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it’s episode 233 with Chris McDonald aka Chris Frost talking about his dark Christmas Cracker, The Killer’s Christmas List, plus his writing journey, path to publication and an inspiring story behind the book that saved his life.

Chris grew up in Northern Ireland before settling in Manchester via Lancaster and London. He is the author the Erika Piper series, the Stonebridge Mysteries and Little Ghost. And, under his pen name, Chris Frost he’s the author of the festive bestselling crime book – The Killer’s Christmas List, which is out everywhere right now.

Check out his website here.

Don’t forget – this is YOUR SHOW so keep tweeting me, leave your comments below, check out our Facebook page and the brand new newsletter and mailing list. It’s totally free to sign up and you’ll get a FREE motivational PDF to download – ’10 Tips For Surviving NaNoWriMo, The First Draft and Beyond’ PLUS the 3 Act Story Structure Template to help you plot your story. More content coming soon, including videos, blog posts and loads of extra writing tips.

SUBSCRIBE NOW WHEREVER YOU LISTEN TO YOUR PODCASTS

Check out my crime novel, SAFE HANDS

Grab a free Audible 30 Day Trial and listen to SAFE HANDS for FREE!

WANT A FREE eBOOK WITH 2 CRIME STORIES? SUBSCRIBE TO WAYNE’S NEWSLETTER HERE

In this episode of The Joined Up Writing Podcast, Wayne chats with Nikki Moore, author of commercial women’s fiction and romantic comedies, who also writes as Ella Allbright. Nikki shares her journey of juggling a busy career in HR with a decade-long writing career. She discusses her hit novel The Last Charm, an emotional, Dorset-set love story inspired by personal loss. Nikki opens up about processing grief through writing and how storytelling serves as an uplifting escape for her readers.

They dive into the evolution of the publishing world over the past 14 years, emphasizing transparency and the rise of indie publishing. Nikki reflects on her experiences with traditional publishing, the challenges of securing an agent, and why balancing creativity with business strategy is key. She highlights the importance of competitions and critique groups for emerging writers, offering practical advice for building confidence and refining your craft.

Nikki also addresses the industry's focus on debut authors and the rise of celebrity books, advocating for more equitable support across the board. With candid anecdotes and actionable insights, this episode is packed with encouragement for writers at all stages of their journey.

Nikki is A self-confessed reading addict, with an HR day job to keep her busy alongside writing. She’s the author of the popular #LoveLondon series, attracting four and five star reviews on Amazon. A number of the novellas featured in the Top 100 short story charts on Kobo and the Top 20 in the Amazon UK bestsellers Holiday chart. As Ella Albright she writes commercial women’s fiction set in her beautiful home county of Dorset, the most successful of which is The Last Charm which is out everywhere now.

Follow Nikki on Instagram @authorbythesea1207

Highlights:

• The Last Charm: A novel of love, loss, and hope inspired by Nikki’s grief journey.
• Writing Tips: Why competitions and critique groups are invaluable for aspiring authors.
• Industry Insights: The challenges of publishing today and the opportunities in indie and hybrid models.
• Personal Reflections: Balancing creative passion with strategic career decisions.

Tune in for an honest, inspiring conversation about the highs and lows of being a writer in today's ever-changing literary landscape.

SUBSCRIBE NOW WHEREVER YOU LISTEN TO YOUR PODCASTS

Check out my crime novel, SAFE HANDS

Grab a free Audible 30 Day Trial and listen to SAFE HANDS for FREE!

WANT A FREE eBOOK WITH 2 CRIME STORIES? SUBSCRIBE TO WAYNE’S NEWSLETTER HERE

It’s episode 231 with Neil J Hart, an excellent Fantasy-Horror author, writing gorgeous-looking books for young people. We talk about how Neil went from being a reluctant reader to a story-obsessed writer, how his visual imagination plays into his work and of course, we’ll hear which book saved his life.
Neil grew up in Surrey, England and spent most of his childhood dancing and acting, learning musical instruments, building vast Lego cities and domino rallies, creating board games and secret societies.

