VAL PENNY

Some years ago, my family was sent into shock. I was diagnosed with breast cancer, could no longer undertake my job as a university lecturer and was really very ill. I had recently moved across the country and didn't know many people in the area. Now added to that, during chemotherapy and radiotherapy my immune system was compromised so I couldn't get out to meet people either. This was a challenging time not only for me, but for the whole family. Normally my pleasures includ

I have now finished the manuscript of the next DI Hunter Thriller. I wanted to treat you all to a short excerpt from near the beginning of the book. Please let me know if you enjoy it. The Extract Chapter one “The festival is here again. I love this time of year. The city is so busy and vibrant,” Hunter smiled at Meera. “Edinburgh is such a beautiful city, isn’t it?” “It is. But what we call The Festival is really several different festivals of the arts. The ori

Inexperienced authors have often asked me if they need beta readers, where to find beta readers or even what beta readers are, so let me try to explain what they are, where to find them and why they are important. Beta readers are those to whom you entrust your manuscript after you have finished with it, but before you send it to your editor for polishing. They are a vital part of your book's journey to publication and must be familiar with your genre, fluent in the language

We are always told that we shouldn't judge a book but its cover. However, in reality is everybody does just that and covers are crucial to the success of any book. For authors it acts as a primary marketing tool because it creates the readers' first impression of the book and the story within. This is how it helps to drive sales. For the readers the book cover sets their expectations of the tale the book will tell. A strong cover conveys genre and tone, builds credibility, a

Today I am pleased to host author Michele Pariza Wacek on the blog today and share the recent chat we had about her writing and her new...

I am pleased to be able to share an excerpt from Sparks the fantasy novel by Trisha Thacker. I hope you will enjoy it as much as I did....

I was delighted when author Stephanie Santone agreed to sit down with me to discuss her new book Tangled Magic. Fantasy is not a genre of...

I am pleased to be able to introduce author C.J. Laurence to the blog today. It is always interesting to me to discover how authors come...

I have a new police procedural, A Fighting Chance, to be published by SpellBound Books Ltd. next month. The themes of that novel include...

It is a great pleasure to introduce you to author Nancy Cleaver today. I find it inspiring to learn about how authors come to their craft...

Today, I am delighted to introduce Cassidy Reyne to the blog to discuss the relationship she has with the characters in her books. I have...

Today I am thrilled to introduce author Chloe L Blyth to the blog. Chloe is an established author who has offered to try to inspire...

I was lucky enough to win a copy of Ash (Bratva Blood Brothers Book 1) by Jax Knight recently. The author generously offered me a choice...

The first time I voiced me fears about writer's block was when I asked my mentor, the late great Peter Robinson how he dealt with it....

It is my great pleasure to welcome fellow author Mollie Sykes to the blog today. Mollie has published several books and contributed to...

It is my great pleasure to welcome best selling novelist, Helen Matthews to the blog to discuss her experiences of getting books...

Let's imagine you've finished writing your book, the editing is done and it's almost ready to go. Now is the time to write the blurb that...

We have all experienced it, reaching the end of a book and feeling let down or unsatisfied, by a lazy or boring ending. As a reader you...

Every gripping story needs compelling characters to tell it and as the writer it is your job to create those characters and breathe life...

Some people say that everybody has a book in them. I doubt this is true. Even if it were so, I do not believe that everybody has the...