Pauline Rowson's Blog, page 68
January 2, 2013
A busy year ahead with new DI Horton crime novel, events and interviews
It’s customary at this time of the year to look ahead to the coming year and while none of us can predict what 2013 will bring and how it will shake out I’ve taken the opportunity to highlight on my website blog some of the things that are planned. Here's a taster. You can read the full entry on my website
First up I’m looking forward to the publication of the ninth in the DI Andy Horton marine mystery crime series, Undercurrent, which will be published in hardcover by Severn House in the UK in January and in the USA in May. It will also be released as an ebook in May. So another one in the series to keep DI Horton fans happy. And as to whether he will discover the truth behind his mother’s disappearance over thirty years ago… well you’ll have to buy (or borrow the book from the library) to find out.
I’m also pleased to announce that Footsteps on the Shore, the sixth in the DI Horton series, will be published in Large Print by Severn House in March. It is already available in paperback and as an ebook.
You can read more about my books, events, radio and video interviews for 2013 on my website at http://www.rowmark.co.uk
Wishing all my readers a very happy, healthy and peaceful 2013.
Undercurrent
First up I’m looking forward to the publication of the ninth in the DI Andy Horton marine mystery crime series, Undercurrent, which will be published in hardcover by Severn House in the UK in January and in the USA in May. It will also be released as an ebook in May. So another one in the series to keep DI Horton fans happy. And as to whether he will discover the truth behind his mother’s disappearance over thirty years ago… well you’ll have to buy (or borrow the book from the library) to find out.
I’m also pleased to announce that Footsteps on the Shore, the sixth in the DI Horton series, will be published in Large Print by Severn House in March. It is already available in paperback and as an ebook.
You can read more about my books, events, radio and video interviews for 2013 on my website at http://www.rowmark.co.uk
Wishing all my readers a very happy, healthy and peaceful 2013.
Undercurrent
December 21, 2012
Looking back over the highlights of 2012
2012 was another busy and rewarding year for me with two new DI Andy Horton Mystery crime novels, (number seven and eight in the series published), A Killing Coast and Death Lies Beneath set against the backdrop of the sea on the South Coast of England; some lovely reviews in the UK and the USA; radio interviews; guest appearances, talks and panel events; location research and translation deals and in the time honoured tradition I thought I’d do a round up of the highlights from 2012 on my website blog
You can read the full entry and view the pictures from 2012 on my website
Wishing you all a very Happy Christmas.
You can read the full entry and view the pictures from 2012 on my website
Wishing you all a very Happy Christmas.
December 11, 2012
CSI Portsmouth 2012, crime fiction meets crime fact, now on DVD
A DVD of CSI Portsmouth 2012 has now been released.
The two disk set DVD includes both the morning and afternoon panel sessions featuring crime authors Ann Cleeves, Stephen Booth, Matt Hilton and Pauline Rowson and crime experts from Hampshire Police, Hampshire Fire and Rescue Services, the universities of Portsmouth and Surrey.
CSI Portsmouth 2012 DVD is on sale for £20.00 plus £3.50 postage and packaging (UK). To order or for enquiries outside the UK please contact http://www.rowmark.co.uk/contact/
Running time: 2hrs. 17 mins.
For more details about CSI Portsmouth 2012 visit http://www.rowmark.co.uk/csi-portsmouth/ or watch vidoe extracts on this website or on http://www.youtube.com/paulinerowson13
The two disk set DVD includes both the morning and afternoon panel sessions featuring crime authors Ann Cleeves, Stephen Booth, Matt Hilton and Pauline Rowson and crime experts from Hampshire Police, Hampshire Fire and Rescue Services, the universities of Portsmouth and Surrey.
CSI Portsmouth 2012 DVD is on sale for £20.00 plus £3.50 postage and packaging (UK). To order or for enquiries outside the UK please contact http://www.rowmark.co.uk/contact/
Running time: 2hrs. 17 mins.
