Sherlock Holmes I took time out to go and see the statue of Sherlock Holmes in Picardy Place, Edinburgh. This is in tribute to the author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, who was born close to this spot on the 22nd May 1859. I think it’s a fitting tribute, as a writer, not to have a … More Inside the Fiction Factory – Part 122
One Hundred Having reached a hundred posts in this series, I thought I would put down some thoughts to mark this milestone. It’s not my intention to give you history lessons. All I’m doing is outlining a couple of the basic facts as background to the places I visit as you can easily google them … More Inside the Fiction Factory – Part 100
Writing Update July 2024 I blogged last time I was writing two thousand words a day in order to complete draft one and was two weeks in. I kept up this routine and finished the first draft of the next novel in the Kill series. I also mentioned it was called The Kill Flag and … More Inside the Fiction Factory – Part 96
Writing Update June 2024 After a number of stops and starts with various projects including a follow-up novella to EVA, a second book featuring my yet to be published detective series set in a dystopian Edinburgh and then a new novel dealing with Artificial Intelligence, I found myself with the publisher of my cybercrime novel … More Inside the Fiction Factory – Part 95
The Kill Series The only constant is change and you need to be prepared to see the positive, even if initially it may appear a negative. My publisher has decided to call it a day and wind the company up. This happens. The writing world is full of it. I like to joke that you’re … More Inside the Fiction Factory – Part 89
Writing Update It’s been an odd couple of weeks. I’ve been doing a lot of taking stock and planning which is all part of the process, but few words have been written. This is fine, because I need a break now and again. The effort involved in outlining a new novel at the start of … More Inside the Fiction Factory – Part 86
January Update 2024 It’s been a busy start to the year. I’ve been out to Culross again, a place I’ve blogged about previously. I decided to take a different route, due to the appalling state of the road I would usually take in. The number of potholes on Scottish roads is truly astounding, so I … More Inside the Fiction Factory – Part 82
Robert Burns The 25th of January is Burns day, when all around the world, people celebrate the life and work of Robert Burns. As a Scot, my introduction to poetry was through Burns, because as a lad that was the way it was. My father read Burns and school introduced me to the poems. Members … More Inside the Fiction Factory – Part 78
Fringe 2024 I’ve applied and been accepted to appear at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe this August. It will be my fifth year so I’m now viewed as a veteran. It has still to be confirmed, but I believe I will be back in The Stand Comedy Club. The photograph with this blog post is one … More Inside the Fiction Factory – Part 75
New Novel I didn’t intend to start writing a new novel this early in the year. As I noted earlier I’ve plenty to be getting on with and finishing up. However, I was feeling agitated and restless as the new year came in and I recognised the signs. There was an idea forming in the … More Inside the Fiction Factory – Part 74
The Fiction Factory 