Kelly Creighton

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About Kelly Creighton
Kelly Creighton facilitates creative writing classes and teaches English as a foreign language. She is the author of the DI Harriet Sloane series, two standalone crime novels (Souls Wax Fair and The Bones of It), two short fiction collections (Bank Holiday Hurricane and Everybody's Happy), and one book of poetry. Kelly lives with her family in County Down, Northern Ireland.
https://kellycreighton.com/
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Blog postLife is starting to look different. In-person events have started again. At the start of the pandemic, I knew that it was not till it was over that I would be able to really examine everything it has put us through. And since it is not over, I’m still in that limbo. I suspect we all are.
And yet it is a welcome change to be able to meet with writer friends again and share our work. That has been what I missed the most.
There have been a couple of launches for Alternative2 months ago Read more -
Blog postLife is starting to look different. In-person events have started again. At the start of the pandemic, I knew that it was not till it was over that I would be able to really examine everything it has put us through. And since it is not over, I’m still in that limbo. I suspect we all are.
And yet it is a welcome change to be able to meet with writer friends again and share our work. That has been what I missed the most.
There have been a couple of launches for Alternative2 months ago Read more -
Blog postIt’s been a while since I posted on the blog, hence the huge update. Firstly, a change of time for Crime Scene. You can now hear the show on Tuesdays between 7-8pm, hosted by local crime writer James Murphy. Each week I review crime TV: series and true crime documentaries across various channels. So do join us at the new time by tuning into Belfast247.
Speaking of local crime writers! I am delighted to have a story in the wonderful ALTERNATIVE ULSTER NOIR anthology, edited by WIT2 months ago Read more -
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Blog postIt’s been a while since I posted on the blog, hence the huge update. Firstly, a change of time for Crime Scene. You can now hear the show on Tuesdays between 7-8pm, hosted by local crime writer James Murphy. Each week I review crime TV: series and true crime documentaries across various channels. So do join us at the new time by tuning into Belfast247.
Speaking of local crime writers! I am delighted to have a story in the wonderful ALTERNATIVE ULSTER NOIR anthology, edited by WIT2 months ago Read more -
Blog postAs an author I wear a few hats. In my short stories I write what people would call ‘literary fiction’, I write poetry, and I am also a ‘genre’ writer of a female-led detective series. My debut novel, The Bones of It, could have equally sat on a literary or crime shelf. In the end it was marketed as crime, which some reviewers thought stopped the book from reaching its true potential. I’m torn on that idea, but what I do know is that Ireland has a lot of love for that which is literary. <6 months ago Read more
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Blog postAs an author I wear a few hats. In my short stories I write what people would call ‘literary fiction’, I write poetry, and I am also a ‘genre’ writer of a female-led detective series. My debut novel, The Bones of It, could have equally sat on a literary or crime shelf. In the end it was marketed as crime, which some reviewers thought stopped the book from reaching its true potential. I’m torn on that idea, but what I do know is that Ireland has a lot of love for that which is literary. <6 months ago Read more
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Blog postIn late May I was thrilled to be included in Lorraine Berry’s fantastic article in the LA Times highlighting Belfast Noir stateside. You can read the article here.
For the last few weeks I have had a slot on James Murphy’s Crime Scene radio show on the new station, Belfast247. It is a fab show with lots of great music, fun features, writing tips from Sam Blake and book reviews from Deborah Small. I am the resident true crime buff, giving crime TV and true crime documentary recommendat10 months ago Read more -
Blog postIn late May I was thrilled to be included in Lorraine Berry’s fantastic article in the LA Times highlighting Belfast Noir stateside. You can read the article here.
For the last few weeks I have had a slot on James Murphy’s Crime Scene radio show on the new station, Belfast247. It is a fab show with lots of great music, fun features, writing tips from Sam Blake and book reviews from Deborah Small. I am the resident true crime buff, giving crime TV and true crime documentary recommendat10 months ago Read more -
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Blog postIn my late-twenties, as a carer and parent to three young children, I began setting myself physical challenges for two reasons. 1. To get out of the house. 2. For my own headspace.
I abseiled, ran a half-marathon and climbed a couple of mountains. Lately I completed a project about mountains, so I have been thinking about this a lot, and obviously the awful fire at Slieve Donard has made me recall my climb.
Even though all these challenges pushed me out of my comfort zone, esp1 year ago Read more -
Blog postIn my late-twenties, as a carer and parent to three young children, I began setting myself physical challenges for two reasons. 1. To get out of the house. 2. For my own headspace.
I abseiled, ran a half-marathon and climbed a couple of mountains. Lately I completed a project about mountains, so I have been thinking about this a lot, and obviously the awful fire at Slieve Donard has made me recall my climb.
Even though all these challenges pushed me out of my comfort zone, esp1 year ago Read more -
Blog postI am delighted to have a guest with me today.
