If I’ve got something to say, I write it and then link to that post: Write Once, Then Link.
Follow this link if you want to read more about the thinking behind these posts. If you’re digging around and looking for the topics I’ve covered, you’ll find every page is categorized and tagged with either or both person tags and content tags. There is also a separate tag for authors/screenwriters.
If you’re unsure how this tagging can help you, then read this article.
last updated: 10 October 2017
Before I wrote the first Leathan Wilkey book, I had the notion of a character who was later called Leathan. I had an idea of someone who was very human. A man who connected with people on a very human level. But a man, for whom life was difficult because of his unique circumstances.
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...continue reading: Developing Leathan Wilkey
last updated: 10 October 2017
I recently posted a first chapter from a possible future book. Having posted this chapter, I had some questions from, and conversations with readers about historical accuracy and my approach to the concept.
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...continue reading: Historical Accuracy and My Approach to History
last updated: 12 September 2017
This post looks at some of my considerations and the decisions I made when writing the first chapter of an (as yet unpublished) novel which will be set in the mid 18th century.
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...continue reading: Getting the First Chapter Right
last updated: 12 September 2017
I recently posted a first chapter from a possible future book. Having posted this chapter, many people were kind enough to give me their comments. I had some very interesting conversations with readers and want to share a flavor of those exchanges.
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...continue reading: Reader Comments on My Historical Novel
last updated: 8 August 2017
I’m working on a new (as yet untitled) series of books that will see me return to London as a setting. I thought it might be interesting for readers to see a work-in-progress while it’s actually in progress.
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...continue reading: Introducing My New Historical Series
last updated: 8 August 2017
This is a very early draft of the first chapter from a novel which will be set in the mid 18th century.
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...continue reading: New Historical Series: Chapter One
last updated: 11 July 2017
On the face of it, Sexy Beast is a gangster movie. In truth, it’s a love story. Sure, there are all the elements of a British gangster movie, a retired criminal living in Spain who is drawn back for one last job—a safe deposit vault heist. But dig deeper to the heart of the film and there is a love story. Gal Dove loves his wife Deedee, and is only forced back to take the job to protect Deedee.
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...continue reading: Sexy Beast
last updated: 11 July 2017
In Pollute the Poor Boniface plays Sylvia, a tune from 1972 by the Dutch prog rock band Focus. The track is an instrumental with a strong, quite joyful melody, but there’s a mournful undercurrent. It’s one of those tunes that speaks without using words—and, of course, since there are no words, you can imprint your own interpretation.
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last updated: 13 June 2017
I was asked the question: Do you wear anything when you’re writing? The question was less about whether I wear clothes, or otherwise, and more about whether I wear anything in particular.
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...continue reading: Do You Wear Anything?
last updated: 13 June 2017
Did you know that leather floors are a thing? Instead of carpets, tiles, or wood to cover the floor, you can have leather. Yeah, I didn’t know either.
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...continue reading: Leather Floors
last updated: 13 June 2017
If you’ve ever wondered about the order of the Leathan Wilkey series of novels…
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...continue reading: The Leathan Series: Order of Reading/Writing
last updated: 9 May 2017
If you haven’t watched BrainDead, can I suggest you do: it’s hugely entertaining.
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...continue reading: BrainDead
last updated: 9 May 2017
I set my second series—the Leathan Wilkey series—in Paris. I knew I wanted to set the books in a different city, I just wasn’t sure which city. All I really knew was that Leathan wasn’t going to be in London. And much of the reason for this choice is that, despite the many similarities, Paris is very different to London.
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...continue reading: Why Paris
last updated: 11 April 2017
The Power of the Dog by Don Winslow is a great book. If you haven’t read it, fix that and read it now.
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...continue reading: The Power of the Dog by Don Winslow
last updated: 14 March 2017
It’s approaching ten years since then nearly-four-year-old Madeleine McCann disappeared while on a family holiday. Yet somehow, despite there being so few facts—or maybe because there are so few facts—ten years after she was last seen, the disappearance of Madeleine is perhaps the mystery of our time.
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...continue reading: Madeleine McCann: 10 Years Later
last updated: 14 March 2017
Many readers have a preference for paper books, but there are good reasons to consider electronic books.
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...continue reading: Reconsidering eBooks
last updated: 14 February 2017
Many people think jealousy and envy are the same thing? However, the two concepts—the two underlying emotions—are very different notions.
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...continue reading: Jealousy and Envy
last updated: 14 February 2017
Amazon dominates. You’ve probably noticed. But if you’re looking for ebooks, Amazon is not the only choice. I’d like to make the suggestion that if you’re queasy about buying from Amazon you take a look at Kobo.
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...continue reading: The Alternative to Amazon
last updated: 14 February 2017
In any story, the protagonist needs to fail—at least on some level. Here’s one aspect of my approach to protagonists.
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...continue reading: The Protagonist Fails
last updated: 10 January 2017
If you are prone to expressing yourself out loud, you may soon find your commands are obeyed with washing powder, cat food, and toothpaste arriving at your door.
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...continue reading: Who will rid me of this troublesome priest?