Crime Author Pauline Rowson: Marine Mystery Police Procedural Crime Novels & Thrillers

How much thinking/planning is done prior to writing a crime novel? Pauline Rowson explains the methods used for her crime novels

2012-02-03T07:09:00.000Z

I am always thinking about and collecting ideas for future DI Horton crime novels or for a thriller, even when I am writing one. I will jot these down, or cut out an article from a magazine or newspaper, or copy or bookmark something I have seen on the Internet that could be of use. I keep all the paper copies in A4 ring binders in alphabetical order and often flick through them if and when I get stuck while writing a novel because invariably it will spark an idea.

When starting a fresh crime novel I often have the basic idea in mind. I will start to flesh this out using spider grams to work up the basic plot lines and character outlines in pencil on recycled bits of A4 paper. This will be by no means the finished plot or all the characters who might eventually appear in the novel, and often I create some characters that won’t appear in the novel at all because when I start to write it they are no longer relevant. I don’t know how the novel will end or who ‘done it’ that becomes apparent as I write.

I like to start the creative writing process as soon as possible, knowing that the first couple of chapters will change drastically by the time I come to do revisions. But until I start writing and putting words into the character’s mouths and have them acting and reacting they don’t come alive. I then research further as I write. So on average I spend about month working on the outlines before I start writing.

Then it usually takes me another eight months before finishing the crime novel.

I have just completed number eight in the DI Horton series and have started working on the outlines and characters for the next DI Horton, number nine.

A Killing Coast,the seventh in the DI Horton marine mystery series was published in hardcover in January.

Excited to be starting on a new crime novel - lots of ideas for the next DI Horton and a thriller

2012-02-02T08:03:00.000Z

As I've said before on this blog ideas for my crime novels and thrillers can come from anywhere: a location where my crime novels are set i.e. Portsmouth, the Solent and the Isle of Wight; an overheard conversation as in my thriller In Cold Daylight; or perhaps a news item in the local press, and here was one that I found interesting:

Powerboat race comes to Cowes

COWES has been named as the start port for one of the world’s most prestigious powerboat races when it hosts the UIM Cowes to Monte Carlo World Cup Race — a resurrection of the historic London to Monte Carlo Powerboat Race — on Saturday, June 8 next year. A fleet of 50 high-speed powerboats will set off down the western Solent at the start of a 2,400 nautical mile endurance race, taking in 11 cities and five countries over 15 days.

So what could Horton be working on? A mystery death on one of the Powerboats before the race? A mysterious accident as they set off? Only hope nothing untoward really happens.

Then there is of Cowes week in August and before that the Panerai British Classic Yacht Week and that's not to mention everything else that goes on in the Solent; the ferries, container ships, leisure craft, and the Royal Navy and so much happening in the vibrant and complex City of Portsmouth... no shortage of ideas there.

Then I've got DI Andy Horton's search for his mother and what happened to her after she abandoned him at the age of ten. The eighth in the series gives some further clues on this and number nine might actually reveal the truth behind her disappearance! Plenty to work on and I'm very excited at beginning my research for the next DI Horton, number 9 in the series.

Now is the time to nominate your favourite crime author for the Crime Writers' Association (CWA) Dagger in the Library Award 2012.

This gives readers and librarians the chance to nominate their favourite crime author. I was delighted to reach the long list in 2008 and would be chuffed if I made it again to either the long list or the short list.

Nominations opened on 1st January 2012 and close on 31st March 2012 so there's time to get your vote in.

Sponsored by the publishers, Random House, the Dagger is awarded to a writer nominated by library users and chosen by a panel of librarians, all of whom work with the public. Unlike most other literary prizes, the Dagger in the Library is awarded not for an individual book but for the author’s body of work.

The nominated authors must be alive, preferably working in Britain. The award is for a body of work and entries from reading groups or individuals are submitted through libraries. Nomination forms may be downloaded from the CWA website by clicking the links at the top of the right-hand column.

Groups who nominated the winning author will be entered into a draw for £300 to be spent on books and all groups whose nominated authors are shortlisted are entered into a draw for two tickets to the award announcements

Details of long-listed authors will be announced in April 2012. Shortlisted authors will in May 2012. The winner will be announced at a ceremony in Summer 2012. For further information visit the CWA web site or have a chat with your local librarian and ask them to nominate your favourite crime writer.

DI Andy Horton marine mystery crime novel number 8 finished and sent to my publisher, bang on schedule

2012-02-01T07:06:00.000Z

It's always a scary moment when I press that send key and the completed MS for the next DI Andy Horton crime novel wings its way through the ether to my editor at my publishers, Severn House, but yesterday was D Day and off DI Horton number eight went. I always think, could I have spent a bit longer on it? Should I have changed this or that? But there comes a point when you've done all you can and it's time for a fresh pair of eyes to be cast over it.

I started writing the eighth in the DI Horton series on 13 April 2011 and five revisions later there it is completed, and bang on time because I promised my editor he'd have the completed novel in January 2012.

And what does DI Horton get up to in this new crime novel? Ah, you'll have to wait a bit longer to find out. Perhaps when my editor gives the green light on it I'll publish the title and blurb here. Meanwhile, number seven in the series, A Killing Coast, was published this month in hardcover, hopefully that will keep Horton fans satisfied until the next instalment.

Set in the Solent area on the South Coast of England

Published 26 January 2012 and in the USA 1 May 2012

'Deserves mention in the same breath as American procedurals (those by Ed McBain or Joseph Wambaugh for example) and their British counterparts... Peter Robinson and John Harvey.' Booklist starred review for Footsteps on the Shore

When a body is found floating in the sea off Portsmouth harbour, Detective Inspector Horton initially judges it to be an accidental death. Soon though, to his dismay, he discovers he’s got it very wrong. Accused of being incompetent by his boss, and with the head of the Major Crime Team coming down heavily on him, Horton wonders if he’s allowed his ongoing investigation into the disappearance of his mother over thirty years ago to cloud his judgement. With no clear motive for the murder, Horton is sucked into a baffling investigation that he is determined to resolve despite the odds. Not only does he need to find a brutal killer, but Horton now has to prove to himself, and others, that he is still up to the job.

Write about what you are enthusiastic about and what you like to read says crime author Pauline Rowson

2012-01-31T07:16:00.000Z

It is often said that you should write what you know about, but I don't entirely agree with this. I believe that you should write what you are enthusiastic about because it will show through in your writing and even if you don't have first hand experience of it you will want to research it, live it, breathe it.

I find researching for my DI Horton crime novels and thrillers fascinating including all the forensic bits!

I also believe in writing the kind of novel you like to read because not only will you enjoy the experience but again it will be apparent in your writing.

When you embark on a writing career it is not always obvious what you should write. Some people begin with short stories, others throw themselves into a novel. But just as in painting where it takes you a while to find your style, in writing it takes a while to find your voice. This only happens by trial, error and experimentation.

When I first starting writing I began with writing historical sagas. Over time I found that a criminal element kept creeping into these sagas and I also discovered that I preferred to write from the male point of view. It was a while before it dawned on me that I should be writing crime novels with a male protagonist. It should have been pretty obvious because I have devoured crime and thriller novels for years and am a great crime fiction fan. But that time and writing wasn't wasted. I learnt a lot along the way. When I was shortlisted for a prize for the first chapters of Tide of Death introducing my DI Andy Horton I knew that I had at last begun to find my voice.

That first novel was published in 2006 and I now have published seven DI Horton marine mystery crime novels and two thrillers.

The seventh DI Horton, A Killing Coast, was published by Severn House in the UK on 26 January and will be published in the USA on 1 May 2012.

I am currently just finishing writing the eighth in the DI Horton series and hope to continue writing both crime and thriller fiction for some time to come.

It's that time of year again for library users to nominate their favourite crime author for the Dagger in the Library Award

2012-01-30T07:06:00.001Z

The Crime Writers' Association (CWA) Dagger in the Library, 2012 gives readers and librarians the chance to nominate their favourite crime author for this prestigious award. I was delighted to have reached the long list in 2008 and would be chuffed if I made it again to either the long list or the short list.

Nominations opened on 1st January 2012 and close on 31st March 2012 so there's time to get your vote in.

Sponsored by the publishers, Random House, the Dagger is awarded to a writer nominated by library users and chosen by a panel of librarians, all of whom work with the public. This year’s panel is chaired Karen Fraser, Executive Manager at Shetland Library, and includes librarians from throughout the UK.

Unlike most other literary prizes, the Dagger in the Library is awarded not for an individual book but for the author’s body of work.

The nominated authors must be alive, preferably working in Britain. The award is for a body of work and entries from reading groups or individuals are submitted through libraries. Nomination forms may be downloaded from the CWA website by clicking the links at the top of the right-hand column.

Groups who nominated the winning author will be entered into a draw for £300 to be spent on books and all groups whose nominated authors are shortlisted are entered into a draw for two tickets to the award announcements

Details of long-listed authors will be announced in April 2012. Shortlisted authors will in May 2012. The winner will be announced at a ceremony in Summer 2012. For further information visit the CWA web site or have a chat with your local librarian and ask them to nominate your favourite crime writer.

Pauline Rowson will be at Portsmouth Central Library on Saturday 4 February between 10.30am to 12.30pm to help celebrate National Libraries Day.

She'll be talking about her marine mystery crime novels and thrillers which are set in the Solent area, Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight, and there will be the opportunity to win signed copies of her books with a murder mystery quiz hunt for clues around the library, and the chance to be named as a character in one of her forthcoming DI Horton crime novels.

Tickets cost £3.00 and can be purchased at any library in Portsmouth or by contacting libraries@portsmouthcc.gov.uk

Great interview yesterday on BBC Radio Solent talking to Julian Clegg about A Killing Coast the new DI Horton crime novel

2012-01-27T07:15:00.000Z

I enjoyed the early morning interview with Julian Clegg on BBC Radio Solent yesterday on the day of the launch of the new DI Andy Horton marine mystery crime novel, A Killing Coast, set in Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight.

Thought I'd share some photos of the interview here on my blog. If I look a bit bleary eyed it's because I had to get up at 5.15 a.m. to get there! But well worth it.


Julian Clegg and Pauline Rowson


On Air

Julian's great production team, Claire and Lewis with Pauline Rowson

I'll be helping to celebrate National Libraries Day on Saturday 4 February when I will be at Portsmouth Central Library between 10.30am to 12.30pm.

I'll be talking about my marine mystery crime novels and thrillers which are set in the Solent area, Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight, and there will be the opportunity to win signed copies of my books with a murder mystery quiz hunt for clues around the library, and the chance to be named as a character in one of my forthcoming DI Horton crime novels.

National Libraries Day is a celebration of libraries across the UK. Events and activities will take place in a variety of libraries including in schools, colleges, universities and public libraries in the UK in the week leading up to and on National Libraries Day on Saturday 4 February.

Tickets cost £3.00 and can be purchased at any library in Portsmouth or by contacting libraries@portsmouthcc.gov.uk

Publication Day dawns for the NEW DI Andy Horton marine mystery crime novel, A Killing Coast, by Pauline Rowson

2012-01-26T07:20:00.013Z

I'm delighted to announce that the seventh in the DI Horton series of Marine Mystery crime novels set in the Solent area on the South Coast of England, A Killing Coast is published in hardcover by Severn House in the UK today, 26 January 2012. It will be published in the USA on 1 May 2012.

The DI Horton series has received some critical acclaim both in the UK and the USA where I'm flattered and honoured that my writing has been compared to Ed McBain and Joseph Wambaugh and with their British counterparts, including the work of Peter Robinson and John Harvey.

American Reviewer Booklist says, "Andy Horton is an especially good series hero, a likeable fellow with plenty of street smarts and the requisite personal baggage – an abrasive supervisor and an antagonistic soon-to-be ex-wife. Procedural fans who haven’t already read Rowson should be encouraged to do so in the strongest possible terms."

I've written seven in the popular DI Horton series and two stand alone thrillers one of which, In Cold Daylight was voted the third most popular novel in an on line poll for World Book Day.

All my crime and thriller novels are available in hardcover, paperback, as e books, on Kindle and Nook and some are available in Large Print and as Audio Books.

When a body is found floating in the sea off Portsmouth harbour, Detective Inspector Horton initially judges it to be an accidental death. Soon though, to his dismay, he discovers he’s got it very wrong. Accused of being incompetent by his boss, and with the head of the Major Crime Team coming down heavily on him, Horton wonders if he’s allowed his ongoing investigation into the disappearance of his mother over thirty years ago to cloud his judgement. With no clear motive for the murder, Horton is sucked into a baffling investigation that he is determined to resolve despite the odds. Not only does he need to find a brutal killer, but Horton now has to prove to himself, and others, that he is still up to the job.

Hope readers and DI Horton fans enjoy it!

I'll be helping to celebrate National Libraries Day on Saturday 4 February when I will be at Portsmouth Central Library between 10.30am to 12.30pm.

I'll be talking about my marine mystery crime novels and thrillers which are set in the Solent area, Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight, and there will be the opportunity to win signed copies of my books with a murder mystery quiz hunt for clues around the library, and the chance to be named as a character in one of my forthcoming DI Horton crime novels.

National Libraries Day is a celebration of libraries across the UK. Events and activities will take place in a variety of libraries including in schools, colleges, universities and public libraries in the UK in the week leading up to and on National Libraries Day on Saturday 4 February.

Tickets cost £3.00 and can be purchased at any library in Portsmouth or by contacting libraries@portsmouthcc.gov.uk

Pauline Rowson to launch new DI Andy Horton Crime Novel with BBC Radio Solent on 26 January

2012-01-25T11:49:00.000Z

For those early risers, I'm on the Julian Clegg Breakfast Show on BBC Radio Solent on Thursday 26 January at 6.45 a.m. to launch the new DI Andy Horton marine mystery crime novel, A Killing Coast, published in hardcover on 26th and to talk about my appearance at Portsmouth Central Library in support of National Libraries Day on Saturday 4 February between 10.30 a.m. and 12.30 p.m.

A Killing Coast is the seventh in the DI Horton series of Marine Mystery crime novels set in the Solent area on the South Coast of England published by Severn House in the UK on 26 January 2012 and in the USA on 1 May 2012.

I'm delighted to be involved in helping to celebrate National Libraries Day on Saturday 4 February when I will be at Portsmouth Central Library between 10.30am to 12.30pm.

I'll be talking about my marine mystery crime novels and there will be the opportunity to win signed copies of my books with a murder mystery quiz hunt for clues around the library, and the chance to be named as a character in one of my forthcoming DI Horton crime novels.

National Libraries Day is a celebration of libraries across the UK. Events and activities will take place in a variety of libraries including in schools, colleges, universities and public libraries in the UK in the week leading up to and on National Libraries Day on Saturday 4 February.

Tickets cost £3.00 and can be purchased at any library in Portsmouth or by contacting 023 9281 9311 or libraries@portsmouthcc.gov.uk All welcome.

“Deserves mention in the same breath as the work of Peter Robinson and John Harvey.” Booklist Starred Review of Footsteps on the Shore

When a body is found floating in the sea off Portsmouth harbour, Detective Inspector Horton initially judges it to be an accidental death. Soon though, to his dismay, he discovers he’s got it very wrong. Accused of being incompetent by his boss, and with the head of the Major Crime Team coming down heavily on him, Horton wonders if he’s allowed his ongoing investigation into the disappearance of his mother over thirty years ago to cloud his judgement. With no clear motive for the murder, Horton is sucked into a baffling investigation that he is determined to resolve despite the odds. Not only does he need to find a brutal killer, but Horton now has to prove to himself, and others, that he is still up to the job.

