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# Alison Morton Author

Alison Morton's writing and publishing site

## Sitemaps

- [XML Sitemap](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/sitemap.xml): Contains all public & indexable URLs for this website.

## Posts

- [Blog](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/blog/)
- [How book bloggers help authors – 10 Dos and Don'ts](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2023/05/21/how-bookbloggers-help/) - Bookbloggers read, review and promote books in their spare time. They don’t get paid. They love reading and want to share that joy with others. Delving into a new world, meeting enthralling characters, being chilled or thrilled, rooting for the protagonist, biting their fingers off, never mind the fingernails, or sighing with pleasure or regret
- [Villains and writers –The author is *not* the character](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2023/03/06/villains-and-writers-the-author-is-not-the-character/) - Conflict is the lifeblood of any fiction whether it's between characters, between a character and their conscience, between the character and their environment. Obstacles abound, fate seems inexorable, bad characters never seem to give up. Character is shown via actions and dialogue which shine a light on their values and motivations. Caius Tellus in my
- [Characters in setting](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2023/03/20/characters-in-setting/) - Rounded, multi-layered characters are essential if you want people to be engaged in your story. Reading is an emotional trip and we want to gasp, shiver, feel rolls of warmth, resentment, sympathy, fear, loss, and triumph as we turn the pages. Superwomen are fine in some contexts – we like a bit of pushing over
- [What's a thriller?](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2012/05/30/whats-a-thriller/) - When I mentioned to a new friend that I wrote thrillers with an alternate history setting, she batted aside (or maybe ignored) the alternate history bit and asked, "What do you call a thriller, then?". Er, isn't it obvious? Apparently not. Merriam-Webster defines a thriller as "a work of fiction or drama designed to hold
- [What does 'success' look like?](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2023/05/31/what-does-success-look-like/) - A 'successful author' – what does that mean? Selling gazillions of books and getting an orange Bestseller label on Amazon? Selling gazillions of books with only 8% of the proceeds but with the backing of a big publisher? Running your own writing and publishing business – the mistress (or master) of your own universe? Getting
- [The terror of writing](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2023/03/04/the-terror-of-writing/) - You stare at the stodgy sentences. You can't think what words to write next. You are starting to bore yourself. Your characters are boring each other. Nobody will want to read this drivel. And so it goes round and round in your head. You've written ten novels or none. You've won prizes or you're just
- [Summer is here – Dive into a book!](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2026/08/01/summer-is-here-dive-into-a-book/) - Ten fabulous books to read this summer! From Ancient Rome, Medieval, Stuarts to 1970s, contemporary crime and alternative time. Happy reading!
- [Why do I host guests on my blog?](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2023/11/23/why-do-i-host-guests-on-my-blog/) - Why host guests on your blog? Is it worth the bother or do you discover interesting things about them and some invaluable writing tips?
- [In conference – Your quick guide](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2018/02/05/in-conference/) - Getting the most out of going to a writers' conference. How to prepare and how to be a good delegate. Also some practical tips on what to take and what not.
- [What does reading do for you?](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2013/05/19/what-does-reading-do-for-you/) - People nowadays have to work more and get less time to think. Thinking and learning is an important aspect of self development, it is also essential for professional success. Reading is a vital basic skill for life. Poor reading skills tend to go hand in hand with social exclusion (Guardian, 2007, Does Reading Matter?). That's
- [Summer vacuum – the time of little writing](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2025/07/22/summer-vacuum-or-the-time-of-little-writing/) - Summer vacuum – the time of little writing when even writers deserve a break or perhaps a holiday. But it's also a time to refill the creative well.
- [What's my writing process?](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2026/07/23/whats-my-writing-process/) - Outlining my rather ramshackle writing process from first letter to final book. However, fifteen books later, it all seems to work.
- [Anna Belfrage – Queen of Shadows](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2026/06/18/anna-belfrage-queen-of-shadows/) - The rewards that research reaps! Anna Belfrage dives into documents from medieval Spain and finds the story of Leonar de Guzman – a remarkable woman!
- [Jean Gill – With Raven Wine](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2026/06/11/jean-gill-with-raven-wine/) - An epic (in the literal sense) story of pilgrimage by Vikings, the opulence and temptation of 12th century Byzantium, the creation of a timeless saga.
- [So, newsletters... Why?](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2018/09/21/so-newsletters-why/) - Much as we moan about marketing emails, Facebook adverts, stuff pushed into out letterboxes, we are very lucky to live in the information age. Honestly. As a child, I used to have to look up topics in the ginormous Encyclopaedia Britannica at home, cycle to the local reference library or write off to organisations and
- [New week, new stuff](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2013/07/01/new-week-new-stuff/) - Keeping abreast of new developments is important, but so is gathering information now to use later, as is thinking about how how you dealt with challenges and what inspired you. Today, I'm giving you one of each. The new development Now I'm really pleased with my publishing services provider SilverWood Books who do the whole
- [Age – perception and reality](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2026/06/01/age-perception-and-reality/) - Does being an older writer mean anything? Yes, they can bring so much more to the writing table through their life experiences.
- [Deborah Swift: The Enemy's Wife](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2026/04/16/deborah-swift-the-enemys-wife/) - 1941. Zofia’s husband Haru is conscripted into the Japanese Army; she is exiled to Japanese-occupied Shanghai. The horrors of war reshape her world and her heart.
- [Elisabeth Storrs:  Fables and Lies](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2026/04/30/elisabeth-storrs-fables-and-lies/) - In 1930s Berlin, museum assistant Freyja becomes enmeshed in the Nazi system. As bombing devastates Berlin, she struggles to save ancient Priam's Treasure.
- [Jill Marsh – Swiss inspiration](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2021/04/15/jill-marsh-swiss-inspiration-but-not-as-you-know-it/) - This week, I'm starting a series of English-speaking writers based in Europe and their 'terroir' – the place they live in. I'm delighted to welcome back JJ Marsh who shows us how Switzerland runs through her creative mind. In her own words: As a journalist, teacher, actor, director and cultural trainer, Jill has lived and
- [Speculative heroines](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2018/03/08/speculative-heroines/) - Some reflections for International Women's Day... All fictional characters are, er, fictional. We borrow, mine, or lift characteristics from Real Life, but unless we want to get sued, the finally moulded form is a construct. We can gender mirror (I love using that expression – also made up), we can speculate, we can imagine. Ditto
- [Rosemary Hayes – Code of Honour](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2026/03/19/rosemary-hayes-code-of-honour/) - Code of Honour is a story set during the Peninsular Wars. Will Fraser and his sidekick Duncan Armstrong are tasked to help break the French message code.
- [Writers about writing](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2026/03/10/writers-about-writing/) - Alison talks with Morgen Bailey about being a princess, horrendous first drafts, crime, history, publishing and book marketing
- [To AI or not to AI?](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2024/01/15/to-ai-or-not-to-ai-that-is-the-question/) - Should writers use AI? Should they use it for marketing and PR? Are there any circumstances under which a writer can use it?
- [Hidden 18th century businesswomen](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2026/03/05/hidden-18th-century-businesswomen/) - Jane Davis uncovers hidden 18th century businesswomen in London and shows how vibrant and diverse their commercial activities were. and then what stopped them.
- [Weekend in Wales - A bit of a Roman(tic) holiday](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2011/07/14/weekend-in-wales-a-bit-of-a-romantic-holiday/) - Last weekend, I was in Caerleon, South Wales attending the Romantic Novelists' Association conference. It's a joyous event, where you re-affirm old friendships and form new ones, where you're are reminded of old things you've forgotten and learn new ones. Talks on characters, publishing contracts, marketing; presentations by those who have made it and those
- [Writing tics - The beasties!](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2026/02/24/writing-tics-the-beasties/) - Writing tics can go unnoticed until you discover ninety-two examples of the same word in the same piece of work. Here's how to remedy this.
- [Backing up your writing!](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2023/11/16/backing-up-your-writing/) - Having slogged away for months and months researching and sweating creatively over my keyboard, I have finished a first draft of 107,000 words of a new novel and it's gone for its first editorial pass. Hooray! But imagine the horror of losing all that work due to a digital disaster! To prevent this, I have
- [Chapters – Entitled or just a number?](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2026/01/12/chapters-entitled-or-just-a-number/) - Should you use titles at the beginning of each chapter when writing your book? Old fashioned, pretentious or a clever writing tool?
- [The authors you love – the results!](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2022/03/03/the-authors-you-love/) - The results of the 'Five favourite authors' survey. Of course, picking five authors is a terrible squeeze for any reader, let alone a voracious reader.
- [Books enjoyed in 2025](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2026/01/02/books-enjoyed-in-2025/) - A quick run-down of books I've enjoyed reading in 2025. I don't mention the ones I didn't enjoy and the image is merely a selection at random.
- [To DRM or not to DRM?](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2025/12/20/to-drm-or-not-to-drm/) - Amazon's KDP publishing arm is changing its conditions around Digital Rights Management. Every author should consider this, but what is the right decision?
- [The gold of critique writing partners](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2019/11/05/the-gold-of-critique-writing-partners/) - The value of a critique writing partner and how to find and work effectively and honestly with them.
- [The kindness of strangers](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2025/10/22/the-kindness-of-strangers/) - How Berlin Airport, Air France, Paris CDG Airport and SNCF French Railways stepped up to get me home.
- [Boycotting Amazon?](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2025/05/05/boycotting-amazon/) - Consider non-Amazon retailers but accept the reality that Amazon reaches every part of the reading world. And authors need Amazon.
- [Defeating copyright scams](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2025/05/26/copyright-scam-a-salutary-experience/) - Have you been scammed by somebody alleging copyright abuse? It's more common than you may think. Here are some tips for not getting taken in.
- [How to enjoy your writing life](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2025/03/11/how-to-enjoy-a-productive-writing-life/) - Suggestions for the writing life gleaned from things I've learnt over the past fifteen years – things I remind myself of every day
- [Are you a pantser or a plotter?](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2025/05/29/are-you-a-pantser-or-a-plotter/) - Do you plan every chapter or even plan every scene or do you fly 'by the seat of your pants' as a discovery writer? Or is it a mixture?
- [Home or away? Choose your setting](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2025/09/01/home-or-away-choose-your-setting/) - Write where you know or make it all up? Or should you make a judicious mix of the two. Choosing your story setting isn't always straightforward.
- [Where do you find your next read?](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2025/09/05/where-do-you-find-your-next-read/) - Where do you get your books? Finding your next read is more complex than it used to be. Library, bookshop, charity shop, book event or online?
- [Catherine Kullman: Writing a spin-off in a series](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2025/08/28/catherine-kullman-writing-a-spin-off-in-a-series/) - Catherine Kullman, author of Regency historical fiction, explains how to integrate the story of a side character into a well-established and well-loved series.
- [A Mischief of Murder – Helen Hollick](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2025/08/21/a-mischief-of-murder-helen-hollick/) - Spotlight on Helen Hollick's new cosy mystery "A Mischief of Murder". Life in an English village can be dangerous when there's a village produce show...
- [Keeping cool in the heat](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2025/07/02/keeping-cool-in-the-heat/) - Summer is here – warm, lazy days, extra wine, days out with the family and friends, a holiday away. But when the temperature is persistently over 30C, I tend to wilt. Yesterday reached 39C in the shade. My Muse has gone for a protracted lie down somewhere in a cool cave several metres underground. Enter
- [A Shape on the Air – Julia Ibbotson](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2025/07/24/a-shape-on-the-air-julia-ibbotson/) - I'm delighted to welcome Julia Ibbotson to the blog to highlight her excellent time-slip novel A Shape on the Air. (Here in Roma Nova, time twisting is always attractive.) Fascinated by the medieval world and the concept of time, Julia has written historical mysteries with a frisson of romance. Her books are evocative of time
- [The fate of the conquered – Annie Whitehead](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2025/07/10/the-fate-of-the-conquered-annie-whitehead/) - Today, Annie Whitehead, a fellow contributor to 'Fate: Tales of History, Mystery and Magic, visits my blog! She's a prize-winning writer, historian, and Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, and has written four award-winning novels set in ‘Anglo-Saxon’ Mercia. Apart from contributing to fiction and nonfiction anthologies and writting for various magazines, Annie has twice
- [Carol Drinkwater's notes on writing](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2025/07/03/carol-drinkwaters-notes-on-writing/) - I'm delighted to welcome writing friend Carol Drinkwater to the blog. She's a multi-award winning actress and writer, possibly best known for her portrayal of Helen Herriot in the BBC’s original television series, All Creatures Great and Small. Carol is the author of twenty-four books, both fiction and non-fiction. She has achieved bestselling status – over
- [Balancing romance, social commentary and historical fiction](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2025/06/30/balancing-romance-social-commentary-and-historical-fiction/) - I'm delighted to welcome Clare Flynn back to the blog. She's the author of eighteen historical novels and is about halfway through her nineteenth. published by Storm, Canelo and herself, her books have now been translated into three languages. She lives on the south coast of England, in Sussex, where she can watch the
- [Disappearing medieval women and fate – Janet Reedman](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2025/06/19/disappearing-medieval-women-and-fate-janet-reedman/) - I'm delighted to welcome JP (Janet) Reedman to my blog today. JP is is one of my fellow authors selected to write for a new collection of short stories 'FATE', commissioned by the Taw River Press. Janet was born in Canada but has lived in the UK for over 30 years. Her mother was an
- [Being 'FATE-fully' collective – Jean Gill](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2025/06/26/being-fate-fully-collective-jean-gill/) - I'm delighted to welcome Jean Gill, the award-winning Welsh author and photographer now living in the south of France. Her claim to fame is that she was the first woman to be a secondary school headteacher in the Welsh county of Dyfed. Best known for her adult medieval adventure fiction, her 27 books include Young
- [The Agony of Anthologies? – Helen Hollick](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2025/06/23/the-agony-of-anthologies-helen-hollick/) - I'm always very pleased to welcome Helen Hollick to my writing blog. Known for her captivating storytelling and rich attention to historical detail, her historical fiction, nautical adventure series, cosy mysteries – and her short stories – skilfully invite readers to step into worlds where the boundaries between fact and fiction blend together. Helen started
- [Death and the Poet – Fiona Forsyth](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2025/06/12/death-and-the-poet-fiona-forsyth/) - I'm delighted to welcome another scribe of Roman fiction to the writing blog today – Fiona Forsyth – as part of her Coffee Pot Book Club tour. After reading Classics at Oxford, Fiona taught it at a boys’ public school for twenty-five years. A family move to Qatar provided few opportunities for Latin teachers, so she
- [How to write a novel in 30 lines](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2012/04/28/how-to-write-a-novel-in-30-lines/) - Now I've finished the first run through of edits on Book3, I've finished my heroine's story. I'll leave her for 6-8 weeks at least until I even glance at her again. So, Book 4. Yes, I'm acquainted with the main character and I want to tell her story. But that's it. I need to let
- [Rory Marsden – Heraldry explained](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2025/05/15/rory-marsden-heraldry-explained/) - Today I'm welcoming Rory Marsden to the writing blog. Writing as R Marsden, he's a fellow contributor to Fate, a collection of short stories to be published by Taw River Press next month. Rory is an author and musician and passionate about the Middle Ages. He plays the gittern, a beautiful medieval stringed instrument, ancestor
- [Amazon v. Goodreads?](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2013/09/12/amazon-v-goodreads/) - Recently, I've heard mixed things about Goodreads and Amazon, so I thought I'd explore a little more. My initial and anecdotal impression has been that Goodreads encouraged fairly considered and balanced observations, while Amazon often offered either blatant adoration of a book or a flippant rejection. Goodreads reviewers were tied to a social profile where
- [10 years of indie publishing – why?](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2023/02/02/10-years-of-indie-publishing-why/) - When I set out in 2010 to find out what to do with the 90,000 words I'd bashed out in 90 days, I didn't have a clue about the publishing world. A business friend, Denise Barnes, also a novel writing beginner, guided me towards the Romantic Novelists' Association who has a mentoring scheme for new
- [10 years of indie publishing – why?](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2023/02/02/10-years-of-indie-publishing-why/) - When I set out in 2010 to find out what to do with the 90,000 words I'd bashed out in 90 days, I didn't have a clue about the publishing world. A business friend, Denise Barnes, also a novel writing beginner, guided me towards the Romantic Novelists' Association who has a mentoring scheme for new
- [Helping to track the timeline of a story](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2010/04/13/helping-to-track-the-timeline-of-a-story/) - Writing the first book of my Roma Nova stories, I found I needed to develop a tracking system not only of the action but also of its timing. It’s so easy when engrossed in producing any story, let alone a thriller, to inadvertently get events in the wrong sequence or introduce a character to another
- [Conflicting advice and making your own decision](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2011/05/10/a-conflict/) - Conflicting advice is the very devil, especially if it's given by different well-respected and hugely experienced writers. Especially when you've paid for it from a well-researched and carefully selected specialist or it comes via a highly professional writing organisation. Like most newbie writers, I am passionate, energetic and in love with my story and characters.
- [(Im)plausibility and telling whoppers](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2013/01/08/implausibility-and-telling-whoppers/) - Now I've started telling people about my first alternate history thriller coming out in March, one person said, 'Oh, you're lucky, you can make up anything!' Er, no. It's about plausibility. Merriam Webster gives one definition: 'appearing worthy of belief '. Synonyms include credible, creditable, likely, believable, presumptive, probable.
- [Self-publishing - total confusion for a newbie writer](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2012/03/31/self-publishing-total-confusion-for-a-newbie-writer/) - I'm not going to list, discuss or make any judgement about self-publishing - plenty of people have done that; blogs, conference workshops, books, newspaper articles abound. Just enter "self-publishing" in the search box on Google and wait for the flood. I want to write about the confusion facing a fledgling writer. Me. I've drafted three
- [Lorna Fergusson – Tapping into Sensory Memory in France](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2025/02/20/lorna-fergusson-tapping-into-sensory-memory-in-france/) - Absolutely delighted to have Lorna Fergusson back on the blog after a 10 year absence! Apart from being a skilled and evocative writer, she's a writing coach, editor and speaker. Her work includes The Chase and An Oxford Vengeance. She runs Fictionfire Literary Consultancy and has taught on various Oxford University writing programmes since 2002.
- [How to write a 'damnèd, smiling villain'](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2017/08/04/how-to-write-a-damned-smiling-villain/) - O villain, villain, smiling, damnèd villain! My tables—meet it is I set it down That one may smile, and smile, and be a villain— At least I am sure it may be so in Denmark. (Hamlet, Wm.Shakespeare) "And some that smile have in their hearts, I fear, Millions of mischiefs" Young Octavius, in Julius Caesar,
- [Meet Lorna Fergusson - winner and tutor!](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2014/10/02/meet-lorna-fergusson-winner-and-tutor/) - Today, I'm delighted to welcome acclaimed author and HNS Conference Short Story winner Lorna Fergusson to Roma Nova. Born and brought up in Scotland, Lorna studied English at Aberdeen and Oxford Universities. She now runs Fictionfire Literary Consultancy. In addition to her own workshops, she teaches at the Winchester Writers’ Festival and for Oxford University. Her
- [Helen Hollick: Romans, Devon and the supernatural](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2025/02/13/helen-hollick-romans-devon-and-the-supernatural/) - Delighted to welcome Helen back to the blog today to talk about a very different aspect of the past – the supernatural. She and her daughter Kathy have written a fascinating book about on that very subject. More below! Known for her captivating storytelling and rich attention to historical detail, Helen might not see ghosts
- [Minding your language – foreign and cursing](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2025/02/10/minding-your-language-foreign-and-cursing/) - Republished As a language nerd, certified translator and writer of fiction (and in a previous existence of proposals, reports, corporate documentation, advertising and PR copy), I’ve always been interested in the power of words. Tone, style and formality as important as context. Although multi-lingual, I write in my mother-tongue English, but when writing a story
- [So what makes a good read?](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2012/07/16/so-what-makes-a-good-read/) - As I promised in the previous post, I've turned my beady eye to current bestsellers and read through some of the Amazon bestselling rankings reviews. These are some of the words the readers and critics used about them: The Thread - Victoria Hislop Twin timeline, discovery, history, fast narrative, sense of pace, fresh, intrepid storytelling,
- [In defence of round-robins](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2012/12/20/in-defence-of-round-robins/) - Oh, the sneering! Oh, the superiority! Even Lynne Truss (Eats, Shoots and Leaves) is on BBC Radio4 broadcasting a series of witty ripostes to round-robins (RRs). Now some RRs are painful: long-winded, which goes hand-in-hand with boring; poorly composed and/or typed; with scattered blurry photos; and produced with tight margins in tiny, coloured or weird
- [Sorting out a boring paragraph...](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2011/10/07/sorting-out-a-boring-paragraph/) - I was editing my second book, a speculative fiction thriller (see previous post). I came upon one of those paragraphs I must have written at midnight after a very busy day with irregular meals and a lot of alcohol. The characters made it from A to B, they had a conversation of two lines and
- [Distractions](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2012/10/11/distractions/) - What? Oh, yes. I just have to finish my coffee, load the dishwasher, clean the cat's bowl, check my Facebook author page, nip on to Twitter - but only for five minutes - do the filing, have a Skype with my critique partner… Um, what book? Even writing this blog is a distraction. So why
- [J G Harlond and fantasising historically...](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2025/02/06/j-g-harlond-and-fantasising-historically/) - Today, I'm delighted to welcome J G (Jane) Harlond to the blog to tell us about writing historical fantasy stories. Secret agents, skulduggery, and sea voyages... Creator of the infamous Ludo da Portovenere, J.G. Harlond writes page-turning historical crime novels set during the 17th Century and the Second World War. Each story weaves fictional characters into
- [How long does it take to develop a story idea?](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2013/09/07/how-long-does-it-take-to-develop-a-story-idea/) - I've been asked many times how I came to think up Roma Nova and the thriller story behind INCEPTIO. When I mention it started when I was memerised by a Roman mosaic at the age of eleven, people are surprised to say the least. The full story is here in a guest post I wrote
- [Books read and enjoyed in 2024](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2025/01/20/books-read-and-enjoyed-in-2024/) - As in previous years, reading books has given me enormous pleasure. Let's be honest, I've been a voracious reader since I was five. This year, I published a new historical novel, EXSILIUM, the sequel to JULIA PRIMA in the late 4th century plus spent a lot of the year participating in events and drafting the
- [The evolving writer](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2024/12/12/the-evolving-writer/) - When I started this scribbling business in 2009, I sat down one morning in front of my computer and typed for ninety days. As a professional translator, I knew I would have to edit anything I produced. I joined a writers' group and survived the terror of reading my offering aloud for the first time
- [Helen Hollick and Harold the King's Big 25](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2025/01/07/helen-hollick-and-harold-the-kings-big-25/) - Celebrating any anniversary is an excuse for joy, bubbly and dancing. Celebrating a special anniversary for a book warms the heart of the author to sun-like temperature. I experienced this for INCEPTIO's 10th in March 2023 and published a special edition hardback. So imagine how Helen Hollick is feeling celebrating the 25th silver anniversary of
- [A new writing critique group where cake always matters](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2011/06/16/a-new-writing-critique-group-yippee/) - This afternoon, I launched a rocket-fresh new writers' group. When I arrived in my new home in France, I eagerly searched out existing groups. Like any new relationship, it takes a while to mesh with established groups, so I went to several meetings, full of optimism and using my best networking and charm skills. I
- [Rosemary Hayes – Spying in the early 19th century](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2024/11/29/rosemary-hayes-spying-in-the-early-19th-century/) - I'm delighted to welcome Rosemary Hayes to my writing blog today as part of her book tour organised by the Coffee Pot Book Club. She's written over fifty books for children and young adults. She writes in different genres from edgy teenage fiction, historical fiction, middle grade fantasy to chapter books for early readers and
- [The political author's dilemma](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2024/07/22/the-political-authors-dilemma/) - Reposted after update 2024 Bit of a tricky one, this. Whatever genre you write, something of you, the author, creeps into your work. Perhaps it's shades of your opinion, your wishes or even your frustrations. Perhaps you are writing a story that you wish you were living in a far, far away place and time.
- [That Bloomin' Apostrophe!](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2024/11/01/that-bloomin-apostrophe/) - Briefly, possession and omission. Yep, it's that easy. People get very hot under the collar about apostrophes, me included. First my mother, then my wonderful English teachers – Mrs Campbell and Miss Robson – eradicated any nonsense about misuse out of me at an early age. Like other punctuation marks, apostrophes clarify, especially in English
- [Grammar Nazi or dilettante?](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2012/12/16/grammar-nazi-or-dilettante/) - I'm reading a book at the moment full of "prithee, varlet" language. It's as irritating as Hades, but maybe that's just me. The atmosphere of fear is building, the characters are forming and the plot slowly emerging. But despite the over-elaborate language, the author's grammar is spot on. And that's what saves it. Writing is
- [It’s and its](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2010/09/17/its-and-its/) - Despite the sight of rich red geraniums flowering on my kitchen windowsill, the fresh, strong sunshine and the delicious cup of coffee at hand, I am grumpy. Pourquoi? Looking through my tweets this morning, I saw an anouncement from a famous bookshop part of which ran: "...is on it's way for review." My teeth couldn't
- [Intelligencers, Spies, and Secret Agents: The King’s Intelligencer](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2024/10/23/intelligencers-spies-and-secret-agents-the-kings-intelligencer/) - Spies and secret agents are today the stuff of film, television and novels. We are more than intrigued by the countless documentaries and non-fiction accounts of espionage, deception secret operations, especially featuring gadgets, communications and tradecraft. Well, today Elizabeth St.John visits my blog to tells us that nothing really isn't new under the sun.
- [INCEPTIO summer tour](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2013/07/03/inceptio-summer-tour/) - STOP PRESS: Now you can vote for INCEPTIO in the Hall of Fame. The poll lasts until 1 September. INCEPTIO is off on tour, this time over the summer. Here are the stop-offs and activities: 29th June – Book Feature at Peace from Pieces 30th June – Book synopsis & Author Interview at Mommy Adventures 1st July
- [A secret and a competition...](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2011/08/18/a-secret-and-a-competition/) - Excitement is bubbling up here at Madness Towers. Tomorrow (Friday), as the first of an occasional series of guest appearances, I will be talking to an Important and Famous Author about her writing life. And ... a signed copy of one of her books will be the prize in a competition afterwards. Watch this space...
- [Across the sea to Dublin](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2024/10/08/across-the-sea-to-dublin/) - I was delighted to be invited to speak at the International Dublin Writers' Festival again. This year, the theme was the creative well, something essential to good writing, but a slippery one to grasp. In essence, it's the part of you that feeds your imagination. If it’s kept at a healthy level, it will help ideas
- [Deborah Swift: Operation Tulip – Incredible courage in occupied Holland](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2024/09/11/deborah-swift-operation-tulip-incredible-courage-in-occupied-holland/) - Today, I'm delighted to welcome Deborah Swift to the blog as part of her Coffee Pot Book Club tour. She's a USA TODAY bestselling author of twenty books who is passionate about the past. Before becoming a writer, Deborah was a costume designer for the BBC. Now she lives in a former English school house
- [Speaking at conferences - the truth](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2024/08/30/speaking-at-conferences-the-truth/) - Whether you’re invited or have submitted a pitch to speak at a conference it’s the same on the day. You have a mass of faces in front of you. You re alone in the arena and the lions are pacing back and forth, tongues salivating. The be-tunicked and be-toga-ed are watching, a smile on their
- [Trust your reader!](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2024/08/26/trust-your-reader/) - When we write, we hope that somewhere, in some way, somebody will read it and embrace the message we are sending. When we receive an email from a reader saying they ‘get’ our concept and book world, or when a reader comes up to us at a book event and says it to our face,
- [Crossing the genres](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2019/04/08/crossing-the-genres/) - Kylara Vatta from Trading in Danger, Elizabeth Moon Eowyn, Lord of the Rings, JRR Tolkien Carina Mitela, PERFIDITAS, Alison Morton When I started pounding on my keyboard, I just wanted to tell a story. There'd be adventures and Romans, a heroine, a love interest, good guys and bad guys, a ton of action and romance, friendship
- [Forgetting your characters?](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2023/04/14/forgetting-your-characters/) - Picture me at a writers’ conference, a good two years before I published INCEPTIO, the first of the Roma Nova thrillers, in 2013. Full of enthusiasm, going to every class, talk, workshop and seminar followed by long nights in the bar discussing structure, characters, pitfalls, agents, heroes, failures and successes, I was exhausted by Sunday
- [Talking about author events on the BeginSelfPublishing podcast](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2016/10/26/talking-about-author-events-on-the-beginselfpublishing-podcast/) - Well, this is all very exciting. Tim Lewis of the BeginSelfPublishing podcast asked me to talk about author events; what I'd done, how to get speaking gigs and practical tips for doing them. I was flattered to be asked, given his previous line-up of guests, but very pleased to pass on what I'd learned. Click to listen! We
- [That inspiration thing...](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2023/03/27/that-inspiration-thing/) - "What inspires you?" is a question I'm frequently asked in many guest posts, in podcast interviews, or at conferences. The people asking are usually lovely – genuinely interested and keen to hear the answer. Perhaps they are writers themselves, or wish to make a connection on an artistic and creative level or want to know
- [Venture into a new book world...](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2023/12/08/venture-into-a-new-book-world/) - If I had a euro/dollar/pound for every time a review for one of my books has begun with 'I don't normally read this type of book, but...' or 'I only read this because a friend said I must read it...' and ended with a 5-star super-enthusiastic review, I'd be able to drink champagne every day.
- ['Ebooks vs. print books' is a false battle](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2017/10/04/ebooks-vs-print-books-is-a-false-battle/) - Are ebooks and print books in some sort of fierce battle to the death with one another in which the only outcome is total dominance? Will ebooks soon drive their dinosaur cousin to extinction or will print books will see ebooks off and show the whole digital phenomenon to be a mere flash in the
- [INCEPTIO - Pembury Library talk](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2013/03/22/inceptio-pembury-library-talk/) - When I was planning the launch of INCEPTIO at Waterstones in Tunbridge Wells, I was very keen to go and talk at my local library on the same trip. I lived in Pembury for over 24 years and spent many happy hours in the library when my son was small (storytime) and when looking for
- [Being realistic  in historical fiction](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2017/11/02/being-realistic-in-historical-fiction/) - My guest today is Antoine Vanner is author of the Dawlish Chronicles, naval fiction set in the 1870s and 1880s. His latest novel, Britannia’s Gamble, was published last month (October 2017). Royal Navy officer Nicholas Dawlish is a fascinating character, very much in the mould of Hornblower, something that attracted me to Antoine's novels. The author
- [Aged writers?](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2024/05/08/aged-writers/) - Probably done through ignorance, carelessness or thoughtlessness, this graphic aroused some strong reaction in the digiverse. Some thought it silly, others were mortally offended. Most were insulted. I think it springs from a sincere wish to attract mature writers, those who haven't been able to write a creative work because of family or work commitments
- [Are some genres more equal than others?](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2011/11/27/are-some-genres-more-equal-than-others/) - I love bookshops. I love bookstalls at charity dos and the second-hand paperback club. I love the book table at conferences. The second and third are informal; the offer is either serendipity or confined to the books written by speakers (and certainly in the case of the RNA) attendees. Running my hands over the spines
- [Did the books you loved make you into the writer you are?](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2012/05/15/did-the-books-you-loved-make-you-into-the-writer-you-are/) - Drafting my latest query letter, I did a little exercise. No, not twenty press-ups on the floor, but one prompted by this particular agency's submission guidelines. As part of the marketing approach, I was asked to thinking of two to three (i.e. three) comparable books. That wasn't a problem, but it started me thinking about
- [Writing retreating](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2024/05/05/writing-retreating/) - No, I don't mean retreating from your writing, but going on a writing retreat. A retreat implies withdrawing from the world. A writing retreat implies getting away from the everyday and being able to sit down and write without Real Life intruding. How does this work? Retreats can be single person ones. I know a
- [You don’t want to be alone!](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2014/10/20/you-dont-want-to-be-alone/) - Sitting by yourself in a spare bedroom, study, or even at the dining room table, and tapping away on a keyboard can be a lonely business. People wonder why you don’t go outdoors on a sunny day or wander into the village for a leisurely drink at the local bar or browse around the market.
