When I was learning to swim in the sea at the start of last year my coach who calls herself The Sunny* Mermaid kept telling me to 'just try'. I did my best to follow that advice, and I can now swim. Not brilliantly, but those few lessons were a big help to my ability … Continue reading You Just Have To Try
Wednesday word of the week – Futurity
I'd never heard of the word until my friend Anne Rainbow sent me the definition, saying she thought I might like it for this blog. She was right! As futurity means 'time to come' the start of a new year seems the perfect moment to mention it. … Continue reading Wednesday word of the week – Futurity
December reads
I read and enjoyed these books in December. I particularly recommend The Twyford Code. Don't let the way it's presented put you off - it's very clever, original, engaging and kind of uplifting. The Twyford Code by Janice Hallett Telling Tales by Ann Cleeves After The Funeral by Agatha Christie
Almost…
My new book, the first in the Little Mallow cosy mystery series has been written, re-written, edited, formatted, proofread and uploaded to to Amazon and Ingram Spark (who distribute to bookshops and libraries). The official launch date is January 19th (it was my Grandma's birthday, and she loved reading cosy crime stories) but very soon … Continue reading Almost…
Free reads and cover reveal
Next year I'll be releasing the first book in my cosy mystery series – Disguised Murder And Community Spirit In Little Mallow. Today, I'm revealing the cover! As part of the marketing plan I'm trying to build up my newsletter mailing list. To help do that I'm taking part in a joint promotion with other … Continue reading Free reads and cover reveal
Wednesday word of the week – rummage
Campervanners often have to rummage. It can mean to search untidily and unsystematically. It doesn't matter how tidily and systematically you pack your van, that kind of approach never works when it comes to finding the corkscrew and chocolate. A rummage can be a confused miscellaneous collection. A rummager is someone who rummages. Once you've finished rummaging you will have rummaged for long enough. To rummage out is to … Continue reading Wednesday word of the week – rummage
Based on a true story
My story Stop Thief, which is in the current issue of Take a Break's Fiction Feast is based on a true story. At least, it's based on a true story to the extent that many historical films and TV programmes seem to be – extremely loosely! I once worked somewhere which had security on the … Continue reading Based on a true story
Wednesday word of the week – Craggy
A crag is a steep or rugged rock. Craggy can refer to a human face or the landscape and means rugged or rough textured. There are other versions of the word, for example in Scotland* the scenery got craggier as we approached the highlands, it was craggiest on Skye where the landscape is craggily magnificent. Btw the pictures are all to illustrate craggy landscapes. It's purely coincidental that the … Continue reading Wednesday word of the week – Craggy
My Weekly made my day!
I have a story in the current My Weekly Special. Isn't that a fun illustration? Of course I'm very pleased to have a story published, but it's actually something in another issue which has really made me happy. A reader has written in to say that a different story of mine, published in My … Continue reading My Weekly made my day!
Something new
I've created a short ebook, The Inside Scoop And Stories From Little Mallow, as a kind of introduction to my cosy mystery series (which I'll be launching next year). This book isn't for sale, but you can get a free copy by using the form below to sign up for my newsletter. If you're on … Continue reading Something new