Creating a new series is a bit of a challenge for any author – not only must you come up with a bunch of brand-new characters, but you also need to know where they live, what work they do and any interesting pasts they’ve had before appearing fully-formed in a new adventure. I’m not a…
Tag: writing
‘Contempt of Court’ by Jake Needham
My Review (5 stars out of 5) Having left his job as a Virginia divorce lawyer, Charlie Trust now drives a cherry red 1969 Mustang and spends his time watching the ocean from a borrowed house on Carbon Beach. But the owner of the house interrupts Charlie’s peace when he suggests the former lawyer might…
‘Poole of Light’ by RJ Verity
My Review (4 stars out of 5) This is book 1 in the Poole Legacy, with book 2 due out in 2026, and Bright Light, an already-published short story prequel also available. Beginning in Spennymoor in the North of England during the first half of the 20th century, we follow Jeremiah Poole from his poverty-stricken…
‘Broken Bones’ by John Carson
Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for Broken Bones, via Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources Blurb Some bodies just won’t stay buried… After putting a stop to one of Edinburgh’s most notorious serial killers 3 years ago, DCI Liam Brodie is known as a man who can handle – and solve – the…
‘Salt and Honey’ by Candi Miller
My Review (5 stars out of 5) In 1950s South Africa, Koba’s tribe are hunter-gatherers, following the traditional ways of life of an ancient culture. But when her family clashes with a group of white people, the outcome is tragic, leaving her orphaned. Taken to their home, the girl grudgingly learns to speak their language…
‘Summer Paths’ An Anthology
Welcome to my spot on the blog tour for Summer Paths, via Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources The Blurb This, the fourth and final selection of stories, completes the Seasonal Paths series created by a consortium of best-selling and award-winning North Atlantic writers. In this anthology you will encounter unintentional consequences, love in later life,…
‘The Night Shift’ by Gemma Rogers
My Review (5 stars out of 5) Nina spends her nights working at a storage facility where all she has to do is keep an eye on the occasional visitor while giving herself time to study for her medical degree. But one night a man appears whose behaviour makes her suspicious… This is the third…
Giving up the Ghost – the Agony of an Unfinished Novel
Like many writers, I’m a big fan of Stephen King, and have taken on board most of his advice about storytelling, character development and the routine of writing. However, his suggestion that ‘Stopping a piece of writing just because it’s hard, either emotionally or imaginatively, is a bad idea,’ doesn’t always work for me. Having…
‘The Best of Me’ by David Sedaris
My Review (5 stars out of 5) This is a collection of David Sedaris’s best stories. From the absurd and the bizarre, to the touching and profound, we learn about his family, his relationships, and his often-hilarious insights into the human condition. I’ve read several of this author’s books already so, unsurprisingly, some of these…
‘Afua’ by Karl Drinkwater and Christoffer Petersen
My Review (4 stars out of 5) This is the second book I’ve read by Karl Drinkwater, though I’m not familiar with Christoffer Petersen’s work. Set in the Lost Solace universe, this is a sci-fi story featuring a strongminded heroine in the form of Afua. A fairly short read, the world of Lost Solace is…
Colin Garrow 