Steph Broadribb's Blog, page 7
December 5, 2017
Price Drop Alert: #MyLittleEye just £1.99 on #Kindle for limited time! #crimefiction
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Quick, listen up… the ebook of My Little Eye – my brand new ‘hunt for a serial killer’ thriller is on a special £1.99 price promotion on Kindle.
My Little Eye came out last month in ebook and I’ve been thrilled at the rave reviews it’s been getting from readers, bloggers and fellow crime writers. Here’s a couple of examples of what people are saying:
“My Little Eye is an enthralling, intriguing and twisty tale for all of us armchair detectives who think we know it all.” Liz Nugent, author of LYING IN WAIT and UNRAVELLING OLIVER.
“The first novel in what promises to be a riveting new series, My Little Eye is a one-sitting read: gripping, clever and worryingly plausible.” Mick Herron, author of SLOW HORSES and SPOOK STREET
“My Little Eye is a bang on psychological thriller of the most addictive kind.” Goodreads
“Beautifully paced writing that had me speeding through every chapter at a rate of knots. Easily one of my favourite reads this year so far.” Goodreads
Fancy finding out what My Little Eye is all about? Well, here’s the blurb…
Can a group of true crime addicts take on the police to catch a serial killer? Could you catch the killer?
Clementine Starke thinks she can. As a string of young women are found dead in their homes surrounded by rose petals, it’s becoming clear that London has a new serial killer; ‘The Lover’. Reeling from her own disturbing past, Clementine bands together with an online crime collective and immerses herself in the case, desperate to beat the police and catch The Lover before he kills again. But with the body count rising, Clementine discovers that trying to catch a killer is safer from behind a keyboard.
If My Little Eye sounds like your sort of read then click on this link to Amazon UK to grab it at the bargain price of £1.99.
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November 16, 2017
THREE GREAT NEW CRIME BOOKS: IT’S #CRIMEOCLOCK! WITH SUSI HOLLIDAY, CORRIE JACKSON AND JENNY BLACKHURST
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Fantastic crime novel alert! Out in paperback today are three fantastic new crime thrillers from Susi Holliday, Corrie Jackson and Jenny Blackhurst.
To celebrate, Susi, Corrie and Jenny are doing a live Twitter Q&A today – Thursday 16th November – from 6pm to 7pm – you can ask them anything using the hashtag #crimeoclock
And, in addition, you can win all three books by taking part in the giveaway on my Stephanie Marland Facebook page. Just like my page and let me know in the comments when you prefer to read – what time of day is crime o’clock for you? Click HERE to follow a link to the competition.
Here’s some more about the books and their authors:
THE DEATHS OF DECEMBER by SUSI HOLLIDAY
Here’s the blurb: “It looks like a regular advent calendar. Until DC Becky Greene starts opening doors… and discovers a crime scene behind almost every one. The police hope it’s a prank. Because if it isn’t, a murderer has just surfaced – someone who’s been killing for twenty years. But why now? And why has he sent it to this police station? As the country relaxes into festive cheer, Greene and DS Eddie Carmine must race against time to catch the killer. Because there are four doors left, and four murders will fill them… It’s shaping up to be a deadly little Christmas.”
Three fun facts about Susi Holliday:
What was your favourite snack while writing this book? Chocolate oranges (that’s a fruit, right?)
What’s your favourite drink to celebrate on publication night? Prosecco (with a blood-dripping raspberry in it)
Describe your book in three words: Dark Christmassy murders.
THE PERFECT VICTIM by CORRIE JACKSON
Here’s the blurb: “Charlie and Emily Swift are the Instagram-perfect couple: gorgeous, successful and in love. But then Charlie is named as the prime suspect in a gruesome murder and Emily’s world falls apart. Desperate for answers, she turns to Charlie’s troubled best friend, London Herald journalist, Sophie Kent. Sophie knows police have the wrong man – she trusts Charlie with her life. Then Charlie flees. Sophie puts her reputation on the line to clear his name. But as she’s drawn deeper into Charlie and Emily’s unraveling marriage, she realizes that there is nothing perfect about the Swifts. As she begins to question Charlie’s innocence, something happens that blows the investigation – and their friendship – apart. Now Sophie isn’t just fighting for justice, she’s fighting for her life.”
