I often get asked about my research for the books I’ve written. It’s my favourite part and there’s always plenty of it! Here are a few of the books I read while I was researching The Flight.

I was listening to an audio book on my way to the gym this morning, as usual, when suddenly, the plot to my next book FELL INTO MY HEAD! 🤯 Right now, it’s my best book ever! (That’s because I haven’t spoiled it by writing it yet 😂)

I've just filled my last editing/proofreading spot for July! 🥳 I'm now taking bookings for August, so do get in touch if you want to have a chat about the services I offer. (All new clients will receive a complimentary sample edit.) www.heatherjfitt.com/heatherjfitt...

When I first started going to book festivals, I would get really nervous about going up to authors and asking them to sign books and for photos etc. I did think I’d got over it, but meeting Karin Slaughter at the weekend proves I absolutely have not 😂

My @capitalcrime.bsky.social book haul! A couple of old favourites, and quite a few new-to-me authors 😁

It's been seven years since I left my well-paid career job. I jotted down a few thoughts in a blog post on my website. www.heatherjfitt.com/heathers-blo...

My third newsletter, talking about some of the strategies I use to get my books written, will be winging it's way to your inboxes tomorrow morning. Sign up using the link below if you don't want to miss out! 🤓

If you're interested in finding out about my strategies for getting a book written, my latest newsletter (going out tomorrow) talks all about it. Sign up using this link: heatherjfitt.com Subscribe to my Newsletter — Heather J Fitt

If you're heading to @capitalcrime.bsky.social this weekend, or maybe your still thinking about it, I've written a sort of Beginners Guide on my blog. Feel free to ask me any questions! www.heatherjfitt.com/heathers-blo...

It’s taken me much longer than it should have to get to this point - almost six months - but I am finally at the stage where I can call my manuscript a novel 😁 The end is in sight, and I have about 15,000 words left to write. (Then it’s time for draft two, but that’s a concern for another day!)

I had a brilliant time last night at @sarahpinborough.bsky.social book launch for new book We Live Here Now. If you like creepy, haunted house books, I absolutely recommend you pick this one up!

Listening to The Loney by Andrew Michael Hurley and struggling with it a bit. I’m about a third of the way through and wondering if it’s likely to get going soon?

I’m on the hunt for recommendations again! This time I’m looking for dark-ish vampire books. Specifically crime related. (I’ve already read The Gathering and Blood Like Mine.) Or movies like Underworld. (Not looking for anything like Twilight.) 🧛‍♀️

Off again! This time I’m head to Cambridge to help launch National Crime Reading Month at Bodies in the Bookshop 🤓 #pickupapageturner

Diving into Georgian London while soaking up the Caribbean sunshine 😎

If you’ve enjoyed reading a book, the greatest way to thank the author is to leave a review. There has been a lovely little bump in sales of Open You Eyes recently (thank you!) & it would mean so much to me if you would leave a review on Amazon (or anywhere!) if you enjoyed it 😁

We Live Here Now by Sarah Pinborough is one of the most spine-tinglingly creepy books I have ever read! Haunted house books where the ending lives up to the unsettling and tense build up are few and far between, but Sarah has absolutely nailed it here!

I’ve bought a few books recently and it occurred to me I haven’t shared any of them with you 😁 Let me know if you’ve read any and which you think I should read first 🤓

If you know me, then you’ll also know how much I admire and respect Laura Bates (Her book, Men Who Hate Women, inspired my debut novel, Open Your Eyes.) The work she does to try to make the world a safer place for women is beyond admirable.

Episode Three of - How Do You Use Up An Entire Joint Of Ham? Well basically, you can’t have ham without ham, egg and chips! 😝

Here we go! Many thanks to Marrisse Whittaker for this suggestion… Northumbrian Broth! Not only was it delicious, but it reminded me of my mum’s soup with added ham 🥰 (This is one we will be making a lot of, especially in the winter!)

