Nicola Martin's Blog

In this series, I carry out hard-hitting interviews with psychological thriller authors, where I ask them… just a bunch of silly questions, actually. This month, it’s Valerie Keogh’s turn in the hot seat. 1. Which emoji do you use most often? The smiling face with blushed cheeks or the one with the sunglasses. And I...

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There comes a time when everybody has something they want to promote. Maybe it’s an event you’re running or a charity where you volunteer. Maybe you’re an author and it’s your own book you’re promoting. Maybe the thing you’re promoting is… YOU. You’re trying to get more visible in your field, so that you can...

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We’re all trying to cut down on our screentime, aren’t we? Most of us would like to read more books, whether to boost our depth of knowledge or as a way to unplug and relax. I’m as guilty as anyone of spending too much time on screens (I say, as I cue up yet another...

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Writing a novel is a bit like sighting Everest on the horizon and saying, “Sure, OK, I’ll climb that.” The struggle to reach the summit can be so overwhelming that I’ve learned to do a lot of preparatory work up front. Here’s what my novel planning process looks like: Step 1. Brainstorming When I start...

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In this series, I carry out hard-hitting interviews with psychological thriller authors, where I ask them… just a bunch of silly questions, actually. This month, it’s Becca Day’s turn in the hot seat. 1. Which emoji do you use most often? It’s the sleepy emoji… which I think just about sums up my general state...

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It’s holiday season and perhaps you’re jetting off somewhere exotic. Alternatively, you may be trudging to work as normal through the drizzle. Regardless, it’s a good time to pick up a beach-read to pass the time. Here are five of my recommendations for fast-paced, fun, and crime-y reads. The Kind Worth Killing – Peter Swanson...

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Grab a painkiller and settle back for a virtual vacation to some of the dreamy locations featured in my mystery-thriller The Getaway. 1. Virgin Gorda Virgin Gorda is the third-largest and second-most populous island in the British Virgin Islands, a British overseas territory in the Caribbean. It doesn’t have an airport, so you get there...

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The Getaway is a novel that had a long gestation period. I was thinking about it back when I was still writing (and rewriting) my first novel, Dead Ringer. I abandoned an early draft of it that wasn’t working. I probably should have given up on it altogether, but… it was one of those ideas...

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Whether you’re giving a work presentation, delivering a training session, or pitching your business, you need your audience to actually listen to you! The solution to a boring, unmemorable presentation lies in using your own personal stories. You are a storyteller, whether you realise it or not. For example, when someone asks what you did...

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My next mystery-thriller is out in just one month, so here’s a rundown on what to expect from The Getaway. 1. It’s set in the Caribbean The Getaway is set in the British Virgin Islands (BVI), a string of islands located in the Lesser Antilles. It’s one of those places that makes people who’ve visited...

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