Three fun facts about Corrie Jackson:
What was your favourite snack while writing this book? Lindt chocolate balls (don’t ask – I started writing it eight weeks after my daughter was born. I needed an incentive)
What’s your favourite drink to celebrate on publication night? Gin, preferably via intravenous drip
Describe your book in three words: Pants-wettingly creepy (I know that’s officially two. And that ‘wettingly’ isn’t a real world but JUST READ THE BOOK)
THE FOSTER CHILD by JENNY BLACKHURST
What the blurb says: “When child psychologist Imogen Reid takes on the case of 11-year-old Ellie Atkinson, she refuses to listen to warnings that the girl is dangerous. Ellie was the only survivor of a fire that killed her family, Imogen is convinced she’s just a sad and angry child struggling to cope with her loss. But Ellie’s foster parents and teachers are starting to fear her. When she gets upset, bad things seem to happen. And as Imogen gets closer to Ellie, she may be putting herself in danger…”
Three fun facts about Jenny Blackhurst:
What was your favourite snack while writing this book? Mature cheddar and caramelized onion chutney toasties
What’s your favourite drink to celebrate on publication night? Hot chocolate and marshmallows (yes, I am that rock n roll)
Describe your book in three words: Chilling, evil, disturbing
To find out more about these three brilliant new releases, link on the book titles below to check them out on Amazon:
November 15, 2017
WHOOP! DEEP BLUE TROUBLE (LORI ANDERSON BOOK 2) OUT IN EBOOK TODAY!
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I’m so excited!
DEEP BLUE TROUBLE – the second book in the Lori Anderson action thriller series – is published today in eBook.
Following on a few days from where the first book in the series – DEEP DOWN DEAD – ended, DEEP BLUE TROUBLE is the next instalment in the life of kick-ass single mom Florida bounty hunter Lori Anderson. It’s a book about being taken seriously as a woman in a male dominated profession, protecting your child, getting revenge, and seeing just how far someone will go to protect the ones they love…
Here’s the blurb:
How far would you go to protect the ones you love?
Single-mother Florida bounty hunter Lori Anderson’s got an ocean of trouble on her hands. Her daughter Dakota is safe, but her cancer is threatening a comeback and Lori needs JT – Dakota’s daddy and the man who taught Lori everything – alive and kicking.
Problem is, he’s behind bars, and heading for death row.
Desperate to save him, Lori does a deal, taking an off-the-books job from shady FBI agent Alex Monroe. Bring back on-the-run felon, Gibson ‘The Fish’ Fletcher, and JT walks free.
But this is one job she’s got to get right, or she’ll lose everything…
Breathlessly paced. High-voltage action. Edge-of-your-seat jeopardy. DEEP BLUE TROUBLE marks the return of the most memorable and fearless female characters in crime fiction.
You can buy it now from Amazon UK: HERE
You can buy it now from Amazon US: HERE
[If you prefer your books in hard copy, DEEP BLUE TROUBLE will be out in paperback on 15th January 2018 in the UK and in May 2018 in the USA]
November 14, 2017
CTG REVIEWS: THE DEATHS OF DECEMBER by SUSI HOLLIDAY
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Here’s the blurb: “It looks like a regular advent calendar. Until DC Becky Greene starts opening doors… and discovers a crime scene behind almost every one. The police hope it’s a prank. Because if it isn’t, a murderer has just surfaced – someone who’s been killing for twenty years. But why now? And why has he sent it to this police station? As the country relaxes into festive cheer, Greene and DS Eddie Carmine must race against time to catch the killer. Because there are four doors left, and four murders will fill them…”
I’ve never read a serial killer book set at Christmas time before, but there’s something creepily macabre and don’t-you-dare-look-away compelling about the combination of Christmas tunes, tinsel and blood splatter.
In The Deaths of December, Susi Holliday introduces a great new police pairing – DC Becky Greene and DS Eddie Carmine. Becky is fresh into the job and as enthusiastic as she is tenacious. Eddie has more experience, and is more measured, thorough – or at least he believes he always has been. They make for a great duo, not always seeing eye-to-eye, but getting on and recognizing each other’s strengths nonetheless. And that’s important, because the case they’ve been assigned is a tricky one.
How do you catch a serial killer who’s been killing for twenty years undetected? He doesn’t have a specific victim ‘type’ and he kills in different ways, in different towns, on different days. The only thing that seems to connect the crimes is the gruesome advent calendar he sent to the police – but why send it?
