It gives me great pleasure to welcome back crime fiction author Val Penny to my blog. Val is not only a talented writer  but also a great friend who I met at Swanwick Writers’ Summer School.

Thank you so much for inviting me to your blog today, Tricia. I really appreciate it.

It’s a pleasure to have you back, Val. Thank you for coming. I understand that today you’ve come along to share your reasons to write a crime novel, so without further ado, it’s over to you.

Reasons to Write a Crime Novel

by

Val Penny

I write crime novels, largely because that is the genre I like to read. I enjoy puzzles, mysteries, crosswords and crime novels. I like to try to work out ‘who done it’ before the author tells me: and I am not alone!

Lots of people like crime, at least in novels! Often, I meet dentists and bank managers with clever plot ideas, or nurses who read every crime novel they can lay their hands on. If I visit a writing group, there are always members keenly producing new murderous plots. Lawyers and convicts show equal enthusiasm for this genre. For those who want to write a crime novel, there are several reasons to want to do so. Here are a few of them.

Emotional Release

Often, those who write crime novels find an emotional release in their craft. Crime novelists deal with the dark things that people usually push to the side of their minds in order to get on with every day life. The cathartic attraction of writing can be decisive.

Some crime authors tell of poor sleep patterns, punctured by night-mares that are repaired when they start to write. Others, panic, constantly scanning doorways for signs of danger. The stiffening fear that afflicts them resolves when they are busy writing crime.

The Story-Telling Urge

The sources for crime novels are many and varied. Ideas can spring from the news and current affairs; memories from the past and historical events or things that puzzle or fascinate the writer. Once an author begins to exercise their creative muscles, they often find that they run into stories demanding to be told. The stories demand to be told and will not stop coming.

For Companionship

It is often said that writers can be difficult people: gloomy, competitive and quarrelsome. However, for the most part, I have found crime writers to be an inclusive and convivial bunch. They are certainly hard-working. The pressure of producing a book a year is intense, yet they never seem to turn their backs on fun. If you have a chance to go to a crime-writers’ convention, do take it. They are exhausting, exhilarating and irresistible.

An Outlet for Aggression

Most crime-writers will tell you that they are good company because they channel all their belligerent thoughts into their stories, so in real life, the authors are meek and mild. It is not always true, but I can confirm the a crime novel is an excellent place to park your rage! The prospect of giving vent to righteous anger in a safe form can be a particularly pleasing device. When characters require to act in a violent way or commit violence the reader is willing to witness this on the page but they would shy from it in real life. Crime writers can let rip on the page in a way they avoid doing in the real world.

The Thrill of Research

I can personally confirm that the research you do for crime novels and for academic purposes are equally satisfying. It is also extremely diverse. It may involve visiting prisons, refuges, police stations or drug dens. Police are often very willing to be of assistance to crime writers, even if it is just to avoid being irritated when otherwise the writers would get police procedures wrong. This information is most useful and helpful. Indeed, when you are writing a novel, no information or experience is wasted!

 

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Thank you, Val. I’m sure that the readers will agree with me that was a very informative read. Let’s find out a little more about Val.

Val Penny is an American author living in SW Scotland. She has two adult daughters of whom she is justly proud and lives with her husband and two cats. She has a Law degree from Edinburgh University and her MSc from Napier University. She has had many jobs including hairdresser, waitress, lawyer, banker, azalea farmer and lecturer. However she has not yet achieved either of her childhood dreams of being a ballerina or owning a candy store. Until those dreams come true, she has turned her hand to writing poetry, short stories and novels. Her crime novels, Hunter’s Chase, Hunter’s Revenge and Hunter’s Force are set in Edinburgh, Scotland, published by Crooked Cat Books. The fourth book in the series, Hunter’s Blood, published by darkstroke follows shortly.

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Where can you purchase Val’s books?

The Edinburgh Crime Mysteries series, are all available to purchase from Amazon via the links below. The fourth book in the series, Hunter’s Blood, will be published by darkstroke on 01st January 2020.

