I haven’t blogged for a while. I’ve had my head down, working on a rewrite of my second book, which means Christmas and New Year passed in a bit of a blur. For three months I got up at five to write before the school run, stayed at my desk all day, and returned to […]
Blog
Judging a book by its cover: an interview with Toby Clarke
Next week I’ll be revealing the brand new paperback cover for I Let You Go, which is very different to the trade paperback version, yet still manages to completely reflect the story. Not having an artistic bone in my body, I’m fascinated by the process of book design. To find out more about it, I […]
How readers can help authors
It’s a curious switch, from reader to writer. Not that you suddenly stop reading yourself – all authors I know read voraciously – but simply that you become more aware of how readers matter. I’ve been overwhelmed by the support I’ve had from friends, family and followers, on the e-publication of I Let You Go, and it made […]
Ten things to do instead of NaNoWriMo
For thousands of writers around the world, November is all about NaNoWriMo: the online challenge to write a book in a month. It’s a great way to get the creative blood pumping, connect with other writers, and get those words – all 50,000 of them – down on the page. But what if NaNoWriMo isn’t […]
Reader's block
I read a lot. Anything between two and five books a week, often with several on the go at once. I read hardbacks, paperbacks, proofs and e-books. I read newspapers, magazines, blogs and columns; and if there’s nothing else to read, I’ll read the back of the cereal packet. It’s compulsive. My reading selection is […]
Book covers: what draws you in?
A library in Cumbria is wrapping books in plain paper, to encourage readers to expand their choices and pick up something they wouldn’t normally read. It’s not a new idea (Google ‘blind date with a book’, and you’ll see what I mean) but it’s a great one. Covers are hugely important. as I write this, […]