Thriller writer, archaeologist and traveller
Writing a book is hugely enjoyable, but a with anything worthwhile is also an immense challenge. I'm very close to the end of work on what's turned into a labour of love and the final stages require both patience and attention to detail. Our team of archaeological volunteers has worked on the island of Alderney... Continue Reading →
A plaque sits on the Moon, attached to the descent stage of the Lunar Excursion Module Eagle. It reads "Here men from the planet Earth first set foot upon the Moon July 1969, AD. We came in peace for all mankind." I was nine years old when Apollo 11 landed, utterly inspired that night by... Continue Reading →
November is not a great time to travel, with most places being in transition between seasons. I figured Belize should be coming to the end of its rainy season when I set off on a two week trip, starting on 23 November (an auspicious date for anyone paying attention). Didn't quite get it right but... Continue Reading →
Long time, no blog, as the year has ended in a flurry of travelling. Just like most of 2025, in fact. I spent around 120 nights away from home, splitting the year more or less into equal thirds of writing, archaeology and travel. January was mostly spent recovering from the flu, but following the successful... Continue Reading →
The Report on the excavation of a Late Roman building on Alderney which I directed in 2024 has been published in the latest Alderney Society Bulletin. The projects run by our team in Alderney have, since 2008, been written up straight away and an interim report has featured in the next Bulletin. Reports on archaeological... Continue Reading →
Death in the Dales returned for a second year, ably organised by Jean Briggs and Sedbergh Book Town. Tucked away beneath the brooding Howgills and heavy grey skies, Sedbergh hosted a weekend of talks and thoughful entertainment with crime at its heart. Jean Briggs introduced the opening conversation between Martin Edwards and M W Craven.... Continue Reading →
In 1997 I wrote a crime novel in which villains exploited this thing called the Internet - it was science fiction, I was told, so was never published. In 2025 it would be old hat. I was an early user of the internet, having flirted with JANET at university in the 80s then using the... Continue Reading →
#17 in an occasional series on writing non-fiction If you are self-publishing or are with a small press who will play ball, you can employ a number of sophisticated strategies, particularly if promoting e-books outside your local region. You will need to study the various techniques on offer and apply them rigorously. These are in... Continue Reading →
#16 in an occasional series on writing non-fiction As marketing is such a big subject, I've spread it across three blogs. Here we have a quick look at the mechanics of your book marketing plan in the twenty-first century. Identify market channels before you even begin to write. If your primary audience will be inhabitants... Continue Reading →
#15 in an occasional series on writing non fiction The cover image is a bit of fun - it's not the way to market a book! Marketing is the really tough challenge and can take as much time as writing the book itself. I’m not a marketing expert and it’s something I have personally struggled... Continue Reading →