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Nicola Martin @nmartinwriter·

Oh man, the ESPN documentary about Lance Armstrong (which is on iPlayer) is so good. I love terrifying portraits of psychopaths. 😱

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nicolamartinwriter

✍️ Author, #DeadRinger
📚 Reader of crime fiction, YA, and anything thought-provoking
📍 Bristol, UK
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⇘ Dead Ringer, ebook only £2.50:

Do you prefer a whodunnit or a whydunnit? 🤔⠀

Do you prefer a whodunnit or a whydunnit? 🤔⠀
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I'm a sucker for a whodunnit, but having read A Judgement in Stone by Ruth Rendell, I may need to change my mind.⠀
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This novel is about an illiterate housekeeper, Eunice, who kills the affluent Coverdale family she's paid to clean up after. The 'why' of it is unravelled in a captivating series of character studies.⠀
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The audiobook reading by Carole Hayman is particularly excellent. 🎧⠀
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#ruthrendell #ajudgementinstone #bookreviewer #bookreview #bookrec #bookrecs #bookrecommendations #mysterybooks #bookstagram #bookstagramuk #ukbookstagram #booklife #currentlyreading #amreading #booklover #booknerd #bookphotography #bookaddict #bookstagrammer #booksofinstagram #booknerdigans #bookgeek #booklove #booklover #bibliophile #bookaholic #bookcommunity #bookworm #ilovebooks #lovebooks

#DeadRinger is released worldwide as an audiobook

#DeadRinger is released worldwide as an audiobook today, including US and Canada. 🥂 @bolindaaudio⠀
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If you get your hands on a copy, let me know what you think. 😉⠀
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Here’s the blurb:⠀
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The idea is simple, vain, exciting. Tap the app, upload a picture, find your #deadringer – and if you like, set up a meeting in real life.⠀
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When Ella and Jem connect, the resemblance is uncanny, but their lives are polar opposites. One is stagnating in her Northern hometown, while the other, an aspiring actress living in a multimillion-pound mansion, is a Chelsea socialite who knows she’s skating on thin ice.⠀
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Other than their looks, their only similarity is the desire to escape. Is it possible to hide in your double’s skin? And at what cost? Dead Ringer is an all-too-believable, twisty, compelling story that will leave you reeling.⠀
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#audiobook #audiobooks #audiobookstagram #audiobooklover #audiobooklove #audiobooksrock #audiobookreview #audiobookworm #bookstagram #bookstagramuk #ukbookstagram #booksbooksbooks #readerlife #readerforlife #bookishaesthetic #bookblogging #bookstagramfeatures #bookstagramfeature #bookpic #bookishgirl #bookblog #bookblogger #friendswithbookspost #readingstagram #bookstatribe #creativebookstagram #bookishphoto #readersunite

What’s the last psychological thriller you read?

What’s the last psychological thriller you read? 📚⠀
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I just finished #AllInHerHead by @nikkismith_author⠀
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I found it incredibly tense, and the plot twists kept me guessing. 👀⠀
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#nikkismith #kindle #kindlebooks #kindlereads #crimewriter #crimefiction #crimenovel #amreadingthrillers #psychologicalthrillers #psychologicalthriller #thrillerfiction #thrillersofinstagram #thrilleraddict #thrillerbooksaddict #bookstagram #bookstagramuk #ukbookstagram #beautifulbooks #prettybooks #creativebookphotography #bookishphotography #bookalicious #thatreadinglife #bookbloggershub #bookthoughts #readingisfundamental #bookcrazy #bookaddiction #bookaddicts

Writers, what are your weird pre-writing rituals?

Writers, what are your weird pre-writing rituals? 🔮⠀
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I like to listen to thunderstorm sounds. It blows away my insecurities and puts me in the mood for the dramatic. 😁⠀
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How about you?⠀
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#debutauthor #debutauthor2020 #writersofinstagram #authorsofinstagram #discoverunder1k #writing #writingcommunity #writerscommunity #writersofinsta #writerslife #writinglife #supportauthors #indieauthors #writersunite #authorssupportingauthors #writerssupportingwriters #authorlife #authorpreneur #ukwriters #ukauthors #britishauthor #britishauthors #britishwriter #britishwriters #writerscorner #writersnetwork #writersconnection #writerssociety #writersblock #bristolbloggers

If you could travel anywhere, where would you go?