- [Thriller, mystery, action adventure, suspense, or what?](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2023/05/07/thriller-mystery-action-adventure-suspense-or-what/) - What's in a genre? More precisely, what's the difference between the genres in the title? Are there any hard lines between them? And what do we, as readers, get from each of them? Action stories feature a lot of movement-heavy exciting scenes including but not limited to fights, shootouts, car chases, foot chases, explosions, fast flying
- [Confronting my first novel...](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2011/07/27/confronting-my-first-novel/) - When I starting this scribbling business in 2009, I wrote the second part of my trilogy first. I didn't know I had at the time. I sat down one morning in front of my computer and typed for three months. As a professional translator, I knew it would have to edit anything I produced. I
- [Jane Davis and The Bookseller's Wife](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2024/03/14/jane-davis-and-the-booksellers-wife/) - Today I'm delighted to welcome writing friend Jane Davis back to the writing blog. I've loved her books; they regularly appear in my best books of the year round up. Her first novel, ‘Half-Truths and White Lies’', won a national award established with the aim of finding the next Joanne Harris. Further recognition followed in
- [Is writing and editing a novel a process?](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2024/02/19/is-writing-and-editing-a-novel-a-process/) - Yes and no. Writing a novel is creative - you have to have a purpose, some characters and a setting which all interact. Throw in a triggering act to stir them all up and get the story going. Storytellers have known this since the year dot. A modern novelist is basically a storyteller with a keyboard. But she/he
- [PERFIDITAS UK launch](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2013/09/22/perfiditas-uk-launch/) - All are welcome! Here are the details: An evening with Alison Morton Wednesday 6 November 2013 at 7pm Waterstones 32-40 Calverley Road, Tunbridge Wells TN1 2TD Alison will talk about and read from her new novel, PERFIDITAS, an alternate history thriller, the second in the Roma Nova series, and sign copies afterwards. “Sassy, intriguing, page-turning…
- [Why I started writing novels](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2012/06/19/why-i-started-writing-novels/) - I started writing novels all of a sudden in May 2009. Why? To tell a story, of course, a story that had been squatting in my head and slowly brewing for over ten years. It was sparked into life by a visit to the cinema. I'd always fancied the second male lead in the film
- ["Renschman is a psycho villain" - what a lovely thing for a reviewer to say!](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2013/04/02/renschman-is-a-psycho-villain-what-a-lovely-thing-for-a-reviewer-to-say/) - Yesterday, INCEPTIO went to Texas. Yes, Roma Nova 1 was the guest of Jaime at 'Because this girl loves books' who wrote a lively and incisive review. She said of yours truly: "she’s a natural storyteller and this fast-paced, suspense novel is the perfect example of that talent." After I inserted my head into ice-water
- [10 reasons why a book is a good read?](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2023/12/18/10-reasons-why-a-book-is-a-good-read/) - Yep, it's an old question, but a good one. Choosing and enjoying a book is very personal and each reader's view is subjective. This is why reviews of any one book can vary so much! I read across many genres – historical, thriller, crime, literary, romantic, sci-fi – you name it –plus all their various
- [Christina Courtenay on going Roman](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2024/01/11/christina-courtenay-on-going-roman/) - I'm delighted to welcome Christina Courtenay back to the writing blog. She writes historical romance, time slip/dual time and time travel stories, and lives in Herefordshire (near the Welsh border) in the UK. Although born in England, she has a Swedish mother and was brought up in Sweden – hence her abiding interest in the
- [The exotic Christina Courtenay ...](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2013/02/19/the-exotic-christina-courtenay/) - I’m delighted to welcome Christina Courtenay to my blog today. She's currently Vice Chairman of the Romantic Novelists’ Association and a member of The Historical Novel Society. Her debut novel, Trade Winds, was short-listed for the RNA’s Pure Passion Award for Best Historical Fiction 2011. Her second novel, The Scarlet Kimono won Best Historical Fiction
- [Books I've read and enjoyed in 2023](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2023/12/21/books-i-read-and-enjoyed-in-2023/) - As in 2022, reading books has given me enormous pleasure. This year, I published a special 10th Anniversary hardback edition of INCEPTIO with a gorgeous case cover and dust jacket by Jessica Bell Design, plus contributed a story called 'My Sister' to a collection Historical Stories of Exile. Enough of me, the writer; in this
- [No writer is an island](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2023/12/14/no-writer-is-an-island/) - Sadly, there have been reports on social media and in the national press about a debut writer running a review campaign against her fellow writers. Using a number of accounts she created under different names, she's been marking down all her perceived "competition" with 1-star negative reviews on a well known readers' website. She also
- [Helen Hollick in 'Exile'](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2023/12/07/helen-hollick-in-exile/) - Delighted to welcome Helen Hollick back to the blog. Helen, her husband and adult daughter moved from north-east London in January 2013 after finding an eighteenth-century North Devon farmhouse through being on BBC TV’s popular Escape to The Country. The thirteen-acre property was the first one shown – and it was love at first sight.
- [Amy Maroney in 'Exile'](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2023/12/05/amy-maroney-in-exile/) - I'm delighted to welcome Amy Maroney back to the blog to talk about being in 'Exile'. Amy studied English Literature at Boston University and worked for many years as a writer and editor of nonfiction. She lives in Oregon, U.S.A. with her family. When she’s not diving down research rabbit holes, she enjoys hiking, dancing,
- [Anna Belfrage in 'Exile'](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2023/12/01/anna-belfrage-exile/) - I'm delighted to welcome Anna Belfrage back to the blog, this time to talk about her short story, The Unwanted Prince. Had Anna been allowed to choose, she’d have become a time-traveller. As this was impossible, she became a financial professional with three absorbing interests: history, romance and writing. Anna always writes about love and
- [Marian Thorpe in 'Exile' On Shining Wings](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2023/11/29/marian-thorpe-in-exile-on-shining-wings/) - Today I'm delighted to welcome Marian L Thorpe to my blog today. Taught to read at the age of three, words have been central to Marian’s life for as long as she can remember. A novelist, poet, and essayist, Marian has several degrees, none of which are related to writing. After two careers as a
- [Annie Whitehead in 'Exile'](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2023/11/27/annie-whitehead-in-exile/) - I'm delighted to welcome Annie Whitehead to the blog to talk about being in Exile. She's a prize-winning writer, historian, and elected Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, and has written four award-winning novels set in ‘Anglo-Saxon’ Mercia, including To Be A Queen, the story of Æthelflæd, Lady of the Mercians. She's contributed to fiction
- [JG Harlond - Victory in Exile](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2023/12/09/jg-harlond-victory-in-exile/) - I'm delighted to welcome J G (Jane) Harlond to the blog to talk about being in 'Exile'. Jane writes award-winning, page-turning novels set in the mid-17th and mid-20th centuries. Each story weaves fictional characters into real events. She describes her WWII Bob Robbins Home Front Mysteries as ‘cosy crime with a sinister twist’. Prior to becoming
- [What to do after your first draft is written](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2023/11/20/what-to-do-after-your-first-draft-is-written/) - After a well-deserved lie-in or even a day off, I gird up, send the draft to my Kindle and read it through without interruption (apart from comfort breaks, food and sleep). I jot down quick notes or chapter references and then motor on. This way, I get the flavour of the book and find out
- [Plagues ancient and modern](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2023/10/04/plagues-ancient-and-modern/) - Recently, I caught Covid-19. Not a unique story these days, but I'd dodged it until last month. Vaccinated five times and an avid mask wearer, I'd been hyper-careful. I was nervous last year when I started to go to author events, either to speak or take part. I was a rare person at the London
- [Adventures in writing a spin-off with Charlene Newcomb](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2023/08/24/adventures-in-writing-a-spin-off-with-charlene-newcomb/) - I'm delighted to welcome to the blog Charlene Newcomb, aka Char who writes historical fiction and science fiction. Her Battle Scars trilogy is set in the 12th century during the reign of Richard the Lionheart. It’s filled with war, political intrigue, and a knightly romance of forbidden love. All three books are indieBRAG Medallion honorees; Book
- [Using light and darkness in writing](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2023/08/31/using-light-and-darkness-in-writing/) - We’re biological animals. Light is daytime and activity; dark is night-time and rest. However, since the age of artificial light, be it from an open fire in a cave, a candle through the ages or electrical light, we’ve attempted to counter that. Then there are the grey areas. Lightning blasts light through the darkest night.
- [Writing a series – The essential supporting cast](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2023/08/10/writing-a-series-the-essential-supporting-cast/) - Delighted to welcome Helen Hollick back to give us some insight into series supporting characters. I know the value of them as I use them ruthlessly throughout the Roma Nova series! Helen was first accepted for traditional publication in 1993 and became a USA Today Bestseller with her historical novel, The Forever Queen (titled A
- [Second-hand book stalls – author's friends?](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2019/12/27/second-hand-book-stalls-authors-friends/) - Some authors don’t like second-hand book stalls, whether run as a businesses or for a charity fête. In fact, they hate them. The author gets no royalty nor secondary right nor anything. The books are toted around, exchanged or traded like a lump of former tree for a pound/euro/dollar or two – virtually free. I
- [Writing Challenge Day 14: Show your workplace](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2020/09/08/writing-challenge-day-14-show-your-workplace/) - I hope you didn't expect a tidy and sleek office? My office is a place full of paper, books, notes, pens, files, cup of coffee, lights, noticeboard, etc. Our super-tough birchwood work stations came over to France with us ten years ago, plus the IKEA office cupboards which used to adorn my UK office when
- [Clare Flynn: The Colour of Glass](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2023/06/08/clare-flynn-the-colour-of-glass/) - I'm delighted to welcome Clare Flynn back to the writing blog on the occasion of her (rather wonderful) new novel The Colour Of Glass. Clare Flynn is a well-established author – fifteen historical novels and a collection of short stories. Having lived and worked in London, Paris, Brussels, Milan and Sydney, her home is now
- [Mind your language!](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2023/05/18/mind-your-language/) - As a language nerd, certified translator and writer of fiction (and in a previous existence of proposals, reports, corporate documentation, advertising and PR copy), I’ve always been interested in the power of words. Tone, style and formality as important as context. Although multi-lingual, I write in my mother-tongue English, but when writing a story in
- [The first 50 reviews?](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2023/04/20/the-first-50-reviews/) - Recognition is something most humans crave, admitted or not. Sometimes it’s an (un)acknowledged motivator for writing and publishing a book. People write for many reasons, but little beats the tingle of seeing your name on the front of a work you’ve created. Recognition takes many forms, such as a mention in the mass media, praise
- [Unpicking a legend by a legendary writer](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2023/04/16/unpicking-a-legend-by-a-legendary-writer/) - Writing friend Helen Hollick is no stranger to this blog, nor to publishing. This week, she's celebrating not only her 70th birthday, but also her 30th year of publishing books. (And I thought I was doing well with my 10th year!) First accepted for traditional publication in 1993, Helen became a USA Today Bestseller with
- [A Writer’s Life in a Day?](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2023/04/15/a-writers-life-in-a-day/) - The dream version I spring out of bed at 6 a.m., go for a two-kilometre run, return for healthy breakfast of muesli and fruit, no caffeine. Shower, then ten minutes of calming yoga. Dress in relaxing linen separates and drift to my desk ready to start creating at 8 a.m. The Muse visits and I
- [On becoming RNA Independent Author Member No.1](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2015/09/01/on-becoming-rna-independent-author-member-no-1/) - What does ‘independent’ mean? "Having independent means" - economically self-sufficient "Independence Day" - departure from the another country’s dominion "Independence in law" - e.g. ancient Roman emancipation from the parent’s legal authority "The Independent" - A newspaper with no financial or political ties All express the freedom to act and to have control over your
- [Indie authors united!](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2014/01/27/indie-authors-united/) - Foyles Bristol was the venue for joining up with around thirty other SilverWood Books authors, plus a crowd of writers eager to learn about getting their books to publication. The writing and publishing open day was brilliantly organised by Helen Hart and her SilverWood team and run jointly with Rob Norton events supervisor at Foyles.
- [Helen Hollick: Writing the past](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2023/02/23/helen-hollick-writing-the-past/) - What happens when a historical fiction writer turns to crime? No, I'm not talked about me and the Mélisende crime thrillers, but Helen Hollick who has just published her third cozy crime. But she can't shake off the historical fiction writer's magic cloak. Her 1970s set series feature heroine Jan is the result. Over to
- [Enfin française!](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2023/02/06/enfin-francaise/) - In November 2019, I applied for French nationality. On 14 April 2022, I had an official email informing me I had achieved it. Last week, on 1 February 2023, I participated in an official ceremony and handed a sheaf of documents. So, it has been a long road. Why? Ah, that's the question they ask
- [French launch of INCEPTIO](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2013/03/02/french-launch-of-inceptio/) - A French bar, book lovers and my publication day - what a combination! When Paperback Jan (Jan Smith) who runs the paperback exchange in the Deux-Sèvres urged me to have a mini-launch in France, I wasn't quite sure. The bash at Waterstones Tunbridge Wells on 12 March was to be the official
- [Self-publishing times are a-changing...](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2013/07/19/self-publishing-times-are-a-changing/) - Maybe my RNA colleagues were being polite at the annual conference this last weekend, but I didn't get one remotely pointed remark about my self-published debut novel, INCEPTIO. That sounds defensive, I know, but what a change from even 12 months, let alone 24 months ago. Are we all now 'published' rather than self/independent/mainstream/traditional? Have
- [Not all self-published work is grey in the night](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2013/06/15/not-all-self-published-work-is-grey-in-the-night/) - Not all self-published work is crap. Not all mainstream books are good. Many self-published works are excellent. Many mainstream books are dire. All true. But the demarcation between the two is blurring. A reader doesn't give a toss who produced a book they love. The things they do notice are rubbishy covers, unintelligible blurb, coarse,
- [Writing with SAD](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2017/02/14/writing-with-sad/) - Fed with with the news and weather? Low energy and bored with most things? Eating more chocolate? Even though brilliant December days lighten the feeling, many of us dislike that grey dull period stretching from dismal November to that liver-yellow time in February and view with relief the first flower burst in spring. But for
- [How to get through the fog of 2022 into 2023](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2023/01/19/how-to-get-through-the-fog-of-2022-into-2023/) - Let's face it – 2022 has been a weird year. Coming out of the strict Covid regulations and try to recover a 'normal' (ha-ha!) book life, I planned a busy year. And so it turned out: On 3 January, I published my husband's fantastic book File of Facts about using personal organisers. (He is a
- [Kobo – An alternative to Amazon Kindle](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2021/11/17/kobo-an-alternative-to-amazon-kindle/) - Six years ago, I wrote a little post about Amazon not being the only way to read ebooks. From the very first novel I published in March 2013 (INCEPTIO), my books have been in the catalogue of a variety of retailers. Commercial monopolies/market dominators somehow disturb me... However, I hold my hand up to having
- [Books I've read in 2022](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2023/01/04/books-ive-read-in-2022/) - As in 2021, reading books has given me enormous pleasure. This year, I published a historical fiction story, JULIA PRIMA, set in AD 370, the first foundation story to my Roma Nova thriller series, but in this post I’m writing as a reader. This is not a beauty contest or a selection. The list below contains
- [La vie d'écrivain est bizarre/Writing life is a strange business](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2022/11/26/la-vie-decrivain-est-bizarre-writing-life-is-a-strange-business/) - Bonjour! Aujourd'hui j'ai participé à une émission "Balance ton pote" sur France Bleu Poitou, le média de la vie locale. (Trouver "Alison Morton la plus thouarsaise des auteures britanniques" et cliquer sur la fleche rouge pour l'écouter.) J'habite le Poitou et suis fière m'appeler poitevine 'par adoption'. Today, I took part in a radio show "Call
- [A writer blogging about blogging for writers](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2017/07/26/a-writer-blogging-about-blogging-for-writers/) - You’re a writer, right? After you’ve slogged away at your 1,000/2,000 words, you don’t want to sit down and generate more. It's time for wine, to binge watch your favourite show, grab some food. Well, I’d urge you to think again. Blogging has many advantages for a writer First of all, it hones your style
- [Do you have transferable skills for the business of being an author?](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2017/10/16/do-you-have-transferable-skills-for-the-business-of-being-an-author/) - Did you ever think you’d write a book? Or several? Many writers come to it late or write part-time; they’ve had or still have a Real Life. Faced with the organisation behind marketing their book, which seems like rebuilding Rome, they worry about their inadequacies on the business side. All they ever wanted to do
- [The journey home](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2012/10/17/the-journey-home/) - Lagos, Portugal, six a.m. Luggage bundled into the car, fumbling in the dark with the satnav. Farewell waves from my magic circle, then eighty kilometers to Faro Airport. The ex-pat South African banters as the receives my hire car back into his fold. I escape from the wrong passport queue - I'm in Schengen, unlike
- [BBC Radio Kent welcomes PERFIDITAS.](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2013/11/05/bbc-radio-kent-welcomes-perfiditas/) - Going on local radio is something all writers hope to do. Not only does it reinforce local roots, or reconnect to them, but it's a chance for them to chat about their latest book. Radio stations, especially the BBC, have a remit to 'inform, educate and entertain' and need a continuing supply of interesting content,
- [Helen Hollick: How NOT to fall into the pitfalls of writing an (unintended) series](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2022/11/17/helen-hollick-how-not-to-fall-into-the-pitfalls-of-writing-an-unintended-series/) - I'm delighted to welcome Helen Hollick back to the blog to celebrate the release of the latest Captain Jesamiah Acorne adventure. And what breath-robbing story it is! More later... ;-) First accepted for traditional publication in 1993, Helen became a USA Today Bestseller with her historical novel, The Forever Queen (titled A Hollow Crown in
- [Blenheim, forerunner to the HNS Conference](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2016/09/10/blenheim-forerunner-to-the-hns-conference/) - I'd never been to Blenheim, or Blenheim Palace as it's more properly called. I knew it was the home of John and Sarah Churchill, the first (gifted and ambitious) Duke and Duchess of Marlborough, by having watched The First Churchills, an excellent BBC series made in 1969. Built built between 1705 and circa 1722 in
- [Elizabeth St. John, Elysabeth Scrope and the Princes in the Tower](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2022/11/03/elizabeth-st-john-elysabeth-scrope-and-the-princes-in-the-tower/) - I'm delighted to welcome historical novelist Elizabeth St.John to the blog especially as she is going to reveal a secret about one of the English crown's biggest mysteries... Elizabeth ’s critically acclaimed historical novels tell the stories of her ancestors: extraordinary women whose intriguing kinship with England's kings and queens brings an intimately unique perspective
- [Anna Belfrage: Other languages in a narrative? ¡Claro que si!](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2022/10/27/anna-belfrage-other-languages-in-a-narrative-claro-que-si/) - I'm delighted to welcome historical fiction writer Anna Belfrage to the writing blog. Had Anna been allowed to choose, she’d have become a time-traveller. As this was impossible, she became a financial professional with three absorbing interests: history, romance and writing. Anna always writes about love and is the author of the acclaimed time travelling
- [Jean Gill and The Ringbreaker](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2022/10/14/jean-gill-and-the-ringbreaker/) - If you fancy a trip to 12th century Viking Orkney – and who doesn’t! – you are in for a treat from my writing friend, historical fiction author Jean Gill. Loyalty has a price the children pay... In the twilight of the old gods, when the last Vikings rule the seas, two cursed orphans meet
- [Coins - Clearing up confusion as history moves on](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2022/10/02/coins-clearing-up-confusion-as-history-moves-on/) - New commemorative coins featuring the portrait of King Charles have been revealed by the Royal Mint; a crown and a 50p coin which will be available within weeks. These coins will be sold to collectors by the Royal Mint from this next week. The standard nickel-plated steel 50p coin will be available for general use
- [Evie Hawtrey - From history to mystery](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2022/08/11/evie-hawtrey-from-history-to-mystery/) - Evie Hawtrey – woman of mystery – describes herself as a Yank by birth but a sister-in-spirit to her fierce and feminist London detective, DI Nigella Parker. Evie splits her time between Washington DC, where she lives with her husband, and York, UK, where she enjoys living in history, lingering over teas, and knocking around
- [Embarrassed of Roma Nova catch-up](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2022/07/11/embarrassed-of-roma-nova-catch-up/) - When I checked when I'd written my last post, I was horrified out of my socks. May! And it was a feature about my esteemed writing friend Jane Davis's beautiful new book, Small Eden. It's achingly well written – I will never be able to write such clever and evocative prose. Since then, radio silence for
- [Do writers live in permanent lockdown?](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2020/06/01/do-writers-live-in-permanent-lockdown/) - Writers spend much of their lives in lockdown. I don't mean since March, but all the time; about 60-65% in my case. But what really goes on in the head of that person hunched over a computer grunting and tapping away at their latest masterpiece? Are they dreaming up new plots, imagining engaging or repelling
- [Jane Davis and Small Eden: Passion, obsession or expiation?](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2022/05/05/jane-davis-and-small-eden-passion-obsession-or-expiation/) - My blog guest today is Jane Davis whose first novel, 'Half-Truths and White Lies', won a national award established with the aim of finding the next Joanne Harris. Further recognition followed in 2016 with 'An Unknown Woman' being named Self-Published Book of the Year by Writing Magazine/the David St John Thomas Charitable Trust, as well
- [London Book Fair 2022](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2022/04/16/london-book-fair-2022/) - Like many events during the Covid pandemic, the London Book Fair was cancelled for 2020 and 2021. But in line with the general feeling in the UK that the Covid threat was diminishing, the organisers decided to go ahead with the famous publishing-fest. Although I whipped it off for the photos, my FFP2 mask was
- [What I did at London Book Fair 2013](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2013/04/19/what-i-did-at-london-book-fair-2013/) - Three years ago, I spent a day at London Book Fair as a wide-eyed newbie writer. I loved it! This year, with INCEPTIO published, I went as part of the SilverWood Books author team to answer potential new clients' questions from the author point of view. Very courageous and transparent of SilverWood Books (SWB) to
- [March news – It's all been happening!](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2022/03/31/march-news-its-all-been-happening/) - Dark days are on us again with the invasion of Ukraine. Romans can't always hold their heads up in this respect, but this is 2022 Europe. Such a thing should no longer even be considered, let alone happen. The International Committee of the Red Cross is already active, bringing relief inside and outside Ukraine. I'm supporting them with
- [Publishing the Roman way...](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2013/09/16/publishing-the-roman-way/) - Money-­making booksellers, exploited and impoverished authors, celebrity book launches and the danger of writing controversially. Sound familiar? Although without the current technology of print-on-demand, digital publishing, even the lithographic or moveable type of not so long ago, the Roman world had a thriving publishing industry. Production was by teams of slaves who copied original manuscripts
- [Can you combine genres?](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2012/09/05/combining-genres/) - As I settle down to read Nemesis, the latest escapade of Marcus Didius Falco, Lindsey Davis' quirky Roman detective, I remembered why I was attracted to the very first one, The Silver Pigs, and the other eighteen titles in the series. Living in Vespasian's reign (69-79AD), the protagonist is irreverent, clings to his plebian Aventine
- [Tell me your favourite authors!](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2022/01/24/tell-me-your-favourite-authors/) - I'm curious... A few weeks ago, I listed some of the books I'd enjoyed last year. Now I'd like to ask you something: who are your five favourite authors? Just jot down their names in the comments and that's it. Your name will be entered in a draw for a free ebook of mine. Five
- [Getting back to normal? Booking events?](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2022/02/10/getting-back-to-normal-booking-events/) - The other day, I had a mental leap. In a rash moment, I arranged to meet friends I hadn't seen for two years and it was thoroughly enjoyable, especially as there was cake. Now, I admit to being fairly risk averse along with a curiosity to do things others don't. (I'm a Libran which explains
- [Conflict for characters - how to make a decision](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2012/08/01/conflict-for-characters-how-to-make-a-decision/) - How do you make a decision? Whether it's buying a new pair of shoes, going to law or plunging into a new life in a different country and culture, it's a complicated question. First of all, there's an instinctive reaction to the decision: you see, you want, you say yes. Then your brain kicks in:
- [Conflicting emotion](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2018/08/21/conflicting-emotion/) - Conflict and emotion are two pillars of fiction writing whether in high-end literary fiction or the most melodramatic genre fiction. A story will often start by providing the main character with a conflict, be it professional or personal. Sometimes it's the place where the initial event is set (weather, nighttime, urban, with unlit streets), a
- [Publishing my husband's book - risk or triumph?](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2022/01/03/publishing-my-husbands-book-risk-or-triumph/) - Hooray! It's launch day for my husband's book! It's all about how to make optimum use of your Filofax (or other planner/personal organiser such as Gillio, Van Der Spek). Steve is actually a bit of a guru in this world. Although he bought his first Filofax organiser in 1986, he moved to an electronic organiser in
- [Meet Steve Morton, Filofax guru!](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2022/02/02/meet-steve-morton-filofax-guru/) - My blog guest this week is... my husband, Steve Morton! He's just published his first book, an expert guide to using a Filofax (an other organisers and planners) 'File of Facts'. Although he bought his first Filofax organiser in 1986, like many people Steve moved to an electronic organiser in the 1990s. A change of
- [A star is born? Probably not, but...](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2022/01/12/a-star-is-born-probably-not-but/) - Yesterday, I was invited to take part on an Amazon Book Chat Live on amazon.com (US and rest of world) to talk about my favourite books. It was great fun! https://www.amazon.com/live/broadcast/a2dc3d11-8d82-49e8-b884-de1acad34a81 The host was the affable Tim Lewis of Stoneham Press which focuses on conference reviews, self-publishing, podcasting and networking. He hosts the popular #indieAuthorChat on Twitter,
- [Books I've read and enjoyed in 2021](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2022/01/06/books-ive-read-and-enjoyed-in-2021/) - As in 2020, reading books has saved me going round the bend. Yes, I published two thrillers this year – Double Identity and Double Pursuit – and I'm writing a Roma Nova story at present, but in this post I'm writing as a reader. This is not a beauty contest or a selection. The list
- [A writer's progress, or 'Do not despair'](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2019/10/21/a-writers-progress-or-do-not-despair/) - It’s ten years since I started thrusting books on the world and I’d like to I share some expurgated diary extracts and experiences with you. But first, a word of motivation... You know how they say it takes 10,000 hours to become an expert at something? If you take a working day of 8 hours,
- [Using your reader report](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2015/01/19/using-your-reader-report/) - This is one for the writers, but readers might be interested in a vital part of the process that goes to producing a story. I say producing, because like a piece of pottery, a story starts as a heap of dull, wet mud. Writing the first draft is like throwing that heap on to the
- [Writing Challenge Day 27: What's your favourite trope?](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2020/10/20/writing-challenge-day-27-whats-your-favourite-trope/) - Strictly, a literary trope is a rhetorical or figurative device, via word, phrase or an image, for artistic effect. Today, it's also come to be used for describing commonly recurring literary and rhetorical devices and motifs in creative works. Right, now we've got the formal stuff out of the way, let's look at how it applies
- [Sounds and silence](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2020/11/30/sounds-and-silence/) - Bringing in the senses to our writing adds a layer of richness and anchors the setting. It also grounds the character in that setting. It can emphasise an awkward gap in actions between characters, or provide a dialogue beat that isn't "he said/she said". But what sounds could you bring in? Surely most people's lives
- [What are publishing services providers?](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2012/11/10/what-are-publishing-services-providers/) - Publishing services have come a long way since the old vanity publishers. In fact, the best of the providers aren't even on the same ruler, let alone somewhere along the scale. Simply put, publishing services providers PSPs) are effectively a cross between traditional publishing and self-publishing. A PSP as the name implies will guide you
- [Images, work and copyright](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2016/08/27/images-work-and-copyright/) - You’ve seen the most wonderful picture on Google Images. An online blog has the perfect photo for your book cover. Look at that graphic – wouldn’t that make your book event notice/header/PR banner shine? STOP! Unless you pay a licence or ask the owner’s permission to reproduce it, it’s theft. The least you could expect
- [A writing hiatus](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2017/05/16/a-writing-hiatus/) - You may have thought I'd disappeared. No, apart from squeezing in some writing and finalising edits with my copy editor, I was just publishing and launching a new book. "Just publishing and launching" doesn't quite describe it. Let me show you... Target RETALIO publication date: 27 April 2017 Mid January: Planning the promotion campaign February: Super advance
- [Funny old business launching a book](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2018/10/18/funny-old-business-launching-a-book/) - First you have an idea, then you think it through, conjure up characters or sometimes try to stop them yammering at you, then you imagine a setting and stir all together into a really sticky problem. Several months later or sometimes a year later, out comes a typed manuscript. If you’ve chosen to go the
- [Writers getting back to "normal"?](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2021/11/01/writers-getting-back-to-normal/) - I have two live gigs booked for 2022 and today, I'm about to jet off to the UK for a writers' retreat, family weekend, then a few days with my critique writing partner. In previous years, I haven't thought twice about going on the Internet, booking a plane, booking somewhere to stay, then rolling up
- [Helen Hollick – Indie icon](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2021/09/23/helen-hollick-indie-icon/) - Helen Hollick and her family moved from north-east London in January 2013 after finding an eighteenth-century North Devon farm house through being a ‘victim’ on BBC TV’s popular Escape To The Country show. The thirteen-acre property was the first one she was shown – and it was love at first sight. She enjoys her new
- [Do we still like ‘Ruritania’?](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2016/12/12/do-we-still-like-ruritania/) - Rudolf Rassendyll (Sigh) Princess Flavia (Aaah!) Duke Michael (Grrrr!) Rupert of Hentzau (Wow but grr!) When I picked up The Prisoner of Zenda at age 12, I was enraptured. It was a torch under the bedclothes job. When it ended I cried, partly from the denouement, partly because it had finished. You know that sense of
- [Does diversifying your writing offer a book marketing advantage?](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2018/10/29/does-diversifying-your-writing-offer-a-book-marketing-advantage/) - This post was updated in 2021. It’s generally accepted that it’s easier to market a series of novels than separate, stand-alone ones. It's also more fun to write as you can introduce more entanglements and conflicts across several books. ;-) But if you already write a novel series you can expand their reach further by
- [Continuous change in writing](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2018/03/24/continuous-change-in-writing/) - You’d think that once in print, on paper or digitally, a piece of written work was finished. Well, no. Revised editions, additional content and reworking show that change is continuous. In fact, change is all around us; time, seasons, weather, people moving in, moving out, governments, friends, cars, shops, children, relationships. One of the things
- [Debbie Young: For the love of a good series](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2021/07/29/debbie-young-for-the-love-of-a-good-series/) - I'm delighted to welcome Debbie Young back to the blog. When I worked it out, I realised we'd known each other for over ten years! Debbie is the author of nine hilarious, heartwarming mystery novels, two of which were shortlisted for the Selfies Award for Best Independently-published Adult Fiction in the UK (2020 and 2021).
- [Alison Morton: A writer in la belle France](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2021/07/01/alison-morton-a-writer-in-la-belle-france/) - This week in 'writers abroad', it's all about me. When I conceived this series about people living away from their native country or having spent significant chunks of time outside it, I thought it would be amusing and entertaining. But I've had so many emails and comments on social media about how inspiring the posts
- [Tony Riches: 'Do we need more books about the Tudors?'](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2021/07/22/tony-riches-do-we-need-more-books-about-the-tudors/) - What a question! I'm intrigued about how Tony is going to answer this one... After writing several successful non-fiction books, Tony decided his real interest is in the history of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, and now his focus is on writing historical fiction about the lives of key figures of medieval history. His Tudor Trilogy has
- [Cryssa Bazos: The appeal of telling (historical) stories](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2020/11/26/cryssa-bazos-the-appeal-of-telling-historical-stories/) - Today's guest is Cryssa Bazos, one of my fellow authors of Betrayal: Historical Stories. Cryssa is an award-winning historical fiction author and a seventeenth century enthusiast. Her debut novel,Traitor's Knot, is the Medalist winner of the 2017 New Apple Award for Historical Fiction and a finalist for the 2018 EPIC eBook Awards for Historical Romance.
