Blog
AULD LANG SYNE
It’s that in between time of year again. The oft reflective hours when folk bemoan vanished bank balances and retailers are desperate to flog surplus seasonal stock that pilfered the balances in the first place. Still, a great time to grab a bargain. Wonder how many...
THE SELF-PUBLISHED AUTHOR STIGMA
While scrolling on social media, me and writing bud, Wen, came across a comment made on a self-published fiction novel, remarking how the book was well written. Cue Wen’s rolling eyes, the obligatory head shake, and a scathing retort: “So, the stigma of...
HALLOWED HALLOWEEN
Around for more than a thousand years, and originally a religious tradition, Halloween became secular over the centuries until its holy trappings more or less disappeared. Nowadays, 31 October is considered a holiday. A time for fun, to spook out, and dress up,...
WATCH OUT ROSEWELL, HERE WE COME!
Friday, 25 October, two days before British Summertime Ends when the clocks go back, and me and Wen will appear at the Rosewell Book Festival. We’re filled with a mix of excitement, nerves, and anticipation. We’ve attended book festivals before, but never spoken at...
POLAR OPPOSITES WRITING AS A NEURO-CONNECTED COLLABORATIVE
In 2022, with my writing partner Wen, I started penning Deadly Dough, our debut feature-length book in the Windy & Darling cosy mystery series. Fast forward to 2024, which finds us working on the third book, Horrid Herbs, due for release in early 2025. Any...
A PRODUCT, NOT A BABY
Finding success as an author’s a tough gig. The advent of self-publishing, vanity/hybrid publishers, and independent/traditional publishers all churning out books, equates to an oversaturated market in every genre. In 2023, over 3 million books hit Amazon, the biggest...
HORRID HERBS: WHEN SAGE MEETS STAGE
And so it begins ... again. Our second WinDarl cosy released and ready for promos, and now onto the third in the series. Horrid Herbs: When Sage Meets Stage, sees our amateur sleuths hamming it up as part of Treeton Am-Dram Society and re-enacting medieval punishments...
THE LOVABLE CLICHE
Not a bitter pill to swallow I’m an advocate in the belief that humour is wonderful medicine. While me and medication aren’t BFFs, the best things in life are free, so when under the weather, I’m happy to swallow a healthy dollop of laughter, giggles, and guffaws to...
THE HILLS ARE ALIVE WITH BUILDING A BRAND
Where do we start? Where does any company start? Even mega brands had to build a reputation from scratch. First, a fundamental question. What is a brand? Contrary to popular belief, not a logo, identity, or product. So, what? A brand is a non-tangible concept that...