Writing Series

One of the constants in my writing life is that real experiences are fundamental in my fiction. Sometimes it’s a location I know well. Sometimes it’s a conversation I once had, or a character trait borrowed from someone I met years ago. It’s never a direct lift, and it’s never the whole story. But on The Story Behind My Stories, there isn’t that same layer of distance. When I talk about what inspired a scene or why a character behaves the way they do, I’m talking about the re

People often assume writers know the ending from the moment they begin. As if the story arrives fully formed, waiting to be typed up in a neat, linear line from Chapter One to The End. But that’s not how it works. Not for me, and not for most writers I know.

That moment, the first reader, is the heartbeat of my ARC team. The first to turn the page.

And when I write, whether it’s crime fiction, travel‑infused adventure, or the behind‑the‑scenes stories that shaped them, those places come back to life. They remind me who I was, what I felt and why the story mattered in the first place.

a good review is worth its weight in gold. Not because it feeds an ego or ticks a box, but because it represents something far more meaningful—a reader who connected with the story I poured my heart into.

Thai Die is a strong start to my series, and visibility matters. Getting it into the hands of readers is the ultimate goal.

When I first became a writer, I thought I was a content creator. And I was—original content, the written word, the story itself. The book was the content. Simple. Pure. Mine. But no one tells you that once you publish, the content creation doesn’t end there. In fact, it multiplies.

There’s something magical about the first draft. It’s not polished, not perfect—but it’s alive.

Finishing the writing phase of Lethal Leith Hill

Setting a word count to write to was uplifting instead of stifling my creativity

Do you need a plotline, timeline or outline for your writing?

Building believable and authentic characters who evolve over time.

Location as inspiration to be creative and write.

Does the setting of a novel matter? Looked at through the authors eyes I suppose any location can be dark and mysterious, romantic,...

As an author of a novel, when the final edit before publication is done, when you've crafted your story, reworded it, changed the words,...

Jumping to some of the final aspects of writing a novel this article in the Writing Series is all about Editing, as that is where I am...

Not all authors always loved English or writing. I hated it! I was an avid reader enjoying everything I could get my hands on to do with...

As an author I wanted to do a series of blogs letting you know a bit more about my writing journey. This series will run alongside 'The...