The Job Market of the 2020s

Things have been a little bit quiet on here, largely because I started a full-time office job at the beginning of this month. That's not the sort of role I'd normally take (it's been eight years since my last role like that), but I'd been out of work since June and the opportunity was there. Plus the money's good, the people are nice, and I can walk to it. Anyway, I'm not here to talk about that role. Instead, I'm looking at the state of the current job market. 

I've talked about this on LinkedIn a couple of times, which probably doesn't endear me to many companies, but hey; I have a bleak outlook on the future and am prone to stupid risks. Nevertheless, you can't really deny that the job market is horrible right now. I'm going to look at some of the worst things I've had to deal with in my job hunt.

Ghosting

This is one of the biggest things I've had to deal with; not hearing back. This is very common when sending out applications, but is also happening a lot after interviews as well.

It can be so frustrating and demoralising to tailor your CV and write a cover letter for dozens of roles each week, only to hear nothing. And on the off-chance you do hear back, most of the time it's a rejection that doesn't look like it was written by a human being. I realise that responding to every application can be difficult if there's a large volume. But if that's the case, I feel like the very least a company can do is give people a timeframe in which successful applicants can expect to be contacted. It's not ideal, but can offer some clarity and can help people tracking their applications determine which ones can be written off.

In the post-pandemic job market, I've noticed that there's been little to no post-interview feedback in many interviews. Some companies, to their credit, do give people windows to expect a response, but I still feel that they should provide more closure if they're actually interviewing. For example, I had two interviews in one week, and never heard back from either of them. One did give me a cut-off date and I never heard back. I figured I hadn't got the other one when I saw it re-posted a week later.

Ghosting isn't a new thing. Back in 2014, I was asked to attend an interview on short notice while on holiday, and I wish I'd said no. While I got back in time, I was a couple of minutes late for the interview because I'd been on site for the last half hour trying to find a parking space (during which time my car's engine nearly overheated). That's not the sort of thing you want when you're about to go in for an interview. Afterwards, I didn't hear anything. To me, that meant I'd cut my holiday short for nothing.

I've often heard it said that some companies are posting roles with no intention of filling them. Reasons can range from hiring internally, data-farming CVs, or driving traffic to job websites.

Job Advert Content

While ghosting is the biggest issue, the other major one is how job adverts often have missing, vague, or contradictory information.

Salaries

This is something that's often missing from a lot of roles, and can be one of the most important details in any job. We've all got bills to pay, after all. A lot of managers and job coaches say it's bad practice to ask about this in an interview. If that's the case, don't give people a reason to ask. I wouldn't ask about a salary at an interview unless it wasn't listed on the advert and I couldn't confirm it prior to the interview. And at that point, I'm likely having grave doubts about working at that company.

There should also be a sensible gap between the upper and lower brackets of the salary range. I consider £5-10,000 as a reasonable gap. I've heard people talk about how some roles say something like "£25,000 - £100,000". This seems common for sales roles, in which they often pay towards the lower end while the rest is commission. Personally, those aren't the kind of roles I'm looking for, so I haven't encountered it that much.

Logistics

A common source of frustration is when it's not clear where a role actually is. This is because when I'm looking at roles, I'm also planning for a potential commute. It doesn't matter if it's in the office for one day a week or five days a week; if I'm expected in the office, I need to know where it is so I can determine if I can reliably commute to it. I don't drive anymore, and public transport is notoriously unreliable. But even if I did still drive, I'd still like to know these details so I can find nearby parking and where the nearest petrol stations are.

What's even worse is when the location field of an advert lists one location, and then the body of the text states somewhere completely different that's often nowhere near that location. That is something which needs to stop. Unless the role is completely remote, it's a waste of everyone's time. For the job-seeker, it clogs up the search for roles in their area, and they're either going to ignore it or apply anyway (just to tick boxes for the Department for Work and Pensions). That latter case gives the organisation an influx of applicants who can't logistically take the role.

I've sometimes used cover letters to ask where a role actually is, citing logistical reasons. To be honest, if a company isn't being clear on where their role is, that suggests to me that the job isn't real.

Benefits

A common place to find red flags on a job advert is the benefits section. Most of the time, the benefits aren't actually benefits, but statutory entitlements (like pensions and holiday allowances).

The common example is the holiday allowance. In the UK, employees are legally entitled to 28 days of paid annual leave, which includes eight Bank Holidays at set times: New Year's Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, the first and last Monday in May, the last Monday in August (first in Scotland), Christmas Day, and Boxing Day. Most companies offer 25 days plus the Bank Holidays, and many have started offering a day's holiday on your birthday. But others try to frame the statutory entitlement as a benefit. On one occasion, I saw a role that was offering "generous holiday entitlements" without specifying an exact amount, along with half a day on your birthday. That doesn't sound very generous.

Moving forward, if a company doesn't list holidays in their benefits, I'm going to assume they're offering the statutory entitlement. It's actually better not to say it when that's the case, because it's akin to saying "we're offering the bare minimum".

