Blog
Dragon never forgets a story
Dragon Dictation is an easy-to-use voice recognition application powered by Dragon® NaturallySpeaking® that allows you to easily speak and instantly see your text or email messages. This is especially...
Read MoreNew Mike Delaney novella under way
In addition to pursuing submissions to agents, and publishers (through my agent who handles just one book of mine), I've redesigned this website and planned a new Mike Delaney novella titled 'Captured...
Read MoreUnder the Spanish sun
I spend several months each year in Andalucia, southern Spain not far from where Sergio Leone filmed his spaghetti westerns. Part of the landscape is Europe's only desert but in general I have come to...
Read MoreThe husband, the wife, the surrogate and her lesbian lover
I am toying with the idea of turning my surrogacy TV thriller script 'Misconception' into a novel. But first I have to contemplate re-working the script as a potential two-part television drama. Becau...
Read MoreHow to create an immortal action hero
When I sat down to write 'The Immortality Plot', the short story 'One False Move' and the novella 'Captured', I was determined to create a thriller hero wth a difference. The original title of the boo...
Read MoreGhosts, manifests and memories of past lives – delusion or insights?
It's really funny how some memories, however far distant they may be, have the power to resonate throughout your life. Maybe not as 'in your face' traumatic recollections that keep you awake at night...
Read MoreHigh end YA fantasy with not a vampire in sight
We seem to have several definitions of YA or young adult fiction. To some, it is romantic, edgy sexy, coming of age, spots, pimples and first love sprinkled with jealousy, erotic daydreams, and hearta...
Read MoreFree downloads of thriller movies or books – which do you prefer?
Keyword analysis seems to be at the heart of becoming visible in the cybersphere. There are armies of online experts only too keen to give you free advice but even better advice if you upgrade to a pa...
Read MoreI've got a new literary agent
They say getting a literary agent is tougher than getting a publisher.And they are probably right. My self-published books sell well when I promote them but die a sales death when I don't. And the tri...
Read MoreAre you squeaky clean, dear reader? Sorry for the language.
It's making waves all right. How about this one reported in The Washington Post that has incurred the rightful wrath and indignation of writers worldwide. A couple believed to be from America's 'bible...
Read MoreWe're all sex objects now, ho, ho, ho!
Periodically my attention is drawn to the strident voices complaining about how life, the world and the media objectify women as sex objects. The recent hoo-hah in the UK as the mass-market tabloid Th...
Read MoreWhat will we be writing one thousand years from now?
Language changes and develops over time, particularly language that is exposed to the 'modern world'. Some languages spoken by remote tribes have hardly changed in the last thousand years. In all the...
Read More"Make me beautiful, make me beautiful," she begged
Ella had come to terms with her ugliness – almost. Behind the twisted, deformed lips, buckled nose, slight squint and straggly hair lay the bone structure of a beautiful woman. It's just that no one c...
Read MoreA change is as good as a rest – to cite the old cliché
I've decided it's time to make some changes. Firstly, my fingers are crossed that agents will respond well to my pitch for a new thriller, with a new character. Title is 'Or Else She Dies'. The lead c...
Read MoreCan beta readers beat editors at their own game?
It's probably a given that the majority of authors can only go so far editing their own work. It's partly a question of being too close to the page and the story but even if you put the MS away in a d...
Read MoreSomething interesting about sex, or how to avoid the honey trap
I learned something interesting the other day about sex and the police force. Or rather, the UK police force. And then a story made the news which sounded like serendipity. I bet you're all reading th...
Read MoreBeauty and the twin beasts
On 5th August my psychothriller KNIFE EDGE goes on special discount with the aptly named Amazon Countdown deal. For five days so pass the word around. The price will be reduced from $5.99/£3.54 to $1....
Read MoreNeed title for new thriller
I often think of titles first but in the case of a new thriller with a new protagonist, I've been struggling. Titles are vitally important, especially in genre fiction. I sometimes wonder just how man...
Read MoreNew thriller inspired by the UK's most notorious heist
After an enforced break (caused by house renovation and garden design – not my favourite occupations) from writing and book promotion, I am climbing back into the saddle. There is still one major agen...
Read MoreShow don't tell are the words of writing wisdom
It's been a long time since I blogged on this site. The fact is I have been involved in a labour intensive house and garden renovation that has left me pretty much no time for writing, editing or book...
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