Two weeks ago, I was in Morrisons doing a quick shop before work, and 'Total Eclipse of the Heart' was playing. By the time I got to the self-service checkout, there was a row of us miming to it (with a bit too much passion) 'Turn around bright eyes'/'EVERY NOW AND THEN I FALL APART'.

Tatty Book No. 4: Royal Flash (1970). I've not read the book by George Macdonald Fraser, or seen the film staring Malcolm McDowell and directed by Richard Lester (1975). I'm planning on doing an episode on a Flashman novel, but this is so tatty I'm worried pages will fall out while I'm reading.

Sharing this again because, well, I don't know...no reason at all. Now please excuse me while I go and dry my sweaty scalp dangerously close to a fan. wp.me/phiaSF-5Y

I thought I knew Jessica, I clearly did not.

I've never actually been to Capital Crime, but I've just finished listening to this (not at all live!) episode and that's been a nice replacement. Lovely interviews with authors throughout! It just goes to show crime fiction authors + crime fiction events = really good time.

I've watched this (possibly) far too many times. The hero's striped leggings, Todd Carty from Grange Hill, Lysette Anthony (dubbed?), a fancy boomerang, Francesca Annis held prisoner by a large spider, Alun Armstrong in a odd dog collar (non-religious kind) and time management. What's not to like?

This is a great review about a series and author I've never heard of before. Chastity Riley sounds like a really intriguing central character for a crime series, so it's definitely going on my (ever expanding) list.

In S3/E06, I look at 'Living is a Problem' by @dougjohnstone.bsky.social. We'll be covering the shifting perspectives of Dorothy, Jenny and Hannah and how they might help or hinder an 'out of order' reader and how undertaking is as important as crime in understanding this novel. wp.me/phiaSF-7L

Tatty book No. 3: 'Typhoon' by John Gordon Davis. The story of Jake Adams a man who sees concrete boats as the future, and Vanessa Storm Williams a 25 year old, newly wealthy American journalist. Two chapters in and it seems their first 'meeting' is him watching her have sex. Summary details in ALT.

'Suffice it to add that all the major production credits relate to women.' This sentence from a 1982 Catholic News Services review of a TV show I've never seen has lived rent free in my head for weeks. In an attempt to exorcise it, I get really petty.

I read this in my late 30s. I was abroad and there wasn't anything else to read! I was absolutely hooked, I can still visualise the small town by the coast, and the creepy moment they saw figures on the skyline. Amazing book. Absolutely amazing.

If you missed it, here's my Season 2 bonus episode where @adamchristopher.me gave up A LOT of his time for an interview about all things tie-in. It covers Elementary, Stranger Things and Star Wars amongst others and looks at whether tie-in research reflects a tie-in writer's reality. wp.me/phiaSF-7y

Tatty book No. 2. Do I like cricket? No. Did I know who Brian Close was? No. Why did I pick this up? Well, in the spirit of reading widely, reading the 1978 autobiography of a former Yorkshire and Somerset captain is well out my comfort zone! The book's summary is in ALT.

It is the dawn of a new era. Hear our battle anthem. Welcome to the new InfoWars.

Since @robinince.bsky.social made my month with his poem about tatty books for #poetrychallenge, I'm randomly sharing some of my tatty books this July. I picked this up yesterday at Morrisons (on a charity shelf). Glue in hand, it inspired me to ask for a tatty books poem. Details on ALT text.

I'm currently listening to 'A Taste for Poison' by Neil Bradbury which includes lots of fascinating true crime examples. One question: Why was poison ever referred to as 'a woman's weapon' in any crime fiction? So far it's mostly doctors - mostly male doctors - very much a doctor's weapon, I'd say.

Tatty books #poetrychallenge

There's lots of really good stuff in this, plus it reminded me of someone who taught a lesson on body parts (bones and organs?) based on Jackie Chan's many injuries. If I remember correctly, most of the injuries came from Police Story, which is mentioned (amongst many other things) in here.

So my podcast has a section called 'Reading like a Writer', where I wang on about how I need to finish/start/try/think harder about writing a novel. Imagine my surprise when I got an email this morning telling me not only have I finished a novel, but someone is willing to help me publish it!

Um, I don't think I'll be going to this particular Dollar General then.

In case you missed it: S2/E01 is the research episode that started my journey into TV tie-ins answering: What exactly is a TV tie-in novel? Why might fandom be a double-edged sword for tie-in authors? What things make TV tie-in writing particularly difficult?

Unapologetically making no attempt to adjust whatsoever. You enjoy your sportsing, I'll stick to my books thanks.

My upcoming episode is on 'Living is a Problem', so this is the time to go back and answer all the 'out of order' questions I've got.

I had to check this was a joke because it felt terrifyingly real in places. Genuinely hilarious, though some of my laughter was a little hysterical. "My thoughts are not organized into paragraphs. They do not have topic sentences. They are just fragments. Impressions. My job is just… prompt."

is james woods the best actor who is also an absolute fucking maniac?

I certainly needed to see this on a Friday, it could give me a kick up the backside for the weekend. It's a great mix of practical and supportive answers.

