Reader’s Question I had a reader ask me what I love about my book, Home Truths. That caught me a little 'on the hop' because I think answers to that question normally come from readers. Every reader gets something different from a book, so their answers are always fascinating and frequently a delight. And, of course, what readers get is more important than the enjoyment I get because, as I've said before, there would be no authors without readers. But I'll have a stab at answering - first about what I didn't like. And that's the process I created for myself and then endured. While I don't mind ..read more

I’m stoked to let people know that after two short crime stories and four full novels, my fifth novel will be released by StoryGrid Publishing in the US on 11 August 2021. It’s a story close to my heart and the hearts of many Cantabrians because it’s set in 2012 when my hometown, Christchurch, is trying to rebuild after a devastating earthquake. I know many people who were badly affected including losing loved ones and suffering damage - not just to buildings but to their emotional well-being. It was the latter that inspired me to write this story, particularly the emotional harm suffered at t ..read more

There are two other types of crime stories I know and enjoy: those I  review and share and those I have enjoyed and subjected to a Story Grid analysis. Today I’m writing about one of the latter – LA requiem by Robert Crais. I don’t know whether you’ve heard of the book or the author, but Crais has written a private investigator series with his main character Elvis Cole and his sidekick Joe Pike. This story is the 8th in that series. Shawn Coyne, the person who trained me in Story Grid editing, and accepted my own story Home Truths for publication (Story Grid Publishing), helped Crais ach ..read more

Very few writers invest their time in guiding readers toward new reading experiences from authors they may never have heard of. Yet Craig Sisterson, ex lawyer, features writer and crime fiction expert who founded the NZ Crime Writing awards (Ngaio Marsh Crime Writing Awards) has done just that. In recent years Craig has interviewed hundreds of crime writers (including me) and talked about the genre on radio, podcasts and writing festivals on three continents. Now living in London, he's been a judge of crime writing awards such as the McIlvanney Prize (Scotland), the Ned Kel ..read more

Researching scene locations in Sydney One of the best things about writing is the opportunity to visit places I write about. It’s not easy to do right now and although we can fly to Sydney from NZ, I don’t fancy 14 days of quarantine coming back home. Anyway, when travel wasn’t Covid restricted I went to Sydney to research my 2nd Sasha Stace story, Trust No one. Sydney is such a great city and offers so many ideas for scenes in crime (and other) stories. When I’m writing I’m trying to ‘put you in’ those places. I’ve included a couple of photos that are scenes in this story. The photo belo ..read more

CAN A KILLER EVER BE ABOVE THE LAW? Deputy Stuart Kofer is a protected man. Though he's turned his drunken rages on his girlfriend, Josie, and her children many times before, the police code of silence has always shielded him. But one night he goes too far, leaving Josie for dead on the floor before passing out. Her son, sixteen-year-old Drew, knows he only has this one chance to save them. He picks up a gun and takes the law into his own hands. In Clanton, Mississippi, there is no one more hated than a cop killer - but a cop killer's defence lawyer comes close. Jake Brigance doesn't want th ..read more

An emotionally confronting story What is it about South Africans who come to Australia and New Zealand, who become Aussies and Kiwis, students of our cultures and then hold the mirror up to us in their writing? For one thing, they win literary awards. For another, they inspire some Kiwi born writers like me. Until his death a few years ago, Australia had Peter Temple – a multi award winning crime writer, a rock star of the crime writing craft. In New Zealand, we have Fiona Sussman whose book, The last time we spoke, won the New Zealand Ngaio Marsh Crime Award. Both authors write stor ..read more

Up with the best psychological thrillers What’s worse than running over your neighbour’s dog? If you read The Devil’s Wire by Deborah Rogers, you’ll find out! There are surprises aplenty in this rollicking read and you might at the end, look carefully at what you really know about those closest to you. Are they who they really seem? There’s a small cast of characters in this book but they’re all beautifully drawn by Rogers. Blunt South African antagonist, Lenise Jameson, is a bit of a favourite of mine. She provides endless suffering for protagonist Jennifer, seemingly for the careless killing ..read more

Becoming a Story Grid Certified Editor Mad? Some will think so. Certainly, a certified nerd when it comes to story analysis. In February 2019, I went to Nashville, Tennessee for a Story Grid Workshop run by Shawn Coyne and Tim Grahl. I stayed here. Shawn Coyne and Tim Grahl Shawn is a twenty-five year book publishing veteran and wrote the book - The Story Grid: What Good Editors Know. http://www.storygrid.com He and Tim put together a regular Story Grid podcast where, according to Tim, he's the, "struggling writer learning how to write a book that works." http://www.storygrid.com/podcast Tim ..read more

Knowing about JFK’s assassination - detrimental to survival. Finding the book I came to Lou Berney’s November Road as a result of Don Winslow’s recommendation. Publishing veteran, Shawn Coyne (who trained me as a Story Grid editor) has worked with Don, an acclaimed writer. All that is to confirm that we can come to read books or writers we’ve never heard of through a circuitous but rewarding route. But having one great writer recommend another, is a sure-fire way to set up a reader to enjoy a genre that they both write in. Genre For those understanding genre, November Road is a nuanced thrille ..read more