As Becky and Eddie investigate the case it takes them away from their loved ones just as the festive period is beginning in earnest. They’re focused on the case, on catching the killer before he strikes this Christmas. They assume that there’ll be able to spend time with their families afterwards. But will they? Because the closer they get to the killer, the closer he gets to the ones they love…
Peppered with sharply observed Christmas holiday and habit references, this is a sparkly and blood-splattered read. It’s the perfect antidote to too much turkey and Christmas pudding – creepy, tense and twisty-turny as hell. I loved it!
Fans of police procedurals are going to want to make sure they’ve got a copy of The Deaths of December in their Christmas socking.
THE DEATHS OF DECEMBER is out on 16th November.
You can pre-order it from Amazon HERE
And find out more about Susi Holliday and her books by hopping over to her website and blog HERE
November 7, 2017
THE CTG CRIME THRILLER CLUB NOVEMBER GIVEAWAY: FEARLESS FEMALES BOOKS & GOODIES
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This month the CTG Crime Thriller Club member exclusive giveaway is all about FEARLESS FEMALES.
The prize is a set of four thrillers featuring fearless female main characters – The Freedom Broker by KJ Howe, Deep Down Dead by Steph Broadribb, Born Bad by Marnie Riches, and Huntress Moon by Alexandra Sokoloff – plus a ‘Born Bad’ baseball cap, a Jessica ‘Into The Wild’ nail polish trio, a pair of Ann Summers handcuffs, a Deep Down Dead keyring bottle opener, and a bookmark.
The giveaway is exclusively for members of the CTG Crime Thriller Club. All members are automatically entered, and the winner will be drawn on 30th November 2017.
If you’re not already a member but would like to be in with a chance of winning, all you need to do is sign up before 30th November by filling in your name and email HERE
Here’s a bit more about the books…
THE FREEDOM BROKER by KJ HOWE: “At eight years old, Thea Paris watched her brother being snatched from his bed. Her inability to save him has haunted both their lives ever since. Twenty years later, the unthinkable happens when her billionaire father is abducted. But this time, she is prepared. Now, Thea is at the top of her game as a freedom broker, negotiating for the release of kidnap victims around the world. And she has only one objective: Find him or die trying…”
DEEP DOWN DEAD by STEPH BROADRIBB: “Lori Anderson is as tough as they come, managing to keep her career as a fearless Florida bounty hunter separate from her role as single mother to nine-year-old Dakota, who suffers from leukaemia. But when the hospital bills start to rack up, she has no choice but to take her daughter along on a job that will make her a fast buck. And that’s when things start to go wrong. The fugitive she’s assigned to haul back to court is none other than JT, Lori’s former mentor – the man who taught her everything she knows … the man who also knows the secrets of her murky past. ”
BORN BAD by MARNIE RICHES: “When gang leader Paddy O’Brien is stabbed in his brother’s famous nightclub, Manchester’s criminal underworld is shaken to the core. Tensions are running high, and as the body count begins to grow, the O’Brien family must face a tough decision – sell their side of the city to the infamous Boddlington gang or stick it out and risk losing their king. But war comes easy to the bad boys, and they won’t go down without a fight. So begins a fierce battle for the South Side, with the leading Manchester gangsters taking the law into their own hands – but only the strongest will survive…”
HUNTRESS MOON by ALEXANDRA SOKOLOFF: “FBI Special Agent Matthew Roarke is closing in on a bust of a major criminal organization in San Francisco when he witnesses an undercover member of his team killed right in front of him on a busy street, an accident Roarke can’t believe is coincidental. His suspicions put him on the trail of a mysterious young woman who appears to have been present at each scene of a years-long string of ‘accidents’ and murders, an who may well be that most rare of killers: a female serial.”
November 3, 2017
CTG’S BOOK NEWS: #MyLittleEye out in ebook now!
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Yesterday my first book under the pen name Stephanie Marland was published. It was thrilling to see the ebook delivered to my Kindle first thing in the morning (yes, I bought my own ebook!) and it’s so exciting to see the story out there in the world. I spent the day on Twitter, FaceBook and Instagram, and the night drinking prosecco!
It’s the first in the Starke and Bell crime thriller series and is published by Trapeze (who are part of Orion). The paperback will be out in April 2018.
HERE’S THE BLURB:
Can a group of true crime addicts take on the police to catch a serial killer?
Could you catch a killer?
Clementine Starke thinks she can. As a string of young women are found dead in their homes surrounded by rose petals, it’s becoming clear that London has a new serial killer; ‘The Lover’. Reeling from her own disturbing past, Clementine bands together with an online crime collective and immerses herself in the case, desperate to beat the police and catch The Lover before he kills again. But with the body count rising, Clementine discovers that trying to catch a killer is safer from behind a keyboard.
