Simon McCleave: "Drink lots of Coffee..." | Mark Stay's Creative Differences

Simon McCleave is the multi million-selling crime novelist of the DI Ruth Hunter Snowdonia Series. Simon takes us from his first play at the Edinburgh Festival through being a script editor, screenwriter and novelist, and he gives us the secret to his prolific output...WE DISCUSS:How he took the pace of TV writing and applied it to fictionHow a ride-along with the police taught him some important lessonsAnd he has tons of tips for writers new to self-publishing...Support the showThanks to:Dom Currie for the jingleEmily Stay-Newton and Kai Stay-Newton for the editVisit https://markstaycreativedifferences.com/Join The Green Room: https://ko-fi.com/markstaywriter/tiersBuy my books here: https://witchesofwoodville.com/#bookshopAnd there's more about me at: https://markstaywrites.com/

Author and illustrator Poppy T Perry tells us how her debut, Dead Real, was partly inspired by one of her children asking the all important question, "If not now, Mummy, when?" Get inspired and get writing with a fab episode where we discuss...How breaking rules helps you develop your voiceUsing zines to promote your booksAnd the joys of being a 5am writer (no, really!)LINKSPoppy's website https://www.poppytperry.comOur previous episodes with GB Ralph and Mike Shackle...https://markstaycreativedifferences.com/2024/12/02/episode-4-with-mike-shackle/https://markstaycreativedifferences.com/2024/12/12/episode-5-with-gb-ralph-share-the-excitment/ Support the showThanks to:Dom Currie for the jingleEmily Stay-Newton and Kai Stay-Newton for the editVisit https://markstaycreativedifferences.com/Join The Green Room: https://ko-fi.com/markstaywriter/tiersBuy my books here: https://witchesofwoodville.com/#bookshopAnd there's more about me at: https://markstaywrites.com/

Award-winning author Ivy Ngeow returns with a page-turning thriller In Safe Hands. We discuss:Why books are like buildingsHow art is built on observationWhy we shouldn't fear our mistakes and much more!LINKShttps://writengeow.comSupport the showThanks to:Dom Currie for the jingleEmily Stay-Newton and Kai Stay-Newton for the editVisit https://markstaycreativedifferences.com/Join The Green Room: https://ko-fi.com/markstaywriter/tiersBuy my books here: https://witchesofwoodville.com/#bookshopAnd there's more about me at: https://markstaywrites.com/

Tim Sullivan, author of the bestselling DS George Cross series talks about his latest book The Tailor, his extraordinary career in film, TV and crime fiction...WE DISCUSSWriting outside of your own experienceThe importance of titles and why character is kingAnd how to write a whodunnit without knowing who did it...LINKSTim's Website: https://timsullivan.co.ukIn the Can: https://timsullivan.co.uk/about/in-the-can/Green Room with Paul Austin Ardoin: https://youtu.be/-Ylor2NWo1k?si=NQaal4nu2AafT0G4 Support the showThanks to:Dom Currie for the jingleEmily Stay-Newton and Kai Stay-Newton for the editVisit https://markstaycreativedifferences.com/Join The Green Room: https://ko-fi.com/markstaywriter/tiersBuy my books here: https://witchesofwoodville.com/#bookshopAnd there's more about me at: https://markstaywrites.com/

A bonus episode with special guest Paul Austin Ardoin. Paul is the author of Fenway Stevenson Mysteries and he joined me and Green Room members to discuss his brilliant new nonfiction book, Outlining for Novelists who don't Outline, which is packed with tips for pantser writers who want more control over their story without losing their voice.We discuss:If you can you pants a mysteryCreating vivid charactersCoping with disappearing sidekicks and much more!This is the sort of stuff that we discuss in my online writing group The Green Room all the time and I'm planning on having more special guests in the future. You can join today! There's more about the Green Room here... https://markstaywrites.com/the-green-room/LINKSPaul's website: https://paulaustinardoin.com  Outlining for Novelists who don't Outline: https://paulaustinardoin.com/products/outlining-for-novelists-who-dont-outline  Bestseller Experiment Ben Aaronovitch episode: https://bestsellerexperiment.com/ep22-ben-aaronovitch-great-bollocking/  Support the showThanks to:Dom Currie for the jingleEmily Stay-Newton and Kai Stay-Newton for the editVisit https://markstaycreativedifferences.com/Join The Green Room: https://ko-fi.com/markstaywriter/tiersBuy my books here: https://witchesofwoodville.com/#bookshopAnd there's more about me at: https://markstaywrites.com/

Elwood Flynn, author of Pulp Western Hot Lead, insists that he doesn't know where the brutal violence in his books comes from and that he's a perfectly nice person really. WE DISCUSS:Launching a new series with multiple formats including a gift box setHow he once wrote a book in a dayAnd how being a fan of Westerns can be politically challenging...And much more!LINKSElwood Flynn https://elwoodflynn.comHow Andrew wrote a novel in a day: https://bestsellerexperiment.com/ep384-andrew-chapman-how-to-write-a-bestseller-in-a-day/ Joe Hill on the Bestseller Experiment https://bestsellerexperiment.com/ep19-joe-hill/ Support the showThanks to:Dom Currie for the jingleEmily Stay-Newton and Kai Stay-Newton for the editVisit https://markstaycreativedifferences.com/Join The Green Room: https://ko-fi.com/markstaywriter/tiersBuy my books here: https://witchesofwoodville.com/#bookshopAnd there's more about me at: https://markstaywrites.com/

