Helen Jones
@helenjauthor.bsky.social
Welsh author of crime and psychological fiction.
Dabbles with flash fiction and poetry.
Rep'd by Judith Murray @greeneandheaton
Substack: https://arsenicandcoldcase.substack.com/
Please no unsolicited DMs
Dabbles with flash fiction and poetry.
Rep'd by Judith Murray @greeneandheaton
Substack: https://arsenicandcoldcase.substack.com/
Please no unsolicited DMs
Once more for the evening crowd... My latest blog is all about getting professional headshots taken⬇️
Like many people I hate having my photo taken, so last month I visited a professional photograph for my official headshots. And here's what happened...
arsenicandcoldcase.substack.com/p/getting-pr...
#authorlife #headshots
arsenicandcoldcase.substack.com/p/getting-pr...
#authorlife #headshots
Getting Professional Headshots
By a photographer, not a sniper, just to clarify...
arsenicandcoldcase.substack.com
November 15, 2025 at 6:21 PM
Once more for the evening crowd... My latest blog is all about getting professional headshots taken⬇️
Like many people I hate having my photo taken, so last month I visited a professional photograph for my official headshots. And here's what happened...
arsenicandcoldcase.substack.com/p/getting-pr...
#authorlife #headshots
arsenicandcoldcase.substack.com/p/getting-pr...
#authorlife #headshots
Getting Professional Headshots
By a photographer, not a sniper, just to clarify...
arsenicandcoldcase.substack.com
November 15, 2025 at 9:12 AM
Like many people I hate having my photo taken, so last month I visited a professional photograph for my official headshots. And here's what happened...
arsenicandcoldcase.substack.com/p/getting-pr...
#authorlife #headshots
arsenicandcoldcase.substack.com/p/getting-pr...
#authorlife #headshots
ICYMI yesterday, it's not too late to check out my latest blog on writing during times of turbulence or uncertainty. Take a look here ⬇️
When life throws you a curveball, or you're waiting for the other shoe to drop, it's easy to lose your creative impetus. What's important is how you get it back, and that you acknowledge your success when you do.
arsenicandcoldcase.substack.com/p/writing-th...
#writing #resilience
arsenicandcoldcase.substack.com/p/writing-th...
#writing #resilience
Writing through turbulence and uncertainty
May the (creative) odds be ever in your favour...
arsenicandcoldcase.substack.com
November 2, 2025 at 5:43 PM
ICYMI yesterday, it's not too late to check out my latest blog on writing during times of turbulence or uncertainty. Take a look here ⬇️
Here's my October reads!
Just five this month, and my favourite was "Quantum of Menace" by Vaseem Khan. It's the first in a new series about Q (from the Bond / 007 universe) and it's a brilliant mystery!
Just five this month, and my favourite was "Quantum of Menace" by Vaseem Khan. It's the first in a new series about Q (from the Bond / 007 universe) and it's a brilliant mystery!
November 1, 2025 at 9:24 AM
Here's my October reads!
Just five this month, and my favourite was "Quantum of Menace" by Vaseem Khan. It's the first in a new series about Q (from the Bond / 007 universe) and it's a brilliant mystery!
Just five this month, and my favourite was "Quantum of Menace" by Vaseem Khan. It's the first in a new series about Q (from the Bond / 007 universe) and it's a brilliant mystery!
When life throws you a curveball, or you're waiting for the other shoe to drop, it's easy to lose your creative impetus. What's important is how you get it back, and that you acknowledge your success when you do.
arsenicandcoldcase.substack.com/p/writing-th...
#writing #resilience
arsenicandcoldcase.substack.com/p/writing-th...
#writing #resilience
Writing through turbulence and uncertainty
May the (creative) odds be ever in your favour...
arsenicandcoldcase.substack.com
November 1, 2025 at 9:12 AM
When life throws you a curveball, or you're waiting for the other shoe to drop, it's easy to lose your creative impetus. What's important is how you get it back, and that you acknowledge your success when you do.
arsenicandcoldcase.substack.com/p/writing-th...