- [David Ebsworth: The holistic approach to historical novel research - from Alicante](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2021/07/15/david-ebsworth-the-holistic-approach-to-historical-novel-research-from-alicante/) - I'm delighted to welcome the return of David Ebsworth to the blog as this week's 'writer abroad'. DAVID EBSWORTH is the pen name of writer Dave McCall, a former organiser for Britain’s Transport & General Workers’ Union. He was born in Liverpool but now lives in Wrexham, North Wales, and in Alicante, Spain. David took
- [Louise Mangos: Location, location, location – Swiss style](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2021/07/08/louise-mangos-location-location-location-swiss-style/) - I'm delighted to welcome a second 'writer abroad' from Switzerland and another crime fiction writer – see JJ Marsh, my first guest in this series. (What do they put in the chocolate there?) Louise Mangos grew up in rural Hertfordshire in the UK but travelled extensively in her twenties, eventually settling in Switzerland where her long
- [Erica Lainé: Landscape and Memory](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2021/06/10/erica-laine-landscape-and-memory/) - This week's 'writer abroad' is Erica Lainé (or should that be L'Ainé given her family's origins in the Channel Islands?). She originally trained for the theatre at the Arts Educational School in Tring. Later in London, she worked in the Libraries and Arts department of the London Borough of Camden, running the box office for
- [Cathie Dunn: Carcassonne, a writer abroad's dream](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2021/05/20/cathie-dunn-carcassonne-a-writer-abroads-dream/) - This week, I'm delighted to welcome Cathie Dunn to the blog in the 'writers abroad' series. She is an award-winning author of historical fiction, mystery, dual-timeline, and romance set in Scotland, England, and France. She has been praised for her authentic depiction of the past. After many years in Scotland, Cathie now lives in the south of
- [Jean Gill: Provence – for the love of bees](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2021/05/13/jean-gill-provence-for-the-love-of-bees/) - This week's guest in the writers abroad series, Jean Gill, is an award-winning writer and photographer who left rainy Wales in 2003 to follow her creative dreams in Provence. She lives with two scruffy dogs, a Nikon D750, a beehive named Endeavour,and a man. For many years, she taught English in Wales and was the first
- [Kathleen McGurl - On settings](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2021/05/06/kathleen-mcgurl-on-settings/) - This week's guest in the writers abroad series, Kathleen McGurl, actually lives in Christchurch, England but when pandemics allow she spends a lot of time travelling in Europe with her husband in their motorhome, especially France and Spain. She has written ten dual timeline novels, set in England, France and Ireland, and is constantly inspired
- [Vanessa Couchman – The other South of France](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2021/04/29/vanessa-couchman-the-other-south-of-france/) - Continuing the writers abroad series, this week it features Vanessa Couchman whom I met at a literary festival here in France. Vanessa writes historical novels and short stories set in France or on the Mediterranean island of Corsica. Quirky true stories often find their way into her fiction, and she likes nothing more than pottering
- [Tracey Warr – Writing medieval fiction in southern France](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2021/04/22/tracey-warr-writing-medieval-fiction-in-southern-france/) - Continuing our series about English-speaking writers based in Europe and their ‘terroir’ – the place where they live. How does it affect their writing? This week, it's Tracey Warr who lives near Albi in southern France. She has published five novels set in early medieval Europe. Her first novel, Almodis, was shortlisted for the Impress Prize
- [Chris Longmuir on research for historical fiction - A Dangerous Destiny?](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2021/04/08/chris-longmuir-on-research-for-historical-fiction-a-dangerous-destiny/) - I'm delighted to welcome crime writer to the blog. I was entranced by Chris's 'The Death Game' where I first met Kirsty Campbell so I had to know more. Chris won the Scottish Association of Writers’ Pitlochry Award for two of her contemporary thrillers in the Dundee Crime Series. One of these books, 'Dead Wood',
- [Jane Harlond: An Englishwoman in Andalucía](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2021/06/24/jane-harlond-an-englishwoman-in-andalucia/) - This week's writer abroad is Jane Harlond, writing as J.G. Harlond. An award-winning author of page-turning historical crime novels set in the 17th and early 20th centuries, Jane weaves fictional characters into real events. Creator of the wily charismatic rogue Ludo da Portovenere and the aging wartime detective Bob Robbins, her stories feature wicked wrongdoing and challenging
- [Anna Belfrage: Writing from Sweden across fictional worlds and times...](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2021/06/17/anna-belfrage-writing-from-sweden-across-fictional-worlds-and-times/) - This week, I'm delighted to welcome back to the blog Anna Belfrage, truly a 'writer abroad'! Currently, she's roosting in Sweden, her 'home territory'. When Anna isn’t musing about the circle of life or considering just how much of the Graham homestead in 17th century Maryland is inspired by her own surroundings, she writes. Anna
- [Liza Perrat: The journey from Australia to France](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2021/06/03/liza-perrat-from-australia-to-france/) - This week my guest, Liza Perrat, originates from the other side of the world. She grew up in Australia, working as a general nurse and midwife. She's now been living in France for over twenty years, where she works as a medical translator and a novelist. Liza’s books include The Bone Angel historical fiction series – three standalone
- [Keith Dixon: France, the Second World War and moi](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2021/05/27/keith-dixon-france-the-second-world-war-and-moi/) - I'm delighted to welcome crime writer Keith Dixon to the writing blog as the latest guest in the 'writers abroad' series. We actually met up in 2019 in Montmorillon, where Keith lives and which turns out to be pivotal to this post... Keith was born in Yorkshire and grew up in the Midlands. He's been writing
- [Writing things I forget, but need](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2020/07/05/writing-things-i-forget-but-need/) - Do you use some your applications, programs or software occasionally and then forget how to do them? I've used a computer since 1989. Yes, there was personal computing then. We bought a Viglen Plus, 640K RAM and 30Mb hard drive storage and a 360K disk drive which took 5¼" floppy disks. Heady stuff! These were
- [2020 – Books I read and enjoyed](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2020/12/31/2020-books-i-read-and-enjoyed/) - This is not a beauty contest or a selection. The list below contains just books I've read this year because I wanted to. Some made me catch my breath, others made me weep with joy or sorrow and others appalled me. But they all enthralled me. I'm not mentioning those I read or part-read and
- [Writing challenge Day 4: The setting for the new Roma Nova book](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2020/08/19/writing-challenge-day-4-the-setting-for-the-new-roma-nova-book/) - Ah, this one's easy! I've written quite a lot on my Roma Nova blog about this as it's the setting for nine previous books! So I'm going to cheat and repost the piece I wrote about what Roma Nova looks like... Roma Nova an alpine country with lower lying valleys a few small towns (Castra
- [A note for those subscribed to the blog by email](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2021/04/21/a-note-for-those-subscribed-to-the-blog-by-email/) - If you subscribed to this blog by email, you probably used a little sign up box which was managed by Feedburner (owned by Google). Well, Feedburner/Google have decided to stop this ‘subscribe by email’ service. :-( If you wish to continue following my blog by receiving an email when something (hopefully exciting and interesting) appears
- ['Must haves' for your website/blog](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2017/07/12/must-haves-for-your-websiteblog/) - Sometimes when I'm looking for a guest post or interview, or a post about writing, or Rome, that I forgot to bookmark digitally but know is there, I'm stymied. Not through my lack of search skills – I've been at this digital game for a while – but because there's no search box. If I'm
- [Distraction in the time of plague, or can you still write?](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2020/04/13/distraction-in-the-time-of-plague-or-can-you-still-write/) - Lockdown sucks. But you'd think as writers we'd glory in all this time. We don't have to go out, nobody calls, the television is dull, dull, dull. We can't run (generally pointless) errands, waste time drinking too much caffeine in coffee shops, or even go gallivanting off to literary events. On that last, three of
- [Book reading in Lockdown 2021 – Jan/Feb](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2021/03/07/book-reading-in-lockdown-2021-jan-feb/) - Writing is going along steadily, but slowly. I've written a 5,000 word short story as a prequel to Double Identity which will become exclusive to newsletter subscribers. The draft of my next full-length thriller stands at just over 40,000 words, so about halfway. But in the lockdown I've been reading like a demon. That's a
- [Giving it back - the Denver HNS conference](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2015/06/30/giving-it-back-the-denver-hns-conference/) - In front of an audience, my talented colleagues to my left, I caught my mental breath. Here I was, chairing a panel at the prestigious US 2015 Historical Novel Society conference. Speakers at the conference included the world famous Diana Gabaldon and Lindsey Davis. Yikes! I’d absorbed information, advice, tips and straight-talking from authors and
- [Indie writer?  Please don’t do these things](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2016/01/18/indie-writer-please-dont-do-these-things/) - I’ve published 12 books – seven novels, two novellas, a short story collection and two non-fiction (as at 2021) – via the indie route since 2012, but in the preceding three years I learnt how to write for publication. More importantly, I learnt writing techniques: structure, plot, dialogue; how to delete adverbs, adjectives and over-writing; the techniques needed
- [E M Powell: How to write a mystery](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2020/12/03/e-m-powell-how-to-write-a-mystery/) - This week's guest is the wonderful E M Powell whose historical thriller and medieval mystery Fifth Knight and Stanton & Barling novels have been #1 Amazon and Bild bestsellers. The third Stanton & Barling mystery, 'The Canterbury Murders', will be released in November 2020. Born and raised in the Republic of Ireland into the family
- [Antoine Vanner: Writing about a female protagonist – a challenge for a male novelist?](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2020/12/10/antoine-vanner-writing-about-a-female-protagonist-a-challenge-for-a-male-novelist/) - I'm delighted to welcome back Antoine Vanner, creator of the Dawlish Chronicles series featuring Royal Navy officer Nicholas Dawlish (1845-1918) and his wife Florence (1855-1946). Nine volumes have been published to date and I'm looking forward to reading more! Antoine’s own adventurous life, his knowledge of human nature, his passion for nineteenth-century history and understanding of
- [Writing Challenge Day 30:  Goal for the next month](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2020/10/25/writing-challenge-day-30-goal-for-the-next-month/) - The end. It's the end of the challenge! Yes, I feel a certain relief, but I'm also energised. 'Next month' takes us into the third week in November. I won't be doing NaNoWriMo when people aim to churn out 50,000 words as I find it too organised, but I will be aiming to get 1,000-1,500
- [Charlene Newcomb: Finding inspiration for a story](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2020/10/29/charlene-newcomb-finding-inspiration-for-a-story/) - My guest this week is Charlene Newcomb who lives, works and writes in Kansas. She's an academic librarian by trade (and recently retired), a U.S. Navy veteran, and has three grown children. When not at the library, she is still surrounded by books, trying to fill her head with all things medieval and galaxies far,
- [Writing Challenge Days 25 & 26: Favourite books as adult and as a kid](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2020/10/18/writing-challenge-days-25-26-favourite-books-as-adult-and-as-a-kid/) - I really dislike this one. Well, perhaps not the second one about childhood books as I'm no longer a kid and can give you a definite answer. Beloved children's books Heidi by Joanna Spyri The Children of the New Forest by Captain Marryat What Katy Did by Susan Coolidge The Eagle of the Ninth by Rosemary
- [Writing Challenge Day 29: Best accomplishment this month?](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2020/10/24/writing-challenge-day-29-best-accomplishment-this-month/) - Hahaha! Actually, it will be finishing this challenge. ;-) Writing (nearly) daily posts interspersed with posts from some fabulous guests has really exercised my writing muscles. Writing short, hopefully sharp, pieces to a timetable means you gain focus and commitment. Long-form writing like novels can lead to a certain complacency so these blog posts have
- [Writing Challenge Day 28: The saddest writing/reading thing this month](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2020/10/21/writing-challenge-day-28-the-saddest-writing-reading-thing-this-month/) - Bit of a downer, this one, but I'm both sad and cross. My reading tastes are pretty wide-ranging. This most important thing about any novel/novella or short story is the it's a good story with well drawn characters and an enticing plot. I was brought up to finish a book before commenting on it, so
- [Amy Maroney: Shining a light on forgotten women artists – a research journey](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2020/10/22/amy-maroney-shining-a-light-on-forgotten-women-artists-a-research-journey/) - My guest this week is Amy Maroney who lives in the Pacific Northwest of the U.S. with her family. She spent many years as a writer and editor of nonfiction before turning her hand to historical fiction. When she’s not diving down research rabbit holes, she enjoys hiking, drawing, dancing, traveling, and reading. She’s the author
- [Writing Challenge Day 23: What did you write last?](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2020/10/13/writing-challenge-day-23-what-did-you-write-last/) - This blog post ;-) Okay, that's a cop-out answer. If this means 'real' writing, it would be a (long) short story. But before I reveal more about that, let me digress. Writers write a variety of stuff, not only their published stories. in the past few weeks, I've written a slew of blogposts for this
- [Women’s history?](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2014/03/06/womens-history/) - Wikipedia defines women’s history as follows, ‘Women's history is the study of the role that women have played in history, together with the methods needed to study women. It includes the study of the history of the growth of woman's rights throughout recorded history, the examination of individual women of historical significance, and the effect
- [Writing Challenge Day 24: What to write next?](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2020/10/17/writing-challenge-day-24-what-to-write-next/) - Ah, well, that's a bit in the air... I'm now 20,000 words into my new Roma Nova novel, so I have a good 60,000 words and a mountain-high pile of research. That will see the year out, I think. Depending on what happens next in the book world, next I might take up writing the
- [Cathy Helms: Words of wisdom about book cover design from an expert](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2020/10/08/cathy-helms-words-of-wisdom-about-book-cover-design-from-an-expert/) - This week's blog guest is designer extraordinaire Cathy Helms with some really good advice about covers! Cathy lives with her husband of twenty-eight years in Troutman, North Carolina; the house belongs to their cat, they simply live there to open the cat food cans. She earned her degree in Advertising and Graphic Design in 2008, and founded
- [Writing Challenge Day 22: What's your current word count?](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2020/10/11/writing-challenge-day-22-whats-your-current-word-count/) - Word count is something writers can and do obsess about! In fact, it can become a tyranny which I wrote about here. (There are cats and orangutans.) The new Roma Nova book I'm working on (introduced here) is progressing steadily, if slowly. Word count is now up to 18,000 words, double what it was on
- [Writing Challenge Day 21: My preferred genre](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2020/10/09/writing-challenge-day-21-my-preferred-genre/) - Crumbs, there are some interesting topics in this topic! The problem with this one is that essentially genres segment books into one thing or another, slicing away any possibility that a book may seep into another. 😱 Unpicking this... Historical fiction is an umbrella for biography (Julian by Gore Vidal), adventure (Rafael Sabatini's The Sea Hawk),
- [Dublin Writers' Conference: 'Serious about series'](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2019/06/12/dublin-writers-conference-serious-about-series/) - Although I'm not speaking at the conference this year. I've written a piece called 'Serious about Series' for the conference magazine. Delighted and honoured to be contributing virtually! From the conference organisers... 'Focused On Helping Authors & Aspiring Authors Our expanded conference takes place at the Academy Plaza Hotel, just off O’Connell Street (map,) in the heart of Dublin’s
- [Writing Challenge Day 20: Characters' favourite food (and drink!)](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2020/10/04/writing-challenge-day-20-characters-favourite-food-and-drink/) - Hm, an interesting one... Let's start with drink. Carina lives on coffee; she was brought up for her first 24 years in the Eastern United States (EUS) and like many office workers in the early 2000s, she drank industrial amounts of it. On the way to my desk next morning, I grabbed a coffee from
- [Roman counts](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2014/12/11/roman-counts/) - Carina, the heroine of the first three Roma Nova books, has an honorary title of 'Countess Carina' as her grandmother’s heir. As the head of the family/tribe, Aurelia is called 'Countess Mitela'. Now why do the descendants of Romans have these titles? And how does the relationship work between the imperatrix, the ruler of Roma Nova
- [Judith Arnopp: Evoking grief in historical fiction](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2020/10/01/judith-arnopp-evoking-grief-in-historical-fiction/) - Today, I'm delighted to welcome Judith Arnopp to the blog who writes historical fiction novels, mostly set in the Tudor era. In the past, she has written in the voice of women like Anne Boleyn, Margaret Beaufort, Elizabeth of York and Mary Tudor and is now writing from the point of view of Henry VIII
- [Writing Challenge Day 19: Characters' pastimes](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2020/09/26/writing-challenge-day-19-characters-pastimes/) - Pastimes? Hobbies? What are those? These don't tend to feature in writers' consciousness; either writing is done in any spare time left after work or at the weekend, or for full-time writers, spare time is when they go and research or grab a book for background reading. The result is that I had to scratch
- [Writing Challenge Day 18: Characters' pet peeves](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2020/09/20/writing-challenge-day-18-characters-pet-peeves/) - Ha! We all have pet peeves and I'm pretty sure we pass these on in our writing however carefully we try to view the world from each individual character's point of view. Our own values, thoughts and emotional responses will seep through, so I must admit that mine probably do, although the different characters will
- [Lazy and Dozy on the Internet](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2018/08/29/lazy-and-dozy-on-the-internet/) - I love the Internet; its variety, its information, its madness, its connectivity and above all its denizens. I belong to groups, lists and forums, many of them inside Facebook, some on Twitter, some on email. After being on Twitter since 2009 and Facebook since 2011, I've sifted out amusing people, good contacts, reliable sources of
- [Writing Challenge Days 16 and 17: Favourite outfits](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2020/09/14/writing-challenge-day-16-show-us-your-favourite-outfit/) - Haha! I'm not a follower of fashion and tend to wear clothes for comfort such as jeans and top so instead of showing you my favourite outfit (Day16) and my character's (Day 17) I'm combining them. Egged on (albeit genteely) by fellow authors going to the 2019 Eboracum Roman Festival, I decided to try to
- [Writing Challenge Day 13: A funny family story. Or not.](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2020/09/05/writing-challenge-day-13-a-funny-family-story-or-not/) - Todays challenge is called 'Tell us a funny family story'. Hm... My whole life has been both strange and ordinary as were those of my parents and as is my current life with my own family. Humour, quirky tales and jokes have been present throughout Although writers draw on their own background for characters, traits,
- [Annie Whitehead: Channelling Dr Frankenstein](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2020/09/24/annie-whitehead-channelling-dr-frankenstein/) - I'm delighted to welcome back to the blog historical fiction writer Annie Whitehead. Annie studied history under the eminent Medievalist Ann Williams. She is a member of the Royal Historical Society and an editor for English Historical Fiction Authors. She has written three award-winning novels set in Anglo-Saxon England, one of which was long-listed for the
- [Annie Whitehead - Love me, love my character](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2016/09/29/annie-whitehead-love-me-love-my-character/) - Today, my guest is Annie Whitehead,. Her first novel, To Be A Queen, the story of Aethelflaed, daughter of Alfred the Great, was long-listed for the Historical Novel Society’s 2016 Indie Award and has been awarded a B.R.A.G. Medallion. Alvar the Kingmaker has also just been award the B.R.A.G. Medallion. She has twice been a prizewinner
- [A writing challenge – Day 1: Starting with revealing information...](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2020/08/15/a-challenge-starting-with-revealing-information/) - A writing friend of mine, Jennifer C Wilson, has given me a challenge. Well, not directly, but an idea. Every day in August, she's been doing posts on aspects of writing. Now, I can't guarantee to keep that up, but I'm going to have a go. I would LOVE to have your comments on these
- [Day 2 Writing challenge: introduce your Work in Progress](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2020/08/16/day-2-writing-challenge-introduce-your-work-in-progress/) - To be truthful, I have two projects on the go at present, but let's not complicate life! Now I'm going back in time to AD 370... The Roma Nova series has two main strands: one with four books set in the 21st century featuring Carina Mitela and the other set between the late 1960s to
- [Writing Challenge Day 3: Introduce the main character(s) Julia and Apulius](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2020/08/18/writing-challenge-day-3-introduce-the-main-characters-julia-and-apulius/) - AD 370, Virunum, Roman Noricum Julia Bacausa, passionate daughter of a local Celtic ruler, miserable and tense after a failed marriage and only half-divorced, can see no future life for herself. Lucius Apulius, a bright young military tribune thrown out of a prestigious command that would have made his career. He's posted to a backwater
- [Writing Challenge Day 5: What inspired the book I'm working on](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2020/08/21/writing-challenge-day-5-what-inspired-the-book-im-working-on/) - That's an easy one – the readers! No, really! I wrote The Girl from the Market after a suggestion in the Roma Nova Enthusiasts' Group. Legend had it (in the earlier Roma Nova novels) that in AD 370 Julia Bacausa was a tough and fiery woman and Apulius a strong Roman of the traditional sort.
- [Writing Challenge Day 6: How the writing all began](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2020/08/22/writing-challenge-day-6-how-the-writing-all-began/) - I've always enjoy writing, but not fiction; essays at school (often fictional), civil service papers and reports, business plans, company PR materials, insurance analyses (so exciting!); corporate documentation, brochures, military reports and fifteen years' worth of translation and editing. Words fascinate me, how they're derived, how they're used and what they can do. And the
- [Writing Challenge Day 7: Introduce your 'author friend'](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2020/08/24/writing-challenge-day-7-introduce-your-author-friend/) - On Sunday, I enjoyed a 'writerly' Skype with my critique partner, another novel writer, Denise Barnes (a.k.a. Molly Green), who has just sent her latest fiction work off to her editor at Avon Books. It's the third in a series about sisters in the Second World War; they're each 'doing their bit' for the war
- [Writing Challenge Day 8: What's your writing process?](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2020/08/25/writing-challenge-day-8-whats-your-writing-process/) - *Falls over laughing* Right I'm going to try to take this seriously (Puts on stern face) My first characters had been running around in my head for years before I tapped the keyboard so they were fully formed when I started to write the Roma Nova stories. Of course, I’ve added others over the years,
- [Writing Challenge Day 9: 'Post 5 random facts about you'](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2020/08/28/writing-challenge-day-9-post-5-random-facts-about-you/) - Like everybody else, my life is a jumble of random facts. Selecting five is a bit like being asked to name my favourite book but here goes... Childhood Contrary to popular belief, I was once a child. but it was a long time ago. And yes, that is a smocked frock.At the time, small children
- [Writing Challenge Day 10: Post an old picture of yourself](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2020/08/30/writing-challenge-day-10-post-an-old-picture-of-yourself/) - Age is the weirdest thing. At seven, you are fresh-faced and hopeful; several decades on, bolder and more cynical. And in between several other things depending on where you are and what you're doing. And what you have learnt. Sometimes you have full make-up on and tummy pulled in; other times you don't care or
- [Writing Challenge Day 11: Favourite writing snacks/chocolate porn](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2020/08/31/writing-challenge-day-11-favourite-writing-snacks-chocolate-porn/) - chocolate, dark chocolate, writers' food, writing snacks, writers' nibbles, writing challenge
- [Writing Challenge Day 12:  Early bird or night owl?](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2020/09/02/writing-challenge-day-12-early-bird-or-night-owl/) - This is a weird question, not just for implications for me as a writer, but because I've sometimes been both. I decided to investigate further. A night owl is a person who tends to stay up until late at night, or into the early hours of the morning, whereas an early bird, or lark, tends to be
- [Writing challenge Day 15: The many-hatted writer](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2020/09/12/writing-challenge-day-15-the-many-hatted-writer/) - Today's challenge is : 'We all wear many hats. what are some of yours?' I've worn many hats in my life: daughter, wife, mother; student, civil servant, soldier, translator, company owner, local councillor, editor; friend, colleague, trainer, mentor, traveller, walker, non-resident, explorer; photographer, embroiderer, gardener. Currently I write, give workshops, write a column and speak
- [Liz St. John: Meet the ancestors - The Lydiard Chronicles](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2020/09/10/liz-st-john-meet-the-ancestors-the-lydiard-chronicles/) - I'm delighted to welcome to my blog historical fiction writer Elizabeth St.John who spends her time between California, England, and the past. To inform her writing, she's tracked down family papers and residences from Nottingham Castle to Lydiard Park, and Castle Fonmon to the Tower of London. Although the family has sold a few castles and
- [Helen Hollick: Fact vs. fiction – the historical fiction writer's research dilemma](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2020/09/03/helen-hollick-fact-vs-fiction-the-historical-fiction-writers-research-dilemma/) - This week's guest is one making a very welcome return. Helen Hollick is a multi-published author and indie advocate. She lives on a 13 acre 18th century farm in North Devon, with a variety of pets and her family. For over twenty years, she has delighted readers with stories of Arthur Pendragon, Saxon kings and queens,
- [Anna Belfrage: Brain freeze – the dreaded writer’s block](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2020/08/20/anna-belfrage-brain-freeze-the-dreaded-writers-block/) - This week's guest is Anna Belfrage, historical fiction writer extraordinaire. Had Anna been allowed to choose, she’d have become a time-traveller. As this was impossible, she became a financial professional with two absorbing interests: history and writing. Anna is the author of the acclaimed time travelling series The Graham Saga, set in 17th century Scotland
- [Liz Harris: A diet that actually works – the research diet](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2020/08/27/liz-harris-a-diet-that-actually-works-the-research-diet/) - Today's guest is Liz Harris a friend from my earliest writing days. Liz was born in London. After graduating with a law degree, she moved to California for six years where she led a varied life from waitressing on Sunset Strip to working as secretary to the CEO of a large Japanese trading company to
- [Masking up – How to make a fabric mask](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2020/07/15/masking-up-how-to-make-a-fabric-mask/) - Quite a number of people have asked my about how I made the fabric masks for our family. In late April, I dug out my trusty Singer sewing machine and joined a community sewing project run by my local council here in France. After producing 100 masks for them from pre-cut materials to Lille University
- [The Rise of the Machines? No, in The Grip of](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2017/10/10/the-rise-of-the-machines-no-in-the-grip-of/) - Opening Word to crack on with my new story, I was disconcerted to see a message flash up that support for Word 2011 would be withdrawn in 10 days’ time. Eyes on stalks at the screen. Ten days? My other half and I did that clichéd thing of mutual dumbfounded disbelieving staring. He recovered first.
- [Are the Roma Nova books feminist?](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2014/08/11/are-the-roma-nova-books-feminist/) - Yes, but ‘feminist-lite’. Let me explain… First, where do I stand? I believe that women and men should be treated equally. We are different from each other biologically and studies have shown that we have broadly different aptitudes, strengths and approaches dating back well beyond the Stone Age to when we were evolving from the primates. But there’s
- [Change and Transformation Reads for the New Year!](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2020/01/30/change-and-transformation-reads-for-the-new-year/) - A feast of stories about change and transformation
- [Meet David Ebsworth's Napoleonic women warriors](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2014/11/06/meet-david-ebsworths-napoleonic-women-warriors/) - A welcome return visit from my writing friend David Ebsworth telling us about his next project ... 1815. The 200th anniversary is looming. A passion for the Napoleonic period is tugging at my writing hand. Yes, I thought, my next one will be about Waterloo. But from what angle? I began looking for the real-life experiences
- [To Zoom or not to Zoom?](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2020/06/14/to-zoom-or-not-to-zoom/) - Let's face it, not seeing our friends, family and colleagues and not going to our favourite bar or pub, not being able to hug others or kiss them is a real pain. No more weekends away, in my case on a low-cost plane to the UK, no more work trips, let alone seeing my newborn
- [GDPR and my blogs - keeping a level head](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2018/05/25/gdpr-and-my-blogs-keeping-a-level-head/) - You've probably been getting a load of 'We're changing our privacy setting/terms of service' type emails recently as today, 25 May 2018, is the deadline for the new EU General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) coming into force. Some organisations ask you to re-subscribe, some ask for confirmation, some advise you of the new regulations and their updated privacy
- [Ever wondered where dust comes from?](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2020/04/27/ever-wondered-where-dust-comes-from/) - Inspired by a really bad find when I was replacing my old open bookcases with lovely new closed-back ones... Kicking up a Dust ‘Oh, do come on! You’re messing about like there’s no tomorrow.’ ‘Well, there isn’t.’ Bevli rolled her eyes. ‘It’s a saying, alright? she retorted. ‘Why do you say it then? You sound
- [At last! The paperback 'Writing Buddy' is out!](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2020/04/09/at-last-the-paperback-writing-buddy-is-out/) - Order it from Amazon print, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, Waterstones Online or through your local independent bookshop ------------------ Back in In 2011, I approached Sarah Berry, the founding editor of The Deux-Sèvres Monthly, the English language magazine covering everything that could interest the English speaker living in my part of rural France. I offered her a column on
- [So, how was 2013 for you?](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2014/01/02/so-how-was-2013-for-you/) - 2013 was a life-changing year for me; two books published, one shortlisted for the International Rubery Award and awarded quality marks for self-published work (B.R.A.G. MedallionTM and Awesome Indie), conferences, London Book Fair, radio interviews, fantastic launch events (March and November), invitations to speak and appear on countless blogs, writing (paying!) articles and a raft
- [Yes, it's a confinement post   #RestezChezVous](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2020/03/27/yes-its-a-confinement-post-restezchezvous/) - I haven't posted about Covid19 epidemic before – I leave the medical stuff to the experts. As an ordinary person, a 'civilian', I can see it's an unknown killer that can sneak up on you for up to 14 days before it shows itself and against which we have no known cure. Effects vary from
- [Debbie Young –  'Linguam latinam disco'](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2020/04/02/debbie-young-linguam-latinam-disco/) - I'm delighted to welcome Debbie Young back to my writing blog, especially on subjects dear to my heart - Latin and learning languages! Debbie writes funny, feel-good fiction set in the English Cotswolds, where she’s lived for nearly 30 years. Her latest novel, Murder Your Darlings, the sixth Sophie Sayers Village Mystery, has fun with
- [Is doing your highlights in time of crisis important?](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2020/03/30/is-doing-your-highlights-in-time-of-crisis-important/) - We are scared. We feel unsafe. Our routine is shot. Our friends are distant. We can't hug our children, parents or friends who live in other houses. No trips to the restaurant, pub or club. Not even a quick coffee with a friend before getting on a train to a meeting or show. And research
- [Post-completion let down...](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2020/03/03/post-completion-let-down/) - This week, I finished self-editing a 92,600 word draft of a new book. Much celebration/relief! It's both an exhilarating and a sad feeling when you write that last scene. Of course, this is only the beginning of the process of producing a book. ;-) I drafted it last year, did a first read through, then
- [Finis - the end of the story](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2012/04/24/finis-the-end-of-the-story/) - I didn't know I'd feel so bereft. Now I've done the first run edits on fiction Book 3, the last in the trilogy, I've finished my heroine's story. No, really finished. After the relief of completing the red-pen exercise, sadness crept up on me and now has me in its grip. I've lived with my
- [That glorious feeling of ending it all](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2015/09/22/that-glorious-feeling-of-ending-it-all/) - Perhaps you thought that when you typed 'The End' (if you do), you'd finished writing your novel. Well, sadly not. It's like being pregnant and not realising you have a good twenty years ahead of you dealing with the result. Slightly less drastic with a book, but it's still your creation, your baby, and it needs
- [Helen Hollick - Love me, love my character](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2016/11/03/helen-hollick-love-me-love-my-character/) - Today's honoured guest talking about her fascinating character is multi-published author and indie advocate, Helen Hollick. Helen lives on a 13 acre 18th century farm in North Devon, with a variety of pets and her family. She has been a published author for over twenty years and doubts she will ever find the time –
- [Nothing quite like a French market](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2020/02/21/nothing-quite-like-a-french-market/) - I've just got back from a morning at our local market. I say "local" but it's reckoned to be the third largest/busiest in south west France. Both buyers and sellers travel hours to get here, even thugh it's a small country town in the middle of France profonde. The sun is out, the ramparts are
- [How to get the reader to read your book](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2014/04/21/how-to-get-the-reader-to-read-your-book/) - Unless you write for the sole purpose of personal fulfilment (no bad thing in itself), you probably hope other people will read your work. When you publish a story, either as a freebie or commercially on multiple channels (Amazon, Kobo, Waterstones, iBooks, etc.) and in multiple formats (paperback, hardback, ebook, audio), you're not only putting
- [Denise Barnes –  how to write serial series successfully](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2019/04/25/denise-barnes-how-to-write-serial-series-successfully/) - This week's guest is multiple-named, multiple published author Denise Barnes. She's sold lipstick in Denver, modelled in Atlanta, worked as secretary to the UN Narcotics Director in Geneva, chauffeured a Swiss multi-millionaire in Zurich, assisted a famous film producer in the UK, and cooked in a sanatorium in Bavaria. Although she set up and ran
- [Can a song inspire a story?](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2019/12/08/can-a-song-inspire-a-story/) - Can music inspire a story? It seems so! I'm taking part in the December StorySong short story fest organised by Discovering Diamonds Reviews' organiser Helen Hollick. Each day, there's a new story and a chance to guess the song/music that inspired it. There have been some crackers so far! Mine comes on 17 December, the
- [How to write a book review – please do!](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2019/09/09/how-to-write-a-book-review-please-do/) - Authors love reviews – this is not a secret! But after you've closed a book, why should you bother to write one? How do you do it? And who can write a review? What's considered a 'good' review? Whoa! Let's take a step back... Why write a book review? Analysing and expressing your thoughts about
- [Octavian and Bismarck – Visionaries of Empire](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2019/12/12/octavian-and-bismarck-visionaries-of-empire/) - Today's cracking guest post comes from Antoine Vanner – a regular guest here. His own adventurous life, his knowledge of human nature, his passion for nineteenth-century history and his understanding of what was the cutting-edge technology of that time, make him the ideal chronicler of the life of Nicholas Dawlish R.N.in eight volumes so far. Antoine
- [Online etiquette for authors](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2017/09/24/online-etiquette-for-authors/) - Few people look at Debrett's Guide to Etiquette and Modern Manners these days. Just for those unfamiliar, this book covered how to reply to an invitation, how to address H M The Queen and which knife and fork to use for each course, amongst other subjects. Old fashioned as these things sound, they are all based
- [How to whitelist with GMail](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2019/11/21/how-to-whitelist-with-gmail/) - GMail is a very accessible way of instantly creating an address and enjoys a high level of security. Its layout is clear and easy to navigate, especially when you're searching for an old message. (You can hear the 'but' coming...) However, Gmail's security sometimes works a bit too efficiently. I approve of good security; we
- [Pleb or patrician?](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2014/01/14/pleb-or-patrician/) - In the past year in the UK, there has been a lot of talk on the news about "plebs". I'm not offering any comment on that, but listening to media reports and reading social media gossip, I started to wonder if people knew where the terms came from. Ah! It's those pesky Romans again. So
- [Looking at the world through a clearer lens...](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2019/09/29/looking-at-the-world-through-a-clearer-lens/) - I woke up yesterday morning and could see. No, not a divine miracle, but a result of expert surgery and it's only one eye so far. The other one will be sorted out in a fortnight's time. (Update 10 October: Second eye done and all is fabulous.) I've lived in a blurry world of deep
- [Tony Riches, historic fiction writer of power and dynasties](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2019/10/03/tony-riches-historic-fiction-writer-of-power-and-dynasties/) - No, not Julio-Claudians or other Romans, but that powerful and intermarried ruling family, the Tudors and their connections. This Thursday's guest is Tony Riches, a full-time UK author of best-selling historical fiction. He lives in Pembrokeshire, West Wales and is a specialist in the history of the Wars of the Roses and the lives of
- [Writing buddies a.k.a. critique partners](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2010/03/07/writing-buddies-aka-critique-partners/) - Update (April 2018) at the end I enjoyed a 'writerly' evening with another novel writer, Denise Barnes who is also preparing her first fiction work. She's already published a non-fiction book which can be seen at her site. We swap hints and tips, recommend and exchange books, encourage each other about courses and competitions. But
- [Inspired or over-imaginative? On the Alliance of Independent Authors' podcast](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2019/09/02/inspired-or-over-imaginative-on-the-alliance-of-independent-authors-podcast/) - Absolutely thrilled to be invited on to the Alliance podcast, hosted by Howard Lovy. And even more so as it features 'inspirational authors' Not quite sure I'm inspirational, but that's enough imposter syndrome. ;-) Like many people, I always take a (mental) deep breath before an audio interview as you can't see who is going
- [Rejection - why it shouldn't be followed by dejection](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2011/11/13/rejection-why-it-shouldnt-be-followed-by-dejection/) - I wrote this back in 2011 when I was considering going the traditional publishing route, but even in 2019 it's still very relevant, so please forgive any anachronisms and read on... I'm busy writing Book 3 but in the meantime, sending Book 1 out into the world. I've polished my manuscript, I've hand-crafted my cover
- [The tyranny of word count?](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2019/08/27/the-tyranny-of-word-count/) - Does your writing heart shrivel when you read on Facebook something along the lines of ‘Giving myself extra chocolate because I wrote 5,000 words today’? And it’s only 3pm… Praise piles on from others with the ‘Wow’ icon splattered everywhere. Then one or two brave souls, possibly including you, confess apologetically they’ve ‘only’ written 500.