If you could travel anywhere, where would you go? 🚢✈⠀
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I've been missing that short-hop European travel we all took for granted. I'd love to go back to Berlin. Alas…⠀
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#debutauthor #debutauthor2020 #writersofinstagram #authorsofinstagram #writingcommunity #writerscommunity #writersofinsta #writerslife #writinglife #bristolbloggers #bristolwriters #bristoligers #bristollife #igersbristol #discoverunder1k #bristoluk #bristol247 #bristol_lens #bristolblog #bristolblogging #lovebristol #alwaysbristol #visitbristol #ukblog #ukblogger #ukbloggers #supportauthors #indieauthors #writersunite #authorssupportingauthors

Writers, what's the best compliment you've ever re

Writers, what's the best compliment you've ever received about your writing?⠀
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For me, the Crimetime (Bob Cornwell) review of #DeadRinger has to rank up there.⠀
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"Nicola Martin’s scintillating debut is pacy, often witty, always succinct, a credible and well-constructed tale of two young women from different backgrounds and vastly differing prospects."⠀
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Wow. 😊⠀
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(📸 by @wordcortex)⠀
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#crimewriter #crimefiction #crimenovel #amreadingthrillers #psychologicalthrillers #psychologicalthriller #thrillerfiction #thrillersofinstagram #thrilleraddict #thrillerbooksaddict #bookstagram #bookstagramuk #ukbookstagram #bookblog #bookblogger #friendswithbookspost #readingstagram #bookstatribe #creativebookstagram #bookishphoto #readinglist2020 #readersunite #instabooks #igreads #lovereading #thereaderslounge #bookobsessed #readingstyles #alwaysreading

Are you a plotter or a pantser?⠀ .⠀ When I'm w

Are you a plotter or a pantser?⠀
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When I'm writing, I tend to plot out everything in advance. Otherwise I run the risk of abandoning my story halfway through. I recently read Blake Synder's Save the Cat and found it really useful in terms of story-planning.⠀
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However, as I battle my way through the first draft of my novel, I'm realising that I may be a pantser at heart. Sometimes you just have to let your characters run rampant. 🤣⠀
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#blakesynder #savethecat #audiobook #audiobooks #audiobookstagram #audiobooklover #audiobooklove #audiobooksrock #audiobookreview #audiobookworm #bookstagram #bookstagramuk #ukbookstagram #writersociety #writersden #writers_around #writersofig #writingcommunityofig #writingislove #writingislife #writergram #authorsofig #authorsofinsta #igwriter #writinganovel #writingprocess #iamwriting #amwriting #booksbooksbooks #bookalicious

What's your favourite fruit? 🍐🍎🍌⠀ .⠀

What's your favourite fruit? 🍐🍎🍌⠀
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Contrary to this awesome piece of Bristol street art, mine is not a banana. It's blueberries. 😁⠀
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#discoverunder1k #streetart #ukblog #ukblogger #ukbloggers #photooftheday #bristolbloggers #bristolwriters #bristoligers #bristollife #igersbristol #bristoluk #bristol247 #bristol_lens #bristolblog #bristolblogging #lovebristol #alwaysbristol #visitbristol #debutauthor #debutauthor2020 #writersofinstagram #authorsofinstagram #writing #writingcommunity #writerscommunity #writersofinsta #writerslife #writinglife #supportauthors

What are your go-to comfort reads? 🥰⠀ .⠀ Wh

What are your go-to comfort reads? 🥰⠀
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When I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed, I'll throw on a cosy mystery audiobook. I particularly love MC Beaton's Hamish Macbeth series, read by David Monteath.⠀
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#mcbeaton #hamishmacbeth #deathofagossip #readoutside #booksoutofdoors #audiobook #audiobooks #audiobookstagram #audiobooklover #audiobooklove #audiobooksrock #audiobookreview #audiobookworm #bookstagram #bookstagramuk #ukbookstagram #ukbooks #cozybooks #mysterybooks #britishauthor #britishauthors #britishwriter #britishwriters #writerscorner #writersnetwork #writersconnection #writerssociety #booksbooksbooks #readerlife #readerforlife

It's officially six months since #DeadRinger was p

It's officially six months since #DeadRinger was published!⠀
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"What a weird six months," probably every debut author says. But these past six months really have been ... weird. 😆⠀
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Despite the weirdness, I've loved hearing from readers who've enjoyed Dead Ringer over the last few months. 😊⠀
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Thanks to @sarabandbooks and @bolindaaudio for all their hard work behind the scenes. Launching a book ain't easy!⠀
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(📸 by @wordcortex)⠀
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#readoutside #booksoutofdoors #discoverunder1k #bookstagram #bookstagramuk #ukbookstagram #yareads #yareader #amreadingya #yanovels #yanovel #yafiction #booksbooksbooks #readerlife #readerforlife #bookishaesthetic #bookblogging #bookstagramfeatures #bookstagramfeature #bookpic #bookishgirl #bookalicious #thatreadinglife #bookbloggershub #bookthoughts #readingisfundamental #bookcrazy #bookaddiction #bookaddicts

