Oh Henry – dog detective Henry Houdini no.1 is now available!

April 28, 2019April 28, 2019Leave a comment

So exciting… the first in my dog detective series is live on Amazon:

The fabulous Sarah Hardy at Book on the Bright Side is arranging my blog tour to run w/c 29th July.

Here’s more info…

Tagline: Henry, a nineteen-month-old Jack Russell, has been given the ability to talk and now they can’t shut him up! Family Guy’s Brian with just as much attitude but better sleuthing skills.

Blurb: Henry, a talking Jack Russell, is part of a small team researching a cure for Multiple Sclerosis. He is the target of several dognappers but can he use his wit or guile to outwit them and, with the help of laboratory assistant Gwynne Davies, find the proof needed to convict the criminals. Thus begins a series of adventures for the unlikely pair. This is Family Guy’s Brian meets Poirot meets My Fair Lady.

USP: There have been amateur sleuths, there have been talking animals – Henry is both.

Length: c. 72,000 words.

Location: Northamptonshire, England.

Note: I’ve been told ‘Oh, Henry’ is young adult but the main human character is a woman in her early forties so a more general appeal, I feel. ‘For the young in all of us.’ 🙂

Keywords: dog detective, dog detective novel, comic crime novel, cozy animal mystery, cozy animal mysteries, dog detective series, animal novels, humour, humor, humourous stories, humor novels, humour novels, humorous novels, Oh Henry, O Henry, Henry Houdini, Harry Houdini, William Sydney Porter, Gwynne Davies, lab assistant, Multiple Sclerosis, cure for Multiple Sclerosis.

Purchase links:

UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07R9PDB5T
US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07R9PDB5T
AUSTRALIA: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B07R9PDB5T
BRAZIL: https://www.amazon.com.br/dp/B07R9PDB5T
CANADA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B07R9PDB5T
CHINA: https://www.amazon.cn/dp/B07R9PDB5T
FRANCE: https://www.amazon.fr/dp/B07R9PDB5T
GERMANY: https://www.amazon.de/dp/B07R9PDB5T
INDIA: https://www.amazon.in/dp/B07R9PDB5T
ITALY: https://www.amazon.it/dp/B07R9PDB5T
JAPAN: https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B07R9PDB5T
MEXICO: https://www.amazon.com.mx/dp/B07R9PDB5T
SPAIN: https://www.amazon.es/dp/B07R9PDB5T
and so on…

Do let me know if you’d like more information.

Today’s poetry and story exercises: 1st March 2019

March 1, 2019February 10, 2019Leave a comment

*** If you enjoy these prompts, or are looking to improve your writing or submit a manuscript, do take a look at my seven online courses… five currently half price and two FREE! (coupon codes on the online courses page) and / or my Writer’s Block Workbooks… now available in eBook and paperback format! I also run a free Monday mentor group. Do join us and pick my brain. 🙂

Every weekday I post a set of poetry prompts on poetrywritinggroup.wordpress.comand shortstorywritinggroup.wordpress.com. Here are those exercises…

Poetry Writing Exercises 1597: Friday 1st March

(NB. This link won’t be active until noon UK time today)

Here are your four poetry exercises for today. If you enjoy these prompts, do take a look at my online courses… five are currently half price (when using the coupon codes on my main blog’s online courses page) and two others are FREE!

Time yourself for 15 minutes per exercise, having a break in between each one or move on to the next. When you’ve finished, do pop over to this blog’s Facebook Group and let everyone know how you got on. I also run a free Monday mentor group. Do join us and pick my brain. 🙂

Below are the four – you can do them in any order.

Keywords: pad, paw, petal, possum, pew
Random: a lovely tune
Picture: what does this inspire?
One-word prompt: tear

Have fun, and if you would like to, do paste your writing in the comment boxes below so we can see how you got on! Remember though that it counts as being published so don’t post anything that you would want to submit elsewhere (where they require unpublished material).

