I came to know Helen when my story, ‘Prolific,’ was published with Pens of the Earth, and later published in Wild Seas, Wilder Cities. She co-founded the Hampshire-based literary environmental group a...

“Write what you know”? Really? Why? Whilst I understand the sentiment, and some of a writer’s own lived experiences can arguably be used to fuel their writing, I see it as incredibly limiting for writ...

Even twenty minutes a day can make a difference to your life. From better sleep to stress reduction, reading fiction provides so many benefits to your mind, memory, mental health, and well-being. 1…

Tombland Bookshop,  8 Tombland, Norwich NR3 1HF Norwich has deep literary roots: the city is England’s first UNESCO City of Literature (one of only 20 globally), the National Centre for Writing, wh…

I get lots of questions from new and aspiring writers. So, after four published books and stories in five international anthologies, here are my thoughts. Finding your style takes time You will wri…

I’m thrilled to share the National Flash Fiction Day 2026 Anthology with you, and introduce the title and cover of NFFDs latest anthology, Mudlarking: National Flash Fiction Day Anthology 202…

Wonderful news that Pens of the Earth will be launching a new audiobook version of Wild Seas, Wilder Cities on 29th June 2026 at Portsmouth Guildhall’s Lens Studio. Here is a little more about thei…

I often have conversations with people who are struggling to write, and I think challenges to creativity are increasing. We live in a world of constant connectivity, but our brains weren’t de…

I’m thrilled to share the news that my recent story, Lotus, has been selected for publication in the National Flash Fiction Day 2026 Anthology. Here is what the editors had to say: After read…

I’ve had lots of questions and about plotting stories, and my articles on plot and structure continue to be among my most read posts. What is a Subplot? A subplot is a secondary storyline whi…

EXCITING NEWS! My short fiction piece, ‘Prolific,’ was published in the Pens of the Earth Anthology, Wild Seas, Wilder Cities, alongside some wonderful authors in 2025. Since then, a wh…

One of the questions I’m most frequently asked as a writer is, ‘do you focus on plot or character?’ I predominantly write thrillers, so character is particularly important and oft…

Lots of people ask me where I get my ideas from when writing fiction. The answer remains elusive. As a photographer, I find much inspiration from snippets of every day life that are captured in pho…

In the Blueprint of Her IrisPoems by Vikki C./Images by Robert Frede Kenter Beauty is an uncommon word today. Even when we talk about art, we express ourselves with many other nouns. As the philosophe...

Love stories and poems, but want to listen to them in the voice of the author? Why not try listening on SoundCloud? Some of my stories and poems have been uploaded to SoundCloud for you to listen t…

Autumn is a wonderful time to explore the Ickworth Estate, nestled into the Suffolk countryside, and a stone’s throw from Bury St Edmunds. Its history can be traced back to 1086, when the Dom…

I often get asked by new and aspiring writers how to begin and where to find ideas. The first thing I want to say is that no two writers are the same, nor do they work the in same way. The next, an…

Four of my poems have been published in the marvellous Summer Edition of Cable Street Press, Issue 9! A word from the editor on Issue 9: Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly, Sage Flowers, Marigolds. Bastil…

I’m thrilled to have an acceptance of four poems to be published in International Literary Journal, Cable Street, in July. They only publish work three times a year, so I’m happy that m…

A poem

There have been some wonderful new book releases and crime thriller series, so I thought I’d share some of my recent reads, books on my Wishlist and things I’ve watched and enjoyed. CUR…

“However meaningless and vain, however dead life appears, the man of faith, of energy, of warmth… steps in and does something.”