HERE’S WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING:
‘The first novel in what promises to be a riveting new series, My Little Eye is a one-sitting read: gripping, clever and worryingly plausible.’ Mick Herron author of REAL TIGERS and SPOOK STREET
‘My Little Eye is an enthralling, intriguing and twisty tale for all of us armchair detectives who think we know it all.’ Liz Nugent, author of LYING IN WAIT and UNRAVELLING OLIVER
‘A clever, twisting, nightmare-inducing read, I couldn’t put this one down’ Chris Whitaker, author of ALL THE WICKED GIRLS
‘Ingeniously plotted and perfectly chilling, Marland knows how to ratchet up the tension and keep her readers balancing on the edge. A dark, mysterious thriller with characters you can’t wait to meet again. I loved it.’ Susi Holliday, author of THE DEATHS OF DECEMBER
‘A masterclass in pacing & such an original take on the serial killer thriller’ Eva Dolan, author of THIS IS HOW IT ENDS
‘This is a multi-layered, gripping read steeped in authenticity that will keep you up at night.’ Catherine Ryan Howard, author of DISTRESS SIGNALS
WANT TO FIND OUT MORE?
Hop over to Amazon UK HERE or Amazon US HERE
October 15, 2017
CTG’s Confessions from Bouchercon 2017: Toronto “Passport to Murder”
For the last six days the Bouchercon festival hotel – the glorious Sheraton Toronto – has been my home. It’s been a whirlwind of a week starting with a visit to Niagara Falls and ending with the launch of Scottish crime writer Gordon Brown’s latest thriller – Falling Too.
I’ve met some fantastic people, fought jet lag and hangovers, and eaten a lot of veggie burgers. Here are some of my highlights:
Niagara Falls with the lovely Karin Salvalaggio and Jacques Filippi. If you get the chance to go definitely take the Maid of the Mist tour – you get very wet but it’s so worth it.
Speed Dating breakfast – partnering up with the lovely Margaret Mizushima and meeting over 150 readers in two hours over breakfast. It was an early start (7.30am!!) but so worth it.
Debut breakfast – another 7.30am start but again very worth it to meet all the other debut authors and readers (plus getting to eat the best lemon and poppyseed bread ever!).
Talking about how I mess with Lori on the ‘My Poor Puppet’ panel with fab moderator Prof Dean Jobb, and awesome crime writers Steve Burrows, Blake Crouch, Karen Dionne, and Matthew Fitzsimmons.
Being one of the debut authors on the ‘New Kids in Town’ panel with the dynamic Eric Beetner as moderator and fellow debuts Matt Goldmann, Kristen Lepionka, Jennifer Soosar, and Mary Torjussen.
Hanging out in Quinn’s Bar with fellow UK crime writers William Shaw, Mark Billingham, Mark Edwards, and Guy Bolton.
Dinner at Little Anthony’s with Team Orenda.
Grabbing coffee and cookies with the brilliant NYC blogger Abby Crime by the Book.
The whole Bouchercon vibe.
Celebrating Gordon Brown’s latest book – Falling Too – in Quinn’s.
September 30, 2017
Love #crimefiction – grab a #freebie in the CRIME SPREE story giveaway on @Instafreebie
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One day, a group of internationally bestselling crime authors got together to give away some of their best material for free. Readers were thrilled. The authors were delighted. Then the first corpse was discovered …
For one week only (September 30th to October 6th) you can download short stories from Simon Toyne, Harry Bingham, Tammy Cohen, Chris Ewan, Lucy Dawson, Mason Cross, Rebecca Bradley, Mark Hill and me for free. Just pop over to the Instafreebie website, sign up for the author’s readers club, and the story is yours.
From gritty crime fiction, to nail-biting psychological thriller, and rocket-paced action, there’s something for everyone. Download one, some, or all of the stories. All for absolutely free!
Pop over to Instafreebie and see what takes your fancy by clicking here: GET FREEBIES
Happy reading!
September 21, 2017
CTG REVIEWS: BLOODY SCOTLAND – the bloody brilliant book! #BloodyScotland
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What happens when top crime writers Val McDermid, Chris Brookmyre, Denise Mina, Ann Cleeves, Louise Welsh, Lin Anderson, Gordon Brown, Doug Johnstone, Craig Robertson, E S Thomson, Sara Sheridan and Stuart MacBride put together a collection of short stories inspired by some of Scotland’s most dazzling and iconic historical sites?
