Happy Father's Day! Sul y Tadau Hapus! x

Happy midsummer! It might not be the longest day until tomorrow, but we had lunch using some traditional celebration ingredients. Smoked salmon and beetroot salad, strawberry cheesecake, and elderflower fizz. It was the perfect meal for a sunny summer day 🌞 #midsummer

While we're coming towards the end of Independent Bookshop Week, it's never too late to pop into your local indie! My local is @rossiterbooks.bsky.social in Cheltenham (although they have six other lovely branches too!), but I also love these bookshops... (1/2)

After my publishing deal was announced a couple of weeks ago, I thought it would be fun to take a closer look into how this happens, when, and what happens next... arsenicandcoldcase.substack.com/p/announcing... #PathtoPublication #PublishingDeal

Lovely to see this in @thebookseller.com !

Absolutely delighted to formally announce this today 🥳 www.thebookseller.com/rights/simon...

Finally launching my website is something that’s taken an absolute age, and it’s still not completely done. But here it is and here’s how it happened… arsenicandcoldcase.substack.com/p/soft-launc... #website #authorwebsite #softlaunch

Here's my May reads! My favourite was How To Get Away With Murder by debut author Rebecca Philipson. This is a masterpiece of crime fiction, with fabulous pop culture references and a main character who keeps you guessing until the very end. Highly recommended! #readingcommunity

With Book 1 pending proof read, and Book 2 with my agent and editor for review, it's time to write Book 3. Started on Monday. I'm four chapters in, 6500 words down and I get to draw a map this afternoon. Love this part of the process 🥰 #amwriting #crimefiction #book3

In 2012, I was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis, a chronic illness under the IBD umbrella. Living with this has been difficult, sometimes painfully so, and it impacts my writing too. Here is my story. arsenicandcoldcase.substack.com/p/writing-wi... #chronicillness #chronicallyillwriter

This is, perhaps, the most personal blog I've ever written. If you think this is an important topic too, sign up for free at arsenicandcoldcase.substack.com and join the conversation. #writing #chronicillness

Check out my new post! Today I’m talking all about Biographies, Dedications and Acknowledgements. They can be difficult to write, but get them right and everyone is happy… arsenicandcoldcase.substack.com/p/biography-... #blog #substack #biography #dedication #acknowledgements

Here's my April reads! My April favourite was Human Remains by Jo Callaghan, the third book in the Kat and Lock series. It was so good that I read it in 24 hours, including finishing it in bed this morning! #aprilreads #amreading #readingcommunity

In today’s blog, I talk about the Copy Editing process: what happens, how long it takes, and what to do if you’re not completely convinced by some of the suggestions… arsenicandcoldcase.substack.com/p/copy-editing #pathtopublication #editing #copyediting #substack #blog

For the last six editions of Arsenic & Cold Case, I’ve provided an audio track to increase accessibility to my blog; for those who find the printed word problematic, or who’d simply prefer to listen. This is how it went… arsenicandcoldcase.substack.com/p/recording-... #substack #blog #audio

I'm not sure why, but I found it really hard to read in March - I just couldn't concentrate. But my favourite was fantastic debut novel The Hill in the Dark Grove by Liam Higginson. Highly recommended! #marchreads #amreading #readingcommunity

In my latest blog, I talk about Book Clubs - my experiences, why they are great for introverts and extroverts, and how they benefits writers as well as readers. Take a look here: arsenicandcoldcase.substack.com/p/the-joy-of... #blog #substack #bookclubs #readingcommunity

In celebration of World Book Day, here's the best books I've read so far in 2026, and the upcoming debuts (limited to March to July) that I'm most looking forward to! #worldbookday #readingcommunity #debuts

Writing the oft-troublesome second book can be an ordeal in itself, but is it easier or harder when you get early editorial feedback? Find out in my latest post… arsenicandcoldcase.substack.com/p/writing-bo... Audio track also available. #substack #blog #book2

Happy St David's Day all! Dydd Gwyl Dewi Hapus pawb! I love March 1st. Not only is it a celebration of Cymru (Wales) and all thing Cymraeg (Welsh), it's also the start of meteorological spring. May the days lengthen and be a little bit drier than of late. #stdavidsday #dyddgwyldewi #spring

I ended up reading a lot in February, but mostly Steffanie Holmes, a new (to me) author I only discovered this year. Turns out her work - fantasy romance - is exactly what I need right now! But I also enjoyed three excellent crime/thriller novels... (1/2)

It's been such a cold, wet month, but there are signs of spring indoors and outdoors. Top right: winter heather Top left: tete a tete daffodil Bottom right: new monstera leaf Bottom left: peace lily #februarygarden

In today’s blog, I talk about my experience of Structural Editing with my publisher. And if you’d prefer to listen, this blog comes with an audio track too! arsenicandcoldcase.substack.com/p/structural... #pathtopublication #editing #structuralediting