- [Jennifer C Wilson – Getting the 'feel' of your book's setting](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2019/05/09/jennifer-c-wilson-getting-the-feel-of-your-books-setting/) - This week's guest is Jennifer C. Wilson, a marine biologist by training, who has developed an equal passion for history and historical fiction whilst stalking Mary, Queen of Scots on childhood holidays. (She has since moved on to Richard III.) Enrolling on an adult education workshop on her return to the north-east of England for
- [Anna Belfrage – Charting a course through the turbulent seas of imagination](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2019/05/02/anna-belfrage-charting-a-course-through-the-turbulent-seas-of-imagination/) - Delighted to welcome long-standing writing friend Anna Belfrage back to the blog! Had Anna been allowed to choose, she’d have become a time-traveller. As this was impossible, she became a financial professional with two absorbing interests: history and writing. Anna has authored the acclaimed time travelling series The Graham Saga, set in 17thcentury Scotland and
- [Historical mystery novelist Susan Grossey says 'knickers'](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2019/02/28/historical-mystery-novelist-susan-grossey-says-knickers/) - Today's guest is Susan Grossey, the inventor of Constable Sam Plank, one of my favourite law enforcers. "I have been in love with words ever since I realised, at age three, that those squiggles on the page actually meant something," she says. Susan edited the school newspaper and managed to do lots more reading and writing at
- [Helena Halme's top tips for writing in another language](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2019/02/21/helena-halmes-top-tips-for-writing-in-another-language/) - Today, I'm delighted to welcome Helena Halme to my blog. A former BBC journalist, bookseller and magazine editor, Helena is a prize-winning author who writes contemporary Nordic fiction. Originally from Finland where she gained an MSc in Marketing, she also holds an MA in Creative Writing from Bath Spa University and writes in English. She
- [A book reviewer's frustration](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2019/02/15/book-reviewer-frustration/) - Reviewing books isn't easy. It takes time and attention, plus sometimes, you have to damp down the pleasure that wells up when it's a really good read. If I'm grabbed, sometimes overwhelmed, by the power of the story, I read on and enjoy the book, then I go back and read it more analytically. However,
- [Let's hear it for 'shades of grey'](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2018/12/23/lets-hear-it-for-shades-of-grey/) - No, not Fifty Shades, but something a long, long way away from that. Since 2016, I've seen a marked decrease in rationality, the lessening of the desire to examine and discuss and disagree in a civilised way, and for that to have become the norm. 'Polarisation' used to apply to the nutters at the far
- [Antoine Vanner's  historical mission: “The past is a foreign country…”](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2018/12/13/antoine-vanners-historical-mission-the-past-is-a-foreign-country/) - I'm delighted to welcome Antoine Vanner, author of the Dawlish Chronicles, for a return visit to the blog. Set in the late Victorian period, the series of naval adventures are linked closely to real historical events, and sometimes personalities, of the period and in most feature a high degree of moral ambiguity and ethical dilemmas. The settings
- [So, do you still read blogs?](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2018/11/16/so-do-you-still-read-blogs/) - On 4 March 2010, I wrote my first ever blogpost. It wasn't startling, nor was it particularly erudite. I followed it up with thirteen more posts that month. Unfortunately, any 'Likes' and comments were obliterated when we suffered a major backup disaster in 2016. I wept, but some followers were kind enough to go back
- [Five quick 'n' dirty writing tips](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2018/09/19/five-quick-n-dirty-writing-tips/) - Writing friend Keith Dixon asked me in one of those round robins on Facebook to share five writing tips, but without copying his (curses!). After nine, soon to be ten, books you'd think it would be easy, but the problem is that over that time, I've gathered a jumble of writing dos and don'ts. It probably
- [On being British in Europe now](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2018/08/03/on-being-british-in-europe-now/) - I had a very trying day yesterday. Apart from 35C under a roasting sun, it was the climax to a process of several weeks of anxiety, research, much digging, sorting and photocopying, all the result of an ill-advised vote in June 2016. In the wake of the Brexit vote, I have the impression from talking
- [Not a whinge about author income. Ah, wait...](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2018/07/24/not-a-whinge-about-author-income-ah-wait/) - If you go through the mainstream system, your agent will sell your book to a publisher (or you may sell it direct). You get an advance of anticipated earnings on the books, then after that amount is 'earned out', you start getting royalties. But apart from the 'big cheese' authors, most writers receive a fairly
- [Are conferences good for you?](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2018/07/23/are-conferences-good-for-you/) - What conferences can do for you!
- [Throwing a sickie](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2018/07/06/throwing-a-sickie/) - And breathe...! Or not. Well, I've been having some difficulty doing this over the past fortnight. I flew home from the highly energising Dublin Writers' Conference with a raging sore throat and feeling like a superannuated wet dishcloth. The tiredness could have been due to the conference (it was fairly intense), but the sore throat
- [2018 Dublin Writers' Conference](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2018/06/25/2018-dublin-writers-conference/) - Back in Dublin! From arriving at the airport, riding into the city from the airport and stepping down from the bus in O'Connell Street, there was something rather familiar. Once again, I'd been invited by Laurence O'Bryan who heads up the Books Go Social group to speak at this very friendly festival. Although I'm waving
- [Crimefest 2018 - a tale of intensity and stamina](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2018/05/20/crimefest-a-tale-of-intensity-and-stamina/) - Crimefest 2018 is over. I enjoyed it immensely, but goodness, you need stamina as it's full-on. I don't mean concentrating during the excellent panels (full details here), nor the snatched lunch breaks nor the feast of books in the bookroom run by Waterstones Bristol Galleries. No, it's the sheer pleasure of meeting up with old
- [Niches and risks](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2018/04/17/niches-and-risks/) - A reviewer wrote about SUCCESSIO, the third Roma Nova novel: “Clearly, Alison Morton is as much a reckless risk-taker as her main character, Carina Mitela. […] after creating one of the most fascinating heroes in my recent memory in book one, and shamefully marginalizing him in book two, the author now proceeds to dismantle the
- [Why do we write?](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2018/02/17/why-do-we-write/) - A plot in a novel gives the reader the main character’s goal; the challenges the character has to overcome to achieve the goal, what’s stopping her/him and the dire consequences if she/he doesn’t succeed. My own goal is to produce a readable, entertaining and thought provoking book at least once a year. But every now
- [To DM or not to DM?](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2018/01/24/to-dm-or-not-to-dm/) - When I read yet another 'buy my book' direct message on Facebook Messenger this morning, I screeched out loud. I'm surprised it wasn't heard from one end of Europe to the other. Direct messaging (DM) or private messaging (PM) is a utility on social media, in particular Twitter and Facebook and a one-to-one message channel
- [Achieving the private/public balance of being an author](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2017/11/13/achieving-the-privatepublic-balance-of-being-an-author/) - Is an author who publishes books, by whatever route, entitled to a fully private life? Yes, and no. Publishing a work – fiction, non-fiction, academic – makes that work and its author’s name available to the public. A fiction writer may use a pseudonym, of course. Readers will read the work – let’s call it
- [Travelling-lite (with or without books)](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2017/05/28/author-events-lite/) - A little while ago, I wrote a post on how to set up and run an author exhibition stand. Readers seemed to find it useful and it's still much retweeted and reposted. But how do you do this when you haven’t got the luxury of a thousand-litre boot people-carrier but a single suitcase, weight limit
- [Jan Edwards researching 'Golden Age' crime](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2019/04/04/jan-edwards-researching-golden-age-crime/) - Today's guest, Jan Edwards, is an award winning author with titles that include Winter Downs (Arnold Bennett Book Prize) and Sussex Tales (Winchester Slim Volume award).She also has a BFA Karl Edward Wagner award. A Sussex native, Jan now lives in Norths Staffs. Her short fiction can be found in crime, horror and fantasy anthologies
- [Richard Dee: 'Write what you know,' they said.](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2019/04/18/richard-dee-write-what-you-know-they-said/) - My guest today is Richard Dee who writes science fiction and steampunk adventures, as well as chronicling the exploits of Andorra Pett, reluctant amateur detective. When he's not writing, reviewing or blogging, he bakes bread and biscuits, cross-stitches and walks the Devon coast. His first novel, Freefall, was published in 2013, followed by Ribbonworld in 2015. September 2016 saw
- [Meet Ruth Downie - historical truth and donkey poo](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2014/10/23/meet-ruth-downie-historical-truth-and-donkey-poo/) - Ruth Downie read too much Jane Austen at university, emerged with an English degree and a plan to get married and live happily ever after. As a backup she learned typing and shorthand, in the mistaken beliefs that people would always need secretaries and that she might be quite good at it. Finally escaping into
- [Clare Flynn - The first book is the toughest!](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2019/01/10/clare-flynn-the-first-book-is-the-toughest/) - A pleasure to host multi-published historical fiction author Clare Flynn on the blog today. I'll let her introduce herself... I would have given you all of my heart But there's someone who's torn it apart And he's taken just all that I had But if you want I'll try to write again Baby I'll try
- [Stephanie Churchill – To plan or not to plan?](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2018/11/29/stephanie-churchill-to-plan-or-not-to-plan/) - Today my guest is Stephanie Churchill, author of The Scribe's Daughter and The King's Daughter. Being first and foremost a lover of history, Stephanie’s writing draws on her knowledge of history even while set in purely fictional places existing only in her imagination. Inspired by gothic romance novels like Jane Eyre, epic fantasy stories like The
- [Jill Marsh – The well-made play](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2018/11/22/jill-marsh-the-well-made-play/) - As a child, Jill read so obsessively she got kicked out of the school library. But her passion for words continued. She graduated in English Literature and Theatre Studies from the University of Wales and set up a theatre company. Since then, as an actor, director, teacher, writer and journalist, she’s worked in fifteen countries.
- [Debbie Young: Humour in Crime Fiction](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2018/11/08/debbie-young-humour-in-crime-fiction/) - Today, my blog guest is Debbie Young writer of warm, witty, feel-good contemporary fiction inspired by life in the English village where she's lived for nearly thirty years. Her Sophie Sayers Village Mystery'series begins with 'Best Murder in Show' and, when complete, will run the course of a calendar year in the life of a classic
- [Jean Gill:  " Never let the blank page win!"](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2018/11/01/jean-gill-never-let-the-blank-page-win/) - Today's guest, Jean Gill, is a very experienced writer brimming with information and helpful advice. She's the author of twenty-one books, including the award-winning 'Troubadours' series. She's a Welsh writer and photographer living in the south of France with two scruffy dogs, a beehive named 'Endeavour', a Nikon D750 and a man. For many years, she
- [Calm down, dear, it's only a novel!](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2018/10/25/calm-down-dear-its-only-a-novel/) - Today I'm delighted to welcome writing friend Carol Cooper to the blog. She's an author, family doctor, and medical journalist. After a string of health books, she turned to writing fiction. Her novel Hampstead Fever featured in a prestigious front-of-store promo in WH Smith travel bookstores. Carol lives in Hampstead and Cambridge and is working on
- [My writing process](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2014/02/03/my-writing-process/) - My thanks to Liz Harris for inviting me to be part of the My Writing Process blog tour. Her own blog is so engaging and full of photos (www.lizharrisauthor.com). Do go and visit, but not quite yet. So, I have to answer four questions... What am I working on? I’ve just finished the revisions to
- [Roma Nova world building (2)](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2013/11/26/roma-nova-world-building-2/) - What does Roma Nova look like? It's an alpine country with lower lying valleys a few small towns (Castra Lucilla, Brancadorum, Aquae Caesaris) and a river city full of columns, a forum, Senate house and temples. Roma Novans don't have a different name for their capital; like the ancients, they just call in
- [Fed up with the football world cup? Here's an alternative!](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2018/06/27/fed-up-with-the-football-world-cup-heres-an-alternative/) - It's on grass in summer, it can take place indoors, it's pacey, full of tension, heart-wrenching, breath snatching and an alternative to football... Yes, reading! And not just reading, but box sets where you get three or more books packaged together. Not only is this convenient, it will also save you money. So let's escape
- [Being boringly inclusive ](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2018/06/14/being-boringly-inclusive/) - Lionel Shriver is opinionated. She got into a lot of trouble in some quarters for criticising the ‘idolisation of diversity’. Mary Beard is similarly opinionated (but has an endearing smile); however, she tries to be balanced. Owen Jones is opinionated - just listen to any debate he takes part in. Diane Abbott raises hackles with
- [Selected for CrimeFest!](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2018/03/01/selected-for-crimefest/) - Super exciting news! I've been chosen to be a panellist at the prestigious CrimeFest in May! I'll be on 'The Indie Alternative' at 9.30 Sunday 20 May with fellow Alliance of Independent Authors writing friend Debbie Young, and authors Ian Andrew and Karen Millie James, with Zoë Sharp in the chair. Do have a look
- [Social media and freelancers](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2018/05/15/social-media-and-freelancers/) - Yesterday, I went to speak to the Freelance Media Group about social media, specifically Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Of course, we ran out of time; this is a massive subject. I gave everybody a six-side handout to take away in case I'd bamboozled them during the hour and a half workshop. ;-) Rather than be
- [Radio star!](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2018/02/27/radio-star/) - Last Thursday, I was delighted to be internet-based ExpatRadio's special guest on 'The Scribblers' spot. They let me witter on (in between music) for an hour. No, it was more of a conversation with Mike Madden, Wendy H Jones and Eilidh McGinness. I've met Wendy several times before – we both spoke a the last
- [Who owns your story?](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2014/02/25/who-owns-your-story/) - At book club yesterday, we discussed many things. Books, obviously, but the conversation wandered on to reader expectations and I threw out the question about who owns the story in the book - the author, the reader, both or none of the above? My stories start in my head, but they are the result of
- [Sitting on your bottom](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2016/03/03/sitting-on-your-bottom/) - ‘Sit up straight!’ your mother would shriek at you as you hunched over your school homework. You rolled your eyes, then made a feeble effort at complying. If you were taller than everybody else in the playground as I was, your natural position was slumpissimus. As we grew older, it slowly dawned on us that
- [Strange business, Christmas](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2017/12/24/strange-business-christmas/) - It’s Christmas Eve morning and I’ve had my croissant and pain au chocolat. We normally have much healthier muesli, but as we bought a boxful of butter laden pastry morning goods for the visitors, why not raid one or two? No sign of life from the visitors – they probably need the sleep. I’ve opened
- [Diamond Tales - sparklers for you!](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2017/12/03/diamond-tales-sparklers-for-you/) - They say "Diamonds are a girl's best friend" and "A diamond is forever" but that is just marketing. Diamonds have played a far more significant rôle in human culture, and for a much longer time. The name "diamond" is derived from ancient Greek αδάμας (adámas), "proper", "unalterable", "unbreakable", "untamed". Stones are thought to have been
- [Charroux - a different litfest](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2017/08/30/charroux-a-different-litfest/) - You know the score – a crowd of writers keen to learn and interact and readers eager to adore the great ones, hurrying from pillar to post, same old topics thrashed over, expensive food, even more expensive drink, lots of undercurrents and exclusive events, groups and cliques and a carefully orchestrated bookshop with selected titles.
- [What length will you go to in your writing?](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2017/11/21/what-length-will-you-go-to-in-your-writing/) - When we say ‘creative writing’ what do we mean? Poetry, a story, a play? Perhaps you are moved to write a short story or a piece of flash fiction. Or go for a full-length novel or its little sister, the novella. Let’s unpick some of these… Plays and poetry are well recognised as such but
- [Meet Paul Bennett, writer of American historical fiction](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2017/12/05/meet-paul-bennett-writer-of-american-historical-fiction/) - Today, my guest is the delightful Paul Bennett who lives in the New England town of Salem, Massachusetts with his wife Daryl and writes historical fiction, the first of which The Clash of Empires is set during the French and Indian Wars. Discovering his future did not include the fields of mathematics or science, he focused
- [Our fearless leader – of a lady in armour](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2017/04/17/our-fearless-leader-of-a-lady-in-armour/) - The Mitela women of Roma Nova are not the only women warriors to go armoured into battle. Sometimes we glimpse one from time to time in the real historical record. In celebration of the publication of Under the Approaching Dark, historical fiction writer Anna Belfrage introduces us to a(n in)famous one. Women in medieval times were
- [Sexual harassment - a perspective](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2017/11/04/sexual-harassment-a-perspective/) - This is going to get me into trouble, but I'm trying to find perspective. It's obvious that bullying – sexual, emotional, mental, physical or other – is wrong. Violent bullying, abuse or rape is criminal and punishable by law – rightly so. But the problem is not just about non-consensual sex; that's the way feelings
- [What readers want in 2017 - the survey results!](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2017/03/27/what-readers-want-in-2017-the-survey-results/) - Thank you so much to readers who completed my recent survey asking them how they found books and interacted with authors. It was a follow up to a similar survey two years ago triggered by pure curiosity combined with a sincere wish to give my readers what they want. Headline results: - Fewer people complete
- [10 things for a good read?](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2012/09/24/10-things-for-a-good-read/) - Yep, it's an old question, but a good one and here's my personal take on what makes a good book for me. A well-paced story, with a clever plot so I’m intrigued about what happens next. A clean and clear style that flows easily. Enough detail to trigger my imagination, one or two small things
- [Summer reading – first in historical fiction series](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2014/12/17/summer-reading-first-in-historical-fiction-series/) - Falling in love with a set of characters, a location and a period is a wonderful thing. Finding there is a series featuring the same three is heaven. You can plunge back into your favourite characters' world and find out what happened next. You may want to grab a few moments' peace during the holidays. Here's a selection of first-in-series books that you
- [Judging for Words With Jam](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2017/04/13/judging-for-words-with-jam/) - STOP PRESS: Winners announced! The quality was impressive; it caused much sweating of the brow and drinking of tea. Congratulations to the three winners, but also to all those on the long and short lists. http://www.wordswithjam.co.uk/2017/07/first-page-competition-2017-winners.html ------------------ A few weeks ago, I was delighted (and rather flattered) to be asked to judge the Words With
- [Dublin Writers' Conference 23-25 June 2017 - handouts](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2017/06/23/dublin-writers-conference-23-25-june-2017-handouts/) - I hope you enjoyed my talk about writing adventure fiction. Here – as promised – are the handouts! Writing adventure fiction Writing fight scenes And the slides: Alison Morton – Writing adventure fiction from Alison Morton Happy writing! (c) Alison Morton 2017 Please feel free to print these out for your personal use. But
- [Flocking together](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2016/11/28/flocking-together/) - Readers need books. Writers want to write. Seems like a match made in heaven, doesn't it? Writing is a solitary occupation. But publishing a book can't be done without others: beta readers, critique partners, editors (structural, developmental, line, copy) and proofreaders. Take your pick. Then we need a marketing team: advance readers, blog hosts, friends/colleagues
- [J K Rowling's Twitterstorm](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2017/06/11/j-k-rowlings-twitterstorm/) - Author JK Rowling let loose a Twitterstorm on 9 June in response to the sexist nature of comments on female politicians. When you look at the news headlines and listen to commentators you will hear tones of it, whether meant consciously or unconsciously. Women still have a hard time getting to the top and when they do,
- [Do I need to blog about the London attack?](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2017/06/05/do-i-need-to-blog-about-the-london-attack/) - Yes, I do. "Seven people are dead and over 40 injured, after three people launched a van and knife attack." (BBC website) It was such a stark statement. I was in Spitalfields on Saturday 3 June, about a mile north of London Bridge, having a bite to eat with the stragglers from my joint launch
- [Carole Blake and I](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2016/10/31/carole-blake-and-i/) - I can reveal a secret. Carole Blake often told a story of the pitching pest anonymously. The day after it happened I wrote a post called Pitching at Parties. Yes, dear reader, "Sensible and Savvy Agent" was Carole and "Sensible and Friendly Author" was me. Wild horses tearing me apart in the arena will not
- [Love me, love my character - Tony Riches and Henry](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2017/04/06/love-me-love-my-character-tony-riches-and-henry/) - Delighted to welcome Tony Riches to the blog today. Tony is the author of best-selling medieval historical fiction, lives by the sea in Pembrokeshire, West Wales with his wife and enjoys sea and river kayaking in his spare time. His new book HENRY, is based on the life of King Henry VII and part of the successful Tudor Trilogy. Welcome,
- [London Book Fair 2017 – Networking, America and Getting Over Ourselves](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2017/03/25/london-book-fair-2017-networking-america-and-getting-over-ourselves/) - Back in March 2010, I started this blog. Weeks later, in the Year of the #Ashtag, I descended on Earl's Court for my very first London Book Fair. Breathless newbie that I was to this writing and publishing game, I was entranced. I went there, with my planned schedule, aiming to get a feel of the industry,
- [Love me, love my character – Keith Dixon, crime writer](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2017/03/30/love-me-love-my-character-keith-dixon-crime-writer/) - Delighted to welcome my fellow Poitevin Keith Dixon to my blog today. Keith, born in Yorkshire and raised in the Midlands, has been writing since he was thirteen years old in a number of different genres: thriller, espionage, science fiction, literary. He’s the author of seven novels in the Sam Dyke Investigations series and two other non-crime
- [The heroines behind the heroines...](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2017/03/21/the-heroines-behind-the-heroines/) - Authors often talk about the heroines in their books. You may have caught me mentioning Carina and Aurelia from time to time. (Whistles in the air) But a conversation about heroines and their heroes led to something else... This post was inspired by author Helen Hollick. It's mainly in her voice with bits and pieces from me
- [Getting Published - London Book Fair Masterclass](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2010/04/19/getting-published-london-book-fair-masterclass/) - On gloriously sunny Sunday 17 April, my writing buddy, Denise, and I attended the pre-Fair Masterclass entitled 'How to Get Published'. Whilst we knew some of it already, conned from amongst other places, the inestimable Carole Blake's book From Pitch to Publication: Everything You Need to know to Get Your Novel Published, we found the
- [The strangeness, and freedom, of writing a trilogy](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2015/02/09/the-strangeness-and-freedom-of-writing-a-trilogy/) - When I started my first novel, INCEPTIO, I had no idea what I was doing. Writing was an impulse, a reaction to a dire film and thinking I could produce something better. But not even halfway through the first draft, I realised I had a far bigger story than I’d anticipated. So I did the
- [30 questions - a revealing post](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2017/01/20/30-questions-a-revealing-post/) - Could you answer 30 personal questions in a public forum? And would you want to? There's a quiz going round Facebook but just to be different, I thought I'd answer them here! 1. Who are you named after? My first name, nobody, but my second name 'Mary' pops up frequently in my mother's family. 2. Last time
- [My name's Alison and I'm a Facebook-aholic](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2016/10/24/my-names-alison-and-im-a-facebook-aholic/) - I’ve never had so many friends, just under a thousand. I have Close Friends, Friends, Acquaintances, I can follow them or not, I can Poke them and Add them to one of the groups I belong to (very bad form). I can invite them to my Author page. I can Like, Love, go Haha, Wow,
- [Flora Shaw - an inspiring (and redoubtable) Victorian](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2016/12/15/flora-shaw-an-inspiring-and-redoubtable-victorian/) - I'm delighted to welcome writing friend Antoine Vanner back to the blog! His Victorian naval fiction series – the Dawlish Chronicles – is gathering a very fair wind and steaming to success. I recently reviewed Britannia's Amazon featured the redoubtable Captain Nicholas Dawlish's wife Florence. Was she typical of her time? What was a strong Victorian woman like?
- [Triskele Lit Fest - friendly and with fizz!](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2016/10/03/triskele-lit-fest-friendly-and-with-fizz/) - STOP PRESS: video added below! Scarcely recovered from the Historical Novel Society Conference, I was back on the plane ten days later en route to a rainy London and going to a very different event. Not in the glamour of the hi tech Maths Institute of the University of Oxford, but in a vibrant, but
- [J J Marsh - Love me, love my character](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2016/12/08/j-j-marsh-love-me-love-my-character/) - It's my great pleasure to welcome back crime writer J J Marsh. We met a while ago in a distanced way on Facebook – the two of us belong to the Alliance of Independent Authors – but when she and I were both selected as indie Editor’s Choices in prestigious UK publishing trade magazine ‘The Bookseller’ I invited her to talk to us about her book,
- [Lucienne Boyce – Love me, love my character](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2016/12/01/lucienne-boyce-love-me-love-my-character/) - Lucienne Boyce has published two historical novels, To The Fair Land (2012) and Bloodie Bones: A Dan Foster Mystery (2015). She published The Bristol Suffragettes (non-fiction) in 2013. She is currently working on the second Dan Foster Mystery and the biography of a suffragette with Bristol connections. She is a steering committee member of the
- [The 3G Kindle has landed!](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2010/09/26/the-3g-kindle-has-landed/) - I've been given a fab birthday present - a 3G Amazon Kindle. Thank you, Steve xx As a writer, I read a huge number of books; our house is groaning with them. As a plane passenger, it's agonising trying to sift out the books to take (or, worse, leave behind). As a Luddite, it's been
- [What is an editor? Joanna Maitland reveals all](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2016/11/25/what-is-an-editor-joanna-maitland-reveals-all/) - This week's guest, multi-published Joanna Maitland, knows all about loving her characters, but to ring the changes from the 'Love me, love my character' series, I've asked her to give as some of her valuable expertise. What am I talking about? Read on... Joanna Maitland's first historical romance went through the Romantic Novelists' Association's New Writers' Scheme
- [Annelise Freisenbruch and the Rivals of the Republic](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2016/09/08/anneliese-freisenbruch-and-the-rivals-of-the-republic/) - Today I'm delighted to welcome to my blog somebody whose writing I deeply admire. I bought 'The First Ladies of Rome', which explored the hidden history of women in Ancient Rome, as soon as I saw it in 2010. The author and today's honoured guest, Annelise Freisenbruch, was born in Bermuda and studied Classics at Newnham
- [David Penny – Love me, love my character](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2016/11/17/david-penny-love-me-love-my-character/) - Today I'm delighted to welcome David Penny, historical fiction writer and fellow member of the Alliance of Independent Authors. David published four novels in the 1970s before being seduced by a steady salary. He has now returned to his true love of writing with the first three books in a series of historical mysteries set in Moorish Spain
- [Jenny Harper - Love me, love my character](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2016/11/10/jenny-harper-love-me-love-my-character/) - I am utterly delighted to welcome fellow Romantic Novelists' Association colleague Jenny Harper to my writing blog today! Jenny lives in Edinburgh, Scotland, though she was born in India and grew up in England. She has been a non-fiction editor, a journalist and a businesswoman and has written a children’s novel and several books about Scotland,
- [Gadding about - and finishing in Bristol fashion](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2016/11/07/gadding-about-and-finishing-in-bristol-fashion/) - If you read this blog regularly, you'll have seen that I've almost earnt a frequent flyer gold card! No, not really, but I seemed to have trudged along miles of airport corridors and lived in so many hotel rooms I can't remember which was where. Yes, it's been hard work, but I've had fun. January, two
- [On making a book trailer](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2013/02/21/on-making-a-book-trailer/) - https://youtu.be/CxOZzf_DA7g (This is an updated version made in November 2016, but everything below is still true!) As a big fan of the moving image, I wanted to make an animated advert for my forthcoming book, INCEPTIO. Could I do it myself? I'm no Steven Spielberg, but I had the track record of one whole mini-movie
- [On pitching at parties...](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2012/11/25/on-pitching-at-parties/) - The scene: A book industry party Present: New authors, multi-published authors, agents, editors, publishers, guests, even spouses A first conversation: Sensible and Friendly Author to agent: "Don't worry, I'm not pitching because my book isn't ready yet." Sensible and Savvy Agent: "If I was worried about people pitching to me I wouldn't come to a
- [How could I forget FOW York?](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2011/04/13/how-could-i-forget-fow-york/) - How very strange! I forgot to blog about the Festival of Writing at York. Actually, I didn't forget. I've been so busy implementing things I learnt in the workshops, integrating wise pieces of advice I received and remembering stimulating and thoughtful conversations I enjoyed. York was about people: authors, publishers, agents, to be sure, but
- [Anna Belfrage - Love me, love my character](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2016/10/27/anna-belfrage-love-me-love-my-character/) - Today's lovely guest is historical fiction writer, Anna Belfrage. Had she been allowed to choose, she’d have become a professional time-traveller. As this was impossible, she became a financial professional with two absorbing interests: history and writing. Anna is the author of the acclaimed time-slip series The Graham Saga, winner of multiple awards, including the HNS Indie
- [Elizabeth Buchan and The New Mrs Clifton](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2016/10/20/elizabeth-buchan-and-the-new-mrs-clifton/) - Continuing the 'Love me, love my character' series, I'm delighted to welcome back to the blog Elizabeth Buchan; she very kindly answered a newbie blogger's questions with much patience and grace. Elizabeth Buchan began her career as a blurb writer at Penguin Books after graduating from the University of Kent with a double degree in
- [Jane Davis's Counterfeit Self](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2016/10/13/jane-daviss-counterfeit-self/) - What a pleasure it is to welcome the talented Jane Davis back as my Thursday guest! Jane is the author of seven novels. Her debut, Half-truths and White Lies, won the Daily Mail First Novel Award and was described by Joanne Harris as ‘A story of secrets, lies, grief and, ultimately, redemption, charmingly handled by
- [Places and spaces](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2016/10/10/places-and-spaces/) - Last month I was in Dorchester for a few days’ writing retreat. The theory is that you concentrate on writing without distraction. But you also talk about writing and compare notes with other writers over meals, and even visit a few writing related places. The sitting muscles become cramped otherwise. Dorchester is an old town.
- [Ruth Downie - Love me, love my character](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2016/10/06/ruth-downie-love-me-love-my-character/) - Today, I'm delighted to welcome Ruth Downie back to the Roma Nova writing world. She's talked before about historic truth and donkey poo, and wrote a poignant account 'from below' at the court of Boudica as part of A Year of Ravens. Of course, Roma Novans know her as the name on the endorsement for AURELIA. In 2004 Ruth
- [Making a readable PDF](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2016/02/20/making-a-readable-pdf/) - "PDF? No thanks." How often do you as a writer get that answer back from a possible reviewer, blogger or beta reader? And I can understand it. Truly. My eyes have had enough of squinting at minute text in a silly font when I've been asked to read or review a book. But PDFs (Portable
- [Oxford - HNS Conference and a lot of rushing around](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2016/09/18/oxford-hns-conference-and-a-lot-of-rushing-around/) - The 2016 Historical Novel Society in Oxford - fabulous speakers, sharp engaging talks, lively expert panels plus rampaging Saxons - a celebration of all things historical and fictional. This was the feast before us. Many colleagues have written accounts which make compelling reading for different reasons. I've picked out a few I that made me laugh
- [Fenella Forster - Love me, love my character](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2016/09/15/fenella-forster-love-me-love-my-character/) - Today is the start of a new, possibly disruptive series, 'Love me, love my character'. I'm inviting authors and their characters to give us their separate views. Hopefully, we may get some unexpected results. Fenella Forster (the writing name of Denise Barnes) writes sagas with a difference: all involve 'voyages', physical as well as emotional ones.