I can't think what it is about the weather in the UK over the last few days that made me want to write about the 2016 novel 'The Dry' by Jane Harper. Now please excuse me while I go and stick my head in the fridge...

If you listen to this 'bitesize' episode, you’ll probably hear me mention the words bamboozle and befuddle a little too much. I call a character a ‘tit,’ and although I’m off topic when I do this, I am totally justified. This is one person's journey into proving a point. Join me?

What connects a trilogy of '50 Shades' videos by Folding Ideas with the BBC's 'The Private Life of A Masterpiece'? Something really, really unimportant...

I love the fact that they do this before a lot of the events! An author can appear, talk a bit about themselves and then read an extract from their new novel. It's such a fantastic opportunity for all the authors, and a genius idea/gift from this festival to writers.

From a post on Bluesky by @dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social to ordering a book and memories of a dalmatian. This is all about reading widely. outoforderbookclub.wpcomstaging.com/2026/06/19/y...

I've certainly taken this advice to heart over the last year.

In case you missed it here's S3/E01. I finally got round to reading a Gladys Mitchell novel, one of the 'forgotten authors' of Golden Age crime fiction. outoforderbookclub.alitu.com/episode/f57d...

Some films haunt you. Some films annoy you. Some films stay with you for a lifetime for no logical reason. 1994's 'The Specialist' is that film for me. I really need an expert to explain to me time, ageing and Sharon Stone in The Specialist.

What have I learnt from nearly a year of podcasting? (Part 2) To be honest, I thought I would leave this 'series' for a few weeks and come back to it, but this is something I need to mention. I've just got to get it out of my system, and perhaps posting it here will make it stick. I don't actually…

What have I learnt from nearly a year of podcasting? (Part 1) Is it insomnia when neighbours decide to drag furniture about at 2 am, and you can't get back to sleep? That's not the topic of this blog, just the reason why I'm here at 4.15 am. outoforderbookclub.wpcomstaging.com/2026/06/15/w...

Michael Jayston's audio work is amazing. I love listening to audiobooks he narrated. Plus, the 70s 'Tinker Tailor' series is great for many reasons, and one of them is 'young Peter Guillam' portrayed by Jayston.

By way of trying to grow my podcast and get more writing done, I've set up a new website with (slightly) more than 'just' my episodes. Several cups of tea and an interaction with a helpful (human) support engineer later, it's up and running. outoforderbookclub.wpcomstaging.com/2026/06/13/a...

OK, I need to book some tickets for this and the Harrogate Crime Writing Festival. I'll also need to book into the Premier Inn in Glasgow I went to last time, where I indulged in the 'unlimited' breakfast and spent most the time listening to Mick Herron and Nick Harkaway with awesome indigestion.

While developing my recent episode I researched hell and purgatory. I found this article looking at the work of Kirk, Williams and King and their depiction of them fascinating. Sadly, 2026 has me thinking a lot about hell and purgatory anyway... dc.swosu.edu/mythlore/vol...

I'm doing this a bit today, but... I agree. No notes. Full endorsement.

I agree. No notes. Full endorsement.

While doing my new episode on 'The Archive of the Forgotten' by @ajhackwith.bsky.social I discovered this gem from @uolpress.bsky.social. uolpress.co.uk/book/books-r... It made me look afresh at, well, how authors depict books, readers and libraries in fiction. Definitely worth a read!

S3/E04: In this new episode we're looking at 'The Archive of the Forgotten' by @ajhackwith.bsky.social. Are they in hell? Why might libraries be a great place for fantasy novels? How challenging is it to dive into the second book in a fantasy trilogy? outoforderbookclub.alitu.com/episode/cf7f...

This was a groundbreaking piece of work. A work so good it means a life well spent. Millions of people understand Iran, the diaspora and the weird bittersweet details of the immigrant experience through the work she did.

'Persepolis' is a profoundly important book about coming of age, womanhood, family, love, the impact of culture and politics on the lives of children told with honesty and humour. Reading it for the first time was an emotional experience I can still remember. www.france24.com/en/culture/2...

What's that sound? That's the sound of me drumming my fingers as I wait on my library's reservation list for this! I've read this series in order for many years (after starting on book 3, then going back to the beginning!), so technically I can't do an episode on this crime series!

I've reserved 'Ring the Hill' at my local library. As walking is my main (only?) exercise, I feel I have a special relationship with hills. The one from Hebden Bridge to Heptonstall will live with (scar?) me forever. As one local said, it's the 'hill that just keeps on giving'. Use your library!

S3/E02: Beware, Beware by @stephcha.bsky.social. I jump, as an 'out of order' reader, into the second book in the Juniper Song trilogy. It's a take on noirish Marlowe style novels with a Korean American female detective, murder and dread a plenty. outoforderbookclub.alitu.com/episode/0ded...

I wish this had been around when I started my podcast because in each episode I try to 'read like a writer' and take some creative writing inspiration from each novel. I'll definitely be using this to inspire me, and name checking it, in future episodes. Thanks @emmadarwinwriter.bsky.social