Writers’ Poppycock.

Earlier this week, I returned home from a blissful couple of days in the countryside. After having spent a couple of days reading, shopping and eating as well as enjoying countryside air and hospitality, I returned home determined that I would complete my novel ‘Fix Me Up’. I was excited to open up my laptop and start writing after a couple of months of concentrating on academic writing. I remained blissed out until I opened my email account. Sitting there in my inbox was a rejection email. And there ended my buzz.

I had entered a short story competition a couple of months ago, paid the rather stiff entry fee and what did I get in response? A metaphorical kick in the nuts and a generic email identifying what many applicants did wrong – nothing specific to my submission. I understand that these prizes have hundreds, perhaps thousands, of applicants but to charge a not unsubstantial entry fee means even the “losers” expect a little bit of feedback.

What followed over the next couple of days was misery, self-doubt, dramatic pronouncements that my writing career may well be over and a fair bit of self-flagellation (metaphorically, obviously). Below are a few of the internal arguments I’ve had with myself this week:

You’ve got an MA in Creative Writing. Fluff.

People write good reviews of your work on Amazon. They’re just being kind.

You won that Story Tyne award. Dumb luck/not many entries.

People say they love your Creative Writing sessions. They feel sorry for me.

After writing a despairing Facebook post a couple of days ago, I realised that what I was suffering from is an affliction suffered by many of those thoughtful souls who write. When you spend all day chained to your desk, with only Tweets and Facebook messages to connect you to the outside world, it’s easy to feel lonely. That loneliness can lend itself to negative thoughts which can quickly turn into writers block, or worse.  I wonder how many people throw their writing in the bottom of a drawer during one of these episodes, convinced that their writing is bad. How many potentially successful authors, playwrights, poets or screenwriters have dropped out because the demon convinces them their work is no good?

How many of us have suffered from what a friend of mine calls “impostor syndrome”? Have you ever stood in front of an audience, ready to read your work, waiting for someone to shout “(S)He shouldn’t be here, they’re not really a writer!”? Have you ever received so many rejections from agents, publishers, production companies or competitions that you think that must be a sign? It’s not. You just haven’t found the right fit yet.

My friend Andrea Anastasiou wrote an article about using mindfulness techniques to live in the present. You may wonder what that has to do with neurotic writers’ syndrome but some of the techniques she talks about can help you keep the negativity at bay.

I know how it feels to be rejected – it’s likely most of the people you know who inhabit this writing world know that feeling too. It doesn’t mean you should give up.

Vic x

Getting to Know You: Gemma Wilford.

Today on the blog, I’m thrilled to have Gemma Wilford here to chat about her life as an author. She’s on a mission to publish a novel before she’s thirty – I really hope she succeeds! 

Vic x

What do you like most about writing? What do you dislike (if anything)?

I love the freedom to escape to another life and how your imagination knows no boundaries. An idea can come from anywhere and it’s that strong urge to get those thoughts straight onto paper and tell the story that’s begging to be told. I like watching the characters I create come to life and how they develop as I continue to write, especially when they surprise you and take you in directions you hadn’t planned.

The only thing I dislike is my continuing need to improve. Why is this so bad I hear you say? Well, as writer’s we edit, edit, re-write, edit again – a continuous cycle that I find endless as no matter how many times I read a supposed ‘finished’ piece of writing, I still want to edit it further.

What inspires you to write?

I have wanted to do this since I was a little girl and back then, books such as ‘The Famous Five’, ‘The Secret Seven’ and ‘Nancy Drew’ influenced me. Summers were spent with my nose in these books swiftly followed by me writing my own version. I loved my creative writing lessons at school and I had a teacher who was very encouraging (he has just recently published his own novel ‘Beyond Saving‘.)

When I would get ready for school, I often day dreamed about other families and other characters’, stories forming in my head. Their stories would sometimes continue from day to day and I wish I had wrote them down at the time.

I can find inspiration from the most random of things – from a one liner overheard in a conversation, to a TV advert or a fight at a self-checkout til in Asda.

Do you find time to read, if so what are you reading at the moment?

I try to read a little bit before I go to sleep but as I am a shift worker, this is not always feasible. I tend to read on my breaks at work or on my days off. I am currently reading a new release by Melissa Foster – ‘Traces of Kara‘.

Which author(s) has/have had the biggest influence on your writing?

Marian Keyes has definitely had a big influence – her wit and ability to make you laugh and cry in the same book is outstanding. She tackles sensitive subjects and deals with them with such dignity while at the same time keeping a light-hearted pace.