- [Derek Birks  - Love me, love my character](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2016/09/22/derek-birks-love-me-love-my-character/) - Today I'm delighted to welcome historical fiction writer Derek Birks and his fearsome character Ned Elder. Derek was born in Hampshire, England but spent his teenage years in New Zealand, where he still has strong family ties. After many years teaching history he took early retirement to concentrate on writing. He also spends his time gardening, travelling, walking and taking
- [Jane Thynne and the allure of 1930s Germany](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2014/03/13/jane-thynne-and-the-allure-of-1930s-germany/) - Today, I'm thrilled to welcome Jane Thynne to my blog. Jane has worked as a journalist for the BBC, The Sunday Times, The Daily Telegraph, and The Independent. She has been a panellist on the BBC Radio 4 literary panel game The Write Stuff on many occasions and was a member of the judging panel
- [2016 HNS Conference Oxford - a quick interim post](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2016/09/06/2016-hns-conference-oxford-a-quick-interim-post/) - I've been away at the Historical Novel Society Conference where I was coordinating the indie table, helping with registration and problem solving, plus running a panel on indie publishing. There will be a report - I promise - but in the meantime, here are some photos... There will be more...
- [Writing is bad for you](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2016/08/19/writing-is-bad-for-you/) - There, I’ve said it. I’m deep in the last third of my sixth book and I should know better. The crisis is coming, the characters’ nerves are shot and all I see is failure and death. I can’t sleep more than five hours nor stop thinking about those poor souls living under oppression or the
- [Writing crime in Harrogate](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2016/07/28/writing-crime-in-harrogate/) - “Harrogate” – that’s what the regulars call the Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival. After three days, I call it exhausting, energising, exhilarating. It was my second conference in July and I took the travelling easy. No point killing yourself before you get to Murder Central for the weekend! As a newbie, I was made
- [Snapshots of RNA2016](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2016/07/18/snapshots-of-rna2016/) - 2010, I was a trembling newbie; 2016, I was teaching historical research and pontificating on a trade panel. What a transition! The Romantic Novelists' Association embraces every type and sub-genre of romance and romantic fiction, from the sweet, inspirational, gritty contemporary through gay romance and historical to high epic adventure. How's that? You thought it was all
- [Collaborating authors](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2014/07/15/collaborating-authors/) - Writing is a solitary thing - it's you, the writing medium and hard graft alone together. Your imagination/brain/mind/muse and the pen or keyboard are it. Perhaps you have a writing buddy, known sometimes as a critique partner, or belong to a writers' circle or a writers' association, but if you're an independently published author, you
- [In praise of public servants](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2016/06/18/in-praise-of-public-servants/) - Yesterday in Versailles, France honoured two murdered police officials. A national ceremony of homage led by the French president with hundreds of policewomen and men in dress uniform, all accompanied by drum rolls, funeral music and honour guards. Both were made posthumous members of the Légion d’Honneur. Commandant Jean-Baptiste Salvaing (42), a very popular officer,
- [How to set up and run an author exhibition stand](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2016/06/03/how-to-set-up-and-run-an-author-exhibition-stand/) - Each year I set up my stall and sell my books at the Marché de Noël at Terves. Not only do happy customers go away clutching copies of one or several Roma Nova books, but I’ve had the pleasure of chatting about writing, books, feminism, adventures, history, Rome, publishing, the holidays, travel - you name
- [Guidelines for a determined writer](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2015/03/19/guidelines-for-a-determined-writer/) - I belong to a local writers' circle and yesterday it was my turn to lead the session. We have a lively discussion which resulted in more ideas. Here's a potted version... 1. Know what you really want Not what other people, e.g. family, spouses and friends think you want, nor what you think you should want. Is
- [Tough heroines](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2014/05/12/tough-heroines/) - ‘Tough’, ‘feisty’, ‘kick-ass’ - clichés, ironic or signposts? And, provocative question, would you apply them to men? Perhaps the first one and possibly the third, but I can’t remember reading about a ‘feisty hero’. That aside, how do you recognise a tough heroine? Boudica, queen of the British Iceni tribe - led an uprising against
- [In praise of local litfests](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2016/05/21/in-praise-of-local-litfests/) - Hay, Oxford, Edinburgh, Port Eliot, Cheltenham, Wigtown - all big beasts of the literature festival circuit and there are many more. Places where famous and worshipped celebrities jostle along with people who write books, places where zillions of books are on sale, events burst out of their programmes, and the public is invited to adore.
- [This is writing life now](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2016/05/09/this-is-writing-life-now/) - Wake up. 6:07 am. I really must finish that workshop plan today. So many notes I don’t know where to start. What will they expect? Will I meet it? Must put geranium cuttings in before I go on event trip to UK at the weekend. Gods, my back aches. Tea. Lean over and click the
- [How I did it - my first self-published book!](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2012/06/10/1251/) - Here's a copy of my article in Mslexia magazine, as promised in my previous post. (Click through for a larger version) It's a great mag - worth every penny. Here's how you can subscribe. Alison Morton is the author of Roma Nova thrillers, INCEPTIO, PERFIDITAS, SUCCESSIO and AURELIA. The fifth in the series, INSURRECTIO, was published on 12 April 2016. Find out more
- [Social media vs. work/life balance](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2016/04/05/social-media-vs-worklife-balance/) - It is a truth universally acknowledged that an author in possession of a book must be in want of social media. Okay. that’s corny, but it’s true. But how hard should we pursue out courtship of social media and should we toss our head, be defiant and stick up for our principles, yet concede that
- [What the OU did for me and history](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2016/03/22/what-the-ou-did-for-me-and-history/) - Study can broaden, widen and enrich your mind – that was a good enough reason for me when I signed up to do an MA in history with the Open University. I'd had to leave studying history at school because it clashed with Latin. (Who put that timetable together?) We won’t go into the details
- [Me and events - an author steps out](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2016/03/16/me-and-events-an-author-steps-out/) - When you write and publish books, you know there are various steps on the way, mostly involving hard slog, rewrites, critiques, revisions, back ache, more edits, proofs, eyes watering, etc. Once your book is out, you'll launch it, do a few book-signings plus the stuff on social media. Then what? Of course you need to write
- [The 5 Biggest Social Media Challenges for Authors](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2016/02/26/the-5-biggest-social-media-challenges-for-authors/) - Today I'm delighted to welcome Anita Chapman, the genius behind neetsmarketing, an empathic and friendly business dedicated to help authors with their social media. I asked Anita to tell what authors fear most about social media and how to deal with it. Thank you for inviting me to be a guest on your blog, Alison! These are
- [Launching her second book - Fenella Forster](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2016/02/11/launching-her-second-book-fenella-forster/) - Today I'm welcoming Fenella Forster, writer extraordinaire. Her debut book, Annie's Story, set in the early 20th century, came out last year with great enthusiasm and was recently awarded the prestigious B.R.A.G. Medallion. Her second book, Juliet's Story, has just launched. Both books are part of 'The Voyagers' trilogy stretching from 1913 to the present day. Fenella Forster writes
- [An itch coupled with an opportunity](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2012/03/18/an-itch-coupled-with-an-opportunity/) - Since I published my first book, a non-fiction title called Military or Civilians? The curious anomaly of the German Women’s Auxiliary Services during the Second World War on Amazon last Wednesday quite a few people have asked me why I did it. Comments have included: "I thought you wrote alternate history thrillers with a Roman
- [Launching books](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2016/02/01/launching-books/) - Last week, I had the enormous pleasure of attending book launches for two writing friends. On Saturday 23 January, I drank bubbly, ate scones and cake with Denise Barnes who launched her second book, Juliet’s Story, at the University Women’s Club. The magnificent library was a perfect setting for us to hear about the research
- [Speaking at ChipLitFest 'Trade Secrets' day](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2015/11/22/speaking-at-chiplitfest-trade-secrets-day/) - In the pantheon of literary festivals, the Chipping Norton Literary Festival is reckoned to be one of the best: world class speakers, an unrivalled range of events, the ‘localness’ yet global appeal, and not least, enthusiasm and fun. So when I was invited via my writing friend Liz Harris to speak on self-publishing at one
- [On being unusual and historical...](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2016/01/27/on-being-unusual-and-historical/) - The Roma Nova thrillers are definitely unusual. Although part of the historical fiction canon, alternate history stories ask readers to follow a speculative but hopefully historically logical path. In a way they are niche, but one which I hope will grow. Some periods are fashionable like the Tudors, others eternally loved like Regency, others wax
- [Kate Quinn and A Year of Ravens](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2015/11/19/kate-quinn-and-a-year-of-ravens/) - Last week, Russell Whitfield (long time supporter of Roma Nova) told us all about his new collaborative writing project, A Year of Ravens. One of his fellow authors is none other than Kate Quinn, whom I had the pleasure of welcoming to the blog along with the fascinating Vibia Sabina, The Lady of the Eternal City.
- [Name that character!](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2015/12/14/name-that-character/) - Today, I'm welcoming fellow Romantic Novelists' Association member Joanna Maitland to talk about naming characters. After many years publishing Regencies with Harlequin Mills & Boon, Joanna is branching out into new fields as an independent author. With fellow author Sophie Weston, Joanna has just set up Libertà! where readers and writers can meet and share enthusiasms. Joanna hopes
- [Ruth Downie and 'A Year of Ravens'](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2015/12/10/ruth-downie-and-a-year-of-ravens/) - Today, in this last 'Ravens' post I'm welcoming Ruth Downie, author and good friend of Roma Nova. We met in August 2013 on The Wonder of Rome blog hop (her post intriguingly called 'First drown your ape') and she enlightened us more about Roman medical practice in October 2014 in this post about historical truth and donkey poo.
- [S J A Turney and A Year of Ravens](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2015/12/03/s-j-a-turney-and-a-year-of-ravens/) - This week's 'Ravens' guest is S J A Turney, author of the well-reviewed Roman legionary series, Marius' Mules, The Ottoman Cycle and the Interregnum trilogy. His new series The Great Game, begins with Praetorian, published in March 2015. Simon combines a love of travel and history with that of architecture and writing. Since leaving school and University, he's tried car sales, insurance,
- [Stephanie Dray and A Year of Ravens](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2015/11/26/stephanie-dray-and-a-year-of-ravens/) - My third guest in the 'Ravens' series is Stephanie Dray, whom I had the pleasure of meeting at the Historical Novel Society conference in Denver this summer. Stephanie is a bestselling, multi-published author of historical women's fiction and fantasy. Her critically acclaimed historical series about Cleopatra's daughter has been translated into more than six different languages.
- [Meet Helen Hart of SilverWood Books](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2014/01/17/meet-helen-hart-of-silverwood-books/) - Today, I’m delighted to welcome Helen Hart, publishing director at SilverWood Books. She has written novels under pseudonyms for Scholastic, Virgin Books, OUP and HarperCollins. One of her Young Adult novels, written as Maya Snow, was shortlisted for the Solihull Children's Book Award 2010. Helen was on the judging panel for the 2010 and 2011
- [Russell Whitfield and 'A Year of Ravens'](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2015/11/12/russell-whitfield-and-a-year-of-ravens/) - Today, I have a special guest, Russell Whitfield, a true friend of Roma Nova who endorsed INCEPTIO and AURELIA. Russ’s first novel, Gladiatrix, was published in 2008 by Myrmidon Books. The sequel, Roma Victrix, continued the adventures of Lysandra, the Spartan gladiatrix. The third, Imperatrix, released this year, is just simply a tour de force. Now, you may remember
- [Seasonally adjusted writing](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2015/11/07/seasonally-adjusted-writing/) - Seasons drive our behaviour whether we like it or not. We no longer live in caves, but in heated and insulated houses with curtains, double-glazing and electric light which weather-proof our lives But am I the only person who tends to ‘hibernate’ in winter and virtually live outside in summer? When we write, we must
- [Meet Helen Hollick](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2014/02/20/meet-helen-hollick/) - My first special guest this spring is Helen Hollick, author of The Pendragon's Banner trilogy (The Kingmaking, Pendragon's Banner, Shadow of the King), a re-telling of the King Arthur legend where Arthur Pendragon is a post-Roman battle-hardened warlord. Before that, she wrote The Saxon Series (Harold the King (US - I Am the Chosen King)
- [Meet official 'Dull Man' Steve Morton](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2015/10/01/meet-official-dul-man-steve-morton/) - Today is an unusual one. My guest is my husband, Steve Morton, who is a contributor to the 'Dull Men of Great Britain' published today by Ebury Press, part of Random House. I wouldn't be letting you into a big secret if I say he's not really that dull! A former radio engineer, he's
- [Charroux LitFest - total buzz](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2015/08/30/charroux-litfest-total-buzz/) - Charroux may be a tiny town in the middle of la France profonde, but these last few days it has been buzzing with local, national and international noise. Noise? Yes, the noise of authors talking, writers of every stripe discussing craft, poets and musicians entertaining and provoking us and playwrights dramatising. We learnt, stared in
- [Travel broadens the writer’s mind](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2015/06/13/travel-broadens-the-writers-mind/) - Flying from Paris to Montréal (pronounced in the Francophone world as ‘Mon_roy_al’) was full of brain-fodder for me as a writer! Over the seven hours, my other half and I watched films, ate slightly strange food and thought about the next few weeks of our Big Trip. But best of all was chatting to two completely
- [Off to Denver!](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2015/06/07/off-to-denver/) - Historical novel authors give advice about self/indie publishing, in Denver, CO
- [World-building - not just for alternative history stories!](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2015/06/11/world-building-not-just-for-alternative-history-stories/) - Today, I am delighted to welcome historical novelist Jean Fullerton to the writing blog. Born into a large East End family, Jean was brought up in the overcrowded streets clustered around the Tower of London. Her Victorian stories shining with authenticity have delighted both readers and critics. Jean’s latest book, Fetch Nurse Connie, set in 1945, draws
- [So how well DO you know your main character?](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2010/11/01/so-how-well-do-you-know-your-main-character/) - On my Arvon Foundation course in early October, we had a workshop on characterisation led by Mavis Cheek and Paul Sussman. They showed us how well we must get to know our main character(s) if we want to ensure they are fully-developed. Ask them questions! Here are a few they suggested... 1. What is your
- [Record visits - thank you!](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2011/08/02/record-visits-thank-you/) - Overwhelmed. An over-used word. But I am. Thank you for all the interest nearly 200 of you have shown in the past 24 hours and are still showing in my blog, especially on the Filofax Flex. A special thank you to those shared by leaving a comment. I hope you found it useful/enlightening/informative. Or even
- [Security for the Olympics - a perspective](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2012/07/13/security-for-the-olympics-a-perspective/) - I don't get ranty very often, but the anti-rant barrier broke this morning as I listened to the mouthings on Yesterday in Parliament on BBCRadio 4. The Olympic Games security plan looks poorly planned and executed, so further military personnel have been brought in to help. Several points: Thank goodness we have professional, well-disciplined forces
- [A beautiful blog...](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2013/11/20/a-beautiful-blog/) - Today, I'm on author Jessica Bell's blog as an "Artist Unleashed" with a guest post "Write What You Really Really Want". I hope you'll visit and read a little more about my writing motivation. ;-) But the treasure of Jessica's blog is the gorgeous bubble girl... Alison Morton is the author of Roma Nova
- [PERFIDITAS joins INCEPTIO as a B.R.A.G. Medallion honoree!](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2014/02/13/perfiditas-joins-inceptio-as-a-b-r-a-g-medallion-honoree/) - B.R.A.G. Medallion® - what's that? In the large sea of self/independently published work, there is a lot of flotsam and jetsam and not all of it is worth picking up. How to tell? Well, IndieBRAG, a privately held organization has brought together a large group of readers, both individuals and members of book clubs, located
- [SUCCESSIO news...](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2014/05/20/successio-news/) - Oo-er! The SUCCESSIO paperback is starting to appear in online shops... (It's in euros because that's my local currency ;-) ) Alison Morton is the author of Roma Nova thrillers, INCEPTIO, and PERFIDITAS. Third in series, SUCCESSIO, is out June 2014.
- [Day 3 at the London Book Fair](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2014/04/10/day-3-at-the-london-book-fair/) - Today was a ‘lighter’ day. After the ALLi celebratory party yesterday we were all a little quieter, but still kept up a busy routine. My first 'appointment' of the day was to talk through the fine detail of book production with SilverWood Books' publishing director, Helen Hart. The third book in my Roma Nova thriller series,
- [The Indie Author Fair 2015](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2015/05/04/the-indie-author-fair-2015/) - Things have been in a constant whirl since the London Book Fair, but such an important event took place on the Friday immediately afterwards as part of the fringe that I have been feeling enormously guilty at not posting about it. But, er, I've got a book coming out, y'know? The Alliance of Independent Authors,
- [Meet Jane Davis, genius at 'made-up truth'](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2015/04/30/meet-jane-davis-genius-at-made-up-truth/) - Today, I am a little awed at welcoming Jane Davis to my writing blog. To say she's a writer is a bit of an understatement. Jane spent her twenties and the first part of her thirties chasing promotions at work, but when she achieved what she’d set out to do, she discovered that it wasn’t what she
- [Do we really need to be bribed to read a book?](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2015/04/28/do-we-really-need-to-be-bribed-to-read-a-book/) - Bribed to read books?
- [My London Book Fair - Day 3](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2015/04/18/my-london-book-fair-day-3/) - Thursday had a calmer feel to it and I went to listen to a session on how publishers and agents are discovering new talent in these evolutionary times, led by Rebecca Swift from The Literary Consultancy, talking to Juliet Mushens from The Agency Group and Ian Millar of Canelo Digital Publishing. Juliet described how she read
- [Day 2 at #LBF2015](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2015/04/15/day-2-at-lbf2015/) - Getting into my stride with London busses now - the C1 service, a step away from the hotel, drops me just across the bridge from Olympia. I've never used the busses so regularly before - I can even answer questions about them now to other attendees. But a smattering of knowledge is a dangerous thing...
- [2015 London Book Fair - Day 1](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2015/04/14/2015-london-book-fair-day-1/) - This was the first year at Kensington Olympia - Earls Court has been deleted - and the comments about the layout were not too complimentary. However, feet having been found and map consulted, I made my way to the SilverWood Books stand, to meet up with Helen Hart, the director and my new publishing assistant, Bron.
- [Meet Kathryn Gauci - The Embroiderer](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2015/04/02/meet-kathryn-gauci-the-embroiderer-2/) - Kathryn Gauci was born in England. After studying textile design at Loughborough College of Art, she worked in Athens as a carpet designer for six years and after much travelling settled down to run her own textile design studio in Melbourne for fifteen years. She now lives in Australia with her husband. The Embroiderer is her first novel; a
- [Kate Quinn and the Lady of the Eternal City](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2015/03/12/kate-quinn-and-the-lady-of-the-eternal-city/) - Today, I'm delighted to welcome historical novelist Kate Quinn. A native of southern California, Kate graduated from Boston University with bachelor's and master's degrees in Classical Voice. A lifelong history buff, she has written four novels in the Empress of Rome Saga and two set in the Italian Renaissance about the early years of the infamous Borgia clan. Readers may also
- [9 March - The morning after the night before](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2015/03/09/9-march-the-morning-after-the-night-before/) - Yesterday was International Women’s Day - on balance, a good thing to remind us of women’s concerns, status and aspirations. And there were celebrations, affirmation and renewed determination - all good stuff. But it’s a bit like your birthday - all cake, champagne, greetings, celebrations - but today it’s about washing up, wiping up the
- [Versatile bloggers](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2015/02/28/versatile-bloggers/) - My writing friend and pirate lady-in-chief/1066 chronicler Helen Hollick has nominated me as a versatile blogger. It’s a way to recognise other bloggers and introduce them and their readers to new blogs. And people blog about the most amazing subjects… So, what do I have to do? 1. Display the logo (cut and paste it from
- [Site-splitting](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2015/01/29/site-splitting/) - So, split the atom time. Well, as I’ve created two blogs out of one, it’s more a case of splitting the byte. Being an author today means developing entrepreneurial skills, especially marketing ones. I’m not talking about selling - although that’s ultra important - but about making people aware of your book’s, or books’, existence. It’s a slippery concept,
- [What the readers say... The survey report](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2015/02/19/what-the-readers-say-the-survey-report/) - Readers never cease to surprise me - that's the chief finding of the survey I ran over three weeks at the end of January/ beginning of February.
- [Meet JJ Marsh - crime writer and fellow 'Bookseller' honouree!](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2015/02/12/meet-jj-marsh-crime-writer-and-fellow-bookseller-honouree/) - JJ Marsh grew up in Wales, Africa and the Middle East, where her curiosity for culture took root and triggered an urge to write. After graduating in English Literature and Theatre Studies, she worked as an actor, teacher, writer, director, editor, journalist and cultural trainer all over Europe. Now based in Switzerland, Jill is a
- [Meet Elaine Moxon and the Wolf Sons - Wulfsuna](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2015/02/05/meet-elaine-moxon-and-the-wolf-sons-wulfsuna/) - A Birmingham author and member of the Historical Novel Society, Elaine grew up in an Anglo-Italian family. She attributes her lifelong interest in story-telling to the roguish tales her grandfather told of his Italian childhood, and family holidays visiting ancient burial sites and stone circles. She loves languages, history and travel and lives with her
- [Signing with A for Authors](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2014/05/02/signing-with-a-for-authors/) - It’s official and I’m • delighted (normal me) • thrilled (as per my books) • quietly pleased (very British) • ecstatic (OTT) (Highlight or delete as applicable) Why? Because I will be working with Annette Crossland of A for Authors literary agency, who will be handling the subsidiary and foreign rights for my books.
- [On the way to the 2014 London Book Fair](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2014/04/06/on-the-way-to-the-2014-london-book-fair/) - Although I have a guest as usual on Thursday, I'm going to be posting pictures when I can of my trip this week to LBF. It's going to be a mix, but this is posting 'on the hoof' or if you want to be arty, 'performance posting'. I flew in today on Ryanair from Poitiers.
- [A pre-London Book Fair meet-up](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2014/04/07/a-pre-london-book-fair-meet-up/) - Energised by meeting a terrific group of other writers last night. No, 'energised' is not a euphemism for hangover. The atmosphere really did fizz. Writers are used to listening, observing and absorbing, and they are genuinely interested in each others' progress. And, of course, their problems and successes. And as lonely creatures, musing and tapping
- [Scenes from the British Museum](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2014/04/07/scenes-from-the-british-museum/) - Out into the rain this morning on my way to the British Museum to see the Vikings, I walked down Earls Court Gardens and spotted sets of bicycles chained artistically to the railings. I guess there’s nowhere else to store them. After fairly mundane ride on the Picadilly Line, I arrived at the British Museum,
- [London Book Fair - Day 2](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2014/04/10/london-book-fair-day-2/) - As I walked down Earls Court Gardens to start Day 2 at the London Book Fair, I still felt the buzz of Day 1. Or maybe it was the warmth of the sunshine on my face… The Roma Nova badges seem to be catching on... I met up with Romantic Novelists’ Association members
- [Meet Carina Mitela, main character...](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2014/04/15/meet-carina-mitela-main-character/) - Antoine Vanner, who writes the Dawlish Chronicles, cracking naval adventure stories in the 19th Century, has invited me to participate in a blog-hop about meeting writers' main characters. I asked Carina, the heroine of INCEPTIO and PERFIDITAS, if she’d like to take part and she said, ‘Sure’. What is the name of your character? Is
- [Alternate history and steampunk - settling the ambiguity](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2014/05/19/alternate-history-and-steampunk-settling-the-ambiguity/) - When people ask me about my books, I say ‘Thrillers - alternative history thrillers.’ ‘Oh, steampunk, then?’ I gnash my teeth, but put on a pleasant smile. ‘No, actually, they’re adventure stories set in our world, but where history evolved alternatively.’ ‘Oh, steampunk, then?’ ’No, that’s more fantastical and based on Victorian technological ideas.
- [Nik Morton - We are history](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2014/05/22/nik-morton-we-are-history/) - Today, I'm delighted to welcome Nik Morton (no relation!), who also writes as Ross Morton and a few other names besides... Ex-Royal Navy, ex-IT, expat living in Spain, he works as an editor and writer of short stories, articles and novels. Added to this he draws cartoons and illustrates comics, stories and magazine covers. To date, he has 20 books
- [SUCCESSIO launches in London - the official report!](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2014/06/07/successio-launches-in-london-the-official-report/) - Friends, Roma Novans and colleagues lent me their hours. The bubbly flowed in the glorious library at the University Women's Club in Mayfair as we gathered to celebrate the publication of the third thriller in the Roma Nova series. I'd asked long term Roma Nova fan Sue Cook to sit in conversation with me and ask
- [The SUCCESSIO launch - the video!](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2014/06/09/the-successio-launch-the-video/) - The lovely Sue Cook interviewed me - what a privilege! http://youtu.be/56IL5BPB1p8 The video is just a snippet taken by my son with his iPhone. I didn't know he was doing it! More photos here SUCCESSIO book trailer Alison Morton is the author of Roma Nova thrillers, INCEPTIO, and PERFIDITAS. Third in series, SUCCESSIO,
- [RNA Conference pictures](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2014/07/28/rna-conference-pictures/) - Although it seems ages ago, the Romantic Novelists' Association Conference was only a couple of weeks ago! It took place at the Harper Adams University, a renowned agricultural college near Telford, Shropshire - a beautiful setting, plus a light whiff from the animal areas! Needless to say, our meals had the shortest food mileage ever and were
- [The Historical Novel Society picks SUCCESSIO!](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2014/08/07/the-historical-novel-society-picks-successio/) - Well, this is exciting! The Historical Novel Society indie review team has reviewed SUCCESSIO and given it a wonderful write-up. But the cream on the cake is that it has been awarded the accolade of "Editor's choice"! http://historicalnovelsociety.org/reviews/successio/ Not only is there that glory, but SUCCESSIO will automatically be longlisted for the HNS Indie Award
- [2014 Historical Novel Society conference - Part Deux](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2014/09/10/2014-historical-novel-society-conference-part-deux/) - Maybe it was adrenaline, but I started the second day of the HNS conference with an energy surge. Maybe the coffee was stronger than I thought. After chatting with friends, I set up the indie table for the day. Managed by the inestimable Helen Hollick, it showcased the finalists' books for the HNS Indie Novel Award
- [2014 Historical Novel Society conference (1)](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2014/09/08/2014-historical-novel-society-conference-1/) - Hot, tired and stressed out after flight delay and snail-slow taxi ride from Liverpool Street Station, I arrived at Marylebone Hall, the accommodation block at the University of Westminster, fit to drop. I flung on a clean shirt, combed my hair and abandoning unpacking, I hurried down to the lobby. The sound of chatter and
- [2014 HNS Conference - bonus photos!](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2014/09/12/2014-hns-conference-bonus-photos/) - Some photos that didn't get into the previous posts... My first HNS conference post Second HNS conference post Alison Morton is the author of Roma Nova thrillers, INCEPTIO, and PERFIDITAS. Third in series, SUCCESSIO, is now out. Find out about Roma Nova news, writing tips and info by signing up for my free monthly email
- [A historically festive weekend in Harrogate - Part One](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2014/10/27/a-historically-festive-weekend-in-harrogate-part-one/) - Conferences can be stimulating, fun or exhausting, or possibly all three. It’s wise to prepare beforehand, not just your travel tickets and hotel bookings, but which sessions you want to go to. Then you find out you want to go to all of them. Then you discover the conference clashes with a promised speaking engagement.
- [Harrogate History Festival (2)  - Romans, shopgirls and Vikings](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2014/11/03/harrogate-history-festival2-romans-shopgirls-and-vikings/) - After my awayday in London, I arrived back on Saturday evening at The Old Swan in Harrogate in perfect time for a glass of red with Conn Iggulden, Simon Turney, Angus Donald, Harry Sidebottom, Derek Birks and Giles Christian. And what a sparky group that was; Viking axes, Roman ball-bearings and medieval sex! This
- [Conferencius interruptus](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2014/10/30/conferencius-interruptus/) - Last weekend (well, from Thursday evening), I attended the Harrogate History Festival, but I took a break on the Saturday for an awayday to London. And I wasn’t in the bar at The Lamb in Conduit Street just for the mouthwatering steak & kidney pie and chips! Upstairs in the meeting room, Christina Courtenay
- [Saturnalia surprise - a winter party tale](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2014/12/20/saturnalia-surprise-a-winter-party-tale/) - Whatever your take on midwinter, there's always a celebration and authors love to party! Historical fiction author Helen Hollick has arranged a terrific bash. When you've read my contribution below, hop over and take a virtual glass with some of the others - list and links below. You could be in medieval England, Revolutionary America or in amongst metrosexuals.
- [Winter Solstice Blog Hop - Shedding light on the Roman dusk](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2013/12/20/shedding-light-on-the-roman-dusk-4/) - A post about darkness and light to mark the longest night in the northern hemisphere... “The Fall of the Roman Empire” was a 1964 epic film starring Sophia Loren, Stephen Boyd, Alec Guinness, James Mason and Christopher Plummer. Emperor Marcus Aurelius was dying and did not want his unpleasant son Commodus to succeed him. The
- [My London Book Fair - Day 1](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2014/04/08/my-london-book-fair-day-1/) - Where to begin? It was a corker of a day! Sipping my glass of wine, I am trying to review the fizzing day. Let me share it in pictures because in my shattered state, it’s going to be easier… Here I am at the Kobo stand. Thrilled to see INCEPTIO was included in the graphic
- [How the Romans celebrated spring](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2014/04/17/how-the-romans-celebrated-spring-2/) - Welcome to the SilverWood Books Spring Blog Hop! Some of our authors have come together to share a variety of articles and items of interest on their blogs for your enjoyment. There are some lovely giveaway prizes, and - to stay in keeping with the spring and rebirth theme at this time of year -
- [The Alternation of Rome](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2013/08/15/the-alternation-of-rome/) - Rome fascinates us, bewitches us even in the high tech 21st century. It stretched for over 1229 years, it reached the heights (occasionally depths) of military achievement, produced the social, cultural and legal framework for the entire Western world, gave us its engineering genius and left us a richness in architecture, power politics, literature and
- [My top ten blog posts](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2014/12/01/my-top-ten-blog-posts/) - Now it's December, I thought I'd look back to see what the most popular posts have been. Is it a competition? No, it's a mystery! In 2013 and 2014 combined (in traditional reverse order) 10. The Alternation of Rome - About creating an alternative timeline and how Roma Nova was born 9. PERFIDITAS book trailer - As it says! 8.
- [Roman cops](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2015/01/12/roman-cops/) - Thinking about police, gendarmes and emergency services in the past few days brought me to the law enforcers of Ancient Rome. Faced with terrorist attack (or riot, revolt and rebellion), they would have been robust in their attitude and actions. So who policed Rome? Vigiles as a public service were founded by Augustus as a new
- [Writing about recognition - Writing News](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2015/01/16/writing-about-recognition-writing-news/) - It's a funny time to be pursuing a writing career, but an exciting one. All authors, apart from the biggest names, need to publicise their own books whether they're self-published, small press or even big house published. Writing Magazine commissioned me to write a piece about how to seek and find recognition in today's fiercely competitive
- [Stopped by the forces of law and order](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2015/01/10/stopped-by-the-forces-of-law-and-order/) - Driving along the main road, I’m happy there are only 11 kilometres to home. I slow down to pass through a village of older cream stone grey-slated houses, interspersed with Roman tile roofed single-storey homes. Halfway through, I reach the open area to the side, not even a proper village square. A blue-uniformed armed figure
- [Amazon is not the only way](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2015/01/05/amazon-is-not-the-only-way/) - Readers buy books from many places; paperbacks from 'bricks and mortar' bookshops, airports, souvenir shops at visitor sites, at events, launches, the charity shop, from the author direct as well as online. As for ebooks, there seems no end to the number and variety of e-tailers, the dominant one being Amazon. Sometimes we forget that Amazon is not
- [Writers' resolutions? Er, no](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2014/12/31/writers-resolutions-er-no/) - No, I'm not making resolutions for 2015; they are easily made and easily broken. It's a bit like dieting - it never works. So what's a writer to do? I have a few recommendations... Have your vision and write your story - tap, tap, tap. Make a beautiful world or an ugly one - it
- [Women in combat roles?](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2014/12/22/women-in-combat-roles/) - I don’t want to sound specious, but I could say, ’They’ll be making them bishops next.’ Oh, they just did that. UK defence secretary, Michael Fallon, announced on 19 December that he wanted to end the army’s ban on women serving in frontline infantry roles in the British Army by 2016. He pointed out that
- [In The Bookseller - editor's choice!](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2014/12/05/in-the-bookseller-editors-choice/) - I was stunned to see that SUCCESSIO had been selected as an Editor's Choice in The Bookseller's inaugural Indie Preview on Friday. I was checking Twitter - having a break after wrestling with an article – and saw my name mentioned by journalist, Porter Anderson, associate editor for TheFutureBook.net — the world community for digital development in publishing, and part of
- [Antoine Vanner - Britannia's Shark](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2014/12/04/antoine-vanner-britannias-shark/) - Today my blog guest is Antoine Vanner, a man of many parts. Before writing historical naval fiction, he spent many years in the international oil industry and travelled extensively. He has survived military coups, guerrilla warfare, a militia attack, storms at sea and life in mangrove swamps, tropical forest, offshore platforms and the boardroom. His passion for
- [SUCCESSIO Goodreads Giveaway](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2014/11/27/successio-goodreads-giveaway/) - This giveaway has finished, but SUCCESSIO is on special offer until 5 December at your usual ebook retailer. I'm giving away two signed copies of SUCCESSIO! “An intelligent, well-constructed thriller with gutsy characters”- Sue Cook, writer and broadcaster Goodreads Book Giveaway SUCCESSIO by Alison Morton Giveaway ends December 01, 2014. See the giveaway details at Goodreads.
