Tag: thriller fiction

Book Review, Meet the Editor

Totally Addictive Crime, Thriller and Suspense on the Small Screen – what you should binge-watch this weekend!

Rebecca Millar

Despite how much I love my job of helping crime, suspense and thriller authors’ manuscripts to ooze tension and grip readers, spending all day staring at words on the page can take its toll – I think my glasses prescription has got even stronger in lockdown! – so sometimes there is nothing better than curling up on the sofa and watching a good drama of an evening. 

Addictive Thrillers

Despite how much I love my job of helping crime, suspense and thriller authors’ manuscripts to ooze tension and grip readers, spending all day staring at words on the page can take its toll – I think my glasses prescription has got even stronger in lockdown! – so sometimes there is nothing better than curling up on the sofa and watching a good drama of an evening. 

So, I thought I’d share what gripping TV is having us glued to the small screen.

Continue reading “Totally Addictive Crime, Thriller and Suspense on the Small Screen – what you should binge-watch this weekend!” →
Coffee with Colleagues, What Does an Editor Do?, Writing Tips and Tricks

Coffee with Colleagues: How to get your policing facts right without compromising your story.

Rebecca Millar

One of the best parts of working in book publishing is that some of the most gifted, talented, fun and just generally great people form the majority of the workforce. We are all united by the love of the written word, but each person has such a wide variety of skills and knowledge that even if you’ve worked with someone for years, they’ll still surprise you with a little nugget of wisdom when you least expect it.

However, now that the whole world has effectively moved to working from home, I thought it would be lovely to reach out to the publishing community and get to know some of my colleagues in the industry a little more – albeit over a Zoom chat, rather than the lunches and coffees that publishing professionals are known for.

I specialise in crime fiction, thriller and suspense, revelling in a shocking twist and gripping mysteries and narratives. However, although I can help you with suspense, your plotting, character development, and keeping your reader hooked, when working on a police procedural novel, sometimes I need to call on help for the more technical matters. Because if there is one thing that we know about crime-fiction readers is that they’ll pick up on where you haven’t got your facts right. Which is why I’m delighted to welcome Crime Fiction Advisor Graham Bartlett to my virtual couch to chat all about things police procedure, and how to get the technical side right, whilst still maintaining a great story.

Get Your Facts Right: Police Procedure in Crime Fiction
with Graham Bartlett, Crime Fiction Advisor

Continue reading “Coffee with Colleagues: How to get your policing facts right without compromising your story.” →
Coffee with Colleagues, What Does an Editor Do?, Writing Tips and Tricks

Coffee with Colleagues: Should I record an audiobook of my novel?

Rebecca Millar

One of the best parts of working in book publishing is that some of the most gifted, talented, fun and just generally great people form the majority of the workforce. We are all united by the love of the written word, but each person has such a wide variety of skills and knowledge that even if you’ve worked with someone for years, they’ll still surprise you with a little nugget of wisdom when you least expect it.

However, now that the whole world has effectively moved to working from home, I thought it would be lovely to reach out to the publishing community and get to know some of my colleagues in the industry a little more – albeit over a Zoom chat, rather than the lunches and coffees that publishing professionals are known for.

For today’s chat, I decided to venture into the realm of something a little different and record our interview as a video – can’t have an audiobook interview without audio?! – so check out the video below to hear myself in conversation with Elliott Frisby of Monkeynut Audiobooks and Sound discussing the the tips and tricks you need to know if you’re considering producing an audio version of your book.

How to Publish an Audiobook
with Elliott Frisby, Monkeynut Audiobooks and Sound

Continue reading “Coffee with Colleagues: Should I record an audiobook of my novel?” →
Writing Tips and Tricks

Getting it Right: Where Crime Fiction meets Real Life.

Rebecca Millar

Being a CSI for a Day

My earliest memories of crime fiction were the evenings spent curled up on the sofa with my mum and sister watching CSI. Every Saturday night (we have to record it, you see, as it was on too late for us kids), we’d be poised and ready for the latest investigation, and I can still remember the excitement with the drums of New York, those distinctive chords of Las Vegas, or the roar of ‘Yeaaaaaah’ for Miami! (If you don’t know what I’m talking about, you have homework to do, now! It’s also my first introduction to The Who, so an added bonus!) We were totally hooked as the teams would use the evidence to uncover the truth; we loved the mystery of the story unfolding, the piecing together of the puzzle – so much so that my sister was actually going to study forensic science for a while before she decided to investigate some older bones and study archaeology. And then the next day, I’d rush into school to chat to my best friend about everything that happened in the show.

It’s safe to say, CSI captured my imagination a bit.

So, imagine my delight, stuck in Lockdown 2.0, when I discovered that The Crime Lab – run by former Scotland Yard detectives Steve and Kate Gaskin – was organising a whole day all about what it’s like to investigate a crime! True Crime Festival was an immersive day with forensics experts and former police officers, talking all things crime scene investigation (or scene of crime (officers) (SOCO) in the UK).

Continue reading “Getting it Right: Where Crime Fiction meets Real Life.” →
Author Showcase, crime reading month, Uncategorized

Crime and Thriller Month: Author Q&A with Chris Nickson

Rebecca Millar

Writing crime and thriller fiction is not an easy game; you always have to be aware of strategically building the tension and sense of the threats as your plot progresses, navigating the peaks and troughs of anticipation as your reader moves towards the final climax that has your readers on the edge of their seats.

But if that wasn’t hard enough, if your setting is based in eras past, you’ve got a whole host of elements to balance too. No fancy computer searches to aid the police, no high-speed getaway car and a whole lot more horse poo.

Therefore who better to talk about the sub-genre than my second author of Crime and Thriller Month: historical thriller pro Chris Nickson is in the chair!

Continue reading “Crime and Thriller Month: Author Q&A with Chris Nickson” →
Uncategorized

Back in Blighty – NOW TAKING ENQUIRIES!

Rebecca Millar

Wow, it’s been a whirlwind month. So much for taking a rest, eh? I’ve had the past month or so off travelling with my partner in a green-and-purple camper van around the south island of New Zealand. What an experience!? I’ve learnt so much, read a few books and experienced some amazing things.

However, all good things must come to an end and so our Antipodean travels must draw to a close. After a year in Australia and then a month in New Zealand, we’re now back on British soil. We had the most wonderful time, went on so many adventures and met some lovely people but I must admit I am glad to be home. There really is no place like home, is there?

Continue reading “Back in Blighty – NOW TAKING ENQUIRIES!” →