Happy New Books 2024 & meet debut author Emma Hinds
Plus the latest opportunities and events for writers and journalists in 2024
My dear wordsmiths,
Wishing you the happiest New Year and the gift of loads of guilt-free spare time to read and write (well, we can only dream). If we’ve only just met then thanks for subscribing and welcome to the gang. My name is Nicola and I’m a journalism leader (editor) by day and a querying novelist by night - and I like to help promote writers and writing. I live in the countryside in Lancashire, England, and welcome authors and journalists from across the world to this newsletter. Everyone is welcome and it’s free - please share the word!
It’s that time of year where we all have a word with ourselves by tackling mindset, fitness, career goals and just generally resetting and making changes. In other words it’s time to decide what books we want to read this year - which is something I can help with!
Of course those with writing and publication on our minds are eyeing up word count targets and draft manuscript resolutions or we are getting out our big brave pants and facing down the barrel of rejection once more. But do you know something? Much like our resident pheasant who tries to get to the bird food every day before the crows, there is a chance it will happen if we keep going - but if we fly away and sulk we’ll go hungry and potentially headbutted by a sheep. That is the end of my bad pheasant analogies, I promise.
It’s chucking it down outside after a weird in-between week. The call from Radio 4 on my day off to discuss Blackpool Tower burning down - spoiler, it wasn’t - was one of the oddities of Twixmas so in many ways it’s great to get back to normality. To kick off the year I’m sharing some books I’ve read and some I want to read - let me know what you think. Plus, we meet debut author Emma Hinds, who has a terrifying sounding cat and likes ‘bringing up the bodies.’
Four books I read in 2023 and recommend
(in no particular order)
Wrong Place Wrong Time by Gillian McCallister: Imagine witnessing your son commit a horrific crime then having the chance to go back in time and examine the events that lead up to it - and maybe even prevent it. That’s what happens to divorce lawyer Jen. As she travels back and forth the twists and angles will keep you guessing and turning those pages. Hard recommend and also a a Reese's Book Club Pick
The Island in the sun by Katie Fforde: Escapism at its best from Katie Fforde - a Write Reject Repeat alumna and upcoming guest on my new Booky Podcast. So yes I’m a bit biased for full disclosure (I was provided with a proof copy) but she’s ace. This is a sunny, stress-free, story which takes you to the Caribbean Island of Dominica where the author has family - think Raiders of the Lost Ark crossed with a summer romance. Out on February 15, 2024.
The Ink Black Heart by Robert Galbraith: I absolutely love this series of crime novels by Galbraith aka. JK Rowling. They have everything; proper character development. real researched detail and a twisty, mysterious, plot that keeps you guessing. Plus it’s a proper meaty read with characters you are totally invested in. The Ink Black Heart is the latest but make sure to start with the first (The Cuckoo’s Calling) for the full Strike/Robin experience.
First Born by Will Dean: Anything Will Dean writes leaves you re-assessing and wondering; this twisty and turny story about identical twins is no different. I’m also a huge fan of his ’Tuva Moodyson’ series about a deaf journalist - it’s how I got to know Will’s work - but his standalone novels also pull a punch. If you want to check out his first Tuva novel, it’s called Dark Pines, and has also been optioned for TV by Lionsgate. If you like dogs, it’s worth checking out Will’s writing-themed YouTube channel from his home in rural Sweden for his 14-stone St Bernard called Bernie - and of course author wisdom.
Three books I’m looking forward to reading in 2024:
(I’m getting the feeling books which start with ‘the’ are hot for 2024!)
The Midnight Feast by Lucy Foley: Midnights feasts always remind me of Enid Blyton but I rather suspect this twisty and murderous tale based at a luxury resort has somewhat darker themes. A new locked room thriller from the author of ‘The Guest List’. Out in summer 2024.
The Life Impossible by Matt Haig: Can’t wait for this one from ‘Midnight Library’ author Matt Haig - not least as this particular tale is based in Ibiza. It is described as ‘a story of wild adventure, deep transformation and gloriously heart-warming characters. It shows how a new outlook can burst into life at any moment and change everything.’ Out in hardback on August 29 and you can pre-order.
The List of Suspicious Things by Jennie Godfrey: Inspired in part by the realisation her dad worked with the Yorkshire Ripper, Yorkshire-based Jennie’s debut novel follows a young girl’s mission to ensure her family stays put in their hometown. Out February 15.
Meet author Emma Hinds
Author Emma Hinds is a queer writer and playwright based in Manchester, UK. Her novel The Knowing will be published on January 18 by Bedford Square.
Set in 19th-century New York, The Knowing follows Flora, an artist’s model with a gift for summoning the dead. Used as a living canvas for an abusive tattoo artist, Flora meets Minnie, a disabled, enigmatic circus performer, and is given the chance to escape. Freedom comes with the constant fear of being found and the unwanted attention from Chester Merton – Minnie’s lover and the man under whose roof she resides. During a performance as a ‘painted mystic’ in Minnie’s ‘freak show,’ Flora hears the spirit of a murdered boy and exposes his killer, setting off a chain of events that land her in Manchester. Caught in dark love triangle between Minnie and Chester, her survival hangs on the turn of a tarot card.