Melissa Foster has had a huge influence; I joined her Amazing Support Team (#GoTeamPIF) back in September. Through this team, I have learnt so much in regards to networking, marketing and editing as well as developing my writing style by reading other Author’s work and taking advice from them in regards to my own work.

If you weren’t a writer, what would you be doing?

Tough question – I work full time and write, which has only become my way of life in the past couple of years. I couldn’t imagine what I would be doing if I wasn’t writing and I can’t believe it has taken me this long to get into it (adolescence then the hum drum of working adult life crept in the way of any creative writing.) But in answer to your question, I would probably be a photographer. I love taking pictures to use on my blog and playing around with them, so I would probably pursue that more professionally.

What do you think are your strengths and weaknesses?

My weakness is impatience, I want everything done straight away and done right. However, that is a tough lesson to learn. As writer’s, we are taught to take our time and not rush a book being published just to get it ‘out there’. I learnt this by rushing to get ‘The Ruby of Egypt‘ self-published. Don’t get me wrong, I edited it over and over – I just didn’t get it professionally edited and I used a simple book cover. I have since had it edited and a brand new book cover designed – all things I could have taken my time with.

My strengths? Hmmm I think my crazy imagination? I sometimes come up with the most bizarre of ideas and interpretations of things so as a writer that surely has to be a bonus.

What are you working on at the moment?

I am currently working on a recession based Chick-Lit novel called ‘Little Miss Pooshoe’. I wrote this in January and February of 2012 and I am now taking my time doing a second round of edits before it goes to an editor. The book was like therapy to write as it’s about a woman who loses her job. I got close to losing mine the year before and was placed in a role I didn’t want to be in. It allowed me to vent and put a lot of what I felt down on paper. Fortunately, things have turned out alright in the role I am in and I can now see it worked out for the better – plus a novel was crafted from it!

Where can we find you online?

You can find me over at Missuswolf’s StoryLand. I am also on Facebook as well as Twitter @Missuswolf

When you’re a famous author and you write your autobiography, what will be the title?

Haha I would have picked ‘The Story of Miss Pooshoe’ as it is actually my nickname – however as I intend to use that in my novel I may have to re-think. Once Upon a dream?

Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?

Yes – write, write and write some more! Also the power of online friends and social media is so valuable, it is the perfect world for writer’s to connect, share and help each other.

What’s been your proudest moment?

When I first self-published ‘The Ruby of Egypt‘ and received my hard copy – the feeling of having your name on a book and your words in print is just amazing – a true sense of achievement.

What would you say to your sixteen-year-old self if you could offer one word of advice or inspiration?

Write. You may come to a time when you feel lost and don’t know where to turn so just write – it’s what you have always loved and will continue to love.

Review: ‘Happenstance’ by Carol Shields.

 

I was recommended this book in 2007. I have only gotten around to reading it now and, to be honest, I was pretty disappointed with it.

The idea of it was original enough, the book split into two and told from two different points of view: that of Jack and his wife Brenda. Jack is seemingly a happily married man with a successful career. But when Brenda goes away for a week, he starts reassessing his life. Brenda’s story is that of her new-found freedom during her week away in Philadelphia.

We encounter Brenda and Jack’s irritating children, their neighbours and Jack’s parents but, in this whole novel, there is not one character that I liked.

Out of the two halves, I found Jack’s story more interesting although I must admit that, throughout the whole novel, I just kept waiting for something to  happen. And even when something did happen, it was entirely underwhelming. If that was Shields’ intention, to demonstrate how mundane the lives of these characters were, she succeeded.

Vic x

Very Inspiring Blog Award

Thanks to Gerry McCullough for nominating me for the ‘Very Inspiring Blog Award’. Gerry has written several great books which you can find on her Amazon Author Page.

So, here are the rules:

1. Display the award logo on your blog.
2. Link back to the person who nominated you.
3. State 7 things about yourself.
4. Nominate other bloggers for this award and link to them.
5. Notify those bloggers of the nomination and the award’s requirements.

