The setting as a character, and why the places in some novels stay with you

Some books leave you with a plot. Others leave you with a place.

You finish the last page and realise what you miss most is not the twist or the romance or even the protagonist. It is the street, the house, the river, the city at dusk. The particular kind of light that only exists in that fictional world.

Crafting the perfect opening lines of a novel

Do you need a killer opening line for your novel? Or is there an alternative way to draw readers in right from the start? 

I'm slightly obsessed by the opening lines of novels, and for me, the opening line isn’t merely about crafting a flashy hook; it’s about setting the tone, sparking curiosity, and providing readers with a reason to keep turning the pages. A brilliant first sentence generates intrigue and anticipation, drawing the audience into your story before they even realise it.