#writing #resilience
arsenicandcoldcase.substack.com/p/writing-th...
#writing #resilience
I started my writing journey with @writershq.bsky.social. Write November looks like a fantastic way to get into writing, or to give your writing a little boost! Check it out ⬇️
Write November starts TODAY!
Plus! Also! Too! As well! Here's all the lovely writing events coming up at WHQ this month.
Remember, there are no writing retreats in December so get your writerly fix in now.
Come hang with the cool kids (that's us. We're the cool kids. Look how cool we are: 67!).
Plus! Also! Too! As well! Here's all the lovely writing events coming up at WHQ this month.
Remember, there are no writing retreats in December so get your writerly fix in now.
Come hang with the cool kids (that's us. We're the cool kids. Look how cool we are: 67!).
November 1, 2025 at 9:12 AM
I started my writing journey with @writershq.bsky.social. Write November looks like a fantastic way to get into writing, or to give your writing a little boost! Check it out ⬇️
Another recharge weekend well spent. My husband bought this for our anniversary last week, and we built it yesterday. Love a bit of '80s nostalgia, and Gizmo in particular!
October 20, 2025 at 7:22 AM
Another recharge weekend well spent. My husband bought this for our anniversary last week, and we built it yesterday. Love a bit of '80s nostalgia, and Gizmo in particular!
Once more for the evening folks... ⬇️
The path to publication can be long, winding and highly variable. But what do you do when you get a publishing offer? And how do you assess whether it's right for you?
Read my latest substack to find out what I did, why, and whether it worked!
arsenicandcoldcase.substack.com/p/assessing-...
Read my latest substack to find out what I did, why, and whether it worked!
arsenicandcoldcase.substack.com/p/assessing-...
Assessing Publishing Offers
How to decide which editor and publisher is right for you
arsenicandcoldcase.substack.com
October 15, 2025 at 6:23 PM
Once more for the evening folks... ⬇️
The path to publication can be long, winding and highly variable. But what do you do when you get a publishing offer? And how do you assess whether it's right for you?
Read my latest substack to find out what I did, why, and whether it worked!
arsenicandcoldcase.substack.com/p/assessing-...
Read my latest substack to find out what I did, why, and whether it worked!
arsenicandcoldcase.substack.com/p/assessing-...
Assessing Publishing Offers
How to decide which editor and publisher is right for you
arsenicandcoldcase.substack.com
October 15, 2025 at 8:10 AM
The path to publication can be long, winding and highly variable. But what do you do when you get a publishing offer? And how do you assess whether it's right for you?
Read my latest substack to find out what I did, why, and whether it worked!
arsenicandcoldcase.substack.com/p/assessing-...
Read my latest substack to find out what I did, why, and whether it worked!
arsenicandcoldcase.substack.com/p/assessing-...
Once more for the evening crowd...
'A Lens Unclouded' is changing. For a sneak peek of what's coming next, take a look at my latest blog ⬇️
'A Lens Unclouded' is changing. For a sneak peek of what's coming next, take a look at my latest blog ⬇️
This is the last edition of A Lens Unclouded... before I rebrand my blog, and everything else in my writing life.
But what is rebranding, why am I doing it, and is it really going to make a difference?
alensunclouded.substack.com/p/rebranding
#blogpost #substack #rebranding
But what is rebranding, why am I doing it, and is it really going to make a difference?
alensunclouded.substack.com/p/rebranding
#blogpost #substack #rebranding
Rebranding
Creating my brand, changing my handles and updating my blog
alensunclouded.substack.com
October 1, 2025 at 7:28 PM
Once more for the evening crowd...
'A Lens Unclouded' is changing. For a sneak peek of what's coming next, take a look at my latest blog ⬇️
'A Lens Unclouded' is changing. For a sneak peek of what's coming next, take a look at my latest blog ⬇️
This is the last edition of A Lens Unclouded... before I rebrand my blog, and everything else in my writing life.