The Selection Processes

The final thing I'd like to talk about is the selection process for roles. Typically, it should be the application, an interview, and then hopefully a call with an offer, followed by an induction.

However, most roles have more steps. Sometimes there's an initial phone interview, then an assessment, and then another interview. Sometimes these steps are repeated. There's even some applications that ask people to make a video to promote themselves. Unless the role involved making videos on a regular basis, that feels unneccesary. And there's still a good chance of getting ghosted before, after, or even during those hurdles.

On one occasion, I saw one role back in 2022 that was offering a twelve-week "boot-camp" style training programme prior to the interviews. But they also said that you wouldn't be paid for the training period. Yes, you read that right; twelve weeks of unpaid training for a job you might not even get. Who's got the time for that? I actually reported the advert to the platform it was on, because it didn't sound legal.

This came up at the end of my latest job hunt, when I had two interviews in the same week again. One was for a temporary role, while the other was permanent (albeit with an earlier start, but an early finish on Fridays). However, I received an offer for the temporary role on the same day I had the interview for the permanent one. When I was told the permanent role had another round of interviews, I decided to take the offer that was still on the table rather than risk the other one falling through. I gave them my regrets the following day.

All in all, I spent a long time in my job search feeling like I was being messed around. While my current role is a temporary contract, I'm hoping I'll get something with a little more flexibility at the end of it (either within the company or somewhere else). But I also fear returning to the same issues in the job market.

But that's a worry for later.

Happy writing.

Book Review: Deep Swimmers by Richard Robinson

Things might be a little quiet on here, as I've not long started a new job and am getting used to the full-time office hours. Anyway, I'm briefly jumping in to share another book review. Today I'm looking at Deep Swimmers, the fourth story in Richard Robinson's Topaz Files series of spy thrillers. This post is part of a Reading Between the Lines blog tour organised by Lynsey Adams.

Blurb

Belfast, 1995. When an elderly couple fall to their deaths from the city’s notorious Ashton Tower, the incident is quickly ruled a suicide. For most, it’s a tragedy. For British Intelligence, it’s the beginning of something far more dangerous.

Jones and Jenny, now seasoned members of MI5’s Young Communicators Unit, find themselves pulled into an investigation that reaches back to the Second World War. The case sees Jones return home to Suffolk, where he must handle a homeless republican veteran still hiding from something.

What begins as a routine inquiry soon exposes buried loyalties, forgotten operations, and a web of deception that comes to an extraordinary conclusion.

As police investigators, MI5 officers, and retired spymasters circle the truth, a Mossad agent opens old wounds. Someone is determined to keep the past buried, no matter the cost.

Set against the tense backdrop of 1990s Northern Ireland, Deep Swimmers is a gripping espionage thriller about the deadly legacy of covert lives and the price of keeping secrets.

Some falls are accidents. But hiding from the truth is a deadly game.

Review

Once again, Richard Robinson provides a truly tense spy thriller with an excellent array of characters, many of whom I've previously talked about in my previous reviews of Topaz and The Mainstay.

Jones is given a leave of absence when he learns that his mother is in the hospital, but this ends up being a busman's holiday when spymaster Charles Curry - who had given him a lift - has a chance encounter with a homeless man who seems to recognise him by name. It makes you interested in knowing what happens next. Jones ends up meeting the same man - known only as Paddy - by chance, and is tasked with trying to learn more about him. During this time, he strikes up a rapport with him.

At the same time, Jenny and Duncan McNally investigate the death of the elderly couple back in Ireland, learning that they were agents known as "Deep Swimmers". Again, there's a real rabbit hole as you find out more with the characters.

There's also an underlying tension as Mossad agent Gabe Dresner appears on the scene. He's initially introduced shadowing Charles in Suffolk, who brilliantly gives him the slip, but later ends up kidnapping Paddy. It cranks up the tension as he persistently gives our protagonists the slip.

I don't want to say anything more because of spoilers, but there's a lot in Deep Swimmers that made me want to keep reading. You can find out for yourself by picking it up on Amazon, and I highly recommend it. It's a stark reminder that spying is a dirty business, no matter who it's for.

About the Author

Richard W. Robinson is an author and journalist and spent his early days freelancing or working in agency positions across the UK and Ireland. The Topaz Files is a series of spy fiction novels where we follow the missions of Jones and Richmond as they make their way through the early years of a career in espionage. The first, published in May 2023, is Topaz and this was followed by Wild Flowers a year later. The Mainstay and Deep Swimmers have since been published. The novels are works of fiction but reference historic events in 1994-1996, around the time of the peace talks in Northern Ireland.

Outside the literary world, Richard lives in East Anglia, England, with his wife and two daughters. He is the CEO of a charity focused on ending the abuse of older people. He's a very committed cratedigger (vinyl collector) and can occasionally be seen in the stands at Loftus Road and Windsor Park. Look out for the Topaz Files on social media and for the forthcoming releases of SEEN/UNSEEN (book five) and The Rock Ledger (book six). Robinson has also finished a Cold War spy story called German Bite which is expected to be published in late 2026.

