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helen black's Discussions

What's the point ?
44 Replies

Started this discussion. Last reply by Pate Grantwell Dec 16, 2008.

The Londonstani Effect
9 Replies

Started this discussion. Last reply by Iain Rowan Apr 19, 2008.

Hit me baby one more time
15 Replies

Started this discussion. Last reply by Karen Dionne Mar 21, 2008.

 

helen black's Page

Profile Information

Hometown:
beds,uk
About Me:
I'm a writer - Damaged Goods published by Harpercolins.
I'm a lawyer - representing kids
I'm a mother - 8 year old twins
I'm a wife - poor sod
I'm a loud mouth - as a working class northerner it's obligatory
I Am A:
Reader, Writer
Website:
http://hblack.co.uk
Books And Authors I Like:
Mark Billingham, Karin Slaughter, Lee Child, Martina Cole, Minnete Walters all rock.
Movies And TV Shows I Like:
The Usual Suspects, The Godfather, The Blair Witch Project.
On TV I like Spooks, In Cold Blood, 24, Dr Who, Ashes to Ashes.
Oh and Prime Suspect - loving it.

Helen black's Blog

Lights, Camera, Action

'Just a little more eyeliner,' says the impossibly beautiful make up artist.

I'm at some TV studios in Old Street to promote Damaged Goods. I've done a lot of radio ( frankly I've got the face and arse for it ) but I've never before graced the screen.

I check my reflection. I'm wearing more make up than Boy George. My skin is so orange I look like a burnt satsuma.

'It won't look so heavy under the lights,' says the make up artist who I can't help noticing wears nothing…

Continue

Posted on January 29, 2008 at 10:02pm — 1 Comment

Lights, Camera, Action

'Just a little more eyeliner,' says the impossibly beautiful make up artist.

I'm at some TV studios in Old Street to promote Damaged Goods. I've done a lot of radio ( frankly I've got the face and arse for it ) but I've never before graced the screen.

I check my reflection. I'm wearing more make up than Boy George. My skin is so orange I look like a burnt satsuma.

'It won't look so heavy under the lights,' says the make up artist who I can't help noticing wears nothing…

Continue

Posted on January 29, 2008 at 10:02pm

Groundhog Day

Husband Who Lives In Hope brings through the wine. I cart a collection of biscuits and chocolates that would make Willy Wonka barf.

We settle down in front of the TV to watch the latest episode of Messiah.

A very sexy Mark Warren struts gloomily through numerous religiously themed crime scenes.

'Do you think,' asks Husband Who Lives In Hope, 'that he ever notices that all his cases are a bit similar?'

Mark inspects a pair of blood stained hands forced to pray for…

Continue

Posted on January 22, 2008 at 4:14am

Small Town Blues

Mother With An Eye For A Bargain calls me from the supermarket.

'They've got your book.'

These calls are not unusual - since Damaged Goods was published she's spotted them with the trained eye she turned on me as a teenager with hickies.

'There are five on the shelf,' she says. 'So I'm happy with that.'

There's a but comming. I can smell it like a dog before a storm.

'But,' there you go, 'the position's all wrong.'

'These things are decided by the…

Continue

Posted on January 18, 2008 at 8:23pm — 3 Comments

Supermum Lawyer Writes Debut Novel shrieks the headline in the Gazzette. My picture grins out inanely, Damaged Goods, held close to my chest. I sigh. ''Most mothers are delighted if they find time to…

Supermum Lawyer Writes Debut Novel shrieks the headline in the Gazzette. My picture grins out inanely, Damaged Goods, held close to my chest.

I sigh.

''Most mothers are delighted if they find time to juggle work and children but Helen Black somehow wrote her fabulous new book.'

I sigh and look around the train wreck I laughingly call home.