He eventually found writing and in 2021, his quirky young adult fantasy novel The Last Scarecrow won for Horror at the Wattpad Awards and his latest book, Sadie Madison and the Boy in the Crimson Scarf also won in 2022 for Fantasy. That book is released everywhere on December 3rd and you can pre-order it right now.

Find all Neil's links at his website here.

Don’t forget – this is YOUR SHOW so keep tweeting me, leave your comments below, check out our Facebook page and the brand new newsletter and mailing list. It’s totally free to sign up and you’ll get a FREE motivational PDF to download – ’10 Tips For Surviving NaNoWriMo, The First Draft and Beyond’ PLUS the 3 Act Story Structure Template to help you plot your story. More content coming soon, including videos, blog posts and loads of extra writing tips.

SUBSCRIBE NOW WHEREVER YOU LISTEN TO YOUR PODCASTS

Check out my crime novel, SAFE HANDS

Grab a free Audible 30 Day Trial and listen to SAFE HANDS for FREE!

WANT A FREE eBOOK WITH 2 CRIME STORIES? SUBSCRIBE TO WAYNE’S NEWSLETTER HERE

It’s episode 230 with Dan Howarth who writes dark and gritty books, often based in the North of England. Dan and I had a really fun and interesting chat focusing on Dan’s latest book, Last Night of Freedom and we take a deep dive into the problems with Traditional publishing and why Indie publishing seems to be going from strength to strength. We’ll also get to hear about the book that saved Dan’s life.

Dan is a writer from the North of England, a place that he says drenches his fiction. He’s the author of Dark Missives, a collection of short horror fiction as well as Territory, a novella set in the snowbound wilds of Finland. 

His stories have featured in numerous publications both online and in print, including being featured on The Other Stories podcast where they have been downloaded over 100,000 times as well as appearing in Weird Horror #5 from Undertow Publications. His latest novel is Last Night of Freedom, a great book I’ve described as Dead Man’s Shoes meets Deliverance and that is out right now, so make sure you grab a copy on ebook, paperback or audio.

Check out Dan’s website here and follow him on Twitter here.

Don’t forget – this is YOUR SHOW so keep tweeting me, leave your comments below, check out our Facebook page and the brand new newsletter and mailing list. It’s totally free to sign up and you’ll get a FREE motivational PDF to download – ’10 Tips For Surviving NaNoWriMo, The First Draft and Beyond’ PLUS the 3 Act Story Structure Template to help you plot your story. More content coming soon, including videos, blog posts and loads of extra writing tips.

SUBSCRIBE NOW WHEREVER YOU LISTEN TO YOUR PODCASTS

Check out my crime novel, SAFE HANDS

Grab a free Audible 30 Day Trial and listen to SAFE HANDS for FREE!

WANT A FREE eBOOK WITH 2 CRIME STORIES? SUBSCRIBE TO WAYNE’S NEWSLETTER HERE

It’s episode 229 and a chat recorded in front of a live audience with with Laura Pearson, number one best-selling author of The Last List of Mabel Beaumont and her latest book, The Beforelife of Eliza Valentine, which is excellent. Laura and I chatted about the magic of reading and took a deep dive on the many stages involved in writing and editing a book as well as discovering the book that saved her life.

Check out Laura’s website here and follow her on Twitter.

Don’t forget – this is YOUR SHOW so keep tweeting me, leave your comments below, check out our Facebook page and the brand new newsletter and mailing list. It’s totally free to sign up and you’ll get a FREE motivational PDF to download – ’10 Tips For Surviving NaNoWriMo, The First Draft and Beyond’ PLUS the 3 Act Story Structure Template to help you plot your story. More content coming soon, including videos, blog posts and loads of extra writing tips.

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SUBSCRIBE NOW WHEREVER YOU LISTEN TO YOUR PODCASTS

Grab a free Audible 30 Day Trial and listen to SAFE HANDS for FREE!

