As you know if you read my (bit of a cheat) mid-holiday post from Provence, I have been on a self-imposed internet detox for the past two weeks. Contrary to my fears, the world hasn't forgotten about me (hurrah), and my books sales didn't completely collapse during the break either. So, what did I … [Read more...]
New novel title reveal!
So the Brexit vote is over and done with, and whatever side you were on, I think you'll agree that the result was a shock for most of us who live and work in Britain. If you follow me on social media you'll know by now that I'm a firm believer in the European Union, and that I am more than … [Read more...]
Advice for New Writers Part 8: How to Build an Author Platform
In my previous post I discussed why an author needs to establish a way to communicate with his or her readers, or build an author platform. In this, 8th post in the series, Advice to New Writers, I talk a little about how to go about building such a platform. What Does Your Author Profile Look … [Read more...]
It’s Time for the Crouch End Festival!
It's here again! The Crouch End Festival, UK's largest community arts event, is now in its fifth year, and this, the 2016 festival will be bigger than ever. There's everything from open air cinema, live music, art, poetry, food and even a Latino Day when Crouch End goes all Latin. Check out the … [Read more...]
The Finnish Girl out in paperback soon!
One of the best jobs I ever had was to be a bookseller. The year that I spent in the now sadly closed England's Lane Books in Northwest London, could easily be described as the happiest of my life. I would go as far to say that it was also a life-changing time for me, because two momentous events … [Read more...]
Book Review: The House of Fame by Oliver Harris
I've loved the North London police dramas written by Oliver Harris for a while, mainly because they are well-written, fast-paced, and star a hard-nosed, but fair-minded and gentle-hearted police detective, Nick Belsey. This third instalment in the Belsey crime thriller series sees our police … [Read more...]
My Romantic Helsinki
All of my Nordic romance novels are partly set in Helsinki, so I thought I'd take you on a pictorial tour of the city, as featured in The Nordic Heart Romance series of books. In my latest title The Finnish Girl, Kaisa is 14 when she moves with her sister Sirkka and her mother Pirjo to one of … [Read more...]
5 Tips for Writing Historical Fiction by Clare Flynn
Clare Flynn is the author of A Greater World, Kurinji Flowers and Letters from a Patchwork Quilt. Clare's latest novel, The Green Ribbons, which is set in England in 1900 will be published in May 2016. But as luck would have it, today you can pre-order a copy of the new novel. (Tap here to order … [Read more...]
Turn Your Life Into Fiction
Do you want to tell your life story? Here are ten tips to turn your life into fiction. Truth and Fiction Doris Lessing wrote in one of her memoirs that we all re-write history and that therefore no autobiography can be an accurate account of events Yet during my MA in Creative writing some 10 … [Read more...]
The Finnish Girl is out today!
Hurrah, it's Publication Day at last! The Finnish Girl, a prequel novella to The Englishman is now out and available to buy on Amazon, iBooks, Kobo, Barnes & Noble and all other major e-retailers. I woke up today to a wonderful 5 * review by a reader, who had forgotten to … [Read more...]