OK, so now I have to open my heart up to you guys and tell you 7 things about me that you don’t already know. Hmm, tough one…

1. I used to be a city swimmer and one of my records (set almost 20 years ago) still stands today. 
2. I wrote a play aged about nine or ten at school for drama club but my friends’ dad said it was too sensitive as the main thread of the story was about a character’s grandma dying. Apparently, I’ve always had a knack for writing stories that aren’t exactly light-hearted!
3. Two weeks ago I finally revealed to my brother that the letter he received from Chessington World of Adventures after writing to them, aged five, regarding a new roller coaster he designed was fake. My dad had been kind enough to mock-up a letter in response to my brother’s design. I thought my brother already knew and I was absolutely devastated when I saw his face drop in realisation.
4. I’m terrified of fish and pictures of fish. I don’t suppose I’ll ever do any diving or snorkeling.
5. I have very strict rules about how I eat food. For example, I only allow myself to eat certain flavours of crisps depending on the sandwich filling. If I’m eating a salad or a roast dinner, I am only allowed to eat veg together in the same mouthful (E.G. potato and carrots on the same forkful are ok but I wouldn’t add meat into this).  I can’t bear the thought of a tuna melt as cheese and tuna, to me, seem completely wrong. I have to separate M’n'Ms and Skittles into colours, I couldn’t eat a mixture – that would just be bizarre.
6. Throughout my life, my dad has potentially told me hundreds of lies (as a joke, nothing too serious) and I’m still just finding out the truth regarding some of them. For example, he told me that eating raw mushrooms would kill you. 
7. I once asked The Boy Wonder if ‘The Simpsons’ were yellow because they had been affected by the nuclear power station in Springfield. According to him, it’s just because they’re a cartoon. 

So, now I’ve revealed myself to be a terrible big sister, an idiot, an OCD eater and  a depressive writer from a young age, it’s now my turn to pick my top blogs. Here they are (in no particular order):

1. Gemma Wilford. Gemma’s blog ‘Missuswolf’s StoryLand’ is about sharing her reading and writing with the world. Like me, Gemma is on a mission to publish her first novel before she is thirty. I worked with Gemma on the second ’I Am Woman’ anthology and am a big fan of her writing.
2. Mark Taylor. According to his blog: “Mark occasionally has too much time on his hands and thought he’d share his love of watching random nonsense with a world which doesn’t, and in fact shouldn’t, care.” That is not true – I care, as should the rest of you!
3. Maria Smith. Maria is a writer of dark fiction, urban fantasy and paranormal stories. Why do I love her blog? She has a weekly “goal list” and reviews her targets from the previous week. However, the best thing about her blog is her monthly Small Pleasures – a lovely idea.
4. Rachel Cochrane. Rachel runs Listen Up North, a website based in North East England, featuring audio drama, short stories, poetry, extracts of novels and interviews. Rachel also had her poem ‘Sisters’ Away Day’ featured in the first ‘I Am Woman’ anthology.
5. Allison Davies. Allison is a very dear friend of mine who is not only an amazing script writer but a philanthropist too: she runs a fair trade jewellery business with two friends. You can read more about that at Danusha. To read more of her wonderful writing, please check out her blog, Found Poet.
6. Claire McGowan: The author of ‘The Fall‘ (a great book I read last year) incorporates her blog into her full website. With handy hints for writers and debunking writing myths as well as some interesting articles on relationships and more!

OK, I cheated and chose six. My thanks again to Gerry McCullough, I had a great time writing this post.

Vic x

Review: ‘Sinema 2: Sympathy for the Devil’ by Rod Glenn.

 

In ‘Sinema: The Northumberland Massacre’, Han Whitman went on a rampage around a village called Haydon. Not content with slaughtering 395 innocents, Han is back to carry out “Stage 2″ of his twisted plan. However, someone’s on his tail and there’s more than one person with an interest in his whereabouts. Han’s conscience also seems less than willing to accept his transgressions, he’s haunted by a voice he doesn’t recognise.

“Phase 2″ sees movie-addict Whitman turn vigilante, turning on the foulest members of society. Rod Glenn writes Hannibal Whitman’s story with such aplomb, his descriptions are scarily vivid and the situations he puts his character in are completely believable.

Han Whitman is the kind of character that, logically, you should despise but there is something so human about him that it’s impossible not to root for him.

This is an ambitious novel with plenty of twists, turns and red herrings. Glenn doesn’t shy away from the gory details of Whitman’s exploits and this only adds to the gritty feel of the novel. There are certain parts of this book that are so stomach-churning that it makes for difficult reading although Han’s cruel exploits always seem realistic.

This may not be a story for the faint-hearted but if you can get over the blood and guts, it is a great read.