It’s episode 228 with Steven Kedie, author of Running and Jumping, a novel about a bitter sporting rivalry. We chat about the marathon-like qualities of writing, Steven’s journey to publication and which book saved his life.

Steven is a writer who was born and raised in Manchester, where he still lives with his wife and their two sons. A man of simple pleasures, his great loves are sport, music, writing and books. He is the co-founder of the music website eightalbums.co.uk – a site where people write about albums that are important to them and why. His novel, Running and Jumping, about the rivalry between two athletes, set across eight years and three Olympic Games, is out now.

Follow Steven on X here.

Thinking of self-publishing and want help and a cover design? Take a look at this post on Wayne’s website.

WANT A FREE eBOOK WITH 2 CRIME STORIES? SUBSCRIBE TO WAYNE’S NEWSLETTER HERE

Don’t forget – this is YOUR SHOW so keep tweeting me, leave your comments below, check out our Facebook page and the brand new newsletter and mailing list. It’s totally free to sign up and you’ll get a FREE motivational PDF to download – ’10 Tips For Surviving NaNoWriMo, The First Draft and Beyond’ PLUS the 3 Act Story Structure Template to help you plot your story. More content coming soon, including videos, blog posts and loads of extra writing tips.

SIGN UP TO MY FREE WORKSHOPS NEWSLETTER

SUBSCRIBE NOW WHEREVER YOU LISTEN TO YOUR PODCASTS

Grab a free Audible 30 Day Trial and listen to SAFE HANDS for FREE!

It’s episode 227 with Edward Carey, funny and inspirational playwright and artist turned author of loads of unique and original novels, including his latest, Edith Holler. Edward is full of fascinating insights and advice

Edward is is a writer and illustrator who was born in North Walsham, Norfolk, England. He’s written plays for the National Theatre of Romania and the Vilnius Small State Theatre, Lithuania. In England his plays and adaptations have been performed at the Young Vic Studio, the Battersea Arts Centre, and the Royal Opera House Studio. He is the author of the novels Observatory Mansions and Alva and Irva: the Twins Who Saved a City, as well as the YA Iremonger Trilogy and his previous novel, The Swallowed Man. His latest book, Edith Holler is out everywhere right now.

Find Edward's links on his website here.

Thinking of self-publishing and want help and a cover design? Take a look at this post on Wayne’s website.

WANT A FREE eBOOK WITH 2 CRIME STORIES? SUBSCRIBE TO WAYNE’S NEWSLETTER HERE

Don’t forget – this is YOUR SHOW so keep tweeting me, leave your comments below, check out our Facebook page and the brand new newsletter and mailing list. It’s totally free to sign up and you’ll get a FREE motivational PDF to download – ’10 Tips For Surviving NaNoWriMo, The First Draft and Beyond’ PLUS the 3 Act Story Structure Template to help you plot your story. More content coming soon, including videos, blog posts and loads of extra writing tips.

SIGN UP TO MY FREE WORKSHOPS NEWSLETTER

SUBSCRIBE NOW WHEREVER YOU LISTEN TO YOUR PODCASTS

Grab a free Audible 30 Day Trial and listen to SAFE HANDS for FREE!

SIGN UP TO MY FREE WORKSHOPS NEWSLETTER

SUBSCRIBE NOW WHEREVER YOU LISTEN TO YOUR PODCASTS

Grab a free Audible 30 Day Trial and listen to SAFE HANDS for FREE!

It’s episode 226 with Jeff Young, a writer with experience in stage, screen and radio and also memoir, with his second book, Wild Twin, which we chat about today. It’s a brilliant chat with loads of advice and insight from Jeff’s long career, talking about class barriers in the industry, the power of memory and why you should always carry a hipflask in your knickers.