Ellie Rose McKee’s debut novel Full Term is out today, and to coincide Ellie kindly allowed me to ask her a few questions about the book, and her writing in general.
Hi, Ellie. First of all, congratulations on your new book. I was wondering when and why you started writing.
I remember working on short pieces––stories, poems, or the generic ‘write a page about your holiday’ type stuff––for primary school, and really enjoying1 year ago Read more -
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Blog postI am delighted to have a guest with me today.
Ellie Rose McKee’s debut novel Full Term is out today, and to coincide Ellie kindly allowed me to ask her a few questions about the book, and her writing in general.
Hi, Ellie. First of all, congratulations on your new book. I was wondering when and why you started writing.
I remember working on short pieces––stories, poems, or the generic ‘write a page about your holiday’ type stuff––for primary school, and really enjoying1 year ago Read more -
Blog postYay! This year there is no need to rush to Tesco to buy a book-related costume. (Not for me, of course.) It is about simply enjoying books and sharing our love for the written word.
On that note, I have lots of love to share …
Sharon Dempsey’s Who Took Eden Mulligan? is out now. It is a fantastic read. If you enjoy crime fiction set in NI, then this one is for you.
Hear Sharon talk about the book here, on my YouTube channel.
I was really delighted that Sharon w1 year ago Read more -
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Blog postYay! This year there is no need to rush to Tesco to buy a book-related costume. (Not for me, of course.) It is about simply enjoying books and sharing our love for the written word.
On that note, I have lots of love to share …
Sharon Dempsey’s Who Took Eden Mulligan? is out now. It is a fantastic read. If you enjoy crime fiction set in NI, then this one is for you.
Hear Sharon talk about the book here, on my YouTube channel.
I was really delighted that Sharon w1 year ago Read more -
Blog postRabbit, rabbit, it’s the start of Feb.
We got through January and I am feeling a lot more positive than I was back in my December blog, although people who have recently lost loved ones are never far from my thoughts.
Obviously, we are in another lockdown but despite everything I had a lovely Christmas and am refusing to take my lights down. I argue that they are not typically Christmassy, but more neon. They’re staying up!
Like in the other lockdowns/circuit bre1 year ago Read more -
Blog postRabbit, rabbit, it’s the start of Feb.
We got through January and I am feeling a lot more positive than I was back in my December blog, although people who have recently lost loved ones are never far from my thoughts.
Obviously, we are in another lockdown but despite everything I had a lovely Christmas and am refusing to take my lights down. I argue that they are not typically Christmassy, but more neon. They’re staying up!
Like in the other lockdowns/circuit bre1 year ago Read more -
Blog postWarning: this blog post is negative as hell.
This year has been exhausting. Take now for instance, I am writing this blog post half to keep myself awake. I keep nodding off and that’s not like me, and not a good idea since I am looking after kids and trying to keep them ‘entertained’ so my other half can do his work Zooms.
(Insert eye roll here.)
Who would have thought this time last year that this is how we would be living? I could cringe when I look back at my hopefu1 year ago Read more -
Blog postWarning: this blog post is negative as hell.
This year has been exhausting. Take now for instance, I am writing this blog post half to keep myself awake. I keep nodding off and that’s not like me, and not a good idea since I am looking after kids and trying to keep them ‘entertained’ so my other half can do his work Zooms.
(Insert eye roll here.)
Who would have thought this time last year that this is how we would be living? I could cringe when I look back at my hopefu1 year ago Read more -
Blog postHow hard is it to name a book?
Sometimes the title comes at the start of the project and sometimes it is the very last thing to show itself.
Now Problems with Girls, DI Sloane book 2, has arrived I am starting to write book 4, and thinking about titles again.
Book 3 (coming autumn 2021) had a title that was all wrong, so this week I spent some time trying on new ones. In the end I found the perfect name in my ‘snippets’ Word document where I store random words, phrases1 year ago Read more -
Blog postHow hard is it to name a book?
Sometimes the title comes at the start of the project and sometimes it is the very last thing to show itself.
Now Problems with Girls, DI Sloane book 2, has arrived I am starting to write book 4, and thinking about titles again.
Book 3 (coming autumn 2021) had a title that was all wrong, so this week I spent some time trying on new ones. In the end I found the perfect name in my ‘snippets’ Word document where I store random words, phrases1 year ago Read more
Titles By Kelly Creighton
Byddi Lee (Rejuvenation trilogy)
'Beautifully written.'
Sarah Stewart Taylor (Maggie D'arcy mysteries)
'A compelling and brilliant read.'
Sharon Dempsey (Lainey and Stowe mysteries)
More than a literary thriller.
Powerful men can get away with murder...for only so long.
