Book Features

16 September 2021

Rose of the World: How I created a Regency heroine for my new historical novel, by Siôn Scott-Wilson

It’s difficult not to become infused with a sense of history when you’ve lived in Edinburgh. But if there was a single experience which had the greatest impact on the ...

13 September 2021

Paperback Writer, by Yorkshire author Jack Sheffield

‘You’re not like other men,’ said my wife. I was waiting for the compliment but it wasn’t what I expected. ‘You listen…. well, most of the time!’ she said. ...

13 September 2021

How to find yourself after being a people pleaser, by Niki Kinsella

Without realising it, many of us are people pleasers – we go along with what others want for the sake of a quiet life. But after a while, it can ...

10 September 2021

Exclusive: Tova Leigh on why she wrote her hilarious new book You Did What?

Have you ever lied to your kids to make your life a little easier? Don't worry, you're not alone. In fact, millions of parents around the world tell little white ...

9 September 2021

Seven things that need to change for equality in women's sport, by Sue Anstiss

To celebrate the release of her new book Game On: The Unstoppable Rise of Women's Sport, we asked Sue Anstiss to write us an exclusive piece about what she thinks needs ...

2 September 2021

A short guide for writing psychological thrillers, by Jennifer Harvey

As a writer of psychological thrillers, I am often asked what it’s like to confront the darker aspects of the human psyche and how difficult it is to live with ...

2 September 2021

Seven pitfalls to avoid when writing your first psychological thriller, by Emma Curtis

To celebrate the release of her new novel Invite Me In, we asked author Emma Curtis to write us an exclusive piece that gives aspiring writers some top tips on how ...

31 August 2021

Writing the middle grade books on the shelf that talk openly about mental health, by Susan L. Read

Young people dealing with mental health issues is not something new. As an educator for over 40 years, I can recall (with the benefit of hindsight) many students over the ...

31 August 2021

Seven things you need to know about fortune-telling, by Lisa Boswell

Do you want to delve into the world of fortune-telling, but you are unsure where to begin? Having the ability to predict the future has many benefits, from improved relationships ...

24 August 2021

Family relationships, bonds, ties and secrets, by Alison Booth

For my first seven years, my parents, sister and I lived with my maternal grandparents, and our family bonds were strong. We were also connected by our love of art: ...

23 August 2021

The sure way to change your life; commit to a long-distance hike!

For 52 days my life was completely different. My days were simple - I'd wake up, eat, pack down the tent, walk, eat, rest, walk, pitch up the tent, eat, ...

19 August 2021

Where I got my inspiration for new novel The Fire Portrait, by Barbara Mutch

I am always intrigued by the idea of migration… what makes people leave their homes? And what do they imagine awaits them at their destination? Sometimes it is a forced ...

19 August 2021

Writing about toxic relationships, by Amanda Robson

I hate toxic people, and after mixing with a number of bitchy females at both school and university, avoid them at all costs. But writing about them is cathartic. The ...

19 August 2021

A beginner's guide to investing in crypto, by Erica Stanford

People want to know every day how to get into crypto, where to invest, what to buy, what is safe, what isn’t etc. Unfortunately, there’s no clear answer and the ...
18 August 2021

Why I love a twisted family drama, by Shari Lapena

Who doesn’t love a twisted family drama? I, of course, love a twisted family drama with a crime thrown in. And my latest is no exception. In Not a Happy ...

18 August 2021

Seven things about The Paris Wife, by Meghan Masterson

To celebrate the release of her new book, The Paris Wife, we asked author Meghan Masterson to let us in on some details about the novel! Here's what she had to ...

17 August 2021

Six things I'd like readers to know about my novel Matilda Windsor Is Coming Home, by Anne Goodwin

To celebrate the release of her new book Matilda Windsor Is Coming Home, we asked author Anne Goodwin to let us in on what the novel is all about, including some ...

10 August 2021

High points and pitfalls of writing in different genres, by Gail Aldwin

It’s considered good advice for authors to aim for success in one genre of writing and stick to it. There are few literary agents who seek to represent authors working ...

6 August 2021

The antidote to an overdose of Swedish noir, by Vivien Prais

Readers of Swedish novels of the last three decades could be forgiven for assuming that Sweden is populated with depressed, violent, or autistic people spreading murder and mayhem. From Henning ...
5 August 2021

The motions of dealing with an empty nest, by Elizabeth Enfield

When my youngest child left home I felt physically sick and winded. I could not eat for a couple of days and barely slept for a week. His departure for ...
5 August 2021

Seven signs you're in a toxic friendship, by Anna Kent

To celebrate the release of her new book, The House of Whispers, author Anna Kent has written a feature for Female First, all about the signs you should look out for ...

5 August 2021

A day in the life of Nell Carter - author of 'On the Bright Side'

These days, I find it less easy to sleep through the night than I used to, so I can often be found up at the computer as early as five ...
5 August 2021

The best 'Worst Mix-Up' of my life, by Holly McCulloch

I make mini mix-ups all the time (although I usually call them f*ck-ups). I’ll go shopping and realise I left my bank card at home. I’ll forget the word for ...

5 August 2021

What your knicker drawer really says about you, by Kerry Hales

Have you ever given much thought to your knicker drawer and how it reflects each stage of your life? Does it reveal the person that you currently are? Or does ...