For more details about CSI Portsmouth 2012 visit http://www.rowmark.co.uk/csi-portsmouth/ or watch vidoe extracts on this website or on http://www.youtube.com/paulinerowson13
December 7, 2012
The Perfect System For Writing A Novel
All writers have different ways of working and finding the ‘perfect system’ for planning, researching, plotting, structuring and writing a novel is often a matter of trial and error until something clicks. That’s how it was for me anyway.
Before I struck on my 'perfect system' I tried all sorts of ways of compiling my research, plotlines, and character outlines, from using note books to wall maps, from card indexes to ring binders. None of them worked. The ring binders looked nice and neat, all properly indexed, but because of my civil service training my mind told me that something in a file, was 'filed away,' and therefore actioned, finished with and a novel is a work in progress.
Read full article on my website blog at http://www.rowmark.co.uk
Death Lies Beneath
Before I struck on my 'perfect system' I tried all sorts of ways of compiling my research, plotlines, and character outlines, from using note books to wall maps, from card indexes to ring binders. None of them worked. The ring binders looked nice and neat, all properly indexed, but because of my civil service training my mind told me that something in a file, was 'filed away,' and therefore actioned, finished with and a novel is a work in progress.
Read full article on my website blog at http://www.rowmark.co.uk
Death Lies Beneath
November 23, 2012
The marine police unit provides plenty of ideas for DI Horton Mystery Series
My fictional detective, DI Andy Horton, is based in Portsmouth and the Solent area on the South Coast of England. The Solent is the busiest waterway in Europe and one of the busiest in the world with around one million commercial and naval shipping movements and in excess of 10 million pleasure craft movements per year, so it's a brilliant area in which to set a series of crime novels, with plenty of inspiration and lots of activity.
The DI Horton marine mystery crime novels include members of a fictional Hampshire Police Marine Unit - Sergeant Dai Elkins and PC Rilpey - who take Horton and members of the Major Crime Team across the Solent from Portsmouth (where Horton is based in CID) to the Isle of Wight to solve crimes there and get on the track of villains.
I was fortunate to meet some real officers from the Hampshire Constabulary Marine Unit at the Crime Writers' Association (CWA) Conference in Southampton on 21 April. The real unit as opposed to my fictional marine police unit consists of one Sergeant and nine PCs. But the work my fictional marine unit are involved in isn't that far removed from the real thing.
Hampshire's history of maritime policing dates back to 1873 when it used a rowing boat to combat crime around the docks. Things have come a long way since then. It has recently invested in a new modern fleet to police the coastline stretching from Dorset to Sussex and out to 12 miles offshore. The fleet includes a 12-metre catamaran with sonar, CCTV, thermal imaging cameras and the latest in satellite communications; a general purpose patrol launch, which has a body recovery platform, and two 8m rigid inflatable boats, which can reach speeds of up to 55 mph on the water. I've been promised a trip on one of these but I think I'll wait for a calm, sunny and warm day!
The role of the marine unit includes counter terrorism patrols, the reduction and detection of marine crime, investigation of marine incidents and fatalities, policing large events, supporting the UK Border Agency, Coastguard, and Harbour Authorities and responsibility for countering serious and organised crime and preventing child abduction.
Plenty there to give me ideas for crime novels.
Death Lies Beneath
The DI Horton marine mystery crime novels include members of a fictional Hampshire Police Marine Unit - Sergeant Dai Elkins and PC Rilpey - who take Horton and members of the Major Crime Team across the Solent from Portsmouth (where Horton is based in CID) to the Isle of Wight to solve crimes there and get on the track of villains.
I was fortunate to meet some real officers from the Hampshire Constabulary Marine Unit at the Crime Writers' Association (CWA) Conference in Southampton on 21 April. The real unit as opposed to my fictional marine police unit consists of one Sergeant and nine PCs. But the work my fictional marine unit are involved in isn't that far removed from the real thing.