"Andy Horton is an especially good series hero, a likeable fellow with plenty of street smarts and the requisite personal baggage – an abrasive supervisor and an antagonistic soon-to-be ex-wife. Procedural fans who haven’t already read Rowson should be encouraged to do so in the strongest possible terms." Booklist

Now working on final revisions of the eighth DI Andy Horton marine mystery crime novel

2012-01-23T07:19:00.002Z

Yes, I am now working on what I hope to be the final revisions of the next DI Andy Horton marine mystery crime novel, the eighth in the series. It is at this stage that I review the phrases and words I've used and those I've over used and try and replace them for something else and possibly a word more evocative, emotional or stimulating depending on the situation! Thank goodness for 'Find' on Word, makes an author's life a lot easier!

Next I will need to read through the novel in one sitting if possible, or two at the most to check that I have not repeated myself, a very easy thing to do. I'll also check the story line and double check that all the clues are in place and the plot and sub plots hang together. The latter is quite difficult because I am now at the stage where I know the novel so well it is difficult to spot the holes. If possible I will take a break from the novel for a week and hopefully go back to it with fresh eyes, but I find it very hard to take that break. Perhaps I'll start working on the next DI Horton, or that new thriller I keep promising to write. Anyway lots of ideas bubbling away in the back of my mind.

Getting back to DI Andy Horton number eight, I am now ready to write the blurb and I must turn my focus to that ever elusive title. I have a couple of ideas for a title in mind, just need to see if they sound right.

Meanwhile the publication of DI Horton number nine - A Killing Coast - draws near. A Killing Coast will be published by Severn House in hardcover in the UK on 26 January and in the USA on 1 May 2012.

Pauline Rowson will be helping to celebrate National Libraries Day on Saturday 4 February when she will be at Portsmouth Central Library between 10.30am to 12.30pm.

She'll be talking about her marine mystery crime novels and thrillers which are set in the Solent area, Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight, and there will be the opportunity to win signed copies of her books with a murder mystery quiz hunt for clues around the library, and the chance to be named as a character in one of her forthcoming DI Horton crime novels.

Tickets cost £3.00 and can be purchased at any library in Portsmouth or by contacting libraries@portsmouthcc.gov.uk

Pauline Rowson's crime novel Footsteps on the Shore has been nominated for the eDUNNIT AWARD at CrimeFest 2012.

2012-01-20T07:11:00.000Z

I'm delighted that my crime novel Footsteps on the Shore has been nominated by my publisher, Severn House, for the eDUNNIT AWARD at CrimeFest 2012.

Crimefest is a convention for people who like to read an occasional crime novel as well as for die-hard fanatics. First organised in June 2008, CrimeFest is now one of the most popular dates in the crime fiction calendar. The annual convention draws top crime novelists, readers, editors, publishers and reviewers from around the world and gives delegates the opportunity to celebrate the genre in an informal atmosphere.

It follows the format of US conventions of interviews, panels, a Gala Dinner, and one or two surprises. CrimeFest will be presenting the eDunnit Award for the best crime ebook of 2011 at the gala dinner on 26 May 2012. The event takes place at the Royal Marriot Hotel, Bristol from 24 - 27 May 2012.

I have appeared at Crimefest in 2010 and 2011 and will again be appearing on a panel in 2012.


Pauline Rowson, centre on CrimeFest panel 2011

Pauline Rowson on CrimeFest panel second from left 2010

Footsteps on the Shore is the sixth in the DI Andy Horton marine mystery crime series set in the Solent area, Portsmouth on the South Coast of England. It is published by Severn House in the UK and the USA in 2011 where it received a star rated review from America reviewer Booklist who said, 'It deserves mention in the same breath as works in the upper echelon of American procedurals (those by Ed McBain or Joseph Wambaugh for example) and their British counterparts, including the work of Peter Robinson and John Harvey. Procedural fans who haven’t already read Rowson should be encouraged to do so in the strongest possible terms.’

Footsteps on the Shore was published as an e book in September 2011 and is also available on Kindle.

Friday the thirteenth begins badly for DI Andy Horton when he wakes to find his Harley has been vandalized and his boss, DCI Lorraine Bliss, has returned early from her secondment to HQ. Then, convicted murderer, Luke Felton, released on licence, is reported missing and a decomposed corpse is washed up in Portsmouth harbour. But before Horton can get a grip on either case, he’s called to a house where a woman he’d only met the day before has been brutally murdered. Is missing Luke Felton the prime suspect, or is it his body in the mud of the harbour? Horton is under pressure to get results, but things are about to get much worse for the beleaguered detective …

The winning author receives a cash prize, an eReader and a commemorative vase provided by Bristol Blue Glass.

It's great to be just nominated!

Here's an interesting piece of research for crime authors. Footprint analysis could be weaved into a future DI Horton novel

2012-01-18T07:15:00.003Z

Everyone knows that fingerprints are unique but what about footprints? I came across this article while researching for my current DI Horton crime novel, number eight in the series, wish I'd had it for Footsteps on the Shore, the sixth DI Horton .OK, so I know Sherlock Holmes was at it many moons ago but here below are the recent research findings which you might find interesting.

"It seems that footsteps are as unique as fingerprints, and can identify people with 99.8 per cent accuracy.

"For the first time, our results show that it probably is possible to use this in a real-world security application," says Todd Pataky of Shinshu University in Nagano, Japan.

Earlier studies suggested that everyone walks in a unique way that can be captured on film or by pressure sensors. But these studies tended to look at only 10 people each, making it difficult to tell how well the methods would work in the real world. So Pataky and colleagues asked 104 people to walk across a half-metre-long board studded with thousands of pressure sensors, recording ten steps per person. The sensors recorded how each foot applied pressure to the ground, and how that pressure distribution changed as the person walked.

The information collected was then input into a computer and used to train an algorithm to pick out the patterns in people's steps. Of the 1040 steps recorded, the algorithm wrongly identified only three – a 99.8 per cent success rate.

"Even if they have the same foot size, even if they have the same shape, [people] load their feet differently, and they do it consistently," Pataky says. Similar sensors, which are available commercially for about $20,000, could be used in airports to identify passengers as they walk barefoot through security.

Christopher Nester of the University of Salford in the UK thinks the technique could be used as a diagnostic tool for foot diseases and orthotics. As for security applications, he sees another, perhaps overlooked, drawback. "Nobody minds putting their fingertip on a glass surface, which is clean," he says. "But we very rarely wash our feet."

Speak for yourself!!

Journal of the Royal Society Interface, DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2011.0430

The analysis of footprints left in sand, soil, or another soft material might prove to be a useful forensic science technique and I might just weave it in to a future crime novel.

NB: Michael Bunting Author of A Fair Cop says, "Footprint analysis has been used in detecting crime for decades. Every worn shoe sole has unique indentations from grit, broken glass and other things we stand on. This means that, even if a suspect is wearing a popular shoe or trainer, the... marks it leaves are completely different to any other. The print is often lifted from soft surfaces like lino and can be caused by the offender standing in anything from dirt to blood. Some police officers carry little pocket books containing the most popular shoe patterns to assist them at crime scenes. Assessing gait is a tool that would only be used in serious crimes and where the offender is captured on CCTV or similar. Evidence of pronation and/or supination would not hold in an English court."

What is the difference between a crime novel and thriller? Crime author Pauline Rowson discusses

2012-01-16T07:14:00.000Z

I'm often asked what is the difference between a crime novel and a thriller, and I have to admit I have difficulty in answering this question even though I have written seven crime novels and two thrillers.

So for enlightenment I turned to the International Thriller Writers organisation who characterise a thriller as:

“the sudden rush of emotions, the excitement, sense of suspense, apprehension, and exhilaration that drive the narrative, sometimes subtly with peaks and lulls, sometimes at a constant, breakneck pace."

I think this is true of the crime novel. OK, so it depends on what type of crime novel. Some admittedly unfold at a more leisurely pace depending on the personality of the main character, his or her background, the story and the setting. If it is a cozy mystery then, yes, it is less likely to move along at breakneck speed although there will be suspense, peaks and lulls.

So let's hear more from the International Thriller Writers.

"Thriller is a genre in which tough, resourceful, but essentially ordinary heroes are pitted against villains determined to destroy them, their country, or the stability of the free world."

In a crime novel the hero might be a police officer, or a private eye, who can still be tough and resourceful. DI Andy Horton certainly is in my crime novels. And he is pitted against villains determined to destroy him, although not necessarily the country or the stability of the free world. But hang on he might be called upon to do so if there is a terrorist element in the plot, and it could be said that criminals involved in drugs, trafficking and other heinous crimes also threaten the stability of the country and the free world.

Being a police officer though, Horton has a team behind him and superiors above him, but he is a maverick and usually strikes out alone to solve the crime and bring the villain to justice. Horton is not an 'ordinary cop' but a man on a mission to fight injustice and at the same time is being forced to find out the truth behind his mother's disappearance, which puts his life in danger and pits him against that villain who is intent on destroying him and the fabric of society.

So, again I think there can be a certain overlap between the crime novel and thriller.

The heroes in both my thrillers are ordinary guys who find themselves in extra ordinary situations Both Adam Greene in In Cold Daylight and Alex Albury in In For The Kill find themselves pitted against villains determined to destroy them. Often in a thriller the hero is faced with what seem to be insurmountable problems in his mission, carried out against a ticking clock, the stakes are high and although resourceful he faces personal dilemmas along the way forcing him to make sacrifices for others.

This is true for both Adam Greene and Alex Albury. Adam, in a quest to discover the truth behind his closest friend's death, fire fighter Jack Bartholomew, finds himself up against a huge conspiracy at the top. His whole way of life begins to crumble before him and he faces many personal dilemmas and danger on his journey.

In In For the Kill, Alex Albury's life has been shattered when sentenced for fraud and embezzlement. On his release from prison he is determined to discover who framed him knowing that he is up against a dangerous and very clever adversary who will stop at nothing to prevent him from finding this out. Soon, Alex is faced with the ultimate choice to kill or be killed.

In a thriller there is tension and conflict along the way and an unexpected, satisfying conclusion and I believe that also applies to crime novels, well I like to think it does to mine! Whether crime novel or thriller the main characters/s will have internal conflict, moral dilemmas, and tough decisions and choices to make, as these help develop and define them. Their actions drive the story forward.

So am I any clearer on the difference between a crime novel and a thriller? To a certain extent yes. But concerning my own crime and thriller novels I'm not so sure. It seems that my crime novels are also thrillers or should that be my thrillers are also crime novels? Does it matter? No. Whether crime novel or thriller all that really counts is that it is a satisfying and enjoyable read.

Shocked and saddened to learn of the death of one of my favourite crime writers: Reginald Hill

2012-01-14T17:57:00.000Z

I was shocked and deeply saddened to learn of the death of Reginald Hill, a great crime writer and without doubt one of my favourites and the inspiration for my own crime writing career. Although best known for his Dalziel and Pascoe novels I also love his thrillers and his humorous series set in Luton, featuring the black private detective Joe Sixsmith.

I first discovered Reginald Hill in 1978. I was ill and my husband, home on leave from the armed forces, bought A Clubbable Woman to cheer me up. I was hooked. I have nearly all of Reginald Hill's crime and thriller novels, some signed, and I re read them, again and again, taking pleasure from them every time. I am also honoured to have corresponded with Reginald who encouraged me in my crime writing career. He will be greatly missed but his work will live on and will continue to be enjoyed by many. In his memory I will pick one of his novels from my bookshelves tonight to read once again.

Reginald Charles Hill, born 3 April 1936; died 12 January 2012, won the Crime Writers' Association's Gold Dagger award, for Bones and Silence in 1990 and the Cartier Diamond Dagger for lifetime achievement five years later.

My thoughts are with his friends and family.

I'm delighted to learn that audio book sales are growing because many of my crime novels and business books are published as audio books

2012-01-12T07:11:00.000Z

News from the Audio Publishers Association in America is very welcome with the release of their annual Survey Highlights for Audio Books showing an increase in audio book sales over the last year. This is good news for me on a personal level because I have several of my DI Andy Horton crime novels published as unabridged audio books read by the highly accomplished actor and voice artist Gordon Griffin.

In addition, many of my sales, marketing and communications books are available as audio books.

The survey reports:

Unit sales were up nearly 10% in the past year, showing continued consumer interest in audiobooks.
Based on the companies who reported (representing 61% of industry), total net sales (after returns) are up by 2 million units and $2 million.
The total number of audiobooks being published doubled in the past three years, from 3,073 in 2007 to 6,200 in 2010.
Audiobook downloads continued on a growth trend representing 36% of dollar volume (up from 29% in 2009) and 52% of unit sales (up from 48% in 2009)
In the past 5 years, downloading has grown 300% by dollar volume (from 9% in 2005) and 150% in terms of units (from 21% in 2005).
The CD format still represents the largest single source of dollars but showed slight declines overall in 2010 – 58% of revenue (down from 65%) and 43% of unit sales (down from 46%).
Unabridged editions (89% of the market by dollars; 85% of the market by units) continue to lead in sales.

Four of my DI Andy Horton marine mystery police procedural crime novels are published as unabridged audio books by Isis Publishing

I'm hoping that more DI Horton novels will be published as audio books. For more information visit my website

My sales, marketing and communication books are also available as audio books.

Crime author Pauline Rowson will be helping to celebrate National Libraries Day on Saturday 4 February, Portsmouth Central Library 10.30am - 12.30pm.

2012-01-10T06:34:00.001Z

I'm delighted to be involved in helping to celebrate National Libraries Day on Saturday 4 February when I will be at Portsmouth Central Library between 10.30am to 12.30pm.

I'll be talking about my marine mystery crime novels and thrillers which are set in the Solent area, Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight, and there will be the opportunity to win signed copies of my books with a murder mystery quiz hunt for clues around the library, and the chance to be named as a character in one of my forthcoming DI Horton crime novels.

National Libraries Day is a celebration of libraries across the UK. Events and activities will take place in a variety of libraries including in schools, colleges, universities and public libraries in the UK in the week leading up to and on National Libraries Day on Saturday 4 February.

I'm a great supporter of libraries. I owe them a debt of gratitude because if it hadn't been for my local library in Portsmouth as a child I doubt I would ever have discovered a life long passion for reading and for writing. I’m looking forward to meeting lots of people and helping the library service to celebrate on 4 February..

Tickets can be purchased at any library in Portsmouth or by contacting libraries@portsmouthcc.gov.uk

Tickets cost £3.00.

Hope to see some of you there.

Pauline Rowson is the author of the popular marine mystery police procedural crime series featuring DI Andy Horton, set on the South Coast of England in the Portsmouth, Isle of Wight and Solent area.

A Killing Coast, the seventh in the DI Horton series is published in hardcover in the UK on 26 January 2012 and in the USA on 1 May 2012.

She is also the author of two standalone thrillers, In Cold Daylight, which came third in an on line poll of the UK's most favourite books for World Book Day and In For The Kill.