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Happy writing.

Book Review: A Right Cozy Historical Crime

First post of the new year. In March. Anyway, I've been spending the cold days and nights curled up in front of A Right Cozy Historical Crime, the latest anthology in Wendy H. Jones' "A Right Cozy Crime" series, focussing on historical cosy crime. This post is part of a Reading Between the Lines blog tour hosted by Lynsey Adams.

Blurb

Step into the comforting fog of time with A Right Cozy Historical Crime, a deliciously diverse anthology of cozy mysteries that span centuries and continents. From ancient alleys to a Victorian medical school, American towns to Scottish glens, these tales take you on a gentle stroll through history - where murder hides behind lace curtains and secrets linger in candlelit corridors. Perfect for fans of clever sleuths, rich historical detail, and mysteries solved with more brains than knowledge.

Review

I must admit that "cozy mystery" isn't a genre I normally read, but I do have a fondness for historical fiction (a genre I write in myself). As I worked my way through each story, I was always excited to see what would be next. There are fourteen stories in total, and I'd like to look at some of my favourites:

A Monster in the Village (Lexie Conyngham): Taking place in the Scottish village of Ballater, we follow doctor's wife Hippolyta Napier as she investigates rumours of a monster inhabiting one of the holiday cottages for rent. While it's not exactly clear when this story takes place, I still enjoyed speculating on who or what the monster was, along with some of the snappy dialogue between Hippolyta and the other characters (especially the Misses Strong).

The Marriage Gift (Olga Wojtas): This story takes place in Renaissance Italy, and is narrated by the nursemaid of a duke's daughter. When her charge is arranged to marry a nobleman, both her father and her betrothed seem to kill each other on the wedding day. Being a fan of Assassin's Creed II (which takes place in a similar era), I was hooked by the intrigue of the story. The killing takes place at the beginning, while the rest of the story occurs in flashback.

Curtain Call (Diana Sinovic): Taking place in the 1970s, we follow a high school production of Agatha Christie's Black Coffee which is hampered when a custodian dies on stage. Drama coach Angela Trigg finds herself under investigation and must clear her name. While I haven't read much Agatha Christie, it's my understanding that Miss Marple stories are what often define cosy mystery, although Black Coffee is from her Hercule Poirot series. But I thought it was nifty to have a stage production of the Poirot story to push it into cosy mystery territory.

A Right Cozy Historical Crime is available from Amazon as an e-book and paperback, and I recommend checking it out.

About the Author

International award-winning author Wendy H. Jones lives in Scotland, where her police procedural series featuring DI Shona McKenzie are set. Wendy has led a varied and adventurous life. Her love for adventure led to her joining the Royal Navy to undertake nurse training. After six years in the Navy she joined the Army where she served as an Officer for a further 17 years. Killer's Countdown was her first novel and the first book in the Shona McKenzie Mysteries. Killer's Crew won the Books Go Social Book of the Year 2017. The seventh book in the series. Killer's Curse was be released early August 2020. The Dagger's Curse, the first book in The Fergus and Flora Mysteries, was a finalist in the Woman Alive Magazine Readers Choice Award Book of the Year. Turning to humorous crime, the Cass Claymore Investigates series was born. She is also a highly successful marketer and is currently in the process of rereleasing her completely updated marketing book Marketing Matters. This will be part of the Writing Matters series following the release of Motivation Matters. She is also the author of the Bertie the Buffalo picture book and associated soft toy and colouring book. Wendy is delighted to be one of the authors in two anthologies aimed at empowering women - The Power of Why, and Women Win Against All Odds. She is proud to be the President of the Scottish Association of Writers and is the host of The Writing and Marketing Show podcast, a writing and marketing coach. and CEO of Writing Matters online writing school, Authorpreneur Accelerator Academy.

Amazon Pages for Contributors

• Wendy H Jones
• Lexie Coyningham
• Olga Wojtas
• Sheila Dene Lawrence
• Marti M. McNair
• Lisabeth Earley
• Gareth Williams
• Dianna Sivonic
• Lisa Harkrader
• Sheena McLeod

Happy writing.

Wrapping Up 2025 (in a Bin Bag)

It's that time where we go once around the sun again and take a look back at the year just gone. I guess I should do the same, but I don't have a lot of nice things to say.

As many of you know, I was made redundant from my job back in June, and I've been struggling to find another job since then. There seems to be a large culture of ghosting job seekers at the moment, during the application and even the interview stage, and it really takes a toll on you. On top of that, there's a lot of companies returning to working in the office, meaning that remote and even hybrid roles are hard to come by. That makes things difficult when you can't drive and public transport is unreliable. I sometimes wonder if job boards and railway companies have some kind of secret deal to pitch you jobs that are anywhere but local, so you have to buy tickets. It's a mess, but anyway.

