Maggie James

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About Maggie James
Maggie James is a British author who lives near Newcastle. She writes psychological suspense novels.
Before turning her hand to writing, Maggie worked mainly as an accountant, with a diversion into practising as a nutritional therapist. Diet and health remain high on her list of interests, along with travel. Accountancy does not, but then it never did. The urge to pack a bag and go off travelling is always lurking in the background! When not writing, going to the gym, practising yoga or travelling, Maggie can be found seeking new four-legged friends to pet; animals are a lifelong love!
Sign up for Maggie's Special Readers' Group for the chance to win one of her signed paperbacks! Copy and paste this link into your browser: http://eepurl.com/bzW8ZP
Find out more about Maggie, including how to get her free novella Blackwater Lake, at https://www.maggiejamesfiction.com.
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Author Updates
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Blog postI'm delighted to welcome my good friend, crime writer Tony Forder, to my blog today! It's been over two years since we last chatted here (see link: Interview with Tony Forder) so I thought it was time to catch up with Tony and his writing. Let's get started! I’d like to know more about your latest novel. What can readers expect to encounter in its pages?
Darker Days to Come is the ninth full-length novel in my DI Bliss series. As with most of my books, I hope readers will find the s1 month ago Read more -
Blog postA new year is just around the corner, and as a die-hard planner I've decided on how I want my career to proceed in 2022. I've already shared on this blog how 2020 proved a difficult year for my writing, with my enthusiasm for creating fiction largely gone. While that's mostly now sorted, I don't want to push myself too hard in 2022 and risk losing my writing mojo again. With that in mind, I've created a fairly relaxed schedule that allows me time off and still publish two novels in 2022.
7 months ago Read more -
Blog postOn January 5, 2021, I posted my writing goal for the year, which was to publish two novels. My eighth full-length title, She'll Never Tell, was released on August 31, 2021, and I soon realised that planning, writing, editing and publishing another before the end of 2021 wasn't going to happen. My solution? I decided to release a novella instead, figuring that 30,000 words was doable even if 80,000 wasn't. Life, however, proceeded to throw me a curve ball or two, and it soon became apparent that8 months ago Read more
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Blog postI'm delighted to say that my eighth novel, She'll Never Tell, has now been published in kindle format via Amazon. The paperback version will follow shortly. The book has been getting great reviews so far! Here are a selection:
LC - There are red herrings everywhere, and I pride myself on spotting these, but not this time. There are so many revelations that I didn’t expect, include a couple of massive ones near the end of the book. This really was an excellent example of a psychologi10 months ago Read more -
Blog postOverview of '11.22.63'
Stephen King is often referred to as "the master storyteller" and for me this is never been more evident than in his epic novel 11.22.63. An lengthy 734 pages long, the book examines the "butterfly effect” that results when one man tries to change the past. To quote from the back narrative: ‘In 2011, Jake Epping, an English teacher from Lisbon Falls, Maine, sets out on an insane – and insanely possible – mission to prevent the Kennedy assassination. L11 months ago Read more -
Blog postpre-order your copy here Drum roll, please! My eighth novel, She'll Never Tell, is now available for preorder in kindle format from Amazon. Publication date is August 31. The paperback version will be released soon after. Here's the link: She'll Never Tell.
The sudden death of her mother shatters Olivia Gilchrist’s world. Grief turns to shock when a post-mortem reveals Sonia has lied to her daughter in the cruellest possible way. Angry and hurt, Olivia vows to uncover the truth.11 months ago Read more -
Blog postAt the start of 2021 I posted about my writing plans for the year. (You can read about them here: My writing plans for 2021). I'm delighted to report that I'm still on track. My desire to write has returned full-force and I'm keen to make up for lost time!
