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Death in the stars
Funny where the inspiration comes from. I downloaded an astronomy app this weekend, Night Sky Pro, and began thinking of where I might put a telescope if I bought one, again. Then I remembered that when I had one some years ago, it was usually too cold on clear nights to go out to use…
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Burning enthusiasm
Having spent the last hour or so stoking a bonfire, getting rid of old files, with Paloma Faith on the iPod, I drifted into that sublime state of contentment where the world doesn’t get any better. My thoughts wandered firstly to all the work which had created this mass of paper; all the people I’d…
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Give me that old time detection
A few nights ago I watched a thriller on TV where a couple were being tracked via cell locations where their mobile phones had been used. I made a mental note to read up on the technology. Earlier, the police had triangulated phone records to link three people of possible interest. The case was finally…
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Where does the time go?
It seems it’s just under a year since my last post, where has the time gone? I’ve been extremely lucky to find an excellent independent publisher, who has been immensely helpful. So the novel is due to be launched in April by Grey Cells Press, the crime imprint of Holland House. When I thought I…
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Getting it finished
Promised myself and my potential publisher I’d have the redraft finished by Christmas with head down and hard work. Slipping a disc doing something not in the least energetic put paid to that plan. On my back for two weeks and then unable to sit at the computer for very long meant works was more…
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My word, he’s got it!
The last month has seen an idea stewing. It’s been how to resolve the key clue in the mystery. I’ve had some help, and lots of suggestions, but it didn’t crystalise until the weekend. I spend an hour most Friday’s in a special coffee shop in Killybegs where, over tea and scone, I try to…
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Starting that novel
Today I was surfing the ‘net, looking for inspirational writing on writing and came across several books and articles with the title, more or less, of ‘how to start your novel’. Now, believe me, I think these are useful – I’ve read enough of them – and they’re full of helpful information on structure, voice,…
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On writers’ groups
One night every week I go to a writers’ group, my literary therapy. There’s eight or nine usually attend and it’s a mix of chat about the small world that is South West Donegal, books, TV, and anything else that takes our fancy plus we share our writing. Everyone is very supportive and encouraging but…
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Confusion
Revisions again today. I can only do so much at a time without having to lie down in a darkened room. It’s all very well deciding to move a scene from one place to another, but then any subsequent and consequent action needs to be changed. Keeping track of this is killing me. I don’t…
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Edit, and aids to editing
This morning, which brought the first frost, is to be spent like most mornings for what seems like the last year, revising. No, not revising for exams but revising the structure and content of a novel I thought I’d finished last Christmas. A jolly tale of three deaths in the Warwickshire countryside before the outbreak…