Inspired by real historical characters such as Maud Wagner, one of the first known female tattoo artists, New York gang the Dead Rabbits, and characters from PT Barnum's circus in the 1800s, this story of obsession and betrayal is carefully crafted , weaving in untold feminist narratives and darker themes that make it a hard-hitting read and is perfect for fans of Erin Morgenstern and Sarah Walters.
WHO?
I am a queer feminist playwright/novelist living and working in Manchester with my cat, Her Demonic Majesty, my partner and our library of books. I love to write queer historical fiction; I get such satisfaction in ‘bringing up the bodies’ as Hilary Mantel would say, resurrecting stories from our past and breathing life into them again. I definitely like to write with darker themes, exploring gothic and horror elements mixed with magical realism.
WHAT?
My goal as a writer is pretty simple: to keep going. All I ever wanted was to be a writer – to be able to write stories for a living seemed like a fantasy dream for childhood Emma, but now I’m on my way. My priority is to make writing a sustainable career for me. After that, I want to keep finding new stories, new voices, and I hope I’m still doing this when I’m ninety!
My family always say that I’ve been making up stories since I was a toddler, but I don’t think I really believed in my own ability until I was taught by the playwright Oliver Emmanuel as a Masters student. He gave me so much confidence and so many valuable skills that I still use today.
WHY?
I think I’m a writer because I don’t know any other way to be. It’s always been the way I process the world, the place where I can relax and experiment and play. Even if none of my books ever saw the light of day, I’d still be writing.
WHEN?
My debut novel, The Knowing, is available from 18th January 2024. It’s the story of a queer tattooed mystic living in New York and Manchester in the Victorian era who can hear and see ghosts. It’s full of all my favourite things; queer love, gothic themes, haunted spaces and the weaponization of trauma.
HOW?
My biggest tip is always the same: finish it. I see so many fledgling writers who struggle with this, who have a perfect first a thousand words that they’ve edited a hundred times. It’s very comforting, to sculpt and perfect a paragraph, but it’s no good if you never finish it. No matter how messy, finish it. You can’t edit a blank page so write all the way to the end first before you go back and try to make it pretty. Finish it! You can do it!
What have you been reading recently?
I’m in the middle of writing a novel at the moment so I’m only reading short fiction (short story collections and novellas). I’ve been on a bit of a horror/creepy kick at the moment and right now I’m enjoying Hex by Rebecca Dinerstein Knight
Thanks Emma!
News, events and opportunities for writers and journalists
CLOSES MONDAY! A Writing Chance @ New Writing North: New Writing North is the writing development agency for the North of England and A Writing Chance aims to open access to the writing industries for new and aspiring writers from working-class and lower-income backgrounds and for those who face barriers due to intersecting challenges, including but not limited to ethnicity, disability, sexuality, gender identity, age and religious beliefs. They are looking for 16 new fiction and non-fiction writers and journalists for 2024-25. The deadline is Monday, January 8.
London Book Fair: The date has moved this year so London Book Fair will take place between 12-14 March. The event will be held Olympia London with theme ‘defining the future of creative content’, and will include seminars across three days as well as conferences and awards.
Booker Prize: The judges for the International Booker Prize 2024 have been announced and submissions are now open for publishers. The 2024 judging panel will be looking for the best work of fiction translated into English, selected from entries published in the UK or Ireland between May 1, 2023 and April 30, 2024. The winners’ prize purse is £50,000; £25,000 for the author and £25,000 for the translator (or divided equally between multiple translators). There will be a prize of £5,000 for each of the shortlisted titles: £2,500 for the author and £2,500 for the translator (or divided equally between multiple translators). The longlist of 12 or 13 books will be announced in March 2024 and the shortlist of six books in April. The winning title will be announced at a ceremony in May.
Newsrewired Conference: Billed as ‘a conference for innovators in digital publishing’, the Newsrewired conference takes place at Reuters, London, on May 15. Early bird tickets are now on sale for £195 + VAT. I’ve linked more info via the headline.
News Product Mentoring: Nick Petrie is the deputy news director at Reuters and offers mentoring to journalism professionals who would like to start the new year with a fresh perspective on whatever news/publishing product challenges they are facing or busieness/product organisational strategy, newsroom tooling and applying reader data and insights in the newsroom. A session is worth £80 - but you can change to what you can afford - it can be as low as £1 if you are struggling.
A bit of reading..
Why journalists need SEO: Interesting piece here discussing why all journalists need SEO training and how to DIY it.
What to do/not to do on work experience as a journalist: Some of this sounds so obvious - but apparently not..
Thanks so much for reading - shout up if you are an author who wants to feature! Have a lovely week. Just a little plea - please share and encourage others to sign up.
Nicola
I really enjoyed this interview. It's always nice to hear about other Manchester-based writers and The Knowing sounds right up my street, just added it to my 2024 reading list. Thank you for the resources too, helpful as always!