After a life of hardship, Mary Jane McCord's life in Rapid City, South Dakota, finally hits a sweet spot. She finds happiness and her singing career takes off. Everything is looking up until she uncovers the dark and secret obsessions of two high-profile men.
Twenty years pass but the people closest to Mary Jane have not forgotten.
Will they bring the truth out into the light?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kelly Creighton is an arts facilitator, editor, EFL teacher and author of eight books, including the DI Harriet Sloane series set in Belfast, two story collections, and the critically acclaimed psychological thriller The Bones of It.
Thrown out of university, green-tea-drinking, meditation-loving Scott McAuley has no place to go but home: County Down, Northern Ireland. The only problem is, his father is there now too. Duke wasn't around when Scott was growing up. He was in prison for stabbing two Catholic kids in an alley. But thanks to the Good Friday Agreement, big Duke is out now, reformed, a counsellor. Squeezed together into a small house, with too little work and too much time to think about what happened to Scott's dead mother, the tension grows between these two men, who seem to have so little in common. Penning diary entries from prison, Scott recalls what happened that year. He writes about Jasmine, his girlfriend at university. He writes about Klaudia, back home in County Down, who he and Duke both admired. He weaves a tale of lies, of paranoia, of rage.
REVIEWS
‘Blackly comic in tone, The Bones of It is a Bildungsroman that evolves into a slow-burning psychological exploration of the mind… an engrossing tale of the consequences of living a life steeped in a culture of violence.’ The Irish Times ‘…true discovered masterpiece of fiction. If she keeps this up, Kelly Creighton can be that Next Great Writer. The Bones of It is not just a novel to read, it is a novel to experience.’ San Diego Book Review ‘Compelling, compulsive, compassionate.’ Books Ireland ‘Scott’s is an authentic voice, and Creighton a writer to reckon with.’ The Irish Examiner ‘Incredibly well written.’ Sinead Crowley ‘A future classic Troubles novel.’ Sharon Owens ‘a poignant insight into the lasting effects of the Troubles, The Bones of It is a page-turner from start to finish.’ Claire Savage ‘Beautifully penned and piercingly insightful. As a debut novel, it is extremely accomplished.’ Jan Carson ‘This finely written thriller keeps the reader gripped and intrigued…a meaty, fascinating work of fiction.’ CultureHUB Magazine
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kelly Creighton is a creative writing teacher, editor and author of the Belfast based DI Sloane series, as well as the psychological thriller 'The Bones of It'. She writes short stories too, having edited short story journal The Incubator for years. Creighton published her first short story collection 'Bank Holiday Hurricane' to critical acclaim in 2017; her second collection 'Everybody's Happy' is launching in May 2021. She has a YouTube channel where weekly Creighton interviews other writers, gives readings and creative writing tutorials.
invites you to judge a book by its cover – or more accurately, by its title. This new series aims to reprint the best short stories published in the previous calendar year by British writers, whether based in the UK or elsewhere. The editor’s brief is wide ranging, covering anthologies, collections, magazines, newspapers and web sites, looking for the best of the bunch to reprint all in one volume.
This new anthology includes stories by Colette De Curzon, Mike Fox, David Gaffney, Brian Howell, Wyl Menmuir, Adam O’Riordan, Adrian Slatcher, William Thirsk-Gaskill, Chloe Turner, Lisa Tuttle, Conrad Williams, among others.
Someone going missing is not an event in their life but an indicator of a problem. Detective Inspector Harriet Sloane is plagued by nightmares while someone from her past watches from a distance. In East Belfast, local four-year-old River, vanishes from his room. Sloane must put her own demons to bed and find the boy. Before it’s too late.
REVIEWS
'The people, their places and everything they say is totally credible. Highly recommended.’ Books Ireland
'A novel of style and verve. The Sleeping Season is unapologetically feminist.' Sharon Dempsey
‘A breath of fresh air for the genre. The novel holds a spotlight to difficult societal issues.’ James Murphy
‘There is heart along the mystery and it is wrapped in a narrative that is both tight and lyrical.’ Simon Maltman
‘What I loved most about The Sleeping Season is how much of a feminist anthem it is. I’ll definitely be anxiously waiting as each book releases.’ Geek Herring
WHAT READERS ARE SAYING ABOUT THE SLEEPING SEASON:
Unputdownable.
Her characters are alive, her settings are accurate, her story moves with grip and force.
I was drawn in hook, line and sinker!
Amazing, simply amazing.
I inhaled this book.
Captivating.
Packs an emotional punch.
Vivid and imaginative.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kelly Creighton is a creative writing teacher and the author of the DI Sloane novels, as well as the psychological thriller 'The Bones of It'. She also writes short stories, having edited short story journal The Incubator for years. Creighton published her first short story collection 'Bank Holiday Hurricane' to critical acclaim. She lives in Co Down, Northern Ireland. She has a YouTube channel where weekly Creighton interviews other writers, gives readings and creative writing tutorials.
