Crime Fiction is more popular than ever!!!

Perhaps the latest figures from the London Book Fair shouldn’t come as a surprise, but it turns out that Crime fiction has become the most popular fiction genre in the UK. I’m assuming, we in Ireland, may be reasonably similar. Apparently, this is the first time it has happened in the UK, according to figures revealed at The London Book Fair.
Crime and Thriller novels have substantially increased since 2015, with a whopping 19% more being sold, and the genre has overtaken sales of general and literary fiction for the first time too.

In 2017, nearly 19 million units of crime fiction were sold, according to data from Nielsen BookScan, which doesn’t account for books sold online, or through smaller book stores.
The value is also staggering, going from £106.3 million to £117.6 million.

Why is this happening?

Possibly the rise of the psychological thriller, which seems to have spread literally like wildfire. Then there is the extremely robust marketing campaigns by many publishers. We all know the various book titles which became familiar to us long before the actual books hit the shelves.

Another aspect, could be the increased number of female crime writers who arguably are broadening the genre, with a mix of stories exploring female relationships and issues alongside the use of traditional detective type formats.

Either way, crime fiction has well earned its place, not only as a respected means of storytelling, but as an extremely popular one too.

I guess I better get my latest novel finished fast!

The Longest Novel in the History of my life!!

Ah guys, I really thought I'd be finished editing today, although I figured it might spill over yet again, and then this afternoon, I got over a tricky bit, and I could see the end in the distance, and I thought maybe, just maybe, I'm getting there, so I pulled together the last rambling thousand words or so, and I did out a plan!

Now, I have 6 more chapters to do, of the longest novel in the history of my life, and it just might kill me, or be the reason I lose every friend I have ever had, along with my family disowning me, because if I don't get this novel finished/edited soon, I may go quite mad..

But thanks Ernest for the insightful words!!

On a lighter note, I'm grand :-

Hooking up!!

Anyone out there on INSTAGRAM wanting to hook up???

You'll find me HERE

Name: louisephillips3490

And no, I can't remember where the 3490 came from!!

And yes, I will follow back :-)

Don't miss 'Writing Crime Fiction' this coming May!

I'm so excited to be starting this in May at the Irish Writers Centre

For full booking details, visit HERE

or

Contact the Irish Writers Centre,

19 Parnell Square, Dublin 1

Phone: (+353) 1 872 1302

info@writerscentre.ie

 Crime Fiction with Louise Phillips

Starts: Thurs 17 May 2018
Time: 6.30pm – 8.30pm
Duration: 8 Weeks
Cost: €220/€200 Members

Learn the secrets of successful crime-fiction writing with bestselling and award-winning crime author Louise Phillips.

During the course, participants will receive in-depth analysis of all aspects of great crime fiction, including the creation of memorable characters, planning, pace, dialogue, and narration.

Editorial critique throughout will help sharpen your creative voice, alongside information on today’s publishing industry, and how best to get that elusive agent/publishing deal. Many of Louise’s students have achieved publication success, including authors who have gone on to become International Bestsellers.

Louise Phillips is the author of four bestselling psychological crime thrillers all of which were nominated for the Best Irish Crime Novel of the Year. Her second novel, The Doll’s House, won the award in 2013. A recipient of both arts bursaries and residencies for literature and longlisted for the UK CWA Dagger in the Library Award, she has also been a judge on the Irish Panel for the EU Literary Award. In 2016 and 2017, her first two novels were published to critical acclaim in the US, and she is currently working on her latest novel, Skating Pond.

Making it Real!!

A lot of work still to do, but this is what I'll be working on for the next 3 weeks....Strange how seeing it printed out makes it more real.....1st in the Heather Baxter series!!!

#firstdrafts

#writing

#skatingpond

#heatherbaxter

International Women's Day - Crime Fiction Style

It seems like a very good day to talk about Irish women writers in the crime fiction genre, and you’re in for lots of treats this year if the start of the year is anything to go by. 
So, for a list of books you may want to dabble into, here you go, and you're certainly spoiled for choice!! And it's only March!!

Patricia Gibney - The Missing Ones

Dervla McTiernan - The Ruin 

Susan Stairs - One Good Reason

Joe Spain - The Confession

Catherine Ryan Howard - The Liar's Girl

Sharon Thompson - The Abandoned

Adele O Neill - Behind a Closed Door

And no doubt I've left some out, but if I have, let me know and I'll add them in!!

What's in a name??

Oh God, oh God, I've just spent 3 hours adjusting character names in order to avoid names that end in 's' because you get a double 's' when you use names like Kenny Bowers's, or duplicating names that start with J, like Jim and Jack, and a whole host of stuff (that yes,I know should have sorted first time around), because names often get changed mid-way through a script, and then you end up with issues that might send you quite batty, especially when you have 22 characters (and yes, I know, far too many), and you change the names of at least a third of them, and wonder who the heck is who? 

#amwriting #amediting #whatsinaname#amconfused 

Mindshift Information Day at the Irish Writers Centre!!

This should be a really informative day at the Irish Writers Centre this coming Saturday for writers who want to pursue their careers both within the self-publishing platform and/or a combination of traditional publishing/self-publishing...

All details via this link here:

THE HATE U GIVE - By Angie Thomas REVIEW!!

“Girls wear their hair coloured, curled, laid, and slayed. Got me feeling basic as hell with my ponytail. Guys in their freshest kicks and sagging pants grind so close to girls they just about need condoms ...”

This is part of the opening chapter of THE HATE U GIVE. The story begins at a party before gunshots shatter the music. Fleeing, 16-year-old Starr is led to safety by her friend Khalil. Shortly after that, the car they are travelling in is pulled over by police. The unarmed Khalil is murdered – shot at point blank range by the man Starr refers to as “Officer One-Fifteen”. She is the only witness to the crime and her 16-year-old shoulders bear the ferocious repercussions.

What makes this novel so compelling is partly its insights, and the way harsh issues are dealt with. There were times the story chilled me to the bone, and at other times, I had to laugh aloud.  I got to know a host of characters, each brought to life so well on the page that I felt I was a fly on the wall witnessing events as they unfolded.

The Hate U Give is an outstanding debut, offering untold insights into contemporary life for black Americans. The first-person narrative is a joy to read. Rarely has a book captured my interest so much, refusing to let ne go until the very last line.  READ IT! YOU WON'T REGRET IT FOR A SECOND.

MORE ABOUT THE NOVEL

One week after it was published, Angie Thomas’s thrilling debut young-adult novel, The Hate U Give, shot to the top of the New York Times best-seller list for young-adult books. The story follows 16-year-old Starr Carter, who lives in a poor, predominantly black neighbourhood and attends a rich, predominantly white school. After she witnesses her childhood best friend fatally shot by a police officer, Starr confronts the reality of racial injustice in America, grapples with how she can continue to straddle two completely different worlds, and is drawn into activism.

Since the book came out, The Hate U Give (named for a Tupac song) has reportedly sold more than 100,000 copies, been widely praised by critics and been optioned for a film, with Amandla Stenberg attached to play Starr.

Library After Dark - Lucan!!

If you're in the region of Lucan on the 24th January, do book early for this!! Numbers limited to the first 15!!