Jeff is a writer for screen, stage and radio. As you’ll hear, he’s written plays, radio dramas, documentary and memoir, with his first book, Ghost Town. A former senior lecturer in Creative Writing at Liverpool John Moores University, Jeff lives in Liverpool and his latest book Wild Twin: Dream maps of a lost soul and drifter is out right now, everywhere you find books.

Follow Jeff on Twitter here and Instagram here.

Thinking of self-publishing and want help and a cover design? Take a look at this post on Wayne’s website.

WANT A FREE eBOOK WITH 2 CRIME STORIES? SUBSCRIBE TO WAYNE’S NEWSLETTER HERE

Don’t forget – this is YOUR SHOW so keep tweeting me, leave your comments below, check out our Facebook page and the brand new newsletter and mailing list. It’s totally free to sign up and you’ll get a FREE motivational PDF to download – ’10 Tips For Surviving NaNoWriMo, The First Draft and Beyond’ PLUS the 3 Act Story Structure Template to help you plot your story. More content coming soon, including videos, blog posts and loads of extra writing tips.

It's episode 225, which has a lovely interview with Jamie West, author of the theatre themed Bertie Carroll Mysteries. We got to chat about the similarities between the life of an actor and a writer, which means dealing with lots of rejection and striving for that lucky break

Jamie is the West End's resident murder mystery author. He has worked backstage on countless shows in London’s West End, including The Book of Mormon, Miss Saigon, Kinky Boots, Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Dear Evan Hansen and Hamilton. As you’ll hear, a love for theatre history and a good murder mystery is what inspired his Bertie Carroll series, set in 1930s theatre-land. His first novel, Death on the Pier, was published in October 2022, going on to become an Amazon Best Seller and Chat Magazine's Book of the Month. Murder at the Matinee, the second in the series, is out everywhere right now.

Find all of Jamie's links at his website here.

Thinking of self-publishing and want help and a cover design? Take a look at this post on Wayne’s website.

WANT A FREE eBOOK WITH 2 CRIME STORIES? SUBSCRIBE TO WAYNE’S NEWSLETTER HERE

Don’t forget – this is YOUR SHOW so keep tweeting me, leave your comments below, check out our Facebook page and the brand new newsletter and mailing list. It’s totally free to sign up and you’ll get a FREE motivational PDF to download – ’10 Tips For Surviving NaNoWriMo, The First Draft and Beyond’ PLUS the 3 Act Story Structure Template to help you plot your story. More content coming soon, including videos, blog posts and loads of extra writing tips.

SUBSCRIBE NOW WHEREVER YOU LISTEN TO YOUR PODCASTS

Grab a free Audible 30 Day Trial and listen to SAFE HANDS for FREE!

It’s episode 224 where I’m chatting to crime writer, Angela C Nurse, talking about her gritty Scottish private detective series, her thoughts on the publishing industry in general and why she thinks Crime Fiction is such a powerful genre when it comes to studying people and behaviour.

We also discover the book that saved her life and hear her tips for aspiring writers out there.

Born in the Kingdom of Fife, Angela spent her teenage years in Penzance before returning to Scotland. She has had a varied career from Nursery Nurse to Bank Manager before becoming a full-time writer.

Her brilliant Rowan McFarlane Mysteries are set within the fictional town of Cuddieford, which lies somewhere between Dunfermline and Kirkcaldy. And those books are out right now, so go and check them out.

Find all of Angela's's links at her website here.

Thinking of self-publishing and want help and a cover design? Take a look at this post on Wayne’s website.

WANT A FREE eBOOK WITH 2 CRIME STORIES? SUBSCRIBE TO WAYNE’S NEWSLETTER HERE

Don’t forget – this is YOUR SHOW so keep tweeting me, leave your comments below, check out our Facebook page and the brand new newsletter and mailing list. It’s totally free to sign up and you’ll get a FREE motivational PDF to download – ’10 Tips For Surviving NaNoWriMo, The First Draft and Beyond’ PLUS the 3 Act Story Structure Template to help you plot your story. More content coming soon, including videos, blog posts and loads of extra writing tips.