I'm really looking forward to the London Book Fair, the annual showcase for publishers from all over the world. Many international and domestic publishing deals are completed in London, which is why it's such a big event for the British publishing industry. Authors at London Book Fair … [Read more...]
20Booksto50K London
The 20Booksto50K author movement was birthed by Michael Anderle and came to London for the first time last weekend. As some 75 authors sat down to listen to the speakers, Craig Martelle, the host for the weekend, told us that since the event was sold out they could refund about a third of the … [Read more...]
Don’t Bore Your Reader
We all know to bore the reader is the most heinous crime an author can commit. Boring Explanations You know those days when you sit down at your keyboard to write and know you have to explain something in the book that, to put it frankly, bores you? It could be a little bit of backstory, or scene … [Read more...]
Write Your Story
Write Your Story: How to Turn Your Life into Fiction in 10 Easy Steps is out now. Turning Fact into Fiction You may know that my best-selling novel, The English Heart, is closely based on my own life. Or how some 30 years ago I fell head over heels in love with my Englishman. He was a Royal … [Read more...]
Does writing a book ever get easier?
I've written a total of nine books, seven of them full-length novels. So is it easier to write a book when you've already published a few? Practice Makes Perfect ... Naturally, if you've written one novel, it's easier to write another one. Well, in theory, it is. For me, it took three novels … [Read more...]
5 Ways to Combat Writer’s Block
Are you unable to finish that novel but don't know why? If you suffer from Writer's Block, here are five ways to deal with it. What is Writer's Block? I have to come clean: before I was writing my latest (7th) novel, due out later this autumn, I didn't even believe in Writer's Block. I agreed with … [Read more...]
Advice for New Authors: Five sure-fire ways to find your book’s genre
You’ve finally written your book and now people keep asking you what genre your book falls into. But the last thing you want to do is to pop your valued, unique work into a box, so you say, ‘It doesn’t really fit into any genre.’ Wrong, I'm afraid. On Amazon Kindle store there are thousands of … [Read more...]
Advice for New Writers Part 9: When to Start Editing?
When should you start editing your work? This can be a tricky decision. Do you wait until you've reached a certain amount of words? Or when there's an 'r' in the month or a full moon? Perhaps you've got into the habit of editing as you go along? Editing while you write I used to edit while I wrote … [Read more...]
Writing over Easter
Over this Easter weekend, I've been busy writing the next novel in The Englishman series. Or trying to! Although I imagined I had the plot all sewn up, I've realised during these less busy days of Easter that there was something missing from the story. The plot just didn't click with me. Until … [Read more...]
Get Ready for the Indie Author Fringe!
Indie Author Fringe is an online conference for self-publishing authors, brought to you by the Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi) Organised around the major book fairs around the world, ALLi brings together the most up-to-date self-publishing education and information available and broadcasts … [Read more...]