Check out this fab review of Open Your Eyes 😁

Train ticket booked for @harrogatefestivals.bsky.social in July! 🥳

I know how much you enjoyed the spinach series, so when we won a huge ham at the meat raffle last week, I thought I’d bring you part 2! 😆 This week will be all about finding fun & interesting ways to use up this ham. First, roast dinner 😁 Beautiful salty deliciousness with amazing homemade gravy 😋

A beautiful morning for a walk along Brighton seafront to The Reading Room for brunch 😎 Yes, it is a bit of a walk, no you absolutely haven’t missed it, and yes it is absolutely worth it! 🤩

Absolutely cracking day in Brighton at @beyondbookfest.bsky.social yesterday! So great to catch up with old friends and make some new ones. Let’s do it all again really soon! 🤩 #beyondthebookfestival

The @beyondbookfest grand finale! @ruthwarewriter.bsky.social and @ellygriffiths.bsky.social interviews by @william1shaw.bsky.social 🤩 #beyondthebookfestival

@beyondbookfest.bsky.social is the festival that just keeps giving! Panel 3 is True Crimes: Story of a Murder with @hallierubenhold.bsky.social 🤩 #beyondthebookfestival

Panel number two at @beyondbookfest.bsky.social is Digging Up the Past and has the potential to be my favourite panel of the day! 🤩 #beyondthebookfestival

Kicking off @beyondbookfest.bsky.social with the Birth of a Bestseller panel 🤓 #beyondthebookfestival

Another weekend, another book festival 😁 This one’s a bit closer to home, and even though I had to get up at the crack of sparrows on a Saturday, I know @beyondbookfest.bsky.social will absolutely be worth it!

I finished The Tomorrow Project by @heathercritchlow.bsky.social in TWO DAYS! It’s rare these days for a book to hold my attention so completely. I literally couldn’t put it down. The Tomorrow Project is an utterly beautiful book and urge you all to buy it!

Any other writers feel like they’re “skiving off” when they’re reading? Even if it’s for research? 🤓

There are maybe only a handful of authors whose panels at book festivals I will attend again and again. Denise Mina is an author who I could listen to talk for hours. I always learn something from her, and she has an incredible ability to be clever without making those around her feel stupid.

Sharing for the morning crew 😁

“Skived” off work this morning and had myself a mooch around Elgin and the cathedral 😊

If you enjoyed watching Adolescence, you are going to LOVE my debut novel, Open Your Eyes. It's only 99p at the moment, but I have no idea how long that offer is going to last!

Brilliant weekend in Cromarty, with Cromarty Arts Trust at their Crime & Thriller Weekend. Fab interview with @jamesoswald.scot and amazing to spend some quality time with @suzieedge.bsky.social & @effiemerryl.bsky.social & thrash out plans for our next projects together. Get writing ladies!

Inverness Cathedral is like no other I’ve ever visited. For a start it’s made of a red-coloured stone called red Tarradale, which can be found locally on the Black Isle. It’s beautiful stone and its use is prolific in the area. If you like a mooch around a church, this is definitely one not to miss!

I love exploring new places and Inverness was no exception!

I ❤️ Cromarty

An EPIC 16-hour journey, virtually the length of the country, from Gosport to Inverness 😁

I have arrived in Cromarty and have already fallen in love! 😍 This weekend is already shaping up to be an epic one and I can’t wait to interview @sirbenfro.bsky.social on stage tomorrow 😁

So glad you enjoyed in Lauren! 😁

How many cups of tea - making or drinking - is too many for one standard-size crime novel? Asking for an… editing client 🫠 (Okay, okay! I’m asking for me 🙄)

If you don’t eat lunch outside on a sunny day, do you even work from home?! 😎

This is the final instalment - for now anyway! - of spinach-gate! The last of the second bag of spinach was used to make spinach gnocchi’s, which I had for dinner tonight along with homemade spinach pesto, chicken thighs and mozzarella 😋

In case you were wondering, the answer is 2,008 🤓

It is now 3.30pm and I have an hour and a half's writing time ahead of me. How many words am I getting down? 🤓

I’m approaching my horror era and would love some recommendations for feminist horror books 🧟‍♀️ Any sub-genre is fine - just looking for a cracking and engaging story. #horrorbooks