See below for explanations of the prompts, they do vary…

Sentence starts = what it says on the tin. You can use it at the beginning of the poem or include it later, and being poetry it doesn’t have to be exact – just be inspired by it.
Keywords = the words have to appear in the poem but can be in any order and can be lengthened (e.g. clap to clapping).
Single-word prompt = sometimes all it takes is one word to spawn an idea. Sometimes it easy, sometimes hard but invariably fun.
Mixed bag = an object, a location, a colour.
Picture prompts = nothing other than a picture. What does it conjure up?
Title = the title for your piece.
Haiku poem= 5 syllables, 7 syllables, 5 syllables
Random = whatever takes my fancy!

Story Writing Exercises 1601: Friday 1st Mar

(NB. This link won’t be active until 10am UK time today)

Below are your four story exercises for today. You can do them in any order. Time yourself for 15 minutes for each one, then either have a break or move on to the next one.

Continue reading →

Today’s poetry and story exercises: 28th Feb 2019

February 28, 2019February 10, 2019Leave a comment

Every weekday I post a set of poetry prompts on poetrywritinggroup.wordpress.comand shortstorywritinggroup.wordpress.com. Here are those exercises…

Poetry Writing Exercises 1596: Thursday 28th February

(NB. This link won’t be active until noon UK time today)

Below are the four – you can do them in any order.

Keywords: run, pain, pane, break, awake
Random: out of breath
Picture: what does this inspire?
Thursday Title: Away with the Fairies

See below for explanations of the prompts, they do vary…

Sentence starts = what it says on the tin. You can use it at the beginning of the poem or include it later, and being poetry it doesn’t have to be exact – just be inspired by it.
Keywords = the words have to appear in the poem but can be in any order and can be lengthened (e.g. clap to clapping).
Single-word prompt = sometimes all it takes is one word to spawn an idea. Sometimes it easy, sometimes hard but invariably fun.
Mixed bag = an object, a location, a colour.
Picture prompts = nothing other than a picture. What does it conjure up?
Title = the title for your piece.
Haiku poem= 5 syllables, 7 syllables, 5 syllables
Random = whatever takes my fancy!

Story Writing Exercises 1600: Thursday 28th Feb

(NB. This link won’t be active until 10am UK time today)

Below are your four story exercises for today. You can do them in any order. Time yourself for 15 minutes for each one, then either have a break or move on to the next one.

Continue reading →

Today’s poetry and story exercises: 27th Feb 2019

February 27, 2019February 10, 2019Leave a comment

Every weekday I post a set of poetry prompts on poetrywritinggroup.wordpress.comand shortstorywritinggroup.wordpress.com. Here are those exercises…

Poetry Writing Exercises 1595: Wednesday 27th February

(NB. This link won’t be active until noon UK time today)

Below are the four – you can do them in any order.

Keywords: tank, breathe, breath, away, gasp
Random: mix today’s prompts
Picture: what does this inspire?
Sentence start: Needless to say…

See below for explanations of the prompts, they do vary…

Sentence starts = what it says on the tin. You can use it at the beginning of the poem or include it later, and being poetry it doesn’t have to be exact – just be inspired by it.
Keywords = the words have to appear in the poem but can be in any order and can be lengthened (e.g. clap to clapping).
Single-word prompt = sometimes all it takes is one word to spawn an idea. Sometimes it easy, sometimes hard but invariably fun.
Mixed bag = an object, a location, a colour.
Picture prompts = nothing other than a picture. What does it conjure up?
Title = the title for your piece.
Haiku poem= 5 syllables, 7 syllables, 5 syllables
Random = whatever takes my fancy!

Story Writing Exercises 1599: Wednesday 27th Feb

(NB. This link won’t be active until 10am UK time today)

Below are your four story exercises for today. You can do them in any order. Time yourself for 15 minutes for each one, then either have a break or move on to the next one.

Continue reading →

Today’s poetry and story exercises: 26th Feb 2019

February 26, 2019February 10, 2019Leave a comment

Every weekday I post a set of poetry prompts on poetrywritinggroup.wordpress.com and shortstorywritinggroup.wordpress.com. Here are those exercises…

Poetry Writing Exercises 1594: Tuesday 26th February

(NB. This link won’t be active until noon UK time today)

Below are the four – you can do them in any order.