So where am I regarding my goals? Well, my eighth novel will go to my editor at the end of June. For this book, I'm working with a new editor, and I'm keen to discover how she'll view my writing. I'm sure to learn something new! M1 year ago Read more -
Blog postAfter such a stressful 2020, I 'm relieved we're in 2021! Yes, I know the covid-19 infection takes no notice of dates, but there's something about a new year that always inspires me. I love setting goals for myself, yet I achieved little on the writing front in 2020. For much of the year my enthusiasm for writing novels evaporated, and I questioned whether to continue with my author career. That struggle is still with me to some extent, but I've made significant strides in conquering my demons.2 years ago Read more
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Blog postDecember 1 marks a very special anniversary for me!
As of December 1, 2020, I've been a full-time novelist for six years! It's been a rollercoaster ride in many ways, but I have no regrets. I've blogged before about my first five years (see post here), so I won't go over old ground. 2020 has been a challenging year for my writing, with no books published and a distinct lack of mojo on my part. I'm working hard to get back on track, with my eighth novel now completed in draft, and I've st2 years ago Read more -
Blog postDuring my writing career I've come across readers who say they hate prologues. This baffles me, because they're part of the story - why dislike them, if the novel is a good read? As an author, I believe prologues fulfil several useful roles, and I've used them in my books when appropriate. Let's examine why prologues can enhance a novel.
Uses of prologues:
The prologue from my novel 'Deception Wears Many Faces'. To foreshadow future action in the book. They can set the scene2 years ago Read more
Titles By Maggie James
How far would you go to protect your sister?
Lyddie Hunter is devastated when her sister attempts suicide after falling victim to a ruthless con artist. Driven by her own history of failed relationships, Lyddie vows revenge on the man who broke Ellie’s heart.
After assuming a false identity she hunts down Steven Simmons, a guy she knows to be cold, calculating and cruel. But deception lurks around every corner, and Lyddie's actions unleash a train of events that puts her life, and Ellie's, in grave danger.
Can Lyddie unravel the complex web of lies ensnaring them? Or will she and her sister pay the ultimate price?
A tense novel of psychological suspense, Deception Wears Many Faces weaves lies with self-deceit and maybe even murder…
Two women. One secret. How many lies?
The sudden death of her mother shatters Olivia Gilchrist’s world. Grief turns to shock when a post-mortem reveals Sonia has lied to her daughter in the cruellest possible way. Angry and hurt, Olivia vows to uncover the truth.
Meanwhile, Olivia’s neighbour, Elena, harbours a dark secret. Now the past has caught up with her, forcing Elena to go into hiding.
Then Olivia discovers Elena was involved in Sonia’s deceit. She has questions she’s desperate to ask her former neighbour. Olivia suspects, however, that Elena is warped and unstable. Tracking her down may be difficult and dangerous.
The temptation proves too strong, and a game of cat and mouse with a vengeful woman ensues. One that has the potential to turn deadly…
A gripping novel of psychological suspense, She'll Never Tell is the story of a decades-old secret that refuses to stay hidden.
He'll never let her go...
Beth Sutton is eighteen years old when Dominic Perdue kidnaps her. Held prisoner in a basement, she’s dependent upon him for food, clothes, and her very existence. Beth never allows herself to forget that her abductor killed his last captive. She has evidence to prove it, as well as Dominic’s own admission of murder.
Then Beth escapes…
And discovers Dominic Perdue is not a man who lets go easily. Meanwhile, despite being reunited with her family, she spirals into self-destruction. Release from her prison isn’t enough, it seems. Can Beth free her mind from Dominic’s grasp before he recaptures her?
Because if he does, he’ll kill her…
A study of emotional dependency, The Second Captive examines how the mind makes dark choices under duress.
Daniel is my son. He has always been mine. And he always will be.
On some level deep inside, Laura Bateman knows something is wrong. That her relationship with her son is not what it should be. That it is based on lies.
But bad things have happened to Laura. Things that change a person. Forever.
For twenty-six-year-old Daniel, the discovery that his mother is not who he thought comes close to destroying him. As his world turns upside down, he searches for sanity in the madness that has become his life. Daniel is left with nothing but questions. Why did Laura do something so terrible? Can he move past the demons of his childhood?
And the biggest question of all: can he ever forgive Laura?
Revised edition: This edition of His Kidnapper's Shoes includes editorial revisions.
