Writing for wellbeing
Welcome to my website
I started writing to have something positive to focus on during palliative chemotherapy and I'm loving it!
My first book, a crime story, will be available in paperback and as an ebook on 30 January 2025. My second book, a story about love and friendship over four decades, has been submitted to my publisher. Updates on progress are being recorded on my blog.
Thanks for popping in!
My first book
The Canterbury Cullings
When the murdered and mutilated body of a local loan shark is found in Canterbury Cathedral, Detective Chief Inspector Bethany Harper and her team know they need to work quickly to calm the city’s nervous residents.
With a victim who was hated and feared in equal measure, there’s no shortage of suspects for the team to investigate. And the high-profile site where the body was found puts the team under huge pressure from people across the city.
The discovery of a second victim, murdered and mutilated and left in one of the world’s oldest churches, confirms Beth’s worst fear: there’s a serial killer on the loose in Canterbury and the clock is ticking to find them before they find their next victim.
And it's not just books!
I have so many story ideas, there isn't enough time to write a full novel for each so this is a good way to convert those ideas into stories. I've published one of my stories on the page below if you'd like to have a look.
Flash fiction means writing a whole story in very few words, typically between 200 and 700. It's an interesting challenge! I've published a few flash fiction stories on the page below if you'd like to have a look.
After I finished writing my first book, I thought I'd have a go at writing poetry. Now that was a challenge too far! But I've published a sample poem on the page below if you'd like to have a look.
** WARNING - saucy language used here!
Competitions
Crimebits
"Crimebits is a unique, interactive puzzle book of best first page thrillers, including Lee Child's judge's notes, and his Introduction... The puzzles are created by LA Times puzzle setter Robin Sears."
And one of those first pages is mine!!
7.12am
"Twelve brand new short stories from writers across the world. We have imposing deadlines, missed opportunities, roads less (or more) travelled, mysterious strangers .. and the crushing inevitability of fate."
And one of those short stories is mine!!
Victory Radio Short Story Competition
"Write a 600 word short story using the title of a song from the 50’s to the 00’s. The title can be interpreted in any way the writer wishes but must be relevant to the story. "
One of my short stories won second prize and has been read on the radio!!
ALSO!
I've been interviewed by Morning Call host Bob Bruce about the story.
Follow this link to hear the results announcement and the interview with Bob
Exeter Writers Short Story Competition 2024
"Many congratulations to those of you who made it to the longlist, the shortlist or the winners' list. We had our largest ever number of entries this year and there were some very strong candidates, making the judging a very difficult, but enjoyable, process."
This was the first time one of my short stories was longlisted!!