Michael S Jackson, author of the epic Ringlander fantasy series, reveals how he lets the first draft storytelling flow in order to leave himself material that he can use in edits and rewrites. He also shares details of his new Kickstarter campaign!WE DISCUSS:The balance between story, magic and worldbuildingThe importance of cover art and creating beautiful booksAnd the important of the Rubik's Cube to his state of mind...And much more!LINKSMichael's website: https://mjackson.co.uk/  Michael's Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/mikestepjack/ringlander-the-path-and-the-way-tome-edition/Michael's Author Interviews: https://authorinterviews.co.ukThe Miro app: https://miro.comModern Family: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modern_FamilyKarnivool: https://www.karnivool.comThis is How You Lose The Time War - by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone (this is an affiliate link and I earn pennies if you order using this link): https://amzn.to/4amdYGkWidow’s Bay on Apple TV: https://tv.apple.com/gb/show/widows-bay/umc.cmc.1zzly0vah46bnvnwf0qkrjhh2King Sorrow by Joe Hill (another affiliate link): https://amzn.to/4a8yREVUnwelcome on Netflix! https://www.netflix.com/title/81552865Craig Mazin's How To Write a Movie talk... https://youtu.be/i27IKil-LXw?si=jpYDSH2xSlQ1CO3mSupport the showThanks to:Dom Currie for the jingleEmily Stay-Newton and Kai Stay-Newton for the editVisit https://markstaycreativedifferences.com/Join The Green Room: https://ko-fi.com/markstaywriter/tiersBuy my books here: https://witchesofwoodville.com/#bookshopAnd there's more about me at: https://markstaywrites.com/

Karen Storey, award-winning author of the brilliant debut novel THE APPROVAL OF SHEEP, reveals how her stories let her know when they're ready to be written.WE DISCUSS:A brilliant tip for writing award-winning short storiesWhy you need to get a website and newsletter right nowAnd why her cat gets more fan mail that she does...And much more!LINKSKaren's website: https://karenstoreyauthor.com  The Law of Consequences short story collection: https://books2read.com/b/mvzrW2Quite Ugly One Morning (I earn commission if you purchase using this link): https://amzn.to/3OMLiitRaye: https://rayeofficial.comSupport the showThanks to:Dom Currie for the jingleEmily Stay-Newton and Kai Stay-Newton for the editVisit https://markstaycreativedifferences.com/Join The Green Room: https://ko-fi.com/markstaywriter/tiersBuy my books here: https://witchesofwoodville.com/#bookshopAnd there's more about me at: https://markstaywrites.com/

Kathleen Whyman, author of the MOTHER OF ALL COMEBACKS, reveals how her brilliantly funny novels are a combination of real life, invention and her imagination...WE DISCUSS:Receiving her first publisher rejection, aged 10!How an encounter in the loo led to her debutBalancing writing with marketing and PR...And much more!LINKSKathleen's website Kathleen's Unboxing Video The Julie Wassmer episodeThe Amazon links below are affiliate links and I earn commission if you buy with them...Zippo by Richard CaveShrinking The Other Bennet Sister Don't Make Me Laugh by Julia RaesidePixie by Jill DawsonQualityland by Marc-Uwe KlingKatherine Priddy, These Frightening Machines A huge thanks to Emily Stay-Newton for production assistance, to Kai Stay-Newton for the edit, and Dominic Currie for the jingle.Support the showThanks to:Dom Currie for the jingleEmily Stay-Newton and Kai Stay-Newton for the editVisit https://markstaycreativedifferences.com/Join The Green Room: https://ko-fi.com/markstaywriter/tiersBuy my books here: https://witchesofwoodville.com/#bookshopAnd there's more about me at: https://markstaywrites.com/

I speak to Julie Wassmer, author of the Whitstable Pearl Mysteries and screenwriter on shows like Eastenders in a special episode, recorded LIVE at the Staines Library Hub as part of the Escalate Arts Festival.We Discuss:How Julie's TV experience affected the Whitstable Pearl MysteriesUsing dictation and writing by handThe role that libraries played in Julie's writing journeyAnd much more!(And there's a lovely bit with some horsies)LINKShttps://juliewassmer.comA huge thanks to Emily Stay-Newton for production assistance, to Kai Stay-Newton for the edit, and Dominic Currie for the jingle.And a very special thank you to the team at the Staines Library Hub, Susan Dinmore at Surrey Arts and everyone who came to the recording on the day.Support the show:Visit https://markstaycreativedifferences.com/Join The Green Room: https://ko-fi.com/markstaywriter/tiers Buy my books here: https://witchesofwoodville.com/#bookshopAnd there’s more about me at: https://markstaywrites.com/Support the showThanks to:Dom Currie for the jingleEmily Stay-Newton and Kai Stay-Newton for the editVisit https://markstaycreativedifferences.com/Join The Green Room: https://ko-fi.com/markstaywriter/tiersBuy my books here: https://witchesofwoodville.com/#bookshopAnd there's more about me at: https://markstaywrites.com/