Keywords: court, caught, community, safe, order
Random: over the limit
Picture: what does this inspire?
Tuesday Title: No Lady

See below for explanations of the prompts, they do vary…

Sentence starts = what it says on the tin. You can use it at the beginning of the poem or include it later, and being poetry it doesn’t have to be exact – just be inspired by it.
Keywords = the words have to appear in the poem but can be in any order and can be lengthened (e.g. clap to clapping).
Single-word prompt = sometimes all it takes is one word to spawn an idea. Sometimes it easy, sometimes hard but invariably fun.
Mixed bag = an object, a location, a colour.
Picture prompts = nothing other than a picture. What does it conjure up?
Title = the title for your piece.
Haiku poem= 5 syllables, 7 syllables, 5 syllables
Random = whatever takes my fancy!

Story Writing Exercises 1598: Tuesday 26th Feb

(NB. This link won’t be active until 10am UK time today)

Below are your four story exercises for today. You can do them in any order. Time yourself for 15 minutes for each one, then either have a break or move on to the next one.

Continue reading →

Today’s poetry and story exercises: 25th Feb 2019

February 25, 2019February 10, 2019Leave a comment

Every weekday I post a set of poetry prompts on poetrywritinggroup.wordpress.com. As you’ll see by the heading numbers, you may have missed a few but the links are listed on the relevant group’s Exercises page so you can always find them there. So here are your poetry and short story exercises…

Poetry Writing Exercises 1593: Monday 25th February

(NB. This link won’t be active until noon UK time today)

SONY DSC

Below are the four – you can do them in any order.

Keywords: laughing, blown, twice, easy, plenty
Random: pick an item from today’s / the weekend’s news
Picture: what does this inspire?
Monologue Monday: first-person poem about some plush surroundings

See below for explanations of the prompts, they do vary…

Sentence starts = what it says on the tin. You can use it at the beginning of the poem or include it later, and being poetry it doesn’t have to be exact – just be inspired by it.
Keywords = the words have to appear in the poem but can be in any order and can be lengthened (e.g. clap to clapping).
Single-word prompt = sometimes all it takes is one word to spawn an idea. Sometimes it easy, sometimes hard but invariably fun.
Mixed bag = an object, a location, a colour.
Picture prompts = nothing other than a picture. What does it conjure up?
Title = the title for your piece.
Haiku poem= 5 syllables, 7 syllables, 5 syllables
Random = whatever takes my fancy!

Story Writing Exercises 1597: Monday 25th Feb

(NB. This link won’t be active until 10am UK time today)

Below are your four story exercises for today. You can do them in any order. Time yourself for 15 minutes for each one, then either have a break or move on to the next one.

Continue reading →

Today’s poetry and story exercises: 22nd Feb 2019

February 22, 2019February 10, 2019Leave a comment

I also run a free Monday mentor group. Do join us and pick my brain. 🙂

Every weekday I post a set of poetry prompts on poetrywritinggroup.wordpress.com and a set of story prompts on the script, novel and short story blogs. As you’ll see by the heading numbers, you may have missed a few but the links are listed on the relevant group’s Exercises page so you can always find them there. So here are your poetry and short story exercises…

Poetry Writing Exercises 1592: Friday 22nd February

(NB. This link won’t be active until noon UK time today)

Below are the four – you can do them in any order.

Keywords: more, first, cat, time, stupid
Random: how long do you get?
Picture: what does this inspire?
One-word prompt: day

See below for explanations of the prompts, they do vary…

Sentence starts = what it says on the tin. You can use it at the beginning of the poem or include it later, and being poetry it doesn’t have to be exact – just be inspired by it.
Keywords = the words have to appear in the poem but can be in any order and can be lengthened (e.g. clap to clapping).
Single-word prompt = sometimes all it takes is one word to spawn an idea. Sometimes it easy, sometimes hard but invariably fun.
Mixed bag = an object, a location, a colour.
Picture prompts = nothing other than a picture. What does it conjure up?
Title = the title for your piece.
Haiku poem= 5 syllables, 7 syllables, 5 syllables
Random = whatever takes my fancy!

Story Writing Exercises 1596: Friday 22nd Feb

(NB. This link won’t be active until 10am UK time today)

Below are your four story exercises for today. You can do them in any order. Time yourself for 15 minutes for each one, then either have a break or move on to the next one.