Families can be deadly...
When they were children, Megan adored her younger sister. Now she suspects Chloe is a psychopath, who may be guilty of murder. Megan has no proof, however.
After their mentally ill mother becomes increasingly unstable through Chloe’s manipulations, events take an ugly twist. Chloe is out of control, and there’s little anyone can do about it. Until her actions threaten the life of Toby, the man Megan adores but from whom she’s hiding a tragic secret.
Threatened with losing everyone she loves, can Megan stop Chloe before she kills again?
A study of sibling rivalry and dysfunctional relationships, Sister, Psychopath tells of the damage inflicted on one woman by her own family.
Still waters run deep...
When Matthew Stanyer’s parents go missing, he fears for their safety. His father has been struggling to cope with Matthew’s mother, who suffers from dementia. The nightmare worsens when Joseph and Evie’s bodies are found at Blackwater Lake, a local beauty spot. An inquest rules the deaths as a murder-suicide, based on the note Joseph left for his son.
Grief-stricken, Matthew begins to clear his parents' house of decades of compulsive hoarding, only to discover the dark enigmas hidden within its walls. Ones that lead Matthew to ask: why did his father choose Blackwater Lake to end his life? And what other secrets do its waters conceal?
A short (26,000 words) novella, Blackwater Lake examines one man's determination to uncover his family's troubled past.
No sound. No light. No hope.
On an icy November night, Drew Blackmore is beaten unconscious and abducted. He wakes to find himself in total darkness, naked and chained to the floor. Fed just enough to keep him alive, Drew is unable to identify his captor, or the reason for his incarceration.
As reality fades, hallucinations take over. Can Drew escape his prison before madness claims him?
Meanwhile, Drew's wife, Holly, despairing of ever seeing him again, turns to his brother for comfort. As dark family secrets emerge, Holly wonders whether she ever really knew her husband. Could his disappearance be connected with that of a prostitute years before?
A story of how the mind responds to solitary confinement, Silent Winter examines one man's race against time to survive hell.
Lori Golden’s family have had more than their fair share of troubles. But through it all, Lori and her sister, Jessie, have always supported each other. Then Jessie is killed. And Lori’s world turns upside down.
Devastated, Lori struggles to cope with her loss, and to learn to live in a world without her bright, bubbly sister by her side. Around her, her already fractured family start to fall apart. And, as Lori and her mother try to pick up the pieces of their shattered lives, secrets long thought buried are coming painfully to light.
Faced with the unthinkable, Lori is forced to ask herself how well she really knows those who are left behind…
Can you tell the difference?
A decade after eleven-year-old Mark Slater’s conviction for killing another child, he’s finally released on parole. Only the twisted and violent Adam Campbell, also sentenced for Abby Morgan’s murder, knows the truth – that Mark played no part in her death.
Four years later Mark’s girlfriend is shattered when she discovers his grim past. With his protective cover blown, Mark’s need to confront the injustice of his sentence becomes overwhelming. Meanwhile circumstances have thrust him back into contact with Adam Campbell, who has become even more domineering and chilling. Can Mark rewrite history and confront his demons?
A gritty novel examining child murder and dysfunctional families, Guilty Innocence tells of one man’s desperate struggle to break free from his past.
Three gripping psychological thrillers in one box set!
She'll Never Tell
The sudden death of her mother shatters Olivia Gilchrist’s world. Grief turns to shock when a post-mortem reveals Sonia has lied to her daughter in the cruellest possible way. Angry and hurt, Olivia vows to uncover the truth.
Meanwhile, Olivia’s neighbour, Elena, harbours a dark secret. Now the past has caught up with her, forcing Elena to go into hiding.
Then Olivia discovers Elena was involved in Sonia’s deceit. She has questions she’s desperate to ask her former neighbour. Olivia suspects, however, that Elena is warped and unstable. Tracking her down may be difficult and dangerous.
The temptation proves too strong, and a game of cat and mouse with a vengeful woman ensues. One that has the potential to turn deadly…
A gripping novel of psychological suspense, She'll Never Tell is the story of a decades-old secret that refuses to stay hidden.
