Critical friends - thank you

I am currently trying to finish editing two novels while writing a third. Needless to say, this can be a bit chaotic! I am really keen to bring Richard Davey's adventures to a satisfactory conclusion. But I also want to give these other novels their best chance of attracting interest from publishers.

As part of my editing process, I ask a number of critical friends to read and comment on drafts. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of them for their constructive criticism. I reflect on every comment and have no doubt that my books get better as a result of such inputs.

Today, I want to focus on two encouraging pieces of feedback I received which certainly encouraged me to keep going despite resounding silence from all the literary agents I approached about Murder at Vindolanda and Winter Skye.

Having been taken to task for some grammatical shortcomings, I was definitely pleased to be compared with Peter Hoeg who wrote Miss Smilla's Feeling for Snow. Written in the first person with plenty of short sentences, neither of my books can claim to be early Scandi-noir but I would certainly like just a fraction of his success!

Even better was the moment when a kind friend suggested Winter Skye was as good as Ben Aaronovitch's Rivers of London. They definitely have magic realism in common although the Inner Hebrides are a long way from Covent Garden!

I was at my godson's wedding last weekend. He is an unapologetic bibliophile and it was lovely that he and his wife chose literary readings for their service. There is nothing better than being surrounded by like-minded people focused on celebrating life. Thank you, Oxford; this Cambridge man (and his Cambridge wife) had a glorious day! I really needed reminding that book lovers are the best, and that is what I am, even if I try to write too.

Happy reading everyone!