Had the pleasure of talking yesterday with fellow The Book Guild author Anna Holmes and we inevitably got to the subject of book promotion. It's not enough to be a writer these days; you have to be a marketing professional too. My head hurts...

Does anybody think writing's like this sometimes... just a tiny amount, just a tiny amount, just a tiny amount... until eventually, finally, when you can’t take anymore, you reach The End... youtube.com/watch?v=f19hF7…

Awww, amazing how up close this puffin got. I just love these little guys - they nest in Rathlin island off the northeast coast of Ireland. Went there last summer to see them and it was beautiful.

Congratulations Bert’s Books. Great to see you thriving. It's important to support local independent bookshops, and local traders in general. Can't guess the book though!

Happy news: #SomeoneToBlame is at the proof-reading stage. Not so happy news: #SomeoneToBlame is at the proof-reading stage. Despite this being the fourth pass through proof-reading, what’s the chances I’ll still find typos?

That looks so gorgeous... who wouldn't want to go into that shop?

Thank you The Book Guild for designing this gorgeous cover for my novel #SomeoneToBlame. Due out in October, it’s a mystery thriller about a poison pen at work in a quiet village, but with a somewhat different take on the concept.

#SomeoneToBlame – my new mystery thriller about a poison pen at work in a quiet village but with a somewhat different take on the concept – is available to pre-order from The Book Guild: bookguild.co.uk/bookshop/someo…

Groan... I've just seen that yet another celebrity has a novel coming out (I don't want to name her; you'll probably figure it out yourselves). How can any of us 'regular' authors compete with that?

If there's only one charity appeal you can afford to give to this year, make it this one...please...

Small is beautiful...

Heavenly...

Wishing Fiona Farrell the very best of luck with her new independent bookshop. It's great that not only has another independent bookshop opened; but that it's also a dream come true for the new owner.

I hate weddings as a rule but I think this is one I'd love to have been at...

Pass it on... cash is a better way to pay...

PS - if anybody's in any doubt about why paying cash is really important for small local businesses, check this out: cashmatters.org/blog/pay-cash-… Paying cash keeps money in the local economy.

Out of this world! He was an incredible singer... and a fearless civil rights activist to boot!

Can’t share this often enough #Riots

Peaceful climate protesters have just been sentenced to YEARS in jail. They are appealing! Tell the new government to scrap Tory anti-protest law now and #StopJailingTruthTellers secure.avaaz.org/campaign/en/uk…