Hunter’s Chase

Hunter’s Revenge

Hunter’s Force

Coming soon…

Where can you find Val on Social Media?

Website

Facebook 

Facebook Group

Twitter

 

 

 

 

Today’s challenger to write a story in less than one hundred words is author Jacqueline Jeynes. Jacqueline’s response comes in the form of This is Art? 

They stared, head tilted, chin on hand in traditional quizzical stance.

‘Hmm….so this is Art, then?’ Helen leaned against the polishing machine.

Paul shrugged. ‘Who would buy it? It’s just old sweetie wrappers scattered about!’ He laughed.

‘Look at the price – Wow!’ exclaimed Helen, turning to finish the floor.

‘Watch that cable or it will be ruined.’ Paul grinned.

News Headlines at 6.00 – London art gallery is offering £25,000 for artist who secretly exhibited an exciting artwork, three black bin liners ‘Detritus of the Human Condition.’

Helen spluttered, staring at the screen. ‘Wow…,’ she whispered, ‘£25,000!’

96 words

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Ha. Very amusing. If you’d like to know more about Jacqueline and her writing you can visit her website here.

Thank you to crime novelist Val Penny for her great review on House of Grace. You can read Val’s review here.

If you like the review and fancy a read yourself, House of Grace may be purchased on kindle and in paperback and remember it is free to read on Kindle Unlimited.  Go here to download.

It also makes an excellent gift and at the moment I am doing some special deals on the paperback by buying direct. Signed copies plus p&p available now – plus an offer of a paperback copy of House of Grace along with Colin Ward’s latest poetry pamphlet Silhouette in the Sunset is coming soon. Watch this space.

Use the contact form to request further details.

My Tuesday guest featured today is not only a talented author but also a good friend. Lynette has come along to talk about what inspired her to write her latest series of children’s stories about hoglets. I have to say that these dear little creatures are very close to my heart and can tell you now, I reckon they’re going to be the new Winnie the Pooh.

So without further ado, over to Lynette.

 

What inspired me to write about the hoglets?

by

Lynette Creswell

That’s a good question. It all came about due to the free Christmas story I publish each year on my blog. The reason behind the stories…

I wanted to give something back to my readers to say thank you for all their support. I decided what better way to do this than to give away a Christmas story.

In early January, (yes, I have to think that far ahead) I started planning my children’s story for the coming year. I’d already written about elves and reindeer in previous stories, so I wanted something new and exciting. Last year I wrote about two of my grandchildren, Rosie and Charlie. The story was a great success and received over 50,000 views. I was thrilled to see ‘Santa’s Christmas Gift’ reach 29 countries and went as far across the globe as Bhutan, a tiny kingdom nestled in the Himalayas. This made me realise that my stories were growing in popularity and that I needed to up my game.

As I trawled through hundreds of pictures on Pinterest (I do that to give me inspiration), up popped an illustration of the cutest hedgehog I’d ever seen. There was something about this cheeky chappy that stole my heart. He was mischievous, had a twinkle in his eye, no doubt thinking about his next adventure. Within half an hour I’d given him a name – Prickles. I then gave him a sister, Primrose, and a place to live – Briar Wood.

With a basic framework in place, I concentrated on the premise of the story and decided that no matter what, Prickles and Primrose were going to be heroes and help Santa save the day. But how? This is where it gets tricky as a writer. We may have wonderful characters but it’s no good if we don’t have an actual plot. After brainstorming with a close friend who is also a writer, (thank you Tricia), we were able to forge a wonderful Christmas story and ‘Hoglets’ Christmas Magic’ was written for all ages to enjoy.

However, once I’d completed the story, I couldn’t get the hoglets out of my head. Each night I dreamed about them and in my sleep enjoyed new and exciting escapades. I’d leave a notepad by my bed, so as soon as I awoke, I wrote down what I remembered from each dream. Soon, I’d invented new characters to join Prickles and Primrose, such as Rosie Rabbit, Monty Mole and Rufus Rat.