Found my first conker of the year. So shiny. 🍂⠀
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#discoverunder1k #bristolbloggers #bristolwriters #bristoligers #bristollife #igersbristol #bristoluk #bristol247 #bristol_lens #bristolblog #bristolblogging #lovebristol #alwaysbristol #visitbristol #ukblog #ukblogger #ukbloggers #photooftheday #writersociety #writersden #writers_around #writersofig #writingcommunityofig #writingislove #writingislife #writergram #authorsofig #authorsofinsta #igwriter #writersofinstagram

What are your key ingredients of a #beachread (whe

What are your key ingredients of a #beachread (whether or not you’re actually at a beach)?⠀
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Mine are:⠀
✅ Exotic location⠀
✅ Fun characters⠀
✅ Jeopardy!⠀
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#thebeach #alexgarland #beachreads #crimewriter #crimefiction #crimenovel #amreadingthrillers #psychologicalthrillers #psychologicalthriller #thrillerfiction #thrillersofinstagram #thrilleraddict #thrillerbooksaddict #bookstagram #bookstagramuk #ukbookstagram #bookblog #bookblogger #friendswithbookspost #readingstagram #bookstatribe #creativebookstagram #bookishphoto #readinglist2020 #readersunite #whattoreadnext #nosuchthingastoomanybooks #readallthebooks #booksaremagic

Writers, is there a book that changed the way you

Writers, is there a book that changed the way you write? 💭⠀
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I first read Violet and Claire by Francesca Lia Block as a teenager and it floored me. I never knew it was possible for prose to be so sparse and poetic. I immediately tried to emulate the style -- with very dubious results.⠀
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I found my own writing style eventually, but I still think back to Violet and Claire whenever I feel like my prose is getting too dry or too crowded.⠀
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@francescaliablock⠀
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#francescaliablock #violetandclaire #readoutside #booksoutofdoors #discoverunder1k #bookstagram #bookstagramuk #ukbookstagram #booklife #currentlyreading #amreading #booklover #booknerd #bookphotography #bookaddict #bookstagrammer #bookalicious #thatreadinglife #bookbloggershub #bookthoughts #readingisfundamental #bookcrazy #bookaddiction #bookaddicts #avidreader #whattoreadnext #nosuchthingastoomanybooks #readallthebooks #booksaremagic #readersgonnaread

Goatpile.⠀ .⠀ Windmill Hill City Farm is one o

Goatpile.⠀
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Windmill Hill City Farm is one of my favourite hidden gems in Bristol. I'm so glad it's open again, despite the pandemic. 🐐🌿⠀
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@windmill_hill_city_farm⠀
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#goats #windmillhillcityfarm #discoverunder1k #bristolbloggers #bristolwriters #bristoligers #bristollife #igersbristol #bristoluk #bristol247 #bristol_lens #bristolblog #bristolblogging #lovebristol #alwaysbristol #visitbristol #ukblog #ukblogger #ukbloggers #bloggersofinstagram #bloglife #bloggerstribe #bloggerslife #blogginglife #bloggincommunity #savvyblogging #instablogging #bloggerlove #bloggersunder1k

I've been thinking a lot about education recently,

I've been thinking a lot about education recently, due to the A-Levels debacle here in the UK.⠀
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I went to the worst secondary school in my local area and it was only due to luck and my parents' support that I got out of there with good qualifications. It's profoundly depressing to imagine a scenario where the school system abandoned me. 😕⠀
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Anyway, if you’re interested in how education differs around the world, I recommend The Smartest Kids In the World by Amanda Ripley. 🌿⠀
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#thesmartestkidsintheworld #amandaripley #readoutside #booksoutofdoors #bookstagram #bookstagramuk #ukbookstagram #nonfiction #nonfictionbooks #bookalicious #thatreadinglife #bookbloggershub #bookthoughts #readingisfundamental #bookcrazy #bookaddiction #bookaddicts #avidreader #beautifulbooks #prettybooks #creativebookphotography #bookishphotography #ukblog #ukblogger #ukbloggers #discoverunder1k #2020reads #booksarebetter #lovethisbook #readingtherapy

A friend said to me recently, "I ordered your book

A friend said to me recently, "I ordered your book from the library, but then ... lockdown happened."⠀
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*sad trombone* 😕⠀
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Fortunately, a lot of libraries are now open for click-and-collect. (Although my local library requires you to PHONE THEM. This is discrimination against millennials who hate making phone calls. 😅)⠀
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Also, don't forget, you can download #DeadRinger and other audiobooks for free through your local library via the @borrowbox app. Magic. ✨⠀
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(📸 by @wordcortex)⠀
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#readoutside #booksoutofdoors #discoverunder1k #bookstagram #bookstagramuk #ukbookstagram #librarybook #librarybooks #crimewriter #crimefiction #crimenovel #amreadingthrillers #psychologicalthrillers #psychologicalthriller #thrillerfiction #thrillersofinstagram #thrilleraddict #thrillerbooksaddict #booksbooksbooks #readerlife #readerforlife #bookishaesthetic #bookblogging #bookstagramfeatures #bookstagramfeature #bookpic #bookishgirl #2020reads #booksarebetter