But what is rebranding, why am I doing it, and is it really going to make a difference?
alensunclouded.substack.com/p/rebranding
#blogpost #substack #rebranding
But what is rebranding, why am I doing it, and is it really going to make a difference?
alensunclouded.substack.com/p/rebranding
#blogpost #substack #rebranding
Rebranding
Creating my brand, changing my handles and updating my blog
alensunclouded.substack.com
October 1, 2025 at 8:11 AM
This is the last edition of A Lens Unclouded... before I rebrand my blog, and everything else in my writing life.
But what is rebranding, why am I doing it, and is it really going to make a difference?
alensunclouded.substack.com/p/rebranding
#blogpost #substack #rebranding
But what is rebranding, why am I doing it, and is it really going to make a difference?
alensunclouded.substack.com/p/rebranding
#blogpost #substack #rebranding
Here's my September reads!
My favourite was "The Killer Question" by Janice Hallett - which narrowly beat out the latest offerings from Osman and Herron by having just a few extra twists that kept me guessing right until the end.
#amreading #septemberreads
My favourite was "The Killer Question" by Janice Hallett - which narrowly beat out the latest offerings from Osman and Herron by having just a few extra twists that kept me guessing right until the end.
#amreading #septemberreads
September 30, 2025 at 6:34 PM
Here's my September reads!
My favourite was "The Killer Question" by Janice Hallett - which narrowly beat out the latest offerings from Osman and Herron by having just a few extra twists that kept me guessing right until the end.
#amreading #septemberreads
My favourite was "The Killer Question" by Janice Hallett - which narrowly beat out the latest offerings from Osman and Herron by having just a few extra twists that kept me guessing right until the end.
#amreading #septemberreads
Once more for the evening crowd... If you'd like to have your say on what I write about in 2026, take a look at my latest blog ⬇️
It’s my fiftieth substack today, so please join me for a little retrospective over the last two years: what I’ve learned, what I (still) haven’t, and what is coming next…
alensunclouded.substack.com/p/twoish-yea...
#amwri̇ti̇ng #substack #blogpost
alensunclouded.substack.com/p/twoish-yea...
#amwri̇ti̇ng #substack #blogpost
Two(ish) years of Substack
Or, what I should have learned by now (but probably haven't)
alensunclouded.substack.com
September 15, 2025 at 6:11 PM
Once more for the evening crowd... If you'd like to have your say on what I write about in 2026, take a look at my latest blog ⬇️
It’s my fiftieth substack today, so please join me for a little retrospective over the last two years: what I’ve learned, what I (still) haven’t, and what is coming next…
alensunclouded.substack.com/p/twoish-yea...
#amwri̇ti̇ng #substack #blogpost
alensunclouded.substack.com/p/twoish-yea...
#amwri̇ti̇ng #substack #blogpost
Two(ish) years of Substack
Or, what I should have learned by now (but probably haven't)
alensunclouded.substack.com
September 15, 2025 at 8:20 AM
It’s my fiftieth substack today, so please join me for a little retrospective over the last two years: what I’ve learned, what I (still) haven’t, and what is coming next…
alensunclouded.substack.com/p/twoish-yea...
#amwri̇ti̇ng #substack #blogpost
alensunclouded.substack.com/p/twoish-yea...
#amwri̇ti̇ng #substack #blogpost
Doing the final readthrough before I return my MS to my editor. It's really easy to see which bits I wrote while hungry... Anyone for a cinnamon roll? 🤣
#amediting #hungrywriter
#amediting #hungrywriter
September 4, 2025 at 3:06 PM
Doing the final readthrough before I return my MS to my editor. It's really easy to see which bits I wrote while hungry... Anyone for a cinnamon roll? 🤣
#amediting #hungrywriter
#amediting #hungrywriter
Once more for the evening crowd...