“Deserves mention in the same breath as the work of Peter Robinson and John Harvey.” Booklist Starred Review of Footsteps on the Shore

Another great trip on the bridge of the Wightlink Ferry inspires Pauline Rowson's DI Horton marine mystery crime novels and thrillers

2012-01-06T07:09:00.000Z

I could get used to this. I was fortunate enough again to be invited on to the bridge of the Wightlink Ferry, St Clare, crossing from Portsmouth to Fishbourne on the Isle of Wight just before Christmas. This time by Captain Paul Marshall and on this occasion the camera came too!

This is DI Andy Horton's patch, the Solent, Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight, and it is also the setting for two of my crime thriller novels, In Cold Daylight and In For The Kill.

Looking back at Portsmouth Harbour and Gunwharf Quays, renamed Oyster Quays in the DI Horton Novels

It was great to talk to Captain Marshall and to view the splendour of the Solent on a calm winter's day providing me lots of inspiration for more crime and thriller novels.

Huge thanks to Captain Marshall and also to Captain Monk who so very kindly invited me on to the bridge a few weeks ago and to Wightlink.

Sailing out with the Brittany Ferry in the background

Hope you enjoy the pictures.

On the bridge sailing out


Looking towards Portsmouth Harbour, Old Portsmouth, the Solent and the Isle of Wight - Marine Mystery Country


Looking back at the ferry terminal, the Camber where *Deadly Waters* is set and Portsmouth Cathedral

At the helm sailing across to the Isle of Wight

On the Bridge looking across to Gosport

In the Solent looking back to Portsmouth

Sailing into Fishbourne on the Isle of Wight where In For the Kill, Blood on the Sand and A Killing Coast is partly set

Pauline Rowson is the author of the popular marine mystery police procedural crime series featuring DI Andy Horton, set on the South Coast of England in the Portsmouth, Isle of Wight and Solent area.

A Killing Coast, the seventh in the DI Horton series is published in hardcover in the UK on 26 January 2012 and in the USA on 1 May 2012.

She is also the author of two standalone thrillers, In Cold Daylight, which came third in an on line poll of the UK's most favourite books for World Book Day and In For The Kill.

“Deserves mention in the same breath as the work of Peter Robinson and John Harvey.” Booklist Starred Review of Footsteps on the Shore

A blast of sea air, a change of scenery and great thinking time helps with the writing

2012-01-04T14:18:00.000Z

After spending much of yesterday glued to the keyboard working on the next DI Andy Horton crime novel a blast of fresh sea air and a change of scenery was called for today. So it was with pleasure that I took myself over to the Isle of Wight (with my husband) on the Hovercraft to Ryde.

After a coffee and Danish Pastry in Olivos it was a good brisk walk to Seagrove Bay. The horrendous winds of yesterday had eased and the sun even came out. The forecast was for more high winds this afternoon and rain so it was a shorter trip to the Island than usual but delightful none the less, made even more delightful when we bumped into a builder friend who is currently renovating a house in Springvale before starting on another housebuilding project in Seaview. Then a pleasant walk back to Ryde and the Hover home before the rain came.

The Isle of Wight features in many of my crime novels in particular the stand alone thriller, In For The Kill is set there mainly around Bembridge and Brading.

And of the DI Andy Horton series Blood on the Sand is set on the Island, and the new DI Horton A Killing Coast which will be published on 26 January is partly set there.

Now I'm back at the computer and on with some writing, refreshed and raring to go.

Pauline Rowson is the author of the popular marine mystery police procedural crime series featuring DI Andy Horton, set on the South Coast of England in the Portsmouth, Isle of Wight and Solent area.

A Killing Coast, the seventh in the DI Horton series is published in hardcover in the UK on 26 January 2012 and in the USA on 1 May 2012.

She is also the author of two standalone thrillers, In Cold Daylight, which came third in an on line poll of the UK's most favourite books for World Book Day and In For The Kill.

“Deserves mention in the same breath as the work of Peter Robinson and John Harvey.” Booklist Starred Review of Footsteps on the Shore

Blood on the Sand, the fifth in the DI Horton Series has just been published in Large Print Format by Severn House

2012-01-03T07:05:00.000Z

Blood on the Sand has been published in Large Print format by Severn House. It is the fifth in the marine mystery series of police procedural crime novels featuring the flawed and rugged DI Andy Horton..

It is already available in hardcover, trade paperback, mass market paperback and as an e book, on Kindle and Nook. The unabridged audio book version was published in 2011 by Isis Publishing and and is read by the accomplished actor, Gordon Griffin.

Blood on the Sand is published in the UK and the USA by Severn House and has received rave reviews in the States.

Reviewer Booklist says: 'This is another solid entry in a consistently well written series. Like Ed McBain, Rowson works many subtle variations on the procedural formula (including very interesting relationships between Andy and a couple of his superiors). A definite winner in the crowded field of British procedurals.'

"Inspector Andy Horton’s holiday peace is shattered when stepping out across an abandoned golf course on the Isle of Wight on a cold, grey January, he finds himself facing a distraught young woman with a gun in her hand leaning over a corpse in one of the discarded bunkers. When she professes to be the dead man’s sister and psychic, Horton’s old adversary, DCI Birch, is convinced she is mentally disturbed and the killer, but Horton is not so sure. Soon he is uncovering a web of intrigue that ripples down the years, and which someone is determined should never be revealed."

Pauline Rowson is the author of the popular marine mystery police procedural crime series featuring DI Andy Horton, set on the South Coast of England in the Portsmouth, Isle of Wight and Solent area.

A Killing Coast, the seventh in the DI Horton series is published in hardcover in the UK on 26 January 2012 and in the USA on 1 May 2012.

She is also the author of two standalone thrillers, In Cold Daylight, which came third in an on line poll of the UK's most favourite books for World Book Day and In For The Kill.

“Deserves mention in the same breath as the work of Peter Robinson and John Harvey.” Booklist Starred Review of Footsteps on the Shore

Looking forward to 2012- New DI Andy Horton crime novel, talks, media appearances and lots more lined up for 2012, looking forward to a busy, productive and successful 2012

2012-01-02T07:11:00.000Z

The New Year and 2012 promises to be an exciting year with lots already lined up. It begins with the publication of the NEW DI Andy Horton marine mystery crime novel, the seventh in the DI Horton series, A Killing Coast.

A Killing Coast, is published on 26 January in the UK in hardcover by Severn House and on 1 May in the USA.

"When a body is found floating in the sea off Portsmouth harbour, Detective Inspector Horton initially judges it to be an accidental death. Soon though, to his dismay, he discovers he’s got it very wrong. Accused of being incompetent by his boss, and with the head of the Major Crime Team coming down heavily on him, Horton wonders if he’s allowed his ongoing investigation into the disappearance of his mother to cloud his judgement. With no clear motive for the murder, Horton is sucked into a baffling investigation that he is determined to resolve despite the odds. Not only does he need to find a brutal killer, but Horton now has to prove to himself, and others, that he is still up to the job."

In February I will be helping to celebrate the library service in the UK and supporting them on Saturday 4 February on National Libraries Day when I will be appearing at Portsmouth Central Library 10.30am to 12.30pm to talk about my crime novels and thrillers. And there are some exciting competitions and events organised for this fun packed morning. More details to follow soon.

In April I will once again be travelling to London and the London Book Fair from 16-18 April where I will be meeting my publisher, agents, readers and others in the publishing world and book trade.

Pauline Rowson at The London Book Fair

Then on 9 May at Basingstoke & Old Basing U3A I will be providing an insight into my marine mystery crime and thriller novels, set in the Solent area.

And on May 24-27 I will be appearing at Crimefest 2012 in Bristol.

Pauline Rowson centre on a panel at Crimefest 2011

More events, media appearances, talks and book news will be added here and to the Calendar of Events for 2012 on my web site. You can also sign up to receive my free e newsletter to keep you up to date with all my book related news.

Meanwhile I'm putting the finishing touches to the next and eighth in the DI Andy Horton series.

Wishing all my readers a very happy, healthy, and successful 2012.

A year in the life of a crime writer -looking back over the events, book news and media appearances for Pauline Rowson in 2011 - what a busy year!

2011-12-29T07:25:00.000Z

With the New Year almost upon us it's that time of year to take a look back over the events of 2011, and for me it's been a busy and productive year.

Here are some of the highlights of 2011.

January saw the launch of the second Crime Writers’ Association Young Crime Writers Competition 2011. I was the judge of the South Coast entries with the winner going forward for the National prize which was announced during National Crime Writing Week 13 - 19 June.

During January my media appearances included an interview with Sally Cronin on Portsmouth Live TV, with Julian Clegg on BBC Radio Solent and with Darren Gamblen on Express FM 93.7FM.

On the book front January saw the publication of another Inspector Andy Horton crime novel.

Footsteps On The Shore, the sixth in the Inspector Andy Horton series was published in hardback by Severn House both in the UK and in the USA where it received great reviews.

February kicked off with another media interview on Express FM (93.7FM) when I was on the Terry In The Afternoon Show, and on 24 February Dead Man's Wharf ( the fourth in the Inspector Andy Horton series) was published by Severn House in Large Print

More media interviews followed in March on the Julian Clegg Breakfast Show on BBC Radio Solent and there was a trip over the Isle of Wight to be interviewed by David Nove on Angel Radio.

Dead Man's Wharf hailed as 'an exemplary procedural' in the USA was published in mass market paperback.

April saw the publication of Blood on the Sand number five in the DI Andy Horton series in mass market paperback.

Also in April there was the London Book Fair and following this on Sunday 17 I gave a talk on what inspires me to write my marine mystery crime novels at the Isle of Wight Festival, Ventnor - The Arts Festival by the Sea at the Royal Hotel, Ventnor.

Also in April was the announcement of the winner of the Young Crime Writers' Association Competition and the presentation of prizes and certificates at Portsmouth Central Library.

George Neame, the southern area winner of the CWA Young Crime Writers Competition receiving a certificate, a £10 book token and a copy of two DI Andy Horton crime novels by Pauline Rowson, Dead Man’s Wharf and Blood on the Sand.

In May I appeared on the Book Programme on Live @ Five on Portsmouth Live TV and again on the Julian Clegg Breakfast Show on BBC Radio Solent.

My public appearances included at talk given to the The Probus Club of Havant where I talked about the inspiration behind my DI Andy Horton marine mystery crime series and how I write my crime and thriller novels.

May also saw the annual crime convention - CrimeFest where I was on a panel and met up with DI Andy Horton fans from as far afield as America and Australia, other crime authors and my publisher.

Pauline Rowson with Stella Hayle from Connecticut, USA.

Crime authors Pauline Rowson and Matt Hilton at Crimefest 2011


Kerrie Smith from Mysteries in Paradise Blog Australia with crime author Pauline Rowson


Pauline Rowson with her Publisher Edwin Buckhalter of Severn House

13- 19 June was National Crime Writing Week, organised by the Crime Writers' Association of Great Britain (CWA), of which I am a member. During the week I ran a Crime Writing Workshop at Quay Arts Centre on the Isle of Wight.

This interactive and fun workshop was packed with lots of practical advice and tips on constructing plots and sub plots; building believable characters; generating suspense and tension, adding red herrings and clues, and exploring writing techniques that grip editors, agents and readers alike.

Then on June 20 it was another trip across the Solent to Newport on the Isle of Wight to present prizes to the winners of the Wight Fair Writers Circle Crime Writing Competition.

I also appeared on the Alex Dyke Show on BBC Radio Solent talking to Alex and listeners about my DI Andy Horton marine mystery crime novels and thrillers set in the South.

In August Footsteps on the Shore, number six in the DI Horton series, was published in paperback, and in September Footsteps on the Shore was published as an e book and on Kindle.

Also in September, I appeared on Portsmouth Live TV on the Adrian and Sally Show when I was joined by Fingerprint expert, Jane Aston from Hampshire Constabulary.

Pauline Rowson with Jane Aston, Adrian Knight and Sally Cronin on Portsmouth Live TV

In October I was on BBC Radio Solent talking to Julian Clegg , on Express FM Radio, Vectis Radio IOW, and on Angel Radio talking to David Nove with fellow crime authors Bob and Carol Bridgestock who also appeared with me at CSI Portsmouth in November.


From left to right: Carol Bridgestock, David Nove, Pauline Rowson and Bob Bridgestock

Pauline Rowson getting ready to go on air with Peter Walkden Vectis Radio

November brought with it the very successful annual event: CSI Portsmouth where crime fact meets crime fiction. This was held on Saturday 5 November during Portsmouth BookFest.

I gave a talk on 'Writing the Crime Novel,' and appeared on a panel with Mark Billingham, John Harvey and Michael Ridpath and with police and forensic experts. It was a great day.

Pauline Rowson giving a talk on Writing A Crime Novel at CSI Portsmouth

Crime experts and crime authors with moderator Cheryl Buggy at CSI Portsmouth 2011

Other public appearances during the month included a very successful talk at the U3A Sarum, Salisbury meeting on 16 November.

In December Blood on the Sand, the fifth in the DI Horton series was published in Large Print by Severn House.

And once again I was delighted to be one of Julian Clegg's guests at his Christmas Party on 23 December.

All in all a very productive and successful year. Looking forward to 2012 with lots more talks, media interviews and guest appearances coming up, and of course the publication of more crime novels starting with the NEW DI Andy Horton marine mystery police procedural crime novel, number seven in this popular series: A Killing Coast published on 26 January 2012.

Wishing all my readers and very happy, healthy and successful 2012.

Calendar of events 2012

Pauline Rowson is the author of the popular marine mystery police procedural crime series featuring DI Andy Horton, set on the South Coast of England in the Portsmouth, Isle of Wight and Solent area.

A Killing Coast, the seventh in the DI Horton series is published in hardcover in the UK on 26 January 2012 and in the USA on 1 May 2012.

She is also the author of two standalone thrillers, In Cold Daylight, which came third in an on line poll of the UK's most favourite books for World Book Day and In For The Kill.

“Deserves mention in the same breath as the work of Peter Robinson and John Harvey.” Booklist Starred Review of Footsteps on the Shore

Photographs from the Julian Clegg Christmas Party BBC Radio Solent with Crime Author Pauline Rowson

2011-12-23T14:42:00.000Z

The Julian Clegg Christmas Party on BBC Radio Solent Friday 23 December was a big hit. Here are some photographs from the event.


Having a laugh and getting ready to go on air with Julian Clegg and his wonderful production team

Chatting to Julian Clegg about my marine mystery crime and thriller novels set in the Solent area and about my new DI Andy Horton crime novel, A Killing Coast, to be published in the UK on 26 January 2012 and in America on 1 May 2012.

The Christmas party at BBC Radio Solent was broadcast live on Friday 23 December 2011 96.1 & 103.8FM & DAB Digital Radio.

Pauline Rowson and Julian Clegg outside the BBC Radio Solent Studios, Southampton

Hannah Watts and Julian Clegg, holding a signed copy of Footsteps on the Shore with author Pauline Rowson

The guests and team at the Julian Clegg Christmas Party BBC Radio Solent 23 January 2011

Wishing all my readers a very Happy Christmas.

Looking forward to the Julian Clegg Christmas Party tomorrow 23 December I'll be on air between 7.30am and 7.45am

2011-12-22T07:21:00.002Z

I'll be appearing on the Julian Clegg Christmas Party on BBC Radio Solent on Friday 23 December.

Tune in from 6.30am to 9.30am to listen to the show. I'll be chatting to Julian Clegg about my marine mystery crime and thriller novels set in the Solent area and about my new DI Andy Horton crime novel, A Killing Coast, to be published in the UK on 26 January 2012 and in America on 1 May 2012.

