Category Archives: Books

Desk Envy: Why Writers Get Jealous

Posted on July 13, 2020 by tthurai

Do you suffer from ‘desk envy’? I experienced it recently after reading a series of author interviews. In each article, the worthy scribe described their favourite writing venue. For instance: “I sit by my pool in the Algarve with a … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, writing, Writing Advice, Writing Tips | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

6 Top Tips: How to Stay Calm When Editing

Posted on April 29, 2019 by tthurai

Editing is a well-kept secret – or maybe the skeleton in the cupboard – depending on your view of it. Yet it plays a critical role in whether your book, article or thesis is outstanding or simply average. Having been … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Editing, Editing tips, Fiction, History, self-publishing, The Devil Dancers, women self-publishers, women writers, World War 2, writing, Writing Advice, Writing Tips | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

10 Creepy Choices for a Rattling Good Read (+ 4 great films)

Posted on October 30, 2017 by tthurai

While not all the books on my top 10 Creepy Choices are ghost stories,  I think you’ll agree that they all deliver a certain frisson. For good measure, I’ve also added four films that never cease to get my heart racing, … Continue reading →

Posted in Angela Carter, Books, Charles Dickens, Donna Tartt, Fiction, ghost stories, Halloween, Henry James, John Wyndham, M. R. James, M.R. James, Mary Shelley, Myth, Peter Ackroyd, Seamus Heaney, Short stories, Susan Hill, Vampires | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

What Makes a Great Ghost Story? 10 Tips for a Rattling Good Read

Posted on October 24, 2016 by tthurai

Introducing the story: Ghost stories often begin as a fireside entertainment, usually in winter at Christmas or New Year. The narrator is sometimes reluctant to tell his/her story because it is not mere light-hearted entertainment, but the account of a … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Charles Dickens, ghost stories, Halloween, Henry James, M.R. James, Susan Hill, Writing Tips | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

Self-Publishing: what I learned from the gurus

Posted on May 26, 2016 by tthurai

Self-publishing has come of age. According to one respected academic, it is now just another arm of the publishing industry. This is one of the inspiring messages that I brought away from the recent Matador self-publishing conference. In this third blog … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, conferences, publishing, self-publishing, women self-publishers, women writers, writing, Writing Advice, Writing Tips | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Self-Publishing: 7 ways to get the most from a conference

Posted on May 19, 2016 by tthurai

Having recently attended Matador’s conference on self-publishing, I thought it would be useful to jot down a list of essentials to help you to get the most from a conference whatever the topic. Prep your questions in advance. Why are … Continue reading →

Posted in book festivals, Books, Ceylon, conferences, Copyright, Fiction, History, publishing, self-publishing, The Devil Dancers, writing, Writing Advice, Writing Tips | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Self-publishing? Take a tip from Leicester

Posted on May 12, 2016 by tthurai

On the same day that Leicester celebrated its Premier League win, the city also hosted Matador’s annual self-publishing conference. A tenuous connection? Perhaps. But there are similarities between the trials of the football team and the tribulations of the self-publisher. … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, publishing, self-publishing, writing, Writing Advice, Writing Tips | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments