


Go to Wannabe a Writer TV Show now to watch the clip and add your comments.

Many people have expressed their enthusiasm for the concept and their hope that one day soon we will see it as a fully fledged TV show on their screens. And I'm one of them!

Looking around me

It's far too easy when I'm in 'the writing zone' to be so focused on the keyboard or the notepad that I become disconnected from my surroundings. Keen to complete a task or on a roll I don't want to curtail,  I can get to the end of a day realising that I've barely lifted my head, let alone looked out of the window. 

It's not uncommon for anyone, not just writers, to become switched off from where we are, even if where we love where we live.

Every now and again it's good to take a stroll and try to see familiar views and vistas through new eyes.

If you've read my profile you'll know that I live next door to a 13th century church. I see it every day... well, apart from the days when I realise I haven't lifted my head or looked out if the window...obviously!

So I took my own advice and wandered around the churchyard looking closely at little details of this beautiful historic building and snapping photographs. Here are just a few...

The view of the church from over the garden wall

A tantalizing peek inside!

The old west window

The wooden shingles on the tower were blown off once when it was hit by lightening.

Ah well, back to the writing...