A bloody brilliant book, that’s what!
Like an adrenaline fuelled road (and across water) trip through Scotland and the islands, the Bloody Scotland book is a heart-pumping exploration of geography, history and breathtaking crime fiction and suspense.
I loved the ancient mystery of the runes in Lin Anderson’s present day/1151 story ORKAHAUGR – evoking the mystical elements of Maeshowe on Orkney as a Professor sets out to experience the phenomenon of the setting sun entering a 5000 year old chambered cairn and discovers the secret within its walls. The heartbreaking ANCIENT AND MODERN by Val McDermid has the intriguing The Hermit’s Castle as the setting for both romance and revenge, and Doug Johnstone’s PAINTING THE FORTH BRIDGE provides a nail-bitingly tense thriller. One of my favourites has to be Chris Brookmyre’s THE LAST SEIGE OF BOTHWELL CASTLE – it’s full of twists and turns, and brilliant dialogue (especially the hilarious discussions about who’s the better character – William Wallace or Legolas – and whether Robin Hood is real!).
So how did the book come about?
Well, Historic Environment Scotland (HES) is the lead public body charged with caring for, protecting and promoting the historic environment. 2017 has been designated the Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology and The Bloody Scotland book is a part of that. James Crawford, Publisher HES and editor of the book says, ‘I found myself talking to the co-founder of the Bloody Scotland Crime Writing Festival, Lin Anderson, and its director Bob McDevitt, in the Authors’ Yurt at the Edinburgh International Book Festival in August 2016. ‘What if?’ I asked them. ‘What if we asked twelve of Scotland’s top crime writers to write short stories inspired by twelve of our most iconic buildings? What would they think? What would they come up with?’ This book is the answer… Bloody Scotland, then, is a tribute to two of our nation’s greatest assets – our crime writing and our built heritage’.
The Bloody Scotland Book is out today (21st September 2017). You can order it from Amazon HERE and from Waterstones HERE
The Bloody Scotland Crime Writing Festival in Stirling is a must-attend festival for all crime fiction lovers. Next year the festival will run from Friday 21st to Sunday 23rd September 2018. Hop over to the website HERE for more information.
And don’t forget to check out all the fantastic stops along THE BLOODY SCOTLAND BOOK blog tour…
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September 18, 2017
CTG INTERVIEWS: NGAIO MARSH AWARDS FINALIST BEN SANDERS ABOUT MARSHALL’S LAW
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Today I’m delighted to be hosting a stop on the Ngaio Marsh Awards Finalists Blog Tour and featuring one of the finalists – Ben Sanders.
Ben Sanders scored a multi-book deal and published his first crime novels while he was studying engineering at university. Now juggling engineering work and writing, Sanders’ most recent tales are action-packed thrillers starring former New York City undercover cop Marshall Grade, living in witness protection in the American southwest. His fifth novel, Marshall’s Law, is a finalist for the 2017 Ngaio Marsh Award for Best Crime Novel.
CWA Gold Dagger winner Michael Robotham has described Marshall Grade as a ‘noble loner’ who’s a great read for fans of Jack Reacher and Jason Bourne. Let’s find out more…
Marshall Grade is a pretty hands-on, action man kind of lead – what inspired you to create him as a character?
I like a good mix of noir in my crime, so I knew my hero (or anti-hero, as he turned out) would be the kind of self-sufficient gentleman who could get to the bottom of things, and be happy to throw the odd punch along the way. My previous three New Zealand-set novels had focused on an Auckland police detective, but when it came to my US books, I wanted to write about a character who was ‘outside the system.’ So Marshall (being a former undercover policeman) has the experience to move in criminal circles, but he doesn’t have the heft of a government institution to back him up. In plain terms he’s a vigilante. That of course puts him in competitive territory among fictional male heroes, but Marshall being a self-taught bruiser with a guilt complex means he has his quirks and points of difference.
You’re from New Zealand, but you set your most recent two novels (the Marshall Grade series) in the United States; New Mexico and New York. How did you go about researching where you set those stories, and making it as authentic as possible?