Are you a hand-talker? 🤗⠀ .⠀ Oh, boy. If yo

Are you a hand-talker? 🤗⠀
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Oh, boy. If you're ever in the conversation with me, you'll see my hands flapping all over the place. 🤦‍♀️⠀
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Apparently, it's actually good to show the palms of your hands when you speak, because it demonstrates you're not concealing any weapons. (lol yes really.)⠀
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I'm particularly fascinated by books on body language, because it's useful for my writing. A subtle character movement is usually more effective than a clumsy description ("she looked angry" etc).⠀
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#joenavarro #whateverybodyissaying #bodylanguage #readoutside #booksoutofdoors #discoverunder1k #bookstagram #bookstagramuk #ukbookstagram #bristolbloggers #bristolwriters #bristoligers #bristollife #igersbristol #bristol_lens #bristolblog #bristolblogging #lovebristol #alwaysbristol #instabooks #igreads #lovereading #thereaderslounge #bookobsessed #readingstyles #alwaysreading #fortheloveofbooks #whatiread #readergram #debutauthor

Have you ever failed an exam or assignment?⠀
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I remember sitting down to take an exam on mathematical mechanics and my mind was filled with nothing but screaming. I failed. 🙈⠀
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I mention this because one of my teachers at college (I did a literature degree, not a maths degree, bwahaha) also taught Sandra Cisneros. She wrote The House on Mango Street for her poetry PhD -- and almost failed, because her 'poems' weren't really poems.⠀
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Luckily, the panel smiled on her. Thank God, because Mango Street is a gorgeous, gorgeous collection of not-quite-poems.⠀
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#thehouseonmangostreet #sandracisneros #readoutside #booksoutofdoors #discoverunder1k #bookstagram #bookstagramuk #ukbookstagram #bookblog #bookblogger #friendswithbookspost #readingstagram #bookstatribe #creativebookstagram #bookishphoto #readinglist2020 #readersunite #whattoreadnext #nosuchthingastoomanybooks #readallthebooks #booksaremagic #bibliofeature #readersgonnaread #allthebooks #booktography #singlebookshare #booksofinstagram #booknerdigans #bookgeek #booklove

New blog post: 5 best books on writing for beginne

New blog post: 5 best books on writing for beginners and beyond⠀
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Whether you’re starting out in creative writing or looking to fine-tune your writing craft, there are a wealth of reference books out there. Too many, you might even say! These are the five that I recommend over and over. 📚😊⠀
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Check out my blog @ nicolamartin.com. Link in bio.⠀
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#wordpressblogger #writingblog #blogwriter #blogwriting #bloggersofinstagram #bloglife #bloggerstribe #bloggerslife #blogginglife #bloggincommunity #savvyblogging #instablogging #bloggerlove #bloggersunder1k #bookstagram #bookstagramuk #ukbookstagram #britishauthor #britishauthors #britishwriter #britishwriters #writerscorner #writersnetwork #writersconnection #writerssociety #writersblock #booksbooksbooks #readerlife #readerforlife #bookishaesthetic

Do you listen to true crime podcasts?⠀ .⠀ I'm

Do you listen to true crime podcasts?⠀
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I'm catching up on My Favorite Murder, with grisly tales accompanying me as I run errands and do chores. 😳⠀
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Do you have any podcasts you'd recommend?⠀
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#readoutside #booksoutofdoors #discoverunder1k #bookstagram #bookstagramuk #ukbookstagram #valmcdermid #crimewriter #crimefiction #crimenovel #amreadingthrillers #psychologicalthrillers #psychologicalthriller #thrillerfiction #thrillersofinstagram #thrilleraddict #thrillerbooksaddict #bookaesthetic #nonfiction #nonfictionbooks #2020reads #booksarebetter #lovethisbook #readingtherapy #bookwormsofinstagram #instareaders #bookworld #bookpost #idratherbereading #booksbooksbooks

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Recent Posts

One word you should remove from your writing vocabulary

17 Sep 2020

One word you should remove from your writing vocabulary

by Nicola | posted in: Writing | 1

You might assume this is a philosophical or motivational blog post, and I’m going to tell you there’s no such … Read More

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

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Revisiting Gone Girl: 5 things writers can learn from it

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Dead Ringer by Nicola Martin

17 Sep 2020

Let your readers hear your protagonist’s thoughts – Things I learned while writing Dead Ringer

by Nicola | posted in: Dead Ringer | 0

Dead Ringer started life as a third-person novel, until my agent suggested I make it first-person. This was a big … Read More