In terms of writing, I recently set myself up on Itch, a website for selling indie games which has since developed a growing market for e-books (good when people don't want to give Jeff Bezos money). While I can't sell print books on there, there's a lot of potential for digital sales. There's also the opportunity to take part in bundles with other creators. I got involved in the first one of those in September, including The Lady's Favour in a "Talk Like a [Queer] Pirate Day" bundle, organised by Felix Graves. After all, I established in "The Pirate King" that Kestrel and Scar are in a matelotage (a sort of civil partnership), and I myself am asexual, so my work was eligible for it.

I stepped down from the committee at the Writers' Summer School in August, and am now looking to spread my wings a bit in search of other events (the job situation combined with the financial commitment means that's not on the cards next year). In this regard, I recently expanded into author signing events, assisting my good friend Val Penny at her stand at two such events: "Sugar and Spices" in Sheffield in July, and "Authors at the Armouries" in Leeds in October.

As for other projects, I started drafting a new story for First Draft Fall called "Escape from Crab Island". This is intended to be a prequel story in the Kestrel and Scar series, depicting how they first met. I hope to work more on it next year, but things have been very up in the air lately. Other than that, I managed a couple of poems and republished a serial I wrote a while back.

Happy writing, and see you in the new year.

Book Review: Queen of Grime by Helen Forbes

Things have been a little quiet lately, so I've been catching up on some reading. One thing I checked out this month was Queen of Grime, a crime thriller by Helen Forbes. This review is part of a Reading Between the Lines blog tour organised by Lynsey Adams.

Blurb

The Queen of Grime is about to pay. Big time. 

Erin Flett is used to clearing up the sad debris of forgotten lives and tragic deaths. A crime and trauma scene cleaner from a deprived Edinburgh housing estate, she’s made a good life for herself and her daughter. But a secret from the past is about to catch up with her.

Ten years ago, Erin told a desperate lie with serious consequences. Now, someone else knows, and they’re determined to make Erin and her loved ones pay.

Following a terrifying late-night attack, the tension mounts until Erin doesn’t know who she can trust. As she struggles to keep her family safe, little does she realise just how close the danger is…

Queen of Grime is the first in a new series introducing Erin Flett, crime and trauma scene cleaner, and a rich cast of characters, set against the backdrop of the city of Edinburgh. With an occasional undertone of dark humour, it is a tale of family lies and family ties, friendships, secrets and loss.

Review

Going into this book, Helen Forbes does an excellent job painting a grimy yet vivid setting. Erin's dayjob provides its fair share of groteque imagery, but that's not the main focus.

There's a wide array of characters, and no short amount of sleaze as we're kept on guessing about Erin's mystery tormentor. Suspects include: Johnny, the deadbeat son of Erin's best friend Gladys; Adam, an unassuming man whom Erin befriends at the pub; and Matthew, whom she takes on as an assistant cleaner. And while all that's going on, we see that Erin's Jess has befriended a man named Sean. It's creepy, and keeps things tense as you read on to learn about the secret from Erin's past.

In another subplot, we follow Erin's cousin Kirsten as she works as a lawyer but is also dealing with a traumatic incident from her own past. At first, you wonder if it's connected to Erin's past, but then more comes to light. I don't want to elaborate due to spoilers, but it's paints a bleak picture.

Queen of Grime is available on Amazon as an e-book and paperback. If you want a bleak little tartan noir, I recommend it.

About the Author

Helen Forbes is an author of Scottish crime fiction. She lives in her home-town of Inverness, in the Scottish Highlands. Helen began by writing contemporary and historical fiction, with no intention of turning to crime. It was a chance remark at a writing group about one of her short stories that led to her debut police procedural novel, In the Shadow of the Hill, set in Inverness and South Harris, featuring Detective Sergeant Joe Galbraith. Madness Lies is book 2 in the DS Joe Galbraith series, set in Inverness and North Uist.

Helen has had two standalone crime thrillers published by Scolpaig Press. Unravelling, set in Inverness, was published in July 2021. Deception, set in Edinburgh, was published in January 2022.

Spoils of the Dead, a novella, was published in November 2022, and Queen of Grime, the first in a new series, was released in December 2022.

Helen would be delighted to hear from readers. Please contact her and join her mailing list on her website www.helenforbes.co.uk to get her author news and a free copy of the novella, Spoils of the Dead.

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Happy writing, and happy holidays.

Book Review: A Fighting Chance by Val Penny

Things have been rather quiet on here, between job hunting and planning a story for First Draft Fall. However, I also had an opportunity to look at A Fighting Chance, the latest story in Val Penny's Jane Renwick thrillers. This post is part of a Reading Between the Lines blog tour organised by Lynsey Adams.

Blurb

In the second Jane Renwick Thriller by Val Penny, drug cartels collide as crime boss Connor O’Grady returns to Scotland to protect his turf from rival Peggy Cheney, newly released from prison.

DS Jane Renwick and DC Brian Harris are sent to Stirling, where Jane discovers two tragic deaths—a young man and a girl—raising suspicions of a single killer.

