From my desk to yours

Set against a rising summer heat in London, Death’s Shadow opens with a series of murders that seem impossible to connect — save for the cards left behind. Beneath the procedural tension lies something more personal, as memory, justice, and moral complexity surface for DCI Parker. To mark publication day, I spoke with TA Müller-King about the origins of the novel, writing flawed investigators, and the delicate balance between social undercurrents and gripping, page-turning suspense.

‍

The Bookseller earlier this week published an article highlighting how agents, such as Greene & Heaton, are changing their policies after an influx of AI-assisted submissions began flooding their inboxes.

And rightly so – because AI is everywhere right now.

It’s reshaping industries, accelerating workflows, and quietly embedding itself into the tools we use every day. In publishing, that can feel both exciting and unsettling as we adjust and adapt to this new AI-present world we’re facing. Authors are campaigning over IP concerns. Charts are being swamped by AI-generated content. Some writers are experimenting. Some are wary. Some are embracing while others are quietly using these tools and unsure whether they should admit it.

So how to navigate this new world? Let’s start here.

‍

I could not be happier for Philippa Malicka – it’s just been announced that IN HER DEFENCE is Reese’s Book Club’s pick for February 2026, an incredible moment for a debut novel and a hugely exciting milestone for everyone involved.

‍

2026 saw the return of the Writing Prompts section in my newsletter, and I'm so excited to share this much-loved feature. Writing prompts are a great way to exercise your creative muscles, but also help to spark story ideas and character creation. Feel free to use any of the below on your creative journey – and do share what you come up with, as I'd love to hear!

And if you want to receive new prompts straight to your inbox every month, sign up to my newsletter – The Editor's Letter – here. Writing prompts, industry news, opportunities and much more.

Ali Steed is a multi-award-winning national journalist and crime author. With more than 20 years’ experience on the receiving end of pitches, she understands exactly what journalists look for – and just as importantly, what makes them switch off. She now uses that insight to help authors find credible PR angles and approach the media with confidence.

In Ali's guest blog, she talks about why PR is so important to get right in your author journey.

‍