Hampshire's history of maritime policing dates back to 1873 when it used a rowing boat to combat crime around the docks. Things have come a long way since then. It has recently invested in a new modern fleet to police the coastline stretching from Dorset to Sussex and out to 12 miles offshore. The fleet includes a 12-metre catamaran with sonar, CCTV, thermal imaging cameras and the latest in satellite communications; a general purpose patrol launch, which has a body recovery platform, and two 8m rigid inflatable boats, which can reach speeds of up to 55 mph on the water. I've been promised a trip on one of these but I think I'll wait for a calm, sunny and warm day!
The role of the marine unit includes counter terrorism patrols, the reduction and detection of marine crime, investigation of marine incidents and fatalities, policing large events, supporting the UK Border Agency, Coastguard, and Harbour Authorities and responsibility for countering serious and organised crime and preventing child abduction.
Plenty there to give me ideas for crime novels.
Death Lies Beneath
November 19, 2012
Choosing names for characters in novels
Getting the right name for characters in my crime fiction novels can be a tricky business. Sometimes they come to me completely out of the blue, as I am creating a character, other times I will struggle to find the name that best suits that particular character and until I do the personality refuses to come fully alive. The name has to fit. If it's not right then the character isn't right. The name also needs to fit with the age and nationality although you can have exceptions.
When seeking inspiration for first names I turn to my little book of baby's names or I will look up websites of baby's names. I also keep an ear out for any unusual or interesting names when meeting people and will jot these down. One danger is over using a name. For some reason I seem to have a penchant for the name Eric, and when I did a search through previous novels found that I’d used it before for different characters, albeit minor ones. So no more Erics.
As to surnames, I let my finger do the choosing and tend to pick these out of an atlas or street map. Then I see if it fits with the first name and the character. The more novels I write, (I’ve now written eleven) the more I am in danger of repeating names, (it's easy to forget what you have already used) so I’m building a database in order to double check this.
Readers also tell me that some novelists have too many characters’ surnames all beginning with the same letter and they find this very confusing. Now I scrutinise my work to check that not everyone has a surname beginning with the letter ‘C’. Not sure why I gravitate towards ‘C’ but I do.
And finally where did the name of my main character DI Andy Horton spring from? I've no idea. It just came to mind. It was only recently however that I was contacted by his namesake in the Hampshire Police Force. A polite e mail asked me whether he had inspired the name and/or the character. I replied saying that if he was indeed tall, blonde, fit and handsome then maybe? He replied saying he was tall, fit, dark and his wife thought him handsome. I was somewhat relieved to find the real Inspector Houghton had a sense of humour and spelt his name differently.
Death Lies Beneath
When seeking inspiration for first names I turn to my little book of baby's names or I will look up websites of baby's names. I also keep an ear out for any unusual or interesting names when meeting people and will jot these down. One danger is over using a name. For some reason I seem to have a penchant for the name Eric, and when I did a search through previous novels found that I’d used it before for different characters, albeit minor ones. So no more Erics.
As to surnames, I let my finger do the choosing and tend to pick these out of an atlas or street map. Then I see if it fits with the first name and the character. The more novels I write, (I’ve now written eleven) the more I am in danger of repeating names, (it's easy to forget what you have already used) so I’m building a database in order to double check this.
Readers also tell me that some novelists have too many characters’ surnames all beginning with the same letter and they find this very confusing. Now I scrutinise my work to check that not everyone has a surname beginning with the letter ‘C’. Not sure why I gravitate towards ‘C’ but I do.
And finally where did the name of my main character DI Andy Horton spring from? I've no idea. It just came to mind. It was only recently however that I was contacted by his namesake in the Hampshire Police Force. A polite e mail asked me whether he had inspired the name and/or the character. I replied saying that if he was indeed tall, blonde, fit and handsome then maybe? He replied saying he was tall, fit, dark and his wife thought him handsome. I was somewhat relieved to find the real Inspector Houghton had a sense of humour and spelt his name differently.
