From my desk to yours

Despite how much I love my job of helping crime, suspense and thriller authors’ manuscripts to ooze tension and grip readers, spending all day staring at words on the page can take its toll – I think my glasses prescription has got even stronger in lockdown! – so sometimes there is nothing better than curling up on the sofa and watching a good drama of an evening.

Despite how much I love my job of helping crime, suspense and thriller authors’ manuscripts to ooze tension and grip readers, spending all day staring at words on the page can take its toll – I think my glasses prescription has got even stronger in lockdown! – so sometimes there is nothing better than curling up on the sofa and watching a good drama of an evening.

So, I thought I’d share what gripping TV is having us glued to the small screen.

Earlier this week, I was invited to talk to a group of aspiring authors at the Book Brilliance’s monthly Voice and Pen networking event on the topic of the importance of editing. It was lovely to hear from so many motivated and talented authors about their current projects, and it was a privilege to be invited to speak. The event was recorded, so you can watch the full event here, but here is a rough transcript – because, yes, in true me-style, I dropped my notes! – of the first part of my speech: Why You Should Work with an Editor on Your Next Book.

When we think of love, romance and passion, crime and thriller fiction is not the usual genre of books that spring to mind, but if you’re looking for some Valentine’s Day reads with a bit of twist, check out the titles below!

And if you’ve left it to last minute to get your writing beau the perfect gift, why not give the gift of editing this year?

Once you’ve revised your manuscript a few times, it’s easy to lose sight of what’s working and what isn’t. You know the story inside out, which makes it difficult to judge pacing, clarity, or whether key moments truly land for the reader. An Editorial Assessment steps in at exactly this point — giving you a professional, objective perspective on how the novel is functioning as a whole.

Rather than combing through the manuscript line by line, an Editorial Assessment offers a high-level, diagnostic view. It highlights your strengths, identifies areas that would benefit from development, and gives you clear priorities for your next round of revisions. It’s designed to help you understand the story you’ve written, the story you think you’ve written, and the version it has the potential to become.

‍