North Star: An almost unmoving point of light. Find it and you will know your way home.
This collection of short stories and poems captures the unique voices of forty-five Northern Irish female writers. From mountains to lakes, from country to shore, the words resonate with the literary tradition that cloaks the land and infuses each of our souls.
My native land grounds me, keeps me in contact
with the rhythms of nature, the sound of the winds,
the call of the wild birds and the dialects of its people.
Aine MacAodha
No matter where you are reading these poems and stories, North Star will guide you home.
WHAT READERS ARE SAYING ABOUT PROBLEMS WITH GIRLS:
So clever.
The author is skilled at creating character and place.
A finely written and twisty detective thriller.
Timely.
Possibly even better than The Sleeping Season.
An expertly plotted, contextually relevant story.
This series goes from strength to strength.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kelly Creighton is a creative writing teacher and the author of the DI Sloane novels, as well as the psychological thriller 'The Bones of It'. She also writes short stories, having edited short story journal The Incubator for years. Creighton published her first short story collection 'Bank Holiday Hurricane' to critical acclaim. She has a YouTube channel where weekly Creighton interviews other writers, gives readings and creative writing tutorials. She lives in Co Down, Northern Ireland.
The third instalment in the East Belfast detective series.
Just as DI Harriet Sloane turns forty, an old case reopens from before she was born. In the late 1970s, Karen Ward was a teenager when she was murdered just yards away from her Belfast home. At the time, people thought they saw Karen with a man, but time has moved on and now witnesses are thin on the ground. With the help of the victim's sister, Sloane must travel back in time, while her own family evolves and someone from her past resurfaces. Codes, and rules, need to be broken if justice will ever be served.
For fans of Denise Mina.
WHAT READERS ARE SAYING ABOUT THE DI SLOANE SERIES:
'So clever.'
'The author is skilled at creating character and place.'
'A finely written and twisty detective thriller.'
'Timely.'
'An expertly plotted, contextually relevant story.'
'This series goes from strength to strength.'
'Unputdownable.'
'Her characters are alive, her settings are accurate, her story moves with grip and force.'
'I was drawn in hook, line and sinker!'
'Amazing, simply amazing.'
'I inhaled this book.'
'Captivating.'
'Packs an emotional punch.'
'Vivid and imaginative.'
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kelly Creighton is a creative writing teacher and the author of the DI Sloane novels, as well as the psychological thriller 'The Bones of It'. She writes short stories, having edited short story journal The Incubator for years. Creighton has two short story collections 'Bank Holiday Hurricane' and 'Everybody's Happy'. She has a YouTube channel where weekly Creighton interviews other writers, gives readings and creative writing tutorials.
Creighton's second short story collection introduces us to a gallery owner who worries her husband will leave her for a doppelgänger; an artist whose creativity is blocked by intense fear on a retreat; a would-be writer who opens a PO Box to gather other people's letters to God; two mothers with guilty secrets; a young student contemplating suing a lecturer for boring her into deep slumber; a geologist travelling the earth to find herself; and a woman who flies home to bury her dead uncle, only to end up in a compromising situation.
Creighton blends satire with the unsettling. Tenderness with humour.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kelly Creighton is the author of six books. She is a creative writing teacher, editor and author of the Belfast based DI Sloane series, as well as the psychological thriller 'The Bones of It'. She writes short stories too, having edited short story journal The Incubator for years. Creighton has two short fiction collections: 'Bank Holiday Hurricane' and 'Everybody's Happy'. She has a YouTube channel where weekly Creighton interviews other writers, gives readings and creative writing tutorials.
PRAISE FOR THE BONES OF IT:
‘Blackly comic in tone, The Bones of It is a Bildungsroman that evolves into a slow-burning psychological exploration of the mind… an engrossing tale of the consequences of living a life steeped in a culture of violence.’ The Irish Times
‘…true discovered masterpiece of fiction. If she keeps this up, Kelly Creighton can be that Next Great Writer. The Bones of It is not just a novel to read, it is a novel to experience.’ San Diego Book Review
‘Compelling, compulsive, compassionate.’ Books Ireland
PRAISE FOR BANK HOLIDAY HURRICANE:
‘A wonderfully written collection about love, loss and cruelty.’ The Irish Examiner
‘Dark, witty and cleverly observed.’ Jane Talbot
‘Kelly Creighton is a fearless writer with an impressive range. Sharp on impact these stories give voice to characters other writers shy away from.’ Paul McVeigh
PRAISE FOR THE DI SLOANE SERIES:
'unapologetically feminist.’ Sharon Dempsey
‘A breath of fresh air for the genre.’ James Murphy
‘... a feminist anthem. I’ll definitely be anxiously waiting as each book releases.’ Amanda Sloan for Geek Herring