The twins were up til 4am projectile vomiting with a force and intensity Linda Blair would…

Continue

Posted on January 17, 2008 at 8:37pm — 2 Comments

Comment Wall (40 comments)

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At 4:50pm on December 12, 2008, Roger Jon Ellory said…
Helen,
My apologies for the HUGE delay in replying to you! God, I can't believe that you sent me a message in January and it took me nearly a year to find out that I had a message! I joined crimespace some considerable time ago, and then I joined bookspace, and then facebook, and then I started a website, and then I started getting about thirty e-mails a day through the website and on and on and on it went! And then this morning, for whatever reason, someone else sent me an e-mail through the website asking if I was still on crimespace, so I went there and there was your message! Anyway, huge apologies Helen, and seeing as it is this time of year may I take this opportunity to wish you all happiness for Christmas, and all the very best for a wonderful 2009. Please e-mail me back at roger@rjellory.com and we can talk about books and other such nonsense! Take care, and sorry again for such extraordinary bad manners.
Roger.
At 12:32am on May 26, 2008, Steven Hague said…
Hi Helen,

A while back you asked if I had a website and I said it was a work in progress. Well I'm now pleased to report that its up and running!

If you get a chance, please take a look and let me know what you think.

Cheers,
Steve
At 12:33am on May 20, 2008, Lillian Porter said…
Your book looks very interesting. I am going to look for a copy.
At 10:19pm on April 25, 2008, carole gill said…
should have known! you're a lawyer--you had extra reasons for liking The Firm, one hopes it isn't really like that, but it probably is to a great extent in the U.S. that is. I can't picture U.K. law firms like that though.
At 11:59pm on April 14, 2008, Ian Gosling said…
Hi Helen
I have just bought a copy of Damaged Goods, I saw it when I was signing books in Waterstones the other day. Not sure when I'll get round to reading though, there are already half a dozen waiting on the pile. It was the title that caught my eye - I was was to use the same title for the third or fourth book in the series. Never mind.
At 10:12am on March 6, 2008, L.J. Sellers said…
Hi Helen
Twins, lawyering, and writing. Okay, so I'm not the busiest person I know.
Congratulations on your successful debut.
At 12:02am on February 29, 2008, Chris Ewan said…
Hi Helen
I haven't heard about panels just yet but it's nice to be able to say hi in advance of the festival. Thanks for the heads up on Neil - I'll track him down and say hello on here too. I see we both share the same sordid dayjob btw - must be something about the law that drives us to come up with complex murder plans...
Cheers
Chris
At 5:55am on February 22, 2008, Nikki said…
Will do - and my mistake, I was actually on chpt 6 not chpt 3!!!
x
At 8:22am on February 21, 2008, Nikki said…
Hi Helen,
Just wanted to let you know that I am reading and thoroughly enjoying your book at the moment! One part that really struck me was when 'husband who lives in hope' went out and bought you a laptop when you said you'd like to write a book - mine did that too!
Of course, it was second hand and died before I got cracking....tsk.....but hey!
So, anyway, I'm now back online - with a new laptop and a better internet connection. If someone could throw in a Cadburys twirl and a bar of wholenut at this moment then my life would be almost perfect.
But back to the book - I only picked it up yesterday and I'm on Chpt 3 - it's zinging along really nicely and Lilly Valentine is a great character. Having met some fantastic Northern women, it's great to see one brought to life like that!
Anyways - I'll give you my humble opinion - for what it's worth - when I finish!
Better get my butt back over to WebMums now - I've abandoned it since my laptop died and I've loads of new articles to put on there!
TC
Nikki
x
At 12:07am on February 13, 2008, Jeff Ross said…
Helen,
I think it all depends on how much you want to write the screenplay and how much you want to cut. When you see movies and think, 'that's not as good as the book' it's often because sections you really enjoyed in the book are not in the film. There's a process you go through when adapting where you need to decide what the STORY is about and the little things that this reader or that reader might really like disappear. In the end I think it is difficult because you are the most attached to your book. As well, writers, especially mystery and thriller writers, want to get onto the next book and not live inside a single novel for that long. And Scriptwriting is a long long process.
If you are interested in trying to work a book into a screenplay there's a great free scriptwriting package online now called celtx http://www.celtx.com/ Having used Final Draft for years, I am now switching over. This program has everything you need from character development to who will be doing an actor's hair. Try getting some ideas down with this program and actually start writing the script and you'll be able to see whether it's going to be hard or easy for you.
Cheers
 
 
 

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