How to use historical research in your novel

Research is key to a convincing historical novel. And I’d say the most important rule is using original first sources. For The Ice Child, I visited the Scott Polar Research Institute in Cambridge, the Anthony Nolan Trust and Great Ormond Street Hospital. I found...

5 Ways to Create Successful Characters in Your Novel

The golden rule – rounded, three dimensional people. Good characters are not all good. Bad characters are not all bad. 100% angelic heroes or heroines are not believable, and also once you manage to elicit sympathy for your predator/anti-hero/abuser in your...

PrimaDonna Festival, Suffolk

I’m not one for festivals. I freely admit I’m the last surviving human who hasn’t been to Glastonbury, Latitude, the Isle of Wight, Reading or anything else remotely festival shaped. Until three weeks ago. A friend and I decided to go to the very...

A life in crime

I’ve spent the summer looking at best-selling crime fiction. I started my career with six psychological thrillers, but one thing that a writer must appreciate is that the market changes: the readership changes, language changes, laws change, and technology....

Life in colour – my paintings

I took A Level art several centuries ago, and for a while considered going to art college. I didn’t take that route in the end, but I’ve always been really enthusiastic about art and art history. My novel ‘The Girl in the Green Glass mirror’,...