Death Lies Beneath
November 14, 2012
Lovely to meet readers at Newcastle and Hartlepool Libraries
I'm back from a very successful mini tour of the North East of England where I was invited to give two talks.
This is the third time in three years that I have been invited to talk to readers in the North East of England and I shall be back up there at Gateshead Library on 25 April 2013.
I was speaking at Newcastle City Library on 12 November and on Tuesday 13 November I was at Seaton Carew Library, Hartlepool giving a talk as part of Hartlepool Borough Library twenty first anniversary celebrations. The audience at both events were as delightful as ever and I was thrilled to meet so many DI Andy Horton fans and to also introduce my crime and thriller novels to some new readers.
My thanks to both Newcastle and Hartlepool Library Services for organising the events and to all library staff for the fantastic and highly worthwhile service they provide to the community. Without the library service it would be a very barren landscape.
The DI Andy Horton novels are set in the Solent area on the South Coast of England where I live.
Death Lies Beneath
This is the third time in three years that I have been invited to talk to readers in the North East of England and I shall be back up there at Gateshead Library on 25 April 2013.
I was speaking at Newcastle City Library on 12 November and on Tuesday 13 November I was at Seaton Carew Library, Hartlepool giving a talk as part of Hartlepool Borough Library twenty first anniversary celebrations. The audience at both events were as delightful as ever and I was thrilled to meet so many DI Andy Horton fans and to also introduce my crime and thriller novels to some new readers.
My thanks to both Newcastle and Hartlepool Library Services for organising the events and to all library staff for the fantastic and highly worthwhile service they provide to the community. Without the library service it would be a very barren landscape.
The DI Andy Horton novels are set in the Solent area on the South Coast of England where I live.
Death Lies Beneath
November 6, 2012
Fantastic time at CSI Portsmouth, great audience, experts and crime authors
Here is the report (below) from the CSI Portsmouth event held on Saturday 3 November. It was very enjoyable and thanks to everyone for making it so successful. Already looking forward to CSI Portsmouth 2013.
Crime authors Stephen Booth, Ann Cleeves, Matt Hilton and Pauline Rowson, and crime experts from Hampshire Police, the University of Portsmouth and the University of Surrey kept a packed audience enthralled at CSI Portsmouth on Saturday 3 November when they were grilled by Cheryl Buggy, Station Director of Express FM radio, in two lively panel debates of crime fiction versus crime fact.
Over a hundred and sixty people attended the one day event held at the John Pounds Centre, Portsmouth to hear what police and crime experts had to say about their work and to listen to the crime authors talking about their novels.
The audience also had the chance to put their questions to the panel and to talk to the team from the fingerprint bureau and students from the Forensic Science course from South Downs College who provided a crime scene.
CSI Portsmouth 2012 is in its third year, the brainchild of Pauline Rowson who organises it with Portsmouth City Council Library Service and the Hayling Island Bookshop. Part of Portsmouth BookFest it is fast becoming a major fixture in the crime fiction festival calendar.
Joining authors Ann Cleeves, Stephen Booth, Matt Hilton and Pauline Rowson were Carolyn Lovell, Crime Scene Manager/Coordinator for Hampshire Police, DC Terry Fitzjohn, Fire Investigation Officer for Hampshire Police, Watch Manager Andy Earl from Hampshire Fire and Rescue Services, Adrian Fretter, from the Hi-Tech Crime Unit of Hampshire Police, fraud expert Dr Mark Button from the University of Portsmouth, Institute of Criminal Justice Studies and Professor Bran Nicol an expert on crime culture and stalking.
Both panel sessions ended with a book signing by the authors and there was the chance for the audience to talk individually to the authors and experts.
CSI Portsmouth 2013 will take place on Staurday 2 November. More details to follow.
Death Lies Beneath
Crime authors Stephen Booth, Ann Cleeves, Matt Hilton and Pauline Rowson, and crime experts from Hampshire Police, the University of Portsmouth and the University of Surrey kept a packed audience enthralled at CSI Portsmouth on Saturday 3 November when they were grilled by Cheryl Buggy, Station Director of Express FM radio, in two lively panel debates of crime fiction versus crime fact.