Over the next five months I worked hard on creating a series of children’s stories filled with these wonderful characters. The three stories are now with a children’s editor. Once readers get their hands on ‘Hoglets’ Christmas Magic’ I hope they’ll want to read more about these lovable creatures. If this is the case, I’d like to have the new hoglet stories ready.

Hedgehog shuffles!

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Well that was fascinating, don’t you think?  Lynette’s agreed to give us a little taster. So read on to get an introduction into this fabulous hoglet story, ‘Hoglets’ Christmas Magic’.

Mrs Hedgehog stood by the fireplace trimming off unwanted twigs to shape a small fir into the perfect Christmas tree. ‘There, children. Doesn’t that look splendid?

‘Gosh,’ Prickles said, ‘I love it.’

‘Can I do the sparkly baubles this time?’ Primrose hopped on one leg with excitement. ‘Please, Mum, because Prickles did it last year. Remember, you said I was too small.’

Mum smiled. ‘Why don’t you decorate the tree together? There’s enough trinkets inside the box for you both.’

‘Shall we?’ Prickles scurried over and shoved his nose inside a tatty cardboard box. He turned towards his sister. ‘Mum’s right. There’s plenty to share.’

Primrose skipped over to her brother. ‘Okay, let’s see how quickly we can finish.’

‘Oh, no.’ Mum tutted. ‘You mustn’t rush the job. You should cherish decorating the tree. After all, we only do it once a year.’

‘What’s that dear?’ Dad entered the room carrying a tray of drinks and worm flavoured biscuits. ‘What’s this about rushing the job?’

Prickles offered Primrose a shiny Santa’s hat with a silver bell on the end. ‘Go ahead.’ He pressed the delicate ornament into the palm of her paw. ‘You go first.’

Primrose beamed as she clutched the bauble to her chest and reached over to place it onto a branch.

‘I’ll dust these off and you hang them on the tree.’ Prickles passed her another.

The fire crackled and glowed as the two hoglets worked together. Within half an hour the tree was finished…well, almost.

‘Where’s the star?’ Prickles hunted through the last bits and bobs. ‘I can’t find it anywhere?’

‘It must be there.’ Dad scratched his head, delving inside the box. His paws pushed bits of tissue paper and golden thread to one side. Gasping, he lifted out glittery shards of glass. ‘Oh, dear,’ he said, holding tiny splinters of yellow towards the light. ‘It’s shattered with age.’

Mrs Hedgehog grunted and a tear trickled from her eye. ‘But what are we to do? We can’t have a tree without a star. It’s Christmas Eve and far too late to forage around dustbins in the hope of finding a replacement.’

‘We’ll think of something,’ said Prickles, ‘I’ll pop outside and see what I can find.’

‘Can I come too?’ Primrose tugged at Prickles’ sleeve. ‘Two sets of eyes are much better than one.’

‘That’s a good idea,’ Mum said, ‘but don’t be too long because it’s growing dark.’

‘We won’t go out of the wood,’ Prickles promised. ‘If there’s anything there to use, we’ll find it.’

Mrs Hedgehog didn’t look convinced. ‘Don’t go near the main road. I don’t want any of the village folk spotting you and trying to take you home.’

…cont’d…

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Thank you, Lynette for sharing the first part of your hoglet story. I’m sure the readers will love it.

To read more of this fabulous story, Lynette is making the full story available FREE on her blog from 11th December 2019.  Click here

Let’s find out a little more about Lynette.

Author Bio

Lynette Creswell was born in London, but moved to Burnley, Lancashire, when she was a small child. From the tender age of five, she was raised by her grandmother and given books to help keep her quiet. Lynette found she had a passion for reading and subsequently started writing once she began school.

Years later Lynette’s husband encouraged her love of writing by buying her a laptop. Her inspiration came from childhood books by Enid Blyton. The Enchanted Wood and The Faraway Tree were her first real taste of fantasy.