Did you know that my blog is also available as an audio track? If you haven't listened yet, it's not too late. #substack #blog #audioincluded [Photo by C D-X on Unsplash (recoloured)]

"Almost two years on, I have a contract for publication! I simply wouldn't be where I am now without taking a chance on The Greene Door!" - Helen Jones, debut author and Greene Door alum! Open now, until 27th March! #GreeneDoor26 #debutauthors #ownvoices @helenjauthor.bsky.social

In my latest substack, I look at whether I need to have a 'definition of success' for my debut novel or, indeed, my entire career as an author... arsenicandcoldcase.substack.com/p/creating-a... This substack is also available as an audio track. #substack #definitionofsuccess #writingcommunity

Here's my January reads! Only eight books this month, but I hugely enjoyed them all. New release picks were: "The Grapples of Wrath" by Alice Bell, and "The Mysterious Affair of Judith Potts" by Robert Thorogood. (1/3) #januaryreads #amreading #readingcommunity

This is how I found my agent! If you are a writer from an under-represented background and have at least a partly complete novel, do consider applying...

Once more for the evening crowd, whether you want to read or listen ⬇️

My latest blog celebrates 2026 as The National Year of Reading. But what does that mean for you and your reading habits? Article now with audio voiceover! arsenicandcoldcase.substack.com/p/2026-the-n... #amreading #nationalyearofreading2026 #goallin

Happy New Year! In my latest substack, I review what I achieved in 2025, and reveal my hopes and goals for the year ahead. arsenicandcoldcase.substack.com/p/goodbye-20... #Goodbye2025 #Hello2026 #HappyNewYear

Here's my December reads... My favourite book this month was "The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers", a fantastic debut by Samuel Burr. It's a great contemporary mystery with a strong Golden Age voice that felt incredibly immersive. Highly recommended! #amreading #decemberreads

It's time for my favourite books of 2025! I didn't read as much this year as I normally do, but I still have a lot of books to be thankful for, so here's my top 10 in no particular order... #BestOf2025 #readingcommunity (1/4)

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas x

Overwhipped the cream for the yule log and ended up with accidental butter 😂 It's very tasty though!

In my latest post, I talk about how my writing journey began with short fiction. Plus, enjoy a festive short story that I wrote back in 2021! No judgement please, my writing has improved a lot since then 😉 arsenicandcoldcase.substack.com/p/writing-sh... #shortfiction #shortstories #festiveseason

In part 10 of my Path to Publication series, I discuss what it’s like to Sign a Publishing Contract, and what you need to know before you do… arsenicandcoldcase.substack.com/p/signing-a-... #blogpost #substack #pathtopublication #publishingcontract

Here's my November reads... My favourite book was "Hidden in Memories" (Åre Murders 3) by Viveca Sten. I have a real soft spot for Scandi crime fiction, so perhaps it's not surprising. What have you read and enjoyed this month? #amreading

Once more for the evening crowd... My latest blog is all about getting professional headshots taken⬇️

Like many people I hate having my photo taken, so last month I visited a professional photograph for my official headshots. And here's what happened... arsenicandcoldcase.substack.com/p/getting-pr... #authorlife #headshots

ICYMI yesterday, it's not too late to check out my latest blog on writing during times of turbulence or uncertainty. Take a look here ⬇️

Here's my October reads! Just five this month, and my favourite was "Quantum of Menace" by Vaseem Khan. It's the first in a new series about Q (from the Bond / 007 universe) and it's a brilliant mystery!

When life throws you a curveball, or you're waiting for the other shoe to drop, it's easy to lose your creative impetus. What's important is how you get it back, and that you acknowledge your success when you do. arsenicandcoldcase.substack.com/p/writing-th... #writing #resilience

I started my writing journey with @writershq.bsky.social. Write November looks like a fantastic way to get into writing, or to give your writing a little boost! Check it out ⬇️

Another recharge weekend well spent. My husband bought this for our anniversary last week, and we built it yesterday. Love a bit of '80s nostalgia, and Gizmo in particular!

Once more for the evening folks... ⬇️

The path to publication can be long, winding and highly variable. But what do you do when you get a publishing offer? And how do you assess whether it's right for you? Read my latest substack to find out what I did, why, and whether it worked! arsenicandcoldcase.substack.com/p/assessing-...

Once more for the evening crowd... 'A Lens Unclouded' is changing. For a sneak peek of what's coming next, take a look at my latest blog ⬇️

This is the last edition of A Lens Unclouded... before I rebrand my blog, and everything else in my writing life. But what is rebranding, why am I doing it, and is it really going to make a difference? alensunclouded.substack.com/p/rebranding #blogpost #substack #rebranding