Music to Write To.

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                                                 I choose the music from difotofattesuimuri.
To drown out the machinations spouted by Dragon’s Den, I’ve decided to write a sample list of the music I love to listen to whilst writing.
I find music can be inspirational , can help drown out the humming rubbish that goes with life and, if I match it with my mood, can provide the stimulation my daydreaming cells require to keep fired up.
The following are my current favourites and are in no particular order:

Adele: Someone like You; One an Only.

The Pierces: You & Yours (album), especially Glorious.

Mumford & Sons: Sigh No More (album).

Green Day: American Idiot (album).

Billy Joel: She’s Always a Woman.

The Mamas & The Papas: especially Mama Cass Elliot singing It’s Getting Better; Make Your Own Kind of Music.

Bach Violin Concertos.

Elliot Minor: Elliot Minor (album).

Manic Street Preachers: (It’s Not War) Just The End Of Love.

James Blunt: Somekind of Trouble (album) – (I can hear some of you screaming).

The Who: Then And Now (album)

Barbra Streisand: Send in the Clowns; The Way We Were.

Yehudi Menuhin: especially Paganini violin concerto #2; Vivaldi The Four Seasons.

These songs are suiting the commercial women’s fiction I’m currently writing – but there’s always room for more choices – so if you have favourites, let me know and I’ll give them a audition.

Welcome to Michael, Diana, Glenn & Robbi.

Happy Word Flow One & All.

Writing versus family

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Picture by Hagerstenguy.
Oh the shame – I’ve neglected this blog (poor baby), and focused what little time I’ve had on my WIP and short stories. Knowing that I needed to meet with you here niggled me – I hate to let people down. I’m aware of other bloggers with busy lives who seem to manage much more than I do – but comparing oneself to others can result in damaging consequences – so best not to go there.

The summer holidays with children puts a lot more pressure on the parenting role. I feel at times that I’m being selfish if I want to write instead of being thrashed at bananagrams, boggle or the dreaded Monopoly.
I also find that my best writing time is mid-afternoon and evening – which is a nightmare with a family that insist on being fed. We always eat around the table which offers quality time and conversation – and we always watch some TV together – even if it is The Gadget Show – which makes my eyes bleed.

I find my brain really kicks into gear when I go to bed – so I sit next to my long-suffering hubs and write – finding myself a tad annoyed if he speaks to me – poor man. However, my time is curtailed by hubs who wishes to sleep so he’s not tired for work in the morning.

I don’t want you to think I’m an ungrateful woman – I have a wonderful hubs, and two daughters who bring more joy into the house than disruption. I love them dearly, but I’m also exceedingly passionate about writing – in fact, it feels more like an addiction – and not one I wish to be weaned off.

So, I do acknowledge that managing writing with a family can have its drawbacks – but it can also add fodder to thoughts and actions for characters in the WP – unless of course one is writing about a blood-thirsty psychopath – one definitely hope not to have one of those around the dining table.

Happy Word Flow One & All

Inspiration.

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Photograph of  ‘Thinking’  by RFID from @boetter

I was sitting in my garden when I began thinking about where I find inspiration for my novels, and I wondered whether there were other avenues i could explore.

When I wrote a psychological thriller, I used my knowledge from my nursing years. I used the hospital I trained in as the model for the one in the book. I remembered the sights, sounds and smells of the place – which sometimes evoked dark memories.

Whilst writing the crime novel, I watched many true crime and police programmes, and I read true crime books and magazines. Sometimes I found the crimes too dark – even for me.

I’m currently writing a commercial women’s novel where the protagonist is a forensic mental health nurse – which was last post in my career. I’m able to use the language, terminology and emotions for the part. I use snippets from each offender I worked with – although none are recognisable. An anecdote that makes me smile is that a serial female offender gave me a nickname which she told a social worker – she called me f**k**g Mary Poppins – if you knew me you’d understand!

I find inspiration in watching nature – I’m a huge fan of the blackbird – watching my teenage daughters, people watching wherever I go – for which I use as a template for my characters. I read writing magazines and blogs such as @jammer0150 (hope I’ve got your number right James Killick) and @dirtywhitecandy for example. You will find many wonderful blogs I follow listed here – go on, treat yourself!

Happy Word Flow One & All

How to make yourself sound interesting.

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Famous 1999



Often an agent or publisher request a short blurb about the author – and writing about oneself is harder than it looks.
If the blurb is for the book cover – then remember that it becomes part of the public domain. In view of this, you have to be sure that what is printed is something you want to share – as it could be around for a long while.



Humour can often be a useful standpoint from which the author can connect with the reader – show that you don’t take yourself too seriously. For example, Katie Fforde  used  to list  her hobbies as ironing and housework, for which she regrettably  had very little time, because the afternoon chat shows required her full attention. Already I’m smiling after reading that.
I often mention on Twitter that my writing time is often interrupted by having to feed my family – can’t they just eat crisps? I’ve sometimes get so lost in my writing that i forget to prepare the meal – and I often get Tweets from other writers who totally connect with me.


Some authors mention where they live, marital status and offspring to round off the blurb. Of course if you wish to remain private, these facts can be left out.
Remember that people can have a short attention span – hence my short blog posts! – so put the most important facts first and try to make it snappy.


Welcome to Diana, Robbi & executiveredhead – thanks for following.
Happy Word Flow One & All

Time for a change.

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I have neglected my blog for a few weeks because I have started a second WIP in a different genre. I was 15,000 words into the second novel in my crime series, when this other story kept invading my head. I ignored it for as long as I could – but the words interupted the flow for my crime novel.
I am now 16,000 words into the new novel which is in the commercial/women’s fiction and I am loving it. I am still passionate about crime genre, but I feel writing a different genre is freshing and stimulating for my mind. It sometimes feels a little overwhelming have 2 novels on the go – especially when the characters fight for recognition- just imagine the mind maps I have stashed in my writing bag!
I love writing about the human mind and condition – the complexities of emotions and the raw attitudes that can stem from diverse situations. I write about these issues in my crime novels – but I have to be careful that they don’t slow the pace down to much. However, in the new genre, I can indulge myself in my human nature passion – although still being mindful that each chapter spurs the reader on to devourer the next chapter.
I have read about authors who write in 2 different genres under different pen names, so I know I’m not a freak. I was wondering whether any of you write in more than 1 genre –  perhaps you could tell me your story.

This blog, however, is crime orientated in the visual sense, so I am now going to have to consider making it more of a neutral theme – so as not to scare people off who aren’t lovers of crime.

Happy Word Flow One & All.

Back Cover Blurb

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I discovered whilst formulating the synopsis for my latest novel, that writing a few snappy lines and succinct notions in the image of a back cover blurb proved useful on several levels. This got me thinking about the concept more thoroughly, so I gathered novels that were littered around the house – in my chosen genre – and began reading the back covers.
I noticed that the blurb often had a fast-paced rhythm, with a couple of paragraphs solely focused on the protagonist and the plot. The major conflicts were highlighted in order to entice the reader into wanting to follow the protagonist’s journey. Once I began to loosely follow the  pattern, I realised that the blurb was also going to prove useful not only in formulating my synopsis, but also in my query letters. It also gave me a succinct way to describe my novel should anyone ask.
The blurb needs to make the story sound compelling, and with a lot of polishing, it could hopefully prove to be dynamite in the eyes of an agent or reader – hopefully both.

Happy Word Flow One & All.