I’d been reading American crime novels since I was thirteen, and Western culture is fairly US-centric anyway, so I felt like I’d had good ambient exposure to Americana. But of course the best research is first-hand experience, so I visited all of the locations I wrote about. A big element of authenticity—or at least the impression of authenticity—is being confident in what you write. All fiction relies on speculation to some extent, but confidence helps camouflage the guesswork, and makes writing persuasive. For me, detailed knowledge of settings gave me confidence in other elements of my work. My process is very visual—I see everything in my head as I write—so once I could picture my backdrop, it didn’t feel like a great leap of imagination to then superimpose characters and plot. And travel obviously has benefits beyond the purely visual. The details are valuable too: what the seasons are like, how people speak, the price of coffee in a diner. Such things bring an extra layer of credibility to a story and add to the illusion that This Actually Happened.
Your books are fast-paced, and full of action. What are your top tips on creating tension and pace when writing a thriller?
‘Pace’ in mysteries or thrillers is all do to with how the author reveals information to the reader. A scene in a book should have a function: is it (for example) giving character backstory? Introducing someone? Is it purely for humour? Does it contain some crucial revelation to drive the story? (The most adroit scenes can do all of the above and more, simultaneously.) So for me, controlling pace amounts to being aware of what I’m revealing about character and story. Basically I want to ensure that all the interesting bits are parcelled out appropriately across the course of 350-odd pages. ‘Appropriately’ is an elastic term—pace can increase and decrease through the course of a novel, and it’s not until something is on paper that I can see whether it ‘works.’ Tension in my work often derives from a sense of looming catastrophe or conflict. Particularly in my American novels, I have competing characters who are in stark moral contrast to one another. By switching perspectives between various players and hinting at a common trajectory, I try to create an impression that something very bad could happen. But depending on the type of novel, the same emotional effect can be achieved by other means-I watched an interview with Lee Child in which he explains that the trick to suspense (or tension) is to simply pose a question and then refuse to answer it for three hundred pages.
Which books or writers in the crime genre do you enjoy reading, and why?
I love Michael Connelly and Lee Child, because I can’t get enough of their characters. I love Elmore Leonard because his dialogue reads like a wire-tap. I love James Ellroy for his style, and his ability to bend history to the shape of his vision. I could go on and on, but those guys are my top four.
Your first Marshall Grade novel, AMERICAN BLOOD, was optioned for a film before you even finished the manuscript. When you picture Marshall in your own head, which actor does he remind you of?
While the film plans were all-go, the Marshall in my head looked like Bradley Cooper. Now the movie’s been scrapped, Marshall just looks like me (tall and blond, but with bigger muscles). That way, I get to live an exciting thug-busting life by proxy, from the comfort of my desk.
You published your first crime novel while you were at university, and already have five under your belt. How has your writing style evolved over the years, and what are the biggest lessons you learned going from budding author to published to established?
My first novel The Fallen was accepted for publication in December 2009, but it wasn’t until I began reading Blood’s a Rover by James Ellroy on Christmas Day of that year that I appreciated the importance of style and voice. Ellroy is famous for his clipped rat-a-tat syntax, but the lesson I learned from Rover wasn’t so much that a book should be written in a bold and obvious manner; more that whatever the style, it needs to be consistent. Most of the crime writers I’d read before Ellroy used a very smooth and understated authorial voice, and so the need for consistency didn’t really occur to me. So that was the first way my writing changed: improving from a stylistic mishmash in my first book, to something more controlled in my later work. My American novels have all been narrated in third-person, but I adopt one character’s perspective for each scene. It’s made my style more colloquial, and I tend to use a lot of dialogue to move the story forward. My biggest lesson has been the importance of editing. Some people can write a book and nail it on the first try, but once I’ve finished a draft, I need to leave it alone for a week or two, and then hit it hard with the backspace key: invariably, something needs re-doing.
What other advice do you have for budding crime writers out there, who are trying to get their first book published?
Writing is a difficult trade to break into if you’re wanting to be published, so it’s obviously important to maximise your chance of being noticed. Research which agents and/or publishers are interested in crime, and when you’re sending them material, treat their submission rules as gospel—agents may have dozens or hundreds of submissions a year, so providing material in a format they don’t want will ensure a quick rejection. Most importantly, never submit anything that isn’t totally pristine. Write your novel or your sample, leave it in a drawer for a month, and then edit mercilessly.
A big thank you to Ben Sanders for popping onto the CTG blog today. For more information about Ben and his books hop over to https://ben-sanders.com
And t o buy Marshall’s Law click this link: https://www.amazon.com/Marshalls-Law-Novel-Marshall-Grade/dp/1250058805
Be sure to check out all the other fantastic stops along the blog tour too.
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