What would you like in your Christmas stocking this year? A three-book contract with one of the big ones, perhaps? You can’t get those at Amazon or Waterstones, unfortunately. Decorative notebooks are always handy, if a bit predictable, but I hate sullying them with my scrawl, so several unused ones languish in my desk drawer.Continue reading “8 Stocking Fillers for Writers and Readers”
Tag Archives: writers
History People #2: Miriam Drori, an Unintentional History Person
A big welcome to fellow Crooked Cat author Miriam Drori, who continues my series about authors who write historical fiction. She’s involved in an interesting co-authoring project with another writer, but I’ll let her tell you about that.
In Praise of Procrastination
I am a procrastinator par excellence. My motto is, “Why do something today if you can put it off until tomorrow?” I wrote my university essays at midnight, fuelled by industrial-strength coffee; I submit my competition entries at the last minute; and I’m often to be found tapping away frantically with a client’s deadline looming onlyContinue reading “In Praise of Procrastination”
10 Things Not to Say to an Author
A tongue in cheek post today, but with a grain of truth. Readers I meet at parties or other events usually have very interesting and perceptive things to say about books and writing. I love having the opportunity to talk with them, which doesn’t happen often living down here in la France profonde. YouContinue reading “10 Things Not to Say to an Author”
On the Chaise Longue with Vanessa: Meet Novelist Cathie Dunn @cathiedunn
It’s my great pleasure today to welcome fellow Crooked Cat author and historical novelist Cathie Dunn to the chaise longue. She’s a versatile writer, who has written about different periods and places in history. She’s also very fond of cats, so Felix is in his element.
On the Chaise Longue with Vanessa: Meet Author Louise Charles @LouCwriter
This week it’s my great pleasure to welcome my virtual friend, author Louise Charles (whose real name is Jo Lamb). Louise is a talented author and founder of ex-pat writing community Writers Abroad. She self-published her historical novel, The Duke’s Shadow, in 2014, which was shortlisted as one of the finest eight novels in theContinue reading “On the Chaise Longue with Vanessa: Meet Author Louise Charles @LouCwriter”
Guest post: What a lovely picture! What a lovely photograph….
Today I’m delighted to welcome the versatile and irrepressible novelist Nancy Jardine to the blog. She’s writing about using images. So, over to you, Nancy. Images. Who loves to pop them onto a blog or Facebook post? Or use them in advertising material for a new book launch? Or use them in a bookContinue reading “Guest post: What a lovely picture! What a lovely photograph….”
New Departures
Two bits of news. First, after much dithering, I have finally started the sequel to The House at Zaronza. When I say started, I mean that I have begun to plan it in detail. The actual writing comes a bit later.
50 stories for Pakistan
Following on from the success of 100 Stories for Haiti, which was published in aid of the international relief effort following the Haiti disaster earlier this year, the energetic Greg McQueen is publishing 50 Stories for Pakistan. The aim is similar. Proceeds from the book will go to the relief fund to aid people madeContinue reading “50 stories for Pakistan”
Vanessa Couchman 