Going on Submission was a wild ride! ⬇️
Going on Submission was a wild ride! ⬇️
In my latest blog...
What it's really like to go on submission, how what actually happens compares to your plan, and how to stay sane when everything is outside of your control.
alensunclouded.substack.com/p/going-on-s...
#pathtopublication #submission
What it's really like to go on submission, how what actually happens compares to your plan, and how to stay sane when everything is outside of your control.
alensunclouded.substack.com/p/going-on-s...
#pathtopublication #submission
Going on Submission
How to keep your head when publishers are reading your book
alensunclouded.substack.com
September 2, 2025 at 7:36 PM
Once more for the evening crowd...
Going on Submission was a wild ride! ⬇️
Going on Submission was a wild ride! ⬇️
In my latest blog...
What it's really like to go on submission, how what actually happens compares to your plan, and how to stay sane when everything is outside of your control.
alensunclouded.substack.com/p/going-on-s...
#pathtopublication #submission
What it's really like to go on submission, how what actually happens compares to your plan, and how to stay sane when everything is outside of your control.
alensunclouded.substack.com/p/going-on-s...
#pathtopublication #submission
Going on Submission
How to keep your head when publishers are reading your book
alensunclouded.substack.com
September 1, 2025 at 8:12 AM
In my latest blog...
What it's really like to go on submission, how what actually happens compares to your plan, and how to stay sane when everything is outside of your control.
alensunclouded.substack.com/p/going-on-s...
#pathtopublication #submission
What it's really like to go on submission, how what actually happens compares to your plan, and how to stay sane when everything is outside of your control.
alensunclouded.substack.com/p/going-on-s...
#pathtopublication #submission
Here's my August reads!
My favourite was "The Half Burnt House" by Alex North. Deliciously twisty, I lost sleep when I stayed up to finish it. Totally worth feeling knackered the following day.
I also did some beta reading, which is always a joy.
#amreading #augustreads
My favourite was "The Half Burnt House" by Alex North. Deliciously twisty, I lost sleep when I stayed up to finish it. Totally worth feeling knackered the following day.
I also did some beta reading, which is always a joy.
#amreading #augustreads
August 31, 2025 at 6:39 PM
Here's my August reads!
My favourite was "The Half Burnt House" by Alex North. Deliciously twisty, I lost sleep when I stayed up to finish it. Totally worth feeling knackered the following day.
I also did some beta reading, which is always a joy.
#amreading #augustreads
My favourite was "The Half Burnt House" by Alex North. Deliciously twisty, I lost sleep when I stayed up to finish it. Totally worth feeling knackered the following day.
I also did some beta reading, which is always a joy.
#amreading #augustreads
Am I editing my book like I should be? No
Am I writing 'white papers' in the voices of my characters about funny topics because I thought it was a good idea? Absolutely yes.
Good lord, this is fun 😂
#amwriting #crimefiction #sidequest
Am I writing 'white papers' in the voices of my characters about funny topics because I thought it was a good idea? Absolutely yes.
Good lord, this is fun 😂
#amwriting #crimefiction #sidequest
August 26, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Am I editing my book like I should be? No
Am I writing 'white papers' in the voices of my characters about funny topics because I thought it was a good idea? Absolutely yes.
Good lord, this is fun 😂
#amwriting #crimefiction #sidequest
Am I writing 'white papers' in the voices of my characters about funny topics because I thought it was a good idea? Absolutely yes.
Good lord, this is fun 😂
#amwriting #crimefiction #sidequest
Once more for the evening crowd... if you're unsure about whether to read, there are many pictures of puppies included!
In this week's substack I'm talking about characterisation hacks, specifically the 'Two Beers and a Puppy' questions.
Take a look to see how this premise may help with your writing (and your friends!)...
alensunclouded.substack.com/p/two-beers-...
#amwri̇ti̇ng #characterisation #twobeersandapuppy
Take a look to see how this premise may help with your writing (and your friends!)...
alensunclouded.substack.com/p/two-beers-...