- [Meet Alison Morton - the video!](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2014/11/24/meet-alison-morton-the-video/) - Yes, I have succumbed. It's all the fault of my new smartphone; I love exploring the features and I've just discovered the superb quality video facility. So here you have a few thoughts about my writing, my heroines, writing in general, and what I think of reviews and interacting with readers. http://youtu.be/5VgQPdFWKpA For the techies among
- [What's an ethical author?](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2014/11/20/whats-an-ethical-author/) - You may have spotted a new green badge in the righthand column of widgets ...... An author program facilitated by the Alliance of Independent Authors but open to any writer who has published a long-form work of fiction or non-fiction, either via a trade publisher or self-publishing platform. About its origins So here's the code itself - mostly
- [Ben Kane and A Day of Fire](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2014/11/13/ben-kane-and-a-day-of-fire/) - Today, I don't have one special guest but six! My writing friend Ben Kane has been working with a group of other historical authors to write a collaborative novel in six stories. This venture could have been as risky as the eruption of Vesuvius, the volcano at the centre of their story, A Day of Fire... Pompeii
- [Adventurous, empowering, high-concept, kick-ass, human](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2014/11/01/adventurous-empowering-high-concept-kick-ass-human/) - Perhaps I should add fun... What in Hades am I talking about? I stumbled upon this post from Author Learning Centre called 'Brand Development for Authors: Discovering Your Visual Identity'. It encouraged you to list five words that sum up your book or series in order to help develop a visual image to firm up your 'brand'.
- [Writing people or writing stuff?](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2014/10/13/writing-people-or-writing-stuff/) - Talking online with some colleagues about historical and alternative historical writing, the conversation inevitably turned to research and how it was woven in or dripped into the story. We all declaimed against the dreaded info dump when the poor reader gets a JCB bucket size load of history book content poured on them. But how
- [Licensed to thrill!](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2014/10/09/licensed-to-thrill/) - I am absolutely delighted to have become an author member of the International Thriller Writers. *Happy dance around the office* The presidents are M J Rose and Lee Child and their membership list includes James Patterson, Clive Cussler, Karin Slaughter, Peter James, Kathy Reichs, Ken Follett and many many other wonderful adrenaline-bursters like Adrian Magson
- [Win Jessica Bell’s thriller, White Lady!](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2014/10/06/win-jessica-bells-thriller-white-lady/) - To celebrate the release of her latest novel, WHITE LADY, my writing friend Jessica Bell is giving away an ebook (mobi, ePub, or PDF) to the first person to correctly guess the one in the three statements below. Two statements are false and one is true: Jessica Bell’s first ever job in Australia was as a ...
- [Short story shortlistee](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2014/09/29/short-story-shortlistee/) - Try saying that title fast! Last year I entered a story in the Writing Magazine 2013 New Subscribers' Short Story Competition. Not being a natural in the short story writing department, I'd given it a go anyway. Writing in a mode that's difficult for you is excellent practice and really exercises your writing muscles. I didn't
- [Not the Booker prize, but...](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2014/09/26/not-the-booker-prize-but/) - Self-publishing is expanding exponentially; it has long ceased to be a minority interest. But along with the glorious freedom of writing any genre, mixed genres or no genre and the ability to control every aspect of a book’s production comes responsibility to the readers. Some authors write books purely for their own pleasure and that’s
- [Trust, betrayal and the Roman way](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2014/09/18/trust-betrayal-and-the-roman-way/) - Betrayal, treachery, treason, deceit, perfidy - all names for the calculated violation of trust. Trust is something we build up gradually, firstly, in our parents and carers, then teachers, friends, mentors, colleagues, in lovers and partners, in a organisation, an ideal, a country. We also build trust in ourselves, not just confidence or self-esteem, but the
- [A local litfest in France](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2014/09/04/a-local-litfest-in-france/) - Last weekend, I spent two lovely days at a local literary festival at the village of Saint-Clémentin in the Deux-Sèvres. Guests included Michèle Roberts, Leigh Russell and Blake Morrison, plus a number of local writers and poets. There were walks with poetry, writing projects with local schools, participative poetry readings, interviews, workshops, local
- [What’s in a (Roman) name?](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2014/08/18/whats-in-a-roman-name/) - An awful lot! This is only a brief introduction, but hold on tight because this may seem a little confusing… Even in the earliest times, Romans used a different system of names from most other European and Mediterranean countries. They used two names, one of which became a hereditary surname. Over time, this expanded to
- [How I developed the Roma Nova titles...](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2014/08/04/how-i-developed-the-roma-nova-titles/) - A poster "in another place" commented about the Roma Nova books: "They sound great, but I can't help but cringe at the titles. Not quite Latin. I suppose that's probably the point, but ouch. Intriguing, though." I admit, I thought 'ouch' back, but also smiled to myself. Perhaps she hadn't looked them up on one
- [Debbie Young - marketing superstar](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2014/07/24/debbie-young-marketing-superstar/) - Today, I'm delighted to welcome Debbie Young as my guest. Author, journalist and blogger, she's especially keen on short-form writing, such as flash fiction, short stories and blog posts. Commissioning editor of the Alliance of Independent Authors' (ALLi's) blog of self-publishing advice at www.selfpublishingadvice.org, she has co-authored ALLi's groundbreaking new book, "Opening Up To Indie Authors". She has a
- [Applying research](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2014/07/07/applying-research/) - Research. Yeah, I know, a sticky subject in more ways than one. Writing of any sort needs research whether it’s a modern shoes-and-shopping story, crime thriller or a historical magnum opus. Almost every story written hinges on a set-up or a problem the writer has purposefully created, but it must be plausible. Readers will engage
- [Shortlisted for the 2014 Self-Published Book of the Year Award](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2014/07/03/shortlisted-for-the-2014-self-published-book-of-the-year-award/) - Several months ago, I entered INCEPTIO and PERFIDITAS for the Writing Magazine self-published book award. With all the work finalising SUCCESSIO, I almost forgot about it. Imagine my pleasure when I came home after the SUCCESSIO launch trip, browsed the July issue of Writing Magazine and found that both books had been shortlisted for the award.
- [Game of Sevens](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2014/06/27/game-of-sevens/) - I’ve been tagged by historical fiction author Antoine Vanner in a game of Lucky Sevens. It's a bit of online fun for writers that pulls us out of our sheds where we sit scribbling away for hours on end and lets us reveal a little our our current work in progress. Here is how it’s done: Go to
- [Roman holidays?](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2014/06/24/roman-holidays/) - A ‘holiday’ today means is a specific trip or journey, usually for the purpose of recreation or tourism. But the concept of taking a vacation is a recent invention, and has developed through the last two centuries. Historically, the idea of travel for recreation was a luxury only wealthy people could afford. Ancient Romans travelled
- [SUCCESSIO goes on a blast!](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2014/06/17/successio-goes-on-a-blast/) - SUCCESSIO is in the very capable hands of the Historic Fiction Virtual Book Tours (HFVBT) who are organising a mini book tour, called a book blast. It's mainly to let readers know that the third Roma Nova book is now available. Follow the Successio Book Blast June 16: Flashlight Commentary & Princess of Eboli June 17: Kincavel Korner, Mina’s Bookshelf,
- [Yay for libraries!](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2014/06/13/yay-for-libraries/) - After the success of the INCEPTIO evening in Pembury Library in 2013, Susan Rogers, the community librarian, had long wanted me to give a talk in the area central library in Tunbridge Wells, so we arranged it to coincide with the publication of SUCCESSIO, the third of the Roma Nova stories. Susan was delighted to
- [The SUCCESSIO London launch - early photo](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2014/06/05/the-successio-london-launch-early-photo/) - Yes, it was fab! I'll post more later, but here's an early photo of the wonderful Sue Cook interviewing me at the University Women's Club. Alison Morton is the author of Roma Nova thrillers, INCEPTIO, and PERFIDITAS. Third in series, SUCCESSIO, is now out. Find out about Roma Nova news, writing tips and info
- [SUCCESSIO PUBLICATION DAY!](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2014/06/03/successio-publication-day/) - Apologies for the capital letters – I’m not shouting at anybody, I’m shouting out loud to the world. Today is the end of a long process. My third novel in the Roma Nova thriller series is published. Is it as exciting as publishing the first? Yes and no. Yes, it's the end of a long road of
- [SUCCESSIO excerpt III](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2014/06/02/successio-excerpt-iii/) - ‘C’mon, Bruna, wake up!’ We’d been practising for fifteen minutes now and I wanted a break. My breath was rasping through my lungs in shorter and shorter gasps. Blood thrummed around my system as my superfit opponent exerted every gram of his formidable strength against me. I was more skilled and agile than him which
- [SUCCESSIO excerpt II](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2014/05/31/successio-excerpt-ii/) - Fifteen minutes later, Livius stopped, held his hand up. We dropped to the ground as one. Between the trees, I could see the edge of the clearing housing the exercise headquarters. After a long five minutes, Livius sent Gorlius and Pelo forward to check out the approach. It was such a classic trick to stake
- [Launching SUCCESSIO](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2014/05/30/launching-successio/) - As well as the London launch next Wednesday (4 June), I'm giving a talk at the Tunbridge Wells Library on 10 June at 7pm about writing the Roma Nova stories. SUCCESSIO, PERFIDITAS and the Roma Nova series starter, INCEPTIO may feature... There'll be wine before, and book signing afterwards with all three books. I'd love to see
- [SUCCESSIO excerpt I](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2014/05/29/successio-excerpt-i/) - It was far too quiet. Only an occasional owl call, the odd flutter of feathers and pitter-patter of a small night creature. Sure, the training area was literally kilometres from anywhere, somewhere called Norfolk, but a hundred people couldn’t stay that quiet, not even – arguably – the best special forces in the world. Beside
- [So what does SUCCESSIO mean to me?](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2014/05/26/so-what-does-successio-mean-to-me/) - Writing a book is hard work but a privilege. Sitting down, slogging away, oblivious to neck and shoulders becoming rigid, you ignore the blurring eyes, the headache creeping up over the crown of your head because you are lost in the imaginary country of your book's world. Your characters smell the pines, shiver at the fresh mountain air
- [Meet Leigh Russell](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2014/05/15/meet-leigh-russell/) - Today I'm welcoming the fabulous Leigh Russell to the blog. Hailed as 'a brilliant talent' by Jeffery Deaver and 'a deeply human voice' by Peter James, Leigh writes the internationally bestselling Geraldine Steel series of psychological crime thrillers. Her first novel, Cut Short was shortlisted for a CWA Dagger Award for Best First Crime Novel.
- [Roman taxing times](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2014/05/07/roman-taxing-times/) - As I sit down to fill in my tax return, I'm looking for any distraction. I wondered how the ancient Romans were taxed. Today we have income tax, company/corporation tax, sales taxes/VAT, excise duties (road fund licence (UK), alcohol, cigarettes), local taxation, inheritance tax, to name but a few. But how similar are our taxes
- [What the Historical Novel Society says about PERFIDITAS](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2014/05/01/what-the-historical-novel-society-says-about-perfiditas/) - Well, PERFIDITAS made it to the HNS Indie Reviews Editor's Choice Shortlist which was rather thrilling. I'm so pleased that the HNS includes alternate history in its remit - it just shows what an ecumenical and friendly society it is. So what did they say about PERFIDITAS? PERFIDITAS (Roma Nova) By Alison Morton "Not strictly an
- [Meet Sue Cook](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2014/04/24/meet-sue-cook/) - I am delighted to welcome a very special guest to my blog today, somebody who has supported Roma Nova since its earliest days. Sue Cook is one of the UK’s most experienced and popular broadcasters: You and Yours, Nationwide, Breakfast Time, Children in Need, Holiday, Crimewatch and most recently Making History and The Write Lines.
- [PERFIDITAS is on tour!](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2014/04/18/perfiditas-is-on-tour/) - Interviews, reviews, spotlights and giveaways along the way. See you there! Virtual Book Tour Schedule Monday, April 14 Review at Flashlight Commentary INCEPTIO PERFIDITAS Tuesday, April 15 Interview at Flashlight Commentary Wednesday, April 16 Interview at Bibliophilia, Please Thursday, April 17 Spotlight & Giveaway at Broken Teepee Monday, April 21 Review at Book Nerd Wednesday 23 April Review and
- [Anna Belfrage imagines a different time, a different place.](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2014/04/10/anna-belfrage-imagines-a-different-time-a-different-place/) - When I was young, I was quite convinced I was a reincarnated medieval soul, so closely connected did I feel to all those kings and knights I read about. These days, I lean towards blaming my vivid imagination for all those déjà vu experiences, such as the time I created my own medieval costume “from
- [Victoria Lamb - amo, amas, amat: Latin in Tudor England](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2014/04/03/victoria-lamb-amo-amas-amat-latin-in-tudor-england/) - Today, I'm delighted to welcome Victoria Lamb, historical novelist of some repute as well as fun-loving person. Her exciting Tudor series for adults beginning with The Queen's Secret is centred around the enigma of Shakespeare's 'Dark Lady' while her Tudor Witch series for Young Adults has been described as 'Twilight meets The Other Boleyn Girl'.
- [Roman CAPITALS](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2014/03/31/roman-capitals/) - Writing guest posts, emails and tweets about INCEPTIO, PERFIDITAS and soon, SUCCESSIO, I've been asked why I write the titles in capitals. Some bloggers and respondees have written the book names with title case, e.g. Inceptio, Perfiditas and I've gently pointed out that it's not quite correct. So here's the reason...I’m not SHOUTING, but following
- [Liesel Schwarz, steampunk queen](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2014/03/27/liesel-schwarz-steampunk-queen/) - My guest today is Liesel Schwarz, writer extraordinaire of steampunk adventures. Her heroine reminds me a great deal of Karen/Carina: young women who know their minds, courageous and who try to make sense of the different (to us) worlds they live in. A life-long fan of 19th Century Gothic literature, Liesel is a hopeless romantic
- [Carole Blake on ‘Does a writer still need an agent?'](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2014/03/23/carole-blake-on-does-a-writer-still-need-an-agent/) - I'm delighted to welcome my friend Carole Blake to my blog today to give an insight into one of the hottest questions in the publishing today. Carole has just celebrated 50 years in the publishing business, so she probably knows a thing or two. In 1977, after 14 years in publishing, Carole started her own literary
- [Russell Whitfield and the Roman Walk](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2014/03/20/russell-whitfield-and-the-roman-walk/) - Today, I'm delighted to welcome Russell Whitfield (Just Another Freaking Roman Author or "JAFRA"). Russell was one of Roma Nova's early supporters and endorsed INCEPTIO. Gladiatrix, Russ's first novel, was published in 2008 by Myrmidon Books. The sequel, Roma Victrix, continues the adventures of Lysandra, the Spartan gladiatrix. A third book is planned for release
- [HNS Short Story Award 2014 - a reminder!](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2014/03/17/hns-short-story-award-2014-a-reminder/) - Deadline 1 April 2014! The Historical Novel Society seeks to support writers of new historical fiction by the HNS International Awards – a series of competitions for previously unpublished short stories and novels. The 2014 Historical Novel Society International Award, with a prize of $2,000, will be for an outstanding historical short story. There will
- [Casualty and being ecumenical](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2014/03/10/casualty-and-being-ecumenical/) - Yesterday I had a health scare and spent a significant part of the day in Casualty/ER/Urgences (take your pick), so I don’t have a prepared post. Lying hooked up and waiting for blood test results, the next ECG, whatever, I had time to think. And this morning in the shower, my random thoughts solidified. No,
- [The Roman home front](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2014/02/27/the-roman-home-front/) - Our first encounter with Romans is often a film or TV series depicting soldiers marching in armour, being tough, shouting and thrusting a sword into some barbarian in a dark, wet and enemy-infested wood. Or perhaps we think about the ruins left of magnificent imperial or public buildings? But what about the calmer side of
- [PERFIDITAS giveaway!](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2014/02/26/perfiditas-giveaway/) - Enter the Goodreads giveaway by 3 March 2014 to win a FREE posted to you signed copy of PERFIDITAS! Goodreads Book Giveaway Perfiditas by Alison Morton Giveaway ends March 03, 2014. See the giveaway details at Goodreads. Enter to win Alison Morton is the author of Roma Nova thrillers, INCEPTIO, and PERFIDITAS. Third in
- [Revamps and updates - do we like them?](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2014/02/17/revamps-and-updates-do-we-like-them/) - Are an American high school or the subcontinent an appropriate place for Jane Austen’s stories? Do we want to imagine what Penelope thought about Odysseus? And should Sherlock Holmes use a smart phone? I love Pride and Prejudice and have read it so many times I know exactly what line or comic twist is coming
- [Publishing attitudes](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2014/02/11/publishing-attitudes/) - I’m a simple soul who likes writing. I quite like people and know agents, publishers, editors, writers from big publishers, small publishers, independent and small presses, aspiring writers, independent and self-published writers, not to mention commentators, bloggers, tutors and booksellers. As a recent arrival on the scene (2009), I’ve striven to learn as much as
- [Celebratory photos!](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2014/02/09/celebratory-photos/) - Unusually, it's photos only today, but they are celebratory... We happy bunch - the 'class photo' from the Open Day at Foyles, Bristol that I wrote about here. I'm at the back in the centre. The day after I heard PERFIDITAS had been awarded a B.R.A.G.Medallion®, I shared the news with Jan Smith our local
- [Historically logical or completely bonkers? The sliding scale of alternative history](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2014/01/23/historically-logical-or-completely-bonkers-the-sliding-scale-of-alternative-history/) - Basically, alternate history is a type of speculative fiction where stories are set in a world where historical events have unfolded differently from the way they did in the real world. The event that changed history (point of divergence or PoD) must be in the past from when the story is set and have affected
- [Meet Geri Clouston of IndieBRAG](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2014/01/09/meet-geri-clouston-of-indiebrag/) - Today, I’m delighted to welcome Geraldine Clouston, founder and president of IndieBRAG, an organisation whose mission is “to recognize quality on the part of authors who self-publish both print and digital books.” One fearsome, but in a way reassuring, statistic is that IndieBRAG rejects 90% of books that it considers. Not quite two years old,
- [INCEPTIO - Amazon US bestseller!](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2014/01/06/inceptio-amazon-us-bestseller/) - This last weekend, something very exciting happened. INCEPTIO reached bestseller ranking on Amazon.com, #1 in the Alternate History and Alternative History categories and #2 in Historical Thrillers. At this stage, I had even knocked Stephen King off first place! So I did this... Alison Morton is the author of Roma Nova thrillers, INCEPTIO, and
- [Why my books are published in paperback](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2014/01/05/why-my-books-are-published-in-paperback/) - Although I couldn’t manage without my practical ereader (Kindle Keyboard 3G) and downloaded ebooks, I still love physical books. The cover, the colour, the weight, flicking the pages and smelling the paper - mmm! See a pile of books and I’m instantly lost. Apart from the pleasure of holding a beautiful object, the smell of
- [WINNER! Winter Solstice Blog Hop - Shedding light on the Roman dusk draw](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2013/12/26/winner-winter-solstice-blog-hop-shedding-light-on-the-roman-dusk-draw/) - I ran a giveaway draw with my post about the Roman dusk - part of the Winter Solstice Blog Hop. Let me say, it was incredibly difficult to decide, so I put all the names in a hat and the name of the winning paper was ... (drum roll) Nicole Evelina! Read about her here...
- [Winter greetings - Io Saturnalia!](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2013/12/24/winter-greetings-io-saturnalia/) - A hearty winter greeting from Rome - have a great holiday! (Actually, it was taken in February 2012 at the time of the Great European Freeze a couple of weeks before my own study tour there, but doesn't the Colosseum look good in snow?) Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Minchilli, http://www.elizabethminchilliinrome.com/2012/02/snow-day-rome.html Read more about Saturnalia here.
- [Character building, or what?](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2013/12/12/character-building-or-what/) - The most frequent question readers have asked me since the launch of INCEPTIO in March has been: how did you work out the characters? Karen/Carina has been buzzing around in my head for a while – about fifteen years. So in the end it was a choice between seeing a psychiatrist or becoming a writer!
- [INCEPTIO is officially “awesome”](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2013/12/05/inceptio-is-officially-awesome/) - What? A while ago, I applied for INCEPTIO to be listed on the Awesome Indies list, a prestigious indie book evaluation site. Determinedly and fearsomely focused on ensuring only the best self-published titles are included, they have an equally fearsome submissions process. And this is A Good Thing. With the huge growth of self-published, sometimes
- ["Tom-ah-toes, tom-ay-toes" could wreck your book.](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2013/11/30/tom-ah-toes-tom-ay-toes-could-wreck-your-book/) - Reviews are lifeblood for any author and I fall on the ground worshipping any reader who has taken the time to compose one. Sometimes, they're posted independently, on people's blogs, or a group's or writing association blog, or on the "big beasts", Goodreads and Amazon. If you're really, really lucky you'll get in the national
- [Saturnalia Christmas present solutions…](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2013/11/23/saturnalia-christmas-present-solutions/) - Offer 1: Two-book bundle A signed paperback copy of each of INCEPTIO and PERFIDITAS UK - £18.50 Europe - 22.00€ US - US$ 29.50 All prices include postage (second class/economy) and packing. Please ask for rates to rest of world. Offer 2: Individual paperback gift service A seasonal greetings card with personalised message from the author
- [Roma Nova world building (1)](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2013/11/13/roma-nova-world-building/) - Over the past 8 months, readers have become very interested in Roma Nova and its people; some have wanted to sign up to live there! I thought I'd share some of the questions they've asked... Why does the heroine change name? Carina is Karen’s real name. Her mother, who ran off to marry William Brown
- [PERFIDITAS UK launch!](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2013/11/09/perfiditas-uk-launch-2/) - Friends, bubbly, books - what could be better? Arriving at Waterstones Tunbridge Wells on a chilly, damp November night with boxes of bubbly, large photos, banner stand, a bag of nibbles from Waitrose and a fair bit of nervous energy, we soon set up. One or two guests arrived early and
- [Harrogate History Festival - Part Deux](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2013/11/01/harrogate-history-festival-part-deux/) - Well, I can't hope to be as eloquent as Sally Zigmond in her lovely post 'Being a historical pioneer' She described the sense of delicious enjoyment from the high calibre talks, the friendliness of everybody attending, the temptation of book-buying and the happy chats around bar tables. Yes, of course wine was drunk... The clocks
- [Hallowe'en Blog Hop](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2013/10/31/halloween-blog-hop/) - Hallowe'en Blog Hop Trick or Treat giveaway Do you dare to read something a little different, possibly alternative, and discover a whole new world? A touch of fear, lust or danger? Fantasy or thrillers? As Halloween is a tricksy time, it's perfect timing to chance it. Halloween, or All Hallows' Eve, has Celtic origins rather
- [Simon Scarrow endorses PERFIDITAS!](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2013/10/29/simon-scarrow-endorses-perfiditas/) - At the Harrogate History Festival, I was thrilled to be photographed with Simon Scarrow, author of the famous Eagle (Macro and Cato) series of Roman historical fiction. But that's not the end of the story Along with Sue Cook and Jean Fullerton, Simon endorsed PERFIDITAS, the second Roma Nova thriller. Apart from the strapline on
- [Harrogate HistoryFest - early report](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2013/10/27/harrogate-historyfest-early-report/) - A first-time event here at the Old Swan, treading a little in the footsteps of Theakston's Crime Fest, the new history festival is going very well. Friday evening, Rose Tremain gave the first, fascinating, talk about her new book, Merival, characterisation, writing from the inside out and how much she did, or didn't, include of
- [PERFIDITAS very relaxed blog tour](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2013/10/15/perfiditas-very-relaxed-blog-tour/) - To celebrate its publication, PERFIDITAS is off on a virtual, fairly relaxed tour... Click here for all the tour stop details, regularly updated. And, of course, there'll be the UK launch at Waterstones Tunbridge Wells on 6 November - all welcome. ******** Missed INCEPTIO? You can buy it here from a variety of retailers. ********
- [Women writing books](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2013/10/14/women-writing-books/) - Today starts a very special month when I'm featured in the online literary magazine Women Writers, Women's Books. And I'm very excited to be in the company of Isabel Allende, Nicola Morgan, Roz Morris, Joanne Harris, Claire King and Judith Kinghorn, to mention a few. It started with a tweet. My critique partner, Denise Barnes,
- [Struggling to write in the promo sea](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2013/10/13/struggling-to-write-in-the-promo-sea/) - Those Who Know say the best way to keep your work in front of readers is to write another book. As I'm in the middle of letting everybody know about (let's be honest, marketing) my new book and trying to reach as many potential readers as possible, I've snatched a few minutes out to think
- [Making a book trailer - Part Deux](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2013/10/11/making-a-book-trailer-part-deux/) - http://youtu.be/lUPhyUE0JvE If you want a steep learning curve, try making a book trailer. If you like a story of persistence and life hours spent you can read how I did it (eventually) for INCEPTIO, the first Roma Nova thriller in February. But as a keen movie fan and a glutton for punishment, I decided to
- [PERFIDITAS extract](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2013/10/10/perfiditas-extract/) - I ‘Captain Carina Mitela?’ ‘Yes,’ I said. ‘Who is this?’ ‘Custodes XI Station. An emergency token with your code has been handed in. We’re holding the presenter.’ Juno. I dropped everything and headed for the tunnel connecting our headquarters to the police station. The duty sergeant, with a typical cop’s bland expression but trying to
- [PERFIDITAS  arrives!](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2013/10/08/perfiditas-arrives/) - PERFIDITAS was on track to arrive tomorrow, but at 4.30 this afternoon, the doorbell rang. 'Bonjour, madame j'ai un colis pour vous,' a cheery voice said. She set down a cardboard carton covered in address and barcode stickers on the tile floor. I signed the LCD screen, hand not trembling too much. Somehow, I managed
- [INCEPTIO stickered](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2013/10/08/inceptio-stickered/) - The stickers arrived from IndieBRAG today. INCEPTIO is now proudly wearing its new status as a B.R.A.G. MedallionTM honoree. More about B.R.A.G. MedallionTM here. But that's not all that arrived today...
- [INCEPTIO storms up the Amazon.com rankings](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2013/10/06/inceptio-storms-up-the-amazon-com-rankings/) - Very exciting this morning. INCEPTIO has been doing well on Amazon.co.uk with 41 reviews so far - 34 5-star and 7 4-star - and at time of writing has a sales rank hovering around #15,000 in the paid Kindle store. In July, it even hit #6,773. All very satisfactory for a first book by an
- [PERFIDITAS giveaway competition](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2013/10/05/perfiditas-giveaway-competition/) - In the eleven days before PERFIDITAS is published on 17 October, you can enter a competition to win a signed copy of the paperback. You could be amongst the first to read it, and also receive one of the specially designed bookmarks. More about PERFIDITAS Watch the trailer To enter, click
- [Is an author name a feminist issue?](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2013/09/29/is-an-author-name-a-feminist-issue/) - A new fan I met today who said she loved thrillers with a difference, asked me why I used my obviously female name and not initials. She thought I would gain more credibility as A M Morton than Alison Morton as I would sound like a man. I gave a stock answer and buried my
- [INCEPTIO awarded the B.R.A.G. Medallion!](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2013/09/19/inceptio-awarded-the-b-r-a-g-medallion/) - (Don't miss the update at the end!) The what? In the large sea of self/independently published work, there is a lot of flotsam and jetsam and not all of it is worth picking up. How to tell? Well, indieBRAG, a privately held organization has brought together a large group of readers, both individuals and members
- [PERFIDITAS cover reveal, pub date and launch](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2013/09/04/perfiditas-cover-reveal-pub-date-and-launch/) - At last! At last! I have been swayed by pleas and begging to release information about the next book, so here's the latest cover proof... PERFIDITAS will be published on 17 October in ebook and paperback. The French launch will be at the Journée du Livre on 13 October and the UK launch at Waterstones
- [What interests readers?](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2013/09/01/what-interests-readers/) - Authors write books. Books get published. Then it begins... Authors, publishers, publicists and promoters go into full swing, telling the world about the new book, the author's lifestyle, their children, garden, holiday. Background posts about the book's setting, the author's journey, research discoveries, insights, writing hints are posted. Facebook profiles and pages are populated with
- [INCEPTIO in New York!](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2013/08/29/inceptio-in-new-york/) - Woo-hoo! Karen, the heroine of INCEPTIO has arrived in New York, her home town. (Of course, this is the real New York we know in our timeline...) After the terrific success of its trips around the tube as a Book on the Underground in London in the real world, INCEPTIO is hitting New York's subway.
- [What I did in Waterstones...](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2013/08/23/what-i-did-in-waterstones/) - During my trip this month to the UK when I spoke on the Geek Feminism panel and sold books at the NineWorlds conference and did a live interview on BBC Radio Kent, I popped into Waterstones Tunbridge Wells to talk about the launch date for the next book, PERFIDITAS. Oh yes, book two is on
- [The Wonder of Rome](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2013/08/11/the-wonder-of-rome/) - Coming soon! The Wonder of Rome blog hop Over the weekend of 15-19 August, you will be able to visit eighteen sites displaying the wonder of Rome and trying to solve the mystery of why we are so attracted to a society that disappeared over 1600 years ago. Or did it? Come back here on
- [Vote for INCEPTIO!](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2013/08/09/vote-for-inceptio/) - INCEPTIO is shortlisted for the Orangeberry Hall of Fame Best Thriller category. The poll is running through August, but it would be great if you could vote now to get it in the front runners. Here's the voting link: http://orangeberrybooktours.com/expo/2013/07/31/hall-of-fame-best-thriller/ And here's the general Hall of Fame page
- [RNA Conference - Part Deux](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2013/08/01/rna-conference-part-deux/) - Due to total camera fail, I didn't have many photos to show you when I wrote my first post. Hurrah for friends! Liz Harris (The Road Back) has emailed some over.
- [Roman doesn't mean one thing](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2013/07/28/roman-doesnt-mean-one-thing/) - Traditionally, ancient Rome was founded in 753 BC. It grew into one of the largest empires in the ancient world with roughly 20% of the world's population and an area of 6.5 million square kilometres at its height. Plagued by internal instability and attacked by various migrating peoples, the western part of the empire broke
- [INCEPTIO shortlisted for book award!](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2013/07/23/inceptio-shortlisted-for-book-award/) - INCEPTIO has been shortlisted for the International Rubery Book Award. There, I've managed to type that correctly with trembly fingers. It's so exciting! Here's an extract from their site about the award: "The Rubery Book Award is the longest established book award based in the UK for independent and self published books. The key to our
- [Romantic Novelists' Association Conference 2013](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2013/07/16/romantic-novelists-association-conference-2013/) - Fun, friendship and some serious talk - these were the keys of this year's conference at the University of Sheffield's The Edge campus. We'll take it as read that the evenings were convivial, that was much exclaiming of "How lovely to see/meet you in the flesh!" and comparisons with previous conferences. Two hundred women and
- [A ROYAL report for INCEPTIO](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2013/07/08/a-royal-report-for-inceptio/) - I've just received this scanned report in ROYAL magazine of the INCEPTIO launch at Waterstones Tunbridge Wells. What a superb write-up. And yes, we had fun! Deepest thanks to Sarah Bond who wrote it, Gaynor Edwards who masterminded the PR for the evening and the Kent & Sussex Courier ROYAL team for the beautiful production.
