Talks

How a childhood dream of being an author was repeatedly put off until I was approaching my 40s, and then took another 15 years to come true. Lessons learned along the way and the difference that the outcome, and the journey itself, made in my life.

Do novels have to be based on personal experience, or can you make stuff up and still feel authentic? I talk about the relationship between fact and fiction in my own books, and the different ways that they are (or aren’t) autobiographical.

A music-and-words collaboration with singer-guitarist Olly Hopper-Pay. I read extracts from Dead Man Singing, interspersed with Olly performing songs mentioned in the book. We offer 30 minute, 20 minute and 15 minute versions, plus additional introduction and discussion as well as time for questions. If you would like this as part of a longer presentation, it can be combined with readings from my other books, and/or solo performance by Olly of his own songs.

A workshop for writers, giving practical help in crafting the most vital tool for selling books: the elevator pitch. Whether you’re talking to agents, publishers, booksellers or direct to potential readers, a well-crafted pitch can be the difference between a polite brush-off or genuine interest leading to sales and new readers. This workshop debuted at the 2026 Bournemouth Writing Festival and is now available to be booked elsewhere.