Tag: authors

Writing Tips and Tricks

Small Business Saturday: Festive gift ideas for writers and bookworms

Rebecca Millar

All across the country, the cost-of-living crisis is hitting people hard, therefore, I appreciate that many people will be thinking twice this gifting season. And if you’ve purchased all your presents on the compelling Black Friday deals, I don’t blame you. However, most small businesses can’t compete with the level of discounts offered by the big companies on the Black Friday weekend, and so it’s likely to be a tough year for us indies out there, many of whom are still riding the wave of impact from the Covid shutdowns. 

But even if you can’t justify buying small this year, you can still support a small business or indie author this Small Business Saturday in other ways that won’t cost you a penny. 

See some of the suggestions above, but so even if you can’t afford to purchase small this year, engaging on social media, and more importantly sharing positive reviews when you’ve really loved someone’s work, makes all the difference. 

So if you partook of the bargains this year, and can spare even a little bit of the money you’ve saved on a steal of a deal, please consider making a purchase – no matter how little – from a small business or indie author as well as we prepare for the festive season, because when you shop small this Christmas, somewhere a real person will be doing a grateful happy dance!

Here’s a list of my favourite small businesses who are offering some fabulous gift ideas this year – the perfect present for the writer in your life.

Continue reading “Small Business Saturday: Festive gift ideas for writers and bookworms” →
Book Review, What Does an Editor Do?, Writing Tips and Tricks

A Handy Guide to Publishing Your Manuscript: LET’S GET PUBLISHED by Val Penny – Book Review

Rebecca Millar

It’s safe to say that to new writers and authors, once you leave the seclusion of your writing desk, the world of PUBLISHING is a little daunting? There is so much jargon, so many processes, ways to do things, ways not to do things, that it can all be a bit much! When I first joined the industry, I was a little flummoxed too. I loved books more than anything, but I didn’t understand a think about how a book was actually made.

Continue reading “A Handy Guide to Publishing Your Manuscript: LET’S GET PUBLISHED by Val Penny – Book Review” →
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Book Review: TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH by Gilly Macmillan

Rebecca Millar

📚Suspense fans—read this now!📚

By day, I edit crime, suspense and thriller, and by night, well, I read crime, suspense and thriller. It’s a genre that I have always loved; there is something about a complex, changing narrative of intrigue and mystery and a bloody good twist that I just can’t resist.

And an author who delivers on this level with every single book is the masterful Gilly Macmillan. Her latest novel To Tell You the Truth is my favourite yet (and I actually helped edit her previous book THE NANNY, so that’s saying something). Gilly has created a complex and fascinating character in Lucy – a novelist whose talent for imagination may have gone too far. She narrates a dark and multi-layered tale of deception, death and lies – or so you think. With twists at every turn, I was compelled to read the novel late into the night, desperate to uncover the truth.

Set in Gilly’s hometown of Bristol, I was transported back to my university days in a city that I loved, but this also added an extra level of intrigue as much of the action takes place on the other side of the Suspension Bridge from the city, which I actually only visited a couple of times. This created an otherworldy sense for me in a, which was unnerving and built on Lucy Harper’s complex world that Gilly has weaved together so well. (On an aside, this book is also a delight for those who work in the world of books and publishing; I couldn’t help but smile at Lucy’s interactions with her publishers – everyone loves a treat hamper!)

To Tell You the Truth by Gilly Macmillan publishes on 25th June 2020 in ebook and hardback. But if I were you, I’d preorder it now…

Thanks to the author and publishers for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. 

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Crime, Suspense and Thriller Reads by Black Authors – BLACK LIVES MATTER

Rebecca Millar

Across the world, a revolution is happening as people are coming together to protest against racism and promote anti-racism.

I want to do what I can by amplifying the Black voices of my first love: fiction. I am, of course, a specialist in all things crime, thriller and suspense so I wanted to share a list of some of the brilliant Black novelists writing in the genre to add to your reading lists and to-be-read piles.

The below is just a limited selection of the fantastic array of crime, thriller and suspense written by Black authors – I wish I could fit them all in – so I would urge you to check out the Crime Writers of Colour website as well as the Black Mystery Authors Directory to discover even more fabulous writers, and hopefully your next read.