- [What did I learn from preparing Book 2?](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2013/06/24/what-did-i-learn-from-preparing-book-2/) - Last Thursday, I finished the edits on the second Roma Nova book, PERFIDITAS. SilverWood Books' editor made some excellent recommendations and sparked off other ideas that I incorporated in the final, final edition. Good books go through many revisions and edits, but at last it was done. So how was it for me? 1. Strange
- [Romans and steampunk?](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2013/06/14/romans-and-steampunk/) - Today, I don't only have a guest, I'm actually swapping blogs with Daniel Ottalini, another 'Roman nut' but with a difference... Daniel Ottalini is the author of The Steam Empire Series, a fantastical Roman and steampunk story brought to life in his debut novel, Brass Legionnaire. Daniel has been an avid reader all his life,
- [Telling people about your treasure](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2013/06/08/telling-people-about-your-treasure/) - Having mixed with book people - writers, editors, agents, publishers, literary consultants and commentators - for three years before I published my first book, INCEPTIO, I knew it would be a slog to make it known to the reading public. Amongst others, Catherine Ryan Howard's excellent blog gave me wisdom, knowledge and tough love about
- [INCEPTIO at Oxford Circus](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2013/06/04/inceptio-at-oxford-circus/) - INCEPTIO is at Oxford Circus! You can't get more central than that. I wonder where its next stop will be travelling around the London Underground. Books on the Underground is a fabulous scheme - books travelling around the London Underground network waiting to be read. Apart from some publicity for the author, the other benefit
- [I've been awarded the Liebster Blog award](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2013/06/02/ive-been-awarded-the-liebster-blog-award/) - My thanks to Henriette Gyland for awarding me a Liebster Blog Award ('Liebster' is German for ‘favourite’). The rules of the Liebster Award are: Thank your Liebster Blog Award nominator on your blog and link back to the blogger who presented this award to you; Answer the eleven questions from the nominator; List eleven random facts
- [Matt Mitrovich and a Clockwork Tale](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2013/05/30/matt-mitrovich-and-a-clockwork-tale/) - Today, we concentrate on alternating history. I'm delighted to be hosting Matt Mitrovich, the founder and editor of highly rated Alternate History Weekly Update and a volunteer editor for Alt Hist magazine. His fiction can be found at Echelon Press, Jake’s Monthly, The Masquerade Crew and his own writing blog. When not writing he works as an attorney, enjoys life with his beautiful
- [INCEPTIO is a Book on the Underground](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2013/05/29/inceptio-is-a-book-on-the-underground/) - Quick post today in between scheduled ones... INCEPTIO is off travelling around the London Underground (metro/mass transit system). Books on the Underground is as simple as it sounds. Books travelling around the London Underground network waiting to be read. How exciting is that?!? If you see INCEPTIO, be sure to take a photo and send
- [How do you know it's a thriller?](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2013/05/26/how-do-you-know-its-a-thriller/) - Would you recognise one on a dark, deserted bookshelf at midnight? Generally, thrillers contain the following: The hero(ine) faces death, or destruction of their way of life or sanity, either their own or somebody else's, sometimes by accident, sometimes because it's their job. The 'bad guys' whether the mob, sinister government enforcers (see INCEPTIO ;-)
- [Call Jean Fullerton!](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2013/05/25/call-jean-fullerton/) - Born into a large East End family, Jean was brought up in the overcrowded streets clustered around the Tower of London. Her Victorian stories shining with authenticity have delighted both readers and critics. Jean's fifth book, Call Nurse Millie, set in 1940s London, draws on her own experience as a district nurse in East London.
- [Take all the free help you can find](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2013/05/20/take-all-the-free-help-you-can-find/) - Monday mornings I spend a little time catching up on my favourite blogs. Even if I spend an hour of writing time, I always pick up at least three new tips. Today, from Your Writer Platform I found out about the marvellous editorial calendar for Wordpress which I promptly installed. On the Smashwords blog, I
- [Carol McGrath and The Handfasted Wife](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2013/05/17/carol-mcgrath-and-the-handfasted-wife/) - Today, I'm welcoming a special guest to my blog. Carol McGrath writes historical fiction and has recently achieved her MPhil in Creative Writing from the Royal Holloway University, London. Hearty congratulations! A member of the Romantic Novelists' Association New Writers' Scheme with me, Carol has graduated to full membership on the publication of her debut
- [Over at Victoria Lamb's blog today](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2013/05/09/over-at-victoria-lambs-blog-today/) - Victoria Lamb is a very well-known, if not downright famous, writer of historical fiction. Fellow Romantic Novelist Association member and Latin-lover (no, not that sort!), she's been one of my staunchest supporters on my writing journey. She even offered me a fantastic endorsement to go in the front of INCEPTIO which I grabbed before she
- [Post INCEPTIO launch questions](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2013/05/03/post-inceptio-launch-questions/) - The INCEPTIO launches in the UK and France were terrific, the French one small, intimate, the UK one a grand affair at Waterstones Tunbridge Wells - I loved both. I basked in the enthusiasm, well-wishing and sheer fun for days. People bought the book at the events and afterwards in shedloads and then the reviews
- [How to have a successful blogtour](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2013/04/25/how-to-have-a-successful-blogtour/) - It's the old five-Ps adage: Perfect Planning Prevents Poor Performance. Whether you do it yourself, contract a PR company or your publisher organises it, the same things apply. Stage 1 - Planning Plan your tour length and frequency - five days, ten days, a month; everyday, every other day or three a week for a
- [INCEPTIO passes the Jaffa review test with 5 stars](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2013/04/10/inceptio-passes-the-jaffa-review-test-with-5-stars/) - Jaffareadstoo There's a little bit of book love going on ....as the cat crept in, and curled at my side, read with me, read with me, softly he sighed ... What a lovely review for this the last day of my blog tour! Thank you Jaffa (and Jo). "In present day New York, Karen Brown’s
- [INCEPTIO goes down a storm in Portugal!](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2013/04/08/inceptio-goes-down-a-storm-in-portugal/) - I am thrilled out of my socks by this review from book review site Pedacinho Literário in Portugal. Review: Wow, what a story! I don’t think I have enough good words to fully express how special this book is—at least, not yet. It’s not only spectacular—for me—because it’s part of my first ever Blog Tour,
- [A great opening line...](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2013/04/07/a-great-opening-line/) - I just had to post this: Pacy thriller with fascinating alternative history setting, 6 April 2013 By Mrs. Deborah Young "Debbie Young By Name" Amazon Verified Purchase(What is this?) This review is from: INCEPTIO (Roma Nova) (Kindle Edition) "The boy lay in the dirt in the centre of New York's Kew Park..." A great opening
- [To blogtour or not to blogtour?](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2013/03/27/to-blogtour-or-not-to-blogtour/) - I live in France so it's not easy to do a traditional bookshop tour. A virtual blog tour is a very attractive idea, especially as I hope to connect with potential readers worldwide. My publisher, SilverWood Books, has organised the stop-offs and the impressive logo, so a big thank you to them. Preparing the posts
- [The Assassin's Mark](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2013/03/20/the-assassins-mark/) - I'm delighted to welcome fellow SilverWood Books author, David Ebsworth, to my blog today. Dave began to write seriously in 2009 and his debut novel, The Jacobites' Apprentice, was critically acclaimed by the Historical Novel Society who deemed it "worthy of a place on every historical fiction bookshelf." But he's here today to tell us
- [Look out, world, here comes INCEPTIO!](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2013/03/14/look-out-world-here-comes-inceptio/) - INCEPTIO was launched in style on Tuesday evening. How to describe this feeling of elation still with me? Yes, it was hard work, yes, we had the worst March weather for years, but yes, it was fun! And the pleasure generated by the smiles, laughter and enthusiasm on Tuesday is still with me. They came,
- [Pre-launch nerves?](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2013/03/11/pre-launch-nerves/) - INCEPTIO launches at Tunbridge Wells Waterstones tomorrow at 7pm. If you've been watching this blog, you probably know this. ;-) Am I excited? Nervous? Confident? My honest answer is that I haven’t had time to think about it. All I can focus on right now are the things still to do: pack my notes, get
- [INCEPTIO - The big launch cometh!](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2013/03/08/inceptio-the-big-launch-cometh/) - Bubbly, great company, a fun 'book do', author signing, the Mayor of Tunbridge Wells, Sue Cook and other book world luminaries - what's not to like? Come and join me!
- [PUBLICATION DAY!](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2013/03/01/publication-day/) - Apologies for the capital letters - I'm not shouting at anybody, I'm shouting out loud to the world. Today is the end of a long, long process. My first novel, INCEPTIO, is published. Read about: INCEPTIO what it's about how I got here the thrill of my books arriving winning the cover competition making a
- [INCEPTIO - Excerpt III](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2013/02/28/inceptio-excerpt-iii/) - For previous excerpt click here I stared at the screen. I felt like I’d been struck in the face. This couldn’t be happening. I wasn’t a terrorist or criminal. Sure, my mother had been born abroad, but she’d been dead for twenty-one years. My father was born in England but had been a naturalised American
- [INCEPTIO won the 'We've Got It Covered' competition](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2013/02/27/inceptio-won-the-weve-got-it-covered-competition/) - 'We’ve Got It Covered', an Indie Cover Hall of Fame competition asked readers to nominate and vote on their favourite indie-author cover. There were 23 nominations. Joanne Phillips who ran the competition on her blog, commented,' What is fascinating to me, seeing them all lined up next to each other, is the breadth of design
- [Giveaway winner](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2013/02/27/giveaway-winner/) - Christina Courtenay's publisher ChocLit kindly donated a copy of The Scarlet Kimono to accompany her guest post on this blog on 19 February. I'm delighted to announce the giveaway winner is Linda Mitchelmore, who lives in Devon. Congratulations to Linda and thank you to all participants to commenting on the post.
- [INCEPTIO - Excerpt II](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2013/02/26/inceptio-excerpt-ii/) - For previous excerpt, click here ‘You are dismissed from the Conservancy Corps, with immediate effect. Hand your uniform, ID and any other park property to your supervisor and leave within the next thirty minutes. You have become an embarrassment to the Autonomous City of New York. We cannot stop you as a member of the
- [INCEPTIO - Excerpt I](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2013/02/24/inceptio-excerpt-i/) - I The boy lay in the dirt in the centre of New York’s Kew Park, blood flowing out of both his nostrils, his fine blond hair thrown out in little strands around his head. I stared at my own hand, still bunched, pain rushing to gather at the reddening knuckles. I hadn’t knocked anybody down
- [Roman dating essentials](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2013/02/17/roman-dating-essentials/) - Watching the countdown calendar to the publication day of INCEPTIO on 1 March reminded that the first of the month in the Roman system - the Kalends - ended up as our word for measuring the whole thing. In my Roma Nova thrillers, I use the standard Western system the world has agreed to use,
- [Official launch - update](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2013/02/12/official-launch-update/) - I'm delighted to announce that Sue Cook, writer and broadcaster, will be introducing me at my book launch on 12 March in Tunbridge Wells. Sue is one of the UK’s most experienced broadcasters. TV viewers know her from many BBC shows – such as Crimewatch UK, the annual Children in Need appeal and Holiday. To
- [A gallop through my publishing journey](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2013/02/10/a-gallop-through-my-publishing-journey/) - I've had one or two requests to tell you about my publishing journey. Okay, more than one or two. Please feel free to go and look at another post on this site if you feel a mild attack of boredom approaching, but for those who are still with me, here's the story. So what happened
- [A box of books - INCEPTIO arrives](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2013/02/08/a-box-of-books-inceptio-arrives/) - Today, twenty minutes after I had finished a lunch with an amusing, gregarious and fun group of women from the local area, a white van drew up outside our gate. A man in a red fleece with yellow logo opened the back doors. What was it? It couldn't be the delivery I was longing for?
- [Support stuff - and we're not talking corsets](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2013/02/04/support-stuff-and-were-not-talking-corsets/) - These lovely cards and bookmarks have arrived and the eagle still looks stunning. My box of books will be here next week. I am going to weep with excitement.
- [What have the Romans ever done for us?](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2013/01/30/what-have-the-romans-ever-done-for-us/) - One of my dear friends, the British Airways first officer who helped me with the complex flight regulations over Washington DC, sadly cannot make it to the launch event at Waterstones Tunbridge Wells on 12 March, but says he's looking forward to reading INCEPTIO. He quipped at the end of his email: "So just what
- [Official launch!](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2013/01/25/official-launch/) - An announcement: 1 March - Publication day of paperback and ebook of INCEPTIO (34 days to go) 12 March - OFFICIAL LAUNCH at Waterstones Tunbridge Wells at 7pm: 'An Evening with Alison Morton' where I'll give a talk and read from INCEPTIO. The Mayor of Tubridge Wells, Sue Cook, writer and broadcaster, will be there
- [Know thyself?](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2013/01/23/know-thyself/) - At the moment, I'm completing notes about my book, my writing journey, the world of Roma Nova and myself in the PR work prior to book launch. Some of the questions and topics are straightforward - I could bore for Europe on Roma Nova - but some are quite complex, even personal. It's a long
- [The place where I work](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2013/01/19/the-place-where-i-work/) - I hope you didn't expect a tidy and sleek office? My office is a place full of paper, books, notes, pens, files, cup of coffee, lights, noticeboard, etc. Our super-tough birchwood work stations came over to France with us, plus the IKEA office cupboards which used to adorn my UK office when I ran my
- [The big reveal - Inceptio book jacket](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2013/01/12/the-big-reveal-inceptio-book-jacket/) - SilverWood Books certainly pulled out the stops for me.
- [New year, new blog title!](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2013/01/01/new-year-new-blog-title/) - What? When I first started this blog on World Book Day not quite three years ago (4 March 2010) I had just signed my indentures as a mad newbie writer, so the title Write a Novel? I must be mad! was an appropriate one. While I will never give up learning - no human being,
- [Alternate history and the butterfly of doom](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2012/12/26/alternate-history-and-the-butterfly-of-doom/) - A butterfly in the Amazon jungle makes that little extra flutter of its wings and a few weeks later there's a storm or even a hurricane in the Caribbean that wrecks cities. That's a little crudely put, but this is the idea behind Edward Lorenz's chaos theory. In reality, the butterfly's flapping wing is just
- [It's raining, it's pouring!](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2012/12/09/its-raining-its-pouring/) - One of the first things we notice in the mornings is the weather. How many of those first tweets go something like this: 'Brrr - cold as I crawl out of bed - not LOL' 'The sun. At last. Damn, I have to go to work.' 'DH now in garden shed building an ark. Blasted
- [Drivers of the metal fish](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2012/12/03/drivers-of-the-metal-fish/) - Not steampunk, but creative imagination expanding our ideas of exploration... Lagos, in the Algarve, was the harbour from which Prince Henry the Navigator's maritime explorers set off in the early 1400s to discover the unknown world. Portuguese sailors were at the vanguard of this European Age of Discoveries during the 15th and 16th centuries, finding
- [Latin, eh?](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2012/11/28/latin-eh/) - What connects a Wallsend metro station, an ATM in the Vatican City, Asterix and Wikipedia? Latin, of course! Originating in Italy, it was spoken in Ancient Rome and spread through the Mediterranean into much of the then known world. Although now considered a dead language, many students, scholars, and members of the Christian clergy speak
- [Rome and the wolf](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2012/11/14/rome-and-the-wolf/) - The shocking news that the icon of Rome's foundation, a life-size bronze statue of a she-wolf with two human infants suckling her, is about 1,700 years younger than its city hit the headlines this summer. Scholars had long established that the bronze figures of Romulus and Remus feeding from their adopted wolf mother were added
- [The Next Big Thing...](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2012/11/07/the-next-big-thing/) - Last Wednesday I was tagged by the marvellous writer Victoria Lamb for The Next Big Thing. This week, it's my turn to answer the following questions and tag a few other writers in my turn. What is the title of your next book? INCEPTIO Where did the idea for the book come from? INCEPTIO is
- [Dominion](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2012/11/03/dominion/) - A tough and powerful word, but an appropriate title for C J Sansom's new book. Famous for his Shardlake Tudor series, here Sansom brings us to 1952 in an alternate, authoritarian Britain which made peace with Hitler in 1940. Not formally occupied, Britain is nevertheless dominated by the Nazi regime. Its home-grown "milice" - a
- [A little drop of magic and spellbinding](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2012/10/26/a-little-drop-of-magic-and-spellbinding/) - My fellow writer, Janice Horton, is throwing a "Spellbindingly Fun Blog Party" today and as a little light relief, I'm joining in. Magic was an integral part of Roman life - astrology, amulets, incantations, spells, healing and cursing formulas. Pliny's conclusion, however, was cautious: though he dismissed magic as ineffective and infamous, it nevertheless contained
- [Huge news!](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2012/10/23/huge-news/) - I have signed a publishing agreement with SilverWood Books. INCEPTIO will appear in paperback and ebook format. We are looking at Spring 2013. If it changes, I'll let you know! So what is my book about? Romans, alternate history, romance, action-adventure, loss, self-growth, recognition? All of those. Suppose you're an ordinary young woman in New
- [Photo contest - WINNER!](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2012/10/21/photo-contest-2/) - I decided to have a new author photo to use across all platforms. Sometimes, I may use it in black and white, other times colour. Like a true Libran, I was dithering. So I ran a poll to ask readers which did they think was best. STOP PRESS 26 OCTOBER 2012: The winner is Photo2!
- [Alternate history at the Historical Novel Society Conference 2012](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2012/10/02/alternate-history-at-the-historical-novel-society-conference-2012/) - That the HNS included a workshop on alternate/alternative history at the 2012 was a factor in my signing up to go. Christopher Cevasco (editor/publisher of the award-winning, but now sadly defunct, Paradox: The Magazine of Historical and Speculative Fiction), led it with verve and patience. My earlier post on this blog on alternate history gives
- [Retribution from or for Adrian Magson?](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2012/09/26/retribution-from-or-for-adrian-rmagson/) - I’m (literally) thrilled to welcome Adrian Magson to my blog today. A freelance writer, reviewer and creative writing tutor, he's the author of the Riley Gavin & Frank Palmer series of crime novels set in London and is currently writing two new series, the Harry Tate spy thrillers and the Lucas Rocco French police stories.
- [What's new(s)?](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2012/09/12/whats-news/) - First of all, I want to thank my loyal subscribers - direct and by RSS - who follow my blog posts. I hope I've entertained and possibly informed you. Now I'm stepping it up and will be sending out a monthly email newsletter. It'll contain news, updates, comments, tips and competitions. If you'd like to
- [Toys for the girls?](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2012/08/28/toys-for-the-girls/) - We girlies must celebrate. That lovely company, Bic, has come to our rescue. No longer must we struggle to lift those heavy, huge Bic pens, chip our nails on them or cry with disappointment when, because of our weaker fingers, we drop them. Bic have brought out "BIC For Her Amber Medium Ballpoint Pen ".
- [Writers have an easy life. Or do they?](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2012/08/21/writers-have-an-easy-life-or-do-they/) - Listening to or reading about how other writers "did" it can sometimes sap your enthusiasm. They've given up the vile and/or boring day job, they get up at 5am and rattle off a couple of chapters before a long walk. A quick cup of coffee and they're back to it. They give us a vague
- [My thoughts about "The Alteration" by Kingsley Amis](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2012/08/11/my-thoughts-about-the-alteration-by-martin-amis/) - It's 1976 and in the world of The Alteration England is dominated by a pervasive and morally twisted Catholic theocracy with a suspicion of but willingness to exploit science. Martin Luther became the radically reforming Pope, Germanian I, and the English succession skipped the man we know as Henry VIII and passed to Prince Stephen,
- [The Domain of Soissons - a Roman remnant](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2012/08/05/the-domain-of-soissons-a-roman-remnant/) - The Roman Empire didn’t ‘fall’ in a cataclysmic event as the movies and TV would have you believe – it localised and eventually dissolved like chain mail fragmenting into separate links, giving way to rump states, local city states and petty kingdoms. New, dynamic and often warring nations emerged - Goths, Franks, Alamans and Burgundians. But
- [So, alternate history?](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2012/07/27/so-alternate-history/) - What if the Nazis had won the Second World War (Fatherland - Robert Harris, The Man in the High Castle - Philip K Dick) or England had remained Catholic (Pavane - Keith Roberts, The Alteration - Kingsley Amis) or if Alaska rather than Israel had become the Jewish homeland (The Yiddish Policemen's Union - Michael
- [A "good" rejection](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2012/07/25/a-good-rejection/) - Agents are busy people - we know that - so when I read this (handwritten) note, I was strangely pleased: "Please forgive my incredibly slow response, but I liked your writing and had put it aside to get back to. It's not right for my list, but I'm sure you will find an agent to
- [Why do you buy the books you do?](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2012/07/11/why-do-you-buy-the-books-you-do/) - Wouldn't every publisher, agent and writer want to know the answer to that one? I've been on the Goodreads site, rating the books I've read. Analysing my own behaviour as a reader, I've been surprised by what I've picked out: historical fiction, adventure, romance, thriller, literary, fantasy, young adult, psychological, crime, contemporary, epic, speculative/science fiction,
- [What do readers really want?](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2012/07/08/what-do-readers-really-want/) - A fun thing around Twitter #thingsnottosaytoawriter recently had some wry and clever responses from writers, some tinged with irony, even bitterness. Some were made up, but some were things that had been said to them in true life: Does this sort of thing sell, then? Where can I download your book for free? Since you
- [A transgressive Roman](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2012/06/28/a-transgressive-roman/) - My last Roman post was in January this year, although I have sneaked in a few pictures here and there. I took this photo (right) in February this year in the courtyard of the Capitoline Museum - a near holy place for any 'Roman nut'. I was intrigued by the assured pose of the obviously
- [Sharing hordes of information treasure](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2012/06/16/sharing-hordes-of-information-treasure/) - Dashing around visiting sites/blog/articles, I sometimes forget to tell others about the hordes of treasure I find, so here are two articles on promoting your book that I've found or visited recently. 50 Simple Ways to Build Your Platform Christina Katz writes: "Writing rules. Self-promotion drools. Isn’t this how most writers think? But as long
- [Tackling the cat sick](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2012/06/13/tackling-the-cat-sick/) - My Twitter swarm and Facebook groupies will know that a few weeks ago I had a pretty serious operation on my foot which reduced my gadding about ability to minus 20. No more supermarket shopping, housework, gardening for a few weeks. I was also relieved of all cat-nurturing duties except for hugging and stroking. The
- [In Mslexia - national (and international) fame!](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2012/06/06/in-mslexia-national-and-international-fame/) - Shortly after Military or Civilians? was published, Danuta Kean invited me to submit a short piece for the Mslexia magazine's spot called How I Did It. In a bit over 200 words, under headings The Book, The Long Haul and The Advice, I outlined the experience of publishing my ebook. A frisson of excitement rose
- [Money, money, money!](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2012/05/26/1200/) - Yesterday, I danced round the house. I'd received the following email: (Parts have been removed to protect their modesty.) The following payment is related to digital royalties for Amazon.co.uk. It will be paid by bank transfer directly into your bank account. Please allow up to five business days for the funds to appear in the
- [Researching – how to behave](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2012/05/07/researching-how-to-behave/) - Two years ago, I wrote a post on research, setting out five steps to getting a best result. During the past two weeks, I've been following that same methodology to assess service suppliers and have narrowed my search to two possibilities. I googled then sifted the results, gathered reports, opinions, financial data (from the sycophantic
- [Military or Civilians?  On becoming a knowledge resource](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2012/04/20/military-or-civilians-on-becoming-a-knowledge-resource/) - A lovely person who bought my non-fiction history ebook Military or Civilians? The curious anomaly of the German Women’s Auxiliary Services during the Second World War was (in her words) blown away by the resources I had collected. Over the three years I accumulated and read every book I could find on the subject, I
- [Sobering thoughts and rebalancing](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2012/04/11/sobering-thoughts-and-rebalancing/) - Ten days ago, my mother-in-law died. Born in 1929 in a working class family in Birkenhead, she'd lived a modest childhood, endured separation from her parents and siblings as an evacuee during wartime, returned to a bombed-out city, married, had a child at the start of the space race and witnessed the technological age from
- [Sparking a controversy with period words](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2012/03/23/sparking-a-controversy/) - My friend and fellow writer, Liz Harris whose book The Road Back is out later this year, has recently started blogging Welcome to my World In her last post, she asked for help from fellow authors. It's such a good question, I'd like to ask something similar. She'd introduced some well-researched period vocabulary in her
- [Gender roles and ideology in Nazi Germany - a heady mix](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2012/03/14/gender-roles-and-ideology-in-nazi-germany-a-heady-mix/) - If you were young, German and female in 1939 you were at the poorer end of the gender scale. Unable to hold professional posts, ill-educated, your role was defined politically, ideologically and socially as a servant, assistant, mother. You'd taken part in political youth activities, but had no outlet for personal develop and no chance
- [Writers' locations or does the earth move for you?](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2012/03/09/writers-locations-or-does-the-earth-move-for-you/) - I stood on the rounded road stones, warmed by spring sunshine under a deep blue sky, and gazed up the road as it rose to the horizon. Red-tiled and grey stone shop fronts each side of the road. I steadied my breath, shut my eyes and heard the noises of nineteen hundred years ago. This
- [Unlock your secret writing weapon: your memory](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2012/02/22/unlock-your-secret-writing-weapon-your-memory/) - Writing a romance, thriller, historical, whodunit, sci-fi adventure? Whichever it is, it's a depressing thought, but all the stories have been done before. There are only supposed to be seven plots: man vs. nature man and woman/man man vs. society man vs. machines/technology man vs. the supernatural man vs. self man vs. God ('man' obviously
- [Off on the road to Rome...](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2012/02/15/off-on-the-road-to-rome/) - When I recommended The History of Rome (THOR) podcast last December I had no idea that I would be joining the official THOR tour which starts in 10 days, on 24 February. I was listening to the regular podcast, wishing I could be there, but the application date had passed and I hadn't any pennies
- [On the home run](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2012/02/04/on-the-home-run/) - At 82,000 words of my 90,000 target, I'm fast approaching the end of book3. My heroine is about to confront the source of her problems and deal with her definitively. And she's going to save the day. Obviously. The knitting is nearly knitted. The pudding is nearly boiled. But it's almost unbearable. I want to
- [Is this what happens in a meeting between an author and his literary agent?](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2012/01/26/is-this-what-happens-in-a-meeting-between-an-author-and-his-literary-agent/) - Mitchell and Webb's portrayal of an author discussing his oeuvre with a literary agent. This was tweeted by Jonny Geller of the famous Curtis Brown agency . Tears streamed down my face from beginning to end. Of depression? Or frustration? No, of laughter. I hope.
- [Friends, Romans, Londoners](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2012/01/22/friends-romans-londoners/) - I visited the Museum of London last weekend, something I hadn't done for several years. The displays are very attractive, well-labelled and intelligently set out. Rooms had been reconstructed painstakingly following decoration and description from original sites or authors, but the artefacts in them are original. (Photos taken on my phone, so apologies for the
- [Beta readers](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2012/01/18/beta-readers/) - When I opened up an email today after a long weekend away, I was thrilled to find to read this from a beta reader: (All character names changed - you'll have to buy the book when it's published.) "Finished part 1 and having a great time! I like X's character. She is much less headstrong
- [Double memories](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2012/01/08/double-memories/) - Finding something that you know will give somebody else a great deal of pleasure is a smiley moment. Nothing is the same as watching the other person's eyes widen. Their look of immediate disbelief dissolves as you hand it to them and they receive it with a huge grin on their face. I decided to
- [Shorts](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2012/01/05/shorts/) - I write novels. Sure, I'm waiting for my big publishing deal, but I love the long fiction structure: the opportunity to develop characters at length; to weave sub-plots; to plumb the depths; struggle to the surface; heap mounds of stuff on my protagonist; the false climax; to be a master of the universe. But short
- [Is it wrong to tweet on Christmas Day?](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2011/12/25/is-it-wrong-to-tweet-on-christmas-day/) - The immediate reaction is hands raised in horror. How crass, how selfish, how insensitive! But is it? I remember as a kid having 'quiet times' on Christmas day. We had the ecstasy of early morning present-unwrapping - scarf, pencils, jigsaw, books, new jumper - then breakfast, followed by the first 'quiet time' when we looked
- [Book3 and why I’m brutal to my heroine](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2011/12/20/book3-and-why-im-brutal-to-my-heroine/) - Stories about the life of a well-off happily married woman with a sexy husband, three adorable, perfectly behaved children and a responsible, challenging, but enormously fulfilling job she adores would be tedious. Who wants to read about Miss Perfect? Typical reactions would be: know-it-all, snooty cow and bor-ing; feelings would be envy, resentment and can’t-be-arsed
- [So, Fräulein Barnes, vhat can you tell us?](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2011/12/14/so-fraulein-barnes-vhat-can-you-tell-us/) - Today's guest, Denise Barnes, tells us not only about writing and her current novel, but how her year in Germany prompted her to write her hilarious book, from Bad to Wurst. How did you get started with writing? I’ve written since primary school; I wrote a chapter of a serial once a week and put
- [The peerless History of Rome podcast](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2011/12/10/the-peerless-history-of-rome-podcast/) - For all Roman 'nuts' out there, I have to tell you about a fantastic podcast called The History of Rome. Mike Duncan, a political science and philosophy graduate from Western Washington University, has the knack of neatly dissecting the political and imperial essentials of the Kingdom, Republic and Empire and communicating them with clarity and
- [Reading allowed. Or not](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2011/12/03/reading-allowed-or-not/) - Writers are encouraged to read their ms aloud. You arm yourself with a long drink, fend off all household pleas and settle down with the ms or screen in front of you and a notepad to jot down quick notes. Hopefully, the rest of your family hasn't called the white coat men as you mumble
- [The Antonine Plague - the germs that killed an empire](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2011/11/10/the-antonine-plague-the-germs-that-killed-an-empire/) - Welcome to the home of the Roma Nova thrillers, INCEPTIO, PERFIDITAS and SUCCESSIO. Please look around while you are here. Nails and horses, a stitch in time, plugging a hole, greasing a cartridge, dropping a letter, not changing the batteries - all tiny things which can spark off heavy consequences. And a great technique for writers to
- [Christmas cake and childhood memories that make us... and our characters.](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2011/11/05/christmas-cake-and-childhood-memories-that-make-us-and-our-characters/) - The minute I announced on Twitter that today I was going to make The Christmas Cake, memories of cinnamon, oranges, brandy and cake mix poured into my head. I saw myself aged six or seven standing by my mother at the kitchen table. It was half-term and my mother, a teacher, had that precious week
- [The mysterious Lesley Cookman...](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2011/10/31/the-mysterious-lesley-cookman/) - I’m delighted to welcome author Lesley Cookman to my blog today. Born in Guildford, Surrey, Lesley spent her early life in south London, before marrying and moving all over the south-east of England. Lesley fell into feature writing by accident, then went on to reviewing for both magazines and radio. She writes for the stage,
- [Via Domitia - the background](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2011/10/28/via-domitia/) - Several people have commented on the new look of this blog (which is lovely of them) and asked me about the background. Of course, it's a Roman road and in particular it's the Via Domitia at Ambrussum, near Nimes in southern France. The Via Domitia provided a fast and sure link from Spain to Italy. constructed
- [The end of book2](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2011/10/22/the-end-of-book2/) - No, I haven't killed off my second book. My self-edits are over and the typescript has gone to a beta reader. So what did the process involve? First of all, I check my event grid. This is my table of contents, a brief summary of events in each chapter; who says what to whom, what
- [Competition: Write about your filofax memories](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2011/10/18/competition-write-about-your-filofax-memories/) - Write 300-500 words about your favourite filofax memory and you could win a brand new oganiser. Now enjoying a strong revival, filofax is regaining the worldwide popularity seen in the 1980s. This October, filofax and Philofaxy would like to invite you to share your favourite filofaxmemory. Whether it’s a tale about your first filofax, the
- [Constantly evolving...](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2011/10/17/constantly-evolving/) - You may notice that this my blog has changed a little. It's going to change even more soon. Like writing itself, blogs must evolve.