The Christmas party at BBC Radio Solent will be broadcast live on Friday 23 December 2011 96.1 & 103.8FM & DAB Digital Radio.

Pauline Rowson is the author of the popular marine mystery police procedural crime series featuring DI Andy Horton, set on the South Coast of England in the Portsmouth, Isle of Wight and Solent area.

A Killing Coast, the seventh in the DI Horton series is published in hardcover in the UK on 26 January 2012 and in the USA on 1 May 2012.

She is also the author of two standalone thrillers, In Cold Daylight, which came third in an on line poll of the UK's most favourite books for World Book Day and In For The Kill.

Pauline Rowson Author of the DI Horton Crime Series Presents Prizes to Winners of Short Story Competition

2011-12-21T13:04:00.000Z

Had a great time presenting certificates and prizes to the adult winners of the Wight Fair Writers Circle Winter Short Story Competition at an Awards Ceremony held at Newport Minster on the Isle of Wight on Tuesday 20 December.

Here are some photographs taken from the event organised by the Wight Fair Writers Circle and by fellow crime authors Bob and Carol Bridgestock.

Pauline Rowson presenting the certificate to one of the winners

Pauline Rowson addresses audience

Pauline Rowson talking to the audience about her writing and her crime novels

'It was a great evening and a delight to see so many people, particularly young people, enjoying the craft of writing. Thanks to the Wight Fair Writers Circle for inviting me to present the certificates and to Wightlink who sponsored my travel to the Isle of Wight.

(I also got to travel on the Bridge of the Wightlink ferry again but I'm saving those photos for another blog entry- some great location shots of DI Andy Horton Marine Mystery Country - will post them between Christmas and New Year)

Pauline Rowson book signing

Pauline Rowson chatting to two young competition entrants

Pauline Rowson with some of the winners

Thanks to all for a great event.

Pauline Rowson is the author of the popular marine mystery police procedural crime series featuring DI Andy Horton, set on the South Coast of England in the Portsmouth, Isle of Wight and Solent area.

A Killing Coast, the seventh in the DI Horton series is published in hardcover in the UK on 26 January 2012 and in the USA on 1 May 2012. She is also the author of two standalone thrillers, In Cold Daylight, which came third in an on line poll of the UK's most favourite books for World Book Day and In For The Kill.

“Deserves mention in the same breath as the work of Peter Robinson and John Harvey.” Booklist Starred Review of Footsteps on the Shore

Pauline Rowson explains how she chooses the names of her characters in her crime and thriiler novels

2011-12-20T07:06:00.000Z

Getting the right name for characters in a crime novel, or any novel come to that, can be a tricky business. Sometimes they come to me completely out of the blue as I am creating a character, other times I will struggle to find the name that best suits the character.

I have always had this thing that people should look like their names. When someone is introduced to me I will think yes, you are a Jacqueline or a Malcolm. Other times I will think, oh no, you're definitely a Karen or a Wayne. And so it is with the characters I am creating. The name has to fit. If it's not right then the character isn't right. The name also needs to fit with the age and nationality although you can have exceptions.

So where do I get names from? When seeking inspiration for first names I turn to my little book of baby's names or I will look up a web site of baby's names. I also keep an ear out for any unusual or interesting names when meeting people and will jot these down.

When working on Footsteps on the Shore (no. 6 in the DI Andy Horton marine mystery series) I was stuck for one particular character. He had several incarnations before trawling through the A-Z of names I hit on it. Ashley. Yes, he is definitely an Ashley.

As to surnames, I let my finger do the choosing and tend to pick these out of an atlas or street map. Then I see if it fits with the first name and the character. And the more novels I write the more I am in danger of repeating names, (it's easy to forget what you have already used) so I am building a database in order to double check this.

And where did Andy Horton come from? I've no idea. He just sprang to mind both the name and the character, and long may he thrive.

Crime author Pauline Rowson to present prizes to The Wight Fair Writers Circle Winter Short Story Writing Competition Winners

2011-12-19T06:58:00.000Z

I will be presenting prizes and certificates to the winners and runners up of the Wight Fair Writers Circle for their Winter Short Story Writing Competition at an awards ceremony on the Isle of Wight on 20 December.

This is the second year I have been asked to present the prizes and I'm looking forward to it.The ceremony is being held at Newport Minister. There are some great prizes on offer as well as the winners being published in the County Press and interviewed on radio.

All proceeds are going to charity which includes The Ellen Macarthur Trust and The Diabetic Society. And I'd like to thank Wightlink for sponsoring my travel from Portsmouth to the Isle of Wight.

I hope to post some photographs here from the event.

Pauline Rowson is the author of the popular marine mystery police procedural crime series featuring DI Andy Horton, set on the South Coast of England in the Portsmouth, Isle of Wight and Solent area.

A Killing Coast, the seventh in the DI Horton series is published in hardcover in the UK on 26 January 2012 and in the USA on 1 May 2012.

She is also the author of two standalone thrillers, In Cold Daylight, which came third in an on line poll of the UK's most favourite books for World Book Day and In For The Kill.

I'm on target for completing the next DI Horton crime novel in January, fingers crossed and a fair wind permitting

2011-12-16T07:06:00.000Z

For the last couple of days I've been working hard on the final chapters of the DI Andy Horton marine mystery crime novel number eight and I'm pleased to say that it's all coming together nicely.

In addition to my normal stint at the keyboard of anything between two to three hours a day, I spent just over five hours solidly writing on Wednesday and seven hours yesterday. Today, and over the weekend I shall be hard at it again, (pausing only for a trip to the hairdresser and a brisk walk to clear the head and stretch the legs) making sure that the ending works well before going back through the novel for the fourth revision, which might be the final one, although experience shows me that I usually do five revisions, the final one checking all the phrases, sentences and words. Even given that I do a fifth revision, and barring any major mishaps, I'm delighted to say that I'm on target to meet my deadline of finishing this DI Horton either by January or during January sometime. Then all I'll need is a title!

The marine mystery police procedural crime series featuring DI Andy Horton, are set on the South Coast of England in the Portsmouth, Isle of Wight and Solent area.

A Killing Coast, the seventh in the DI Horton series is published in hardcover in the UK on 26 January 2012 and in the USA on 1 May 2012.

Pauline Rowson is also the author of two standalone thrillers, In Cold Daylight, which came third in an on line poll of the UK's most favourite books for World Book Day and In For The Kill.

Some nice reviews for Dead Man's Wharf from down under, the fourth in the DI Andy Horton series of crime novels

2011-12-13T07:05:00.000Z

Two new book reviews have come from Australia, for Dead Man's Wharf the fourth in the DI Andy Horton series of crime novels.

"Pauline Rowson has the ability to make you want to keep reading, to find out the answers to the growing pile of questions. Those who enjoy British crime fiction will enjoy this series. The Portsmouth setting gives it a unique flavour."

"Pauline Rowson is able to develop a complex plot from seemingly simple roots. The plot keeps branching, element upon element being added, and Rowson does a good job of keeping tabs on them all."

http://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2011/10/review-dead-mans-wharf-pauline-rowson.html

Dead Man's Wharf by Pauline Rowson
Horton and Cantelli are called to a nursing home where an elderly resident, suffering from dementia, claims she's been attacked by an intruder. Horton is ready to dismiss it as senile ramblings until he discovers that her room-mate has died, the dead woman's belongings are missing and her son, convicted for armed robbery, has been found dead in his cell. As if this isn't enough, Horton also has to deal with a series of threatening telephone calls to a television personality, and a mother's conviction that her son's death on Christmas Eve was no accident. Soon, to his surprise, Horton finds he is caught up in a complex investigation that has far-reaching international implications. With the pressure on to find a killer, and hampered by his belief that his bosses are lying to him, Horton discovers that he's stepped into a web of intrigue, deception and corruption that stretches back into the past.

Available in paperback

£6.99

ISBN 9780955098253

352 pages

Also available as an unabridged audio book, e book, Kindle, Large Print.

From all good bookstores, on line and available on loan from libraries in the UK, USA and the Commonwealth.

The Crime Writers' Association to launch exciting new initiatives for crime fiction fans in 2012

2011-12-09T07:00:00.000Z

The Crime Writers’ Association (CWA), of which I am very proud to be a member, has some exciting things lined up for 2012 for crime fiction fans. They are to launch a new initiative, the Crime Readers’ Association (CRA) and are expanding the Crime Writing Week to an entire month.

The CRA will launch in February 2012 with a new website, the url is yet to be confirmed. The site will offer readers information about forthcoming crime books, interviews with crime authors and features by CWA member authors. An e-newsletter is also lined up, with plans to organise events for readers to meet authors.

National Crime Writing Week is also set to expand to a month of activities in bookshops, libraries and arts centres. Last year I was delighted to run a Crime Writing Workshop at the Quay Arts Centre in Newport on the Isle of Wight.

National Crime Writing Month will begin at the Bristol-based Crimefest event, where I will be appearing on a panel. Crimefest runs from May 24th-27th 2012. National Crime Writing Month will conclude with the CWA Dagger awards. The date for the event is to be confirmed. I was also very proud to have been longlisted for the Dagger in the Library Award.

Pauline Rowson centre on the panel at Crimefest 2011

I'm looking forward to both these initiatives and will certainly be posting further details here and on my web site as soon as I have them.

Three reasons why walking is good for crime writers

2011-12-07T07:10:00.000Z

1. Walking is good for thinking

Much of an author's time is spent thinking. It's not all pounding on the keyboard. And walking in particular is excellent for thinking through the plots of my crime novels and for trying to work out those tricky bits that I sometimes just can't seem to get my head around. Often my characters (especially my fictional detective DI Andy Horton) get into places and situations that I think - great, and then I haven't a clue how to extricate them! While walking I'll mull this over along with other aspects of the novel I'm working on and will return to the computer refreshed and ready to tackle that tricky bit.

2. Walking stops you getting computer shoulder and bleary eyes

You can often tell people who spend their days hunched over a computer, they stagger about bleary eyed, and have that Quasimodo look about them with the hunched shoulder and shuffling gait because they've been sitting for so long they've forgotten how to walk. OK, so I exaggerate but then I am a fiction writer. But it is good to get out, take a break from the computer, not only to rest the eyes but to stretch the back and as I said above to stimulate the little 'grey cells.'

Yesterday I had a lovely five mile walk through the beautiful autumnal countryside along the Staunton Way, through Stansted Park. Today it will be along the shore of Chichester Harbour, which like Langstone Harbour on the opposite side of the Hayling Island bridge spanning the two harbours, is alive with Brent Geese, Swans, seagulls and home to many nesting birds and often rare visiting birds.

3. Walking is also good for research.

Because I set my crime novels in the area where I live, walking around the local area is also good for research and provides me with inspiration for new crime novels. I'm already thinking of the next one. I'm not sure yet whether that will be another DI Horton or a stand alone thriller, or maybe even a new series of thrillers. But whatever I write I know that I will find inspiration on the shores close to home, in the vibrant area of Portsmouth and surrounding towns and of course from the sea of the Solent and the coastline and bays on the Isle of Wight.

There are many more reasons why walking is good for crime authors, or any author come to that:

4. It's free
5. It's good for the complexion
6. It helps you to lose weight or regulate your weight

and

7. You get out and meet the most interesting of people who can provide inspiration for characters, and you see things and situations you can use in your novels.

So perhaps I should have entitled this article "Seven reasons why walking is good for crime writers." I'm sure there are many more. Any advance on seven?

Choosing a title for a crime novel - Pauline Rowson, crime author discusses

2011-12-06T07:00:00.001Z

How do you come up with titles for your crime novels?

With great difficulty or considerable ease is the answer. Some titles can come instantly, almost the moment the novel hits the page (or rather the computer screen) Dead Man's Wharf was one such case. Others are like pregnancy, taking months to develop and even when the novel is finished I might still have no idea for a suitable title. A bit like the Horton novel I'm currently working on, number eight in the series. I'm on third revisions and stil no idea what the title of the novel will be.

It doesn’t matter when the title comes to me though, what does is that it must suit the novel, and if possible be memorable, although in my experience people rarely remember the title of a novel unless it's been made into a film or a television series.

Occasionally the publisher will help with the title, or can suggest changing it to one they think more appealing or suitable. And titles are often changed in translation to suit the country, and sometimes even when it is an English speaking country but with different spellings of a word. For example, Deadly Waters started out as Deadly Harbour but was changed because of publication in America where 'harbour' is spelt 'harbor.'

There are many different types of crime novel so equally there are many different types of crime novel titles. The title needs to reflect the mood of the book, as well as its structure and tone.

The Suffocating Sea conjures up the body on the burning boat in a marina on a foggy November night and how Horton feels as the novel progresses and he begins to discover some uncomfortable things about his mother's past.

Tide of Death represents the body washed up on the tide and how one death triggers a series as the killer gets more and more desperate to cover his tracks. Blood on the Sand, reflects the bloody body found in the sand of a bunker on an abandoned golf course on the Isle of Wight and Footsteps on the Shore the fact that Horton is being stalked.

A Killing Coast, the seventh in the DI Horton series, is published on 26 January. This title reflects the fact that the novel is set partly in Portsmouth and partly on the coast of the Isle of Wight across the Solent from the city of Portsmouth, where Horton is based in CID.

All the DI Horton marine mystery crime novels have a ‘sea’ element to the title to reflect their setting and reinforce their branding as marine mysteries. The stand alone thrillers are slightly different. Even though these too are set against the backdrop of the sea it wasn't so essential to reflect this in the title.

In For The Kill was a title that sprang instantly to mind as Alex Albury will fight to the bitter end to discover the identity of the man who stole his identity, framed him and destroyed his comfortable life and reputation. He is out to kill or be killed.

In Cold Daylight started out as The Cold Light of Day. The title represents the fact that Adam Greene, the reluctant hero, emerges from the story a different man than when he started. His journey forces him to relive past traumas and face up to the shame of his mental breakdown on a quest that was forced upon him to discover the truth behind the death of his friend, fire-fighter Jack Bartholomew and several of his colleagues of cancer.

Titles do matter because people can choose a book because of its title, and the look of the cover, especially if it is a new author for them, and one that hasn't necessarily been recommended by someone. And if the book becomes a treasured one then the title will stick, even if the name of the author has been forgotten.

Now it's time to get back to DI Andy Horton number eight and hope that soon a title will come to me.

Checklist for writing a good crime story, writing tips and National Crime Writing Month 2012

2011-12-02T07:33:00.001Z

I've got a new page on my official website entitled 'Writing Tips'. At the moment it comprises of a checklist for writing a good crime story, but this might be added to in due course. There are also interviews and further tips on the blog on my website.

I drafted this checklist to help those entering the CWA's ( Crime Writers' Association) Young Crime Writers' Competition 2011 so it is angled slightly towards writing a short story rather than a crime novel. Sadly the Young Crime Writers' Competition is not continuing for 2012, which is a shame because I felt it was just gaining momentum.

However there is going to be a National Crime Writing Month in June 2012 with lots of author and writing events taking place across the UK. I'll post more details here and on my website in due course but you can check this out and other events by visiting the CWA website

How to write a good crime story by Pauline Rowson

There are many different types of crime stories and many different types of crime novels from gritty gruesome, cosy comfortable to cops, robbers and gangsters, racy, action-packed thrillers, historical or contemporary, detective or private eye…

Then there is the setting: the city, the sea, countryside, mountains, home or abroad, and the theme – what message are you trying to get across? And whose story is it anyway?

