Balancing the Books

I love writing but hate marketing. When my main career was working in a bank, I enjoyed the customer contact, was good at record keeping and pleased when a plan came together and a problem was solved to everyone’s satisfaction. Occasionally, even giving bad news could be turned into a positive experience. If a customer …

Writer’s block – The blank page

As a writer I’m often asked how to overcome writer’s block. You sit down full of enthusiasm and a blank screen stares back at you, daring your fingers to touch the keyboard, or your pen to destroy the pristine surface of a blank sheet of paper. Fortunately, this is something I’ve never found a problem; …

Social Media – Facebook

Wearing my Writing Guru hat, I thought it might be fun to look at the use of various forms of Social Media in the life of an author. Facebook, blog, web-site, Twitter, Instagram, author page, newsletters, give-aways, paid advertising – the list is endless, and no sooner have you conquered one than they change the …

Boring blurbs and Books.

One of the joys of being an author is being able to connect with others in the industry. A challenge in one of my writers’ groups was to describe your book in the most boring way possible. The results were hilarious, and surprisingly, some of the shortest and most mundane were intriguing for what they …

Aspects – Claire Baldry, ‘Listen to Love’ and ‘The Wrong Sort to Die.’

Lots happening this week with my own new paperback release, 'Listen to Love' which you can find here: Listen to Love.  A new release 'The wrong sort to die' by Paula Harmon who was featured on this blog a few weeks ago, The wrong sort to die  And last but by no means least, I'm delighted to …

Aspects of authors – Jane Risdon

When I started this series I didn’t expect it to be quite so wide-ranging, but it’s made me realise how many facets there are to just ‘writing a book.’ What has touring with a rock musician husband got to do with being an author? Over to today’s guest, Jane Risdon to find out. Smile, breath, …

Aspects of authors – Paula Harmon

A warm welcome to Paula Harmon, my second guest on the new 'Aspects' series. Paula's books include some set in Roman Britain, and others in Victorian London, so I was interested in the type of research necessary to ensure authenticity. You might wonder what 'Underwear and Dormice' has to do with writing. Over to you …

Aspects of authors- Rick Haynes

I’m delighted to welcome my first guest to the aspects series – Rick  Haynes,  whose specialist subject is medieval fantasy. Over to you, Rick. What World Do You Want To Create? It all seems pretty easy, doesn’t it? You have all these ideas in your head racing around and around like eager puppies, but what …

Romance, YouTube and inspiration

If you think about it, February is an odd month to be associated with romance. In an English winter, the image of enticing, seductive lingerie is in practice more likely to be comfy PJs, a warm dressing gown and furry slippers. It’s surprising that in the English language there are not more options for the …

Reasons to write

Endeavouring to stick to a least one New Year’s resolution, the house is now more or less cleared of chocolate, cakes and other exotic nibbles. What do you mean, ‘Did you eat them?’ How else would I dispose of them? 😁 The other resolve, to change the theme of my blog, proved more difficult. After …