Blog

The Story of the Pear Drum

The Story of the Pear Drum Two children, sisters – Turkey and Blue-eyes. They had wandered off one day, out of their mother’s sight, when they met a ragamuffin girl. The girl had a pear drum and she was playing it by the side of a stream. The sisters were… Read More

Christmas in 1943

Christmas in 1943 When Avon asked me if I would write a post for their website on what Christmas was like in 1943 – the year my latest book, An Orphan’s Wish, is set in – I automatically said yes. However, it’s a rather gloomy subject because the war was… Read More

Our Halloween Story for Cuckoo

Yesterday we finally revealed Cuckoo by Sophie Draper, then spent the day eating Halloween treats and asking all of our colleagues to help us create a spooky story by contributing just one line. The first line was supplied by author Sophie Draper, but the story took a while to really… Read More

Taking a Creative Writing Course

I began writing seriously some ten years ago but my development as a writer really began when I secured a place on the Curtis Brown Creative writing course in September 2013. It almost didn’t happen. Earlier that year I’d submitted my first novel, an historical spy story, to Curtis Brown… Read More

A Day in the Life of a Publicity Manager

Hi everyone, Quick introduction – my name is Sabah and I look after all the publicity here at Avon Books. Publicity is something that people tend to get mixed up with marketing and events but the roles are very similar and there is a lot of crossover so I work… Read More

What zodiac sign is your cat?

Ever wondered how your cat’s zodiac sign affects its personality? What sign is the biggest hunter, or the most likely to be a lap cat? Which is the most fond of its food, or the most loyal? How does the zodiac sign affect their character? Can it also explain favourite… Read More

How to grow and use your own herbs

The dictionary defines a herb as a plant ‘of which the leaves or stem and leaves are used for medicine or for their scent or flavour’. Many of our most common herbs arrived in the UK with the Romans and they were the only form of medicine that we had… Read More

Setting a crime series in your home town

‘It’s a small world’ is a common phrase in the place I grew up. You see, I come from a small city in the Midlands. It’s a city that seems stuck in its past, trying desperately to rise above the smoky days of its history. But it’s a city that… Read More

What Makes Brighton Quirky?

I first visited Brighton as a child in the 80s. However, I didn’t see much of the place as we spent most of the day in the launderette! We were on the beach, playing our favourite ‘chasing waves’ game where we’d run down to the sea and then wait until… Read More

Submitting a Manuscript to Avon Books

Writing a book is not an easy process. But trying to get your book published is even harder. Oh boy, the joys of trawling the internet or subscribing to and then poring over the magazines and well-meaning books about how to submit your treasured manuscript for publication… I’ve always loved… Read More

RNA Debut Novel Winner Joins Avon

Avon Books sign Kate Field, winner of the RNA’s Joan Hessayon Award for new writers in 2017   Katie Loughnane acquired World All Language rights to The Man I Fell in Love With and one further book from Kate Field, winner of the RNA’s Joan Hessayon Award for new writers… Read More

The Books We’re Most Excited About This Autumn

It’s that time of year again; woolly jumpers have made a reappearance in our wardrobes, boots are back, and we’re all eagerly anticipating the return of the Pumpkin Spiced Latte… But the most exciting thing about autumn? The books! It’s now cold enough outside that you have the excuse you’ve… Read More

Our Top 10 Audiobooks for When You’re on the Run

As much as we love reading, we know there’s not always time to curl up with a book. So, we’ve put together a list of our Top 10 recommended audiobooks to keep you going whilst commuting, running or in the car! Have a little look below…   Kiss of Death… Read More

How to Write a Crime Series by Katerina Diamond

When I started writing The Teacher I had no idea it would even be a police procedural novel, let alone a crime series. My detectives were the last thing I added to the story as I realised it would be a bit silly to have a bunch of horrific murders… Read More

The Magic Phone Call by Joanne Sefton

As an unpublished writer, one of the things I loved to do (usually to avoid doing something productive like – you know – actually writing stuff) was read blogs and articles in which real authors told the tale of their journey to publication. Most contained encouraging messages (‘Armfuls of rejections… Read More

A Funny Thing Happened to Me In New York…

Helen Fields: A Funny Thing Happened to Me In New York… …And it goes like this. On my final day at Thrillerfest in New York City, a stunning combination of writing master classes, pitchfest, and author panels, as well as social events and awards, I took the opportunity to go… Read More