So -
Choose your location
Choose your type of crime story
Think about a good theme or message you want to get across in your story
Choose who is going to be your main character or characters

Checklist for a good crime story

It should be well written with a truly surprising ending.
You need to plant clues throughout the crime story – not too many but just enough to get the reader thinking.
One critical piece of information is usually held back until just before the ending.
The best stories are those that have a theme/message and are firmly based on character.
Beginning: the main character is introduced immediately, so is the tone and setting and the problem
Middle: Build the motivation and tension.
The climax – this is the worst possible moment of the story.
The ending
If you are writing a short story then there should be unities of time, place and action which means that the story should take place over a very short space of time, in the same place and ideally through the main character’s eyes. This results in tight construction and a successful short story.

Crime author Pauline Rowson to present prizes to the winners of the Wight Fair Writers Circle Winter Short Story Competition

2011-12-01T06:41:00.000Z

I am delighted that I have again been asked to present the prizes and certificates to the winners and runners up of the Wight Fair Writers Circle for their Winter Short Story Writing Competition at an awards ceremony on the Isle of Wight on 20 December.

I was privileged to present prizes to the lucky winners of last year's winter short story competition and this year in June for the Wight Fair Writers Circle Crime Competition. It's always a pleasure to meet budding writers and encourage new writing talent.

Pauline Rowson with winners and the High Sheriff of the Isle of Wight June 2011

Pauline Rowson speaking at the Winter Short Story Competition December 2010

This year the ceremony is being held at Newport Minister. There are some great prizes on offer as well as the winner's story being published in the County Press and the winner being interviewed on radio.

All proceeds are going to charity which includes The Ellen Macarthur Trust and The Diabetic Society.

For further information about tickets to the awards ceremony please contact carolbridgestock@hotmail.com
or telephone 44 (0) 1983 402393.

New Video - Crime author Pauline Rowson talking to Tony Smith about Writing a Crime Novel

2011-11-30T07:30:00.001Z

I've uploaded a new video on You Tube. On this latest video I'm talking to Tony Smith of Angel Radio about writing a crime novel. You can watch the video below. There are several more on my You Tube Channel.

Proofs read for A Killing Coast, the seventh in the DI Andy Horton Series, looking forward to publication on 26 January

2011-11-29T07:17:00.001Z

Last week I finished reading the proofs for A Killing Coast, the seventh in the DI Andy Horton crime series next up is publication in hardcover on 26 January.

I'm looking forward to seeing the finished product and receiving my author copies. It's always a thrill to see the fruits of your labour in print.

A Killing Coast is published on 26 January 2012 in the UK and in May 2012 in hardcover, and is available for pre-order on Amazon and The Book Depository at a specially reduced price. It will also be available in UK Libraries from January and in libraries in the USA from May onwards.

Like the others in the Horton series it is set on the South Coast of England in Portsmouth, the Solent and the Isle of Wight. Horton has a new crime mystery to solve and in A Killing Coast he also delves further into the disappearance of his mother over thirty years ago.

Third revisions just finished on DI Horton crime novel number eight, on with fourth revisions

2011-11-28T07:18:00.001Z

Yesterday I finished the third revisions of the DI Andy Horton marine mystery crime novel number eight in the series and I started on the fourth revision.

The third revision consisted of firming up the ending and making sure I had the right killer in the right place at the right time and for the right reason! The fourth revision will now consist of ensuring that all the clues are in the correct place, all the questions are answered and everything ties in. Following this it will be the fifth and hopefully final revisions to check that each phrase and word used is the right one before I send it to my editor. My deadline is January.

I started work on this DI Andy Horton police procedural crime novel on 13 April 2011 and it took me four months to write the first draft. The second revision took me two months and the third six weeks. I have nine weeks until the end of January, so plenty of time, and fingers crossed and a fair wind I will complete it (and be happy with it) before then. So on with the revisions.

DI Andy Horton crime novel Blood on the Sand by Pauline Rowson to be published in Large Print in December

2011-11-25T06:52:00.000Z

I'm delighted that Blood on the Sand, the fifth in the DI Andy Horton series of marine mystery police procedural crime novels set on the South Coast of England is to be published in Large Print by Severn House on 31 December. It is currently available in hardcover, trade paperback, mass market paperback, as an e book and an audio book.

I'm pleased to say that Blood on the Sand, set primarily on the Isle of Wight, has received some great reviews.

"Another solid entry in a consistently well written series. Like Ed McBain, Rowson works many subtle variations on the procedural formula (including very interesting relationships between Andy and a couple of his superiors). A definite winner in the crowded field of British procedurals." Booklist

"A rapid fire tale." Kirkus

"The very tight plotting was very impressive and make me want to look out for further books by this author. A very enjoyable read."Eurocrime

Inspector Andy Horton’s holiday peace is shattered when stepping out across an abandoned golf course on the Isle of Wight on a cold, grey January, he finds himself facing a distraught young woman with a gun in her hand leaning over a corpse in one of the discarded bunkers. When she professes to be the dead man’s sister and psychic, Horton’s old adversary, DCI Birch, is convinced she is mentally disturbed and the killer, but Horton is not so sure. He feels a strange affinity towards the woman, and a sense of recognition even though he’s convinced they’ve never met. When it’s revealed that the dead man was working on a top-level environmental project on behalf of the European Commission, Horton is urged by Superintendent Uckfield to go undercover. His mission is to trap a clever killer, but he soon finds his own life in danger... Then another death changes everything. With no clear suspects, and a confusion of possible motives, a frustrating, complex case is complicated still further by Horton’s growing feelings and concern for the woman. As he goes in search of the truth, aided by Sergeant Cantelli, Horton uncovers a web of intrigue that ripples down the years, and which someone is determined should never be revealed.

It is available to buy on line and by order through all good bookshops and it is also available for loan from Libraries.

Blood on the Sand
ISBN-13: 978-0727879899
£17.99

A Killing Coast - A DI Andy Horton crime novel by Pauline Rowson - Location Shots Part 2

2011-11-24T07:20:00.000Z

The seventh in the DI Horton series of Marine Mystery crime novels A Killing Coast is to be published in hardcover by Severn House in the UK on 26 January 2012 and in the USA in May 2012.

Here are some photographs taken from the locations featured in A Killing Coast.The novel is set in Portsmouth, the Solent and on the Isle of Wight.


Ventnor Haven - Isle of Wight

The bays featured in A Killing Coast on the Isle of Wight

The coast featured in A Killing Coast - the east coast of the Isle of Wight

When a body is found floating in the sea off Portsmouth harbour, Detective Inspector Horton initially judges it to be an accidental death. Soon though, to his dismay, he discovers he’s got it very wrong. Accused of being incompetent by his boss, and with the head of the Major Crime Team coming down heavily on him, Horton wonders if he’s allowed his ongoing investigation into the disappearance of his mother over thirty years ago to cloud his judgement. With no clear motive for the murder, Horton is sucked into a baffling investigation that he is determined to resolve despite the odds. Not only does he need to find a brutal killer, but Horton now has to prove to himself, and others, that he is still up to the job.

A Killing Coast is available to pre-order on Amazon, The Book Depository and in UK bookshops. Also available on loan from libraries in the UK

My crime and thriller novels are available in hardcover, paperback, as e books on Kindle and Nook and some are available in Large Print and as Audio Book.

A question for the expert panel at CSI Portsmouth 2011 from Australia

2011-11-23T06:54:00.000Z

Before CSI Portsmouth 2011 was held on Saturday 5 November, I compiled some questions for our panel moderator to put to the crime experts, a Forensic Psychologist, a Crime Scene Expert and two detectives from Hampshire Police. One of the questions came from a writer in Australia.

Question
How close is the liaison between the Australian and British Police on a murder investigation?

This question was put to one of the detectives on the CSI Portsmouth 2011 Panel on Saturday 5 November.

Answer

The answer from the detective on the Major Crime Unit in Hampshire Police was that it depends on the seriousness of the case. If it is murder though, liaison between the British and the Australian police is very close. If the murder was committed in Britain then someone from the UK police would fly out to Australia to track down the killer and interview him/her with the assistance and full co-operation of the Australian Police and it works the other way. Interestingly enough the detective had a case recently which involved someone returning to Australia from Portsmouth. It wasn't murder, not sure what it was, but when the Portsmouth detective phoned the police in the relevant town in Australia he discovered he was talking to a police officer who had moved to Australia from Portsmouth - it's a small world as they say and this Australian officer was able to interview the person, take the statement and e mail it back.

There were some fascinating questions asked of both the crime authors and the crime experts at CSI Portsmouth 2011 and some even more fascinating answers!

If you like crime fiction and/or crime fact then make a diary note for CSI Portsmouth 2012 - Saturday 3 November.

Yippee - I've been invited to the Julian Clegg Christmas Party - on Air BBC Radio Solent 23 December

2011-11-22T07:19:00.000Z

I was so pleased when Julian Clegg invited me on air on 2 November to join him and his guests once again for his great Christmas Party on BBC Radio Solent on Friday 23 December, and the invitation confirming this dropped into my in box last week. I wouldn't miss it for the world. It's one of the highlights in my Christmas Calendar.

I'll be mingling with Julian's lovely guests in the BBC Staff Canteen sipping coffee and eating croissants between 6.30am to 9.30am on Friday 23 December. It's great fun not only chatting to Julian but also to his wonderful and very interesting guests. Last year we were also entertained by a lovely choir.

The programme is LIVE. I'm not sure when I'll be on air but it will be after 7.30 am and I'll be talking to Julian about my crime novels, which are set in the Solent area. (96.1 & 103.8FM & DAB Digital Radio.)


Pauline Rowson being interviewed by Julian Clegg and filmed

The Christmas party at BBC Radio Solent will be broadcast live on Friday 23 December. Really looking forward to it.


Julian Clegg Christmas Party BBC Radio Solent - I'm the one wearing the grey scarf!

A Killing Coast- the new DI Andy Horton Marine Mystery Crime Novel by Pauline Rowson- location shots part one

2011-11-21T07:22:00.001Z

The seventh in the DI Horton series of Marine Mystery crime novels, A Killing Coast, is being published in hardcover by Severn House in the UK on 26 January 2012 and in the USA in May.

A Killing Coast is set in the Solent area on the South Coast of England, in Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight. I thought you might like to see some location shots for this DI Andy Horton novel.Part two location shots follows tomorrow.

When a body is found floating in the sea off Portsmouth harbour, Detective Inspector Horton initially judges it to be an accidental death. Soon though, to his dismay, he discovers he’s got it very wrong. Accused of being incompetent by his boss, and with the head of the Major Crime Team coming down heavily on him, Horton wonders if he’s allowed his ongoing investigation into the disappearance of his mother over thirty years ago to cloud his judgement. With no clear motive for the murder, Horton is sucked into a baffling investigation that he is determined to resolve despite the odds. Not only does he need to find a brutal killer, but Horton now has to prove to himself, and others, that he is still up to the job.

Location shots for the DI Andy Horton novel A Killing Coast

Where the body is found floating in the sea off Spit Bank Fort in the Solent

Gunwharf Quays Portsmouth Harbour - this is called Oyster Quays in the DI Horton Novels


DI Horton is called upon to sail across to the Isle of Wight with the Marine Unit - Sergeant Elkins and PC Ripley

He also travels on the Wightlink ferry with Detective Superintendent Uckfield and Detective Sergeant Cantelli

Tomorrow I will post some photographs of the area on the Isle of Wight mentioned in A Killing Coast

A Killing Coast is available to pre-order on Amazon, The Book Depository and in UK bookshops. Also available on loan from libraries in the UK

My crime and thriller novels are available in hardcover, paperback, as e books on Kindle and Nook and some are available in Large Print and as Audio Books.

The New DI Andy Horton Marine Mystery Crime Novel A Killing Coast to be published in January

2011-11-18T07:15:00.002Z

The seventh in the DI Horton series of Marine Mystery crime novels set in the Solent area on the South Coast of England, A Killing Coast by Pauline Rowson is to be published in hardcover by Severn House in the UK on 26 January 2012.

I'm delighted to say that the DI Horton series has received critical acclaim both in the UK and the USA where my writing has been compared to Ed McBain and Joseph Wambaugh and "their British counterparts, including the work of Peter Robinson and John Harvey."

John Harvey and I were recently on the panel of crime authors appearing at CSI Portsmouth 2011.

American Reviewer Booklist says, "Andy Horton is an especially good series hero, a likeable fellow with plenty of street smarts and the requisite personal baggage – an abrasive supervisor and an antagonistic soon-to-be ex-wife. Procedural fans who haven’t already read Rowson should be encouraged to do so in the strongest possible terms."

I've written seven novels in the DI Horton series and two stand alone thrillers one of which, In Cold Daylight was voted the third most popular novel in an on line poll for World Book Day.

All my crime and thriller novels are available in hardcover, paperback, as e books on Kindle and Nook and some are available in Large Print and as Audio Books.

A Killing Coast

When a body is found floating in the sea off Portsmouth harbour, Detective Inspector Horton initially judges it to be an accidental death. Soon though, to his dismay, he discovers he’s got it very wrong. Accused of being incompetent by his boss, and with the head of the Major Crime Team coming down heavily on him, Horton wonders if he’s allowed his ongoing investigation into the disappearance of his mother over thirty years ago to cloud his judgement. With no clear motive for the murder, Horton is sucked into a baffling investigation that he is determined to resolve despite the odds. Not only does he need to find a brutal killer, but Horton now has to prove to himself, and others, that he is still up to the job.

It is available to pre-order on Amazon, The Book Depository and in UK bookshops. Also available on loan from libraries in the UK

A Killing Coast will be published in the USA in May 2012.

I'll be posting photographs of where A Killing Coast is set on this blog shortly.

Pauline Rowson entertaining a packed U3A meeting talking about writing crime novels

2011-11-17T07:00:00.000Z

I had a fantastic time as guest speaker at a packed U3A meeting at Sarum, near Salisbury on Wednesday where I talked about how I write my crime novels and thrillers and about the DI Andy Horton marine mystery series of crime novels. They were a lovely audience and it was a pleasure talking to them and signing copies of my crime novels. Here are some photographs from the event.

Pauline Rowson speaking to a packed audience

I enjoy public speaking and am always happy to be asked to speak to groups. I've given talks to U3A groups around the country and am always delighted to do more. I've also given talks to Women's Institutes, professional groups, reading and writing groups, in libraries and been a guest speaker at many charity events.

If you would like to find out more about my speaking engagements or wish to contact me about a public appearance or talk please visit my website.

Pauline Rowson taking a bow after giving a short reading to end her talk

U3A stands for the University of the Third Age. It is a self-help organisation for people no longer in full time employment, providing educational, creative and leisure opportunities in a friendly environment. There are local U3As all over the UK.

Pauline Rowson taking questions from the floor

Pauline Rowson book signing after the event

Crime author Pauline Rowson to appear at Crimefest 2012

2011-11-16T06:36:00.000Z

I'm delighted to be returning to Crimefest in 2012 where I’ll be joining a fabulous line up of crime writers including P. D James, Lee Child and Sue Grafton along with Peter James and many more of my crime writing buddies. I’m also looking forward to meeting up with my publisher there, the team from Severn House.

