'Capital Crimes and an interview with a fresh voice in Antipodean Noir': my latest column for MIE reflects on the success of the fab Capital Crime (big crime fic happenings this week) and a return after a long hiatus of my 9mm interview series: murderiseverywhere.blogspot.com/2024/05/capita… #yeahnoir

My husband has suggested I do what he calls an ‘extended pomodoro’. Basically, I can’t look at a sewing machine for two weeks and all free time
MUST be used for writing.
Farewell, my beloved Jean. Farewell, old girl.
NB. Extended Pomodoro is also the name of my synth band.

I'll be talking ghosts this weekend at London's Capital Crime!

Buggering hell! Lovejoy = Mickey Spillane meets The Antiques Roadshow.
The 1970s were wild (or some such excuse for dispiriting misogyny).

Brilliant TV from 1971

I have a massive soft spot for Nuneaton Library, book lovers. It’s a mid-century delight. Why not come along next week for Midlands-y crime chat?
(More dates to come. Including, Dudley, Malvern and Walmley as part of the brilliant Birmingham Libraries Zine).

In all fairness, I’m feeling really positive about the Tories’ mandatory Sid James in every pub manifesto promise.

Watched an old episode of Monitor from 1964 last night. In it, Larkin and Betjeman chatted about how reviews made them sad, and how at least Larkin didn’t have to worry about money because he had his job at Hull Uni library. Plus ca change, writing chums!

This tweet won today’s internet. Congratulations to Rose.

It’s #caturday , the sun is shining (ish), so let’s treat ourselves to a nice photo of some sailors with their cats. Cheering, isn’t it?

'Place makes us in ways both big and small—it shapes our language, our occupations, the pace at which we live.' crimereads.com/setting-and-ps…

How fitting I finished this book while sitting on a West Midlands Railway out of Birmingham. Loved every minute of “Needless Alley” by Natalie Marlow great recommendation by the staff at Waterstones Birmingham sadly never caught their name.

I'm lucky enough to have jackdaws habitually nesting in our chimneys. These brilliant noisy birds rescued my precious pearl earring lost in the garden. 6 months later it was posted down the only un-nested chimney to bounce at my feet #nature
This lovely linocut littleRamstudio

Which Brum library do you love and why? Here's a sneak peek at a few of the Birmingham libraries that our zine writers love...

Capital Crime getting really close now. I'm so looking forward to it. This is one of the panels I'll be blogging on. What would you ask these ladies???
Capital Crime Karen Cole
#capitalcrime #playingwithghosts

I visited a book shop in the south and had a root about for a copy of The Red Hollow. I was so shocked to see it out of its natural habitat of geographical West Midlands that I put it FACE OUT over a copy of a Sarah J Maas book. Left in stealth mode.
#writer ’slife #madness

People often (never) ask me about my favourite Golden Age crime novel. I always (never) reply, ‘Margery Allingham’s The Tiger in the Smoke is an underrated masterpiece of the genre.’ Happy Birthday to the great lady! (One day I’ll tell you about the Nancy Spain love triangle.)

I wrote up my interview with Sewing Bee’s Patrick Grant at Waterstones Leeds last week because he did not hold back about the state of fashion, British manufacturing, and the cost of living.

theguardian.com/fashion/articl…

This extraordinary book by Marie Tierny is told through the unflinching eyes of Ava, a 13yo who helps solve the murder mystery. It is v dark, but beautifully written and captures perfectly what it was like to grow up in 80s Birmingham. Highly recommended Zaffre Books Ben Willis

Only a week to go! Who's coming? Natalie and I will be dishing the dirt on our favourite books, our least favourite books, and how much fun we have writing weird, gruesome murders... you don't want to miss it!