J.J. Marsh's Blog
February 23, 2018
A Makeover!
Blog followers, this is a sneak preview just for you. Since I first published in 2013, technology has hurtled ahead like a pug after a pussycat, dragging me stumbling in its wake. Unlike the real pug/puss scenario, where the former gives up or the latter stands its ground, I’ve realised I can’t keep up […]
January 28, 2018
Finally!
I’m not talking about the long hiatus in blogging (been writing) but a fantastic and well-overdue prize for thrillers. http://staunchbookprize.com/ This initiative by Bridget Lawless is something I’ve been championing for over ten years. Crime fiction in which the usual clichés of violence against women are absent. Hallelujah! The debate around this prize is interesting […]
November 27, 2017
Raw
There’s a new competition out there. The theme is RAW and the deadline is December 1st. I can’t enter as I’m part of the Creative Team behind The Woolf. But there’s still time for you! Nevertheless, I have a raw story. Not for the faint-hearted, yet some call it memorable. This is The Reservation, […]
November 2, 2017
No, Nein, Non, Nyet, Não
Current news stories with allegations of sexual assault cropping up from Hollywood to Westminster are disturbing in many ways. Even more so are many of the reactions. I take issue with a whole bunch of issues. Language. The terminology we use to talk about such events is part of the problem. Here’s an example: […]
October 24, 2017
Scared not Scarred
It’s that time of year again. Halloween is not such a big deal here in Europe as it is in the States, but there is an interesting crossover. The day after October 31st is The Day of the Dead, celebrated in many cultures with a visit to the graveyard, to pay homage to our ancestors. […]
October 15, 2017
Words Worth
Conversations I Did Not Have This Weekend Me: Hello Herr Scheiber, we’d like a firewood delivery before the winter sets in. HS: Of course. Is Monday morning OK? Me: Perfect. By the way, we won’t be paying this time. Have a nice day. Me: Could I book a hair appointment on Friday? Hairdresser: Cut […]
October 11, 2017
Behind Closed Doors – Chapter 1
Utrecht 2007 “Howzit? You got here, then?” “Yes, Joop. I got here. At last.” “Uh oh. Delays?” “Right now I’m in a taxi from the airport. Not only did we leave Jo’burg three hours late, but I missed the transfer in Frankfurt and now we’ve just circled Schiphol for forty-five minutes, waiting for a slot.” […]
October 8, 2017
From Little Eggcorns …
As a author, I’m fascinated by language. Judicious choice of words lead to the right effect; to wound, amuse, provoke nightmares, yield an insight or offer comfort. The right words are magical. Yet sometimes the wrong words have a power all their own. When someone takes a cliché or well-worn phrase and substitutes an element […]
September 24, 2017
Books and Wine
(Yes, I usually only post once a fortnight. But yesterday was special.) This piece comes about thanks to Helena Halme, an author friend who is trilingual and talented in every one of them. Helena nudged me with a discovery – A Book and a Bottle This is so perfect for your Beatrice Stubbs series! I […]
September 23, 2017
All She Left Behind
A year ago today, my mother died. When her time came, she wanted to go quickly, at home and in the arms of her husband. Which is exactly what happened. For the rest of us, her departure was sudden and shocking. Of course it had to happen, someday. The medical profession had given her mesothelioma […]