Continue reading →

Today’s poetry and story exercises: 21st Feb 2019

February 21, 2019February 10, 2019Leave a comment

I also run a free Monday mentor group. Do join us and pick my brain. 🙂

Poetry Writing Exercises 1591: Thursday 21st February

(NB. This link won’t be active until noon UK time today)

Below are the four – you can do them in any order.

Keywords: miserable, addict, Dale, romance, understand
Random: the only one who does
Picture: what does this inspire?
Thursday Title: Of Course

See below for explanations of the prompts, they do vary…

Sentence starts = what it says on the tin. You can use it at the beginning of the poem or include it later, and being poetry it doesn’t have to be exact – just be inspired by it.
Keywords = the words have to appear in the poem but can be in any order and can be lengthened (e.g. clap to clapping).
Single-word prompt = sometimes all it takes is one word to spawn an idea. Sometimes it easy, sometimes hard but invariably fun.
Mixed bag = an object, a location, a colour.
Picture prompts = nothing other than a picture. What does it conjure up?
Title = the title for your piece.
Haiku poem= 5 syllables, 7 syllables, 5 syllables
Random = whatever takes my fancy!

Story Writing Exercises 1595: Thursday 21st Feb

(NB. This link won’t be active until 10am UK time today)

Below are your four story exercises for today. You can do them in any order. Time yourself for 15 minutes for each one, then either have a break or move on to the next one.

Continue reading →

Today’s poetry and story exercises: 20th Feb 2019

February 20, 2019February 10, 2019Leave a comment

I also run a free Monday mentor group. Do join us and pick my brain. 🙂

Poetry Writing Exercises 1590: Wednesday 20th February

(NB. This link won’t be active until noon UK time today)

Below are the four – you can do them in any order.

Keywords: afterwards, talking, know, do, adrenalin
Random: mix today’s prompts
Picture: what does this inspire?
Sentence start: Making up an alibi…

See below for explanations of the prompts, they do vary…

Sentence starts = what it says on the tin. You can use it at the beginning of the poem or include it later, and being poetry it doesn’t have to be exact – just be inspired by it.
Keywords = the words have to appear in the poem but can be in any order and can be lengthened (e.g. clap to clapping).
Single-word prompt = sometimes all it takes is one word to spawn an idea. Sometimes it easy, sometimes hard but invariably fun.
Mixed bag = an object, a location, a colour.
Picture prompts = nothing other than a picture. What does it conjure up?
Title = the title for your piece.
Haiku poem= 5 syllables, 7 syllables, 5 syllables
Random = whatever takes my fancy!

Story Writing Exercises 1594: Wednesday 20th Feb

(NB. This link won’t be active until 10am UK time today)

Below are your four story exercises for today. You can do them in any order. Time yourself for 15 minutes for each one, then either have a break or move on to the next one.

Continue reading →

Today’s poetry and story exercises: 19th Feb 2019

February 19, 2019February 10, 2019Leave a comment

I also run a free Monday mentor group. Do join us and pick my brain. 🙂

Poetry Writing Exercises 1589: Tuesday 19th February

(NB. This link won’t be active until noon UK time today)

Below are the four – you can do them in any order.

Keywords: young, forget, women, cover, don’t
Random: laying it out
Picture: what does this inspire?
Tuesday Title: Not Lying This Time

See below for explanations of the prompts, they do vary…

Sentence starts = what it says on the tin. You can use it at the beginning of the poem or include it later, and being poetry it doesn’t have to be exact – just be inspired by it.
Keywords = the words have to appear in the poem but can be in any order and can be lengthened (e.g. clap to clapping).
Single-word prompt = sometimes all it takes is one word to spawn an idea. Sometimes it easy, sometimes hard but invariably fun.
Mixed bag = an object, a location, a colour.
Picture prompts = nothing other than a picture. What does it conjure up?
Title = the title for your piece.
Haiku poem= 5 syllables, 7 syllables, 5 syllables
Random = whatever takes my fancy!

Story Writing Exercises 1593: Tuesday 19th Feb

(NB. This link won’t be active until 10am UK time today)

Below are your four story exercises for today. You can do them in any order. Time yourself for 15 minutes for each one, then either have a break or move on to the next one.

Continue reading →