Vic x

Order your copy of ‘Sinema 2′ here: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sinema-Sympathy-Devil-Rod-Glenn/dp/1907954066/ref=tmm_pap_title_0

Download your copy of ‘Sinema 2′  here: http://amzn.to/VnWm0h

Review: ‘Settled Blood’ by Mari Hannah

A young girl is found at the base of Hadrian’s Wall and DCI Kate Daniels is called in to investigate. Shortly after the gruesome discovery, a prominent businessman reports his daughter missing. A pattern begins to form. As the investigation delves into the seedier side of the north-east, a number of suspects emerge and begin to complicate matters further for Daniels.

If you read ‘The Murder Wall’ by Mari Hannah, you will be aware that Kate Daniels is a complex, intelligently written character with plenty of skeletons in her own closet to contend with as well as being head of an investigative team. Her team, too, are believable characters with very human problems. This makes the story all the more realistic.

‘Settled Blood’ is absolutely compelling, I didn’t want to put it down. Almost everyone is a suspect in this fast-paced, intelligent thriller. I love Hannah’s ability to evoke a certain feeling that relates specifically to the north-east of England, her understanding of the locale and her wonderful descriptions add a lot to her clever narratives.

I cannot wait to read the next Kate Daniels novel.

Vic x

Download ‘Settled Blood’ here: http://amzn.to/REpwE8

Order your copy of ‘Settled Blood’ here: http://amzn.to/X9jwKw 

Review: ‘K Parker: A Lot to Answer For’ by Lucy Harland.

Are you wondering what 2013 holds for you? Well, you can read how it pans out for barrister Kate Parker in this lovely chick-lit offering from Lucy Harland.

The uniqueness in this book is that it’s not narrated by anyone but the reader gets to read Kate’s texts, emails, mobile locations and social network messages. Voyeuristic it may be but this book is original and addictive.

Kate’s an independent woman with a small group of friends who continuously try to set her up on dates. She’s like Bridget Jones if Bridget actually cared about her job! Kate Parker works her socks off but knows how to enjoy life too. However, the arrival of Andy “hot” Hall in Kate’s life changes everything.

Set in the North-East, this novel is a real gem. Lucy Harland’s writing is witty, clever and full of heart. She paints her characters so vividly that I could see them in my mind. I loved reading this book and when I couldn’t read it (i.e. when at work), I was desperate to know what would happen to the characters! It is compulsive reading.

If you like Cecelia Aherne, Sophie Kinsella and Adele Parks, you have to read Lucy Harland’s debut novel.

I can’t wait to read her next offering!

Vic x

Download ‘K Parker: A Lot to Answer For’ here: http://amzn.to/101TASS 

Victoria Watson’s Review of 2012.

On today, the final day of 2012, it’s my turn to review my year. 

2012 has been a changeable year for you. Do you have a favourite memory professionally?

I have a couple of professional moments that stand out for me this year. In August, I was given the job of official blogger at the Whitley Bay Film Festival. It’s a local project that’s in its third year and I was just thrilled to be involved. Whitley Bay is a seaside town that’s much beloved by people all over the UK, it was a popular holiday destination in the times when overseas packages were the things of dreams. The film festival holds showings in iconic buildings all over Whitley – including the old Spanish City Dome and the Lighthouse. The Film Festival is run completely by volunteers and I have got so much respect for the people involved. Not only do they set up the timetable, secure venues and get them ready for public viewings, they also make every screening unique as well as getting members of the community involved in a range of activities. I ate a lot of popcorn over those two weeks and I loved every second of it.

The other moment is when I found out that my short story, The Piano, had won first prize in North Tyneside council’s Story Tyne competition. I received a letter informing me I was a winner but to find out which position I was in, I’d need to attend an awards ceremony on 29^th November. I was pretty sure I’d come third, and was really just happy to be in the top three out of the hundreds that entered.

The lovely Mari Hannah judged the stories blindly and gave awards out in the children’s category, giving a brief synopsis of each story before announcing the title and name of the author. After that, came the adult category. When Mari read out the story in third place’s synopsis, I realised it wasn’t mine. Second, I thought, that’s pretty great. And then the synopsis for second place story was read out – and it wasn’t mine. A small tear slid down my face and The Boy Wonder squeezed my hand. My parents, my brother and his girlfriend had come to support me and I was really chuffed to win. Writing can be lonely and I often doubt myself and my writing so to get feedback from anyone is always helpful but winning an award made me realise I must be doing something right.

And how about a favourite moment from 2012 generally?

I was so relieved when President Obama got re-elected as I was petrified what America might come to if Romney had won.

