There’s a lot of advice out there on how to write a pitch for your novel; keep it simple, don’t give away the twist, focus on the central concept. The problem is, these vague rules often lead to flat, misleading pitches and, ultimately, rejection. Even when the story itself is strong. And that’s the frustrating part. It is a good story. But the person reading your pitch isn’t an average reader; they’re someone who sees hundreds of good stories a day. They need to know how to

There’s something uniquely unsettling about a world that feels almost like our own. That’s exactly what Clare Evans explores in When the Numbers Don’t Add Up , a dystopian thriller set in a London that mirrors reality, with one chilling difference: Everyone has a visible, measurable lifespan. Each person is born with 100 years. Every decision has consequences. And every mistake costs time. But the story doesn’t just ask what if time could be controlled . It asks something fa

Calling writers across the South West and anyone whose work is inspired by the region, are invited to submit their manuscripts to Axe River Books when submissions open from 31 March until 26 May