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Well... my nails are shredded 😬 I read this in Well... my nails are shredded 😬 I read this in probably three sittings, and even that was too long. I couldn't put it down. If you want a masterclass in writing tension, this is it. Initially I went for it because of the title (some titles just intrigue me, even when the genre or the cover isn't something I would normally go for) but I stayed for the heartbreaking MC narration, and for the villain of the story - one of the creepiest, even though I feel like they don't say a whole lot throughout 🤐 I won't give anything away, but it should sum it up to say that apparently Marian Keyes called this book "Misery meets Room". Perfect comparison really. If you want something uplifting, this is NOT for you. Kidnapping, human trafficking, abuse, it's all in there. But it's brilliantly written and tense to the max. Highly recommend to my fellow crime and thriller fans out there 📚 #thelastthingtoburn by Will Dean
Took alllllll the notes this week during @prowrit Took alllllll the notes this week during @prowritingaid.insta's Crime Writer's Week. I was obviously in my element with sessions like 'Crime Scene Management' and 'History of the Mystery' 🤓🤓🤓
Happy pubs-are-open week! 🍻 Some good writing Happy pubs-are-open week! 🍻 Some good writing things: ▪ My copywriting workload is finally manageable again after a fortnight-long balancing act ▪ One of my stories was shortlisted for a competition from Cranked Anvil Press 🎉 ▪I sent off an excerpt from my novel to the second round of an amaaazing competition. I always try not to get my hopes up but I am the KEENEST OF BEANS for this one 🤞🏻 Some not-so-good writing things: ▪ I spent most of my time outside in the park, achieving a grand total of 0 words written on my story. But when you live in the UK and the sun comes out, what else is there to do? ☀️ Now for some fun facts about this picture: ▪ My ring is new and it's called a 'hug ring' - love it! ▪ Yes a picture of a full cup of hot chocolate would have been more aesthetically pleasing, but I got to be me, and me never waits to drink a hot chocolate ▪ I had to put a filter on this picture because my hand looks like that of an actual reptile - need some hand cream pronto How's your week been?
📢 Went into a bookshop for the first time. It w 📢 Went into a bookshop for the first time. It was amazing. I want all the books. That is all.
I've taken a few weeks off from working on the fir I've taken a few weeks off from working on the first draft I finished last month. As much as I love my story, I was waaaaay too close to it in the end, so this break has been very necessary. In a couple more weeks I'll start the editing process, but for now I continue to wake up in the middle of the night and make this face when I remember things I wrote that don't make sense 😧😂 I've been watching a lot of Arrested Development during this much-needed break from my manuscript, so this meme felt right 🤪 Anyone else taking a break from their writing? Or about to dive back in?
I've been reading a LOT over lockdown and barely p I've been reading a LOT over lockdown and barely posting about the books I like, so I thought I'd start sharing more, starting with The Guest List by Lucy Foley 🔍 Her previous book, The Hunting Party, seemed to be a huge success, and I intended to buy that one first, but came across The Guest List and moved it to the front of the list, mainly because of the setting. I think a wedding is such a great location for a murder mystery because tensions are already running high, past grudges are easily revived, and the pressure is on to make sure the day is perfect. Spoiler alert... this one definitely doesn't go to plan. But you probably already suspected that 👀 I'm also a big fan of those little bits of teaser copy on the front of books. My Kindle version doesn't have it, but the paperback version says 'The Guest List... you'd kill to be on it' - compelling and chilling, I love it! This book is a good old fashioned murder mystery set at a lavish wedding off the coast of Ireland during a bad storm, adding to the menacing nature of the guests' encounter with a dead body that turns up. It has a diverse cast of characters all with their own secrets and possible motives. Add to that the storm that makes it pretty much impossible for any characters to leave, or for the police to come save the day, it makes for a pretty tense read 🕵️‍♀️ If you like Agatha Christie vibes, wedding drama, and fast-paced reads, you'll enjoy this 📚 Have you read it? Did you like it? And what others would you recommend in this genre?
Using the backdrop of our overgrown garden to show Using the backdrop of our overgrown garden to show off my #womensfiction short story in @primamag this month 🤸 The illustration by @catherinenoel is so bright and colourful, I love it! 🤩 Finally finding a copy in my local supermarket was the perfect way to end the Easter weekend 👌 (I may have also come home with a gigantic discounted white chocolate rabbit... 🐇)
A little snippet of last week when I finally submi A little snippet of last week when I finally submitted something exciting that I've been working on. Lots of late nights (as you can see from my eyes in the photo!), early mornings, and moments of saying "this is trash" even though deep down I know it's not. And it's finally finished! 🥂 I celebrated by pointing at my whiteboard schedule, eating an egg mcmuffin and ignoring my phone for a week. It's been glorious 🎉 Now putting that project aside for a while, for my sanity! I've seen people say you should set your book aside for at least 6 weeks between edits - does anyone else do this? How long do you leave it for? 🤔 I'm putting mine in a digital drawer for a while, but not sure when to come back to it yet. I'd love to hear from anyone who's done this before! 📔
The last few weeks I've been in a book editing com The last few weeks I've been in a book editing coma trying to meet a deadline, and things are starting to take shape 😅 @jessicastoate sent me moral support in the form of this notebook (my new favourite), which I obviously had to share. Full disclosure: I wasn't drunk when I wrote the book I'm currently working on, but every so often I come across a sentence that makes me think... was I? 🤔🍺😂

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