Over a hundred and sixty people attended the one day event held at the John Pounds Centre, Portsmouth to hear what police and crime experts had to say about their work and to listen to the crime authors talking about their novels.
The audience also had the chance to put their questions to the panel and to talk to the team from the fingerprint bureau and students from the Forensic Science course from South Downs College who provided a crime scene.
CSI Portsmouth 2012 is in its third year, the brainchild of Pauline Rowson who organises it with Portsmouth City Council Library Service and the Hayling Island Bookshop. Part of Portsmouth BookFest it is fast becoming a major fixture in the crime fiction festival calendar.
Joining authors Ann Cleeves, Stephen Booth, Matt Hilton and Pauline Rowson were Carolyn Lovell, Crime Scene Manager/Coordinator for Hampshire Police, DC Terry Fitzjohn, Fire Investigation Officer for Hampshire Police, Watch Manager Andy Earl from Hampshire Fire and Rescue Services, Adrian Fretter, from the Hi-Tech Crime Unit of Hampshire Police, fraud expert Dr Mark Button from the University of Portsmouth, Institute of Criminal Justice Studies and Professor Bran Nicol an expert on crime culture and stalking.
Both panel sessions ended with a book signing by the authors and there was the chance for the audience to talk individually to the authors and experts.
CSI Portsmouth 2013 will take place on Staurday 2 November. More details to follow.
Death Lies Beneath
November 1, 2012
Death Lies Beneath, DI Horton 8 published in US today and as ebook
Death Lies Beneath, which was published in the UK in July, has now been published in hardcover in the USA by Severn House and is also now available as an e book on Kindle, Nook and Kobo.
Death Lies Beneath is the eighth in the Solent based marine mystery crime series featuring DI Andy Horton and has received glowing reviews from both the UK and the USA.
"This is a fast paced excellent mystery, with an interesting diverse set of characters, and an intriguing hook at the end that has me eagerly awaiting the next instalment in this series. Highly recommended." Mystery People
It is available to buy on line and from all good bookshops and can also be loaned from libraries in the UK, USA and Commonwealth.
Read more about Death Lies Beneath and the DI Horton series on my website at http://www.rowmark.co.uk
Death Lies Beneath
Death Lies Beneath is the eighth in the Solent based marine mystery crime series featuring DI Andy Horton and has received glowing reviews from both the UK and the USA.
"This is a fast paced excellent mystery, with an interesting diverse set of characters, and an intriguing hook at the end that has me eagerly awaiting the next instalment in this series. Highly recommended." Mystery People
It is available to buy on line and from all good bookshops and can also be loaned from libraries in the UK, USA and Commonwealth.
Read more about Death Lies Beneath and the DI Horton series on my website at http://www.rowmark.co.uk
Death Lies Beneath
October 29, 2012
Pauline Rowson on You Tube talking about CSI Portsmouth 2012
You can listen to me talking to Tony Smith of Angel Radio about the forthcoming CSI Portsmouth event being held on Saturday 3 November at the John Pounds Centre, Queens Street, Portsmouth UK.
This video appears on my You Tube Channel where you can also find lots of other videos and interviews with me discussing my crime novels and my writing.
Click here to view Cybercrime, Fraud, Crime Scenes and more at CSI Portsmouth 3 November.
Tickets cost £10.00 with £3.00 redeemable against a book bought on the day. Box Office open Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm - call 023 9268 8037. Or you can buy a ticket at the door on the day.
This video appears on my You Tube Channel where you can also find lots of other videos and interviews with me discussing my crime novels and my writing.
Click here to view Cybercrime, Fraud, Crime Scenes and more at CSI Portsmouth 3 November.
Tickets cost £10.00 with £3.00 redeemable against a book bought on the day. Box Office open Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm - call 023 9268 8037. Or you can buy a ticket at the door on the day.