Sinners of Magic, her debut novel, was published in 2012 and was soon followed by Betrayers of Magic and Defenders of Magic. These books became known as The Magic Trilogy.

Lynette’s first short story, The Generation Game won the 2014 ‘Write On’ Competition, affiliated by East Coast Pictures. The story was adapted for TV and narrated by Julie Peasgood. Another of her short stories, The Witching Hour is published by Solstice Publishing and available on Kindle.

Being diverse in her writing, Lynette’s next step was to pen a paranormal romance. Well received by her readership, Cracks In The Glass became an instant hit with reviewers and critics alike. One reader stated:  ‘The suspense builds at a brilliant pace, and by the end I was gasping!’ Another wrote: ‘The pages turn effortlessly to an ending I never saw coming.’

Lynette’s latest accomplishment is her sixth novel, Two Kinds of Truth. Lynette is well known for her gritty writing and ability to surprise her readers. The novel is based in the Highlands of Scotland and focuses on the wife of an identical twin. Maddie’s life is thrown into turmoil when Callum, her husband, learns he’s infertile.

Lynette now lives in North East Lincolnshire with her husband. All of her nine grandchildren are the apple of her eye.

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Where can you buy Lynette’s books? 

Sinners of Magic

Betrayers of Magic

Defenders of Magic

Two Kinds of Truth

Cracks in the Glass

The Witching Hour 

Clump a Changeling’s Story

 

Where can you find Lynette?

Website

Facebook 

Twitter

 

 

 

 

 

 

Today our challenger is writer Jayne Curtis with her story,  ‘The Golden Gate’, written in less than 100 words.

‘Props Alice. Quickly girl. Signore Rossellini says we can use the artefacts gathering dust in the turret attic.’ Justin flounces away.

I hear Rossellini following me as I climb the creaking staircase and open the door. My reflection greets me. The dust almost makes me invisible. Saved by a crack of sunlight, I glint on the gold frame. I wipe dust off the mirror…

‘Oh.’ My hand disappears and I follow it.

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‘Signore Rossellini?’ I gasp, falling through the mirror.

‘You’re back.’ He smiles. ‘How is the world?’

‘Wonderful.’

‘Si, it is. Isn’t it?’

‘Alice. Quickly girl,’ Justin calls.

 

 

99 words

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Ooh, I enjoyed that. Rather eerie don’t you think?

Have you enjoyed reading these stories? Do you have your own story to tell?

Spread the word to your friends. You don’t have to be a writer. It’s for writers and non-writers alike.

Submit now via the online form following the guidelines.

Already submitted? Submit again…

My Tuesday guest featured today is not only a talented children’s author but also a fellow Chindi member and local friend. Sue has come along to share an article written especially for this blog, titled The Bewbush Playbus. Over to Sue.

The Bewbush Playbus

by

Sue Wickstead

Have you ever travelled on a bus? This was a question I’d ask the children when visiting their school. It was always a surprise to hear that many hadn’t. I’d then tell them how I’d once worked with a special bus, a Playbus, and how I was writing a book all about it.

When the Bewbush Playbus book was first published I was able to show them photographs of the real bus. This would follow with lots of questions.

What’s a Playbus?

What does it do?

I was able to explain how the bus was a pioneering project with royal links, a Queen’s Silver Jubilee Community Project, and the first in the South-East. The bus was converted at Gatwick Airport and given the name ‘Supersonic Bus’. It initially provided a playscheme to the new developing estate of Bewbush.

How was it different?

The bus didn’t have any seats. Instead it was full of toys, games and activities and driven to children, wherever the need may be, and was often seen at events in and around Crawley.

The children’s games were always full of imagination. They loved the bus, including my own two children who attended the Playbus Playgroup.

I became involved in the running of the Playbus charity, helping to raise its profile. With fund-raising and grant applications we were looking to upgrade our old bus with a newer model, which we eventually did.

The photographs in the Bewbush Playbus book were from exhibition displays and private collections and highlighted all that we did or could offer.

