A quick update on ‘The Soldier’ before I begin the next blog of writing the new book. I am delighted with the response! In its first week the book climbed to within the top 30 Amazon Historical Thrillers in the UK and the US and was just outside the top 10 in Australia. Many thanks to those of you who bought or downloaded it and for writing a review!

In my last blog I described the feeling of being a couple of miles into a marathon and realizing just how far away was the end. Well, in the past four weeks I have crept closer and am now at 25,000 words, or about one third of the way through. And this is the point at which it gets ‘interesting’ – as in the Chinese proverbial meaning.

Another writer, who I follow and admire, LJ Ross, said on a podcast I heard a few months ago that this is the point at which she begins to doubt herself and her husband has to rush in and prise away her hands from the ‘delete’ key. Right now, I know exactly how she feels! The second third of a book is where the most crucial plot developments/twists/tiny but important details are embedded. You really do have to be minutiae conscious and smart to not give vital information away and to throw in a few ‘red herrings’ but also make sure that you haven’t said too little.

My simile now is moving onto a high wire act, the one with the thin cord, the long pole and the total absence of a safety net. I am now inching my way across to the other side, whispering words of encouragement, mainly Get It Right!

I was helped on the way yesterday when I attended the Perfect Crime writing festival in Liverpool. The guest of honour was Ann Cleeves – she of Shetland, Vera and recently The Two Rivers series – with whom I was lucky enough to have a few minutes’ chat. She told me that she isn’t a great plotter but likes solid structure and gave me some excellent advice about making sure that I have a clear view of the main elements of the story in my head, because if I can’t hold it myself, I won’t be able to hold my readers. I have read all of her books and it was an honour to be able to talk to her.

So, off I go across the wire, frowning in concentration on the crucial elements that will bring the story to its climax and showdown. Who knows, by next month, I may be at the finishing line of the first draft!