The Writing Machine
A recent article addressed the reality behind so many writers’ lives and I applaud that honesty. Because the opposite – ooh, look at me earning a living from nothing more than my imagination – is in most cases a falsehood.
Opinions & Rants
World Cup or A Greater World?
I don't mind football. I prefer rugby but to be honest, I could give both a miss and dive into a good book. Or books. My ideal summer evening involves a
Finally!
I’m not talking about the long hiatus in blogging (been writing) but a fantastic and well-overdue prize for thrillers. http://staunchbookprize.com/ This initiative by Bridget Lawless is something I’ve been championing for over
No, Nein, Non, Nyet, Não
Current news stories with allegations of sexual assault cropping up from Hollywood to Westminster are disturbing in many ways. Even more so are many of the reactions. I take issue with a
Words Worth
Conversations I Did Not Have This Weekend Me: Hello Herr Scheiber, we’d like a firewood delivery before the winter sets in. HS: Of course. Is Monday morning OK? Me: Perfect. By the way,
Crime: Cozy or Cruel?
Over the weekend, I had a few surprises from readers. One was disappointing. Somebody returned a Beatrice Stubbs Boxset for a refund. “Nothing in the description said it was an R rating.” An R
The Right to Write What You Don’t Know
The whole How-Dare-You row kicked off again after Anthony Horowitz revealed he’d been advised against writing a black character in his Alex Rider series. The BBC story is here: http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-39988992 This topic
Massive Book Rant (contains swearing)
I’ve now destroyed three Kindles by flinging them at the wall. Number of paperbacks taken to recycling – three bags full. I am so tired and weary of reading half-baked
Englishes
My writers’ groups are an eclectic bunch. Both the real and virtual ones. Talk about diversity of genre: science-fictioneers, literary sorts, an essayist, several short story supremos, a fantasist, flash