Where to begin? Not with my favorite author, the inimitable Tom Robbins, and not even with my favorite sci-fi authors, Ian M. Banks or William Gibson. A fleeting mention possibly, at this stage, to Frank Herbert’s DUNE, my first “unputdownable” novel, but really I’d...

Dialogue is one of the most difficult aspects of writing. At least it is for me. First of all, there’s the punctuation. Then there’s the way a character speaks and with it, all the related mannerisms – these have to be consistent throughout. Then, is the character...

 (definitely not to be read by prospective agents/publishers) “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness …” A Tale of Two Cities ………. Charles Dickens “Call me Ishmael.” Moby Dick ………. Herman Melville...