However, the surprise of 2012 for me was the Olympics. I sat watching the opening ceremony, moaning about the waste of money and the farce that had been G4S but by Day 2, I was absolutely enthralled. My dad was an Olympic Ambassador while Newcastle hosted some of the football heats and he loved every moment of it. I remember visiting the city centre on the day of one of the matches and the atmosphere in town was absolutely wonderful. Everyone was smiling and I think the games in general really lifted the country. For me, though, the Paralympics was absolutely amazing. The stories of the athletes, from people who were born with disabilities to others who had been injured during childhood or in later life, were massively inspiring.

Favourite book in 2012?

I recently read ‘The Casual Vacancy’ by JK Rowling and it is one of the best books I’ve ever read. I’ve never read any of her ‘Harry Potter’ books but the depth and intelligence she’s written in ‘The Casual Vacancy’ is absolutely immense. It’s a real tour de force. As an author, I found it absolutely incredible and ever so slightly intimidating!

Favourite film of 2012?

Loved ‘The Woman in Black’ – absolute fright-fest.

I’d waited four years for ‘The Dark Knight Rises’ and, although there were some things I was disappointed with, it was still totally one of the best films I’ve seen in ages.

Having not read ‘The Hunger Games’, I was really impressed with the movie. Like ‘Dark Knight Rises’, it had plenty of action which looked great on the big screen plus the costumes and sets are wonderful.

Favourite song of the year?

‘Paris’ by Jay-Z and Kanye West has been a massive favourite for me. My brother and I went to see them in Birmingham and, although I’d loved it before, seeing them do it live was ace.

Latterly, I have been obsessed with ‘Candy’ by Robbie Williams. It’s a real return to form for him and every time I hear it, I can’t help smiling and singing along.

Any downsides for you in 2012?

My health is a real struggle, it makes everything so much harder. I’m still undergoing investigations to give it an official name but it appear my immune system is attacking my body which means day-to-day is difficult and if I get an infection, I’m really knocked for six. But I remain really hopeful that I will get better or at least manage to keep myself on a more even keel.

Are you making resolutions for 2013?

I’d like to be more disciplined about my writing but I also know I have to be realistic and not run myself into the ground. That said, I promised myself 2013 would be the year I finished writing my novel so that’s my main aim.

What are you hoping for from 2013?

I’ve been so lucky that I’ve released two e-books this year and been featured in a couple of anthologies but in 2013, I’d love to complete my novel and get a publishing deal (a girl can dream, can’t she?).

I’d like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for reading this blog and for getting involved. From reblogs to retweets, interviews to short stories and everything in between, this blog wouldn’t be the same without the readers and contributors. I had hoped to have 20,000 views by the end of 2012 which may seem modest to many people but this blog has been going for just over a year and a half so 20,000 seemed pretty impressive. However, on 16^th December, the blog reached the magic number. It gets views from so many different countries every day, it amazes me. So thank you for reading and supporting this blog.

I wish you all a very happy 2013! 

Getting to Know You (again): Alexander McNabb.

Alexander McNabb enjoyed appearing on the blog last time that he’s gone and written another piece for elementaryvwatson! Today Alexander discusses how his new novel ‘Beirut’ came about – and how fate can always surprise you.

Vic x

‘Beirut – An Explosive Thriller’ happened after a British literary agent rejected the manuscript that would become my first book, ‘Olives – A Violent Romance’, with the immortal words, “It’s not dramatic enough”.

Right, you lot, I thought. Let’s give you dramatic. The result is a romp through Hamburg, Prague, Spain, Malta, Albania, the Greek Islands and, of course, that sexiest and richest of cities, Beirut.

Beirut’s got it all. It’s got nuclear warheads, psychotic arms dealers, hookers, sex, guns, bombs and spies as well as murderous sophisticates and $40 million luxury yachts. It’s amazing how much mayhem you can pack into a hundred thousand words.

The book tells the story of billionaire Lebanese businessman Michel Freij, who is poised to become the next president of Lebanon. His dramatic calls for a new, strong regional role for the country take on a sinister note when European intelligence reveals Freij has bought two ageing Soviet nuclear warheads from a German arms dealer.

It’s down to “difficult” British intelligence officer Gerald Lynch to find the warheads, believed to be on board super-yacht the Arabian Princess, before they can reach Lebanon. Lynch is pitched into a deadly clash with Freij and his violent militia as he pursues the Arabian Princess across the Mediterranean.

