Visit my website at www.rowmark.co.uk for details of all my crime novels

In August, after submitting ideas to a new production company, Hall Lake Productions, I was commissioned to write a murder mystery play. More used to penning crime novels this is my first serious play and I thoroughly enjoyed writing it. (artwork by Eirinda) It began with an e mail… It began with an e mail in August asking writers for submissions for a new murder mystery play to be performed by professional actors and actresses in the autumn. Deadlines were extremely tight. I needed to know more. After several e mails between the producer and myself I knew I wanted this commission. I had many ideas but one stood out amongst the others and it was this one I worked up and duly submitted. The producers loved it and soon I was writing the script. After many revisions the cast had their first read through on 13 October and it was a success. Now the rehearsals begin, and I am sure there will be further re-writes before 26 November 2008 when it will be premiered in the critically acclaimed H...

I’m giving a talk tomorrow at Bracknell Library in Berkshire, Hampshire, and I am looking forward to it. It is always good to connect with people, and at these types of events to discuss books (not only mine but other writers) and to discover what people like and why they like them. It also helps to provide me with ideas for possible future books, plays and screenplays. And it reminds me who my audience are i.e. who I am writing for and why I write. So what has this got to do with how writers see themselves? Bear with me. In my previous career, before becoming a full time writer, I ran my own marketing and training consultancy. I used to advise businesses and the public sector on their marketing strategies and devise marketing and PR campaigns for them as well giving seminars, presentations and talks at conferences on a variety of topics from understanding motivation and personalities, to marketing, selling, communicating and leadership. I have always enjoyed public speaking and enter...

There's been quite a lot of discussion on my Crimespace profile to the question I posed here about why the murder mystery genre is still so popular, and it has been an interesting debate. Another very interesting debate from Crimespace, a social networking site for those who write crime and love reading crime and thriller fiction, is that of Point of View. Some readers apparently avoid any book which is written in the first person, which is a shame because I think they might be missing out on a good story, and some prefer third person multiple viewpoints enabling them to get into the mindset of many of the characters in a novel. Personally, I don't mind whether I read a book that is written in the first person or third person, single view point or multiple viewpoint just as long as it is a riveting read. If a novel is written in multiple viewpoint however. i.e. the story is told from many of the character's perspective then I do prefer it to be just two or three characters ...