Motivations for writing fiction in a complex world - some thoughts on the release of 'Case Closed Monday'

My advice as a writer to anyone who is finding the current situation unduly perplexing/perturbing would be:

Don’t alienate people. Be humble: You may think YOU have something to say, but give all credit to the muse whatever ever or whoever you consider it to be!

Globalisation could be supposed to be a facet of internationalism, which was always much lauded by the left – I think Tony Blair once memorably proclaimed ‘We have failed to sell (communicate?) the benefits of globalisation.’

What I am trying to say is that globalisation is a recently coined word which describes a phenomena that anyone would be stumped to come to a consensus as to what exactly it is.

I fear this proclamation sums it up and could very well explain the success (electorally anyway) of the current administration in The States, as when all is said and done most people need jobs. Very few people are fortunate to call their time their own.

Comments

From revelations to red herrings - what makes a good clue in a crime novel?!

A good clue might seem minor or unrelated at first, but later, when the twist is revealed, it becomes obviously significant . Example : A dog that didn’t bark during a break-in later reveals the intruder was someone known to it. The best clues aren’t hidden, they’re right there, buried among distractions or filtered through character assumptions. T echnique : Use red herrings or multiple interpretations to mask the true meaning. The clue should emerge naturally from character behaviour or choices and not be dropped in arbitrarily. Example : A suspect unconsciously straightening a crooked picture frame may link them to a ransacked room later. Make clues reflect the larger emotional truth or moral question of the story. Example : A discarded child’s toy at the crime scene isn’t just a clue, it hints at the victim’s broken home life. No clue should exist in isolation. It should tie into at least one other clue, forming a web that readers can eventually untangle. What Fee...

Why I chose Suffolk as the setting for my murder mystery

When I began planning 'The Leiston Riddle', one of the first decisions I made was about where the murder would take place. Not just any backdrop would do. I needed a setting with atmosphere, history, and the kind of quiet menace that makes a murder mystery truly unsettling. That’s when Suffolk called to me. Suffolk, with its windswept coastline, sprawling heathlands and close-knit villages, offers a unique blend of beauty and isolation. It’s a place where the mist hangs low over the fields in early morning, where narrow lanes twist through centuries-old parishes, and where everyone knows each other—or at least thinks they do. That kind of landscape creates the perfect breeding ground for secrets. There’s a certain timelessness in Suffolk. You can stand on the edge of a crumbling cliff or inside a church that’s stood since the Middle Ages and feel history pressing in. It makes you wonder: what stories have these walls heard? What might still be buried—both literally and metaphor...

Good news for 2026!

Good News Wednesday: I’ve had a really positive message from a client, that another contact has offered to help move a joint project forward. Encouraging momentum on both fronts.

Books and Biscuits

Search This Blog