Tag: Fiction
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Flashback – A never published scene from The Alchemist of Paris
When I was sorting through my papers, I found this scene from an early draft of The Alchemist of Paris. Young housemaid Elise and her mysterious master are walking through the pre-dawn streets of 19th century Paris. Although there are familiar points, this scene has an alternative plot line. Can you spot three changes from…
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Sequels, Prequels and Interquels
Be careful, the note said, for I had found a phantom. Albert Price had been known across Europe for the past fifty years, although if he were real or a legend, no one knew. – The Alchemist of Rome When your main character has lived for centuries, are your books sequels, prequels or interquels? The…
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The Surprising Difficulties of Photographing #Booksandmacarons
#Bookstagramming on Instagram combines three of my favourite things – taking pictures, microblogging and discovering new books. With hashtags such as #booksandnature, #booksanddogs #booksandcafes #booksinthewild etc etc, it all looks so chic and simple. However all those artful pictures are not as easy as they look, as I discovered when I decided to photograph ‘The…
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Leaving Paris
Paris had never looked more beautiful than on that last run through the city. I had forgotten the squalor and smells of the narrow streets now and saw only the grandeur of the rooftops against the sky. Gerard guided me out of Le Marais and along the broad boulevards near the Louvre Palace. We ran…
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Inspirations – Mystery and Travel: Death on the Nile novel (1937) and movie (1978)
This post is part of the Little Bits of Classics & Christina Wehner Agatha Christie Blogathon which celebrates the 126th anniversary of the birth of Agatha Christie. With 85 novels written and between 2 billion – 4 billion copies sold, Agatha Christie was one of the most successful and prolific writers of the twentieth century. If…
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Leaving home
At twilight I slipped out of the convent and into the herb garden. Unlocking the gate, I strolled under the old stone arch to the fields beyond. The sky was blue violet, and a golden moon was rising over the hills. The air was sweet with the scent of the rustling grasses. Wildflowers, some blooming…
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Enfin! ‘The Alchemist of Paris’ Release Date 14 July 2016
“The Alchemist of Paris” has been beta read, edited and polished to a shine, and is coming out on 14 July 2016! The picture above was taken near the house (now a museum) of a famous French writer. Can anyone guess where it is in Paris?
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Cover Reveal – The Alchemist of Paris
I am very excited to reveal the cover design of ‘The Alchemist of Paris’, created by the wonderful Adriana Hanganu of adipixdesign.com. ‘The Alchemist of Paris’ is a gothic mystery set in modern day and 1820s Paris. A young woman searches for a forgotten mansion in the heart of modern Paris. The only clue to…
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Your Novel Stinks! Including all the Senses in your Writing
The quickest way to immerse a reader in your character’s world is for the reader to experience that world through your character’s senses. Most writers are familiar with the “show don’t tell” rule. The closer we are to the character’s actions and reactions, the more gripping the story becomes. Sight and sound are easy to…
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24. New Years Eve
On an island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, not far from the international dateline, a young man was sitting on a white sandy beach. He shielded his eyes as a tall slender girl walked across the sand toward him. “So how are you feeling?” she said, sitting down. “I keep thinking I could…