O’Grady denies involvement, but can a drug lord be trusted?

Set in Stirling and Gartcosh, this tense police procedural thrusts Jane into the heart of a deadly turf war.

Review

Once again, Val does a wonderful job in crafting vivid characters across both the Hunter Wilson mysteries and Jane Renwick thrillers, especially when their dialogue becomes snarky.

Jane brings a great "take no crap" attitude with her to Stirling, where she immediately butts heads with local DC Chris Reilly, who is bullying fellow DC Emily Aitken. She provides a cathartic verbal dressing down, which leads to some interesting developments. Jane's wife, DC Rachael Anderson, also gets involved in the story's case in her first assignment as a victim support officer, but Jane's friendship with Emily puts a dampener on their relationship.

The story provides plenty of truly gripping moments as Jane tries to outwit O'Grady, especially after DC Brian Harris is hospitalised after being attacked by an unknown assailant. As the story progresses, things get even more tense is Jane faces threats to her life. We also get some truly grim moments as O'Grady enlists the aid of incarcerated Edna Hope to recruit people for his organisation.

A Fighting Chance is available on Amazon as an e-book and paperback, and I recommend checking it out. It's a truly gripping mystery with some interesting twists and turns.

About the Author

Val Penny has an Llb degree from the University of Edinburgh and her MSc from Napier University. She has had many jobs including hairdresser, waitress, banker, azalea farmer and lecturer but has not yet achieved either of her childhood dreams of being a ballerina or owning a candy store.

Until those dreams come true, she has turned her hand to writing poetry, short stories, nonfiction books, and novels. Her novels are published by SpellBound Books Ltd.

Val is an American author living in SW Scotland. She has two adult daughters of whom she is justly proud and lives with her husband and their cat.

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Happy writing.

Book Review: Finding the Source by Joan Livingstone

It's September, meaning it will be "Talk Like a Pirate Day" soon. I've got some plans for that this year. Anyway, while I'm looking for jobs and expressing disdain for this Straight Pride malarkey which seems to be going around, I thought I'd take the time to read a mystery from across the pond.

Finding the Source is a mystery novel by Joan Livingston, which is part of the ongoing Isabel Long Mystery Series. This post is part of a Reading Between the Lines blog tour organised by Lynsey Adams.

Blurb

A homeless man. His murdered mother. A book could be the clue.

Isabel Long’s next case begins during a chance encounter with a homeless man, who says he was 12 when he found his mother murdered in their home.

Abby McKenzie was a well-liked seller of vintage books who owned a store in the hilltown of Dillard. That was 43 years ago and the case was never solved.

One obstacle is that several of the suspects are dead, including an avid book collector, a former town official who stalked her, and the man who last saw her alive. Another is that, once again, Isabel must deal with Dillard’s police chief, who ran interference in her other cases.

But that doesn’t deter Isabel nor her mother Maria, her partner in solving crime. She just needs to find the source who will unlock this case.

Review

Finding the Source was a real page-turner. From the moment Isabel agrees to look into Tom McKenzie's case on a pro bono basis, I was hooked. It became especially heartwarming as the story progressed, with Tom being given an opportunity to reunite with his family and get back on his feet.

I like Dillard's small-town feel, in that it seems like one of those places where everyone knows everyone. Yet there's a lot of tension is Isabel and Maria investigate the cold case, most of which stems from a nemesis in the form of the local police chief, Jim Hawthorne. The narrative clearly establishes that he and Isabel have butted heads in the past, with a lot of people - including Maria, Isabel's partner Jack, and her employer Bob - warning her to stay away because of it. I haven't read the previous stories, but this makes me want to. I'd love to see how they interacted in previous stories that led to these almost Hammer Horror-like warnings.

Of course, there's a wide array of other characters whom Isabel meets as she gets to the bottom of the mystery. These include Randolph Fischer, another book collector who becomes a real creep as the story progresses. There's also Jennifer McKenzie, Tom's stepmother who seems determined to keep Isabel from speaking with her husband.

Given that these are mysteries, I don't particularly want to say much else due to possible spoilers, but I certainly enjoyed the payoff as well.

Finding the Source is available on Amazon UK and Amazon US, and I recommend checking it out. I think I've got a bit of catching up to do in this series.

About the Author

Joan Livingston is the author of novels for adult and young readers, including the Isabel Long Mystery Series, featuring a longtime journalist who becomes an amateur P.I. solving cold cases in rural New England.

Joan draws upon her own experience as a longtime journalist in Massachusetts and New Mexico to create Isabel Long, a sassy, savvy widow who uses the skills she acquired in the business to solve what appears to be impossible cases. She also relies on her deep knowledge of rural Western Massachusetts, where she lives, to create realistic characters and settings.