Crimefest is a great crime fiction conference which attracts audiences from all over the World. Last year I met a DI Andy Horton fan from Connecticut and from Australia as well as others from the UK.

Pauline Rowson with Stella Heyl from Connecticut, USA

I'm not sure which panel I will be appearing on yet, when and with whom but will certainly post the details as soon as I know them.

CRIMEFEST will be held at the Bristol Royal Marriott Hotel from 24 - 27 May 2012. It is a convention for people who like to read an occasional crime novel as well as for die-hard fanatics. First organised in June 2008, CRIMEFEST is now one of the most popular dates in the crime fiction calendar. The annual convention draws top crime novelists, readers, editors, publishers and reviewers from around the world and gives delegates the opportunity to celebrate the genre in an informal atmosphere. It follows the format of US conventions and includes interviews, panels, and a gala dinner.

Hope to see some of you there!

The answer to a panel question on cybercrime at CSI Portsmouth 2011

2011-11-15T07:08:00.001Z

Before CSI Portsmouth 2011 was held on Saturday 5 November, I compiled some questions for our panel moderator, Cheryl Buggy, to put to the crime experts on the panel. These were a Forensic Psychologist, a Crime Scene Expert and two detectives from Hampshire Police. One of the questions was e mailed to me from a writer in the USA.

Question
I'd like some advice on filling in details of a person aiding the police in a small town on doing some computer searches. How do I find background on the more sophisticated forensic computer work?

I have posted the answer below and have added some additional research which I conducted. Cybercrime was a theme I used in my thriller novel In For The Kill and it will no doubt feature in a future thriller or DI Andy Horton crime novel as sadly it is a growing area of criminal activity.

Answer
It will vary depending on where you live and the organisational structure of your police force. In the Hampshire Police there is a High Tech Unit, which is part of the Scientific Services Department. The High Tech unit looks into all kinds of computer crime including fraud, pornography, stalking and more.The unit undertakes the forensic examination and retrieval of evidence or intelligence from computers, computer related media and other digital devices. It is managed by a detective sergeant and comprises of seven detective constables, and three police staff who are all forensic computer examiners. It also has an office manager and a dedicated IT support person.

There are university courses in Forensic Information Technology (FIT), and the University of Portsmouth, (my crime novels are based in and around the Portsmouth area) has excellent courses. I have taken the information below from their website.

The sort of person who would be involved in this kind of work would need to have hands-on experience of computer systems, knowledge of IT systems, especially familiarity with PCs, networks, operating systems and systems security configuration and awareness of security issues at various levels of system implementation. They could have a Masters degree in Forensic Information Technology. I've added some information taken from the University of Portsmouth's course in FIT.

The Forensic Computing expert will:

present computer or IT evidence in judicial or administrative hearings
investigate fraud and deception
investigate unauthorised access to computer systems, hacking etc
identify intruders' trails and scientifically, using IT means, gather evidence to prosecute
recover and acquire data which may have been hidden or deleted
investigate suspected inappropriate use of internet applications, such as email and instant messaging
monitor and analyse network traffic, including wireless networks, mobile phone traffic and faxes
practise cryptanalysis
prepare and audit security policies and their implementation
perform and evaluate a forensic examination of digital media
evaluate the fitness for purpose of forensic tools

I'm delighted to say that the individual who posted this question was thoroughly pleased with the information.

Cybercrime is a fascinating subject and unfortunately a growth area. I'm considering bringing in an expert on this for our crime panel or to give a talk at CSI Portsmouth 2012. So if it is something you are interested in look out for more information on this next year.

CSI Portsmouth 2012 - Saturday 3 November 2012

Crime author Pauline Rowson to give a talk about her DI Horton crime novels at Sarum U3A on 16 November

2011-11-14T06:44:00.000Z

I'm looking forward to giving a talk this week on 16 November at the U3A group at Sarum, near Salisbury on how I write my crime novels and thrillers and about my DI Andy Horton marine mystery series of crime novels.

Pauline Rowson speaking at Waterlooville U3A

I've given quite a few talks to U3A groups around the country and really enjoy them. They are always such a delightful and receptive audience and I am looking forward to entertaining the U3A Sarum members on Wednesday. I've also got a couple more U3As lined up for next year. You can find out more about U3A on their web site, but briefly U3A stands for the University of the Third Age. It is a self-help organisation for people no longer in full time employment, providing educational, creative and leisure opportunities in a friendly environment. There are local U3As all over the UK.

Pauline Rowson speaking to a Women's Institute Group

While many fear public speaking I really thrive on it, guess it comes from my background in marketing and as a trainer and professional conference speaker.

Pauline Rowson speaking at a charity luncheon in aid of the NSPCC

I am always keen to speak to groups including retirement associations, charities, and at libraries, Women's Institutes, to Reading Groups, professional organisations and at conferences and literary and book festivals so if you have an event and would like a speaker please do get in touch. You can also find out more about my public speaking engagements on my web site

Pauline Rowson giving a talk on Writing A Crime Novel at CSI Portsmouth 2011

What a treat, yesterday morning on the bridge of the Wightlink ferry St Clare crossing to the Isle of Wight, fantastic research for my DI Horton crime novels

2011-11-11T06:49:00.000Z

As readers of my crime novels and this blog know I am a regular visitor to the Isle of Wight where some of my marine mystery crime novels are partly based. DI Andy Horton's patch is Portsmouth CID but the serious crimes which take place in the area, including the Isle of Wight, are covered by the Major Crime Team which is based in Portsmouth. In my marine mystery crime novels the MCT is headed by alpha male Detective Superintendent Steve Uckfield and of course Horton and Sergeant Cantelli are pulled in to help with the investigations.

Yesterday my husband and I decided to cross to the Isle of Wight from Portsmouth for a walk. I needed to get away from the computer for a while, stretch my legs and enjoy the mild and sunny November day. Often we travel on foot by Hovercraft, but yesterday we went by the Wightlink car ferry from the Portsmouth terminal to Fishbourne as foot passengers and I was delighted to find on board Captain John Monk, who was Captain when I did one of my two marathon book signing sessions on board the Wightlink ferry a few years ago, in 2007 I think it was, when I was launching my thriller novel In For The Kill.

Pauline Rowson signing for Captain John Monk on board the Wightlink ferry St Clare

Captain Monk invited me and my husband onto the bridge of the St Clare where we stayed for the whole of the thirty-five minute crossing of the Solent. Fantastic! The view of the Solent on a calm clear day was spectacular. I even got to see the Police launch coming in to the harbour and was sure I saw Sergeant Dai Elkins and PC Ripley on board! I only wish I'd had my camera with me.

A Royal Naval vessel was sailing out of the harbour along with the Brittany Ferry, there was a tug boat, fishing boat, the Fastcat, Hovercraft, and leisure craft in the Solent and as we chatted several ideas for future Horton crime novels or a thriller sprang to mind. Thank you so much Wightlink and Captain Monk a real treat.

Pauline Rowson with Captain Monk on board the St Clare in 2007

Then it was a walk to Quarr Abbey which some of you will know is featured in the Horton novel Blood on the Sand, through to Ryde and a trip home on the Hovercraft. All in all a great day and good to come back refreshed.

Quarr Abbey, Isle of Wight

DI Horton has a Marine Mystery Crime Novels Facebook Page

2011-11-10T07:07:00.000Z

I have had a Facebook page under my name Pauline Rowson Crime Writer for a long time, but I also have a Facebook Page for the Marine Mystery Series of Crime Novels featuring my flawed and rugged hero DI Andy Horton.

There are currently six in the series beginning with Tide of Death, then in order: Deadly Waters, The Suffocating Sea, Dead Man's Wharf, Blood on the Sand and Footsteps on the Shore. A Killing Coast the seventh will be published on 26 Januray 2012. And I am currently writing number eight.

I am now looking at developing my Marine Mystery Facebook Page further and making it more widely known so if anyone reading this would like to visit and Like It I'd be tickled pink.

Alternatively, or in addition, you can send me an invitation to connect on my general Facebook page, on LinkedIn or you can Follow me on Twitter.

You can also subscribe to my e newsletter for book news and updates by visiting my official website. where you can find details on all the DI Horton crime novels, my thrillers and all my books as welll as my events.

More on the new DI Horton A Killing Coast , which is being published on 26 January by Severn House, soon.

Determining the identity of a body from skeletal remains is all in a day's work for a crime writer, Oh, and for a forensic anthropolgist

2011-11-09T07:20:00.002Z

I've been doing some research for the DI Andy Horton marine mystery crime novel I am currently writing, which will be number eight in the series, and part of this research involves determining the identity of an individual from the skeletal remains. (Hope I'm not giving too much away about the plot here). As ever the Internet provides a rich resource of information and I found a fascinating and comprehensive article on the subject.

It says that the analysis of an endoskeleton from the remains of an individual can provide information about the identity of the person that died, as well as information regarding physical characteristics about that person and sometimes the manner in which they died although the latter can be difficult because of decomposition. Cause of death can be due to many reasons such as fires, homicides, explosions, wild animals, poisoning, drowning etc. This is where a Forensic Anthropologist is often consulted. Forensic Anthropologists are experts in human evolution, development, genetics, and human osteology (the study of bones) to be used for criminal investigations or following natural disasters.

This is all great stuff for a crime writer and fascinating too. I am very keen to get a Forensic Anthropologist to give a talk at CSI Portsmouth 2012 on Saturday 3 November 2012. So if this is a subject that fascinates you keep a look out here, on my web site or on my Facebook page or follow me on Twitter for more details on CSI Portsmouth 2012.

Meanwhile you might like to read the article yourself from the World of Forensic Science. And for me it's back to DI Horton and crime writing and more on skeletal analysis.

CSI Portsmouth - Photographs from the panel debate with crime authors and crime experts

2011-11-08T07:18:00.014Z

The panel debate - crime fiction versus crime fact - at CSI Portsmouth 2011on Saturday 5 November at the John Pounds Centre, Portsmouth, England, with best selling crime authors and experts was enjoyed by over a hundred people and was highly entertaining and very informative. The feedback from the audience was fantastic. I enjoyed it tremendously and I am delighted to say so too did those who attended and the panel guests. Here are some photogrpahs from the event.

The audience waiting for the event to begin

Best sellling crime authors Mark Billingham, John Harvey, Michael Ridpath and Pauline Rowson
at CSI Portsmouth

We were joined by crime experts: Dr Claire Nee, Director of the International Centre for Research in Forensic Psychology at Portsmouth University, Dr Paul Smith, Crime Scene Expert from the University of Portsmouth, DC Nick Bettesworth from the Major Crime Unit Hampshire Police and DS Martin Chudley Crime Scene Manager from Hampshire Police.

Also in the picture far left: DC Jim Wells from Hampshire Police and far right: Jane Aston from the Fingerprint Bureau with crime author Pauline Rowson at CSI Portsmouth

They answered questions put to them by panel moderator Cheryl Buggy, Station Director of Express FM and from the audience.


The panel answering questions

From left to right: Crime Authors Pauline Rowson, Michael Ridpath, John Harvey and Mark Billingham

DS Martin Chudley answering a question

This was followed by a book signing and the audience had the chance to talk to the authors, experts and all the speakers.

Crime author Pauline Rowson talking to fans of her marine mystery crime novels and thrillers.

CSI Portsmouth was launched in 2010 and is part of Portsmouth BookFest. It is organised by Pauline Rowson, whose popular crime novels are set in the area, in conjunction with The Hayling Island Bookshop and Portsmouth City Libraries.

Make a diary note for CSI Portsmouth 2012 - Saturday 3 November - for another great line up of crime authors and crime experts in crime fiction meets crime fact.

CSI Portsmouth a great success-photographs from the morning programme and more to follow from the afternoon programme tomorrow

2011-11-07T07:10:00.000Z

CSI Portsmouth 2011 held on Saturday 5 November at the John Pounds Centre, Portsmouth, England was voted a great day's entertainment by the people who attended it. Over a hundred people attended the packed morning programme of talks and a hundred and fifteen the afternoon panel debate.

Here are some photographs from the morning programme and tomorrow I'll post some from the afternoon panel debate.

The morning programme consisted of talks from former Detective Superintendent and crime writer Bob Bridgestock, fingerprint expert Jane Aston from Hampshire Police Fingerprint Bureau, Lucy Wainwright, forensic psychologist from the University of Portsmouth International Centre for Research in Forensic Psychology and me on Writing A Crime Novel.

From left to right: Back: Carol and Bob Bridgestock, Jane Aston. Front: Pauline Rowson, Lucy Wainwright

Bob Bridgestock - True Crime- How a Murder Scene is Worked

Jane Aston- Hampshire Police Fingerprint Bureau

Lucy Wainwright-Forensic Psychology

Crime author, Pauline Rowson - Writing a Crime Novel

Also at CSI Portsmouth for the day, the girls from the Fingerprint Bureau, Emma and Kerrie

CSI Portsmouth was launched in 2010 and is part of Portsmouth BookFest, a festival of popular literature. It is organised by Pauline Rowson in conjunction with The Hayling Island Bookshop and Portsmouth City Libraries.

Photographs from the afternoon panel debate on tomorrow's blog.

Make a diary note for CSI Portsmouth 2012, which will take place on Saturday 3 November for a great line up of crime authors and crime experts for an even bigger event.

The Big Day is here- Crime Fiction meets Crime Fact at CSI Portsmouth - tickets available on the door

2011-11-05T07:03:00.000Z

Looking forward to CSI Portsmouth today and joining my fellow crime writers, best selling crime authors Mark Billingham, John Harvey and Michael Ridpath along with Police, forensic psychologists, fingerprint experts, Scene of Crime Officers for a day of crime fiction and crime fact. Tickets are on sale on the door at the John Pounds Centre, Portsea, Portsmouth UK. So if you haven't booked you can still come along.

If you want to know:

how the fingerprinting bureau works,
what it’s like to be in charge of a major murder investigation,
what makes someone commit murder,
how a crime scene is worked,
how crime authors come up with their intricate plots,
how they research their novels,
how they turn fact into fiction

then join us for a packed programme of crime at the crime scene:

John Pounds Community Centre, Portsmouth
23 Queen Street, Portsea, Portsmouth, Hants, PO1 3HN
Telephone Number: 023 9289 2010
http://www.johnpoundscentre.co.uk/how_to_find_us.html

CSI Portsmouth today: Saturday 5th November 2011

There are two talks available in the morning from 10am to 12.30pm

True Crime – In Charge Of Murder – How a real murder case is worked, former Detective Superintendent Bob Bridgestock tells it like it is.

Writing A Crime Novel - plotting, researching and writing the crime novel, using the Solent area for setting and inspiration - Pauline Rowson author of the DI Andy Horton Marine Mystery Crime Novels

And tickets are left for the main afternoon panel in the afternoon from 2pm to 5pm in the large hall, so plenty of room to squeeze more people in!

Cost for the day £10.00 or for the afternoon only £7.00

And if you miss this year's event, I'll be posting lots of photos here and on my web site and Facebook page.

Look out for details for CSI Portsmouth 2012!!!

Head of the Scene Of Crime and the Major Crime Unit at CSI Portsmouth 5 November - crime fact versus crime fiction

2011-11-04T07:12:00.004Z

Tomorrow is the big CSI Portsmouth event being held at the John Pounds Centre, Portsmouth (UK). Tickets are available on the door for the afternoon panel debate with crime writers, Mark Billingham, John Harvey, Michael Ridpath and me ( Pauline Rowson) versus crime experts: Dr Claire Nee, Forensic Psychologist; Dr Paul Smith, Scene of Crime expert, and two police detectives from Hampshire Police: DS Martin Chudley and DC Nick Bettesworth.