- [Insane or inspired? The fabulous Kate Johnson](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2011/10/10/insane-or-inspired-the-fabulous-kate-johnson/) - I'm (literally) thrilled to welcome Kate Johnson and her alter ego, Cat Marsters, to my blog today. Buckle up! How did you get started? And how old were you when your first book was published? Really it's a total lack of skill or training in any other area! I knew I wanted to write from
- [What if?](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2011/09/29/what-if/) - Ever mislaid something, convinced you’d left it on the kitchen table and then found it on the bed? Or been somewhere completely certain of having made the journey before? One answer could be that you did and you have, but you've shifted a nano-interval into another reality, according to a short story I’ve been reading
- [The remarkable Ms Jacobs](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2011/09/26/the-remarkable-ms-jacobs/) - I am thrilled to host author Anna Jacobs on my blog today. When I last looked she had 54 books published. It may, of course, have gone up while I was writing this blog post... So how did you get started? I’d always wanted to write, but only dabbled until Georgette Heyer, my favourite novelist
- [Friends, Tweeters, countrymen...](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2011/09/14/friends-tweeters-countrymen/) - Thanks to Twitter, we've been able to organise some terrific visitors in the last few weeks. Jean Fullerton (@EastLondonGirly) author of No Cure for Love, A Glimpse at Happiness, Perhaps Tomorrow is a friend and colleague from the Romantic Novelists' Association. She, her husband and three grandchildren came and spent the afternoon with us. Despite
- [Take a blank sheet of garden...](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2011/09/07/take-a-blank-sheet-of-garden/) - Talking about muck-raking, sorry, rock-raking, reminded me about the parallels of writing a novel and creating a new garden. With a novel, you start with a blank sheet of paper, or a blank computer screen, with a garden you start with something like this. You carry out a survey and draw
- [Rock-raking is the new editing.](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2011/09/04/rock-raking-is-the-new-editing/) - Friends who follow me on Twitter (@alison_morton) have been hearing about my rock-raking in recent days. Let me explain. We live on top of a chalk cliff. The view is magnificent, but the soil is crap. That's a bit harsh. The soil is fertile, fine, and the weeds grow as if on Viagra. But there
- [Oh,  and the answers to the quiz](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2011/08/28/oh-and-the-answers-to-the-quiz/) - The correct answers were... How many numbered tips did I give you when researching? 4 numbered tips What speed was my heroine doing in her Giulietta? 130kph How many attended Lumb Bank? 16 'students', including me How many things do we learn when taking it on the chin? 7 things What page had I reached
- [And the winner is...](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2011/08/28/and-the-winner-is/) - Thank you all for entering the competition - you were brilliant! The winner was Liz Harris from Oxford and a signed copy of Elizabeth Buchan's Light of the Moon will be on its way to her, courtesy of La Poste's (cheap) 'cultural service'. Yes, the French post office has a cheap rate for books, manuscripts,
- [Elizabeth Buchan talks about undercover work, daughters and separate beds](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2011/08/19/elizabeth-buchan-talks-about-undercover-work-daughters-and-separate-beds/) - I am thrilled to host author Elizabeth Buchan on my blog today. When I asked for suggestions for my brand new Kindle reader, Separate Beds was recommended of Carole Blake of Blake Friedman Literary Agency. Tweeting with Elizabeth, I discovered one of her novels was about a female SOE agent in war-time France, Light of
- [The secret numbers competition...](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2011/08/19/the-secret-numbers-competition/) - You've read the fascinating interview with author Elizabeth Buchan. For a chance to win a copy Light of the Moon and read about Evelyn St John’s secret wartime life and work in France, answer the questions below. All the answers are somewhere in my blog! Many codes in the Second World War and later were
- [Wielding the red pen - catharsis or disaster?](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2011/08/05/wielding-the-red-pen-catharsis-or-disaster/) - I like the red pen. Many say it's crushing, demeaning, aggressive. I find it's clear and an excellent contrast to black type on white paper. and at this stage, I want clear. As an unpublished writer, I haven't had the experience of my work being edited by a professional publishing house editor, but as a
- [How Filofax kept me organised at the RNA Conference](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2011/07/29/how-filofax-kept-me-organised-at-the-rna-conference/) - Remember Filofax? Like many people in the 1980s, I toted a black, approx A5 sized leather folder which not only contained my diary, notes and address book, but also expenses sheets, stamp and card holders, to do lists, maps, vocabulary lists - in short, my life. Came the electronic revolution, I waved it bye-bye. The
- [Submission, submission, submission](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2011/07/17/submission-submission-submission/) - This morning, I wiped away a tear when I re-read my post last March about the first time I submitted my three chapters and synopsis to agents. I think I was partly touched by my cheerful optimism and partly sad that I had fallen into the classic mistake of submitting too early. Looking through my
- [Taking it on the chin](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2011/06/10/taking-it-on-the-chin/) - Who'd be a critic? I'm not talking about the flesh-tearing but insecure ego-tripper as in Sebastian Faulks' A Week in December, but more somebody who assesses manuscripts and/or mentors writers. Sending your baby out for review produces numbing fear in a writer; desperate for feedback, but scared the reviewer/assessor/critic will deem it a heap of
- [Obsession or addiction?](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2011/03/31/obsession-or-addiction/) - You start your novel, get the scenes down, complete the first draft. Fine so far. Any writer knows the first draft is not a work of art, or even saleable. So the real work begins; enhanching, slashing and burning, sweating over that love scene, ramping up the fight scenes, checking pacing, inserting tension, moulding and
- [Twenty quid for Japan](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2011/03/15/twenty-quid-for-japan/) - Nobody can fail to be shocked by the devastation in Japan. Word like apocalyptic and cataclysmic are flying around. Historians recall the Minoan civilisation was one destroyed by a tsunami. The threads of modern life are multiple and complex, but fragile, vulnerable to stretching and snapping in seconds. Futurologists predict that tiny individual incidents in
- [Bridging sensibilities...](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2011/02/27/bridging-sensibilities/) - Simon Scarrow always succeeds in letting me into his tough, male Roman world without alienating me from an environment so different from my own. His heroes, Macro, the blunt-speaking grizzled veteran, and Cato, the educated and younger soldier, bash their way through numerous adventures (including Eagle in the Sand) in the time of Emperor Claudius.
- [Diversion, FTI or accidie?](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2011/02/21/diversion-fti-or-accidie/) - What is that strange feeling when you schedule work in that day, but at 6 pm and the nth cup of tea, you wonder what happened. Many people suffer from this. Especially writers, it seems. Diversion is a word that comes up a lot. Doesn't sound too bad: something that distracts the mind and relaxes
- [Saving libraries day](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2011/02/05/saving-libraries-day/) - Today, the book world moves. It's out there saving libraries for you and the next several generations. If you do nothing else this dull and cloudy weekend, go and take a book out. Or audio book. Or CD. Or DVD. Go and browse the Internet for free. Ask those incredibly clever librarians for information, guidance
- [Surviving the emotional foot-stomp on creativity](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2011/02/03/surviving-the-emotional-foot-stomp-on-creativity/) - The renowned Nicola Morgan, famously proud to be the first Google result for "Crabbit Old Bat" and an award-winning author of around ninety books, never fails to offer diamonds to aspiring writers. Frankness and occasional brutality are her hallmarks. But she's usually right. So, in my morning scan of blogs, I found her post today
- [The big print](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2010/12/30/the-big-print/) - Post-machete, post-rewrite of scenes, post-restructuring, I may possibly have kneaded the flabby dough of my master-work into some kind of presentable product. The plot has changed, the tension ramped up, the prose decimated and a sting in the tail (tale?) injected into the ending. I've printed the whole thing out, double-spaced, ready for the tooth-comb.
- [A brain flash...](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2010/12/09/a-brain-flash/) - Perhaps I've been a bit slow, but I had a light bulb moment when munching my croissant this morning. I've been playing around with some ideas for a one-sentence 'hook' for my novel INCEPTIO and have been researching, scribbling, thinking about it over the past few days. Scanning the Radio Times at breakfast, I read
- [Sad, cross and guilty - the story of an unfinished read](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2010/12/08/sad-cross-and-guilty-the-story-of-an-unfinished-read/) - My reading tastes are pretty wide-ranging. I like a challenge. I like a good story. I'm nosy as well as persistent, so however poor a start, I'll plough on with most books because I want to know what happens. I'll read almost anything: from Pascal Mercier's Night Train to Lisbon and Kafka's The Trial to
- [Talli Roland takes on Amazon!](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2010/12/01/talli-roland-takes-on-amazon-2/) - My writing friend Talli Roland is a clever girl. She's come up with a 'wizard wheeze' to get her debut novel THE HATING GAME to hit the Kindle bestseller list at Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk by spreading the word today. Even a few sales in a short period of time on Amazon helps push the book
- [The RNA Winter Party](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2010/11/27/the-rna-winter-party/) - Nicola Morgan, Alison Morton, Liz Harris sharing a joke (Photo courtesy of the Romantic Novelists' Association) Dressed in my best party-cardi (it was bitterly cold), I made my way to the Institute of Mechanical Engineers' building on Birdcage Walk, London. Several other well-bundled up figures were hurrying up the steps, eager to be out of
- [How well do you know your character? Part Deux](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2010/11/15/how-well-do-you-know-your-character-part-deux/) - Following my previous post with questions to help you to dig down into your characters, here are a few more: 20. Which schools did your character attend? 21. How did they do at school? 22. Did they have a nickname? 23. Did they go on to university? 24. What did they study? 25. Why did
- [Colour me red...](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2010/10/28/colour-me-red/) - My Kindle reader has become indispensable. Not only can I download books wherever I am (I have the 3G version), but it's so easy to use. Slim enough to slip into a handbag, light enough not to cause heart failure when my suitcase is weighed at check-in. But I've been worried about its susceptibility to
- [I wrote my first car chase!](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2010/10/25/i-wrote-my-first-car-chase/) - Not a big scene, but which framed a confrontation, added a little pzazz as well as demonstrating my heroine's hot temper. As we cruised along the peripheral at max speed limit, setting citizens a good example, a silver Mercedes flew past us, cutting us up. We weren’t traffic cops, but I was incensed. I looked
- [The Arvon experience](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2010/10/13/the-arvon-experience/) - What magic turns sixteen anxious wannabees with doubts a hundred feet high into confident, capable producers of good writing within a week? In February this year, I booked the Arvon Foundation course 'Popular Fiction' 4-9 October at Lumb Bank, Yorkshire. It was to run from 4 to 9 October, with tutors Mavis Cheek and Paul
- [A surreal evening…](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2010/09/25/a-surreal-evening/) - The 1990s ride again. No, really. At a meeting yesterday evening for autoentrepreneurs (small business creators), I was dragged back to a business style that I thought had disappeared. By the end of the evening, I was having difficulty hiding my amusement. John Cleese's Video Arts training company would have relished it as a 'how
- [Writing codswallop](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2010/09/03/writing-codswallop/) - When you begin a new piece of writing, be it article, short story, press release or a 100,000 word novel, you start off with ideas, insights, energy which can sustain you to the end. Sometimes the oomph fades part-way through. Sometimes you start with a dragging reluctance because you have a deadline, a target or
- [Getting help: the writer’s dilemma](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2010/08/30/getting-help-the-writers-dilemma/) - Okay, you've done your first draft, you've edited it, your aunt Mabel who taught English has checked it, your mate Bev says 'It's great!'. You've left it for a few weeks, come back, tightened the manuscript, checked for shockers and you've even written your synopsis. You're on the starting blocks for publication, fame and fortune(!).
- [My RNA box of books – my reviews (Part Deux)](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2010/08/19/my-rna-box-of-books-my-reviews-part-deux/) - Here's the next batch of my mini-reviews on books recommended to me by fellow members of the Romantic Novelists’ Association. I asked them for the ‘book of their heart.’ All are romances, but oh so different in subject, range, tone, pace and language. Jean Fullerton very kindly sent me a signed copy of her fabulous
- [My RNA box of books - my reviews (Part Un)](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2010/08/14/my-rna-box-of-books-my-reviews-part-un/) - Before I moved to France, I asked my fellow members of the Romantic Novelists' Association to tell me which of their works was the 'book of their heart.' The answers flooded in and some even sent me a copy of their book - signed as well! I've read six so far and enjoyed them thoroughly.
- [Weird, or what?](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2010/08/10/weird-or-what-2/) - Driving back from swimming today, I was carefully navigating the narrow road between old stone buildings in a village on my route, when the road gently rose to the level of the railway crossing. It's an unprotected level crossing, from the road user's point of view perched on a rise in the road. The barriers
- [Golden lessons from rejections](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2010/07/31/golden-lessons-from-rejections/) - I count myself very lucky to have an occupation where learning and change are crucial parts. I'm referring to writing (of course!). Not only do you have the hard sweat and joy of bashing out your story, but the endless hours of lovingly trimming and tightening to get it into some kind of presentable shape.
- [Go away, spammers!](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2010/07/25/go-away-spammers/) - My RNAConf10 posts seem to be attracting a lot of spam about handbags, singers, search engine optimization, sleeping disorder tips, auto loans and government grants. My blog is about writing, writers, and books. Genuine comments are welcomed at all times with open arms; they enrichen the blog. Silly spam comments are not; it spoils it
- [RNAConf10/11 – Practical tips for a successful time](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2010/07/19/rnaconf1011-practical-tips-for-a-successful-time/) - In the euphoria following a successful conference, participants write many exciting and insightful posts about the content, speakers and atmosphere. But taking a few minutes to look at the sheer practicalities gets overlooked. Perhaps you are a logistics master-planner, perhaps a ditzy swanner-along. Wherever you fall on the spectrum, it's worth reflecting for a few
- [RNA Conference - where to start?](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2010/07/14/rna-conference-where-to-start/) - The Twitter and blogspheres have been full of praise for the Romantic Novelists' Association Conference at the Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich last weekend. Rightly so. Jan and Roger masterminded the conference, the RNA stalwarts gave talks, introduced and chaired discussions and seamlessly supported the whole framework. Joanna Trollope gave the keynote speech and she
- [Subscribing to this blog…](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2010/07/14/subscribing-to-this-blog/) - Got some very polite feedback that it was a little unclear how to subscribe, so I've added a special plugin. I always take note of sensible and helpful feedback. :-) Destructive and carping moaning - no.
- [Conference fever mounts](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2010/07/01/conference-fever-mounts/) - The Romantic Novelists' Association conference in London is fast approaching. Flowing over the 9-11 July weekend, it's already promising to expand into a five day event, with many delegates arriving Thursday and not leaving until Monday. Twitter has been alive with anticipation and discussion of details not only of sessions but also shoes; a special
- [Writing bootcamp at the Circle of Missé](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2010/06/13/writing-bootcamp-at-the-circle-of-misse/) - Never having taken part in a creative writing course, I was excited, but a trifle anxious, when I was invited to join a 'writing bootcamp' at the Circle of Missé, a creative centre near my new home in France. Lead by Annie Kirby, a renowned short-story writer who is also working on a full-length novel,
- [Researching - a transferable skill](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2010/05/31/researching-a-transferable-skill/) - Working out how to get from Poitiers in France to my son's graduation in Nottingham, I found myself treading a familiar research path. I'd always been able to dig info and knowledge out of the corners they were lurking in, but these abilities were honed into concrete skills when I was studying for my MA
- [Bonjour la France!](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2010/05/30/bonjour-la-france/) - On 26 May, we waved good-bye to the removal van, stuffed the poor cat into his travel cage and headed for the Tunnel. Nothing desperately exciting happened on the way, but we stumbled into the house on arrival, did the minimum and didn't emerge until the following day. The removal van arrives here in two
- [Variety is the spice of life...](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2010/05/18/variety-is-the-spice-of-life/) - Although I'm working hard on my third novel (in between packing boxes!), and I think it's important to focus on your main work, I've found it useful to tackle other, smaller projects. It stops you getting fixated, helps you draw breath mentally and makes you use different writing muscles in your head. You use different
- [A Party, but was it Summer?](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2010/05/15/a-party-but-was-it-summer/) - I went along to the RNA Summer Party held at the library of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers, Birdcage Walk, in London. The weather has been dreadful; thankfully it was a sunny, but still blooming chilly, evening. As at the lunch in March, the atmosphere was genial, friendly and lively; the sound of chinking glasses,
- [A blog vacuum](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2010/05/11/a-blog-vacuum/) - Confession time. I wrote my last two blog posts on 26 April, posted one straight away and scheduled the last one (with chocolate!) for three days later. Many bloggers do this so that when they put fingers to keyboard and inspiration flows from brain down arms and into fingertips, they don't end up flooding the
- [Must-have writer's aids...](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2010/04/29/must-have-writers-aids/) - Yes, essential to the writing environment are: a working computer with appropriate software a supportive chair warmth light peace But the most important adjunct is CHOCOLATE. So what does chocolate do for the writer? 1. Flavonoids Chocolate is chock-full(!) of flavonoids—naturally-occurring compounds found in the cacao plant, as well as in red wine, tea, fruits,
- [When is a hero myth manufactured?](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2010/04/27/when-is-a-hero-myth-manufactured/) - At the RNA SE meeting on 24 April, Nicola Cornick gave us valuable insights on constructing heroes. Taking Robin Hood as an example, she showed how universal the hero values attached to him were: anti-authoritarian, good versus evil, romantic, skilled in fighting and weaponry. The mythic Robin Hood was a construct, an icon, created mainly
- [My London Book Fair…](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2010/04/22/my-london-book-fair/) - Wrecked for many publishing professionals this year by volcanic ash, the LBF was for me an exciting first. I followed the distress of others on Twitter as flights from every conceivable part of the world were stopped, particularly those from South Africa, the 2010 Fair's market focus. But despite myriad appointments with Australians, Finns, Germans,
- [Musings on my first rejection letter](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2010/04/12/musings-on-my-first-rejection-letter/) - I arrived back from my holiday and found my first rejection on the doormat. It was a polite letter, but a standard, non-personalised one. Of course, I was disappointed (swallows hard and sobs), but I feel I have passed a milestone, lost my publishing virginity, joined the ‘normal’ throng of writers. Of course, I sent
- [Translating – don’t you just press a button on the computer?](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2010/04/05/translating-dont-you-just-press-a-button-on-the-computer/) - Maybe not strictly a creative writing matter, but when fellow writers ask me about my previous life and I say I was a translator for over 20 years,they seem interested to learn more. The main thing I tell them is about quality. Google's great for getting the bare bones out of something, but if you
- [Tightening and shaving...](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2010/04/01/tightening-and-shaving/) - I'm editing the second part of my trilogy and it's causing some blushes of embarrassment. No, not the romantic scenes, but the proliferation of bland and/or superfluous words. However did I include so many 'just's, 'I wondered's, 'I thought's, 'suddenly's and 'Well,..'s? Well, I thought I'd just bash the story out, then suddenly I wondered
- [First submission made!](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2010/03/27/first-submission-made/) - Yes, I've got my synopsis, three chapters with a (fabulous!) letter out to an agent. It's quite emotional, letting the A4 envelope disappear into into the postbox slot and hearing the 'thunk' as it hits the bottom of the cage inside. At that stage, my first thought was 'Oh, God, the postbox is empty -
- [Sweating over my cover letter to agents...](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2010/03/23/sweating-over-my-cover-letter-to-agents/) - It's a cliché, but it's damn right! The business of getting an agent, getting your book published and sold is definitely as hard, if not harder, as writing the novel in the first place. Similar to when you're pregnant. You think being pregnant is bad (sickness, lassitude, ruined feet, stretch marks, galloping appetite, pan-galactic weight
- [Crime and Romance - any connections?](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2010/03/21/63/) - I went to an RNA London South East meeting yesterday with fellow newbie Rachel to hear Alison Joseph, author of the 'Sister Agnes' series, compare story structure in the two genres. She observed that while crime and romance in the same story may be rare, there were similarities in the framework and essential elements. Both
- [Sorting out your Romans from your Visigoths, Carolingians et al.](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2010/03/19/sorting-out-your-romans-from-your-visigoths-carolingians-et-al/) - Doing a bit of research into the post-Roman world, I came across Chris Wickham's The Inheritance of Rome: A History of Europe from 400 to 1000. It's brilliant! From the first page, I was enthralled. Now, I'm a self-confessed Roman nut and intrigued by that mysterious time in Europe after the mid-400s AD until the
- [My first RNA lunch](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2010/03/17/my-first-rna-lunch/) - As a brand new member of the Romantic Novelists' Association, I’m keen to take part in as many events as possible this year. I’d enjoyed myself (and learnt a lot) at the January and March meetings and had been impressed and touched by the very warm welcome given to not-yet-published ‘newbies’. I was therefore looking
- [Synopsis done!](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2010/03/15/synopsis-done/) - No novel writer likes doing the synopsis, a tool for planning and marketing their work. When you've written 100,000 words of carefully crafted prose, it's a bit of a sweat to distil it down to a couple of pages. But it does concentrate the mind... From the advice I've been given or read, the essentials
- [A good paranormal romantic thriller](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2010/03/13/a-good-paranormal-romantic-thriller/) - I've just read Jayne Ann Krentz's Sizzle and Burn which I found on the local library shelves by accident. The female protagonist, Raine, is cut in a different mould to many other heroines - she's tall, intelligent and independent, but her character avoids suffering from 'goodgirlitis'. Love interest Zack Jones is tough, sel-assured and pretty
- [RNA meeting today](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2010/03/13/rna-meeting-today/) - The Romantic Novelists' Association had its spring meeting today and speaker Adèle Geras gave a witty and down to earth account of how she got into being a published author. Apart from over 95 children's books, she has produced four novels for adults, including Facing the Light. Tea and biscuits afterwards, plus excellent conversation, networking
- [Apple turnover - electronic book publishing evolves](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2010/03/10/apple-turnover-electronic-book-publishing-evolves/) - If you want to read about e-publishing and the effect of Apple's iPad, I recommend you read Danuta Kean's article here on the London Book Fair website
- [Helpful books](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2010/03/10/helpful-books/) - I think I'm getting the hang of this Wordpress blog (Okay, I hear the experts and cynics laughing, but at least I'm trying...). I've created a new page today called 'Writing and publishing books' which lists some of the books I've found useful so far in my novel writing. Just click at the top right
- [The importance of feedback](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2010/03/06/the-importance-of-feedback/) - In January, I was accepted on the New Writers' Scheme of the Romantic Novelists' Association. I feel honoured to be in the company of proper published authors whose members have sold aeons of books. I've found it a friendly, inclusive group whose members do not differentiate between published and newbies. On the contrary, they are
- [What a day to start - it's World Book Day!](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/2010/03/04/what-a-day-to-start-its-world-book-day/) - Here starteth my blog... I'm a newbie novel writer. I've been a translator for many years and have had articles on translation, business and French property published plus I've written an academic thesis for which they gave me a distinction :) I currently write a French property blog at http://ltps-fr.blogspot.com/ which seems to please a

## Pages

- [Home](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/) - Thoughts about writing, publishing, reading and the world of books, plus informative posts by guests who know a deal about writing, publishing and research.
- [Writing alternat(iv)e history](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/writing-books/writing-in-an-alternative-history-setting/) - A guide to key factors when writing fiction in a "what if" alternative history framework
- [Contact me](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/contact/) - How to contact Alison Morton Author on email or via social media and where else to find Alison on social media and retailer sites
- [Book trailers](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/videos/) - Watch book trailers for JULIA PRIMA, INCEPTIO, PERFIDITAS and SUCCESSIO and the SUCCESSIO launch. Also AURELIA, NEXUS, INSURRECTIO and RETALIO.
- [About](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/about/) - Even before she pulled on her first set of combats, Alison Morton was fascinated by the idea of women soldiers. Brought up by a feminist mother and an ex-military father, it never occurred to her that women couldn’t serve their country in the armed forces. Everybody in her family had done time in uniform and
- [Events](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/about/events/) - Crime Writers' Association Northern Symposium, Yorkshire, UK 12 April 2025 Talk: Becoming a professional self-published author, or how to up your game You can read about my previous speaking experiences. Do visit the photo gallery (There are even famous authors there! :-) ) Alison Morton is the author of Roma Nova thrillers – INCEPTIO, CARINA (novella), PERFIDITAS,
- [Double Pursuit](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/books-2/double-pursuit/) - "In this international nail-biter, Morton doubles down in a tale of intrigue, politics and the shadows of the past." — J J Marsh, author of the Beatrice Stubbs and Run and Hide thrillers “This reader holds her breath and crosses her fingers, quite, quite incapable of tearing herself away from the book.” — Anna Belfrage
- [Double Identity](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/books-2/double-identity/) - “Slick and sophisticated, DOUBLE IDENTITY is an action-packed thriller that grabs the reader from the first page and doesn’t let go until the last. A cracking start to Morton’s new series!” – E.M. Powell, author of the Stanton & Barling medieval mysteries and International Thriller Writers Selected for BookBub's "Best Reads" of March 2021 -----------------
- [Books](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/books-2/) - The Roma Nova thriller series The Carina strand INCEPTIO where New Yorker Karen Brown is thrown into a new life in mysterious Roma Nova and fights to stay alive with a killer hunting her.. CARINA, a novella, Carina's first mission abroad. What could go wrong? PERFIDITAS, six years on, where betrayal and rebellion are in the
- [EXSILIUM](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/exsilium/) - "EXSILIUM offers serious food for thought with this page-turning adventure of twelve determined families fighting to salvage their ancient culture." – Amanda Cockrell writing as Damion Hunter "Alison Morton proves she is a master of her craft with EXSILIUM. Her research and knowledge of the period is evident on every page, but delivered with the
- [JULIA PRIMA](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/books-2/julia-prima/) - "This is a stunning historical novel. Morton’s descriptions of the countryside on Julia’s journey are magnificent, and you feel as if you are traveling along with her." — Historical Novel Society (Editors' Choice) "JULIA PRIMA gripped me from the start and didn’t let me go. This prequel to the Roma Nova series is fast-moving and
- [Privacy policy](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/about/privacy-policy/) - This privacy policy applies to http://alison-morton.com, https://pulcheriapress.com and https://alisonmortonauthor.com (“these websites”) and governs the privacy of those who choose to use the two sites. The owner of these websites is Alison Morton. Any personal data collected through these websites (located in France) will be treated as confidential in line with the principles of the French Commission
- [Military or civilians?](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/books-2/military-or-civilians-the-curious-anomaly-of-the-german-womens-auxiliary-services-during-the-second-world-war/) - Nearly 500,000 young German women served in uniform with the German armed forces in the Second World War yet their history is rarely recalled in Germany and is virtually unknown in the Anglophone world. Recruited into the military against Nazi ideological norms to meet a desperate shortage of manpower, the status of these Wehrmachthelferinnen (armed
- [Reference books](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/writing-books/) - A selection of books I've found helpful while toiling away at my scribbling... Title, Author, Published Write to be Published, Nicola Morgan, Snowbooks, 2011 Love Writing, Sue Moorcroft, Accent Press, 2010 Self Editing for Fiction Writers, Renni Browne & Dave King, Collins, 2nd ed., 2004 Bestseller, Celia Brayfield, Fourth Estate, 1996 Wannabe a Writer We've
- [INCEPTIO 10th Anniversary  Hardback](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/books-2/inceptio-10th-anniversary-hardback/) - “Terrific. Brilliantly plotted original story, grippingly told and cleverly combining the historical with the futuristic. It’s a real edge-of-the-seat read, genuinely hard to put down.” Sue Cook, writer and broadcaster "She'll be giving Marcus Didius Falco a run for his money in the Roman Crime genre." Antoine Vanner, Dawlish Chronicles "With action, emotion and twists
- [INCEPTIO](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/books-2/inceptio/) - “Terrific. Brilliantly plotted original story, grippingly told and cleverly combining the historical with the futuristic. It’s a real edge-of-the-seat read, genuinely hard to put down.” Sue Cook, writer and broadcaster "She'll be giving Marcus Didius Falco a run for his money in the Roman Crime genre." Antoine Vanner, Dawlish Chronicles "With action, emotion and twists
- [CARINA](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/books-2/carina-a-novella/) - "All the immediacy and page-turning appeal I have come to expect in this series." – Top 500 Amazon reviewer "Ms Morton writes excellent dialogue and fluid prose. From the first word to the last, the story just flows, carrying the reader with it." – Anna Belfrage, The Graham Saga "Perfect for all thriller readers, as
- [PERFIDITAS](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/books-2/perfiditas/) - "PERFIDITAS is fast-paced, with rich details, plot twists, and memorable characters. I could not put it down & can't wait to read the next one!" – Vine Voice "The attention to detail is superb, as is the believability of this alternative history existence. It is a skilfully and intelligently written story" – Historical Novel Society "The
- [SUCCESSIO](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/books-2/successio/) - "I thoroughly enjoyed this classy thriller" Caroline Sanderson, The Bookseller (Editor's Choice) "The author again unleashes non-stop action galloping on the shifting sands of delicately balanced relationships and expedient loyalties." – Amazon reviewer "Clearly, Alison Morton is as much a reckless risk-taker as her main character" – A Maze of Reviews "This is definitely a
- [AURELIA](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/books-2/8983-2/) - The fourth in the exciting Roma Nova thriller series and the beginning of a new three book cycle.
- [NEXUS](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/books-2/nexus-a-novella/) - Due out 12 September 2019 "Fans of Morton’s Roma Nova series will adore this battle of might and personality. NEXUS is House of Cards meets Game of Thrones. A taut European novella to make you catch your breath." – JJ Marsh, author of The Beatrice Stubbs Series -------------- Ebook available now to pre-order on: Amazon
- [INSURRECTIO](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/books-2/insurrectio/) - “INSURRECTIO – a taut, fast-paced thriller and I enjoyed it enormously. Rome, guns and rebellion. Darkly gripping stuff.” – Conn Iggulden “Morton’s thrilling world-building is a masterclass in alternate history. You don’t just believe her version – you live every twist and turn.” – E M Powell "Morton ticks all the boxes for me, suspense,
- [RETALIO](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/books-2/retalio/) - "An international thriller, full of intrigue and espionage, set against an imaginative retelling of a history that feels authentic and real. What an entertaining ride it is!” – Matthew Harffy "Aurelia is a superb heroine. A soldier and a diplomat, she is powerful and yet compassionate, strong and yet vulnerable." – Mystery People "The only
- [ROMA NOVA EXTRA  Short stories](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/books-2/roma-nova-extra-short-stories/) - "I was expecting intrigue, powerful women, action and excitement as an avid reader of the Roma Nova series, but the romantic element took me by surprise. Here is love: for one's family, country, potential partner and even a statue. It is touching and moves you when you least expect it." –Bookmuse Reviews "Vignettes are so
- [The 500 Word Writing Buddy: 35 Inner Secrets for the New Writer](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/books-2/the-500-word-writing-buddy-25-inner-secrets-for-the-new-writer/) - New updated version - ten additional articles, including a completely new section on genres. Ebook: Amazon, Kobo, Apple (iBooks) and B&N Nook €4.99/£3.99/$4.99 Paperback version Burning to write your novel? And publish it? But don’t know where to start? This book will reveal how to: structure your book develop your characters introduce conflict weave setting
- [The Official Roma Nova Reading Guide](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/books-2/the-official-roma-nova-reading-guide/) - Who? What? Where? Why? How? This guide answers all of those questions about the Roma Nova world. Download your free copy This guide provides an introduction to the Roma Nova series and contains a list of the books in the series, cover images, when they were published, links to stores, short synopses, and why Alison
- [Roma Nova and other thrillers](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/roma-nova/) - For much, much more about the Roma Nova thrillers - how I came to write them, video book trailers, Roman themed blog, opportunity to sign up for the Roma Nova newsletter, plus competitions and giveaways - do visit my World of Thrillers site. Not only can you find out more about the country and its
- [In the press](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/about/in-the-press/) - A mention in The Guardian no less! Self-publishing lets women break book industry's glass ceiling, survey finds While men still dominate the traditional books world, among DIY writers women are publishing and selling more Alison Flood Friday 6 March 2015 13.37 GMT http://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/mar/06/self-publishing-lets-women-break-book-industrys-glass-ceiling-survey-finds If a woman writing fiction needs “money and a room of her own”, as Virginia Woolf
- [Podcasts](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/about/podcasts/) - You can listen to me on various podcasts where hosts have been kind enough to let me ramble on about writing and Roma Nova. Joanna Penn's Books and Travel 'The Roman Empire And Alternate History With Alison Morton' The early genesis of an idea for books about an alternative history based on Ancient Rome How
- [Roma Nova book site](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/roma-nova/roma-nova-book-site/) - For much, much more about the Roma Nova thrillers - how I came to write them, video book trailers, Roman themed blog, opportunity to sign up for the Roma Nova newsletter, plus competitions and giveaways - do visit my dedicated site Alison Morton - Author of the Roma Nova thrillers where you can find out more
- [Military or Civilians? bibliography](https://alisonmortonauthor.com/books-2/military-or-civilians-the-curious-anomaly-of-the-german-womens-auxiliary-services-during-the-second-world-war/military-or-civilians-bibliography/) - BIBLIOGRAPHY PRINTED PRIMARY SOURCES Gersdorff, Ursula von, Frauen im Kriegsdienst 1914-1945 (Stuttgart: Deutsche Verlags-Anstalt, 1969) Himmelstoß, Elisabeth, …und ich konnte nichts ändern!: Odydssee einer Nachrichtenhelferin, (Herford: Mittler, 1994) Killius, Rosemarie, Frauen für die Front : Gespräche mit Wehrmachtshelferinnen, (Leipzig: Militzke 2003) Schmidt, Ilse, Die Mitläuferin: Erinnerungen einer Wehrmachtsangehörigen, (Berlin: Aufbau-Verlag, 1999) SECONDARY SOURCES Abrams, Lynn

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