Author Margaret K Johnson (no relation) has dropped into the coffee shop today with some very valuable advice on how to stop negative thoughts getting in the way of our writing. Q First things first, Margaret – how do you take your coffee? A White with half a sugar please. Quite strong. Thanks! Q You’ve … More Conquer those writing fears! A chat with Margaret K Johnson

I’m very excited to have two author visits during my online book launch tomorrow. Fellow Crooked Cat writer Angela Wren whose detective story is set in a French village and Tessa Harris who wrote the Thomas Silkstone anatomist series will be here to talk about their writing. It will be fascinating to hear from two crime writers whose books … More Launch day tomorrow!

It’s five days until the launch of my novel! Launch Party – Friday 15th July  Please drop in to my online launch event on the Facebook event page to help me celebrate, and learn more about the book. To get to it click on this link https://www.facebook.com/events/132854463807373/ The ebook costs £1.99. You don’t need to … More 5 days to go…

Join me on Friday 15th July for the online launch of Lies, Mistakes and Misunderstandings https://www.facebook.com/events/132854463807373/ With a week to go until the release of my novel I’m feeling nervous but excited! I’ve never held an online event before although I’ve been to a few as a guest. I’ve been doing some research and have been … More Holding an online launch party

This is an extract from a Q&A interview I’ve just published on smashwords. I’ve discovered I’m more comfortable asking questions than answering them! Can you think of any other questions that would be useful here? Interview with Katharine Johnson What is your writing process? Like many busy parents juggling writing with family life can sometimes be a … More Q&A

One of the most exciting aspects of having a book published is choosing the front cover – but it’s such an important decision. Unless you’re a really famous name your book will be judged by its cover. And you only have a few seconds to grab people’s attention. The cover has to capture the story. make a connection … More Choosing a cover

Sometimes you know from the first page or even paragraph that you’re going to love a book. These are some of my favourite beginnings. Last night I dreamed I went to Manderley again. – Rebecca, Daphne du Maurier Marley was dead, to begin with. – A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens Ten days after the war ended … More 10 Openings that made me buy the book

One of the things I find hardest about writing, whether it’s a short story or a novel, is deciding how to start. Like the title of one of my favourite novels there are just so many ways to begin.  Stories can be like puzzles that can be arranged in hundreds of different ways so how … More Brilliant Beginnings

Like many parents, I’ve had to cope with constant interruptions when writing as well as writer’s guilt – shouldn’t I be playing that game of Monopoly/frisbee/football I’ve been promising? Someone always needs to be ferried somewhere, the dog needs walking and in those little moments of calm the phone rings… On top of this, doubts … More What Stops you writing?