Over the past weeks I have been featuring the speakers and panellists for CSI Portsmouth and last but by no means least are the two police officers. I am just in awe of these guys who do a fantastic job often against the odds and up against ever increasing and often unnecessary bureaucracy. DI Andy Horton my fictional detective knows all about that! DI Horton is very much an action man and, of course, crime fiction is different to crime fact... or is it? Come to CSI Portsmouth to find out.

DS Martin Chudley – Hampshire Police – Head of the Scene of Crime Dept.

DS Martin Chudley has 24 years experience as a police officer working mainly in Portsmouth and Gosport. He has worked in CID and has been in the Scene of Crime department for the last 7 years. He is one of nine Crime Scene Managers within Hampshire who attend all suspicious deaths, serious sexual offences and other major incidents wherever they occur within Hampshire or the IOW. He is currently a Temporary Detective Inspector and Head of the Scene of Crime Dept. responsible for overseeing the deployment of 48 Crime Scene investigators to a wide variety of crime scenes.

DS Chudley was with us at CSI Portsmouth 2010 and I am delighted he is able to join us again for CSI Portsmouth 2011.

DS Martin Chudley and Pauline Rowson

With DS Chudley on the panel of experts this year is:

DC Nick Bettesworth – Major Crime Unit – Hampshire Police

DC Nick Bettesworth also has 24 years experience in the police and joined with Martin Chudley. He has been a detective for 16 years, the last 2 with the Major Crime Team, working on murders, suspicious deaths and stranger rapes. Prior to this he spent 2 years with the UK’s first dedicated rape / serious sexual assault investigation unit, known as The Crystal Unit, which was a Home Office funded pilot scheme based in Portsmouth. In addition he has 8 years experience on the Serious and Organised Crime Department, mainly involved in large scale drugs investigations and during this time he was also involved in Operation Phoenix a large scale undercover drugs operation based in Southampton which subsequently convicted in the region of 150 drugs dealers.

Join us for a packed programme of crime at:

John Pounds Community Centre, Portsmouth
23 Queen Street, Portsea, Portsmouth, Hants, PO1 3HN
Telephone Number: 023 9289 2010
http://www.johnpoundscentre.co.uk/how_to_find_us.html

Saturday 5th November 2011 10am – 5pm.

CSI Portsmouth tickets on sale from the Box Office + 44 (0)23 9268 8685.

Tickets cost £5 for the morning and £7 for the afternoon with a discounted ticket of £10 for the whole day and includes £3 off the price of a book bought at the event.

My publisher has done some exciting things this year and I don't just mean publishing my DI Horton crime novels!

2011-11-03T07:12:00.000Z

My publisher Severn House has done some exciting things this year and I don't mean publishing my DI Andy Horton crime novels, although that is exciting. They have also entered the world of social media and I am delighted to see they now have a Facebook page and a Twitter account.

They've also been working hard on developing a new web site, which has been quite a task because of the sheer number of authors they have and the vast number of titles they publish. Here is my page on their web site (well, I've got to plug myself, haven't I?). This, along with their entry into publishing e books, mine included, means that more people across the world will become aware of some of the great titles they publish, opening up a whole new range of entertaining reads.

Severn House is a vibrant independent publishing house founded in 1974. They publish a broad range of titles, from Crime and Mystery, Thrillers, Romance, Sagas, General and Historical fiction in all formats, including eBooks and large print.

I quote from their website "Home to an impressive list of respected British and American authors, titles from Severn House are guaranteed to entertain, enlighten and occasionally mystify you, right to the last page."

I had a great time at the Severn House (SH) party at CrimeFest this year and hope to catch up with the SH team next year at CrimeFest 2012.

Me with the Boss!

I am very proud to be published by Severn House, they have an excellent reputation in the UK, the USA and in the Commonwealth. Their new ventures can only benefit their authors and of course their huge number readers across the world.


Kate Lyall Grant from SH, with crime authors Linda Regan and Pauline Rowson

You can visit my Facebook Page or my Marine Mystery Crime Novels Facebook Page, and follow me on Twitter.

Severn House will be publishing the new DI Andy Horton, A Killing Coast in the UK in January 2012 and in the USA in May 2012. More to come on this on next week's blog.

When is the best time to write? Do I have a writing routine?

2011-11-02T06:50:00.000Z

I am often asked whether I have a writing routine. Do I set a target for the number of words I wish to write each day? Is there a best time to write? Do the words flow better at certain times of the day?

Apparently Charles Dickens in his prime, used to write five hours a day, roughly between 9am to 2pm, after which he would walk incessantly, and put his mind into neutral. He might return to what he'd written in the morning later in the evening, but those five hours held the key to his output. While Raymond Chandler observed that it was impossible to write well for more than four hours a day.

Some writers prefer the morning, others start writing in the afternoon, and some will work long into the night. Some shut themselves away for weeks at a time, others write for a few hours every day. It all depends on the individual and for me it also depends on what stage of the novel I am at.

And it is not just the matter of writing a novel but there needs to be time set aside for marketing, speaking engagements, answering e mails, researching the novel, speaking to experts, interviewing people and, of course, thinking time.

My writing routine varies, depending on my engagements and, as I have already mentioned, what stage of the novel I'm at. I don't set targets for writing a certain number of words but I do like to write every day, generally between 5pm and 7.30pm and will often write all afternoon and early evening. Mornings are usually dedicated to marketing, correspondence, writing my blogs and often walking where I can either completely relax (or as Dickens says let my mind go into neutral) or think through some area of the plot.

There's also the question of how long it might take to complete a novel. My DI Andy Horton crime novels and my thrillers are generally 80,000 words which usually takes me nine months to write. I like to get the first draft written as quickly as possible then spend time on the revisions. I'm now at the stage of the third revision of DI Andy Horton, number eight, as yet untitled. And how many revisions will I do? That all depends, but there will probably be another two after this.

If you'd like to know more about how I write my crime novels, or writing a crime novel then I am giving two talks at CSI Portsmouth 2011 on Saturday 5 November at John Pounds Centre, Portsea on the subject.

Join me for a packed programme of crime at:

John Pounds Community Centre, Portsmouth UK
23 Queen Street, Portsea, Portsmouth, Hants, PO1 3HN
Telephone Number: 023 9289 2010
http://www.johnpoundscentre.co.uk/how_to_find_us.html

Saturday 5th November 2011 10am – 5pm.

CSI Portsmouth tickets on sale from the Box Office + 44 (0)23 9268 8685.

Tickets cost £5 for the morning and £7 for the afternoon with a discounted ticket of £10 for the whole day and includes £3 off the price of a book bought at the event.

Crime author Pauline Rowson on the Julian Clegg Breakfast Show on BBC Radio Solent 2 November

2011-11-01T06:55:00.000Z

I shall once again be on the Julian Clegg Breakfast Programme on BBC Radio Solent tomorrow Wednesday 2 November at 6.45am.

I'll be bringing Julian and his listeners up to date with my book news including the exciting one day event CSI Portsmouth 2011 - where crime fiction meets crime fact - at John Pounds Community Centre, Portsea, Portsmouth, England on 5 November. I am giving a talk at CSI Portsmouth on Writing A Crime Novel -plotting, researching and writing the crime novel, using the Solent area for the setting and inspiration for my DI Andy Horton crime novels.

I'll also be talking to Julian Clegg about my new DI Horton novel due to be published on 26 January called A Killing Coast.

You can tune into the show via the BBC Radio Solent web site.

CSI Portsmouth 2011

John Pounds Community Centre, Portsmouth
23 Queen Street, Portsea, Portsmouth, Hants, PO1 3HN
Telephone Number: 023 9289 2010
http://www.johnpoundscentre.co.uk/how_to_find_us.html

Saturday 5th November 2011 10am – 5pm.

Tickets on sale from the Box Office + 44 (0)23 9268 8685.

Tickets cost £5 for the morning and £7 for the afternoon with a discounted ticket of £10 for the whole day and includes £3 off the price of a book bought at the event.

Crime writers are a gruesome lot always looking for new and subtle methods of murder

2011-10-31T07:11:00.002Z

Us crime writers are a gruesome bunch, we're always looking for new and often subtle ways to kill someone. I'm frequently asked how I research my crime novels for this sort of information. Well, in addition to talking to the experts I also use an excellent and very handy little book called "The Crime Writer's Handbook- 65 ways to kill your victim - in print" written by Douglas Wynn.

And I refer to a very excellent blog called The Writers Forensic Blog. On this blog I came across an interesting and highly informative article that actually coincided with the DI Andy Horton Marine Mystery Police Procedural crime novel I am currently writing, number eight in the Horton series, which is how to kill someone by inducing an extreme allergic reaction.

The blog answers the question - Will Ingestion of Bee Venom Kill Someone Who Is Allergic To It? I'll let you read the answer on the Writers Forensic Blog for yourself. And I'm not going to give away any of the plot in my DI Horton crime novel only to say it does not concern Bee venom. You'll have to wait to read it when it is published. I'm not sure yet when that will be but meanwhile DI Andy Horton number seven in the series called A Killing Coast will be published by Severn House on 26 January 2012.

If you want to know more about Writing A Crime Novel, then I am giving two talks at CSI Portsmouth 2011 event on Saturday 5 November at John Pounds Centre, Portsea. on the subject

Join CSI Portsmouth 2011 for a packed programme of crime at:

John Pounds Community Centre, Portsmouth
23 Queen Street, Portsea, Portsmouth, Hants, PO1 3HN
Telephone Number: 023 9289 2010
http://www.johnpoundscentre.co.uk/how_to_find_us.html

Saturday 5th November 2011 10am – 5pm.

CSI Portsmouth tickets on sale from the Box Office + 44 (0)23 9268 8685.

Tickets cost £5 for the morning and £7 for the afternoon with a discounted ticket of £10 for the whole day and includes £3 off the price of a book bought at the event.

True Crime – In Charge Of Murder – How a real murder case is worked

2011-10-28T07:19:00.002+01:00

Former Detective Superintendent Bob Bridgestock, and now a crime writer with his wife Carol, is appearing at CSI Portsmouth 2011 on Saturday 5 November at the John Pounds Centre, Portsea. Bob is giving a talk on true crime, how a real murder case is worked and it promises to be an entertaining and very informative talk.

Bob Bridgestock worked in the CID at every rank, retiring as a Detective Superintendent. In his last three years alone as a Senior Investigative Officer (SIO) he took charge of twenty-six murder investigations, twenty-three major incidents including shootings and attempted murders and over fifty suspicious deaths and numerous sexual assaults. He was a Force Hostage Negotiator and was involved in a protracted high profile investigation of police corruption in another police force. He was commended twenty four times for his work.

With his wife, Carol, who also worked with the police as a support worker for seventeen years, they are now joint authors of the crime novels featuring Jack Dylan. Deadly Focus was published in 2009 and hailed as, ‘A cracking story.’ The second in the series Consequences is published next spring.

Join Bob Bridgestock for this fascinating and entertaining talk to discover how a murder case is really worked from the inside and hear about the many diverse characters Bob has dealt with during his vast career.

Having a real unsolved murder in my own family, and one I have tried to get the answers to without success perhaps I'll be consulting Bob and asking him for his advice on getting the cold case reviewed!

Spaces are limited and tickets are selling fast , for full programme information and ticket details visit CSI Portsmouth

Debut Dagger Awards 2012 gives budding crime writers a chance to get published

2011-10-27T07:16:00.000+01:00

The Crime Writers' Association, of which I am a member, has announced that the 2012 Debut Dagger Competition will be open from October 22nd, 2011 through to January 21st, 2012.

The Debut Dagger is open to anyone who has not yet had a novel published commercially. All short-listed entrants receive a generous selection of crime novels and professional assessments of their entries. The first prize is £700 plus two tickets to the CWA Awards, which will be held in July 2012.

Entrants are required to submit the first 3000 words of their crime-themed novel plus a 500-1000 word synopsis of the rest of the novel. The short-listed entries are circulated to all the editors and agents who are members of the Association. Since its inauguration, over two dozen winners and short-listed authors have obtained publishing contracts.

For more information, including the application form, visit the Debut Dagger page on the CWA website.

Good luck!

Express FM Interview done next up is Julian Clegg's Breakfast Show on 2 November

2011-10-26T07:01:00.002+01:00

Had a great time on the Pompey Bus at Havant Town Centre yesterday between 8.30am and 9am talking to Adrian Knight of Express FM on his breakfast show. In the bus with us was Darren Gamblen who was getting ready for his show from 9am and Graham (don't know his surname) who was doing all the techy bits. His daughter Kate was with us because it is half term week. A lovely little girl and so good at being quiet when we were on air. In fact she was very quiet most of the time.

Inside the Pompey Bus preparing for the show

It was a lovely interview with lots of laughs and a bit of a chat in between, talking about the DI Horton crime novels set in the Solent area and the forthcoming CSI Portsmouth event on Saturday 5 November at John Pounds Centre, Portsmouth.

The boys on the bus

Pauline Rowson on air with Adrian Knight in the back (left) and Graham in the foreground

Next up is the Julian Clegg Breakfast Show on BBC Radio Solent 2 November. It is always a great pleasure and delight talking to Julian. I'm looking forward to it.

Working on the third draft of DI Andy Horton crime novel number 8. DI Horton, number 7, A Killing Coast is being published in January 2012

2011-10-25T06:55:00.000+01:00

I'm now well into working on the third draft of the next DI Andy Horton crime novel, which will be number eight in the series. This is unlikely to be the final draft because once I am satisfied that the plot all hangs together and the characters are doing what they should, and quite often what they shouldn't, I will go through the novel again to make sure that all the unanswered questions have been answered and that I have used the right words and phrases to suit the mood, suspense, and characters. By the time I have finished, which I aim to have done in January, I will know the story inside out and back to front and then it is off to my editor at Severn House for a fresh eye and for his opinion on it.

Meanwhile, I am waiting for the proofs of the seventh in the DI Andy Horton series, A Killing Coast, to come to me. I haven't read it for some time so it will be interesting and a little nerve wracking to read it again.

A Killing Coast is published in hardcover in the UK on 26 January 2012 and in the USA a couple of months after this. It is listed on Fantastic Fiction, which I know many of my readers use to keep up to date with new releases and it is also available to pre-order on Amazon. I have seen the rough draft of the cover image, which looks good and will post it here along with more details shortly.

Crime Author Pauline Rowson on the Pompey Bus on Express FM radio tomorrow

2011-10-24T07:15:00.002+01:00

This week The Breakfast Show at Express FM is on the road on the Pompey Bus turning up at different locations around the area, and on Tuesday 25 October it will be at Havant town centre where I will be climbing on board to join presenter Adrian Knight on his show.

The Pompey Bus will be turning up at different locations everyday during this week and the presenters will be giving out clues during the show to a secret password. The first person to knock on the door of the bus and give them the secret password for that day will receive a pair of tickets to a Portsmouth FC home game as a minimum.

