Words on a Page

Portsmouth and its environs have inspired an impressive number of well-known writers over the years, and the area continues to be a hub of creative activity for writers of every persuasion.  The Portsmouth Authors Collective  was created to promote the work of the city’s current crop of authors, and this series of interviews offers a glimpse into what they're doing. Author Bio:  Chris Blackwater is an engineer-turned-writer from Leeds, who now lives in Fareham. His first novel, Emergency Drill , set on a North Sea oil rig, was shortlisted for the 2020 CWA Debut Dagger Award and was published by Dark Edge Press in 2022. ~ Loree: So, Chris, welcome to the interview. I’m looking forward to getting to know you a bit better. You’ve said you began writing stories to pass the time when working away from home. Was working on oil rigs really that boring? Chris: Working offshore can be quite tough: it’s a 12-hour shift for 14 days with no time off. However, I was only going ou...

  The   Portsmouth Authors Collective   is   a group of local authors who have come together to promote not only their own work but also that of other members. Members of the Collective publish a full array of fiction and non-fiction titles. In our latest interview, I talk to crime novelist Pete Adams. Author Bio: Pete Adams is a Portsmouth-based architect and writer. He describes himself as an inveterate daydreamer, and escapes into those dreams by writing crime thrillers with a thoughtful dash of social commentary. He has a writing style shaped by his formative years on an estate that re-housed London families after WWII, and his books have been likened to the writing of Tom Sharpe. Pete lives in Southsea with his partner June, the children having flown the coop, and has three beautiful granddaughters who will play with him so long as he promises not to be silly. ~ Loree: Welcome to the blog, Pete, and thanks for agreeing to the interview.  We’ve kn...

  In a new series of interviews, I'll be talking to members of the Portsmouth Authors Collective -  a group of local authors who have come together to help promote one another's books. Members of the Collective publish a full array of fiction and non-fiction titles, and in this, our first interview, we'll be meeting the crime writer Carol Westron. Author Bio: Carol Westron is an author, article writer, editor, reviewer and creative writing teacher. She writes primarily crime fiction but also writes children’s picture books, which are illustrated by her autistic grandson. She is an expert on the Golden Age of Detective Fiction and has given papers at many academic conferences. She is a founder member and moderator of The Deadly Dames and the organiser of Mystery Fest, an annual part of Portsmouth BookFest.  ~ Loree:  Welcome to the blog, Carol. I'm thrilled that yours is the very first in a series of new interviews with members of the Portsmouth Authors Collective...