We also joined the National Playbus Association charity, through which we met many other Playbus projects, and learnt how much more a Playbus could do.

Unfortunately in 2003 the Playbus closed and I was asked to document its photographic history into a book. A copy of the Bewbush Playbus book, published in 2012, was donated to every school in Crawley as well as the local museum. It was an important part of the town’s social history.

Most importantly for me it led to answering the children’s questions with stories and this led me to writing and publishing picture books using a bus theme. Jay-Jay the Supersonic Bus was the first fictional tale and tells how the Playbus came about, his real number plate JJK 261 gave him his name.

The Playbus really captured my heart and it has been lovely to hear from many children, now grown up, who have fond childhood memories of their time spent on it.

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Thank you, Sue, for such an informative article where the reader is able to see how the real playbus inspired you to write your children’s bus series.

Age range for Sue’s children’s books – 4 – 8 years

 

The above books may be purchased from Sue’s website.

Let’s find out a little more about Sue.

About the Author 

Sue Wickstead is a teacher and author. She has currently written seven children’s picture books using a bus theme as well as a photographic history book about the real bus.

Sue once worked with a playbus charity based in Crawley. This led her to write the photographic history book about the project. Bewbush Playbus was published in 2012. She later wrote a fictional tale about the bus. Jay-Jay the Supersonic Bus, his number plate JJK261 gave him his name. This has been followed by six more picture books which all have a bus connection and link to her teaching journey.

You can find Sue on the following links

Facebook Author Page

Facebook Bewbush Playbus

Twitter

Instagram

Website

Email

 

Today’s challenger is Eileen Phyall. Eileen’s reponse to the challenge comes in the form of Seeing through a glass darkly. Hope you enjoy it.

I would not believe death was the end.

As instructed I’d collected the herbs and spell from the apothecary.

Standing by the mirror, after drinking the mixture I waited for the glass to darken.

Would I get a glimpse of you?

The moment came.

You smiled, then you were gone.

Now I’m alone again. Heart heavy, purse lighter, waiting for another sickle moon.

63 words

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Thank you, Eileen for your story. Funny how the dark side comes out a lot in these challenges. I know when I write them myself they tend to move that way too.

What does everyone else think?

A few months ago we had a Chindi meeting. Chindi are a network of independent authors that I’m proud to be part of. During this meeting it was announced that we were going to produce a Christmas anthology of stories with a Sussex theme and as Chindi members we were expected to submit a story for consideration.

Submissions for the anthology weren’t just limited to Chindi members but opened up to writers all over.

At the time I hadn’t written a short story for a while as I was deep in novel writing and poetry, so this was quite a challenge. I also didn’t have any particular Christmas memories of Sussex of my own to use as a springboard. I therefore I stepped back to my youth when my sister and I used to hang around with greasers on motorbikes.

 

 

However, I didn’t want to be writing about the 70s, instead I wanted a contemporary story but deciding what young men in leather jackets with motorbikes are called today became quite a quandary. After consulting my Facebook Fans I came to the conclusion that they’re bikers. So I had bikers, a Christmas theme, and I quite fancied a wedding with a difference. I was now able to write my story titled ‘Winter Solstice’.

I was really pleased when I heard that my story was to be included in the anthology,  A Feast of Christmas Stories:  Unwrap a Sussex Tale.

You can read my story, and stories written by other authors, including the bestseller Beryl Kingston, when you purchase a copy of the anthology.

More about the anthology 

‘A Feast of Christmas Stories’. Sixteen tales with a seasonal vibe from Chindi authors, including dragons and moonlight, ghosts and a heart-rending tale of childhood Christmas from best-selling author Beryl Kingston. 

It’s available to pre-order now as an e-book on all platforms for only £2.99 and paperback by clicking here

It makes a great stocking filler!

I look forward to hearing what you think about our stories.

If you’d like to know more about the Chindi authors then do visit their website , Facebook  and Twitter pages.