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• Bluesky

Happy writing

Swanwick 2025 - Stepping Down

It's that wonderful time of year again, and I'm not talking about Christmas (even though one store has been selling mince pies since July). I am of course talking about my annual visit to the Writers' Summer School, known to its attendees as "Swanwick". This was my ninth visit to the school, along with my fourth and final year on the school committee (I'm required to step away after serving for four consecutive years). Well, I can't be running around switching on microphones and screens forever.

A farewell to arms

As always, Swanwick offers a wide array of courses, with no obligation to attend if you just want to sit and write or socialise with other creative minds (and notorious procrastinators like myself). Course sessions are roughly an hour long and broken down into three categories: the four-part "Specialist Courses", two-part "Short Courses", and single session "Workshops".

Ultimately, I didn't attend as many courses this year. Tech can get stressful, and I wanted to give myself some time to write so I'd often set up the rooms and then go back to the lounge. Having said that, the courses I did attend were truly fantastic.

For my specialist course this year, I attended "Writing Short Stories" by Della Galton, although I was only able to commit to the first two sessions on the Sunday morning. There was an interesting exercise on titles, and discussions about where to submit. A mention of writing a Christmas story gave me an idea for my comic fantasy setting Misadventures in Planaterra (also known as The Bayfalls), so I might work on that.

The short courses I attended this year were "How to Write for Screen" with Izzy Searle and "Writing the Rainbow" with Eden Stokes. Despite dealing with the annual Curse of the Tissington Room Right Screen in one session and sun's unbearable greenhouse effect on the room, both courses were fascinating. "How to Write for Screen" served as a great refresher on writing scripts, including formatting. I wrote a screenplay for my dissertation five years ago, and was inspired to revisit that. Suffice to say, it requires a major overhaul, but it was nice to be able to sit in the lounge. "Write the Rainbow" served as an excellent pointer on writing LGBTQ+ characters. He looked at some of the tropes and cliches to avoid, along with ways to invert them. I formally established in my story "The Pirate King" that Kestrel and Scar are bisexual, but I also sketched out a gay character in another story of theirs I've been drafting.

I only attended one workshop this year, and that was "Cosy Fantasy" with Elizabeth Hopkinson. I'm not too familiar with the concept of Cosy Fantasy, but I hoped to gain a few ideas for The Bayfalls. Despite a few technical hitches, the session involved a worldbuilding session using the TTRPG Wanderhome, and ultimately felt rather quaint.

Of course, there's more to Swanwick than the courses. Each night had an array of evening events, which included poetry and prose open mics, a busker's night, a quiz, and a fancy dress disco with a Wild West theme. I attended the prose open mic, which I mainly spent gesticulating at readers to stand closer to the mics (one of which wouldn't pick up sound if you tried eating it). I also opened the poetry open mic, taking the opportunity to read some of my more risque poems about capitalist workaholic culture and my Andor-inspired dying wish.

The final night also had a performance of Izzy Searle's play "Baggy Bra", a short comedy set in a bra shop intended to raise awareness for Against Breast Cancer's bra recycling scheme. While acoustics weren't the best with what tech was functional, I still got some laughs out of the quickfire dialogue. This was followed by a fire pit singalong, where I performed a rendition of "Red River Valley".

I didn't get much of an opportunity to give a farewell speech, although I didn't exactly have one prepared. I'll say that it's been a great honour to have served the committee for the last four years, but all good things must come to an end. I'd love to come back to Swanwick, but I can't guarantee it due to the financial commitment. If the job situation changes for the better, I might be able to commit to a future school. It will be a real shame to not make next year, because there's a lot of longtime delegates who have grown accustomed to having me around.

To quote Gandalf in Lord of the Rings: "I will not say do not weep. For not all tears are an evil."

Book Review: An Imposter in Shetland by Marsali Taylor

Things have been a bit hectic lately, but I had a great opportunity to look at the latest entry in Marsali Taylor's "The Shetland Mysteries", An Imposter in Shetland. This post is part of a Reading Between the Lines blog tour organised by Lynsey Adams.

Blurb

When an internet lifestyle influencer arrives on Shetland to document her 'perfect' holiday, the locals are somewhat sceptical.

Joining a boat trip to the remote islands of St Kilda with sailing sleuth Cass Lynch and her partner DI Gavin Macrae, the young woman seems more concerned with her phone than the scenery.

But when it's time to leave, there's no sign of her. Despite mounting a desperate search, she's seemingly vanished without trace - from a small island in the middle of the sea.

As a puzzling investigation gathers pace, there are more questions than answers - and uncovering the truth will reveal dark and long-hidden secrets...

Review

Once again, Marsali Taylor does a great job at painting a vivid setting in her works through her vivid descriptions and extensive use of Shetland dialect. While it might be difficult to understand in places, the book does include a glossary.

There's a great sense of tension as the influencer Tiede Barton is introduced to Cass. We see her interact with the other trainee sailors on the trip, most notably a sailing student of Cass named Sophie. Suffice to say, she doesn't leave too good an impression on anybody. When Tiede disappears, it leaves a lot of room for speculation. Theories are abound that she fell or perhaps was pushed off a cliff, or she faked her death for a publicity stunt.