Silent Winter
On an icy November night, Drew Blackmore is beaten unconscious and abducted. He wakes to find himself in total darkness, naked and chained to the floor. Fed just enough to keep him alive, Drew is unable to identify his captor, or the reason for his incarceration.
As reality fades, hallucinations take over. Can Drew escape his prison before madness claims him?
Meanwhile, Drew's wife, Holly, despairing of ever seeing him again, turns to his brother for comfort. As dark family secrets emerge, Holly wonders whether she ever really knew her husband. Could his disappearance be connected with that of a prostitute years before?
A story of how the mind responds to solitary confinement, Silent Winter examines one man's race against time to survive hell.
Deception Wears Many Faces
Lyddie Hunter is devastated when her sister attempts suicide after falling victim to a ruthless con artist. Driven by her own history of failed relationships, Lyddie vows revenge on the man who broke Ellie’s heart.
After assuming a false identity she hunts down Steven Simmons, a guy she knows to be cold, calculating and cruel. But deception lurks around every corner, and Lyddie's actions unleash a train of events that puts her life, and Ellie's, in grave danger.
Can Lyddie unravel the complex web of lies ensnaring them? Or will she and her sister pay the ultimate price?
A tense novel of psychological suspense, Deception Wears Many Faces weaves lies with self-deceit and maybe even murder…
Three great psychological thrillers in one bargain box set!
The Second Captive:
Beth Sutton is eighteen years old when Dominic Perdue kidnaps her. Held prisoner in a basement, she’s dependent upon him for food, clothes, and her very existence. Beth never allows herself to forget that her abductor killed his last captive. She has evidence to prove it, as well as Dominic’s own admission of murder.
Then Beth escapes…
And discovers Dominic Perdue is not a man who lets go easily. Meanwhile, despite being reunited with her family, she spirals into self-destruction. Release from her prison isn’t enough, it seems. Can Beth free her mind from Dominic’s grasp before he recaptures her?
Because if he does, he’ll kill her…
A study of emotional dependency, The Second Captive examines how the mind makes dark choices under duress.
Guilty Innocence:
A decade after eleven-year-old Mark Slater’s conviction for killing another child, he’s finally released on parole. Only the twisted and violent Adam Campbell, also sentenced for Abby Morgan’s murder, knows the truth – that Mark played no part in her death.
Four years later Mark’s girlfriend is shattered when she discovers his grim past. With his protective cover blown, Mark’s need to confront the injustice of his sentence becomes overwhelming. Meanwhile circumstances have thrust him back into contact with Adam Campbell, who has become even more domineering and chilling. Can Mark rewrite history and confront his demons?
A gritty novel examining child murder and dysfunctional families, Guilty Innocence tells of one man’s desperate struggle to break free from his past.
Sister, Psychopath:
When they were children, Megan adored her younger sister. Now she suspects Chloe is a psychopath, who may be guilty of murder. Megan has no proof, however.
After their mentally ill mother becomes increasingly unstable through Chloe’s manipulations, events take an ugly twist. Chloe is out of control, and there’s little anyone can do about it. Until her actions threaten the life of Toby, the man Megan adores but from whom she’s hiding a tragic secret.
Threatened with losing everyone she loves, can Megan stop Chloe before she kills again?
A study of sibling rivalry and dysfunctional relationships, Sister, Psychopath tells of the damage inflicted on one woman by her own family.
Have you always longed to write a novel?
Worried where to start? Confused how to plot your story? This book covers all these issues and much more. Together we’ll work on your mind-set and deal with procrastination issues. We’ll carve out time for you to write and smash through the excuses that are holding you back. You’ll feel ready to tackle your novel as soon as you’ve completed the exercises included with each chapter.
Write Your Novel! is for you if you've always wanted to write a novel but:
Haven't a clue where to start
Lack the confidence
Are uncertain whether writing a novel is for you
Have written nothing, or only shorter fiction, to date
Lack the knowledge how to plot a novel
Are unsure where you'll find the time
Are undecided what kind of novel to write