An Interview with Toby Virgo Recently I had the pleasure of taking the Real Sherlock Holmes walking tour of Edinburgh. If you didn’t know, Edinburgh was Arthur Conan Doyle’s hometown. He lived not far from the town centre, and there’s a plaque at the University of Edinburgh medical school honouring him as the doctor forContinue reading
Category Archives: Writing
In Defense of Comfort Reading
Originally published in Red Herrings, the Newsletter of the Crime Writers Association The cosy mystery gets a lot of hate these days. Modern cosies tend to be like popcorn: light, tasty, but ultimately insubstantial. The writing can be workmanlike and slapdash. But the most common criticism, in my experience, is that the stories are superficial,Continue reading “In Defense of Comfort Reading”
Question Time!
Do you know that feeling when one of your favorite authors lets it slip that they like your work, too? So do I! Even better, I recently had the pleasure of being interviewed by Josh Lanyon. You can read it here on the Josh Lanyon blog. And while you’re over there, check out Josh’s newContinue reading “Question Time!”
Cover Reveal!
Behold the cover for my upcoming novelette series, Shadow of Justice. Isn’t it beautiful? It’s the combined work of Dawn Kimberling and Selene Volturo, and it won’t be the only cover. Why not? Because there are eight mysterious stories in this series of shorts, which we’re planning to release onto Kindle Unlimited in February. Want toContinue reading “Cover Reveal!”
The Life-Changing Magic of Ignoring “I Don’t Wanna”
A lot of us overestimate our need for a breather, and overestimate the necessary magnitude of that breather. To our detriment.
Five Authors You Should Read in 2019
Five terrific authors who, if you’re not already reading them, you should be reading now.
Watch this Space
It’s been a couple of years since I wrote a full-length novel. Life happens. Immigration happens. And then life happens some more. But then something magical transpired. I attended the UK Meet in September and reconnected with my tribe. And there, in the quiet of my hotel room, I gave birth to a fully-formed novelContinue reading “Watch this Space”
The Ghosts of Zanzibar: Ghost Tractors and Spooky Ladies
Every culture has its ghost stories, and some of the most interesting ones come from far-flung places that many of us never get to visit.
Two Exciting New Projects
A little bit late announcing these, but I’m thrilled to be involved in two exciting new projects, with two fabulous — and fabulously different — groups of people. First, I’m working with Blind Eye Books on a new short story series set in 19th century Britain. The series follows Constable Simon Pearce as he solves strangeContinue reading “Two Exciting New Projects”
Get in line
Writers often complain fondly about characters who show up unbidden and demand that their stories be written. Well, I don’t just have characters. I have objects that *think* they’re characters. This morning, I just figured out the purpose of a most recalcitrant baleen-framed oiled silk umbrella. The Prefect of Police gives it to my InspectorContinue reading “Get in line”
Jess Faraday 