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

Here's my September reads! My favourite was "The Killer Question" by Janice Hallett - which narrowly beat out the latest offerings from Osman and Herron by having just a few extra twists that kept me guessing right until the end. #amreading #septemberreads

Once more for the evening crowd... If you'd like to have your say on what I write about in 2026, take a look at my latest blog ⬇️

It’s my fiftieth substack today, so please join me for a little retrospective over the last two years: what I’ve learned, what I (still) haven’t, and what is coming next… alensunclouded.substack.com/p/twoish-yea... #amwri̇ti̇ng #substack #blogpost

Doing the final readthrough before I return my MS to my editor. It's really easy to see which bits I wrote while hungry... Anyone for a cinnamon roll? 🤣 #amediting #hungrywriter

Once more for the evening crowd... Going on Submission was a wild ride! ⬇️

In my latest blog... What it's really like to go on submission, how what actually happens compares to your plan, and how to stay sane when everything is outside of your control. alensunclouded.substack.com/p/going-on-s... #pathtopublication #submission

Here's my August reads! My favourite was "The Half Burnt House" by Alex North. Deliciously twisty, I lost sleep when I stayed up to finish it. Totally worth feeling knackered the following day. I also did some beta reading, which is always a joy. #amreading #augustreads

Am I editing my book like I should be? No Am I writing 'white papers' in the voices of my characters about funny topics because I thought it was a good idea? Absolutely yes. Good lord, this is fun 😂 #amwriting #crimefiction #sidequest

Once more for the evening crowd... if you're unsure about whether to read, there are many pictures of puppies included!

In this week's substack I'm talking about characterisation hacks, specifically the 'Two Beers and a Puppy' questions. Take a look to see how this premise may help with your writing (and your friends!)... alensunclouded.substack.com/p/two-beers-... #amwri̇ti̇ng #characterisation #twobeersandapuppy

Once more for the evening crowd... You send more than just your manuscript and it pays to get your timing right. Here's what I learned when submitting my novel to publishers ⬇️

In the next instalment of my path to publication... What really happens when you go on submission to publishers and why it’s more complicated than you might think. alensunclouded.substack.com/p/preparatio... #pathtopublication #submission

Here's my July reads! My favourite was "The Ministry of Time" by Kaliane Bradley. It's a brilliant book and I loved every minute. Also really enjoyed Ruth Ware's short stories. Looking forward to August which will be TBR reads only... #amreading #julyreads

An encore for the evening crowd... if you're unsure about audiobooks, or have never tried them, have a read of my blog ⬇️ #amreading #audiobooks

Most people predominantly read paperbacks or ebooks over hardbacks or audiobooks. So what happens if you just listen to audiobooks for a few months instead? That's what I did, and what I found was genuinely surprising... alensunclouded.substack.com/p/its-still-... #amreading #audiobooks

Running through structural edits of my #CrimeFiction novel today. Editor thinks there's too many references to tea/coffee. Decided to count them... 63! There's only 54 chapters 😂 #amediting #lessteaplease

It's easy to think about which writers inspire me, but sometimes I forget about the TV series, movies and life events that lead me to write crime fiction and cold cases in particular... alensunclouded.substack.com/p/writing-fi... #amwriting #CrimeFiction #coldcases