An algorithm that predicts bestsellers?
In the past few weeks a non-fiction book has taken the publishing world by storm: The Bestseller Code: Anatomy of the Blockbuster Novel. Written by
Category: Writing and publishing
Thoughts on the exposure of Elena Ferrante
In the past week, book news has been dominated by a single story: that of the unmasking of notoriously private Italian author Elena Ferrante. In
Writing conventions: bridging between the old and the new
Any seasoned writer will tell you that writing ‘rules’ abound. Over the past hundred years or so, it has become de vogue for renowned writers
Is there a right speed for writing?
Did you know that it took Victor Hugo 12 years to write Les Misèrables, and Margaret Mitchell toiled over Gone with the Wind for an
Divided by a common language: British and American book editions
George Bernard Shaw said, ‘The British and the Americans are two peoples divided by a common language.’ I have always been intrigued by this quotation,
Should we unearth ‘lost’ books, or leave them well alone?
The lost manuscript has long been a source of fascination for readers and for writers. When an author’s work is beloved, there is an insatiable
Should an author today fuse storytelling with style?
Did you watch any of the Olympics coverage? I did: I find the athletes very inspiring. They work tirelessly, they make sacrifices, they push themselves
Writing the next generation: from Harry Potter to Andalucían Nights
In the past few weeks, a single book has dominated the arts headlines: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. The script of the new stage
The benefits of ‘deep reading’
Most people are aware that reading is a Good Thing: for knowledge-building, for intelligence, for empathy, for wellbeing even (see my post ‘Want to feel
Fusing fairy tale with fashion
Earlier this week I blogged about how high heels can infuse a woman with a sense of style and confidence. While researching the book, I
From shelfies to bookstagramming: for the love of books
If you love reading and you want to share your passion with the world, how do you do so? How do you identify yourself as
Using romance novels to teach conversational skills
‘Learning language from the language of love’: That was the headline that caught my eye in the news recently. Have you heard about Google’s artificial
Mature women readers: the backbone of digital romance publishing
Digital publishing is still in its infancy. Developments are quick, and frequently surprising, because ebooks are breaking new ground. With anything new comes a desire
Should romances with unhappy endings come with a warning?
On every romance bestseller list in the UK right now (and, indeed, in plenty of countries worldwide) you find After You, Jojo Moyes’ sequel to
America’s first romance-specific bookstore
My dream has always been to write romance novels, and I am very fortunate that I live that dream every day. But if, for some
Racing through a book, or enjoying the journey?
When American writer James Patterson makes an announcement, it is usually big news; because he’s a bestselling author, of course, but also because he’s a
The dream of a writer: to coin a new word?
Etymology, the study of the origin of words and their changing meanings, fascinates me. Yes, I will confess to being a reader of dictionaries, and
The author’s all-consuming need to write
For as long as I can remember, I have wanted to write. Writing makes me feel at one peaceful and alive; it feeds a raw
From narrowing readership to review battles to reader analytics: a contentious news round-up
Like many bibliophiles and writers, I follow various news outlets with an eye on stories relating to the arts, publishing and the business of being
Art as inspiration for writers
I am always delighted to discover a new edition of Mslexia magazine on my doormat (although this month’s cover artwork on the theme of monsters
Collecting – and treasuring – print books
Recently, a headline in the Observer caught my eye: ‘The Rarefied World of Rare Book Collecting Is Not a Dying Art’. My first thought was,
A new culture of supportive readers
Regular readers of my blog will know that I like to keep up to date with writing, publishing and reading-related news. This week, my favourite
A must-have for the London literary tourist
One of my favourite sites for online window-shopping is The Literary Gift Company at www.theliterarygiftcompany.com. They sell all sorts of essentials, luxuries and quirky delights
Book titles: What’s in a name?
For me, choosing the title of a book is one of the most fun parts of the writing process. But it is also one of
Should we be interested in authors, or only their books?
The novelist Jean Rhys declared: ‘All of a writer that matters is in the book or books. It is idiotic to be curious about the
Books: not merely a pleasure, but a necessity
I was brought up in a house in which books were ever-present. As a little girl, it did not occur to me to question the
Should authors re-read their own books?
Plenty of actors famously declare that they don’t watch their own movies. Johnny Depp told David Letterman on The Late Show: ‘In a way, once
Spotting the differences in romance novels
Do you remember the children’s game ‘spot the difference’, where you compare two pictures and circle the differences? Well, if you played that game with
Newsletter: A new medium for expression
No doubt you’ve come across newsletter signups in your forays online. Perhaps you subscribe to some newsletters; perhaps you even put out your own. Certainly,
The invisible author
Imagine a world in which books matter a great deal, but authors – their creators – do not. Imagine a world in which the author