I enjoyed how the plot thickens as Cass learns more about Tiede and the company she kept, along with the shady side of her business and the dangerous associations that came with it. It builds up to Cass going undercover at a nightclub to help expose one such operation. It comes with a truly nail-biting payoff as Cass is forced to sneak out due to a chance encounter.

An Imposter in Shetland is available from Amazon here, and I recommend picking it up.

About the Author

Marsali Taylor grew up near Edinburgh, and came to Shetland as a newly-qualified teacher. She is currently a part-time teacher on Shetland’s scenic west side, living with her husband and two Shetland ponies. Marsali is a qualified STGA tourist-guide who is fascinated by history, and has published plays in Shetland’s distinctive dialect, as well as a history of women's suffrage in Shetland. She's also a keen sailor who enjoys exploring in her own 8m yacht, and an active member of her local drama group.

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Happy writing.

Book Review: The Ring

Writing's been in the doldrums again lately. With that in mind, I decided to catch up on some reading and recently obtained an interesting historical fiction anthology called The Ring. Published to raise funds for The Reading Agency, the anthology is comprised of ten short stories which feature a ring associated with Fortuna, the Roman goddess of luck. 

This post is part of a "Reading Between the Lines" blog tour, organised by Lynsey Adams.

Foreword

At The Reading Agency, we believe in the proven power of reading to deliver social and personal change. Yet we know that too many adults and children struggle to develop reading habits. With national data showing a decline in reading engagement, too many people are missing out on the transformative benefits of reading to improve our happiness, our health, and to thrive. This is where our work begins.

For over 20 years, we have partnered with public libraries to run initiatives like the Summer Reading Challenge for children and Reading Ahead for adults. These programmes encourage reading for pleasure, helping to build confidence, develop literacy skills, and foster lifelong reading habits. Research shows that those who participate read more frequently, gain confidence, and feel more positive about books. By expanding access to reading beyond the classroom or workplace, we help people unlock new opportunities and experiences through books.

Our partnership with public libraries is at the heart of our mission. Through our collaboration with them, we increase access to books and literacy support, ensuring that reading is a source of enjoyment, not frustration. As democratic access points to reading and knowledge, our work with libraries not only helps bridge educational gaps for children but also supports adults in developing their literacy skills, boosting employability, and enhancing mental well-being.

This anthology resonates with our mission. Just as the gold ring in these stories is passed down and shared through generations, so too should the joy of reading. The support of all the authors who have contributed to this helps us to reach and connect with even more people across our communities.

From all of us at The Reading Agency – to all of you reading these stories - thank you for being part of this important effort. Together, we can make reading a lifelong habit for all with libraries at the heart.

Blurb

Forged over 2000 years ago, when Rome was still a republic, a simple gold ring was inscribed with the name and symbol of Fortuna, capricious goddess of fate. From the seven hills of Ancient Rome, to the streets of modern day New York, the ring passes from hand to hand, through the centuries, shaping destinies and unveiling secrets.

A Roman patrician gambles his future on its luck. A crusading knight takes it from the finger of a slain foe. A child is gifted it by a soldier in the Thirty Years War and trusts it to keep her father safe. A jeweller takes it to America in the Gilded Age seeking a new life. Each tale is a moment in time, a new wearer, and a twist of fate—sometimes fortune smiles, but all too often the ring brings ill luck.

In these stories, history seems driven by the will of chance. Those who possess the ring seek to shape their own destinies, but it is always Fortuna herself who has the final say.

With contributions from Alistair Forrest, Fiona Forsyth, Jacquie Rogers, Alistair Tosh, Graham Brack, Eleanor Swift-Hook, Mark Turnbull, Maggie Richell-Davies, Robert Bordas and Val Penny this is a spellbinding anthology of interconnected short stories, where luck is never what it seems.

Review

This was a truly gripping read that I couldn't put down during my first time. As mentioned above, all the stories follow the ring of Fortuna as it's passed along different owners in different eras. The ten stories are all self-contained, but each one features the ring in some way. I think that's a nifty way to connect them.

I'll talk about some of my favourites:

The Wheel of Fortune (Alastair Forrest): The first story in the anthology, which takes place in 44 BCE, during the immediate aftermath of the assassination of Julius Caesar. Tiro, a servant of the Roman statesman Cicero, meets with Decimus Junius Brutus, one of the assassins involved in the conspiracy. The pair discuss the latter's relationship with Caesar, and the victim's possession of the Fortuna Ring. The discussion of the ring provides an almost magical aspect while still remaining down to earth.

Fortuna's Fool (Eleanor Swift-Hook): This story takes place in 1633 during the Siege of Nancy and follows a mercenary named Danny Bristow as he acquires the ring while gambling. While the first portion is mostly exposition, it's nonetheless built up well as Danny gets embroiled in an intrigue with his gambling opponent and three friends. I really enjoyed the Alexandre Dumas-esque feel to this particular story.

