My fictional detective, DI Andy Horton, is based in Portsmouth and the Solent area on the South Coast of England. The Solent is the busiest waterway in Europe and one of the busiest in the world with around one million commercial and naval shipping movements and in excess of 10 million pleasure craft movements per year, so it's a brilliant area in which to set a series of crime novels, with plenty of inspiration and lots of activity.

The DI Horton marine mystery crime novels…

I think for most people, their vocation or avocation usually derives from personal interest or enjoyment. A person enjoys helping children, so becomes a teacher. Somebody fascinated with ancient history studies to be an archeologist. If you grew up really wanting to solve people’s burning pee issue, then your earned your degree in urology.

For me, writing began because…

This weekend I will be signing my mystery novels and thrillers at the Virginia Beach Christmas Market along with over 250 fine artisans and crafters from more than 25 states. Aside from my novels - the perfect gifts for literate friends - featured artisans will offer fine arts, pottery, jewelry, stained glass, wood, toys, photography, fiber arts, thousands of Christmas collectibles and more. Whether you’re searching for unique one-of-kind Christmas gifts, personalized stocking stuffers, or a…

These are pretty easy to make on someecards.com. Here are my attempts. Have any of your own?…

Like so many of us, while quick to learn some skills in other ways I seem to be a bit slow, especially if I don't just keep going way after having grown angry and frustrated...but calming down before even trying to proceed.  One example of this is the time involved with catching on to things like blogging. 

The Sheriff of Marion County is fed up with a local villain.  With only half of what he needs to…

I had just finished giving a reading in Long Beach a couple of months ago and was standing a little apart from everyone. It was a hot room, and I’d been wearing a suit and speaking for a long hour, and I think people were giving me a comfortable distance because I am a sweater in the best of times. In the worst, I’m a stick of butter on a hot day.

“So you work at Mt. SAC?” someone said behind me.

I turned to find a close…

I always enjoy having lunch with the Belvoir Officers Spouses Club, and last week was no exception. I did sign books there, but the turkey was the best part of that event.

The same group sponsored the Holiday Craft Boutique and Family Fun Fest Saturday. The George Mason field house was jammed with 150 vendors. I signed another bunch of books while enjoying the live music and performances. Another good time!

And I am featured in the video produced by Book Case TV from interviews…

Getting the right name for characters in my crime fiction novels can be a tricky business. Sometimes they come to me completely out of the blue, as I am creating a character, other times I will struggle to find the name that best suits that particular character and until I do the personality refuses to come fully alive. The name has to fit. If it's not right then the character isn't right. The name also needs to fit with the age and nationality although you can have…

Daniel Munroe posted this review of The Troubleshooter on Amazon: “Loved it. I'll admit I didn't think much of the first couple of pages. The action seemed too easy for Hannibal to execute, and I was worried the story might end up being a little glib. However, within a chapter or so, I found the characters growing on me, and I thoroughly enjoyed being along for the ride during Hannibal's challenges, sharing his successes, plus enduring his failures ... and failings. I also very much liked…

When I started this list 3 1/2 years ago, I only had 30 items on it. I'm glad to say the list has grown quite a bit since then. Perhaps in 3 more years, it will be complete. Until then, here's the current list, updated with working links. Enjoy, and have fun with it!

101 74 Things to Do before You Die (for mystery writers)

1. Write a minimum of 500 words a day, every day of the year,…

Up in Kings River Life this week we have a review of Janet Dawson's latest book, "What You Wish For", an interview with Janet & a chance to win a copy of the book http://kingsriverlife.com/11/17/what-you-wish-for-by-janet-dawson/



We also have a review of "Elementary" by one of our young writers. It was interesting to get a younger take on the show since for old die hard Sherlock…

Time is running out to submit to the shiny new Out of the

Gutter 8 Anthology. The doors close on 21^st November.…

“I totally take back all those times I didn’t want to nap when I was younger.”

Actually, these days, I wish I could nap and still have plenty of daylight left when I finally awaken. Or, if I’m really enjoying the night, that it could last longer. Day’s light and night’s dark don’t last long enough to suit my…

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Emily Stone is a woman with three independent novel adventures and a growing list of captured serial killers to prove it.   Every case, every missing child, and every serial killer stalking victims on the west coast…

Photo: Texas Dept. of Safety

None of us started where we want to be in our chosen profession.  We have to take courses, practice a skill, develop a good reputation with clients, or a variety of other activities that…

Not only did I have a great time at the Northern Virginia Christmas Market, but it was the most successful event of the year so far.  I got to talk to a lot of readers, and people with friends who like to read.  I also chatted with a librarian who needs writers to speak at her library, a couple people who remembered me from last year and several who said they would download me onto their Kindle…

I'm thrilled to announce that, in just five days, on Tuesday, November 20th, Unfinished Business, the second novel in my Malone mystery series, will be released, available at amazon.com and postmortem-press.com.…

The Hollow Man is Oliver Harris's debut novel and the first release from…

I'm back from a very successful mini tour of the North East of England where I was invited to give two talks.

This is the third time in three years that I have given talks to readers in the North East of England and I shall once again be in the area in April 2013 taking part in CSI Gateshead at Gateshead Library, a mini version of CSI Portsmouth, which I help to organise every year as part of Portsmouth…