I will be on the show some time between 8.30am and 9am and I'm looking forward to it and chatting to Adrian Knight. I'll be talking about my DI Horton Marine Mystery crime novels, set in the Solent area; my forthcoming talk at CSI Portsmouth on Writing a Crime Novel and my appearance at CSI Portsmouth on the panel debate in the afternoon with fellow crime writers Mark Billingham, John Harvey and Michael Ridpath when we join the police, crime scene experts and forensic psychologists to debate crime fiction versus crime fact.

More information on CSI Portsmouth here or on my official web site.

Hope some of you can tune into The Breakfast Show on Express FM. or on 97.3 FM

Appearing at CSI Portsmouth with Pauline Rowson is best selling crime author Michael Ridpath

2011-10-21T07:05:00.000+01:00

Over the last few weeks I've been featuring the speakers who are appearing with me at CSI Portsmouth on Saturday 5 November at the John Pounds Centre, Portsmouth, UK. This week I'm featuring best selling crime author Michael Ridpath who joins me, and crime authors Mark Billingham and John Harvey for the afternoon between 2pm - 5pm along with police from Hampshire's Major Crime Team, forensic psychologist Dr Claire Nee, and crime scene expert, Dr Paul Smith for a lively panel debate.

The audience will have the chance to put their questions to any of the crime experts or crime authors, but if you can't be there and you'd like to ask a question then please post one here and I will ensure it is put to the panel, and post their reply here.

CSI Portsmouth on 5 November where crime fiction meets crime fact.

Michael Ridpath shot to fame with his first novel, a financial thriller, Free to Trade, which was published in the spring of 1995 and reached number two in the best seller lists for eight weeks and has subsequently been published in 32 languages. He went on to write eight more highly successful financial thrillers before switching genres to create his Icelandic detective, Magnus, in the first of the Fire and Ice Series, Where the Shadows Lie, which was published in June 2010.

Highly acclaimed in the UK and abroad, Michael Ridpath’s crime novels have been hailed as ‘International thriller writing at its best, fine characters, page turning suspense and a great, fresh location.”

Where the Shadows Lie is published in over 20 countries. The second book in the series, 66 North, was published in May 2011.

http://www.michaelridpath.com

Visit CSI Portsmouth 2011 for more information and tickets.

New talk added to CSI Portsmouth event - Crime Author Pauline Rowson on Writing the Crime Novel

2011-10-20T07:00:00.001+01:00

Unfortunately owing to personal circumstances Dr Neil McCaw whose talk was to be on Victorian Crime Fiction at CSI Portsmouth on Saturday 5 November has had to withdraw from the programme. I will be stepping in to take his place in addition to being on the panel event in the afternoon. I won't be talking about Victorian Crime Fiction though but about writing a crime novel. My talk will take place in the morning of Saturday 5 November between 10.00am - 11.00 am and again between 11.30am - 12.30pm. Sorry to disappoint all those who were looking forward to Dr McCaw's talk but hopefully I can make up for it in some small way.

Here are the details:

Writing A Crime Novel - plotting, researching and writing the crime novel

If you've ever wondered where crime writers get their ideas from, how they turn those ideas into complex plots and sub plots, how they research for their novels and how the fiction compares with the fact now is your chance to find out.

Pauline Rowson is the author of the DI Andy Horton Marine Mystery Crime Novels set in the Solent area. She is an accomplished and entertaining speaker and draws the inspiration for her popular crime novels from the Solent area where she lives. Her crime novels have been highly acclaimed both in the UK and the USA and have been translated into several languages. She is also the author of two thrillers one of which the award winning In Cold Daylight was voted by the public as the third best read for World Book Day 2008

CSI Portsmouth Morning Programme 10.00 - 12.30 am - choose two sessions to attend, one between 10am- 11am and another between 11.30am - 12.30pm

Forensic psychology – How realistic is the forensic psychologist portrayed on television detective programmes and in crime novels? Lucy Wainwright will discuss this and many aspects of her fascinating work

Fingerprinting – Fact versus Fiction – Jane Aston from the Fingerprint bureau at Police Support Headquarters, Hampshire, gives an intriguing insight into how it really works.

True Crime – In Charge Of Murder – How a real murder case is worked, former Detective Superintendent Bob Bridgestock tells it like it is.

Writing A Crime Novel - plotting, researching and writing the crime novel, using the Solent area for setting and inspiration - Pauline Rowson author of the DI Andy Horton Marine Mystery Crime Novels

CSI Portsmouth Afternoon Programme 2pm - 5pm

Join International best selling crime authors, Mark Billingham, John Harvey, Michael Ridpath and Pauline Rowson, and police and forensic experts: Dr Claire Nee, Dr Paul Smith, an expert in crime scenes; Hampshire Police – Major Crime Team Senior Investigator and Scene of Crime Officer for this lively panel debate where crime fiction meets crime fact.

4pm Book Signing and a chance to talk with the crime authors on an individual basis

CSI Portsmouth Tickets

Tickets on sale from the Box Office + 44 (0)23 9268 8685.

Tickets cost £5 for the morning and £7 for the afternoon with a discounted ticket of £10 for the whole day and includes £3 off the price of a book bought at the event.

So excited to see Footsteps on the Shore (DI Horton crime novel) on London Underground Poster with Mark Billingham's crime novel

2011-10-19T06:52:00.000+01:00

I was so thrilled to see my DI Andy Horton crime novel Footsteps on the Shore advertised on the London Underground and at major London Railway Stations alongside my fellow crime writer, Mark Billingham's book Good as Dead. This is to promote Portsmouth BookFest during which Mark and I are appearing at CSI Portsmouth on 5 November at John Pounds Centre, Portsmouth along with crime authors, John Harvey, Michael Ridpath, Bob and Carol Bridgestock and with the police, fingerprint team, forensic psychologists and crime scene experts. It promises to be a great day and tickets are selling fast.

Full programme and booking details can be found on my website at CSI Portsmouth 2011.

I know you can't quite see all the detail in these reduced sized photos, which have been forwarded to me by the Portsmouth BookFest team, but believe me Footsteps on the Shore is there, fifth from the left. Hope you like the posters.

London Underground October 2011

Victoria Station, London October 2011

Crime Author Pauline Rowson discusses CSI Portsmouth 2011 with Tony Smith

2011-10-18T06:59:00.000+01:00

Here is the trailer for CSI Portsmouth 2011. It is an interview that was recorded with Tony Smith of Angel Radio.

For full programme and ticket details visit CSI Portsmouth 2011.

Photographs from the radio interviews last week on Angel Radio and Vectis Radio

2011-10-17T07:10:00.002+01:00

I had a great time on the radio last week, talking to David Nove on Angel Radio Isle of Wight and Peter Walkden on Vectis Radio. Thought I'd share some photographs here taken during the radio interviews.

From left to right: Carol Bridgestock, David Nove, Pauline Rowson and Bob Bridgestock

Carol Bridgestock, David Nove and crime author Pauline Rowson

Crime authors Pauline Rowson and Bob Bridgestock talking about how they write their crime novels

That's it folks, the show is over

Crime author Pauline Rowson getting ready to go on air with Peter Walkden Vectis Radio

Peter Walkden, Vectis Radio and Crime Author Pauline Rowson

Crime authors Bob and Carol Bridgestock and Pauline Rowson on Angel Radio with David Nove, and Pauline Rowson on Vectis Radio talking about their crime novels and CSI Portsmouth on 5 November at John Pounds Centre, Portsea

How realistic is the forensic psychologist portrayed in crime novels and on TV? Find out at CSI Portsmouth 5 November 2011

2011-10-14T07:24:00.001+01:00

This is just one of the questions lined up to be asked, and answered, at the forthcoming CSI Portsmouth event on Saturday 5 November in Portsmouth, England.

Forensic psychologists Lucy Wainwright and Dr Claire Nee, Director of the International Centre for Research in Forensic Psychology at Portsmouth University will discuss this and more aspects of their fascinating work at CSI Portsmouth. And if your views of a forensic psychologist are of the overweight lumbering Cracker on television then you’re in for a surprise. Join Lucy Wainwright in the morning to discover how her work compares to that of the fictional forensic psychologists and join Dr Claire Nee on our panel in the afternoon with crime authors, Mark Billingham, John Harvey, Michael Ridpath and Pauline Rowson.

Lucy Wainwright

Lucy Wainwright is a researcher at the University of Portsmouth’s International Centre for Research in Forensic Psychology – the largest of its kind in the UK. She studied at both Undergraduate and Master’s level at Portsmouth and has conducted research on domestic violence and the development of self-identity in child offenders. She has worked as a psychological therapist in HMP Stocken and HMP Lowden Grange with high risk male prisoners as well as training staff to use pro-social modelling. She has now returned to the Centre to conduct research on the development of criminality in children funded by the prestigious Economic and Social Research Council with Kids Company (a London-based charity) as her sponsor.

Dr Claire Nee, Director of the International Centre for Research in Forensic Psychology at Portsmouth University.

Dr Claire Nee

Claire Nee's research has included a variety of forensic areas including crime specific research (burglary and car theft); interventions in prisons; criminality in children; electronic monitoring of offenders; intensive probation; self-reported offending; female violence; and racism and sexism within the police force. Her current research projects include reducing risk in very young persistent offenders; and decision-making in burglars. Her main research interest is in the decisions offenders make at the scene of the crime.

The International Centre for Research in Forensic Psychology at Portsmouth University has an established international reputation for conducting a broad range of criminological and forensic psychology research. The Centre comprises an impressive team of research staff and students.

For full programme details and profiles of the crime authors and crime experts visit CSI Portsmouth 2011

John Pounds Centre, Portsmouth

CSI Portsmouth Tickets from the Box Office + 44 (0)23 9268 8685.

Tickets cost £5 for the morning and £7 for the afternoon with a discounted ticket of £10 for the whole day and includes £3 off the price of a book bought at the event.

Post Your Question Here

If you can't attend CSI Portsmouth but would like to ask a question of any of the crime authors and/or crime experts you can post your question here. Answers will be posted after the event.

A fascinating new piece of research on determining the time of death could be just the sort of thing to weave into a DI Horton crime novel

2011-10-13T06:33:00.000+01:00

This piece of fascinating research comes courtesy of The Writers Forensics Blog and is something that might come in useful in one of my DI Horton crime novels when Dr Gaye Clayton the pathologist is determining the time of death of some poor victim.

paramecium are tiny creatures covered with microscopic hair-like oars known as cilia, which they use to move around in water. Similar cilia line your nose and airways. They help to remove inhaled dust and dirt from your lungs and nose. Apparently they continue moving, at a progressively slower rate, for up to 20 hours after death.

Biagio Solaria and his colleagues at the University of Bari in Italy have studied this phenomenon and found that this decline in mobility is predictable and, observing the beating rate of cadaver, cilia might provide an accurate time of death in the first 24 hours after death. They will report their results in the upcoming International Symposium on Advances in Legal Medicine in Frankfurt, Germany.

This is something for this crime author to keep her eye on, or rather sniff out in due course!

Two live radio interviews scheduled for 13 October for crime author Pauline Rowson

2011-10-12T07:33:00.000+01:00

Tomorrow (13 October) I will be talking to David Nove on Angel Radio Isle of Wight, along with my fellow crime writers Bob and Carol Bridgestock, who are appearing with me at CSI Portsmouth on Saturday 5 November. The show is being broadcast at 1pm and we’ll be chatting about our crime novels as well as CSI Portsmouth, part of Portsmouth BookFest.

Then at 3pm I will be live on the Peter Walkden Show on Vectis Radio Isle of Wight talking about my DI Horton marine mystery crime novels set in the Solent area and my thrillers, one of which In For The Kill is set on the Island. And of course I’ll be mentioning CSI Portsmouth.

Hope some of you can tune in.

CSI Portsmouth Tickets on sale from the Box Office + 44 (0)23 9268 8685.

Tickets cost £5 for the morning and £7 for the afternoon with a discounted ticket of £10 for the whole day. It also includes £3 off the price of a book bought at the event.

For full details visit CSI Portsmouth 2011

Post your question for CSI Portsmouth

If you are unable to join us at CSI Portsmouth you can post your question here (on Comments) for any of the crime authors or crime experts. Their answers will be posted after CSI Portsmouth event.

Keeping a series of crime novels fresh - Crime Author Pauline Rowson discusses her DI Horton novels

2011-10-11T07:26:00.004+01:00

With the publication this year of Footsteps on the Shore, the sixth in the DI Horton series, and with number seven, A Killing Coast, due to be published by Severn House in January, I was asked by someone on LinkedIn for my advice on how to keep the central character fresh and interesting with each new release.

Readers buy series novels because they enjoy the style, the setting and reading about the characters but the challenge for an author is how to keep faithful to your readers but at the same time make each novel fresh.

For me creating a central character with a back story, which can be progressed with each new novel, is one way of introducing a fresh element. With DI Horton he has the continuing mission, along with all the accompanying internal strife, of trying to discover why his mother (Jennifer) abandoned him at the age of ten, where she went and what subsequently happened to her. It is suspected that she was involved with a master criminal code named Zeus, who the Intelligence Directorate, Europol and Interpol are keen to get their hands on and eager to enlist Horton’s help in finding.

Then there is the question of Horton’s father. Who is he? Where is he? Is he still alive? And what of Jennifer Horton’s background? Along with that there is Horton’s continuing struggle to gain regular access to his daughter, Emma, from an antagonistic wife. While these elements must not be allowed to dominate the novel (and not all of them are in every novel ) they keep the reader wondering what might happen and allow the development of subplots and different sides of Horton’s character to be revealed.

In addition, DI Horton is based in CID with an abrasive female boss, but it is the Major Crime Unit that deal with the homicide cases so there has to be a new way of getting Horton drawn in to the investigations, which makes it challenging. I also introduce officers seconded from other units, which in turn alters the chemistry between the characters and the ensuing dialogue.

Setting is also another key element and by setting the novels in the Solent area where there is plenty of contrast and action both on and off the water helps to add variety, conflict and keep the stories fresh. Added to this is the fact that Horton lives on board his yacht, so he can always up sticks and travel – on holiday, or for a day out sailing… and who knows what might happen?

What questions would you like to ask crime authors or crime experts? Post your questions to crime authors and crime experts for CSI Portsmouth

2011-10-10T07:29:00.002+01:00

On Saturday 5 November in Portsmouth a group of top crime authors and crime experts will come together to debate and discuss crime fiction versus crime fact at CSI Portsmouth. There is the chance for the audience to put their questions to the panel on the day but if you can’t be there (or even if you can) what questions would like to ask? I would like to compile a list of your questions to put to the authors and experts

You can post your question:

here on my blog

send me a message or post on my Facebook Page

post your question on the CSI Portsmouth event page on Facebook

send it to me on Twitter using the hashtag #csiportsmouth

or post it on my web site

I will put these questions to the appropriate panel member/s. I’ll post their answers after the CSI Portsmouth event

You can address your question to an individual panel member (see below) just tell me who, or it can be a general question connected with crime fiction or crime fact.

The crime authors are:

Pauline Rowson
John Harvey
Mark Billingham
Michael Ridpath

The crime experts are:

Nick Bettesworth – Major Crime Unit - Hampshire Police
DS Martin Chudley – Scene of Crime Officer – Hampshire Police
Dr Claire Nee- Forensic Psychologist - University of Portsmouth
Dr Paul Smith – Crime Scene Expert – University of Portsmouth

Profile of the panel members are on my web site on the CSI Portsmouth 2011 page, where you can also find full details of the programme and ticket information.

So start posting your questions now….