Ian Martyn's Blog

First I hope those reading this post are ending 2020 in good health.  I guess for most of you this a most unusual year to say the least.  This is what one writer has learnt: […]

I haven’t published a post for some time and for that I apologise.  I’ve been concentrating on my fourth Inspector Kirby book, which was not always going to be the fourth in the series, but […]

As with every year there is much to learn, even if it’s I have a tendency to keep repeating my mistakes. Anyway, here’s a few of the random ramblings I’ve picked up from 2019: 1. […]

I’ve always maintained I don’t suffer from “writer’s block”, there’s always something I can write.  However, finally, I’ve come close.  I got stuck.  It’s the fourth Inspector Kirby book and I’d written about 30,000 words.  […]

Author, cellist and ghost writer is how Spaulder Taylor (Alice McVeigh) describes herself.  After a break from writing she’s back with her latest book Last Star Standing.  Here she is to tell you a little […]

For me getting to know your characters and seeing them develop into fully rounded, if at times eccentric, individuals is one of the great pleasures of writing.  They become friends (is that strange?).  This is […]

When you read a book the setting is like another character.  It’s important, you want to picture the characters in their surroundings, even if your version of that picture is different to everyone else.  I’ve […]

My last book, Inspector Kirby and Harold Longcoat – A Northumbrian Mystery went down well with those who read it.  There just weren’t enough of those readers.  A familiar story to many out there I’m […]

For me the setting of any book if it’s pivotal to the story becomes a character in the story.  The reader has to be able to see the setting in the same way they vision […]

I guess even if you don’t live in the UK you’ll be aware we’re going through something of an upheaval called Brexit.  Now, before I go any further I emphasise in this post I am […]