The end of 2017, and a chance to reflect
Exactly one year ago today, I hit the “publish” button on the first book in the Detective Kay Hunter series, Scared to Death ready for its formal release on 6 December. I’d spent […]
What was the first crime novel I read?
With so many books read over the years, we sometimes forget where our love of the crime fiction genre started, don’t we? The first crime fiction book I recall reading was Nerve by […]
A Day in the Life of a Crime Fiction Writer
Now that the craziness of launch week is behind me, it’s time to return to the office (a.k.a. “cave”) and continue the actual writing part of my job. A lot of readers have […]
Hell to Pay: a new Detective Kay Hunter crime thriller
It’s hard to imagine that a little under a year ago, I launched the Detective Kay Hunter series with Scared to Death. I couldn’t have foreseen the effect that book and the series […]
Author interview: November 2017
Welcome to a new feature – an Author Q&A where YOU provide the questions! Every month, I’ll go through all the comments on here, my YouTube channel and emails to answer your queries. […]
How Do I Research A Detective Novel?
To ensure her Kay Hunter series is procedurally accurate, Rachel relies on a network of retired and serving police officers, specialised crime blogs, and forensic handbooks. She also enhances her knowledge by taking online courses in forensic investigation and psychology to better understand witness interviews and pathology.
How Do I Write A Book?
In this article, Rachel describes herself as a “plotser” who blends pre-planning with organic discovery. Her workflow involves gathering ideas from news and observations, organising scenes into a five-act structure using Scrivener as the story develops, and refining the manuscript by prioritising pacing and sensory details.
Blurred lines: crime writing and blending fact with fiction
One question that is often raised when I’m at crime fiction conferences or responding to interview questions is: how do you choose where the facts end and the fiction begins? When I was […]