#amwri̇ti̇ng #characterisation #twobeersandapuppy
Two Beers and a Puppy
How to think about people differently, in life and in fiction
alensunclouded.substack.com
August 15, 2025 at 5:01 PM
Once more for the evening crowd... if you're unsure about whether to read, there are many pictures of puppies included!
In this week's substack I'm talking about characterisation hacks, specifically the 'Two Beers and a Puppy' questions.
Take a look to see how this premise may help with your writing (and your friends!)...
alensunclouded.substack.com/p/two-beers-...
#amwri̇ti̇ng #characterisation #twobeersandapuppy
Take a look to see how this premise may help with your writing (and your friends!)...
alensunclouded.substack.com/p/two-beers-...
#amwri̇ti̇ng #characterisation #twobeersandapuppy
Two Beers and a Puppy
How to think about people differently, in life and in fiction
alensunclouded.substack.com
August 15, 2025 at 8:22 AM
In this week's substack I'm talking about characterisation hacks, specifically the 'Two Beers and a Puppy' questions.
Take a look to see how this premise may help with your writing (and your friends!)...
alensunclouded.substack.com/p/two-beers-...
#amwri̇ti̇ng #characterisation #twobeersandapuppy
Take a look to see how this premise may help with your writing (and your friends!)...
alensunclouded.substack.com/p/two-beers-...
#amwri̇ti̇ng #characterisation #twobeersandapuppy
Once more for the evening crowd...
You send more than just your manuscript and it pays to get your timing right. Here's what I learned when submitting my novel to publishers ⬇️
You send more than just your manuscript and it pays to get your timing right. Here's what I learned when submitting my novel to publishers ⬇️
In the next instalment of my path to publication...
What really happens when you go on submission to publishers and why it’s more complicated than you might think.
alensunclouded.substack.com/p/preparatio...
#pathtopublication #submission
What really happens when you go on submission to publishers and why it’s more complicated than you might think.
alensunclouded.substack.com/p/preparatio...
#pathtopublication #submission
Preparation is the key to success
Or, what you need to do before submitting your novel to publishers
alensunclouded.substack.com
August 1, 2025 at 6:03 PM
Once more for the evening crowd...
You send more than just your manuscript and it pays to get your timing right. Here's what I learned when submitting my novel to publishers ⬇️
You send more than just your manuscript and it pays to get your timing right. Here's what I learned when submitting my novel to publishers ⬇️
In the next instalment of my path to publication...
What really happens when you go on submission to publishers and why it’s more complicated than you might think.
alensunclouded.substack.com/p/preparatio...
#pathtopublication #submission
What really happens when you go on submission to publishers and why it’s more complicated than you might think.
alensunclouded.substack.com/p/preparatio...
#pathtopublication #submission
Preparation is the key to success
Or, what you need to do before submitting your novel to publishers
alensunclouded.substack.com
August 1, 2025 at 8:14 AM
In the next instalment of my path to publication...
What really happens when you go on submission to publishers and why it’s more complicated than you might think.
alensunclouded.substack.com/p/preparatio...
#pathtopublication #submission
What really happens when you go on submission to publishers and why it’s more complicated than you might think.
alensunclouded.substack.com/p/preparatio...
#pathtopublication #submission
Here's my July reads! My favourite was "The Ministry of Time" by Kaliane Bradley. It's a brilliant book and I loved every minute. Also really enjoyed Ruth Ware's short stories.
Looking forward to August which will be TBR reads only...
#amreading #julyreads
Looking forward to August which will be TBR reads only...
#amreading #julyreads
July 31, 2025 at 8:23 AM
Here's my July reads! My favourite was "The Ministry of Time" by Kaliane Bradley. It's a brilliant book and I loved every minute. Also really enjoyed Ruth Ware's short stories.
Looking forward to August which will be TBR reads only...
#amreading #julyreads
Looking forward to August which will be TBR reads only...
#amreading #julyreads