top of page
tomalanauthor
Aug 143 min read
Pantster or Plotter? My Unfinished Journey...
I find the pantster v plotter debate fascinating. I've only really become aware of it as my first two books were being published -...
17 views0 comments
tomalanauthor
Apr 305 min read
Editing: Second Time Around
A little background: I wrote The Last App between 2018 and 2020. Then, during the Covid lockdown, between March and July 2020, I wrote...
9 views0 comments
tomalanauthor
Apr 195 min read
Meet the Cast of The Last App
Image by <a href="https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/flat-design-couple-arguing-silhouette_41339855.htm">Freepik</a> The set-up: Mick...
12 views0 comments
tomalanauthor
Nov 21, 20233 min read
To Title Your Chapters, or Not to Title Your Chapters...?
I'm grateful to @kctorawrites and @ElisaSaphier for asking questions on Twitter about naming (or not naming) chapters in books. They made...
30 views0 comments
tomalanauthor
May 20, 20235 min read
Add a Catchy Title...
If you use Wix for your website you'll know that 'Add a Catchy Title' is their default invitation to write a new blog post. I thought it...
39 views0 comments
tomalanauthor
May 6, 20237 min read
Write What You Know...?
It's an old adage, but I decided I'd stick close to it for my debut novel, Hitting the Jackpot (Bloodhound Books). It's the story of Jack...
49 views0 comments
tomalanauthor
Apr 7, 20234 min read
I've Written My Book... Now, Can I Design a Front Cover...?
My publisher emailed asking me to pick some book covers that I thought would give the design team an idea of the type of thing I'd like...
48 views0 comments
tomalanauthor
Mar 4, 20235 min read
Editing: Through the Eyes of a Debut Author
Hitting the Jackpot is my debut novel, so it's my first experience of being 'edited'. This post isn't going to be a 'how to' guide,...
157 views0 comments
tomalanauthor
Feb 19, 20233 min read
Isn't One Pseudonym Enough...?
Two pseudonyms? Yes, I agree, it's a bit much. But there is an explanation - well, there are two... When I moved to Spain (2006) to teach...
46 views0 comments
tomalanauthor
Jan 29, 20235 min read
Meet the Cast of Hitting the Jackpot
The set-up: Cindy (millennial, Aussie, gig-economy fitness instructor) is divorcing Jack (millennial, Brit, gig-economy English teacher)....
289 views0 comments
tomalanauthor
Jan 29, 20233 min read
So, Where Shall I Set the Action...?
This is Cricklewood, in North London. My book (Hitting the Jackpot) is about Jack, Lottery jackpot winner. Seeing as his wife (Cindy) is...
72 views0 comments
tomalanauthor
Jan 17, 20233 min read
How I Wrote a Romcom - by Accident
So, right, confession time - I didn't set out to write a romcom. Who, me? Don't get me wrong, I like romcoms, well, I like the films. I...
95 views1 comment
tomalanauthor
Jan 9, 20234 min read
After the First Draft...?
I felt a huge sense of relief when I finished the first draft of Hitting the Jackpot. There was my story on screen - beginning, middle,...
74 views0 comments
tomalanauthor
Nov 27, 20225 min read
Writing During the Spanish COVID Lockdown...
March 2020, Spain entered lockdown - but what a lockdown. We could leave our homes to buy food, go to the health centre, or visit the...
91 views0 comments
bottom of page