 

 

 

Today I was invited over to Allison Symes Blog to talk about ‘What Books Mean to Me.’ If you’re interested in the answers, pop over here now.  You’ll also get the chance to hear what books mean to other authors too.

What do books mean to you?

 

 

 

Hi Geoff, thank you for agreeing to take part in my Tuesday Blog Feature. Anyone that knows Geoff will immediately think about ‘grammar’. However, today he’s come along  to chat about his ‘Five joys of the English Language’.

Without further ado let’s go over to Geoff. 

Five Joys of the English Language

by

Geoff Parkes

It was clear from an early age that my career would centre on English Language. In a school class of 28, I routinely came twenty-eighth in physics and first in English. Here are five aspects of English that have brought me particular joy.

1. Reading

Though I have always loved reading, my reading habits have changed. I used to read novels and plays, but now I also read a lot of poetry and biographies of those I admire, like Laurie Lee, Mary Wesley, and Kenneth Tynan. I enjoy reading vastly different books on the same day: it’s like riding a toboggan in the morning, a camel in the afternoon, and a Ferris wheel in the evening.

2. Writing

As with reading, this has changed. I was a journalist on the university newspaper. Next came years of writing English as Foreign Language (EFL) books. Recently I have switched mainly to novels, short stories, poems, and short plays, and I’ve dabbled with life writing. There’s huge cross-pollination: writing poetry makes prose more intense; writing plays sharpens up the dialogue in novels. I love the discipline of trying to create something that has form and meaning and is beautiful to listen to. For me, sound, rhythm and metre are important.

3. Teaching

More than 80% of my working life has been spent teaching English. It’s a joy to deal every day with topics you love, and it’s especially pleasurable when motivated students ask intelligent questions. Never a week went by without me having to look things up which students had queried in class. I’m grateful to them for broadening my horizons.

4. Publishing

Teaching is immensely rewarding, but there is one thing missing: an end product. After a course, you wave goodbye to students with a warm glow of satisfaction yet have nothing to show for it but memories. I will never forget the moment when I first held a book that I had produced. Yes! The fruits of three years’ labour nestled in my palm. It’s the same feeling you have if you’re a potter, an artist, or a cabinet maker. You treasure that object for years.

5. Research

The three main prongs of English Language – grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation – are equally fascinating, and I have done research into all three. As a student, I analysed the language of advertising. In the eighties, I became fascinated with the 300-odd words that have alternative pronunciations – scone, cervical, controversy, zebra, etc. – and set out to discover (by recording people) which were the number one variants. Nobody had ever done that. Later, I did a frequency count of English colloquial idioms.

Once you have been bitten by the research bug, it never leaves you. The more specialised the topic, the less likely it is that anyone has trodden that path before. You are a pioneer entering a vast rain forest, and you may well stumble across a purple-and-orange butterfly that no one else has seen.

Yes, these are my five main joys. All have enriched my life, but if you ask me to single one out, it is research that has given me the biggest buzz.

Many thanks, Trish, for inviting me on your blog.

My pleasure, Geoff. I’ve loved reading about your five joys and confident that my readers will do. I love your quote ‘You are a pioneer entering a vast rain forest…’ I hope you visit again in the future.

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More about Geoff.

Geoff Parkes grew up in Hertfordshire and went to Newcastle University before completing an M.A. in English at Cardiff University. He has worked in a timber yard, a dustcart factory, and a ladies’ underwear firm. After TEFL training, he taught English in Norway, Germany, Spain and Denmark. He then founded Southampton English Language Centre and the publishing company, Englang Books.

Geoff has written numerous EFL books, two novels, Whale Soup and Nothing Ever Happens in Clacton, and several prize-winning short stories. His main interests are swimming, hiking, foreign languages, and travel, especially to New Zealand, The Canary Islands, and Cuba.

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If you’d like to know more about Geoff and his writing you can visit him on his website here. He is also available by email.

Details of all Geoff’s books may be found on his website but you may also purchase

Whale Soup and Nothing ever happens in Clacton are both available in kindle format via Amazon.