Val McDermid is one of the most successful crime authors in the world. Her novels have been translated into 40 languages, they've sold over 15 million copies and show no sign of letting up. She has written procedural crime, cold-case crime, and even penned the first ever 'cynical, socialist, lesbian, feminist journalist'.

We talk about how her method of writing has changed over the course of 38 books, moving from heavy plotting to hardly plotting at all. Also we chat about how much she cares about her readers, and how she knows which of her characters will solve the crime currently swirling around her mind.

There's some of your writing tips, and one from another crime writer too. You can send your advice to the show over at writersroutine.com.

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C.L. Taylor has just released her 6th thriller 'Sleep', after having much success in psychological thriller over the last 10 years, even writing YA fiction too. We talk about how she works her story-telling around children, family life and Twitter.

Also, we talk about the busiest year of Cally's life, writing a book having just gone back to work, with a child, and a lot of words to crack through. She's also won a prize for the 'Most Unreliable Narrator Award', which I was VERY interested to learn about - you can hear why she thinks she won it during the chat. We learn how the idea for 'Sleep' came about, and why a slightly bored response from her editors sparked the story to life.

Fire over your tips and advice for us too, please!

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Although she's not a fan of the word, Sarah Pinborough is a prolific author. She's written over 20 books across a wide range of genres, always looking to keep interesting and varied. Her new book, 'Cross Her Heart' takes inspiration from a real-life crime, and tells the story of a group of women all trying to keep their past a secret. It's been called a 'feminist novel', and you can hear why Sarah revels in that description.

Also, we talk about her method of triple-writing, why her books have recently gained great success and how getting a dog has completely rejuvenated her writing day.

We'll get your writing tips on too, and hear from a Booker Prize nominee who wants you to take a walk.

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This week Adam Foulds shares his writer's routine. He's a Booker Prize nominee, being shortlisted for 'The Quickening Maze', and is now publishing his fifth novel, 'Dream Sequence' about an actor who becomes embroiled in a strange, twisted relationship. It's literary fiction, and we talk about why that genre pulls Adam's creativity in, and why he thinks different authors write in different styles.

Adam is also a poet, and discusses the difference between writing novels and poetry, and what it's like to wait for the lightning of an idea to strike. We talk about plotting through character, forcing inspiration and how he hopes to improve as a writer.

We'll get some of your writing tips on too, and a top bit of advice from Frank Cottrell-Boyce.

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Frank Cottrell-Boyce is a Carnegie Medal Award winning author - his 2004 novel 'Millions' is incredibly successful, and was turned into a film by Danny Boyle, for which Frank wrote the script. It was even Danny's idea that Frank should write the novel in the first place. He's published 10 novels, brought back 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang', and wrote the Opening Ceremony to the 2012 Olympic Games.

We chat quite a bit about scriptwriting - along with 'Millions', Frank has written many scripts for Michael Winterbottom, including '24 Hour Party People' and 'A Cock and Bull Story'. He tells us the difference between writing screenplays and novels, the story points you need to hit, and the simple forms an idea can take.

We'll get a top writing tip from a debut thriller author, and even some advice from you - if you've got a tip that you want to share, fire it over to writersroutine.com!

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After working for years as a criminal barrister, Harriet Tyce gave up work when she had children and decided to write. A few attempts at getting novels published later, she realised she may need a little bit of help in tweaking, cutting and getting her foot in the door, so she enrolled in a Creative Writing course at University, to study how to become a better author.

'Blood Orange' is her debut published novel, and already it's gathering speed, success and critical acclaim. It's about Alison, who has it all - a doting husband, adorable daughter and her first murder case to defend. But as the past catches up with her, it all starts slipping from her hands.

Harriet talks about psychological thrillers and making her writing stand out on the shelf, also about creativity in law, and finding the right tone and style.

There's a few of the writing tips that you've sent in to the show too, and if you want to be included next week, fire your advice over to writersroutine.com

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HAPPY WORLD BOOK DAY.

To celebrate one of the top 3 days of the year, here's a little treat. A mash-up of some of the best authors we've had on the podcast this last year.

You'll hear the writing routines of Ian Rankin, Cecelia Ahern, Garrard Conley, Helen Fields, Tim Marshall, Bridget Collins and Mark Billingham.

Give us 5 lovely stars on Apple Podcasts if you get a chance.

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In 2017, Nuala Ellwood's debut thriller 'My Sister's Bones' received rave reviews and was hailed as the new 'The Girl on the Train'. It propelled her onto The Observer's list of 'New Faces in Fiction' and gained commercial success - now she's back with a second novel. 'Day of the Accident' tells the story of Maggie, who wakes up from a coma to find her daughter dead, and she is being blamed for the murder.

Nuala talks about the how to cope with the pressure from such a successful debut, and how a writing tour around the UK gave her the idea for her new book, and how it revolves around the ridiculous notion that new mothers can't be creative.

We've also got a top writing tip from one of the most prolific authors working today.

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With over 30 published books, Susan Lewis is a master-storyteller that moves through genres, styles and stories as easily as turning a page. She's lived all around the world, getting inspiration from towns in France (where she had a love affair with one of the FBI's Most Wanted) to hills in LA (where she was neighbours with George Clooney)

Her new novel, 'One Minute Later', tells the story of Viv Shager, who on her 35th birthday suffers a heart attack which causes her life to change dramatically. Her life shrinks back to how it begun, she moves back home, and with time running out - decides to finally uncover one mysterious secret.

Susan isn't much of a planner, gets consumed by her stories and publishes two novels a year. We talk about the pressure that heaps on an author's shoulders, and how she keeps up with it all, and still finds joy in words.

If you've got any writing tips, send them over to me - I'll share them in future eps.

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Fiona Barton is an award-winning journalist, worked as a senior writer at the 'Mail on Sunday' and reported on many high profile cases. After covering crime for so long, she thought it time to invent some of her own.

Her third book, 'The Suspect', details two 18 year old girls who go missing on a gap-year, which reminds journalist Kate Waters of her own son, who is off travelling, that hasn't been seen in 2 years. You can hear how Fiona came up with the idea, and what she immediately did when it came to her. Fiona rises when the sun tells her to, and straight away she'll get down to work - we talk about the secret to that, how she knows when to stop, and how her writing style has changed 3 novels in.

We get a top writing tip that may change the way you work forever from one of the hottest authors of 2019, and there's news of a way you can get on the show.

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