Dorothy Koomson

Dorothy Koomson is the award-winning author of 15 novels and has been making up stories since she was 13 when she used to share her stories with her convent school friends. Her published titles include: Tell Me Your Secret, The Brighton Mermaid, The Friend, When I Was Invisible, That Girl From Nowhere, The Flavours of Love, The Woman He Loved Before, Goodnight, Beautiful and The Chocolate Run.

Her next novel All My Lies Are True is out in July.

Eric Jerome Dickey

Eric Jerome Dickey is the New York Times bestselling author of more than twenty-five novels as well as a six-issue miniseries of graphic novels featuring Storm (X-Men) and the Black Panther. Originally from Memphis, Dickey now lives on the road and rests in whatever hotel will have him.

Angela Henry

Angela Henry was once told that her past life careers included spy, researcher, and investigator. She stuck with what she knew because today she’s a mystery writing library reference specialist, who loves to people watch and eavesdrop on conversations. She’s the author of five mysteries featuring equally nosy amateur sleuth Kendra Clayton, as well as the thriller The Paris Secret. When she’s not working, writing, or practicing her stealth, she loves to travel, is connoisseur of B horror movies, and an admitted anime addict. She lives in Ohio and is currently hard at work trying to meet her next deadline.

Rachel Howzell Hall

Rachel was born in Los Angeles, California fifteen days after Paul McCartney announced the split of the Beatles. As a child, she kept a pen in her hand, writing everywhere—in notebooks, on loose-leaf paper, in her big brother’s prep-school yearbook and on the back of church bulletins. But never on walls, buildings or freeway overpasses. That is graffiti.

In 2002, her debut novel, A QUIET STORM, was published by Scribner to great notice, including reviews from O Magazine and Publishers Weekly, with a starred review from Library Journal and also chosen as a “Rory’s Book Club” selection, the must-read book list for fictional television character Rory Gilmore of The Gilmore Girls.

Walter Mosley

Walter Mosley is one of the most versatile and admired writers in America today. He is the author of more than 43 critically acclaimed books, including the major bestselling mystery series featuring Easy Rawlins. His work has been translated into 23 languages and includes literary fiction, science fiction, political monographs, and a young adult novel. His short fiction has been widely published, and his nonfiction has appeared in The New York Times Magazine and The Nation, among other publications. He is the winner of numerous awards, including an O. Henry Award, a Grammy and PEN America’s Lifetime Achievement Award. He lives in New York City.

Malorie Blackman

Although not strictly thriller, as a teenager I loved Malorie Blackman’s Noughts and Crosses, so couldn’t great a list without it.

An award-winning British author and dramatist, Malorie Blackman is a major voice in children’s publishing, holding the post of Waterstones Children’s Laureate from 2013 to 2015. She is best-known for her bestselling novels Noughts & Crosses series as well as Pig Heart Boy, Thief, Cloud Busting, Boys Don’t Cryand Chasing the Stars. The fifth novel in the Noughts & Crosses series, Crossfire, was published in August 2019.

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Are you on Facebook?

Rebecca Millar

Because, I am!

As of today, Rebecca Millar Editorial has a Facebook presence. Come join the conversation and like the page for exclusive content, discounts (coming soon) as well as all the usual bookish goodness. I’ll be sharing writing tips and prompts to help get the creative juices flowing, as well as shout outs and author interviews.  So come on down, and say hi via the link.

Also, if you are on Instagram, come follow my Bookstagram account on Instagram for more reviews, behind the scenes insights and general life updates – there will be kangaroos!

Looking forward to chatting!

Rebecca x

As always, if you have a writing project that you think needs some editorial advice, get in touch and I’d love to be able to discuss how we can work together. Just get in touch via the contact page.

Meet the Editor, Uncategorized

#IAmAReader

Rebecca Millar

So as well as a book editor, I also dabble in Bookstagram – Instagram book reviews and photography. And recently, I had the pleasure of collaborating with another bookstagrammer called @bookishkaren for her project I Am A Reader.

It’s a project that aims to showcase readers around the world, bringing cultures together over our love of reading. It was such fun to be part of it and I wanted to share the piece that I contributed – and also, let you know a little bit more about me.

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