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What is a Vanity Press and How to Avoid One?
Authors are story tellers and whether for love or for money the want to share their stories with the world. There are many ways to do...
authorvalpenny
3 days ago3 min read
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My Writing Journey by Mollie Sykes
It is my great pleasure to welcome fellow author Mollie Sykes to the blog today. Mollie has published several books and contributed to...
authorvalpenny
Apr 123 min read
26 views
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Indie published, self-published or traditional? What can authors do to boost book sales? by Helen Matthews
It is my great pleasure to welcome best selling novelist, Helen Matthews to the blog to discuss her experiences of getting books...
authorvalpenny
Apr 57 min read
89 views
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How to Write a Good Blurb
Let's imagine you've finished writing your book, the editing is done and it's almost ready to go. Now is the time to write the blurb that...
authorvalpenny
Mar 292 min read
34 views
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The Importance of a Good Ending
We have all experienced it, reaching the end of a book and feeling let down or unsatisfied, by a lazy or boring ending. As a reader you...
authorvalpenny
Mar 222 min read
32 views
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Never Go Back by Lee Child
I am trying to work my way through the selection of Lee Child books on our shelves. I find them easy to read and, if I'm reading at...
authorvalpenny
Mar 153 min read
31 views
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Creating Realistic Characters
Every gripping story needs compelling characters to tell it and as the writer it is your job to create those characters and breathe life...
authorvalpenny
Mar 83 min read
34 views
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How to Write a Novel in Ten Steps
Some people say that everybody has a book in them. I doubt this is true. Even if it were so, I do not believe that everybody has the...
authorvalpenny
Mar 13 min read
57 views
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To Plot or Not to Plot
Authors generally fall into one of two categories, those who plot or those who don't. When I first started my writing career, I admit...
authorvalpenny
Feb 223 min read
66 views
1 comment


Avoiding a Mucky Middle
We learn early on in our writing journey that every story must have a beginning a middle and an end. We are also taught that our main...
authorvalpenny
Feb 153 min read
55 views
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Are Writing Prompts Useful?
Sometimes I have difficulty settling down to write and at other times I may struggle to decide what to write about. It is at times like...
authorvalpenny
Feb 53 min read
63 views
1 comment


Bad for Good by Graham Bartlett
I met up with Graham Bartlett again at Newcastle Noir, in December. The festival is run by the inimitable Jacky Gramozi Collins (aka Dr...
authorvalpenny
Feb 13 min read
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The Importance of Setting in DI Hunter Crime Thrillers
The main setting for the DI Hunter Wilson Crime Thrillers is Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland. It is a beautiful city but relatively...
authorvalpenny
Jan 302 min read
21 views
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Red Daisy by Gemma Owen-Kendall
I am thrilled to be part of the tour for the new novel, Red Daisy by Gemma Owen-Kendall arranged by Lynsey Adams of Reading Between the...
authorvalpenny
Jan 253 min read
19 views
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Stranraer - Authors Invade Scotland 22-23 August 2025
I am taking part in the two day event that is the international book signing taking place in August. It is being arranged by authors...
authorvalpenny
Jan 221 min read
42 views
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New Year, New Plans, Independent Minds
The start of a new year is always exciting with the opportunity to look forward rather than back. This year my publishers, SpellBound...
authorvalpenny
Jan 182 min read
105 views
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Red Daisy by Gemma Owen-Kendall
I have just finished reading a book, Red Daisy , by an author new to me, Gemma Owen-Kendall. Not only that, but the genre, fantasy...
authorvalpenny
Jan 152 min read
29 views
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Why I Write by Sharon Cook
Today it is a delight to welcome my friend and fellow author Sharon Cook to the blog to explain her compulsion to write. Sharon's debut...
authorvalpenny
Jan 113 min read
29 views
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A Good Way to Start a Novel
I thought for the new year I would start at the beginning so let's look at how to start your book in a way that will grab the readers'...
authorvalpenny
Jan 84 min read
36 views
0 comments


Why I Write by Allison Symes
It is always a joy to welcome my friend and fellow author, Allison Symes to the blog. She is not only a talented writer but also an...
authorvalpenny
Jan 43 min read
27 views
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