It’s even got a dramatic cover – the ‘lipstick bullet’ created for me by Lebanese art director Jessy Shoucair - was intended to communicate the mix of sexiness and violence in the book without crying out ‘civil war’, an event which – although it ended over twenty years ago – people in the West still, infuriatingly, associate with the city.

I needn’t have bothered. Beirut had a little surprise waiting for me. Just after the online edition of ‘Beirut – An Explosive Thriller’ went live, a huge bomb was detonated there, killing the head of Lebanese intelligence and several others, wounding tens more. The bomb was set off in a busy square on a Friday afternoon. It could hardly have been calculated to cause more damage – to people and property, let alone Lebanon’s stumbling tourism industry. I watched that event in real-time on Twitter, right from the very first tweet to the mess of thousands of concerned people, mobile networks failing and mainstream media fighting to be first to get the story and just muddying the water as they tweeted anything and everything they came across.

I have many friends in Beirut, and Beiruti friends elsewhere in the world. My first thought was of them and their families. My second was for poor Lebanon, already approaching crisis thanks to the mess in Syria next door. My third, slightly ashamedly, was for the book I had just published online (and am about to launch in print on the 1^st December). Where does blowing up my setting leave the book?

Of course the answer is, it doesn’t matter. I write books set in the Levant, so I have to expect my settings to be changed by conflict and the ebb and flow of the region’s quarrels. I watched the glorious old Ottoman souk in Syria’s second city, Aleppo, burning and threw my hands up – a big scene in my next book, ‘Shemlan – A Deadly Tragedy’, is set in that souk.

But it’ll be okay. As usual, life goes on around the craters and the terrible old men smoke their cigars and plan more profits as we huddle along in the shadows of broken-windowed buildings and past the bouquets laid on the streets.

Download ‘Beirut’ here: http://amzn.to/UbV84t

Order your copy of ‘Beirut’ here: http://amzn.to/QrzNZu

Download ‘Olives’ here: http://amzn.to/Tw0vuB

Order your copy of ‘Olives’ here: http://amzn.to/QrzKga

Short but Tweet interview with Mari Hannah

Today I’m pleased to welcome back my friend Mari Hannah who is celebrating the release of her second novel ‘Settled Blood’. Mari suggested, since we’re Twitter friends, that she’d try to keep the answers to 140 characters a la Twitter.

Hi Mari, welcome back to the blog! 140 characters is short, why are we trying this unique approach today? 

I’ve injured my left thumb. I had a steroid injection today. My GP said it would make the tendon brittle. If I use it, it could snap! Ouch!

‘Settled Blood’ features DCI Kate Daniels again – can we expect many more novels featuring Kate?

Yes! The 3rd in the series ‘Deadly Deceit’ is finished & ready for publication on 11th Apr 2013. The 4th is with my agent, I’m writing the 5th.

Kate is a really original character, where did she come from?

The desire to write something different, the need to tell it like it is for a section of society otherwise unrepresented in crime fiction.

I heard she first appeared in a television pilot. Is that right?

Yes, Kate has a complicated back-story and that appealed to the BBC when I pitched an idea to them. Conflicted characters make good drama!

Do you write stories not featuring Kate or is she too strong to ignore?

Shh … she might hear you! I could never ignore Kate. She’s the reason I get up in the morning. Through her I am having such a lot of fun.

The sense of place is strong in your stories, would you ever fancy writing about somewhere else?

That’s determined by the plot. Kate may be a DCI in the murder investigation team of Northumbria Police but who knows where she’ll end up?

Have your experiences in the probation service given you plenty of inspiration?

Yes, although I’d never base a fictional character on a real one. We all use personal references to inform our writing, it’s only natural.

I’ve heard so many positive reviews regarding ‘The Murder Wall’, how does it feel to have written such a well-received first book?

The reviews were amazing. It makes me very proud indeed. I’m so grateful to every single reader who has taken the trouble to give feedback.

What’s next?

‘The Settled Blood’ launch is today. A promotion tour of bookshops & events thro’ Nov. A ‘Meet the Author’ lunch at the Authors Club. Gulp!

You can chat to Mari’s in 140 character on Twitter: @mariwriter

Download ‘The Murder Wall’ – the first in the Kate Daniels series – here: http://amzn.to/Wk4OkT

Download ‘Settled Blood’ here: http://amzn.to/REpwE8

Order ‘The Murder Wall’ in paperback: http://amzn.to/X9jjXP

Order ‘Settled Blood’ in paperback here: http://amzn.to/X9jwKw

Keep up to date with Mari on her website: marihannah.com