Hunter's Luck (Val Penny): The final story in the anthology, and part of Val's Hunter Wilson series of mysteries. Taking place in the present day, we follow Detective Inspector Hunter Wilson and Dr Meera Sharma as they go on a trip to New York. When the Ring of Fortuna ends up in Hunter's possession, he's framed for a murder and must clear his name with the help of his team members Tim Myerscough and Winston "Bear" Zewedu. Val's always good at creating vivid characters and dialogue, and this story delivers on that front.

The Ring is available on Amazon here, and I highly recommend picking it up.

To see the authors' other works, you can find their Amazon pages below:

• Alastair Forrest (The Wheel of Fortune)
• Fiona Forsyth (Ovid Buys a Ring)
• Jacquie Rogers (Home to Palmyra)
• Alistair Tosh (Andreas)
• Graham Black (A Matter of Balance)
• Eleanor Swift-Hook (Fortuna's Fool)
• Mark Turnbull (Of Gold and Grief)
• Maggie Richell-Davis (Hide and Seek)
• Robert Bordas (The Bequest)
• Val Penny (Hunter's Luck)

Happy writing.

Book Review: The Mainstay by Richard Robinson

Well, things have been in the doldrums as of late. Nevertheless, I recently took a break from catching up on my Terry Pratchett collection to check out The Mainstay, a gripping spy thriller in Richard Robinson's The Topaz Files series, which I've previously looked at here. This post is part of a Reading Between the Lines blog tour, hosted by Lynsey Adams.

Blurb

Witness to Murder. A City on Edge. A Mastermind Hiding in Plain Sight.

When university student Sam Jacobs witnesses the murder of a Unionist MP in Ballycastle, he becomes more than a bystander — he becomes a target. Drawn into a web of politics, crime, and sectarian violence, Sam’s world unravels as powerful forces close in to silence him.

Chief Inspector Orla Massey calls on the covert Topaz team to investigate, but corruption in the RUC, political interference, and the ghosts of her own past push her to the brink. Meanwhile, MI5’s Jones, Jenny Richmond, and Declan McNally face a growing threat from an elusive mastermind known only as The Big Man. Power, politics, and betrayal collide as they race to unmask him before he strikes again.

From the terror of a Belfast safe house to a hanging aboard a luxury yacht, from a brutal execution to the underworld of global crime syndicates, The Mainstay is a gripping, heart-breaking and razor-sharp whodunnit where no one can be trusted.

And as the body count rises, one question remains:

Who is The Big Man? And how do you catch a man who doesn’t exist?

Review

One thing to note before I went into this book was that I haven't actually read the second book in the series. Fortunately, this novel stands alone so I didn't feel like I missed anything major. Jones and Jenny Richmond return, and have become seasoned agents for Topaz and are also in a relationship. Their colleague, Isadora Duncan, also returns but is confined to a wheelchair after being shot in the previous story. Jones is also drinking a lot more as the pressures of espionage take a toll on him.

The opening chapter starts off as amusing as the MP injures himself as part of a kinky game, forcing Sam to access the property to assist him and his company. But it takes a dark turn as Sam is hidden in a cupboard as the people the MP sent to cover up the incident decides to bump him off. With that open, I was eager to find out what happened next, and I wasn't disappointed.

The story's tension had plenty of twists and turns. For example, Orla Massey frequently butts heads with Eric Rogers, an officer from the RUC's Paramilitary Squad who serves as an Acting Superintendant and full-time douchebag. But things take a darker turn when she's hospitalised by a car bombing, forcing Declan McNally to work with Rogers. The tension continues to ramp up when Sam Jacobs tries to report the murder of the MP and his younger sister subsequently goes missing while he's placed in witness protection. Although Mario isn't on the Mega Drive. Anyway, the final third act paves the way for some brilliant action.

The Mainstay is available on Amazon here, and I certainly recommend picking it up. It's a thrilling page-turner. I know I've only scratched the surface there, but I don't want to spoil things too much.

About the Author

Richard lives in East Anglia with his wife and two daughters. He is a trained journalist and spent his early years freelancing or in agency positions across the UK, including a stint in Northern Ireland in the mid-1990s. He then transferred to the third sector, working in charities focusing on issues as diverse as international development (in India and Bangladesh), air ambulance operations, music and the creative industries, mental health and homelessness. He also acted as Chief Executive of the Olympic Park charity during London 2012.

He is currently the CEO of Hourglass, the UK’s only charity focused on ending the abuse and neglect of older people, a job he applied for after a family experience of neglect.  

Richard wrote his first novel in the early 2000s but this has yet to see the light of day. Instead, he started with a new idea in 2020 and Topaz was born. He has written two more in the Topaz Files series, Wild Flowers and The Mainstay, which are expected to be published in 2024. 

He is also happily in the dugout for Boxford Rovers F.C. on a Saturday, a committed cratedigger (vinyl collector) and can occasionally be seen in the stands at Loftus Road and Windsor Park.

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Happy writing.